Abingdonian 2013 2 The Abingdonian 2012 – 2013 Volume XXV No. 2 Issue 317

Contents Editorial 2

Head’s Foreword 3

Michaelmas Term 4

Lent Term 30

Summer Term 54

House Reports 94

Staff Farewells 113

1 Editorial

The academic year of 2012/13 was one in which Abingdon School both considered its past and looked ahead to its future and this is reflected in the cover of this issue of The Abingdonian. The front shows a selection of items from the online exhibition A History of Abingdon School in 63 Objects, created to mark the 450th anniversary of John Roysse’s bequest in 1563, while the back shows computerised images of the new Science Centre, announced this year, which is due to open in September 2015. The pages within contain a wide range of articles that give a sense of all that went on in another very busy and suc- cessful year.

The design team of Henry Cheung, Matthew Gill and Benedict Zeally have worked extreme- ly hard to bring this magazine to fruition, grappling with the intricacies of design software, choosing the right images to illustrate the text, and sorting out all the layout. Thanks go to them, those boys and colleagues who helped with proofreading, and all those who wrote articles.

Adam Jenkins Editor

2 Head’s Foreword

I always look forward immensely to opening my brand new copy of The Abingdonian when it lands on my desk some time during the Michaelmas Term. Not, of course, that I am surprised these days by the huge range of events described within its covers, for that won’t surprise anyone who knows Abingdon at all well. What I see here brings a smile to my face and a great sense of pride in our boys and their range of interests and achievements.

From the youngest to the most senior boys in the School, every sector of our community is represented in some way. There are exceptional achievements here in many spheres of Abingdon life, and there is also a sense of the initiative, individuality and creativity of our boys.

It’s fantastic to read. I am sure you will smile too.

Felicity Lusk

3 Michaelmas Term The First Day I wake up twenty minutes early and still manage to leave five minutes late. I run as fast as I can (arguably, not that fast!) and find no one at the bus stop. I think I have missed the bus, but after five minutes of checking my watch the first people start filtering in. I nervously look at my feet until the bus arrives. As soon as I get on, I realise that the second years are really, really nice. Luckily, I know a couple of people, but even then I remember being split into our quarter of an hour late as we I didn’t I know that I’d be fine. classes, and lining up in the didn’t realise Mercer’s Court Houseroom. We met our existed. Oops! Registration. I see many faces, mentors, and then were some look familiar from Open whisked off into the flurry of Since then, the school has Day, but they don’t look scary, daily routine. My first Abingdon become a bank of memories, or mean, or anything like that. lunch was a tasty kind of curry where lots of special moments They look just how I imagine thing, which we ate excitedly have taken place - like the myself; anxious and scared. before rushing from the dining Lower School Public Speaking, I relax and my fears of being hall to explore the school. I which my tutor group won, and different are put to rest. remember meeting my tutor the Kids’ Lit Quiz in Oxford. The and my teachers, talking to the first year trip to Liddington was The school is huge compared other new boys, and just great; the most bizarre moment to my old one. There are generally gazing at everything, was waking up to find that hundreds of people bustling especially my new uniform. my roommate had decided to around, laughing and talking. spend the night in the bath! The We have a map to help us At the beginning, I got lost a classics trip to Caerleon was around; a CLEAR map but I still few times; I even ended up in also fun. manage to get lost on the way the wrong class twice. However to History! Thankfully the the teachers were all very I love the Other Half, the music, teacher understands. understanding, even when the the sports, and the lessons, and entire class arrived at a lesson a being on the School Council. I really enjoyed my first day!

Seamus Ramsey 1BJLP

I started at Abingdon in Sep- tember 2012, and already I feel like I have been here forever! I remember my first day, when everything was so big and so new. Big school was, in my opinion, appropriately named.

4 Michaelmas Term I had great fun playing Feste in Boarding brings everyone in The first week went very well. the Lower School drama the house closer to each other People were incredibly welcom- production of Twelfth Night, and through a sense of family and ing and willing to take the time the trip to a Propeller community. The life of a board- to help me with any problem I production of the play in, to er really kick-starts at the end had; it took little time for me to show us how it should be done, of the school day - the array fit right in. The school also was inspiring. of activities offered before and offers a great range of after prep provides a dynam- Other Half activities. I’ve I think the community is great; ic balance in our lives, which already joined, and immensely everyone feels like they belong. keeps us going. If going to the enjoy, the Debating Society and There is always a friendly face gym and doing a thousand arm playing rugby for the school. to turn to, and I have made lots curls isn’t your thing, you could of new friends. Bring on the go for a game of badminton or On the first Sunday I was second year! even to the climbing wall and invited along with all of the new work on your ninja skills. sixth formers and some of the Alasdair Czaplewski 1HFCP existing students to take part in During the weekends, where “It’s a knockout”. This was an life here switches to a slow inflatable assault course style lane, we have an array of trips competition that lasted around New Boarders to keep us busy. Whether it’s six hours. It was great fun and a day trip to Thorpe Park or a gave us all a good opportunity It’s a sight most of you readers welcome dinner, these activities to compete against each have to go through every year keep you busy all the time. other and get to know other as you notice the terrified look sixth formers and form more of new boys lost somewhere, Taking on this new life has been friendships. too shy to ask for directions, a big change for some of us as the late arrivals to class and we are given the opportunity to All in all, joining Abingdon has our realisation that the weather try and experience many things been the smoothest transition here is pretty rubbish. Being that we previously have not had to a new school I have ever the “new guy” isn’t the easiest the opportunity to enjoy. had. I have never met students thing to do on earth, but we try Abingdon is not simply a so keen to make new students to fit in as much as we can and school, but a community. feel at home and help them to we couldn’t have done it with- get used to the school. out the positivity and the friend- Michael Chan 6MIL liness of those in the school Jacob Reid 6MIL community, who are more than willing to help, even if it is just There are few things more directions to M117 or how to daunting than starting at a new pass a rugby ball. school, let alone a school with the tradition and heritage of For the average Hong Kong Abingdon. I was worried about kid who suddenly finds himself making friends, getting lost 6000 miles away from home, and the workload. I arrived at boarding life turned out great the school a day before most in the end. Sleep was the first students to take part in an thing noticeable, waking up at induction day. The only other 7:30am for breakfast and not new dayboy and I were shown running out the door with a slice around the school and we met of toast in your mouth late for the boarders who had arrived school made life way easier. the day before. Michael Chan and Jacob Reid

5 Honduras Fifteen boys ranging from fifth year to Upper Sixth gathered in Heathrow airport to travel to Honduras, in order to assist and learn from the scientists of Operation Wallacea. After finally getting through US customs in Miami, flying to San Pedro Sula, and (mostly) surviving a nauseating truck ride up to the mountains on the following day, we arrived to a warm welcome in Base Camp of Cusuco National Park.

On our first day we began the course of lectures on ecology, We were also introduced to hammocks, a campfire to eat which continued while at Base the REDD scheme, a process around, and a trench system for Camp, with different scientists by which, after calculating the toilets. We saw much more of explaining their role in the park, amount of carbon locked in the exciting (ie venomous) and how they go about their the forest, and the approval of reptiles on the herp walks, and work, or the ecology of the park the proposition, Honduras will we were able to do another itself. Some of us were also receive funds in return for the quadrat of trees for the REDD able to go on a “herp” walk forest’s preservation. While at scheme. The more laid back (to see reptiles and amphibi- Base Camp, we were able to do attitude and closeness to the ans), or a bat walk to catch a a quadrat, and in turn do our bit forest made it generally the sneak peak of the rainforest at for Honduras’ REDD proposal. preferred camp in Cusuco for night. The next two days were After three days in base camp, us, though the American school spent doing more trips into the it was time to pack our ruck- group in Honduras were forest, with the obvious high- sacks in preparation for the trek evidently made of stuff less light being the canopy access, up the mountain, to the highest stern, and weren’t so keen on pulling ourselves up to forty satellite camp in Cusuco. This the trenches. After a few days, metre high trees to get some camp was more basic than we yet again packed our kit for excellent views before swinging Base Camp, but was actually the return trek, and stopped and turning upside down in our inside the rainforest, rather than in Base Camp for the night, in harnesses during the descent. in a clearing. It also had the order to begin the journey to added excitement values of Cayos Cochinos the following day. The journey was to be split by staying in the village of Rio Esteban for the night, after most of the driving had been completed, before completing the journey to Cayos the next day. On the way we stopped off in Rancho Manacal to see the small patch of privately owned

6 forest there, home to several families of howler monkeys.

Arriving in Rio Esteban, we were split into pairs to be hosted by some of the very hospitable Garifuna, descendants of West African slaves who escaped from the Spanish ships heading to America. We were introduced to our host families, before having an excellent meal of the local food, followed by an evening of Garifuna dancing.

Finally we arrived in Cayos Menor, the smaller of the two islands that make up Cayos annoyance saw turtles, rays and arrived back in Heathrow Cochinos, on the following and barracudas. By the third to huge posters of Jessica morning, just in time for a fried day though, we had completed Ennis and all the anticipation of breakfast! We were then split our course and we were able the Olympics to begin in just a into three groups, depending to visit a plane wreck, with a couple of days’ time. The trip on our experience with SCUBA reef system forming on it. On was really excellent, especially diving. We had done the the fourth day, we were joined seeing as this was an oppor- referral course at Abingdon, but by those who had taken the tunity that we’re not likely to not finished the Open Water PADI course from scratch, and get again, so thank you to Mr qualification, and so had to on the final dive we even saw Whitworth and Mr Bliss, as well start with some dives to show a barracuda, but it seems we’ll as the Op-Wall staff at Cusuco we could do the skills required just have to go back to see the and Cayos for making it happen for the qualification. While we elusive rays and turtles. and making it so enjoyable. were doing this, the already qualified boys, much to our We left Cayos the following day, Samuel Ashby-Crane 6MAS and Oscar Jackson 6IM

7 Mark Hatton On the 21st of September Mark Hatton, Britain’s fastest ever Olympian, came to Abingdon to launch Lower School’s Be The Best You Can Be programme. Mark delivered an inspiring speech on how he became a professional luger.

How did you get into luge?

Obviously it’s not something you can get into easily in England, but when I was 15 I and build up is right and has Who are your idols? watched the 1988 Winter made me ready for a race. Olympics in Calgary in Canada I have two main idols. The first and I just knew it was some- What’s it like to reach speeds of one is Bill Beaumont (Welsh thing I wanted to do. I had 90 mph on your back? rugby captain). My second idol known from the age of 10 that I is Sergey Bubka (Ukrainian pole wanted to represent my Good question, I guess you vaulter). country in the Olympics and I don’t really think about until you didn’t care what it was I was make a mistake and crash but Did you face any problems or performing in. I knew I had you just get used to it after a obstacles when you were made it when I was 21 - it took while! becoming a professional? a lot of phone calls and I had to persevere but I had made it. How much training did you I had three main problems: I do compared to what you do didn’t have enough money, I What motivates you? today? didn’t have a place to train and there wasn’t enough luge Knowing that I’m the best I can About 95% more. technology in England. be and that all my preparation Interview by Matthew Coleman 2JAC and Nick Webster 2SCVM

8 Charity Walk After a long two-year wait the day of the sponsored walk finally arrived on Thursday 27th September, early in the Michaelmas Term. Around 1,000 pupils, teachers and staff members woke up to a bright and sunny morning, which was a good sign for the day ahead and promised an enjoyable as well as challenging experience.

Having all arrived at school in home clothes (or running gear Once the sixth form had finally Agape, Abingdon’s partner in some cases) everyone was been dropped off it was charity in Moldova, British Red transported to the scenic simply a case of making our Cross, a humanitarian volunteer location of Donnington Bridge way back to the school 8 miles agency committed to helping in Oxford in four waves away along the Thames Path. those in crisis, and Alzheimer throughout the morning. This There were some spectacular Research UK, who support was possible due to a generous stories to tell, as running pupils those suffering dementia. Fi- offer from Weaveaway Travel completed this challenge in nally we are proud to support Coaches, without which the under an hour at an impressive Mr Nick Rees OA in his voyage walk couldn’t have happened. pace. Yet more boys used kay- across the Atlantic in a rowing aks and rowing boats as their boat for Breakthrough Breast Lower School were the first to mode of transport, all in the Cancer, which is pivotal in the embark on their journey, name of charity! fight against breast cancer battling through the mud, which using large scale research. had collected after the previous Thankfully there was a delicious days’ heavy rains. This proved barbecue at Radley Boathouse, Lower School was to be a challenge throughout halfway home for lunch. The particularly generous, but the walk, especially for runners, second half was similar with a well done to all members of yet the day continued to run more precarious and even the school for raising nearly smoothly. waterlogged route, yet the £32,000 for these worthwhile scenery and weather made it causes. This is a significant thoroughly enjoyable as we amount and will surely make crossed Abingdon Bridge and a difference to many people’s made our way back to school lives. Finally my congratulations to relax for the afternoon. It was to Mrs Pradas, all prefects, and a huge success, especially as especially Thomas Browne for the whole school was account- their work in organising this ed for on return, even the final special occasion. The Charities members who managed to Committee certainly enjoyed return at a spectacularly late counting all the money and time of half past four. getting the year’s fundraising off to such a good start. Truly an I would like to thank everyone inspirational day! for raising so much money for our four chosen charities: Robert De La Harpe 6RJG

9 House Singing Competition Due to the break for half term now occurring on a Friday, this year’s House Singing Competition found itself no longer on the eve of half term, but two days before. In all other respects, the preparation for the competition followed the customary pattern of a week’s intensive rehearsal in the run- boys and then arranged, This year’s competition up to it, following initial choices directed and rehearsed by them results were as follows: of repertoire in late September. with support from House- Our adjudicator this year was masters and senior boys. As 1st place - Christodoulou’s Dominic Franks OA, who was always, there was a great deal of with Some Nights by Fun, eminently well qualified, with friendly competition between the directed by Jacopo Blum- experience as a New College houses and an equal level of effort berg and accompanied at Chorister, an Abingdon Music put into rehearsing slick, polished the piano by Joe Ereaut. Scholar (1988-93), a performances that would impress Graduate of the Guildhall the adjudicator. For many, the 2nd place - Lower School School of Music and Drama, a reputation of their house was at with Drive By by Train (Di- Freelance Saxophonist, a Jazz stake and each group of boys rose rector Greg Davies, Piano Promoter and, most recently, as splendidly to the occasion, accompanist Gianluca Cau Director of Music at showing great “house spirit”! Tait) Rendcomb College. Dominic couldn’t remember the Starting at 3.30pm, and with a 3rd place – Davies’ with competition from his day careful plan for how each house The Cave by Mumford because it started the autumn would move out of the theatre and Sons (Director Lewis after he left Abingdon. and then back into position for Spring, Piano accompanist their performances, the occasion Ran Hu) The houses had prepared a worked smoothly. The ten houses now habitually eclectic mix of each took their turn in what was a Michael Stinton songs, many chosen by the closely fought contest.

10 Battle of Trafalgar, WWI and History Club WWII. Look closely, and you’d find a soldier in a funny or Tuesday, 12:40pm. Many en- outrageously crazy position. thusiastic Lower School boys Then it’s time to wreack havoc gallop down to Mercer’s court! on the board with some gore. But why? Has the world gone By the time we’ve finished, the mad?! Are we being controlled red paint’s all gone, and there by telepathic aliens? To tell isn’t a square centimetre of the you the truth, not really. Our battlefield that doesn’t have little confession is that it’s the blood on it, much to the start of the Lower School delight of every member. History Club, which occurs every Tuesday lunchtime Museum trips are another during spring and winter fixture in the History Club terms. Woo hoo! schedule, and this year we Ben Ffrench went off to Abingdon Museum. Our average session will There has recently been an usually start with scoffing other complete with nerf guns (historically inaccurate, but Abingdon School exhibition some sweeties. And you can’t there, and these aren’t the argue with that! If you want never mind) and some top class fighting, with modrocked boring old trips you usually go confectionery in your other on. Upstairs, there are some half, this is the place to be. swords that we made earlier (usually I get two or great costumes to try on, and So things certainly start on some people (you know who a high note, and it only gets three done a session, most people are quicker). Yes, we’ve you are) did look rather better. Yes, ladies and gen- hilarious in those outfits. tlemen, here comes the good said it before, but I think our film this year was the best yet! bit. Blackadder!! Yep, there’s The world premiere of Richard nothing better than to pig out III and the Battle of Bosworth on the sweets whilst watching Yes, that’s amazing, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Oh will be showing soon in M102, Blackadder and his dimwit so look out for that. Thanks sidekick Baldric do their thing. no no no. Airfix fans, listen in. Our project this year was have to go to Mr McGill and Mr Hallinan who have run the But other than Blackadder to design model battlefields. And boy, what a project it was. best Other Half activity there is fans, we’re also Hollywood to offer. megastars ourselves. Our After carefully sticking down some fiddly figures, we’re recent films have included the Ben Ffrench 2JAC likes of 300, Battle of ready to get cracking on The Agincourt and Joan of Arc, but our latest blockbuster has been Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth, an amaz- ing film with some legendary battle sequences. The average person walking behind the art block when filming was going on would see loads of armed warriors randomly shouting “Aaaaaaaaaaaah!” at each

11 Overseas Views of Abingdon Spain Our time in England was great. The school was amazing, the families were very nice and also the staff of the boarding house. The trips were interesting and enjoyable and our exchange partners were absolutely Germany fabulous. Before arriving, we A group of 22 German Additionally, the English boys were nervous but all our pupils travelled from Bielefeld have Houserooms with concerns vanished the day to Abingdon for this year’s modern equipment where they we arrived. We all had a great exchange. Three girls went to can spend their free time. time and felt comfortable in our the school of St Helen and St Another difference is that the hosts’ homes because of the Katharine and fifteen boys and boys do sports at school and fabulous treatment we received. four girls were matched with not in clubs like most of the It goes without saying that we boys from Abingdon School. German pupils. What surprised all got on well with each and Our first impression of us most was that some of our every one of our exchange Abingdon School was exchange partners have to partners and we also enjoyed overwhelming. We were really travel a really long way to get all the extra activities the school surprised how huge the to school. Pupils from very far and Mrs Pradas prepared buildings are and what great away and abroad even stay in for us. Finally, I dare say, we opportunities the pupils have boarding houses. wouldn’t mind repeating the to study. It is very different from whole experience all over again our school in Bielefeld in that We spent four days at the and with the same people that the Abingdon boys have to school and four days on trips. took part in this one. wear a uniform. At Two of the trips were to Ratsgymnasium, pupils are able Portsmouth and Stratford Ángel Torrente & Sergio Pichel to choose their clothes. where we learned about English and English history. We also went to Oxford twice, where we visited the university colleges.

So all in all we had a wonderful time here and enjoyed the stay with our very nice host families. Now we are looking forward to the English boys coming to Bielefeld in February.

Finja Timmen, Isa Kleine-Bekel and Max Seidel

12 China First of all, I want to say that Abingdon is really a nice place to study and live in. I was surprised by the beautiful view of the school when I stepped through the gate, which made me have a strong desire to study in such surroundings.

I found some differences of study methods between Chinese and British. In China students do so much exercise and have a lot of homework. But in UK , students have more sports during break and afternoon. Besides, since they finish homework in class, they can spend their time on their They showed the life styles of have fixed seat, only standing hobbies. At the weekend British British students. I must say there, drinking and chatting. We students always hang out and thanks to all the students and were all so shy that we couldn’t have a good time. But Chinese teachers. greet each other first. Then we students often spend half of exchanged our name and the their weekend in doing home- Chen Sipeng Abingdon boys would ask me work and the other half playing about my hobbies and age. computer games. I really enjoy It was the first time for me to Gradually, they can speak the days when I stay with my take part in the exchange party. Chinese very well and they British partners. They played All of us were dressed often let me give some advice badminton with me and skated. gorgeously. All the people didn’t for their pronunciation. Each of them is versatile. Some played the piano, and some played the guitar and sang songs, others danced very well. They were all active. I think that we should learn from them. We should enrich our spare time somehow, not just be addicted to computer games or the internet. Sometimes attending social occasions or playing an instrument can improve our social skills, adding fun to life. In the exchange, we not only shared our experience in learning, but also understood the life of western teenagers.

Hao Hongyue

13 Bellringing Biology The Abingdon School Bell- Volunteering ringing Club has met every Friday after school this year The Biology Department at at St Helen’s Church and Abingdon is well stocked with held its first outing to other a variety of animals and plants local churches in February. for boys to study and admire. When people hear the word These include a snake (Tiddles), bellringing, there can be many cockroaches, a scorpion, milli- reactions. Many might think pedes, snails, locusts, beetles, of Sunday service ringing and toads and stick insects, as wedding ringing, but they may well as a wide range of tropical not understand what goes on and temperate plants and fish. in the background. I personally However, all of these things go to three practices per week, need looking after - whether each practice is usually around it is feeding, watering or the not allowed a tarantula!), 1 hour 30 minutes - as many dreaded clean out, it all takes giving us a say in how the people won’t know, it takes a time and effort. Fortunately for Biology Department works. We lot of effort, time and concen- the lab technician she is not even get to handle the animals tration to get properly practiced alone. Every Tuesday a group once the jobs are done. I at ringing. You can ring meth- of Lower School boys descend certainly hope that there will be ods, which mean that the bells on the Biology Department to even more biology volunteers are constantly changing place, cater to the animals’/plants’/ next year! or you can ring call changes, teachers’ needs, and although which means that the bells only it may not be classed as a “fun” Thomas Butcher 2SCVM change when they are called activity as we have to do jobs, to do so by a conductor and it is fulfilling and constructive so are only changing every so for the boys that do it. We use often. Whilst ringing may not teamwork and initiative when be considered the most main- left to our own devices, mean- stream of hobbies, it’s certainly ing that the teachers can trust a good way to keep the mind us to get on with our jobs, and ‘oiled’ and working. It’s a good not have to worry about us way to make friends and if using the labs as a playground. you’re ringing for a wedding, As well as routine maintenance, not a bad way to make money! we occasionally plant seeds, make displays and choose new Andrew Rainbow-Ockwell animals to buy (we’re still 4JAM

14 Greece Trip After landing in Athens our first stop was Thorikos, a settle- ment that had grown out of the Laurion silver mines, and one which was an important centre of trade in metals. The warmth and view of the sea from the theatre which would once have held 6,000 people was the perfect tonic for anyone still feeling the effects of a quarter- to-five start that morning.

This was followed by a short coach ride along the coastline to the sanctuary to Poseidon at of Xerxes’ Persian invasion of Athens, and the Temple of Sounion, which, on the cliff top 490BC. Another clear day gave Artemis at Brauron, the location 60m above the Aegean, gave rise to a splendid view over the for the quadrennial Arkteia a spectacular backdrop from whole plain where the battle festival, preparing girls for which to view the setting sun. was fought, but, while the womanhood. Unfortunately, The temple visible today, which famous Marathon tomb – a due to non-specific restoration dates from c.440BC, is situated mass grave for the dead Athe- which was supposedly taking on the south-easternmost point nians (around which was run place (although the evidence for of Attica and would thus have the 2004 Olympic marathon) – this was limited in the extreme) been the first sight of home was impressive in its scale, the we were unable to access the for ships returning to Athens, ‘tomb of the Plataeans’, where site, and so had to be content something extremely important excavations have revealed the with photography from a dis- for what was essentially a bones of soldiers who fell in the tance, and a short visit to the maritime state. battle, was more effective in Archaeological museum, which bringing the battle to life. gave us our first encounter with The next day saw a morning Greek museum attendants, trip to Marathon, the site of the In the afternoon, we returned to who, with remarkable powers of famous Athenian repulsion the area immediately around perception, and in even more

15 remarkable numbers, ensured, materials for missing pieces) below the Acropolis, the original throughout the trip, that no which had clearly taken place setting for almost all the extant one leant on, touched, or in- detracted somewhat from the Greek tragedies, thought to deed posed with any Greek (or genuineness of what could be have held up to 17,000 Roman) statues or artefacts. seen, this allowed us to gain a people. The stay in Athens was Fortunately, there were few greater sense of how concluded by a visit to the objections to us actually view- impressive these monuments National Archaeological ing the objects, something were in their original context. Museum. This houses a varied which was very beneficial range of artefacts from across during the evening visit to the No less illuminating were visits the ancient Greek world: high- new Akropolis museum in to the Pnyx (the meeting place lights were the ‘face of Agam- Athens itself. In spite of the of the Athenian assembly), the emnon’ discovered by Heinrich fact that a national holiday in Kerameikos (an extensively Schliemann at Mycenae, and Greece, entailing free museum excavated area of the city, the remains of the Antikythera entry for the public, meant that known to have been the mechanism, which was used for we were alongside huge crowds potters’ quarter), the agora (the astronomical calculations in the of people, the sheer quantity hub of Greek political life, as first century BC – objects of this of artefacts recovered from the well as the home to the best technical complexity have not Akropolis and presented here preserved temple on been found again until those was bewildering; the building mainland Greece, the Doric dating to the 14th Century AD. also has strong political reso- Hephaisteion), and the temple nance, with a space reserved of Olympian Zeus (the biggest Delphi was the next major site, on the highest floor for the temple in Athens, on which although we did take a brief display of the ‘Elgin marbles’ construction began as early as sojourn from the Classical (the frieze carvings which once the 6th Century BC but was world with a short stop at the adorned the Parthenon but not completed until the reign of 10th century AD monastery whose remains are on display in the emperor Hadrian in the 2nd of the hermit Blessed Luke the British Museum in London) Century AD). Impressive too (Osios Loukas), still home to ten in their proper positions, within was the Theatre of Dionysos monks, whose prime concern sight of the temple for which they were carved.

The following full day we spent in the centre of Athens was typically hot. The most famous buildings today are situated on the Akropolis, and it was here we spent the morning, seeing close up the Propylaia (a monumental gateway), the Parthenon, and the Erechtheion (a temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon). While the considerable amount of anastylosis (restoring a monument by combining original stone with replacement

16 appeared to be to rid them- selves of copious quantities of honey by selling jars as souvenirs. The site at Delphi was famous in antiquity for the presence of the oracle – an old peasant woman who allegedly sat on a tripod above a chasm, inhaling intoxicating vapours, uttering incomprehensible utterances, which were then interpreted by a poet. While the idea of being able to divine potential future occurrences no olive crowns were on offer period of Greece. is an attractive one, there is a as prizes – the wrestling event lack of any geological evidence was also demonstrated twice Our final stops were Nemea, for any fumes or the mystical with surprising zeal on both where further races were held chasm. More impressive was sides. in the 4th century stadium, the temple of Apollo, and the the Roman forum at Corinth, stadium, the venue for the The last full day saw a consid- and Acro-Corinth, the citadel, Pythian games, although the erable leap back in time, to the with with the trip’s best views stone seating that we see today 14th Century BC and the re- - over the gulf of Corinth - at was not put in place until the mains of the palace at the top, for those who were second century AD, paid for by Mycenae. The giant Lion Gate, quick enough to run up in the Herodes Atticus. the deep cistern for obtaining sticky heat before having to water in times of siege, the hurry back to the coach for the The legacy of this patron was Tholos tombs, and the stunning airport. It was something of again evident at Olympia, with views over the plain made this a shock, therefore, barely 12 his Nymphaeum positioned a personal highlight. Similarly hours later, to be subjected to next to the temple of Hera at imposing was the fortress at the sub-zero temperatures of the north of the site. Both these Tiryns, in spite of its smaller November in the UK. buildings, however, would have size – both sets of remains and been vastly outshone by the their incumbent museums gave Thomas Kelly 6MAS Temple of Zeus, although the a real insight into the palace effect was somewhat compro- mised from our perspective by the fact both that it now lies in ruins, and that the site attendants, now armed with whistles, preferred to keep us as far away from the broken pieces of stone as possible. On to the running track, then, where we re-enacted the Stade race (the most prestigious foot race at the ancient Olympic Games), although unfortunately

17 Spanish Our first day in Spain was spent either in La Coruña for the Exchange boys, or at the school for the girls. On the way to Coruña we stopped in the nearby The coach was abuzz with industrial city of Ferrol, to visit excitement and anticipation as Zara’s fashion offshoot, “Pull forty or so teenagers (now & Bear”. We had a fascinating functioning fully, due to the tour, following the business slightly more “civilised” process from design and pro- departure time of 2pm) were duction to storage and com- handed their exchange hoodies. munications. After lunch at the As the bus pulled away, pupils National Museum of Science were given a chance to reflect and Technology in Coruña, on their setting and we had another tour, viewing companions, after the initial a variety of objects from a full hullaballoo of departure. scale 1970s Boeing 747, to a On Wednesday, we explored pair of hi-tech robots! A short the historic centre of The group comprised pupils of ride down the scenic beach Santiago. We were guided Spanish from both Abingdon, road found us at the Aquarium smoothly from the worn clois- and St. Helen’s. I suppose for Finisterrae, highlights of which ters of the University’s ancient many this added a new level of included sunbathing seals on library to the monasteries and interest, as they would be able the rocks and a 360° view of a convents vying for prime posi- to share experiences of Galicia variety of menacing fauna tion by the cathedral, and finally with two different groups: their within the incredible hollow the cathedral itself. We were exchanges and a new set of space of the “Nautilus” exhibit. blown away by its immense friends. The staff leading us on Finally, we returned to school proportions and the audacity of this challenging linguistic and and supper with our hosts. its aspect and decoration. The cultural experience guided us uneventfully through Heathrow and into the welcoming arms of our exchanges’ families.

We met our families at the school, Manuel Peleteiro. All were taken aback by its clean modern appearance, and large well-equipped facilities. It was simultaneously very different and similar to our own respec- tive institutions. However, there was little time to reflect for we were abruptly whisked off to our homes for the evening meal and bed.

18 jewel in the crown of Spain’s offered a commanding view of Baroque era did not disappoint. the surrounding terrain. It was Particularly highlights of the a romantic experience all in the structure included the gilded light drizzle of an autumn sanctuary and the wonderful shower. We then moved back insight gained from a trip to north over the border to Baiona the building’s roof. Then it was which was the most important back to school for a sombre Spanish port during the Spanish art-house film using conquests of the 1500s and themes including mental illness 1600s due to its position on and family sacrifice - this was, the Atlantic. It contained many of course, followed up by a ancient places of interest, but thorough writing piece for prep. the main focus was on the importance of its involvement in Thursday was spent with Columbus’ return from the families but included a friendly Caribbean in 1494 and the experience and linguistic chal- Spain/England football match, history, buildings and ships lenge rendered all involved tired although, even after a great associated with it. but content as the bus pulled comeback for the three lions, once more back into Abingdon. we lost 6 - 3. To add some ex- The final two days of the I speak for all the pupils tra structure to our long week- exchange were to be spent involved in thanking the staff end with the exchanges, there with the families. For me this from St. Helen’s and Abingdon was a trip organised across the involved watching my exchange as well as the exchange border to Portugal and Baiona play football on the Saturday students, their families and their on the Friday. A short journey and a rustic excursion for a long teachers, who helped engineer through the rolling hills of the lunch in the country of SE our first tentative but successful Galician countryside brought us Galicia on the Sunday. This steps into complete submersion to the amazing fortified town of gave me a real insight into in a foreign culture. Valenca. Built in the 16th Galician cultural life and century and entirely tradition. Hector Stinton 4OTL surrounded by prominent star- shaped battlements. It also All this wealth of cultural

19 China Trip On arrival in Xi'an, we first experienced four days of lessons, both in Chinese language and culture, with numerous, helpful teachers. We were taught the art of Chinese paper-cutting and learnt many new things about Chinese culture and way of life. Preceding these lessons, we spent an hour every morning learning Tai Chi, which is much harder than it looks.

In the evenings, after an enjoyable yet slightly repetitive meal, we often went out into the city. On the second night us lots of helpful background of them were studying English. we went to watch a light and information about the site on water show at the Wild Goose the bus journey and, overall, it On Monday morning of the next Pagoda, which was around a 15 was a brilliant excursion and week, we were tested in the minute walk from out hotel. This one that I enjoyed thoroughly. new Chinese language we’d was a great experience and learnt in our lessons and then gave us a chance to socialise In the days that followed, we boarded the two-hour flight with new people we'd met in visited a new university. It cer- back to Beijing. The hotel we our lessons. tainly had the largest campus were staying in was like I've ever seen, however this another world compared to Later in the week, we went to wasn't a problem as we had where we stayed in Xi’an, this I visit the world-renowned groups of helpful students to think was a relief for all of us. Terracotta warriors, just outside show us around. We played the city. It was amazing to see basketball, football and chatted The highlight of Beijing was the thousands of soldiers still a lot with the Chinese students visiting The Great Wall. Luckily standing so many centuries and shared our knowledge of for us the weather was perfect after being built. Our guide gave each other’s language, as most and we were treated to views back over Beijing and the surrounding mountain range. That is, of course, once you’d climbed the hundreds of steps, each about 2ft high, to one of the highest accessible places on the wall.

We had equally good weather when we visited The Summer Palace, a beautiful site with ancient buildings and a lake with an island in the middle. On

20 all of these excursions, we were able to talk to those friends we'd made through the trip, many of whom we're still in contact with. All in all, the trip was a fantastic insight into the Chinese way of life, an experi- ence to meet some people, and to practise language skills - I will certainly never forget it.

Will Clamp-Gray 5AJPE

We set off at four in the morning, none of us quite sure of what to expect. My first impression of Beijing? Big. We took another plane then to Xi’an. First impression? Smog. The sun is partially blocked out due to smog. There are so then had lessons, which were traders see tourists and give many people as well. Another fine as I learned about the “special prices.” It was easy to thing I learned about China is culture of China, as well as the barter them down to a that the people are very helpful, language. After they ended I reasonable, or sometimes really and a lot of them speak good met up with my group and we good, price. Fake beats were English, which was a great help. did an activity of some sort. the main attraction.

In the mornings we had Tai Chi, During the first week in Xi’an we Another great thing was the which was a bit of a culture went to the market, which was Great Wall of China. You could shock. It was really different to really very good as there was a see how well constructed parts anything I had done before. We lot of good merchandise. The of it were and how well made it was. It was utterly awe- inspiring. However it was quite scary at some points and it was extremely steep. Another highlight was seeing the terra- cotta soldiers. There were so many of them and they were all so well-crafted - it was such an amazing scene.

A warning about China though: a lot of the food is deep fried, which is amazing for the first day or two, but after that all the buttery saltiness makes you feel quite ill. All in all however I had a great time in China.

George Thompson 4JSW

21 Rugby This season the Rugby Club witnessed many successes, not all on the actual pitch. As a club, one of our initiatives was to be associated with a nearby charity, which we could help support and publicise through our games. ‘Special Effect’, based near Witney, have come on board and now feature on our 1st XV match shirts and we are proud to be associated with their cause, and will continue to support them moving into despite being a year young. The error count was higher than 2013/14. annual junior rugby tour was normal. However, our lead was again a great success, taking saved several times by the back On the field, 224 games of 40 very excited third years to three making try-saving tackles. rugby were played from Wales, whilst the senior tour In the pack, Thomas Guthrie September to December, with to Namibia was an experience and Rhys Humphries had a a 58% win ratio, which is very for all 44 tourists not to forget. fantastic game, both claiming healthy, especially in the light of Perhaps the most obvious tries and stealing a lot of oppo- the fixture card we now highlight however was sition ball. possess. Key performances witnessing the great numbers of included the 1st XV’s debut Abingdon boys representing In the second match, the score at the National Festival in the their school proudly, each and line was more one-sided, with October Half term, the 2nd every week, with 22 teams the backs claiming the majority XV’s success in the County active most Saturdays. of tries. However, Brecon High’s Cup, winning the final against inside centre caused us a lot of Cokethorpe 1st XV, and the Peter Coke trouble in the back line and their welcome sight of the U14 pack’s determination to turn teams winning 81% of their Junior Rugby Tour the ball over caught us out on a games. For me, one huge number of occasions. success was witnessing the During the October half term U14 E XV winning six out of break 40 boys from the third The B XV had a very successful their seven games. year and five staff travelled by first game against Colston’s, minibus to Wales for the annual scoring tries through both the Outside the School, there were junior rugby tour. As a squad forwards and backs. A again many highlights for the of two teams we took on three dominant scrum ensured the Rugby Club, notably watching different sides in our three-day Abingdon scrum half dictated Jamie Pearson representing trip; Colston’s Bristol, Christ the game and the end result England Under 16s - a very College Brecon and Brecon was never in doubt. The second proud moment for the school High. game for the B XV was a big and him. Also worthy of men- step for the team, as they faced tion is Theo Brophy Clews in In our first fixture, both the Christ College A side, putting the fifth form who, due to injury, forwards and backs were up a real stirring effort, but did not play, but was chosen as tested. Pressure was high from losing out 29-10. Useful lessons part of the England U17 squad the opposition and our unforced were learnt.

22 Off the field, the boys awoke on Tuesday morning in the midst of a Welsh adventure centre. After a quick minibus trip to an old quarry, we had our first activity, climbing. Although there were lots of failed attempts at scal- ing the steep greasy cliff faces, teamwork and cohesiveness were there to see.

After the climbing, we travelled even further into the Welsh countryside and set off with different instructors on a gorge walk. The idea of the gorge walk was to dive into water- out performance was the final Off the field, the tour will be falls and down naturally carved game against a resolute and fondly remembered for the slides. The sight of our soaked physical Parktown Boys High day spent at the DRC Schools prop resembling a drowned rat School in Johannesburg. The Project, where Abingdon boys was one of the lasting game, although lost 48 – 31, will threw themselves fully into the memories of the tour. be remembered for skillful play work at the community centre by all the Abingdon players, in the heart of the township Tom Haynes 3ALA and the never say die attitude near Swakopmund. This is not against a very large and physi- to forget witnessing the hom- Senior Rugby Tour cal side. The U16 side returned age left outside the hospital from the tour having learnt a lot where Nelson Mandela was For the 44 Abingdon school- of lessons, but really coherent then being treated or indeed the boys and five accompanying as a group. Having won two lion kill whilst on safari. staff the senior rugby tour to and lost two, it was good to see Namibia and South Africa so many of the young Abingdon I have no doubt that this tour encompassed almost every- lads stand up and be counted. will give the rugby season thing they could have imagined The highlight being the dogged ahead a boost. and more. defence shown when holding on to the 14-0 victory over Kieran Routledge 6LPGM The memorable trip to the Walvis Bay High School. Apartheid Museum, the very warm climate, the witness to the amazing work of the DRC Schools project, the many ex- periences whilst on safari or the sand boarding down dunes, oh, and yes, the rugby… the trip to Namibia and South Africa will stay long in the memory for all.

On the pitch, the 1st XV re- turned having won two of their four games, scoring 139 points and conceding 63. The stand

23 Doing Candide At the start of this academic year, I was very aware that over the following weeks I would be saying goodbye to many school-related activities that I have really enjoyed over the past 7 years: singing with the choirs, going on awesome school trips, even (believe it or not) occasionally playing with the sports teams. However, I knew that the one thing that at school, would be a My initial reaction was “YAY”, would be the hardest to say Bernstein operetta that nobody, as I thought I had landed my- goodbye to would be school it seemed, had ever heard of. self with a fun, substantial and drama productions. Therefore, do-able part for my final time on it was vital that my last expe- After immediately taking to the Amey Theatre stage. rience of doing a production Google to find out what However, it wasn’t until I was at Abingdon would have to be Candide was, let alone what it given the weighty script, the bigger, better and of course, was about and whether I knew even weightier music score, more musical-theatrey than the any of the music, and after and had a read-through with previous ones that I’ve had the being told by Mr T that it was the cast, in which we didn’t pleasure of taking part in. So, a fabulous show, I decided to even get through a third of you can imagine the look of audition. And after a few the musical, that I realised the horror on my face when in the evenings of dance-workshops, juggernaut of a production that first week back after a whole script-reading and song- I had taken on. Summer of eager anticipation singing, I found out that I was for Grease or Chicago or some- lucky enough to be playing Looking back on it, the thing along those line, it was the part of Candide, a naïve decision to take on a big role announced on the drama notice and good-natured boy who in a whopper of a production, board that this year’s produc- constantly finds himself in the in the same term that I would tion, my last ever production wrong place at the wrong time. be learning the crucial material for my A Levels, choosing and applying for universities, and preparing myself for a rather important interview at Cambridge, was made perhaps a little too lightly. However, now I can whole-heartedly say that I do not regret my decision in the slightest, as being a part of Candide was one of the most enjoyable, challenging and rewarding experiences of my school career.

24 The productions that I had been a part of previously seemed like a walk in the park compared to Candide. In Dr Faustus and Earthquakes in London, I only had very few lines to learn and my stage time was compar- atively minimal; for Cabaret, I had no lines to learn, and only had to perform the 4 Emcee songs that I had learned and loved since the age of 10. With Candide, I had to learn solo parts for 16 musical numbers, I had to learn the largest amount Candide was the type of show positive influence on everyone of lines that I’ve ever had to that involved everybody. There around him, exuding enough learn for a school show, and the were huge company praise and reassurance to stop only moments when I wasn’t on numbers involving sinking ships us all from going over the edge. stage were 10 minutes in Act and public executions that the Even if he went home after One, 10 minutes in Act Two and incredibly dedicated OA every rehearsal and tore out his the interval. Needless to say, it choreographer and performer hair for hours on end, he never was exhausting. Matt Hawksworth faultlessly showed it once. choreographed. Putting these That said, I had it easy in com- numbers together, and rehears- The worst part of doing a pro- parison to the outstandingly ing repeatedly in our frequent duction is the day preceding talented Christopher Young. after-school and weekend it. Is it going to be any good? Christopher played Voltaire, rehearsals was a challenge, Have I done enough? Am I the narrator of the musical, as we had to rely on all of us going to humiliate myself in and therefore had to learn involved to put in that 110% front of everyone I know? For a what seemed like 99% of the needed to make these normal person, being nervous is show’s lines, and had to find a moments work. School produc- bad, but for the overly- way to deliver these lines with tions are like sport teams in that dramatic, self-indulged people the same energy, interest and sense; when you’re not working involved in drama productions, diversity from the start through hard enough, everyone suffers, it’s worse. However, come to the end of the show. And on but when you’re all focused, as- opening night, after an top of that, he played the sertive and giving it your every- inspirational speech from our hilarious part of Dr Pangloss, an thing, you can make something director, we all felt ready to give estranged, corrupt and excru- really special. it our all and be the best that ciatingly optimistic philosophy we could be. And those three teacher, for which he had to So, in the week leading up the performances, albeit stressful, learn a chunk of solos as well. opening night, everyone tiring and really quite sweaty, His virtuosic performance of a involved in that show was are three memories from school hugely demanding role carried, feeling absolutely knackered, that I’m never going to forget. enhanced and stole the show. hoarse and on a very short fuse. But we certainly weren’t the All except Mr Taylor, whose This is because, unlike interna- only ones working hard to make constant calm and collected tional rugby tours or prestigious this production memorable; presence was, and always is, a debating competitions, doing

25 a school production doesn’t the opportunity to throw your- I believe that taking part in at earn you any medals, or self headfirst into a project you least one school production is trophies, or anything you can knew nothing about, and turn an integral part of one’s learn- win for that matter. Instead, you it into something you will regret ing experience, as it trains you are given the opportunity to never knowing beforehand. But in addressing an audience with make something that you are most importantly, you will make confidence and enthusiasm, proud of, something that can the most unforgettable and confronting any form of stage- never be replicated because of incomparable memories from fright you may have, and simply the way that you did it. the moment you audition, to just putting yourself out there the first rehearsal where you’re for the world to see, all of which You have the opportunity to forced to release your inhibi- are skills that one must learn make friends with people you tions in a room full of strangers, and practice before entering the would not necessarily other- to the final curtain call where an outside world, which apparently wise socialise with, and to bond audience shows their genuine is all a stage anyway. creatively over a shared interest appreciation of a term’s worth through working as a team. You of hard work. So if you’re reading this and have the opportunity to explore deliberating whether or not to and challenge your capabili- That is why I am eternally and audition for this year’s or next ties, and to develop them into inexpressibly grateful to the year’s production, then please, talents, and perhaps even find drama staff and creative team just suck it up and audition. and enhance a passion you at Abingdon School for giving never knew you had. You have me these opportunities. Toby Marlow 7SJG

26 Community Service

I really enjoyed playing dominos and hearing all of the stories that the old people had to tell.

We enjoyed making quizzes for them and then helping them to do them.

Visiting for Community Service was great fun, and personally I thought it was a useful and interesting experience.

Everyone at Fountain Court had amazing knowledge on lots of unexpected topics all of which led to many absorbing and intriguing conversations.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning all the stories they had to tell. They had really lived and were telling me this now and passing down their knowledge.

It was really fun and it was a very good experience. I really enjoyed it.

27 Christmas Concert It was towards the end of the Summer term that I was approached by Mr Stinton and offered the exciting opportunity of playing a piano concerto with the orchestra in the next Christmas concert. It was not something I had done before, but something I had always thought looked like good fun. Being more of a jazz musician than a classical one, I changing time signature, would the Big Band – Count Basie's knew playing a concerto would provide a challenge both to me The Kid from Red Bank. This be a challenge, but it's not an and the orchestra, and with this was when I realised I would offer you get every day so I in mind I departed school for a have to incorporate some decided to go for it. busy summer holiday. serious time for piano practice into my already extremely busy The next question was what September came, and I had just timetable. Also at this time I to play. Given my jazz back- about got my head around the was debating whether to play ground, thoughts soon turned piece, but there was still a lot of the Gershwin from memory to the work of George work to do. I was looking for- or not, and there was also a Gershwin and it wasn’t long ward to my first rehearsal with question mark about whether I before we had settled on the the orchestra and was unsure should play the 2nd movement Finale (3rd movement) of his what to expect. But before this as well. Concerto in F. This piece, with came, I found out I would also its fast tempo and frequently be playing a piano feature with I was apprehensive after the first rehearsal with the orchestra. It was clear that it was a challenging piece and that there was a lot of work to do. Although I had started learning it, we decided not to attempt the 2nd movement as well as there simply wasn’t enough rehearsal time. However, each rehearsal sounded better and better until it started to sound pretty good. The final practice before the concert was actually where I felt the most nervous. However, Henry Binning

28 after a clean run through, I felt confident that we could play it, so I wasn’t nervous any more.

The first half of the concert was made up of a trumpet quartet, first year choir, Second Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Band and Big Band. This all went well; I was confident with the Count Basie piece as I tend to have the feeling that with jazz, since it is mostly impro- vised, as long as you remember the basic structure, there is no ‘wrong’ way of playing it. was all over and the concert finished with the audience After the interval, and following singing God Rest Ye Merry performances by the Abingdon Gentlemen accompanied by Academicals, Abingdon the orchestra, something I Voices and Chamber Orchestra, was hearing for the last time at it was time for my real chal- Abingdon. lenge. About a minute before I went on stage, nerves crept in All in all, playing with the or- but only a very small amount. chestra was a fantastic oppor- I surprised myself with this – I tunity, and one that doesn’t had expected to be anxious all often arise for an amateur. I evening. As I walked out from am grateful to Abingdon for the wings on stage, I was providing a rare chance to do impressed by the turnout; the this, and to all the people who second concert was sold out. helped along the way – Mr Stinton, my teacher Lynette I really enjoyed performing the Stulting and of course the piece. It’s exhilarating having orchestra, led by Ian Chan. a whole orchestra behind you Even though I am primarily a and great fun (especially in the jazz musician, this experience loud bits). The orchestra played has helped me learn valuable it better than I had ever heard skills which I can apply to all them play it before, and areas of my playing and I would Gershwin’s dramatic ending jump at the opportunity to do it meant that it went out with again. I’ve also decided already a bang. After some bowing that if there is a next time, I’m (something I’ve never been very going to play Rhapsody in Blue. good at but I think did improve because of this experience) it Henry Binning VIVP

29 Lent Term

On 31st of January 1563, John and what they would pay are 1563 and All Roysse agreed to endow the just some of the Ordinances school and put his seal to a set (rules on how the school would That of Indentures and Ordinances; be kept) and guidelines that listing his requirements and John Roysse set out. However, 1563 was perhaps the most what he expected but as early we get the sense that had the important year in the history of as 1560 Roysse was preparing Reformation not occurred and Abingdon School. For this was for this event, as the endow- Catholicism still been in favour, the year in which John Roysse, ment fitted in with his sixty-third John Roysse would have ended Mercer of London, endowed birthday. A building next to up endowing a Chantry Chapel the school with £50 with which St Nicholas Church had been (an extra chapel added onto a to make a new schoolroom and acquired in 1560 in readiness. church in which prayers were in doing so saved the school. The endowment was worth £50: said for the soul, in order for a a lot of money back then. This quicker passage through purga- From at least 1256 (when Abbot was to remodel the building tory.) This is because on no less de Blosneville left money to the and create a new schoolroom than six separate occasions in school), and possibly earlier, the and premises. Roysse also the Ordinances he stipulates, school had been run in gave a building in Birchin Lane, “ The Blessed Trynytye have conjunction with Abingdon London, worth £26 per annum. mercy upon our ffounder John Abbey, a priest of which acted He stated that so much of the Roysse and all Christian as the schoolmaster (Richard income be given to the poor, People.” (or words to that the Pedagogue who is men- and the rest to the headmaster. effect.) However, in Item 24 he tioned in the 12th Century, even However, in 1863 the income mentions the “soule”, some- though the school itself is not.). had risen from £26 to £150 pa, thing that could get you brand- However, in 1538, Henry VIII with £12 pa still being spent ed as a heretic, and burnt! dissolved Abingdon Abbey and exactly as John Roysse had the school was left to carry on decreed on the poor. The All in all, the endowment saved as best it could under its old headmaster still received the the school from disappearing headmaster, John Clyffe, who surplus, which had risen to altogether. It was still far from died in 1540. When Christ's around £138, compared to the large establishment it is Hospital was founded in 1554, originally £14. now, but it set it on that path. it was given the responsibility of Of course there were other looking after the school. Stating the times of the school benefactors, and some might day (“in the sommer tyme come argue more important ones, Now we arrive in 1563, and the to schole at six of the clock ... but we have a lot to thank John connection with Christ’s in the winter, at seven of the Roysse for. Hospital was not as good as it clock.”) and establishing how had been. Although we don’t many scholars there would be William Sheffield 3NMR know who the headmaster was at that time, we do know that Richard Croose was the head- master in 1557, and John Argall was the head ‘before 1568’. We get the impression that the head at that time actively looked for a wealthy benefactor, preferably an old boy. His search alighted upon John Roysse, who was indeed a wealthy Mercer.

30 Lent Term

4th day of June, year of our Then to bed, following a supper Lord Fifteen Sixty-Two of turnip and soup, which left me very much pleased. At the seventh hour of the morning, I woke up for porridge 4th day of June, year of our and to ready for School. By Lord Fifteen Sixty-Three a quarter to eight, to school, whereupon would I start at At the fifth hour of the morn- eight. The school was in poor ing, had I to wake in order to repair on account of stretched eat flakes of corn and to ready funds. The pupils numbered myself for the coming day at only a dozen or so, and after School. By six, I had arrived morning prayers were said, did at the new schoolhouse, de- we study Mathematics: perch- signed to support 63 boys in es to pikes: the different miles: a space of 63 feet long. The and so forth, until noon. Then, new schoolmaster was very will no more leak! We learned to home for food, a bread and serious and honest, as he had Latin, and translated the works meat combination from Pon- been vetted by the Mayor and of Virgil into fine English; and sonby’s the Baker and Butcher. Burgesses of the town to be Smith failed to learn his vocab- Most delicious, and a better so. Following prayers to John ulary slates, and pleaded inno- name is beyond my ken. Back Roysse and all Christians, to cence. The Schoolmaster told to school, where I saw an old the schoolhouse where we him to write it on his prep slate man being conducted from the were learning the import of and bashed him with a stick for school. Wondering what he was using the semi-colon: all very his temporal sins. Then, most here for, into the lesson I went, exciting! To home for lunch, unusual for the day, the Mayor whereupon we were learning whereupon I happened to taste and Burgesses inspected the to decline ‘Rex’ without fail, a wonderful ‘Po-tay-to’, which school, as they are required or we would copy the whole hailed all the way from America. to do, with the assistance of section thricefold until we learnt At school again, we decided a learned man by the name of it. Smith failed the test, and did upon the boys who would clean Walker from Oxford. Yea, he curse thunderous oaths, the the School House every Satur- was verily fobbed off by my likes of which garnered him a day, as the ordinances declare. misuse of the apostrophe, for stern boxing around the ear But again to prayer, for the which I also was bashed with for his multitudinous sins. The second of the prescribed three a stick. At six in the evening, schoolmaster dismissed us times each day. The master we were dismissed: the school then, telling us to hurry home, exacts a penny in payment from being found to be satisfactory for it was five in the evening us, as the school is paid for by by Walker and the Mayor. Then and we did not want to be mis- the rent of a property in home, for a meal of bread and taken for treasonous papists. London. Thank God the roof cheese, and following this, to bed at last. Then up again, for I had quite forgotten my Latin exercises; this being done, I went to bed at last.

Edward Turner-Fussell 3NMR

31 Bridge Club After a year of lying fallow, the Contract Bridge Club was revived this year.

Meeting on a Wednesday afternoon, the group consists of about 12 players of all ages and abilities. Each term we have welcomed in new beginners who are initiated into the basics of the game. Special mention should go to Conor Chippendale and Bede Lunn, both in Lower School, who confidently hold their own when recent Bronze assessment trip playing with boys in the Sixth Canoe Club on the River Medway. This has Form. Julian Ting, Bart enabled a greater emphasis on Jennings, Nicklaus Pannu-Yuon Having waved a fond farewell working as a team due to the and Arno Liang are excellent to Dr Tim Gunn at the end of tandem nature of paddling in players and have been last year, it seemed Abingdon an open canoe. Another new invaluable in teaching begin- Canoe Club would never be the aspect of the club is the ners. In particular, Julian’s same again. However, our fears introduction of sessions in the astounding memory makes him were allayed when, on asking swimming pool. These have a formidable opponent. about the previous experience been really effective for teach- of his replacement, it transpired ing the more novice paddlers We look forward to building a that we were to gain a man who the basics before taking them bank of able players who can was a highly qualified Coach out on the river. Being able to meet socially at lunch times or Educator who has paddled all use the pool has also been after hours. Being able to play a over the world. Mr Newton useful for some of the more game of bridge is a useful intro- has proved to be every inch experienced boys. With some duction to university life, as well a worthy successor and the techniques such as the Eskimo as being a great pastime! The club is moving from strength to roll, it is helpful to have a body club looks forward to welcom- strength. of warm, still water to make ing more members next year. your first attempts! The swim- A great improvement has been ming pool is also the location of Katy Lee the addition of a fleet of eight choice for the occasional bout open canoes to the club’s of canoe polo. This is a furious current flotilla of white water game where tenacity and the kayaks and racing kayaks. This ability to capsize your oppo- has allowed us to broaden the nents seem to be just as useful range of our paddling skills and as paddling ability. It is great has given us greater flexibility fun and all the boys enjoy these in the type of paddling we can sessions immensely. Despite do. The open canoes have also the poor weather we have had, been used to replace the sea Mr Newton, ably assisted by Mr kayaks for Duke of Edinburgh’s Bliss and Mr Whitworth, has got Award expeditions, such as the us out on the river regularly.

32 Our program has been varied and highly enjoyable, allowing us the full range of disciplines from the new open canoes to racing kayaking. We have also expanded the activities of the club: for example, a number of boys opted to paddle the equivalent of the school sponsored walk. This allowed the boys who participated to gain their 3* touring kayak award. All in all, it has been a very successful year for the club, and all of the boys look forward to the possibilities brought by the coming year.

Finlay Garland 6JJ & Henry Crowe 6RMT

33 Robotics Robotics Club. It says it all, really. Two nerds sitting at computers typing an endless stream of binary and all the while discussing Star Trek. So naturally, I was interested!

I was overjoyed to see that the robots were to be made of Lego and that the actual programming wasn’t typing an endless stream of 1s and 0s but Squash resulting in a another 3-3 draw was a simple drag-and-drop against St Edwards, and a system. Each week we got a The season started off well with 4-1 loss against an extremely task of some description and a new face at the helm of the talented Wellington team that then both pairs would pit their coaching beside Mr Franklin in included a player ranked in the robots against one another in the form of Ben Rosec. Ben has top 10 in Europe. The season an epic contest. I only managed encouraged more structured culminated in a trip to Radley in to win twice, and both times I training sessions and tried to a 3 way round robin. Abingdon believe ‘the enemy’s’ robot was get the squad to pick apart their came out triumphant defeating unfinished. All the same, it was own games to identify areas Berkhamstead 4-1 and Radley great fun. that needed working on. This 3-2. This brought a close to a resulted in many of the boys very pleasing season of squash The robots themselves are all making significant steps for- where team morale has been built on the same base with ward in their game in the early high throughout, despite Mr various different devices part of the season. Franklin’s friendly, but some- attached as needed. The tasks what sarcastic comments on vary from something like In the Michaelmas Term there our playing abilities. My climbing up a steep ‘hill’ with were two fixtures. The first of favourite of these was when he gears to using light sensors to these saw the team travel to said that he no longer drive until you reach a piece of St Edward’s which resulted in considered me a ‘bad player’! white tape on the floor. I have a 3-3 draw. This was followed done it for all three terms this by a fixture against local rivals Special mention to Giles year, and always enjoyed it. Radley, which culminated in a Waterson and Charlie Roberts 4-2 victory: a very strong (Captain), who have had fine Archie Williams 3JPGB performance from the Abingdon seasons which saw them both team with tight 5 set rise up the order as a result of matches throughout the order their unbeaten records. Finally in both matches. many thanks to both Mr Franklin and Ben Rosec for The next term saw training for giving up their time to coach us many of the players disrupted and oversee our fixtures. due to the hockey and badmin- ton seasons starting. Fixtures, Peter Honey VIDRM however, came thick and fast

34 This was followed by For most of this year, every Chapel Life compelling group discussions Monday in lunch period, I have where we shared what we been going to a group called Y Great company, great conver- thought about the different which is a Middle School group sation and great food, what topics. We explored various where we discuss the Bible and more could a person want? Not foundational topics within the Christian faith at the Chap- a lot if I'm honest! Christianity such as: "Was lain’s house. We generally either Jesus mad, bad or God?”, "Did discuss a topic or ask ques- Every Thursday from 4-5pm, in the resurrection of Jesus really tions which we then attempt the Sports Centre Hospitality happen?", "How do we pray?" to answer. Some of the topics Suite, Rev'd Gooding accom- and what it means to follow we have discussed have been panied by Rev'd Steer, Miss God practically today. I would Science and Religion, suffer- Spurling-Holt and Mr Lomax go every week with some of my ing and God and the Gospel of gathered with us, a group of closest friends to learn, chat John. We have used the Bible; fifth and sixth formers, to and laugh, and I can truly say the insights of Bible scholars discuss some of the most that these Thursday afternoons and our own views to broaden important topics in life. Sitting were some of the most enjoy- our knowledge of the subjects down with a bacon sandwich able times I had at Abingdon. and help us to find answers. Y we listened to riveting speak- can be helpful when you wish to ers: some were teachers from CS Lewis once said share your views about certain Abingdon such as Mr Wickes, “Christianity, if false, is of no topics or ask questions about others were special guests like importance, and, if true, of God where you are unsure of Mr Perriss who was a teacher infinite importance. The only the answers. It helps you think here. He shared his own per- thing it cannot be is moderately more about your Faith and the sonal story about how he came important.” So if you are more confusing areas of it. It is to know God and his time as interested in what’s infinitely also a good way to begin your an Army cavalry officer - which important, want to help week, by thinking about God. we all found really captivating. strengthen your faith, or just We also enjoy some good food The speakers often shared their want exciting discussions, grab and get to meet the Chaplain’s own interesting life stories and a friend and come along! mad dog, Jetta! experiences of God together with sections of the Bible. Jack Wardell 7VP Blake Jones 3JRF

35 Choral Report The school chapel choir undertook two trips this year: to Mercers’ Hall in London, in November and to Keble College Oxford, in February. Mercers’ Hall is an extraordinary place, (and of course Abingdon has a vital link with the Mercers’ Company with John Roysse, who refounded the school in 1563, having been a mercer himself). Since then the We arrived and were greeted and full choir. I greatly company has been a huge and escorted to the library, with appreciated the experience of benefactor in the development no absence of comfy sofas. singing such beautiful of the school: the most obvious Then we rehearsed and then renaissance repertoire in a example of this being the sang for the service preceding place so emblazoned with donation for the building of the quarterly court meeting. We historic importance. I was also Mercers’ Court in 1994. sang the preces and responses amazed at how good the by Thomas Tomkins, and our acoustic was in the space, At Mercers’ Hall, which was anthem was Thy Word is a considering the chapel was not completely rebuilt after the Lantern by Henry Purcell, huge. The service was a great ancient headquarters were showing off the choir’s success, and we received a destroyed in the Blitz, there individual talent as well as standing ovation afterwards, were cabinets full of row upon ensemble prowess, with coun- something that apparently was row of historic items, and from tertenor solos from Hugh unprecedented. Then, back in every angle were sharp glints of Cutting and Lewis Spring, tenor the library, we were brought light from the many chandeliers. solos from Humphrey sandwiches and drinks, after It also happens to be the only Thompson and Sebastian which we departed for livery company to contain a Johns, and bass solos from Abingdon. It was a huge private chapel. And this, in all of Jack Gee and Anthony Bracey. privilege to sing in such a place, its historic splendour, sits down The piece intricately and seam- for a tradition that goes back an unlikely looking alleyway in lessly combines recitative lines for centuries, and we have been the heart of London. with a three part semi-chorus invited to sing again next year!

Going to sing at Keble College for evensong was also a wonderful experience, requiring a completely different approach to the repertoire and singing technique to fill the chapel with reputedly the largest acoustic in Oxford. Opting for a Victorian repertoire to suit the spacious Victorian neo-gothic chapel, we

36 rehearsed there, finding the seating space very generous indeed, and, after a break, sang for the service, singing the preces and responses by Bernard Rose, the famous Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G by Charles Villiers Stanford, featuring Cameron Thomson in the Magnificat and Humphrey Thompson swapping his tenor for baritone in the Nunc Dimittis. Our anthem was Wash me Throughly by Samuel Wesley, with a lovely treble solo by Hugo Eddleston. It begins Overall this year, it has been a organ scholar who was con- with the solo, and then after great pleasure and a privilege ducting the St. Nicolas, a week a tutti treble entry and a full to sing in places such as these, prior to the performance when choral section, it develops the along with the regular services we went to sing Evensong. second theme in a fugal style. in our own school chapel. It has been an immensely enjoyable We returned twice more to Personally the Stanford Nunc year in the choir. Keble chapel, once for a Dimittis that we sang is one of rehearsal at which I found out my favourite pieces of choral James Anderson-Besant 4CFC that Mr Dawson wished me music, gracefully intertwining to also sing the part of young the tranquil sound of the It was a pleasant surprise when Nicholas, and then for the baritone solo with the magic of Mr Whalley asked Cameron actual performance. This was a the full choir accompaniment. Thomson, Hugo Eddleston and tremendous experience since However, one of my most me to sing the part of the three we sang in a beautiful chapel memorable moments must be pickled boys in a performance with the Oxford students and hearing the basses’ low D in of St. Nicolas by the Oxford a visiting tenor and orchestra, the Rose responses “Amen” University Student Chorus in whilst Mr Whalley conducted a resonate around the building. Keble College Chapel on choir in the gallery above. The chapel also houses a new Monday 4th March. As we all organ built by Kenneth Tickell sing in chapel choir we got a Patrick Cole 3CAM in 2011, on which Sebastian chance to see the chapel (a Johns played the voluntary, magnificent building) and meet something he also did on our Richard Dawson, the 2nd-year trip to Mercers’ Hall.

37 Football Abingdon’s Football Club continues to surge on, after displaying a dramatic improvement in results in only its second full season. With three new sides added, and 50 more boys participating across the school, interest in the game continues to develop. A 62% win rate in the club indicates a substantial rise and hints at great things to come.

At senior level all sides can be very proud of their work. The 1st XI finished with a 70% win rate and showed that we are created by Thomas Padfield, was often put on the back now capable of competing Aman Patel, Matthew Hart, and burner, to the joy of the crowd. against the top second term Daniel Scott-Kerr were all key football schools. Wins against components in this excellent The 4th XI were coached by Mr Berkhamsted, Radley, Malvern, season. Keeper Christopher Middleton. Since he is an avid Rugby, Reading Blue Coat, and Cooke must also be mentioned West Ham fan we were MCS showed our quality. for his consistent displays. initially worried about his proposed style of play but the The 2nd XI recovered from a The 3rd XI, also known as the “keep ball” style, coupled with slow start to go unbeaten in the Upper Sixth XI, had an some excellent wins, showed last 7 rounds of games follow- entertaining but perhaps his methods made sense. Many ing the return of Mr Evans. The inconsistent season. Clearly of this side will move up to the industry shown by David displaying a kinship found 3rd and 2nd teams next year. Chadder, Omoruyi Giwa- in all the great sides, all their Osagie, and Othman Mirzan in games were full of goals and At U16 level, the A’s showed front of goal and the platform entertainment. Defending tremendous potential despite many injuries curtailing their pleasing start to the year. Playing with athleticism and style, the quality on show is encouraging potential for years to come. Strike partners Freddie Pinkerton and Jamie Bowles were both very skilful, scoring at will, whilst a midfield combination of Michael Dewar with Declan Field showed real creativity. At the back Jack Shearer was superb, yet again, and played with an intelligence

38 difference in close games.

At U14 level a newly formed A side took time to settle. Reading FC Junior Academy player Horatio Hirst was a real stand out player, whilst central midfield player, Joseph Delafield, showed real quality. At times this side lacked the physicality needed but given a year’s growth and some hard work on their fitness I am sure they will develop.

The B team had a most pleas- ing season. With a only a few losses on their record, and again large numbers taking part, I am sure they will and experience beyond his side superbly throughout - continue to gain these pleasing years, whilst Thomas Harkness never have I seen a more results. was the find of the season. natural leader playing both the holding role and eventually In 2014, the 1st XI will join the The U16B’s continue to score sweeper. In midfield William Thames Valley Independent goals and take part in excellent Whitworth was again highly Schools’ League, with the games. The 5-5 epic versus effective and was selected for organisers looking to play Berkhamsted was the ISFA schools national across the age groups in years symptomatic of their season’s representative side. Adam Lilley to come. play with a total of 18 proved to be a tremendously players used and a high balanced and key member of I’d like to thank all the parents, numbers of goals scored this group also. Strikers, staff, and boys for their support. being a mark of their free Christopher-James Nicholls and flowing attacking methodology. Alec Curtis, often were the Damian Shirazi

The U15A’s had a wonderful season under the tutelage of Dr Burnand. A win rate of 78% shows what a great year it has been. As the best passing side in the school, the development made in this group was clear to see. At the back Jeffrey Leung proved to be a brave and agile goalkeeper; whilst full backs, Conor Graney and Bertie Boyd- Gorst, were both solid and effective at retaining posses- sion. Jamie Cox captained the

39 to drinking temperature. I was Design selected to exhibit my work at the national exhibition of Technology scholars and it was a great experience getting real feed- The Arkwright Scholarship is a back on my product. national award that is present- ed to students who display a At A2 I chose a technology to flair or talent for design and use rather than a problem to engineering. It can be applied solve. I decided I wanted to for in the Michaelmas term of design a product around the the fifth year, with applicants turbos used in some vacuum undertaking an interview and cleaner attachments. I then aptitude test. Competition is researched many environments high and only 500 scholarships of use and possible applica- are awarded nationwide. On tions of this vacuum powered securing the award, guidance turbo technology. After many and support is offered through- ideas and a lot of research into out the sixth form, to prepare the limits of the technology, I the scholar for further study at chose to create a drill, powered university. by a vacuum cleaner, which left no trace of dust. I styled my Dan Hughes design to resemble a Dyson attachment and my final design was surprisingly I applied for the scholarship in successful (as many people my fifth year as I had already thought it wouldn’t be decided that I was interested in practical and able to function studying design and well enough). engineering. I was in the middle of making a kayak trailer Being an Arkwright Scholar has and used my design sheets to been a great privilege. It has explain my product to Arkwright also been something that ad- at my interview. mission tutors have asked me to expand on when applying for At AS level, I looked at universities. designing a portable device that could be used to keep drinks Jordan Anning VIVP cool at festivals and parties. We had to pick an iconic company to base our designs on, so I chose Guinness. After coming up with extensive design ideas and sketches, I settled on creating a cooler styled to look like a glass of Guinness which, by using a peltier cooler, has the ability to cool a can of Guinness rapidly

40 When they come to where The Pardoner’s Death has been seen all they find is a briefcase filled with Tale bundles of crisp bank notes. Filled with excitement, but then This year’s Third Year play, The overcome by greed, the Pardoner’s Tale is a classic folk Revellers end up plotting each story from The Canterbury Tales other’s death. The tale ends written by Geoffrey Chaucer. with two of them drinking We performed a modernised poison, bought by one of them version with the three from an Apothecary (Ethan Lo) Revellers (portrayed by and one getting stabbed. Mrs Thomas Foster, Ethan Sarphie Quick’s production was fast and Patrick Cole) as hard-drink- paced, and filled with ing bikers, out to take revenge excitement and humour. It was on Death who had killed a an enjoyable experience for friend of theirs. The set, built by everyone who took part in it. Mr Fraser-Mackenzie and Mr Harnett, was a room in a tavern, Thomas Foster 3GFP which then transformed with clever lighting, into an outdoor scene for the tale. The story is told by the Pardoner (Charlie Landells) and his assistant (Angus Pinkerton) to the other pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Among the pilgrims was Chaucer himself (John-Christian Davey). Other characters from The Canterbury Tales who formed the pilgrim audience were the Knight (Ethan Lo), the Landlord (Darren Maddison), the Landlord’s Son (Darius Oraee), the Merchant (Daniel Alcock), the Host (Nick Harris), the Summoner (Harry Best), the Clerk (Blake Jones), the Priest (Alexander Dalgliesh) and the Franklin (Henry Averill). As the Pardoner and his assistant tell the tale, the pilgrims take on the roles of the characters in the tale: soon after setting out on their quest to find Death, the Revellers meet an old man (Blake Jones) who tells them he has just seen Death by a tree, a little way off.

41 impressive collection of art and crash and halted. We were Art and design. stuck, with no way out. We were trapped for 30 minutes, Economics Trip Day four in the City of Dreams, tensions were high, but Mrs we headed to the Guggenheim, O’Doherty sorted things, with to New York where the art was good. Finally firemen who came and rescued we visited the Met, which was us. Walking the Highline was a It was a dreary morning at 4.30 colossal. Another fine gallery, lovely end to a lovely trip, with a.m. when we set off on our with amazing exhibitions and great views and benches for long, perilous journey. A cool 11 superb artworks. those still in shock! hours later and we had made it. Times Square bombarded the Our final day and our time in Overall it was an ace trip, and senses: the honks of NY was coming to an end. But the art was fantastic. Mrs angry cab drivers; the chill on there was no lack of adventure: O’Doherty and Ms Hancock the skin; the bright lights and a surprise visit to the Highline proved valiant leaders and we colours; the smell of burnt fat started with a severe lift/ all took a lot away from the and of course the taste of pure elevator scare. Moving from the experience. art filled the air. The first ground floor to the first, the lift/ afternoon was spent exploring, elevator let out an almighty Gabriel Drewett VIEOD eating and recuperating.

It was an all-American morning when we set off to the Whitney; a beautiful collection where our artistic passions burned bright. Next on the agenda was ice-skating in Central Park. All boys displayed extreme skill on the ice as if they were born to skate, particularly Jack Wardell and myself. The evening ended on Broadway watching Spider- man: Turn off the Dark which was a theatrical masterpiece, and held Mrs O’Doherty’s attention effortlessly!

Day three in New York City started with a boat trip with views of New York’s magnifi- cent skyline: the thick fog and poor visibility gave the city a mysterious air of serenity. After the voyage we had a moving trip to Ground Zero and then our last excursion was to the MoMA, which held another

42 On Sunday, the Economics company, and was followed by On Wednesday, the Economics group had a unique guided tour a visit to the American Museum group paid a visit to NASDAQ of New York, ably led by Mr of Finance. After this came the on Times Square, a virtual stock Boyd and Mr Fieldhouse. We undisputed highlight of the day: exchange, where they saw first firstly headed for the United a trip to the Federal Reserve hand a new company being Nations building - a Bank of New York, which listed and took part in the day’s fantastic photo opportunity - included a visit to the gold opening ceremony. before stopping off for coffee at vaults deep below street level. Grand Central Station, and then Nick Fieldhouse heading down Fifth Avenue and dropping in at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Monday afternoon saw the Economics group having a guided tour of the Financial District, which included visits to Wall Street, Federal Hall and St Paul’s Chapel. Tuesday started with a business talk and tour at Macy’s department store, which focused on the marketing of this hugely successful

43 Cross Country The 2012-2013 season was a season that was characterised by promise: promise for some extraordinary performances for the future as young athletes grew, literally, and also developed into better athletes. The mean age of the squad was very young: the only Upper Sixth boy was Mathew Hartshorne who was Captain, recipient of the Watkins-Muir cup and also Head of School, so he was more than enough in terms of representing his year Typically, we raced a few more group. The second race that stands races and did well, though this out was the Marlborough year lacked the zest and Two races stand out: the Relays because this saw, vibrancy of others: first, it was a County Championships, finally, a well-cemented team relatively young and because if I recall correctly (as I that exuded both a great inexperienced team with a am not one to keep logs and performance on the day, very low mean age with talent archives) this might be the and promise for the future. It equally distributed among the eighth consecutive year that we showed the younger years in a Lower Sixth, fifth, fourth and have won this event, at senior great light because, being the third year not, as one would level at least. Abingdon raced last race of the season, hope, skewed towards the well, given the extremely mud- confidence was high, older years. However, while this dy conditions, and secured first knowledge and skills-base meant that not many sterling place in both the U17 and U19 were enriched and, importantly, races and results were team categories. Several boys team and individual discipline delivered in the 2012-2013 managed to gain places in the had been accepted, under- season, it also means that next National Schools Champion- stood and established. The year and indeed the following ships, taking place in March: team raced wonderfully here one, we are being promised Thomas Kelly and Mathew and they all made me very great things. Promise, in the U19 category and Nat proud; they raced hard, pushed however, is one thing, and Jones, Teddy Curtis and Alex to the last metre and still had delivery is another. In many Munro in the U17 categories. smiles on their faces during the cases there is promise that Jacques Tasker and Harry post match dinner. We had, of sadly goes untapped or even Thomas also raced well, secur- course, also won comprehen- wasted. So we started to think ing places in the reserve teams. sively. and plan ahead, and this is an excerpt from a letter I sent out to all runners for the 2013- 2014 season. As they read the words again in this edition of the Abingdonian and if my pre- dictions are right, they will be smiling... they will also, a year on, have worked very hard and

44 shed a few tears and sweat in the process:

We have decided on a few aims for the new season: a) Attend every school-based race in the Michaelmas term (short distances) and place in the top three. b) In the 10k road races, for all team members to post a time under 42 minutes for Longworth (it’s hilly!) and an under 38 minutes time for all those at Bicester in December. c) The primary aim will be to race the Knole Run, to win it and to be undefeated in subsequent events. It is without doubt our strongest year for winning it and we shall take full advantage of this. This is of course a very demanding task but the process of trying to accomplish the goal will be fun.

Alexis Christodoulou

45 partners, attempting to show points out of a possible 60, German Social off one’s German skills, find including deciphering the On Friday 1st March I attended out who might be a friend of names of London underground the Oxford German Network a friend, and avoid having to stations from the German- social at Radley College. answer too many difficult ques- language equivalents and Having successfully navigated tions, which was often settled displaying a remarkable myself around the school to the by repeating the question or knowledge of German pop right building, I was greeted by answer in muffled English. music. a pair of boys from Radley, one After half an hour of fast-paced of whom offered to lead me to speaking, the food arrived. Overall the social was a great the actual venue. Having told Free food was a definite luxury, success. I really enjoyed the him which school I was from, I especially after the hassles of fact that it was held not in some was slightly worried to be led finding partners to speak with, sports hall which had been through a maze of passages and I can assure you that it was tackily furnished for the event, and down into the cellar. Was not left uneaten by anyone. but in a great cosy environment this some scheme of which seemed perfect for Radley’s to control the local Finally came the most presti- holding such a gathering. The rival schools? No, it turned out gious event of the games: the planning was flawless as there not. It was actually an under- pub quiz. Having assembled was just enough going on to ground bar, normally reserved the quiz equivalent of the 1992 feel that the time was for sixth formers, but today USA men’s Olympic basketball certainly well spent, without taken over by the German team, consisting of two Oxford feeling rushed. Therefore I really departments of several schools undergraduates, a native recommend a further gathering and Oxford University. German teacher, two Radley like this to anyone who even sixth formers and a pair of thinks about taking part, and After half an hour or so of Abingdon boys, we embarked I hope that a similar event will socialising, we all took part in on the event. After five gruelling happen in the near future. speed dating. This was 60- rounds and a bonus round, our second rounds with numerous team seized victory, gaining 56 Alexander Taylor 5JHW

46 defence. Lacking ideas, I Vongseenin, Adam Uberoi and Badminton resorted to the worst Bernard Ng, together with more This year’s badminton squad strategy - lifting. Of course, junior players Jonathan Chung, has maintained its record of that did not go well. Jordan, Adam Parkes, Ryan Ling and being all but unbeaten. Thanks realizing I was in difficulty, took Yan Yang Chen (among oth- must go to all players in the me aside and suggested we ers) for their efforts. It is this club and especially to those drop to the net every time they strength in depth which led who have shown exceptional served. It worked! We finally to victory in the quadrangular dedication during team training pulled through from losing to tournament played against sessions. These sessions have winning 21-12. It is this kind of Wellington, Eton and Charter- been given particular focus by teamwork and tactical thinking house and to maintaining our the great efforts of our coach, which has helped us maintain unbeaten record against other James Barclay, whose drilling our record this season. schools this term: 19 played, and tactical lessons have seen 18 won, 1 draw. In keeping the team improve greatly over Jordan is not the only player with tradition, the club went to the season. among our leavers who has watch the All-England excelled himself this season. championships, and also had This year we have played new James Zhou was an old an OA reunion event towards schools, such as Faringdon and member of the club, and the end of the season. King Alfred’s, both of whom having played as a team proved to be strong member ever since he joined Although good players leave competitors, with Abingdon the school in the first year, has every year, younger players beating Faringdon 6-3 in a evolved to become a senior evolve to become the club’s close game. As in the past few player in the club. He seems to core team players year by year. years, Cheltenham has been walk the court in singles and We certainly believe that our our greatest opponent. These is perhaps the most graceful players coming up have the matches have not been easy, player, on court, in the school. ability and potential to maintain with very close games going up Nicholas Chan has also been the club’s record in the to 23-21. However, our players a strong team player, making coming years. May I wish the have proved their consistency games against Cheltenham club every success in the forth- by beating Cheltenham five seem unrealistically easy. coming season. times in a row this year, without Credit must also go to Lower dropping a single set. Sixth players Daniel Chen, Gem Duncan Chow VITK

Our strong record this season has not come easily and it is only through continued team- work and the experience of our senior players that we have been able to maintain it. I remember in particular a game against Cheltenham. Jordan Anning and I, playing as a pair, were trailing by some margin; smashes seemed to go straight through my racket; my own smashes were returned by what seemed an indestructible

47 Hockey Senior Pre–Season Hockey to Bath University and Canford School

On Saturday 5th January, 23 senior hockey players set off on a pre-season hockey trip in preparation for the season ahead.

The first day was spent at the University of Bath’s Sport Train- ing Village. This impressive £30 million sports site was an in- spiring venue to train at and the Indoor Independent Schools’ team within the school takes players were shown around the Hockey League part in these leagues and from world class facilities that have 2013 the school that wins the produced athletes claiming Both Abingdon U16 and U18 A leagues will take part in a Olympic medals in the last four teams remained unbeaten Champions Day against other summer and winter Olympics. throughout their respective winning schools. Indoor Tournaments, with the After a day on the astro pitch U16s winning and U18s finish- The 1st XI had a difficult at Bath, we spent a day at ing second on goal difference. season in terms of results, but Canford School, Dorset. The Bas Marshall was named U16 started well with a 1–1 draw afternoon session involved player of the tournament by the against the league winner an indoor tournament, before opposition coaches. Radley College, and finished preparations were made for the season strongly, beating a the match against Canford the Independent Schools’ Hockey number of schools at the KES following day. The whole squad League Festival. Many thanks to those worked hugely hard for the leaving the Hockey Club – three days and made signifi- The Independent Schools’ Kieran Boddington (capt), Luke cant progress in preparation for Hockey League is a national Carter, James Rogers, Julius the first weekend of matches competition, comprising of four Coventry, Michael against Radley College. separate leagues. Every Clarke-Warry, Peter Honey, Max English and James Weaver. They have been a fantastic year group and have given a good deal of time back to the club in coaching the younger years.

The 2nd XI had a great season and having beaten a few schools’ 1st XIs in friendly fixtures, they were set up to challenge for the league. They

48 just came up short, finishing second after losing out to Chel- tenham, but should look back on a fine season. Many thanks to those Upper Sixth players that have given so much to the club over the years and to retir- ing coach Jeff Drummond-Hay for his years of service.

With a number of key players stepping up into the 1st XI it was important that every player in the U16s took responsibility The U15As won the ISHL by 3 The U14A team was led by for a greater role in the team. points from last year’s John Corran and had a great Bas Marshall captained the side winners Bradfield College. The season. During their league superbly and had by the end of team were unbeaten in the season they won three and the season forced his way into league, winning 6 and drawing drew 2, only losing to the 1st XI. Tom Best and Leo 2 matches, scoring 25 goals Wellington College. Charles Bethell ran tirelessly from mid- and conceding 7. There were Quarterman controlled the field and the team played some a number of convincing wins, midfield and with Jonathan good hockey in the first part none more so than the last Hurrell, David Mackney and of the season. The only thing game of the season against Sebastian Mulford threatening lacking was the goals, and this Marlborough, with a 12-0 win. up top, this team were always meant that after a few early Scoring 6 goals in that game going to score goals. The U14B losses we were off the pace in and the captain of the U15A team finished third in their the league and could only finish hockey team was Dominic league and were captained by mid-table. MacLachlan. George Strainge.

49 England Hockey National early in the game and held on their stride and put Abingdon Schools Championships – until the end for a 1-0 victory. under pressure, which resulted Oxfordshire County Immediately after the match in Noord-Holland running out Tournaments there was a shoot-out between winners. Abingdon and Grobflottbeker. Abingdon U16, U14 and U13 Mungo Graham did well to save Easter Sunday saw the boys teams progressed through the 4 of the 9 shoot-outs. refreshed and ready to go. First Oxfordshire rounds of the Na- Abingdon unfortunately lost match versus a Dutch ended tional Schools Competitions (a 5-4. The second match with 0-0. Both teams had chances round robin tournament Zuid-Holland was a tense to win the match. The final pool between Abingdon, Radley, affair with the regional team match saw Abingdon win 1-0 Bloxham, MCS and St from Holland scoring first. versus French team, Nord Pas Edward's) and moved into the Both teams had chances and de Calais. The final match of regional rounds. The team of with a minute to go Abingdon the festival was against our first the day was the U14A team scored to level the match 1-1. opponents on day one, that won the tournament for the The third and final pool match Grobflottbeker for 13/14 place. third successive year. saw Abingdon needing a draw Dominic MacLachlan opened to stay top of the pool against the scoring with a 30m run, DOMO International U16 a club team from Maastricht finished off with a superb Tournament, Holland in Holland. Abingdon lost this back-stick shot past the keeper. match and ended level on Abingdon ended 4-1 winners Teams from Ireland, Germany, points with Zuid-Holland but and finished the festival 13 out England, France, Poland, were pushed down to third in of 16. Belgium, Switzerland and the the pool on goal difference. Netherlands attended Europe’s The final game of the day was Well done to all the boys who top U16 Tournament. against the regional team from attended - the standard of play The first match saw Abingdon Holland, Noord-Holland. After was impressive. play German club Grobflott- a few early chances for Abing- beker THGC. Abingdon scored don, Noord-Holland found Steve Brenchley

50 Rifle Club The Abingdon School Rifle Club has seen another very success- ful exchange with the German shooting team. This year the Stade team of eight shooters arrived in the first week of the Easter holidays and stayed for a week.

It was straight to business, as the shooting match happened in the first few days of the trip - as good as it was to see familiar faces from previous exchanges and meet the new team mem- bers, shooting was the main item on the agenda. The match drinks with friends was enjoyed. some younger boys from the was a two day event, seeing a It was particularly fun to see Unicorn school join in to help. rather inexperienced Abingdon some of the OA shooters return The Germans were older than team taking the cup home by to say hello. us on average, but fortunately a narrow victory of two points. they were very friendly towards This was a particular highlight With the German team heading us. They had modern as it was the first time we have off home the following morning, equipment and looked beaten the Stade team in three goodbyes were said and an experienced, and that didn’t years. invitation to travel to Germany help my anxiety, but when it next year with an Abingdon came down to the actual The following days saw trips to team was accepted. I know I’m shooting I felt I performed well London, Oxford and Abingdon. greatly anticipating my final tour under pressure, with a score Unfortunately the weather led with the Rifle Club in my last of 187 from 2 targets. The rest to the open top bus tours being year at Abingdon, and I hope of our team shot well, and we quite cold, but the trips were that I can be pencilling dates came incredibly close in the enjoyed nonetheless. One of into calendars for the 2013-14 scores – the tie had to be the more social aspects of the Abingdon Stade tour. broken by an extra target shot tour is getting to know the other by one member of each team, team. The more long-standing Matthew Allison 6JJ and we finally won by 2 points members of the shooting club following Matthew Allison’s have seen four or five tours, victory in the final target. The so friendships are made and I was quite nervous arriving at Germans were good sports, strengthened year on year. It school for the match, because considering that they were used was great to see old friends it was an important competition to shooting on 50m ranges and and make new ones, and the against a team from Germany, found our one a new trip finished with the traditional and I was hoping that it would experience. I look forward to prize evening. After the formal go well. Unfortunately most of the return trip next Easter. handing out of medals and tro- our usual team was away on a phies an evening of food and CCF camp, but luckily we had Alastair Wilson 3JRF

51 Lower School Adventure Trips

The fuse lies unbroken in my hand, Tempting me to pull it. If I do, I plummet. If I don’t, I regret it forever. Fear was racing through my mind. Do I do it? Do I do it? I tugged, and fell, And loved every second.

Alexander Thulin 1NSH

We went on the Giant Swing, Where we had to “ching your bling”. The incredible height Gave some a fright On that Giant Swing.

David Bunn 1HFCP

Eight rungs A challenge A helping hand Then victory Only ants below.

Joseph Pearson 1NSH

52 Porth Ogof was like the entrance to the Void Pen y Fan and Corn Du were two brothers standing strong against sleet and snow The Brecon Canal was like a race track, filled with racing stallions The quarry first still as a grave- yard and then distorted by scramblers.

Hugo Eddleston 2SW

The wind was like an ice-cold breeze that burnt. The walk was like a life on the edge of death switching between the two realities. The mighty mountain was like an immovable horror. The snow acted like shifting sands as it was blown around from side to side creating a bliz- zard which turned into a living nightmare.

Conor Whelan 2SW The tunnel was the throat of the mountain Darkness cloaked me like a shroud Walls confined as a prison cell Friend’s light ahead like a firm helping hand.

Thomas Butcher 2SCVM

53 Summer Term Battlefields Trip On April 12th, 54 Abingdon pupils left on an educational trip to explore the battlefields of the Great War. With military precision the group boarded the vehicle that was to be our transport for the weekend. A sleepy bus journey took us to Dover, having paused to gather e-numbers and pick up our pair of knowledgeable Anglia tour guides. Hyperactive, the group then boarded a colossal P&O ferry, our gateway to the conti- nent.

The pleasurable two-hour journey over choppy seas saw Grand Admiral Turner-Fussell standing heroically up on deck yelling ‘Fire the 12 inchers!’ at random intervals. Mean- while, Nick Harris purchased Next we visited faithfully Mr McGill himself led a firearms to satisfy his thirst for reconstructed German daring raid on the local antique imperial dominion and Ethan trenches at Bayernwald. There shop, accompanied by a band Sarphie engaged in awkward our guides showed us of die-hard history nuts. The conversation with Dutch girls. weaponry that wouldn’t look group relieved Belgium of a few There then followed a further out of place downtown on a more scraps of the German war bus journey to our first stop, Friday night. Finally came the machine. Next, we were greatly Lijssenthoek cemetery in Bel- town of Ypres. Here we ate a honoured to have three of our gium. Here we talked about the fine meal in an amiable restau- number (Ethan Sarphie, Alex incredible work done by the rant and shopped at Leonidas Reynolds and Jamie Farrow) Commonwealth War Graves chocolate shop, where a bril- participate in the daily wreath- Commission identifying sol- liantly spoken Belgian show- laying ceremony. diers. ered us with deals. Our hostel was a clean, boxy, modern hotel, with six to a room, spacious interiors and a ground floor area with games, sofas and tables, which supported a very energetic breakfast every morning. On day two, following one such breakfast, the coach departed for another day of history and warfare.

54 Summer Term

Then we toured the infamous Somme region, an area of grim fighting in 1916. All day we zipped across the battlefields, passing the trench in which Wilfred Owen wrote The Sen- try. We stopped at a massive mine crater, Lochnagar, and our guides informed us of the perils of tunnelling under enemy trenches to plant mines like the one that formed the 91m wide crater. As it began to drizzle, our party arrived at Ulster tower, built on ground taken The third and final day saw preserved battlefield. Every- by Northern Irish Protestants further exploration in Belgium. thing from long dark tunnels during the Somme offensive; it We saw the great Tyne Cot through corrugated trench walls is an exact copy of a tower in cemetery, packed to burst- and bullet-riddled trees Ulster and home to a delightful ing with the commonwealth remained. I myself spent this collection of artifacts. dead of the infamous battle of visit poring over a large de- Passchendaele, a tragic battle posit of war rubbish: weapons, As we trundled along in the indeed. We also ventured into bombs, vehicle parts etc. As a bus our guides drew from their a very interesting and artifact- militaria collector I felt very at bottomless supply of knowl- filled museum. The museum home knowing that the fields edge at every turn. We visited had a device enabling those around me were the place the mighty Thiepval memorial who so wished to experience where many objects of my col- and Newfoundland Park, where smells similar to those of vari- lection started their present day the valiant Newfoundland ous poisonous gases. Cameras lives. division was massacred. We were wrenched from pockets, explored a memorial dedicated as Admiral Turner-Fussell We visited many cemeter- to the young Pals battalions appeared dressed up as a ies and memorials during the and yet another cemetery. All Tommy, puttees and all! weekend and the group paid were amazed when we saw all due respect to the dead and the patch of ground that once Our final stop was Sanctuary missing, who made the ultimate contained the corpse of the Wood. This was without a sacrifice for their respective Red Baron himself. By coinci- shadow of a doubt the highlight countries. In all ways this trip dence one of our historians was of the trip for many as inside was a huge success and every- a descendant of the British pilot the museum the walls were body involved in its organisa- who shot a fragment of Man- covered in war memorabilia. tion is indeed worthy of praise fred’s skull off in the war. Outside lay a perfectly and congratulations. Therefore, I say on behalf of all who went a big thank you to Mr McGill, Mr Hallinan, Mrs Northey and Mr Hofton. Congratulations also to our knowledgeable guides and patient bus driver!

Henry Waterson 3MRE

55 63 Miles in 24 Hours Inspired by a small black and white photograph of the 13 pre- fects who walked 63 miles in 24 hours in 1963 to mark the 400th anniversary of the endowment of Abingdon School by John Roysse, a group of 18 sixth formers set off on the afternoon of Sunday 28 April, with the goal of repeating this gruelling The boys and supporters ar- also to GO Outdoors Oxford for challenge. rived back at school around their generous donation of team 3pm on a gloriously sunny fleeces, and Waitrose and Mars Starting at Overton Hill near Monday afternoon to a fantas- Confectionery for mountains of Avebury in Wiltshire, they tic reception from the whole food rations. walked 42 miles along the school, and some well-earned Ridgeway, continuing through- hot food - and somewhere to All 18 boys who started the out the night, before joining finally sit down and count the walk completed it successful- the Thames Path at Streatley blisters. ly, and in doing so raised over for another 21 miles back to Special thanks to all of the staff, £7,200 in sponsorship money, Abingdon. They were joined at parents and OAs who support- split equally between the John Day’s Lock near Dorchester by ed the six training walks and Radcliffe Children’s Cancer Felicity Lusk, Adrian Burn and the 24 hour walk itself, espe- Research Fund and Abingdon Tym Marsh who were both in cially those on duty during the School bursaries. the original 1963 group (Adrian night shift. This team who gave is now Chairman of Governors) so much enthusiastic support The boys are now proud own- and 20 parents, for the final 10 really made the event such a ers of the special LXIII tie; a miles of the route. tremendous success. Thanks very elite group indeed. Let’s hope one of them picks up the challenge in 2063 …

Dr Jan Wiejak

56 Sailing The Sailing Club has had a busy year. In the Michaelmas term we at last managed to sail from Plymouth to Guernsey. Our first attempt had been called off due to forecast and actual force 9 winds. This time we set sail from Plymouth in the early evening and sailed overnight. At the end of the following day we enjoyed a spectacular sun- set off Pleinmont Point before finally sailing into St Peter Port. We spent two days resting and exploring Guernsey, which is a 'French/Norman' island with its own government, currency and couple of practices in rac- swim in Osborne bay off the a patois which is still spoken ing keelboats borrowed from Isle of Wight and then spend a by some natives. We dragged Queen Mary SC. night at anchor in Studland bay, ourselves away from the attrac- near Poole, enjoying the warm tions of the pavement cafes of DofE sailing is becoming very weather. St Peter Port and had a relaxed popular, and at the end of the sail back, arriving in Plymouth Summer term Dr Dudin organ- At the beginning of the sum- after about 18 hours at sea. ised three practice expeditions, mer holidays we left for the two led by Dr Dudin and one traditional sailing trip around At the start of the Lent term by Mr Bickerton. All three took the Greek islands. This year, we entered a team for the RYA place in the Solent, with Dr with Dr Dudin as skipper, we National Youth Match Racing Dudin's groups drawing the sailed from Corfu, going south Championships, coming fifth, at short straw with wind and rain, to Paxos and then to the Greek the Olympic centre in Portland. and Mr Bickerton's having mainland. The weather was This was an excellent result for friendly winds and sunshine so uniformly sunny and the winds an untried team after just a that they could anchor and generally light.

Last but not least the Friends of the Abingdon School Sailing Club organised a very success- ful BBQ at Oxford SC and later a dinner at school. The Friends have been firm supporters of the club, helping by raising funds and by assisting with the logistics of transporting teams around the world, even to Lake Garda last year.

David Bickerton

57 Young Art Young Art Oxford is an art com- petition open to schools within Oxfordshire to help raise money for Cancer Research UK. This year was the sixth annual Young Art Oxford exhibition. It is run entirely by volunteers and all expenses are kept to a minimum so that as much money as possible goes towards funding Cancer Research. 39 schools entered, making the overall amount of money raised over £32,000. The competition is split into three categories: Reception to Year 3, Years 4 to 6 and Years 7 to 9. I started my painting of the tennis ball going over the net This year, 2400 pictures were by drawing the outline, then entered and 440 of them were I painted it with the blue sky picked to be shown at the Ash- from dark to light upwards. I molean Museum. The theme coloured the net in with a sim- was “What I Love". Luigi Felici ple black and white and I then from Abingdon Prep came first moved on to the ball, mixing in the Years 4 to 6 category green and yellow together to for his drawing of a very de- create a fluorescent yellow. The tailed rooster. From Abingdon, thing I most liked about my George Simmons, Liam Rogers, painting was the tone and the and Jasper Dale were all picked angle of the tennis ball in the to be exhibited. I claimed third picture. I painted this because place with a painting of a tennis tennis is “what I love” and ball flying over a net and John because I have been playing it Allen took second place with a for eight years and I still enjoy it colourful and fun pastel today. drawing of a pig. Angus Blomfield 1BJLP

Angus Blomfield

58 Twelfth Night When Twelfth Night was first announced I instantly knew that I wanted to take part in the play. I bought the film from my local library and immediately knew which part I wanted to play – who’d have thought I’d find Shakespeare funny! There were limited spaces for the cast but most of the people who audi- tioned got a part – so we felt really lucky.

I had the part of Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a rich, wimpy geek who Sir Toby Belch (Nick Webster and Harry Donoghue) pretends to be friends with - usually because he only wants a beer! Matthew Coleman and Robert MacLennan starred Iwan Stone), had a plan to the old Shakespeare language as a wealthy punk girl called baffle Malvolio, a horrible, with modern devices such as Olivia who was longingly de- mean servant, (played by Ben texting instead of sending let- sired by Duke Orsino (Charlie French). ters. Miss Holt and Mr Cotton Ball.). Meanwhile a stranded were always there to help and girl named Viola (played by With millions of rehearsals after add some musical touches, Silas Gill) dressed up as a boy school and at weekends we while the tech crew provided a who served Duke Orsino, whilst performed for two nights - with great set, lighting and filming. searching for her lost brother our key objective being to make Sebastian (played by Oliver the audience laugh. Trust me, We all had a really great time Leafe). It sounded a bit com- we did, especially by including and couldn’t believe Shake- plicated for a boy to play a girl a boxing match, a guitar hero speare could be so much fun – I pretending to be boy! Whilst play-off and a Gangnam Style really hope we do Twelfth Night all this madness was going on, dance! We couldn’t have pulled for our English GCSE! Sir Andrew, Sir Toby Belch and it off without our Director, Mr Maria, the mistress (played by Phillips, who amazingly mixed Michael Sutton 2JAC

59 Chess Abingdon’s Team B began with 120 and 110, so realistically the an easy 6-0 home win against only way to get through was to The Oxford and District Chess North Oxford Academy B on 15 win on the bottom three boards League was again the main November. It then faced MCS's and sneak a draw on a higher source of practice for Abing- sole entry in a zone quarter-final board. But in the end it was don’s top players. With two of and was not totally outclassed. not to be. Abingdon needed our best – Edward O’Brien and Leon Wu achieved an impres- 3.5 points but only managed Alexander Lee - having left, we sive draw on Board 2 and Ray 2, winning on Boards 4 and 5. knew it was going to be difficult Ren won on Board 6. Team Team A comprised 1. Joseph to survive in Division III whilst B comprised 1. Oleg Kashirin, Truran, 2. Omri Faraggi, 3. Jeff developing younger talent. 2. Leon Wu, 3. James Ander- Abraham, 4. Edward Reynolds, But by the end of the season, son-Besant, 4. Rafi’i al-Akiti, 5. 5. Seamus Ramsey and 6. playing as “City 3,” Abingdon Ben Massey-Leahy and 6. Ray Daniel Lawson. KEFW went on had managed to field 19 dif- Ren. to win the zone, knocking out ferent players and finish above MCS in the zone final. Bicester 2 in the table, beating Following a bye in the first them at home and away by a round, Team A began their Knowing that Abingdon’s top single point. Our best result campaign on 4 team was at least as strong as was an away draw against December with a comfortable MCS’s entry, it was frustrating Didcot 2, who came second in 6-0 away win against North not to have met MCS in the the division, and we also drew Oxford Academy A in Ban- zone final. With this in mind away against Oxford University bury. The next round was a and with a view to gaining fur- 2. The main contributors were zone semi-final at home against ther experience, Abingdon for Dr Jeffreys (1.5/9) on Board 1, King Edward Five Ways. After the first time entered the “Last Matyas Hanisch (1/5) mostly on frustrating delays due to snow Chance Saloon,” held annually Board 2, Mr English (5/12) on in Birmingham, the match was at Eton College. On 10 Febru- Boards 2 and 3, Edward finally played on 30 January. ary a team of seven players, six Reynolds (5.5/12) on Boards KEFW’s top three players, playing in each round, 3 and 4, Rafi’i al-Akiti (2.5/7) graded 170, 175 and 148, were competed in this five-round mostly on Board 5, and Ray considerably stronger than our Swiss tournament in Eton’s Ren (3/5) mostly on Board 6. top three players, graded 119, magnificent “School Hall.” The other contributors were Jeff Abraham, James Anderson- Besant, Angus Chan, Alex Churchman-Davies (1/2), Omri Faraggi (2/2), Oleg Kashirin, Thomas Kelly, Ben Massey- Leahy, James Murray (1/3), Richard Oh, Mr Poon (1/2), Seamus Ramsey (0.5/2) and Leon Wu. Joseph Truran (4/6) played on the lower boards for Witney 3 in the same division.

The School entered two teams in the prestigious National Schools’ Championship.

60 Abingdon lost in the first round to the eventual winners, Eton A, but suffered no further de- feats. Led by Joseph Truran on Board 1, Abingdon succes- sively defeated Meden, Wil- son's D and Langley Grammar School, before drawing in the final round with Dr Challoner's to finish equal third, alongside Hampton B. Abingdon's side thus secured a coveted place in the national Plate competition. Congratulations to Joseph Truran (2/5), Jeff Abraham (2.5/5), Rafi'i al-Akiti (2.5/4), 6 stronger than our Board 1. fast, merely running down Mr Ray Ren (3/4), Richard Oh (2/4), The outcome was never Well’s clock without finding Seamus Ramsey (2/4) and really in doubt, but Abingdon’s good moves. On the last oc- Daniel Lawson (2/4). It is an players fought well and Rafi’i casion Mr Wells played the indication of the magnitude of al-Akiti came away with a draw. School, in 2007, he won 20-0. this achievement that Welling- Abingdon’s team for the This time Mr Wells, whose ECF ton College, who offer chess national stage was 1. Joseph grade is 234, beat the School scholarships and attract some Truran, 2. Jeff Abraham, 3. 19-1, James Anderson-Besant of the country’s finest players, Edward Reynolds, 4. Rafi’i and Joseph Truran coming finished below Abingdon and al-Akiti, 5. Ray Ren and 6. away with draws. failed to get through to the na- Seamus Ramsey. Abingdon tional stage at all. had enjoyed its best run in this The full Abingdon team was: tournament since 1989, when 1. Angus Chan In the first round of the Plate, the School reached the 2. James Murray on 20 March, Abingdon played quarter-finals of the Champion- 3. Rupert Kelley Aylesbury Grammar School ship. Abingdon School Chess 4. Edward Reynolds away defeating them com- Club is once again, it seems, a 5. Alex Churchman-Davies prehensively 5-1 to reach the real force in junior chess. 6. Oleg Kashirin national quarter-finals. By this 7. Leon Wu stage MCS had been elimi- The Club’s annual simultaneous 8. James Anderson-Besant nated and Abingdon’s next display was a main event of 9. Rafi’i al-Akiti opponents were Hampton. We Michaelmas term. On 14 No- 10. Ben Massey-Leahy had spotted Grandmaster John vember, our top coach Grand- 11. Joseph Truran Nunn with the Hampton squad master Peter Wells faced 18 12. Jeff Abraham at Eton, so were not surprised boys, from across the Abingdon 13. Ray Ren when Hampton’s Plate team age range, and 2 members of 14. Daniel Savage turned out to be strong. The staff in a tricky clock “simul.” 15. Joshua Strobel top Hampton player was grad- The time control was 75 min- 16. Greg Davies ed 167 and the team included utes except for members of 17. Praymore Shaba the London U12 Champion, Lower School who had just 30 18. Richard Oh Jake Liang, graded 149, on of the 150 minutes. This was to 19. Mr Poon Board 3 and a player on Board ensure they did not play too 20. Dr Jeffreys

61 In Michaelmas term, boys also Kelly and Daniel Savage were year. Seamus Ramsey's sec- competed in knockout tour- victorious, with Franklin’s and ond place was particularly naments in the Lower School, O’Doherty’s finishing second impressive. Middle School and Sixth Form, and third respectively. Thanks the finals being played on 23 to Dr Wiejak for help with scor- On 16 February, the Club January. In the Lower School ing. travelled to St Joseph’s Cath- tournament, attracting 26 en- olic College, Swindon, for the trants. Richard Oh, a relative The main event of Lent term, Wiltshire Junior Open Chess newcomer to chess, commencing in mid-January, Tournament. Ten Abingdon defeated Daniel Lawson to win was the school stage of the players competed, all in the the Nightall-Jakubovics Cup. In UK Chess Challenge, consist- Intermediates’ Section. After the Middle School tournament, ing of seven weekly rounds of six gruelling rounds, with a time attracting 16 entrants, Jeff rapid play. From 30 Abingdon control of 30 minutes, 7 of the Abraham defeated Joseph entrants, there were 13 who top 10 places went to Truran to win the Pearce Cup. earned sufficient points to Abingdon. Jeff Abraham and And in the Sixth Form tour- qualify for the Berkshire “Mega- Joseph Truran were joint nament, attracting 9 entrants, final.” Joseph Truran was the winners on 5.5/6 - which Omri Faraggi defeated Angus School Champion, winning 18 included a draw between the Chan to win the Harding Cup. of the 21 available points, with two of them - Rafi’i al- 5 wins, a draw and a loss. Joint Akiti, Daniel Savage and Leon The House Chess tournament second were James Murray Wu were joint 4th on 4/6, and was again played on a single and Seamus Ramsey on 17 Seamus Ramsey and Ray Ren afternoon, 12 December, as points, and in fourth place was were joint 9th on 3.5/6. Ben part of the Inter-House Com- Rafi’i al-Akiti on 16 points. The Massey-Leahy (3/6), Richard petitions. Houses were repre- other qualifiers, all in joint fifth Oh (2.5/6) and Praymore Shaba sented by teams of three and place on 15 points, were Jeff (2/6) also gained valuable tour- competed in a four-round Swiss Abraham, Alex Churchman-Da- nament experience. tournament. Three teams vies, Daniel Lawson, Ben eventually finished on the same Massey-Leahy, Richard Oh, Ray Twelve Abingdon players went number of points and were then Ren, Edward Reynolds, Daniel to the Licensed Victuallers’ separated by the total number Savage and Brian Shi. Remark- School, Ascot to compete in of games won. The Webb’s ably, three boys in the Lower the county stage of the UK team of Rafi’i al-Akiti, Thomas School qualified on points this Chess Challenge and seven

62 Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading. Last year Jeff Abraham qualified on 4/6 for the last round, the national "Terafinal.” This year Jeff finished level with Joseph Truran on 3/6 but Abingdon’s top performer was Ray Ren on 4/6. Murray also won – in straight sets!

Going up to London University this year is the latest recipient of the King Trophy, Angus Chan, who has been an outstanding supporter of the Club during his time at Abingdon. Finally, I am pleased to announce that the Club has purchased a unique qualified for the Southern England stars Marcus Harvey advertising poster of Magnus “Gigafinal” in July. Ray Ren and the Wang sisters, Maria Carlsen signed at the (5.5/6) was Abingdon's top and Anna, were Joseph Truran, London Chess Classic when performer, winning the U14 Ray Ren, Jeff Abraham, Edward he exceeded Garry Kasparov’s category ahead of Jeff Abraham Reynolds and Rafi’i al-Akiti. highest ever chess rating. By (5/6) and Joseph Truran (4.5/6). the time Carlsen is James Murray came home with Chess Club continued at a playing Anand for the World the U18 trophy (2.5/6). The more relaxed pace in the Sum- title in October, this portrait will other qualifiers were Edward mer term until 7 July, when a be framed and hanging in the Reynolds (4/6), runner-up in the minibus took Abingdon’s sev- Sports Centre. U16 category, and Richard Oh en qualifiers to compete in the (4/6) and Seamus Ramsey (4/6), Southern Gigafinal at the Andrew English runners-up in the U12 category. Also competing were Rafi'i al-Akiti (3.5/6), who only just missed out on qualification in the tough U15 category, Alex Churchman-Davies (2/6), Daniel Lawson (3/6), Ben Massey- Leahy (2/6) and Brian Shi (3/6).

Participation in county chess was left to the initiative of boys. It is pleasing to record that on 30 June at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School the twelve- strong Oxfordshire U18 team included five Abingdon pupils. Competing in the same team as

63 Debating It has been said that "too young" is just a name in China; this is a mantra we follow to the letter, and anyone, from their first week in the first year, can give their two pennies, from the intelligent to the inane (this year's highlights include using dolphins to replace liberal arts students - thank you Simon). To all those from the Lower School, I would say never to stop making pointless points, never to stop eliciting muffled "aww”s from the SHSK visitors, The Lower Sixth of 2012/13 is Don’t stifle yourself, and keep and to speak as often as you an incredibly strong year, and changeovers to less than 5 min- can, and by sixth form you'll all no doubt will put on a fantastic utes; you’ll be a great chairman. be positively Ciceronian. The array of politics, morals and society wouldn't be the same dodgy jokes for the school next Ed is full of surprises and without you. year. It’s a cliché to say that mystery - do you keep the it was difficult to choose who waistcoat on under your Middle School debaters con- should be on the committee, jumper? Is the ocarina even a tinue to present a paradox: but we really did struggle to real instrument? - and an we have some of the cleverest pick next year’s leaders. We exemplary debater; hopefully students the school has to offer, leave the society in the capable next year will see you in sixth and some of the most eloquent. hands of Jonathan Ainslie and form debating more often as How, then, are they unable to Michael Bicarregui as chairmen, well as continuing to fight for approach any issue surround- and Oscar Talbot, Edmund whoever’s human rights are ing women without breaking Cornforth and Thomas Munro being denied on Fridays. into giggles? Nevertheless, the as committee members. third, fourth and fifth years have Oscar, you are the only person provided us with wit and style To Jonny, I pass the mantle I have ever heard of winning a throughout the year, with some of making awful puns and fun debate single handed, from the of the fifth years even joining facts to lighten up the last hour floor, introducing the abstention in with the grittier sixth form of the week. If the audience as a third side to the debate. debating on offer on Thursday groans, that’s always a good If you keep on listening to the lunchtimes (notable examples sign. Probably. Did you know Smiths on those headphones, are James Beazley, always will- the first recorded “your mum” eventually you’ll find your own ing to speak at very little notice joke is 3,500 years old, and the Zooey Deschaney too. on potentially controversial punch line has been lost? topics, and Luke “Steve” Shep- Tom, your role is a tough but herd, who surpasses us all in To Mikey, hopefully the position vital one, and perhaps comes sartorial choices, but continues of chairman won’t stop you more easily to you than to oth- to apologise for it). from speaking in debates. ers. I leave you, our resident

64 right-winger, the advice I was no fixed speech times. As a and impressions, ranging from given by my old Housemaster result, and because of the more David Beckham to the Fairy (before he, perhaps tellingly, intimate setting, they become Godmother, with a truly left): more and more impassioned as fabulous appearance from Miss "It is always better to apologise a forum for people to fight for Lusk (Luke Shepherd). The later than to ask permission their own political, social and winner, and proclaimed before". moral views on topical subjects childhood hero of the society, I have found this doesn't apply throughout the year. inevitable in retrospect, was our on the M25, or in relationships very own Mr. Dawswell. with women. It’s not all so serious: our dinner debates this year Jack Williams VINF This year's debates have included a trip to Westonbirt covered the moral quandaries to discuss the photos of Kate of our age, from censorship Middleton’s breasts and some surrounding The Innocence female contact for the more of Muslims to female soldiers, adventurous of our members. from whether capitalism is evil The balloon debates flouted all to Margaret Thatcher's reign. serious arguments, with a Not only have we enjoyed heated discussion of who the top debating skills from the best video game character boys, but from teachers too - really is (Death), and who was amongst others, Rev. Dr. Steer our ultimate childhood hero. has spoken, with regular floor The latter was a prime example points from Miss Yarrow, Mr. of commitment to the cause, Franklin, and Miss Allcock culminating in a dance-off complementing the between Your Dad (Jonathan speeches. Sixth form debates, Ainslie - it got a bit confusing) held in lunchtimes, are much and Mr. Dawswell (Toby less regimented, with no formal Marlow), supplemented along opposition or proposition, and the way by fantastic costumes

65 Hadrian’s Wall At eight thirty on a sunny Friday morning fourteen budding clas- sicists and two teachers met next to a minibus for the first steps on their journey to Hadrian's wall. All of the baggage was loaded, Mr Jenkins arrived, Mr Colborn returned from collecting med- ical supplies from the Health Centre and all was going smoothly, until the lunches were replica chain mail - Romans Once again we returned to the left on the side of the parking didn’t rivert! hostel and after dinner set off space. Fortunately they were to not so near Carlisle for the noticed and loaded. After a After a light hearted GPS tour cinema to see Ironman 3. The gruelling four-and-a-half hour of the fort and museum we next morning we took another drive Mr Jenkins started to continued on to Chesters, quick walk and then went on to wonder whether this had been another fort, and engaged in the Roman Army Museum. Here a good idea. a friendly match of hunt the the chain mail was accurate stone phallus (used as a symbol even though a centurion quoted We visited our first site, Arbeia, for good luck/fertility) located Shakespeare. An impressive at about half-past-two. Arbeia in the principia. Chesters was film followed the journey of an was the site of a Roman fort most interesting for its bath- eagle and an auxiliary in their carefully situated next to a river. house and the well-preserved travails on the wall - of course The excellent reconstructions hypocaust. Corbridge was our it was all made better in 3D. A helped us picture what the fort next stop and was home to a slightly patronising hologram would have looked like 2000 pair of magnificent granaries, and several impressive exhibits years ago. which looked impressive even later we moved on to in their ruined state, a museum Vindolanda. Having arrived at our youth with a guided tour from a plush hostel, everyone settled down lion, and finally Charlie rolling The fort at Vindolanda was the in their rooms and, after dinner, down a grass hill while being most expansive so far and had decided to leave walking to the chased by compatriots holding the addition of a vicus (camp next morning. After a hearty his sweets. After Corbridge we followers’ town). The small breakfast we set off on a four hopped in the bus and drove to museum held possibly the most kilometre walk from Steel Rigg the Mithraeum, a shrine to the interesting evidence about life to Housesteads fort where I Persian-Roman sun deity on the wall in the form of the was appalled at the lack of Mithras. famous Vindolanda Tablets, one historical accuracy in the of which is a party invitation to a soldier's wife from her sister. After eating our lunch we set off on another journey, this time to Abingdon, our only casualty being Mr Jenkins' sanity.

Sebastian Jeffreys 3AMB

66 Berlin Trip During May, 27 fourth year pupils visited Berlin. Everyone arrived at Abingdon School coach park at 2:15 a.m. for an early start. Some of us (Red Rowan-Hull) looked to still be clad in pyjamas. He didn’t seem to care.

Problems were first encoun- tered at Heathrow. Micah Hayns lost his bag. After he had been reunited with it, he then lost all of his toiletries (which were worth around £50 in total) at security. Shortly after this, he Sites of interest included the We also visited the Olympic realised that he had also lost Reichstag and the Holocaust stadium where the Berlin 1936 his boarding pass. He was memorial. The Reichstag is the Olympic Games were hosted. having the best day of his life. German equivalent of the Hous- We learnt that the youngest James Gordon was taken aside es of Parliament and was burnt person to compete in the mod- and had his bag searched while down in February 1933. Bed ern Olympics was Marjorie I struggled to put my belt back was at 10:00pm after a stun- Gestring, a diver who won gold on, with my trousers falling a lit- ning dinner at a local restaurant. at the age of 13. Once we had tle too low in front of everyone. prowled round more sights of After an hour’s flight we head- The next day included a visit to Berlin and eaten at another ed through arrivals where Red Sachsenhausen concentration superb restaurant, it had gone then miraculously managed to camp. We were told by our ex- 10:00pm. get lost in a tunnel with no exits cellent guide all about the grue- and disappeared. After quarter some ways inmates were killed On our final day we visited of an hour he was found and from medical height checks the Stasi prison (Soviet police shown back to the group. with a gun-hole in the wall, to prison which mainly consisted gas chambers. This really made of political prisoners) and the When we had checked into our us all think of how awful it must DDR museum. Finally we vis- hotel we cruised round Berlin. have been. ited what was left of the Berlin wall. Tragic stories followed of failed escapes and even deaths of children killed escaping with their families. At the end we were all tired out and many of us rested on the journey back. We had definitely learnt a lot on this trip and wish to thank Mr Hallinan and Mr McGill for organising it.

Michael Fabes 4RP Michael Fabes (second from right)

67 Fencing It has been a triumphant year for Abingdon School’s Fenc- ing Club, with huge successes across all areas of the club’s many endeavours. This aca- demic year saw the re-intro- duction of fixtures for the club, after many years of just com- peting in regional and national competitions. The club fenced against Winchester, Bradfield College, Harrow and Wellington College, and won all the fixtures played – some by quite a mar- gin. Harrow were undoubtedly our toughest competitors and our match against them was In October we took nine stu- took a large number of fencers a closely fought one, which dents to the Berkshire Buck- to this competition and nine saw Abingdon’s Épée A and B inghamshire & Oxfordshire students won the opportunity and Foil A teams all win, whilst Fencing Competition at Langley to represent the school and the our Foil B team narrowly lost. Grammar School and came whole of the Southern Region However, with three out of four back with nine medals. In the at the English Institute of Sport teams winning, victory be- U16 Boys' Épée we cleaned up, in Sheffield in May. In the U12 longed to Abingdon on the day. winning gold (Jack Dawson), Boys' Épée, Matthew Green silver (Benjamin Schneider) won silver; very impressive as it Fixtures against other schools and Bronze (William Johnson), was his first ever fencing com- have provided the opportunity with the same feat occurring in petition. In the U14 Boys' Épée, for Abingdon’s squad to fence the U18 Boys' Épée too - gold Robert MacLennan also won competitively more frequently (Bernard Ng), silver (Herman silver. In the U16 Boys' Épée, throughout the school calendar, Chan) and bronze (Ivan Niko- Abingdon cleaned up, with Jack and this has undoubtedly con- laev) were all bought home. In Dawson taking bronze, William tributed to some huge success- the U14 Boys' Épée we won Johnson taking silver and Ben- es on a regional and national silver (Robert MacLennan) and jamin Schneider winning the scale this year. bronze (Louis Edward). Thomas gold medal. In the U18 Boys' Chan competed in the Seniors Épée, Herman Chan won gold Mens' Épée and won bronze. and Omri Faraggi also qualified. All in all, this was a great start Finally, in the U16 Boys' Sabre, to the year’s external competi- James Fotherby won bronze tions for the club. and James Beazley won gold.

The club’s success contin- Next came one of the undis- ued with the Southern Region puted highlights of the year qualifiers for the British Youth – the Public Schools’ Fencing Championships in March. We Championships, held at Crystal

68 Palace National Sports Centre in March. This year the decision was taken to run this compe- tition as an overnight trip – a first for the club – and seven keen fencers signed up for the opportunity. All students fenced well in both Épée and Foil, how- ever, the highpoint of the com- petition was an unprecedented all-Abingdon final in the Boys’ Junior Épée. Benjamin Schnei- der and Jack Dawson defeated the other 140 entrants in the category with some very close fights, and a tense final match It is a huge achievement to A major factor in this expansion between them saw Jack take reach the finals of the BYCs of numbers has been the ded- the title of National Champion as only a select few can repre- icated Lower School fencing in this age group. This was a sent the southern region at a session run on Thursday lunch- considerable achievement and national level, and all students times this year. Alan Knowles Jack must be congratulated on from Abingdon fenced very (fencing coach) has provided a his success here. well indeed. In particular, Jack popular and energetic session Dawson performed exception- for the younger students to try The last competition of the ally and finished in third place, out the sport and this has led year was the finals of the Brit- winning a bronze medal. This to a core of new fencers joining ish Youth Championships at places him as one of the best the club who will no doubt form the English Institute of Sport in fencers in the county in his age the squad of tomorrow. Next Sheffield. Herman Chan com- group. year we will be adding more peted in the U18 Boys’ Épée, schools to our fixture list and Matthew Green competed in So overall, the club has had an hoping that even more of our the U12 Boys’ Épée, Robert enviable year – winning all our fencers will compete in external MacLennan competed in the fixtures and achieving consider- competitions. Thanks must go U14 Boys’ Épée, and Jack able success at both a regional to our two coaches, Herman Dawson, William Johnson and and national level. Internally, the du Preez and Alan Knowles for Benjamin Schneider competed club is expanding, with more their unfaltering dedication and in the U16 Boys’ Épée. students joining from the Lower hard work. This year was also School and the third year. the last for Upper Sixth student and Fencing Captain Thom- as Chan. Thomas has been a stalwart member of the club throughout his time at Abing- don and I wish him the very best of luck for the future. Bring on next year… En garde!

Nick Fieldhouse

69 The U14s also had a fine first season as the ex-Lower School boys and new third years grew to work well together. The depth in this year group was clear to see with 24 wins and only 7 losses the end result.

The Lower School again proved to be hugely enthusiastic for the game combining external fixtures with the newly formed Cricket activities with a trip to the Unit- Abingdon Lunchtime Premier ed Arab Emirates and participa- League. The 2013 cricket season will be tion in the prestigious Emirates remembered with much fond- Schools Invitational Tourna- In all the 2013 season will be ness by both boys and staff ment. They then had a positive seen as a highly successful and alike, with the weather allowing if slightly inconsistent season enjoyable one. The huge devel- for a full allotment of games winning 68% of its games. opment made by all the boys and participation levels at an all Whilst this statistic is very pos- is testament to their hard work time high. itive this talented group could and enthusiasm for the game well have achieved even more. and credit must go to the staff In all, 8 centuries were made The highlights of the season who aid this development. as well as 44 half centuries must be the victories over Rad- and 8 five wicket hauls. It was ley and Stowe and the crushing The Cricket Club would like to clearly a batsman’s summer! 24 local wins against MCS and thank Mr Wickes, Mr Barker, boys were selected for either Oratory. With 90% of the squad and Mr Crichton who will be Oxfordshire or Berkshire youth returning next year the future is leaving Abingdon to assume squads as well as numerous very bright. new roles at other schools. others being involved in their Thank you also to the many respective inter county district Of the other sides the 2nd XI parents who support whole- tournaments. were the real standouts. With heartedly on the other side of only one loss the 2nd XI proved the boundary. I can’t wait for The season started in early to be full of quality and depth. the 2014 season. February with the annual U15 cricket tour. This year the group The 2013 season saw us field Damian Shirazi ventured to South Africa and an U16 side for the first time. the city of Cape Town. Positive This year’s group combined results on the field followed their record breaking GCSE as well as taking in some truly results with some very pleasing beautiful scenery. The oppor- results. tunity to gain an understanding of South Africa’s inspirational At U15 level all three teams recent history was also a key had fine seasons winning many factor in our decision to tour. more than they lost. The U15A side lost only two games all A few months later the 1st XI year and also picked up the started their pre-season Bunbury U15 County Cup.

70 CCF As the new academic year began, I stood in front of the returning cadets and fresh- faced recruits to give them my annual opening address. Much like last year, I was met by a blue and green sea of enthusi- asm and I had a deep feeling that this was going to be a very good year for Abingdon CCF. The training was quickly under- way with our first main event being the Michaelmas field Cadet for Oxfordshire he was Wengen Switzerland. The boys weekend at Bramley Training about to experience a year of enjoyed an excellent week Area. The cadets spent time accompanying the Lord Lieu- skiing with much improvement practising section attacks and tenant to many high profile made by all. Many thanks go to ambushes and I was extremely events around our region. I truly Mrs Cooper for leading the trip. impressed with the leadership hope that Sjt Sharp has gained skills shown. The weekend was a lot from this fantastic experi- In January we welcomed our quickly followed by a field day, ence. new SSI CSjt Matt Fisher to the this time at RAF Brize Norton, contingent. An ex-Rifleman, where cadets took part in a Our main effort in November CSjt Fisher was based at CTC range of activities including a was Remembrance, with pa- Frimley Park before joining the high ropes course, shooting, rades held both in school and school. We wish him well for his a talk from the RAF parachute in Abingdon town centre. Yet time at Abingdon. display team and a look around again, the boys’ turnout and a C17 aircraft. drill was exemplary and the The CCF annual formal dinner parades proved to be fitting was held in February at Abing- In October I was exceedingly tributes for the occasion; we don to celebrate the achieve- proud to witness Sjt William will remember them. ments of the contingent. We Sharp being awarded the Lord were fortunate enough to wel- Lieutenant’s Cadet badge. As In December Exercise Winter come Gp Capt Richard Maddi- the CCF Lord Lieutenant’s Warrior VII took place in son OBE RAF and his wife as our guests. The evening was a great success with many of the boys experiencing the traditions of a proper military dinner for the very first time.

After achieving second place in the regional Air Squadron Trophy competition in February, the RAF Section team pro- gressed to the national compe- tition in March. They put in a

71 superb effort, pitched against some extremely experienced teams and, although they didn’t place in the top three, they should be remarkably proud of their achievement. The RAF section is thriving and, along with various gliding and flying opportunities, two cadets, FSgt Finlay Garland and LCpl Mat- thew Allison, have also recently become flight staff cadets at 612 VGS. The Lent term progressed ex- Gp Capt Maddision OBE RAF, tremely quickly and, before we presented the Advanced Infan- In March the run up to Easter knew it, we were all at Knook try Cadre with their long await- Camp began with an Advanced Camp, Salisbury Plain, for the ed badges and congratulated Infantry Self Reliance weekend much awaited Easter Camp. the recruits as they passed out at Bramley Training Area. This The Advanced Infantry Cadre into their chosen sections, all was a challenging exercise were first to arrive and their proudly wearing their newly with the aim of perfecting field intensive training was quickly moulded berets. Cdt Bertie discipline and administration. underway. The next day saw Boyd-Gorst was awarded ‘Best The cadets underwent a steep the arrival of the recruits, some Advanced Infantry Cadet’ and learning curve and by the end nervous, most apprehensive, Cdt Peter Coope achieved the of the weekend, although fairly but all eager to see what the ‘Best Recruit’ award. tired, they were all full of enthu- week would bring. All cadets siasm. made superb progress during Summer is the quietest term for the camp, despite extremely the CCF but in April we had a The recruits experienced a day cold weather, and enthusiasm productive range day at of intense camp preparation levels really soared! Thanks Ottmoor. During half term three training shortly after during their must go to my team of Officers cadets took a break from their Lent field day at Abingdon Air- and NCOs, without whom this revision to visit the Defence field. Here they were also lucky camp would not have worked. Academy at Shrivenham for a enough to have a ride on an lecture on the Battle of Isandl- Army drops vehicle and watch The sun shone for the Easter wana and a guided tour of the a sneak preview performance Camp passing out parade, Academy’s Defence Capability from The White Helmets, The which was held at Abingdon at Centre. Royal Signals motorcycle dis- the beginning of the Summer play team. term. Our inspecting officer, The summer holidays saw an Oxfordshire Joint Services Cadet Weekend, cadets partici- pating in Southampton UOTC’s Summer Camp, RAF Summer Camp at RAF Brize Norton and Army Summer Camp at Long- moor. Cadets also attended the Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park and the Air Cadet Leadership Course, with one

72 cadet completing a Gliding This year as CCF Lord Lieu- about giving 4624 Squadron the Scholarship and another com- tenant’s Cadet for Oxfordshire freedom of the county. pleting the Air Cadet Pilot Navi- has been a marvellous experi- gation Training Scheme. ence, one which I shall never However undoubtedly for me forget, and which I am incredi- the highlight of the year was the This would not be such a busy bly privileged to have had. opening of the new wing at the contingent if it were not for the Said Business centre, where I dedication and commitment The variety of events, both was lucky enough to not only given by my team of staff. I military and civil has been accompany the Lord Lieutenant would like to thank CSjt Matt astounding, commencing with but also Prince Charles, which Fisher, Sqn Ldr David Haworth, St Frideswide’s day at Christ was a huge honour. There have Maj Chris Fletcher-Campbell, Church. There was a reception also been many other opportu- Flt Lt Richard Ashdowne, Plt Off beforehand and we were shown nities to meet other important Rebecca Cottam and also Capt the mayor’s office. At the ser- dignitaries from Oxfordshire John Chapman BEM, who left vice at Christ Church, Sir Rog- including the mayors of both Abingdon earlier in the year, for er Bannister spoke about the Oxford and Abingdon. all of their hard work. I would importance of the family. also like to thank the Upper This year has been a fantastic Sixth Cadets for all the effort The Remembrance parade in opportunity, and has also al- they have put into the CCF over Oxford gave the opportunity to lowed me an insight into what the last five years and wish be involved in a multi-cultural some of the influential people of them all the best for the future. service of remembrance. I also the county do on a day to day sat in on a council meeting basis. Maj Eleanor Kaye Sjt William Sharp 6SEG

William Sharp

73 Library Amongst the activities that focus around the library during the year, there seems a con- stant theme of reading and con- sumption of sweet substances is going hand in hand: Lower School boys meet week- ly for Books and Biscuits Club, choosing a book to read to- gether and debating its merits, whilst hotly discussing personal preferences for hobnobs or digestives. across the country. The stu- Abingdon Guildhall. Over 100 We are pleased to be host to dents post reviews on the students took part in the day- the annual Oxfordshire Book Shadowing website. long event, which involved dis- Award each year. During the cussion groups, rehearsals and year, not only does it provide Abingdon is also part of the presentations centered on the an opportunity to read some of Abingdon partnership of stu- shortlisted books (and cake). the best fiction published each dents from all six Abingdon The groups were led by PGCE year, but it allows students to secondary schools who share students from Oxford Brookes vote for their favourite book. Carnegie events. The shadow- University – and the competi- At the Award ceremony which ing year starts with the Car- tion was fierce to produce the holds in October, about 350 negie Tea held this year at St best presentation. schoolchildren across Oxford- Helen & St Katharine School, shire will have the chance to which provided students the Awarded prizes for best reviews meet the authors and illustra- opportunity to exchange first are Iwan Stone (Code Name tors that they have voted for impressions of the shortlist, by Verity) and John Dickson (also – and, of course, there is the comparing covers, ‘blurbs’ and Code Name Verity). Alasdair highlight of the day, the beau- first paragraphs and the oppor- Czaplewski (Midwinterblood) is tifully decorated Oxfordshire tunity to meet their fellow shad- highly recommended. Book Award cake illustrating owers. Best contributors (nominated the books. The Carnegie Medal by the group leader for their is awarded annually by chil- The Carnegie Quiz is next in the contribution to the group) are dren’s librarians to the writer of Carnegie calendar, where stu- Ben Ffrench and Hugo Eddle- an outstanding book for chil- dents displayed their in-depth stone and the winning group dren and young people. Chil- knowledge of the shortlisted presentation includes Jonny dren also judge the shortlisted books. Each school’s librarian Fieth and Thomas Shaw. The titles for themselves through prepared a set of questions on Forum votes Wonder by R.J. ‘Shadowing the Carnegie’. individual shortlisted books and Palacio as their winning book, Each week throughout the sum- awarded a prize to the student which as ever is not the same mer term, an enthusiastic group who had contributed most to as the national winner, which is of readers from Lower School shadowing within their school. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner. meet to discuss and debate the merits of the shortlisted titles as The process finishes with the Gaynor Cooper do many schools taking part Carnegie Forum, held at

74 Here are the two reviews for time at the ‘Hotel of the Butch- Can two best friends save each Code Name Verity which were ers”. other when they crash land in awarded prizes: enemy territory? In Code Name I found this book quite dull at Verity nothing is certain, espe- Julie and Maddie live under the start but by about a third of cially not the girls’ survival in an umbrella of safety. The thin the way through I could literally this gripping and heart-breaking canvas has stretched to protect not put it down. This whirlwind WWII thriller. them from the truth, the lies and of a thriller rips out your heart the torture of the Gestapo. But and throws it into the middle Despite not even knowing now a rip appears and danger of the resistance of Ormaine. I Verity’s name for some time, spews through the tear. Julie is loved the fact that these girls and not even meeting Maddie trapped in a cell beside an in- were from extremely different during the story - these are two terrogation room. She lives un- backgrounds but they had more warm and realistic characters. der the terror of Amadeus von in common than most people So very different; a rich wom- Linden. He is the main officer at from the same community. As an from Scotland and a work- the hotel where Julie has been Julie said, they would not have ing-class Stockport girl, but caught as a spy in Ormaie, met if not for the war. During united in their strong friendship where she writes the first half of the book I wondered about the and in their battle to prove this novel. underlined words but now I themselves in what is very understand, and they were like much a man’s world. It’s a twist of lies and truth, illustrations to this wonderful sometimes they are woven so tale. By the end I was reading The plot is a mine-field. Crush- cleverly I didn’t realise what with dedication yet I was hor- ingly sad and hugely inspira- was what until I read the ‘verity’ rified by the darkness of the tional, this novel will thoroughly later in Maddie’s section of the words in front of me. Fable move even the most cynical of book. In my opinion the most meets fact; Lord Nelson meets readers. Even the most experi- powerful moment was right at Peter Pan. If I had to choose enced readers will not predict the end of Julie’s section, when my winner now, I would choose this story. she kept repeating the words: ‘I this book. have told the truth.’ This linked So, this is a very different read. to her code name and gave a Iwan Stone 2SW Engaging, not completely... until desperate air to the end of her the surprising ending. This story will enchant the reader’s heart with a beautiful story of friend- ship.

John Dickson 1HFCP

75 Art

76 Gallery

77 Tennis In round 2 on the second week- deciding singles rubber, which end, Abingdon were in Group unfortunately he lost to one of This was another hugely suc- 2 and drawn against the three Reed’s many nationally ranked cessful tennis season that other schools finishing second players. began with the Aegon Regional in their group. Playing Radley, rounds in early September and New Hall and Charterhouse, we U15 Thomas Bowl - Tom finished with the Old Abingdo- again finished second behind Buckle and Alexander Skelly nian match on the last day of Radley and ended the tourna- have been part of Abingdon’s term. A vast number of players ment in sixth place overall. unbeaten U14 team and with have played throughout the another year in this compe- year in all conditions, receiving Independent Schools’ Tennis tition, they should be aiming coaching on a daily basis from Tournament to reach the later stages next Martin Butler, the school’s ten- year after this experience. They nis professional. This hard work U18 – Youll Cup - A strong beat Reigate in the first round, has seen the Tennis Club gen- Abingdon team were seeded before going out of the main erate some fine results; winning in the draw and after reaching draw to St George's Weybridge. Oxfordshire county titles, gain- the final at the St Gerorge's This meant that they entered ing individual national honours, Tournament the week before, the plate competition and after securing unbeaten seasons and were hoping to reach the lat- some excellent wins, narrowly collecting a number of trophies. er stages. After wins in the lost the semi-final to Repton on preliminary rounds against St a tie break. Peter Honey captained the Ten- Paul's, Kings's Taunton and nis Club and led the 1st team to Winchester, they met Reed's U13 Ralph Cake Trophy - a fine season of results. He and School in the quarter finals. Abingdon entered two U13 a number of other senior play- Reed's had beaten Abingdon in pairs into this event and with ers have coached throughout the St George's final and were the draw starting as a round the age groups at school and number 1 seeds, having won robin competition, both Abing- have helped to inspire the next the tournament for the past few don pairs finished at the top generation of players. years. Abingdon’s 1st pair pro- of their groups and moved duced some incredible doubles into the knockout competition. Independent Schools’ League play to beat the Reed's 1st pair Playing against teams that had in a tie break third set, but the also won their group, they were With sixteen of the top tennis Abingdon 2nd pair were not beaten by some strong opposi- schools in the south of England able to back the win up. This tion, but performed excellently playing in this team of eight left Giles Waterson to play a to reach the last 16. tournament Abingdon were hoping to build on last year’s fourth place finish. Going into the tournament as a seed, Abingdon were drawn in round 1 against Cranleigh, Dulwich and Marlborough. Playing both singles and doubles, Abingdon finished the day ahead of Cran- leigh and Dulwich, but finished second in the group behind Marlborough.

78 Oxfordshire Independent 1st team this season, Dominic Schools’ Tournament Whaler, Adam Pearson, Na- than Allaby, Alex Bond, Edward The Oxfordshire Schools’ Tour- Lowe and Max Finch made up naments are played at four the U16 A team. age groups, between Radley, MCS, St Edward’s, Oratory and U15s – Mr Deasy led this en- Abingdon. A team of eight play- thusiastic squad to another ers competes, playing singles great set of results. Many of and doubles, with the winning these players have worked hard school being the one that wins throughout the year and were the most games. Abingdon won fully deserving of their success. at U18, U15 and U14 level – a Captained by Sebastian Evans superb set of results. there were wins for the A, B and C teams against Welling- Inter School Fixtures ton, MCS, Stowe, St Edward’s, Marlborough, Radley and War- in matches. Edward Green led Seniors – This was another wick. This is a year group with the U13 team to a number of excellent season led at first real strength in depth and the wins and Ray Prince and Sea- pair by Peter Honey and Giles fierce competition for places mus Ramsey were unbeaten at Waterson. Their success was has pushed them all to improve. first pair for the U12’s. backed up by Jamie Bowles and Freddie Locock–Harrison at U14s – Dr Wiejak has enjoyed Tournaments second pair, and Nicholas Leah an unbeaten season with this and George Ruck at third. Good accomplished squad and has U14 Road to Wimbledon Tour- contributions were also made been able to rotate players with nament – A large field com- by Jack Maxted, John Wiejak the same results. The U14 A peted, aiming to follow in the and Oliver Phillips. team only lost 4 sets of ten- footsteps of current pupil Giles The 2nd and 3rd teams played nis all season, dropping three Waterson, who reached the a total of 18 matches through- against Eton and 1 against final at the All England Club in out the season and played Bradfield. Tom Buckle has 2010. The two players that pro- some good tennis. There are captained the team and played gressed through to the Oxford- a number of players here that with Edward Green at first pair, shire Finals were Edward Green have served the club well over with George Jeffreys, Alex Ling, and Lukas Ehlers. a number of year and are now George Strainge, Alexander leaving the school - many Skelly, Edward Adamson and Buckley Cup – After the pre- thanks go to Elliot Mills, James Max Mortimer all playing a role. liminary rounds, the semi final Zhou, Toby Brown, James Dew- Next season many of these match ups saw Giles Waterson ar, Robert Fishpool and Chris- players will be aiming to chal- take on Alexander Skelly and tian Huck. lenge the senior players for their George Ruck play Laurence places in the 1st team. Lilley. George and Giles pro- U16s – Once again led by Mr gressed through to the final Revill, the U16 squad have a U13/U12s – With a huge num- where Giles claimed the Buck- number of talented players that ber of players taking coaching ley Cup title for the fourth time. will be aiming to step up into lessons, team selection was the 1st team next season. With always difficult and over 45 Steve Brenchley Jamie Bowles playing in the players represented the school

79 all on to coaches bound for the The following morning, bleary PolyU Global PolyU student halls along with eyed, we went to listen to an all the other teams and their illuminating talk on entrepre- Challenge respective SAs. After checking neurship entitled ‘Entrepreneurs in we met the other participants change the world’ by the Uni- Departing for Heathrow at we had been billeted with - I versity of Cambridge’s Entre- midday the team (composed of was paired with Oluwasanya preneur in Residence Professor Henrik Cox, Harry Sandford and Awe, who studies at the African Alan Barrell. Keith then gave Jamie Sandall) was overcome Leadership Academy in South us a tour of the campus, which by an eager sense of anticipa- Africa. That evening we attend- among other things included tion. Having worked on the plan ed a drinks reception where the a robotics lab that helps reha- and presentation extensively 60 teams (half from each cate- bilitate stroke victims and the over the year we wanted to do gory - University and Second- university’s Michelin starred justice to our efforts. Fortu- ary) from all 34 countries could restaurant where students of nately the Cathay Pacific ticket introduce themselves and net- the Tourism and Hospitality had been covered by the com- work with each other. After this course practise their trade. petition and upon landing in we visited Temple Street Market In the evening we went for a Hong Kong we were met by a with the team from Hills Road Chinese meal in Harbour City throng of photographers armed Sixth Form college (UK), where (Kowloon) and watched the with video cameras to be inter- we were coerced into eating spectacular light show from viewed about the competition. at a side-street “restaurant”. across Victoria Harbour. We Whilst this was novel for the The vocal waitresses who had then returned to Mr Field- first five minutes, our tone be- captured us proceeded to force house’s hotel, the Mira, for one came increasingly despondent an elderly gentleman off his last rehearsal before the com- as tiredness set in and by the low plastic table to make room petition. The hotel was a source end inaudible grunts were the and ordering what we actually of added intrigue as this was only things leaving our mouths. wanted from the indecipherable where the fugitive CIA con- We were then introduced to our menu proved impossible as we tractor Edward Snowden was ‘dedicated student ambassa- were presented with copious camping out before departing dor’ Keith, who herded us amounts of rice and meat. for Moscow.

80 Jamie Sandall (left)

Competition day! We donned Ben Corpus of Baruch College charismatic Paul Pei. As Mar- our suits and nervously pro- (New York), who said techni- keting Executive of Ocean Park ceeded to the inconspicu- cally we performed very well he spoke of the strategies de- ous classroom to present our but that our idea didn’t quite ployed to counter Disneyland's idea - Lüg - an app-controlled contain the social aspects that arrival in Hong Kong in 2006. suitcase. The fifteen minute the winning team’s idea did. We then visited Ocean Park and presentation went by without Disgruntled, we then partook the markets of Mongkok. a hitch, just as planned. The in a comical Tai Chi experience subsequent questioning from in the sports hall en masse that On the final evening the Gala our three judges proved more roused our spirits. This was ceremony was held in the Mi- challenging. The world-class followed by a group Dim Sum ra’s ballroom which was quite judges had come from all over; lunch at Jumbo Kingdom (the a spectacle and a fitting end one, from South America, had famed floating restaurant) and to an unforgettable week. The made a 32 hour journey to be a trip to the Hong Kong Cyber- following morning we said our there. We successfully fended port. The view of the city from a farewells to Keith and all our off repeated assaults on our nighttime trip up Victoria Peak new friends at Hong Kong Inter- idea and in our eyes performed was slightly obscured by cloud national airport before returning admirably compared to the oth- but was still impressive. home. ers in our room. We were duly reminded by Mr Fieldhouse that Wednesday morning started Jamie Sandall 6JJ it is hard to view something you with a lecture from the have invested so much time in objectively, but nonetheless he congratulated us on our perfor- mance. That evening the results were announced and sadly we had not made it through to the finals, being pipped in our room by a composite Thai/ Korean team. We then dined in the university’s hotel restau- rant which had a beautiful view overlooking Hong Kong Island. The following morning we were briefed by one of our judges, Dr

81 Rowing J14 Sculling how tricky selection was for the coaches. This year was another highly A close victory over St. Ed- successful one for the Rowing ward’s in the final – this was In all, thirty-four boys won a Club with the 1st VIII winning not Henley Regatta 2013, but regatta trophy over the season, the Princess Elizabeth Chal- the J14 octuple event at Read- a record at J14 level that will be lenge Cup at Henley Royal Re- ing Town Regatta only a week hard to beat. In private match- gatta for the third consecutive earlier. This was the culmination es against other schools, even year – a feat not recorded by of a very promising season for a our D and E crew were beating a schoolboy crew since 1948. squad who have every chance C crews, and showed impres- The report here on third year of going on to emulate the suc- sive determination and focus rowing shows that there is great cesses of their seniors. that one would expect of more strength in depth in the club experienced crews. The A at the moment - the future is The victory in the warm sun octuple, on the other hand, clearly in good hands. was a fitting end to a season spent the season measuring that had begun in February with their increasing speed against a rather chillier victory over the a very strong crew from Win- same St. Edward’s crew out- chester; a shock defeat at side our home boathouse. The Bedford left the target to over- season had been one of great come Winchester by the end of highs and lows. Staring at the the season. A further defeat at waves rolling endlessly down Marlow left only one shot in the the National Rowing Lake at last race of the season at Nottingham and gradually los- Reading Town. ing hope of a chance to show just how fast our crews had Winchester had impressed due become – this was definitely the to their high rate of strokes per worst moment. However, there minute, with Abingdon look- was a great sense of strength in ing to generate a higher speed depth throughout the season, at a lower rate. As the boats with two trophies won by the charged towards the finish, a C octuple; the fact that one of heartening piece of commen- these finals was won over the tary was heard: Abingdon B octuple shows “Winchester are at the higher rate…but it isn’t working for them’, and Abingdon stormed through to a very satisfying vic- tory. Traditionally, Abingdon has struggled at J14 level against three-term sculling schools, so the feats accomplished by these boys are particularly impressive and promising for the future.

Hugh Price

82 83 Leavers’ Day Mathew Hartshorne and Oscar Newman, Heads of School As ex-members of the Upper Sixth, we are now, as you may have guessed, at a significant point in our lives. Here we are, about to go out into the ‘real world’, something that the last 13 years of our educational lives have been geared to- wards. We’ve planned, worried and worked for this moment, taken the exams and finally become OAs. This is where that distant point of ‘leaving school’ becomes a reality, and for some of us it may still seem rather surreal. Perhaps at this transi- tion it would be wise to take a look ahead into the future.

What will it bring? The great point about this moment in our lives is that nobody really knows. Sure, university per- haps, then a job, which would fit the majority of us. But what will we be doing in 10, 20 years time? According to the yearbook, Gareth Lloyd will be prime minister, and Gab Drewitt will be both a getaway driver and a stand up comedian. Who knows whether these predic- tions will hold true?

Let us not, however, forget the past 2, 5 or, for some of us, 7 years. I would like to say that everybody here is able to name more than a few things that they have gained from their time at Abingdon. Yes, you sit your exams and get the qualifi- cations necessary, but there’s more than that. As Mr Barker, our Head of Sixth Form said,

84 exams are not the be all and end all in life, but they do open a lot of doors and make the path that much easier. I, for one have learned skills and had the opportunity to experience things that I will most likely remember for far longer than how to conjugate irregular Latin verbs. Walking for a solid 24 hours along the Ridgeway and Thames Path was challenging, but then again, for me, so was a Maths A-level. It is under these various challenges that we develop, and our time here at Abingdon gives challenges that yield huge rewards and al- low you to learn about yourself This year group has developed some cases, outright embar- and others. It brings academic a real sense of community over rassing memories of the years ability but also confidence and, the past year, held together by gone past. more importantly, forms strong strong friendships, which, with bonds between us. the help of the OA club, should As I said earlier, nobody truly remain for many years into the knows what the future has in But despite all of this, I think future. I would like to think that store for us. However, I hope that it’s the friends we’ve made even with the year group follow- that whatever comes next, we along the way that will last the ing hugely different paths in lat- can look back fondly on our longest. This again is evidenced er life, those friendships formed time here at Abingdon. Thank by some rather sentimental here, on the pitch or in the you. comments in the yearbook, classroom, will still hold strong, which you may not suspect to formed over happy, funny or, in Oscar Newman VIPJEC have been written by a load of 18 year-old boys. I can still remember my first day, looking around my tutor group, wonder- ing where all these people had come from, and simply at how large the school was overall. For many of us, those first few days were the basis of friend- ships that would last for the duration of our time at Abing- don, and our school careers wouldn’t have been the same without them.

85 Stradivarius Exhibition Trip Stradivari. The world’s best violin maker. The creator of beautiful, amazingly ornate, perfect stringed instruments, and a pioneer in the field of musical discovery.

On the 2nd of July, a number of string players from across the school went to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, to visit the running from about 1700 to not because of its reverential Stradivarius Exhibition. We 1720. In this time, he made lack of use. No – the ‘Messiah’ were lucky enough to be shown some of his most beautiful has been played, on more than around by the curator of the violins, and some of the 11 one occasion, notably by the exhibition himself, Dr Whiteley. highly decorated ones, like the great virtuoso Yehudi Menhuin. Featuring over 25 instruments, ‘Cipriani Potter’. Stradivari It’s not as if it is unchanged, and a number of other signifi- believed violins should be either. In fact, nearly all of the cant objects such as tools and functional instruments, but he violins have had their necks letters, the exhibition was a would sometimes give them tilted and their fingerboards truly impressive collection of highly ornate decoration. lengthened, making the Stradivari’s best works. instruments more suitable to During Stradivari’s many years play on in the 19th century. The Antonio Stradivari, of Cremona of production, his constant tailpieces were replaced too, in Northern Italy, is a famous tinkering led him to change with intricate carvings of person whom we know the shapes of his violins many classical figures and other idols. almost nothing about. It is likely times, in the pursuit of a Dr Whiteley commented that that he was born in 1644, and superior sound quality. Con- Stradivari, had he been alive was making violins by 1666. It stant changes applied to his today, would not have appears that he was taught by products meant that no two recognised the modern instru- another fine violin maker, instruments are the same, and ments as his own works; a Amati, who introduced him that the sound just kept getting great shame, considering. to the tricks of the trade, and better. Thus, some of his later made the ‘Serdet’ violin with works, like the ‘Fritz Kreisler’ of But although the violins, cellos, him. Today, Stradivari’s instru- 1733, looked less beautiful, but guitars, violas and mandolins ments are highly sought after, sounded just as enchanting. in the exhibition were not all and some are sold for several There are lots of myths about 100% original, it was clear from million dollars. It is thought that Stradivari and his work. the number of visitors and the Stradivari made in his lifetime format and information in the about 1200 instruments, 600 or One such tale is that one of his gallery that the exhibition was a so of which survive today. most famous works, and one very popular one. The trip was of the Ashmolean’s permanent a great experience, enjoyed by Some of Stradivari’s most exhibits, the ‘Messiah’ violin, everyone who attended. amazing works came from the has never been played. While it famous ‘Golden Period’, is incredibly well preserved, it is Alasdair Czaplewski 1HFCP

86 Moldova After our AS exams, a group of 11 sixth formers and two staff journeyed to Eastern Europe for the annual Moldova Project trip. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe and was part of the USSR until its independence in 1991. Abingdon has been sup- porting the charity Agape there since 2000 and has undertaken an annual trip to run a summer school for children near the capital city Chisinau since 2003.

I made my preparations for this trip with some trepidation, especially as none of us spoke It was a common occurrence delicious, always home grown the language and I for nothing to come out of the or acquired at local markets. I discovered the currency, lei, tap and nobody seemed have never tasted tomatoes like wasn’t available to purchase concerned, even if the water it! outside Moldova. Encouraged supply did not resume until the by Mr Jenkins to take art and morning. Communication was The main purpose of the visit craft supplies with us for use never really a problem although was to run a week-long summer on the camp, for weeks before- levels of English were very school for children during their hand I cleared out cupboards varied. Three of our family long summer holiday whilst and cashed in Tesco vouchers spoke not a word of English parents were out at work and until over half of my weight limit and yet they were charming unable to look after them. We comprised art and craft items of and welcoming. There were a split into three activity every type. variety of situations, one friend sessions – sport, craft and stayed with a young family English – which we planned We stayed with families in Ialo- with a baby and grandparents, ourselves. We were normally veni, many of whom had hosted another had an outside toilet situated in the local school and boys before. We found the and shower, and some of us had the use of the gym and reception we received very had to share beds, while family classrooms but on one of the generous, as the families shared members slept on the couch days we moved to the everything they had with us, to accommodate us. The food community centre which is run however little it might be. was plentiful and extremely by Agape. We had sixty children to organise ourselves, which was double the expected number, so it could get quite hectic and busy at times, and was a challenge. The children had varied levels of English and were split into three groups according to their ability so it was easier to communicate with the groups.

87 We rotated through all the activ- ities to give some variety to the programme. I focused mainly on art and craft and our most popular activities were creating a giant mural and water bottle rockets, which we fired at the community centre for a special visit by the British Ambassador.

In the afternoons, we travelled into the city centre and met up with a group of teenagers our age who attended a young entrepreneur activity group outside school run by Agape. We were surprised and impressed by their excellent Bart Jennings (back row on left) command of English and we all made some strong friendships This was an extremely worth- I liked this camp very much, through sightseeing together while cultural experience and because I spent here the most and a business challenge. one I would urge everyone to beautiful moments from my consider. We made very enjoy- holiday together with my class- We visited some historical able, and hopefully long lasting, mates and with our guests from Moldovan sites such as the friendships and many of us feel Great Britain. At this camp I Milestii Mici winery, which it was the best thing we have learnt a lot of interesting and houses the largest wine ever done. Experiencing the useful things. I enjoyed my collection in the world, and cheerfulness of people living English classes, craft and sport. includes a secret door for the under very different economic During these lessons I felt really more valuable bottles. We conditions was eye opening good, because we were given also visited a beautiful ancient and has perhaps taught us a full attention and everything church in Orheiul Vechi, which greater appreciation of our own was explained in a very easy was dug into the rock and gave situation. We have resolved to way to understand. I would like astounding views across the return to Moldova under our to thank the Abingdon boys countryside. On the way, we own steam in the future to visit from my whole heart for the had a spectacular tyre blow out our new friends and see the camp that they had organised, but the driver carried on changes that are constantly for the care and their friendship. regardless! This is to be expect- happening in the country. ed on Moldovan roads, but was Cristina Bubulici an unnerving start to the day. Bart Jennings 6RJG I have never believed that you can spent a holiday at school and in a very interesting way. But it was made possible by our teacher Miss Placinta, that invited us to practise English language together with students from Abingdon School. Coming to school I made new friends,

88 and we cooperated in English groups, art and sport. Sweets, sandwiches, pizza and ice cream were never missed at our lunch.

Unforgettable was the meeting with Great Britain Ambassador in Moldova. He visited us at Agape Community Centre. We launched fireworks manufactured by us and we played football.

We owe all these to our guests from England. THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel Frecautan

89 as banks and coffeehouses. graphic of our society. We IGeo Japan Trip Therefore it would be wrong to currently have an ageing call the high street “dead”. population and many British Congratulations to Richard communities are often Matousek who was selected However, there is no getting segregated by ethnicity and to represent the UK at the 10th round the fact that our town socioeconomic status. The International Geography centres are vulnerable to town centre should be Olympiad, iGeo, in Kyoto, competition, and I strongly protected, as it is a common Japan during the summer believe that action should be forum for all generations, based on his performance in taken to stem the decline of the cultures and backgrounds. the nationwide Geography high street. This would be the Olympiad competition for which most beneficial solution for the Additionally, the centre-based he wrote the following essay on people and the economy of a model for retail and services changing shopping habits: community even though it may in towns and cities is sustain- seem easier to carry on able. However, building on the I believe that shopping habits developing out-of-town rural-urban fringe increases the have changed and that high shopping centres as town rate of urban sprawl, which is street retail is declining as a centres are a vital part of our an extremely inefficient result; however, I disagree with lives. phenomenon for the growth of the assumption that out-of- towns. The fact that the town shopping is the way to go. Firstly there are social reasons; businesses are much more the town centre has always dispersed than in the centre In the past few decades, our been a cultural and social hub. also increases car dependency shopping habits have changed The citizens of a community and leads to increased costs dramatically. Since the 1970s have a social need to meet, for the local government. This we have been shopping less either for a work appointment is because now more services in small, independent shops or a casual rendezvous. and infrastructure such as situated on the high street and Meeting is important because sewers must be built, but to instead, we buy more from it allows new relationships to serve fewer businesses than hypermarkets and superstores. form and allows us to share our they would in a higher- Internet shopping has also ideas and thus to develop our density city centre. grown rapidly over the past culture. Furthermore, despite Consequently, keeping as much few years; the number of Brits the rise of social-media, face- retail and services within the shopping online rose by 24.7% to-face meeting is still crucial town centres as possible is a between 2006 and 2007. in the development of society. much more economical method This is particularly important for local councils. I therefore Despite this trend however, regarding the current demo- disagree with the description I would not say that the high street is “dead in the water”. In fact quite a few independent retailers have found a niche and have managed, not only to survive, but even to flourish in their communities and sustain vibrancy in the centre. The high street is also used by national and multinational chains such

90 of out-of-town shopping as the “way forward”.

Furthermore, the perception that out-of-town shopping is the preferred method of shopping by the consumer is inaccurate. Two good examples of this are the cities of Manchester and Bristol. Both have large out-of-town shop- ping centres - Manchester has Richard Matousek the Trafford Centre and Bristol the Mall at Cribbs Causeway - in Bath and Dolphin Square in examples of services that can- as well as city-centre shopping Weston-super-Mare is currently not be replaced. Shops tailored centres - Manchester Arndale being overhauled. I believe that to a nearby service such as a and Cabot Circus in Bristol. areas like Greater Manchester sports shop near a gym would Year upon year the out-of-town should use a similar approach, also be difficult to replace centres’ footfall figures are whereby nearby towns undergo because they immediately lower than those of the smaller, a redevelopment - not just the provide consumers with the central shopping main city – especially because goods they need. As is being centres’. Cabot Circus for ex- they generally have fewer done with the new hospital in ample receives over one-and- facilities to attract consumers. Altrincham, public services a-half times as many visitors should be offered alongside as the Mall. This shows how I would also agree that our these services, to keep citizens the city centre - often nearer to town centres could be better coming. Another effective way consumers’ homes - is often used to support economic to invigorate the town centre is the preferred destination; only growth. Since many goods can to have public events such as sometimes some help is be provided by shopping online markets, festivals and work- needed through investment. and out-of-town, the future of shops throughout the year. the town centre lies in mainly In both city centres the retail offering services - especially In conclusion, I agree with the in nearby towns declined as a leisure - which are difficult to government’s decision to ban result of the out-of-town replace with online and out-of- new out-of-town shopping centres, showing how out- town retail. This would provide centres from being built of-town developments suck more stable economic growth because they extract vitality footfall, jobs and vitality from as shown by the fact that the from the high street. Instead, town centres. Altrincham for number of “Eating-and-Drink- we should invest more in our example, twenty-minutes from ing-Out” businesses has risen high streets smartly, so as to the Trafford Centre, has a shop by 25% since 2006, despite the keep them growing as they vacancy rate of almost 30%. overall figures for businesses provide an indispensable forum The towns around the Mall were declining. Many of these for our communities and are the not as badly affected but the services such as pubs and most sustainable option for the main difference is that the restaurants also maintain an future planning. centres of these towns were important vibrant nightlife in the greatly redeveloped; the town centre. Hostels, gyms and Richard Matousek 5DJB SouthGate precinct was built artisan shops provide other

91 India Trip Twelve members of the Lower Sixth, led by Mr Fishpool and Mr Ghosh, made the trip to India in order to study develop- ment and inequality as well as seeing the sights in New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai. The majority of us hadn’t been to India before, but we certainly made the most of our ten day long stint, learning about both India’s vibrant and varied culture and increasing importance as an economic powerhouse and key player on the geopolitical stage. to the impressive Jama Mosque we rose early to go to the Taj The journey began in New in the monsoon rain, and a rick- Mahal, which was even more Delhi, where shortly after shaw ride around the narrow ornate and spectacular than we arriving we were whisked off to and chaotic streets of Old Delhi. could ever have imagined. G.D. Goenka, one of the best and most expensive schools Next we moved on to Agra, Jaipur, the Pink City, was the in the Delhi area to meet the via Vrindavan, a small town third leg of the journey, where pupils and discuss everything known for its many temples of the main event was a trip to the from globalisation and British the Hindu deity, Lord Krishna. astonishing Amer Fort in the climate to Δlt – J and Indian We entered one such temple, hills above the city. We arrived post-rock. We all got along well Banke Bihari, accompanied by atop Indian elephants, an and it was interesting to learn our friends from G.D. Goenka, excellent way to get superb about an alien culture from the to witness one hectic ceremo- views of the hills leading down viewpoint of people of our own ny, which involved tokens and to the city below, and, having age. While in Delhi we also coins being thrown towards a fought our way through the looked round the spectacular statue of Krishna and crowds hordes of hawkers in the fort’s presidential palace, Rashtra- rushing in to see the figure of main square, the stronghold pati Bhavan, and paid a visit the deity. One boy, caught in and the views from its ramparts to Adrian Mutton OA who runs the crush of bodies, remarked were spectacular. Our successful market entry “It’s not quite Friday morning accommodation in Jaipur also services company Sannam S4. chapel, is it?” became a favourite; a He told us about the value of family-run bedsit with a rooftop the Indian economy to We also rode tuk tuks down to terrace which we were sad to transnational corporations. the riverside, a serene place leave. where ruins stretched right to The highlight for most of us, the water and people sat However, spirits were soon however, was the morning looking over the water at fishing lifted as we arrived in bustling spent in Old Delhi; a surreal visit boats. The next morning Mumbai, the most populous

92 city in India. The main event of this part of our journey was a visit to Dharavi, one of the largest slums in the world and home to between 600,000 and 1 million people. It is also a key location for the recycling and reprocessing of everything from coke bottles to dregs of cooking fat, and it was very interesting to see how, although people would think of it as an impoverished community, it actually worked extremely well as a functioning informal one unfortunate casualty), but the trip only added to our business centre (with a turnover overall having been amazed enthusiasm for and interest in of $650m per year), and a very and overwhelmed by the colour the subject looking forward tight-knit community where and spectacular sights of India, towards universities, but everyone, irrelevant of race or we set off home. All of us perhaps also, more importantly, origins, pulls together to make return having enjoyed explor- inspired us to desire to return a living. ing a totally new culture and and explore more of the vibrant, learned a great deal about the hectic melting pot of old and We also visited a school in human geography of India. new that is India today. Dharavi, where upon entering we were swamped by groups I think I vouch for all members Sean MacLachlan 6LFD of young children asking for of the group when I say that photographs and autographs, certainly an unusual but entertaining and heart-warming moment for all of us.

Other highlights included a trip to a Dhobi Ghat, or outside laundry district, on the seafront, and a boat trip to Elephanta Island to see the caves dedicated to Shiva, where we kept a constant eye out for light-fingered monkeys and evidence supporting reported sightings of an anaconda.

Having enjoyed numerous excellent curries, cursed the 98% humidity and just about managed to ward off the notorious Delhi Belly (bar

93 House Reports Boyd’s September 2012 was when I moved into the sixth form at Abingdon, and although a lot changed, the Boyd’s House community remained as vibrant and thriving as ever. The houseroom had been refur- bished when we all came back to school, with a computer room for ‘silent’ study and a shimmering new common room for the Upper Sixth, which they embraced fondly and decorated with framed photos both of Mr of our house assemblies with than dotted around at the ends Boyd and their tutor Mr Grills. touching personal anecdotes of terms. His jovial and heart- Other heirlooms we’ve been left about friends from his past, all ening attitude to life, both in this year include two of whom seem to have died school and the houseroom, will lacrosse sticks and some in circumstances all the more be dearly remembered. potted plants, no doubt to keep tragic for their unlikelihood. Ask the room healthily oxygenated. any Boydian about poor In sport the house continued But as well as being a thought- Randall, for example, and their to excel, winning the rugby ful year group, the Upper Sixth face will bear a sincere grimace tournament in the Michaelmas of 2012/13 will be remembered of reflective mourning. But term, and narrowly missing out in many more ways. jokes aside, Gab’s charming, on first place in the football. We albeit farcical and entirely ficti- have some exceptional athletes It would be impossible to sum- tious musings about childhood in the house who continue to marise the year without paying envies and catastrophic coin- represent the school and even well-deserved homage to the cidences gave every tired, 9am the country. Tom Digby was legendary ‘Thought of the Day’ face the humorous energy to selected as a potential fu- routine by the equally legendary lighten up with colour and zest ture star of GB rowing. Jamie Gabriel Drewett, known to us for the day ahead. It was Gab’s Pearson was selected for the as Gab. Despite losing us the snippets of jovial thought, England U16 (North) team and House Debating Competition developing in continuity and had his first international cap. with his hilarious speech on im- absurdity over the year, that set Theo Brophy Clews played for migration, the gab is something me thinking to myself how nice the 1st XV team despite being a everyone would agree he had it was that house assemblies Middle School student and the gift of. He rounded off all were every two weeks rather balanced that with his club training in London. Nat Jones continued to impress as one of the Cross Country Club’s rising stars having returned that sum- mer from the national schools’ athletics tournament. He contributed to the club being crowned county Jamie Pearson champions for another year.

94 House Reports

Russell Orr Burns was our most Gabriel Drewett senior rower this year with the 2nd VIII although James Wooding and Guy Screaton are also making good reputations for themselves in the Boat Club and we look forward to their future successes. One third year who joined us this year already with national sporting accolades under his belt was Magnus Gregory. A young man of huge talent, his ability in the kayak and performance at national and international competitions was only sur- of standing in the Ingham Room Sixth has treated us to some passed by his modesty and lined up with the rest of the real talent, not just in drama quiet dedication to school life. house left me sad to realise that but academia as well; I don’t I only have one House Singing think there can be many people Perhaps one of the most loved competition left. with grades and achievements yet simultaneously despised as considerable as those of events of every Abingdon year A mention of Toby can’t slip Sam Wright and Omri Faraggi, is House Singing. Since away without the memory of whose intellects I’m sure will be arriving in the third year I’ve his starring in the production of satisfied in the wider world. always loved how in Boyd’s we Candide; Voltaire himself would laugh at what we’re doing, but definitely be proud of Toby’s To the new red-tied third years: at the same time take it witty portrayal of the title you have a lot to live up to in seriously and stand there sing- character. Drama was some- what is obviously the school’s ing unashamedly nonetheless. thing the Boyd’s Upper Sixth best house. I’m sure you will. This year we belted out what seemed to be particularly good was, quite honestly, a fabulous at, with Joe Westcott taking Michael Bicarregui 6EOD and rendition of KT Tunstall’s the lead role of Winston in the David Boyd Suddenly I See, a song which production of Nineteen Eighty- I had never thought could be Four. It’s been a pleasure to Theo Brophy Clews so fun to sing. Toby Marlow have been in the same house inspired us all to sing out loud, as these two, and it’s not only not just with his tireless in the last year that I’ve seen enthusiasm and delightful their brilliant performances in sense of humour, but also with plays. Toby’s hilarious role in the preposterous yet effective Hay Fever and chilling portrayal warm up exercises he made us of the sinister Master of Cere- go through. Before that frantic monies in Cabaret, as well as week of non-stop rehearsals Joe’s stunning act as Faustus I’d never known what a push will stay with me for years to rhythm was, but our song was come. full of them. Toby taught us all what they were and how to sing I hope that the houseroom is them, and we had tremendous soon replenished with fun performing. My experience thespians anew, as the Upper

95 Christodoulou’s I said goodbye a few weeks ago to the Upper Sixth boys whom I have looked after since I myself first arrived in my houseroom in September 2008 - this means that I've seen a year group through! Over champagne, canapés and a three course dinner with some wine, it was with great relief that I noted that nearly all had survived the odyssey relatively unscathed, were more mature, “I left Abingdon in 2010 hav- been towards the end of my and were equipped with a great ing started in the first year in fifth year and it was then that deal more life skills. 2003. My original plans had I was asked where I would been to study engineering at like to end up working; when I I did not want to make a list of somewhere like Exeter hope- replied in farming or logistics accolades and achievements, fully obtaining an RAF bursary (lorry driving not the piloting in so instead this year I wanted based on me training to be a this case), the careers advisor to write about two things that pilot once I had left. I wouldn’t laughed and said: “no, honestly were different in my eyes: first, deny that being a pilot would where would you like to end we won the House Singing have been an amazing job to up?” This made me more Competition and that made me have, however the main focus determined that I wanted to very happy for the boys but of this was to do my time in the fully immerse myself in agricul- also, alas, it brings out a com- RAF, and move on to ture and prove there is a living petitive side of me which fellow becoming a commercial pilot, to be made from it and that housemasters find intolerable, the reason for this was purely anybody from any background so I will move onto the second for the higher salary it offered. or upbringing could do it." topic right away. My life plan would then have been to have enough money to Frustrated, Charlie goes on The happening, as I like to call retire to a smallholding, as to use his Christmas holidays it, that I would like to expand farming was where my real knocking on farmers' doors on was a visit to my office by passion lay. I did feel that there asking for unpaid work an OA during the Open Day in was pressure from Abingdon experience. He seems to come October last year, who lit up the to study a “proper” degree across even more obstacles: room and exuded enthusiasm, and that I should be looking at "...the first course of action I passion and drive for what he careers and degrees in more had to take was gaining some had, counter-intuitively, obvious industries. I found it work experience in the subject, chosen as his degree at very difficult to justify choosing this was a lot harder than I had university and subsequent to study anything agricultural as expected, and as I didn't have a career. He'd been in my house I also had a huge lack of driving licence I was “as use- when I first started and his experience in the industry. ful as a chocolate teapot” as younger brother followed. The one farmer commented" but, following are extracts from a My first proper, one-on-one he persevered and ended up letter he sent me after his visit: careers meeting would have mucking out calves for free,

96 which also included a six himself happy, to make himself things that go fast... Did I mile round bicycle trip - often a responsible and productive mention that we also won the through the snow - to milk the member of society and engage House Singing Competition? cows from 4am to 9am and with a career that requires then again at 4pm until 6pm. bright thinkers, dynamic, Alexis Christodoulou emotionally intelligent and Entering into the Upper Sixth honest men - just like in any and with AS grades of B, C, other vocation. He works with E, E, Charlie realised that he people, animals, mechanical needed to “...knuckle down for technology, virtually no paper- his A-levels...” if he was to gain work and in nature - as perhaps entry into the most prestigious we were intended to - rather Agricultural College in the UK. than ‘strategically’ going blind He eventually gained the A-level on paperwork and proffering grades he required and a place to be quasi-academic and part to read Agricultural Engineering enlightened. Charlie left me at Harper Adams. with this piece of advice, which I recently recited, along with I chose this story to illustrate the above, to my current Lower that here at Abingdon we Sixth in one of my house seem to both encourage and assemblies: indeed successfully develop a confidence in our boys that "...My advice to those choosing makes them feel at ease with to study a degree would be to making life-changing decisions make sure that you are studying that are based not on cultural something you definitely enjoy and organisational norms or and can easily motivate your- indeed expectations from the self to study or you’ll find uni an boy's wider social circles, but expensive waste of time. decisions that come from the Ultimately make sure your heart, which, in turn have to be career choice is one that you backed up by a bucket-full of could happily get out of bed for self-belief in that what you are every day of the week for years doing is actually the right thing. to come."

Doing not what is expected but I like it when ex-pupils turn up doing the right thing by oneself and put me in my place and - that takes a lot of courage, lend me some perspective. confidence, and a high level Nothing does this better than of emotional intelligence. The a young mind. Incidentally, my world needs farmers as much own father insisted and wanted as it needs any other profes- me to be an engineer, when all I sion. Charlie was able to draw wanted to be was a car on his academic capability, the mechanic. Fortunately, I had the organisational and presenta- fortitude to say no to him and tional skills that he developed by way of compromise I took while at Abingdon and the middle ground so that in the ultimately apply these to make holidays I could tinker with

97 Crescent In my house assemblies I fre- quently discuss the idea of community with the boys; whether it be supporting some- one who is feeling down or volunteering to represent the house in a sport that you have never played, this sense of community is a good health check for a house and I am pleased to report that this year Crescent has passed with flying colours. Othman Mirzan

This has been largely down each of the holes!). Not only University (it must be stressed to the superb leadership from were all-comers welcome to that he balanced this with ex- the Upper Sixth who took a join in the conversation, but cellent contributions to golf and keen interest in the running of I knew that they were also real tennis). Othman the house. They were vital in keeping an eye on the younger Mirzan adopted more of a creating a vibrant and caring years and helping develop the sociable approach to life in the environment and keeping an house spirit. David Jorgensen U6th winning many plaudits for eye open for any students who was a fantastically helpful organising a fantastic fashion were unwell or struggling. Jack Deputy Head of House for show at St Helen’s. His Williams was an outstanding boarding, setting an example interest in fashion was reflected Day Head of House who by agreeing to represent the in a wide variety of suits (and balanced his busy life house (and school) in a wide the offer of a place at London (including a successful variety of sports. Angus Chan Fashion School). Lawrence application to study Medicine) (House Secretary) helped set Li and Erwandi Haji Harun with a genuine concern for all. up the Sunday night Monopoly charmed the cleaning Afolarin Shasore fulfilled the club (which cost me a fortune ladies with their impeccably Head of House role for the in chocolate) and frequently clean room and Jeremy Wei’s boarders and impressed me stepped in to cover the house skills on the drums were with his sensitive handling of in an emergency. Azarel recognised with a prize. Tobi the new boys who were adjust- Adabanjo was one of four Onalaja flourished academically ing to life in a boarding house. representatives from Crescent and the proof of his improved William Sharp, Freddie in the football 1st XI (the others written style could be seen in Locock-Harrison, Charlie being Afolarin Shasore, Toby his contributions to the Hames and Toby Brown (and at Brown and Patrick Boyd-Gorst) prefect diary! Ed McLaughlin times Peter Truran) became part who also made the occasional and George Read-Smith were of the fabric of Cobban kitchen. cameo appearance in house real ambassadors for Crescent, The breadth of their discussions rugby (invariably arguing with the former winning at Henley was bewildering; whether it be Mr Evans as referee). Kevin with the 1st VIII and the latter Scandinavian heavy rock, the Chan’s dedication to his appli- as a senior member of the 1st benefits of a Crescent petting cation for medicine resulted in a XV. Finally James Murray’s quiet zoo or developing a Crescent two week period of sleep dignity and helpfulness were mini-golf course (with a different deprivation which I has paid off inspiring to myself and others James Bond film as a theme for with a place at Hong Kong and I am glad that this was

98 recognized on speech day. securing second place overall has been lucky to have two Writing this piece it is clear how despite a shortage of numbers outstanding matrons; Tamsin diverse this group was; some (Sebastian Johns nearly Millington-Drake worked having been at Abingdon since catching Thomas Kelly on the tirelessly for the boys before the Lower School (and even final straight of the 1500m was moving on to a minor public having boarded in those days the highlight of the day). school in a village called in Waste Court) while others Radley (!) and Jo Nutchey has joined in the Lower Sixth. They Sebastian was once again quickly made her mark with the have been a pleasure to work inspirational in his organisation boys and been a source of help with and I wish them all the of house music; his patience and advice to myself. Finally my best for the future. (especially for the my inability to thanks to Mick Cox (Houseman) learn the lyrics) and enthusiasm and Sue, Maria, Sarah, Julie It is impossible to mention was infectious and the boys and Jackie. The support staff everyone who contributed to responded with a strong show- are often the unsung heroes of house sport. We may not have ing on the day. We have also a boarding house and I want always secured the top been very fortunate to have to publicly acknowledge their positions, but the spirit with John Cheung and Bertie Boyd- superb contributions. which the boys volunteered Gorst ‘jamming’ at house for events was a pleasure to events (including the road relay Finally, this will be my final year witness. Craig Lau deserves a BBQ which raised a large sum in Crescent as I am moving to special mention here for for charity). St John’s Leatherhead in agreeing to play his first ever December as Deputy Head. game of golf although he was Perhaps the cultural highlight of This is much earlier than I had concerned that he did not have the year however was the originally planned and it was a any “golf rackets”. premier of the house film. very difficult decision to make Directed by John Cheung along as my family and I have enjoyed The senior hockey with Rattanan Wonghirundacha our time in Crescent. I wish my competition saw Jack Williams, and Asten Yeo, the 23 minute successor Matt Kendry and his William Sharp and Freddie epic was hugely entertaining family all the best. He is lucky Locock-Harrison play for the and professional and has (I to take over such a supportive first time in years (William was hope) started a new tradition. and caring community. incensed at the end of the first My thanks to all the tutors who match having not realised that work so hard behind the scenes Alex Tate the ball can be lifted). Crescent to support the boys and make dominated badminton thanks to my job much easier. Crescent the efforts of Ryan Ling, William Tong, Jonathan Ainslie, Adrian Lei and Freddie Locock-Harrison. For the second year in a row we secured the U18 football and also won the U18 ergo with only two entrants (Ed McLaughlin and Jonathan Lord). The U15 hockey team was victorious and the same year group secured the fastest time in the road relay and third place in the athletics. The Lower Sixth were superb in the latter event Jack Williams

99 Davies’ The year 2012-13 has been one of great success for the boys of Davies' House. Members of the house have contributed to every aspect of school life and have excelled themselves once again. We won the inter-house athletics competition, the Lent term sports competitions as a whole, the road relay com- petition and we also won the overall House Cup for the third year running! The biggest event for me was our third place in the House Singing, however. Singing has been an area that the boys in the house. For me pupils, particularly the 2012-13 the Waste Court boys have not the house singing also captured Upper Sixth. This is a found easy in times gone by. a particular theme that I think is group that has brought to life Recent years have seen probably the most important for the concept of resilience for the significant improvements the boys in the house, their younger pupils in the house. (unofficial fourth places) but to education, and their future get into the placings this time prospects: the ability to bounce On the river Will Horlock, Joel round showed how far we have back, to show determination, Cooper and Ian Middleton all come. Particular credit should to work really hard (in this case represented the school in the go to Lewis Spring who led the over several years) and, in spite 1st VIII, where, in spite of house superbly well, of setbacks, to keep getting disappointment at School’s demonstrating fantastic better. We are yet to win the Head, they regrouped and went concern and a superb House Singing but it still stands on to win National Schools’ and manner while bringing the out as our best performance of Henley with Joel and Ian then house round to a top notch the year in my eyes. going forward to represent GB. effort. He showed the kind of On the academic front, in spite generosity, passion and As with every year we end it by of set backs at AS level Robert courage that I hope to see in all saying goodbye to a number of Fishpool, Milan Banerjee, Alex Erlach and TC Chu all applied themselves furiously to turning things around at A2 and never gave up. In addition the likes of Ian Middleton and Sahib Tuteja took hard work to a new level in their determination to secure places at Cambridge and to study Medicine respectively. One man who stands out in this regard is Mathew Hartshorne - as Head of School you might have thought he would rest on

100 his laurels but that was certainly not the case. He led the Cross Country Club to a remarkable season and committed everything he had to his pursuit of medicine including the decision to spend his gap year working as an assistant at the JR Hospital. Worthy of equal credit were the efforts of Nicholas Leah and Lewis Spring to develop their potential as A level (and in Nicholas' case degree level) historians - such was their passion, maintained in spite of various bumps along the way, that they were responsible for a history coursework and revision Face- securing Abingdon 2nd XV’s and George Dyke all added a book group that may have cost first ever county cup triumph. little “je ne sais quoi” to the life them a degree of social credit! of the house. Joseph Heade's decision to The Upper Sixth’s qualities have take up business studies on been mirrored all the way down The fourth years continue to top of his A2 courses and then the house and will, I believe, be show great flair in all aspects of to commit so much to it that developed still further in 2013- school life and the third years he was the only choice for the 14. The leadership qualities and moving on to start their GCSEs end of year prize again high- the maturity of the fifth years have made a superb lights the perseverance that this grew over the year as they contribution to the house. The group have come to show. approached their GCSEs to the key for all of these boys and point that I am now looking at for the rest of the house is not On the rugby field Angus Weir ways to get them involved in that they rest happy with where came back from a succession leading the house for next year. they are now but that they use of injuries to play a leading role the year that is past as a basis for the 1st XV this year, winning Edward Lowe, Max Townley, for greater achievements next selection for the South West Robert Yates, Thomas year and that they address before a broken leg (incurred Harkness, Matthew Prior, Max themselves to their failures and while training for 7s) put an end Mannering and Marcello Cau challenges and do everything in to his season but not his Tait all played leading parts on their power to overcome them. enthusiasm or commitment to the rugby field, football pitch, If they do then they will have his peers who did go on to cricket field and river; Tom lived up to the example of the representative honours. Shaw-Stewart, Alex Bond, boys who have left. So well Adam Pearson and Johnathan done for 2012-13; roll on Similarly Tom Sishton’s Goves lit up the academic life 2013-14. dedication to preparation in the of the school with their off season didn’t quite see him creativity and passion; while Ed Davies into the 1st XV but he did lead Rupert Jones, Thomas Allen, very much from the front in William Juffkins, Sam Kashti

101 Franklin’s Heads of House this year were Henry Binning and Tom Kynge. With their outstanding gifts in jazz music and rugby they well represented the diversity of talent in the house. Like the House Prefects James Dewar, Tom Farrant, Christopher Garratt and Richard Matthews, they were also strikingly pleasant and Benjamin Nabnian committed individuals who set a great example to the younger Dewar gave their rugby colours for badminton, and Tom boys in the house. muscle and brain to the house Farrant earned half colours for as well as to the 1st XV, and squash. As defending champions in Tom won the Rugby 1st XV the House Singing, we made a Trophy. Michael Clarke-Warry Benjamin Schneider is strong assault on the brought his hockey expertise pursuing fencing at the highest competition, as ever, with to lead us ably, and won the level, already earning half everyone contributing their Roche Cup for Hockey. colours, and William Whitworth volume and enthusiasm to the is still developing as a promis- song Feeling Good. Christopher Richard Matthews earned full ing footballer. Tom Buckle and Young led us with his colours for sailing. Our great George Strainge both turned in characteristic style and humour, badminton quartet of Jordan many excellent sporting and a beautiful singing voice we Anning, Daniel Chen, Adam performances, and their strove to match. We Felt Good; Uberoi and Gem Vongseenin prospects as tennis players in then disappointed; but then thrashed all opposition in particular are very exciting. Kit proud nonetheless. school and house fixtures, and I Greenacre and Michael Jiang was delighted that Jordan won were also superb in the tennis House sporting competitions the Topping Cup for badminton and table tennis competitions. occupied our thoughts and as well as full colours. Adam energy many times this year. also showed what a good table The sporting year ended Many boys contributed their tennis player he is, and his superbly for us in the talents to earn some fine prospects for next year are Inter-House Athletics at Tilsley results. Tom Kynge and James excellent. Daniel Chen won full Park. Our third years were quite brilliant and won the event, our fourth years were also out- standing to come second, and Franklin’s came third overall. Max Nurse-Bosley won both high jump and javelin, George Strainge won the shot, and Giles Oldershaw won the B high jump. Douglas Ward won the 200m, William Whitworth won the high jump, and David Christopher Young

102 Chung won the long jump. Apart from brilliant individual performances, the team spirit was fantastic.

Our boys had many successes in other areas. Henry Binning won the Music Society Prize for Jazz. Leon Wu was lauded as a brilliant musician and received half colours for it. Leon and James Anderson- Leon Wu Besant played some fine chess, but the emerging star was Ray Ren, whose performances for house and school were really exciting. Ben Thompson won the CCF prize, and Benjamin Nabnian won half colours for Community Service. Thomas Howard won an Art Prize, and Jacob Miron won the prize for history. Christopher Young won the Drama Cup, and a coveted place at RADA. Richard Matthews won the School Prize for Design and Technology, and Michael Clarke-Warry won the Psychology Prize. Jordan Anning won the Griffin Cup for Craftsmanship, and Ed Lewis won the Dr James Molloy Cup for Innovation in Design. George Strainge won the Academic Prize in the third year, James Anderson-Besant won it again in the fourth year, and Alexander Foster won the fifth year prize.

All in all, this was a happy and successful year for Franklin’s. I was delighted to welcome Mr Border to our tutor team, and would like to thank all my tutors for their work over the year.

David Franklin Tom Kynge

103 School House What a remarkable year it has been for School House. We arrived to find the house in great shape following many years of successful ‘house- mastering’ by Douglas Aitken and with his support, and that of the other boarding house- masters, Jacqui and I moved into School House ready for a new and exciting challenge. other competitions but the to lead the house and I thank Faced with over 100 boys, day house did themselves proud. them most sincerely. and boarding, it quickly became Singing We are Young, we were apparent that some serious praised for looking good and The Upper Sixth were a strong name-learning was needed, as singing the chorus with and impressive year group. was the idea of developing a enthusiasm – so, okay, the Eight boarders applied to truly integrated house – some- verse didn’t really get going Oxbridge, with Max English, thing we continue to progress but we all had a great time and Christopher Cooke, Howard today. The Upper Sixth, boys came to rehearse Tam and Duncan Chan securing potentially those who could determined to do their best. places in a tough and unpre- dismiss a new housemaster as dictable selection process. In an irrelevance in their remain- Having Max English and addition boys secured places at ing year, did the opposite; they Thomas Browne as Heads of LSE, Warwick and rallied around and started to House was an inspired choice Southampton. Harry Blackwell quickly create a remarkable by my predecessor. By being and Thomas Browne managed ‘can-do’ attitude in the house. confident, witty and able to talk to combine terrific academic Thanks to them the year has openly about house life, they achievement with major rowing been a real triumph, combining made my job easier and more successes. Thomas went on our best inter-house results with enjoyable. I looked forward to to be part of the 1st VIII, which a terrific house spirit and strong seeing them and noticed how won thePrincess Elizabeth Cup community. Starting off the year their determination and at Henley. Duncan Chan was a was the House Singing – it’s not enthusiasm rubbed off on the committed Captain of always as easy to instil other boys. I could not have Badminton with Bernard Ng enthusiasm for this as for some asked for two better individuals and Jonathan Chung playing extremely well and securing many excellent results. Thomas Chan led a highly success- ful fencing team, comprising Herman Chan and Bernard Ng. Christopher Cooke played regularly for the 2nd XV, and the 3rds included Max and Rex English, Henry Otty (who also played with the 2nds), Alexander Hewetson-Smith and Thomas Farrant.

104 The house continues to a real privilege to see them overpowered all in the kitch- contribute well to cricket. Daniel perform so competently. Luca en! The Summer term saw the Matthews and Adam Scholey Rampin was a valued sixth form appear for late-night represented the 1st XI with the member of the senior cheese and biscuits – a former being the lead run production of Candide. competition developed as to scorer in the school as well as which cheese was the the newly appointed captain for Art has been strong in the strongest. A new kitchen was 2014. We wish him well in lead- house for some time and the created at Easter, thanks to ing the school’s top cricketers exhibitions in the Summer the remarkable generosity of a next season. The annual Road term confirmed the talent that former School House boarder, Relay saw impressive perfor- exists – of note were Oscar Gleb Koslov. Now, the ‘K’ looks mances by Jack Walsh (20th), Buckland’s unusual exhibition, and feels like a bistro and boys Thomas Teece (22nd) and inviting people to sit and reflect of all ages enjoy the Sebastian Riera-Lamela (37th). and then to write down their atmosphere. thoughts, Brett Chung’s The inter-house competitions remarkably detailed and And so the year came to an throughout the year saw School impressive portfolio, and Luca end with remarkable academic House secure successes in the Rampin and Nikita Dyakonov’s results from remarkable young U15 rugby, U15 and U18 swim- GCSE work. men. It really has been a terrific ming, and U15 ergos. We came first year and we are excited third overall in the football and Boarding has seen some big at what lies ahead as already second in the hockey. To add to changes: the real hit has been talk of the next House Song is this impressive list of sporting the evening drinks (milk shakes spreading. We hope that the achievements, School House or hot chocolate, often with Upper Sixth will feel that there won the inaugural boarders’ cakes or snacks) but the boys is always a welcome for them basketball competition, just also really got into cooking at in School House and wish them beating Davies’ in the last the weekends – the waft of gar- well as we move forward to minutes. Thanks must go to lic could linger for many hours, another year. Rev Gooding for not only the fire alarm would sound, and organising the competition but once the cooking of squid in oil Simon Marriott also for his weekly basketball coaching slot as a boarders’ activity.

Musicians are much in evidence in the house and a significant number participate regularly in the school instrumental and choral ensembles. As a musician, I am constantly impressed by the level at which so many of these boys perform and their commitment to practising regularly. Boys have enjoyed drama too and in The Pardoner’s Tale Ethan Lo, Darren Maddison, John- Christian Davey, Daniel Alcock and Blake Jones all acquitted themselves impressively. It was

105 Southwell- Sander’s As another year closes it be- comes increasingly challenging to recall all that goes on in the house, such is the talent on show. It is, however, appropriate to say a special farewell to the Upper Sixth and their superb tutor Hannah Allcock, who has been with us for the last two years. Finlay Garland There was a tutor group called 7HKA, Kieran's in the rugby and hock- A far cry from the shy lad at the Who used to be called 5RKJ ey 1st team, start of year three. A finer bunch of lads you never And off the pitch he's known as Whatever Plumby does he will will see, a right drama queen! do with aplomb, They are musical, dramatic, MC is rowing his way across the Just avoid writing comments on bright and sporty. pond ‘Rate my teacher .com’ Whenever things don’t go quite Flying the Abingdon flag as he's Pughey will have plenty to look according to plan, Harvard bound. back on with pride, Miss Allcock is always there to Knotty's the man, he loves to Especially the sailing trips with lend a hand. run, DJB and the guys. There’s Sasha the prefect, he’s Joint Head of House and bags While Phil is the quiet one, he’s as smooth as can be, of fun. really come to the fore, Mr Cricket, the captain of the Ben's a different person since Offering help and advice first team. he was thirteen, through the house room door. Bibby is next with camera in He's bound for the stage or the No doubt sporty SP will give hand, silver screen. out a little sigh, And the finest quiff in the whole Then there’s Jack M, he’ll go far Thankful that his hair can at last of the land. wait and see, be dyed. Chris is the face of the Army Green, A more loyal fella you never will see. While ladies beware because Connor is here, The army is about to get a great lad - three cheers. Norwich here we come is what Humphrey will shout, Reminding Cambridge what a true gent they left out. Last but not least is James the badminton star, He’s off to Oxford and bound to go far.

106 So as we look back on the few into the Poly U Global must thank Dr Jeffreys for help- years past Economics Competition. The ing them prepare for the exam As time often does it has tutor group as a whole have process as well as persuading travelled so fast. recorded many successes this them to take part in many differ- Through the highs and lows year, winning both the general ent things throughout the year. they have been a great set knowledge and debating com- Making friends that will last for a petitions. good time yet. All that is left for us to say, The fifth year have enjoyed Is “It's been a pleasure and we success inside and outside the will see you some day!” classroom. Richard Matousek When you look back on your has been to Japan represent- school days remember the ing Great Britain at geography. scene, Calum Farwell has enjoyed The houseroom, the sport and another year in the A crew for Finlay Garland of course The Army Green! rowing, while Ross Cook, Declan Field, Owen Morgan, The Lower Sixth hit the ground Max Finch and Josh Burdass all Jack Dawson running this year under the had successful seasons in the experienced hand of Mrs rugby As and have been on an The third years were placed an Jennings, thriving under the enjoyable tour to Namibia. Jack impressive second in the new challenges. Aman Patel Dawson and William Johnson general knowledge competition, began the year with an saw success in fencing, while losing out narrowly to Davies. excellent result representing Kristian Soderstrom continued Tutor group breakfasts have Oxfordshire in the golf county his impressive participation in also taken place throughout championships. Fred Clamp- the Swimming Club. Rupert the year, providing a chance Gray took on producing the Kelly represented Abingdon to eat together and talk with wonderful termly newsletter. well in the U16A football team each other. This year has also Jack Squizzoni represented the and proved a key member of been a good sporting year for school both in the Boat Club the road relay. In the musical the tutor group, with their field- and in the CCF, where he has arena Jamie Blackwell, Calum, ing members of the A team for taken on an important leader- Max Finch and George England every core sport. The boys also ship role. Huge congratulations all played in the first orchestra. achieved academic success in go to Finlay Garland who at the the end of year exams with beginning of the summer term Our fourth year tutor group has Jonah Walker topping the was appointed a flight sergeant done well academically with whole year group. and is also the new Senior notable performances from Cadet. Oliver Sayeed has Joseph Kelly, Ebyan Rezgui and We send departing tutors gained a place in the national Freddie Stretch. They have also Hannah Allcock and David team of the Linguistics Olympi- had some very notable sport Bickerton away with enormous ad. Jonathan Rothwell’s artistic performances with Joseph Kelly amounts of gratitude for their efforts were rewarded when playing in the 1st pair for tennis tireless work within the house. he received the sixth form art and Joe Sandall in the A crew Thanks to them and the rest of prize. Luke Teh continues to for rowing. Joseph McNamara the staff the house continues impress with his swimming, and Lewis Dandridge are to go from strength to strength gaining a haul of medals at the trialling for county rugby for the and remains such a stimulating country championships this upcoming season, and William place to work. year. Jamie Sandall and Harry Dolin continues to impress in Sandford played a key role in the field of sailing, representing Robin Southwell-Sander the three-man team entered GB. As a tutor group, the boys

107 Webb’s The year got off to a good start and soon everybody was into their stride. The larger third year intake being split into two tutor groups really helped this and they became involved in school life very quickly. The rugby fixtures started straight away and Webb’s boys were well represented in the teams. Harry Parker As the first half term neared its last week, focus was drawn time we had a repeat rendition Garrett, Nick Bradfield, towards the House Singing in the evening, accompanied Matthew Cammack and Toby in Competition. As always the by a few individual and group the rugby, and Rafi’I al- choosing of the song became performances, for parents to Akiti, Thomas and Daniel Sav- a debate amongst the boys see what the House Singing age winning at chess. Most of and in the end The Impossible is about. It was received very the other teams were placed Dream composed by Mitch well and there were plenty of in the middle ranks, with even Leigh was chosen. The requests for something similar the strength of Michael Fabes, rehearsal schedule is always next year, so boys, be prepared! Murray Eccleston and the Law really tight and with only six brothers not being enough to 30-minute sessions the boys The next half term was mainly win the day in the swimming. worked together well and were focused on work but to provide soon making a good sound. some alternative entertainment The Lent term saw hockey, Chris Mears led the rehearsals we had a third year 5-a-side football and rowing taking over and directed the group very football evening. It was a as the main sports and most well. Thomas Kelly really good event run by some of the teams included a good accompanied on the piano. of the Upper Sixth with number of Webb’s boys. The In the competition we gave particular thanks going to second formal season of foot- a good account of ourselves Charlie Fitchett and Toby Ross. ball was a really popular choice and lots of the audience had The end of term saw the and it was the topic of many us down as contenders for the Inter-House Competitions take conversations. The second half title but in the end, we weren’t place. The U18 rugby 7s and of the term saw a new placed. Nonetheless the chess were our strengths with competition, initiated by the process of practising and com- wins provided by Patrick School Council, in which peting drew everybody together Lawson-Statham, Henry Charlie Roberts and Henry had really well. This year for the first Sensecall, Elliott Mills, Rory been key figures. The compe- tition was a general knowledge quiz, called House Challenge and it is to become a regular feature. There was a team from each year group and we did reasonably well but the more established Debating Competition proved to be our strength, with the third year team of Archie Williams, Charlie

108 Lindsay and George Jeffreys winning their category. At the end of term we were middle-ranking overall in the various competitions but we had several top three teams: the U14 ergo team were third; the U18 football team were second as were the U15 hockey and U18 squash teams, while the U16 table-tennis doubles team of Eden Packer and Timothy Bird were first. In the Road Relay Thomas Kelly Archie gave a talk on the Opium the long jump, and was part of fought off all contenders to be Wars; Carl spoke about maths the A team relay. In the Lower first over the line on the first leg, in music, and Sebastian Sixth Thomas won the 1500m and post the quickest time of Mulford on the history of sailing. in a really exciting sprint down the day. Webb’s also had suc- The Upper Sixth represented the final straight, and was sec- cess at the younger age group Webb's at lots of events before ond in the 800m. with Ivo Brown being the fastest they went on exam leave. First third year and, along with David at the Rosslyn Park Rugby 7s, In amongst the sport there was Mackney, Joseph Delafield and where in a squad of 12 we had also an arts display evening. Joseph Law, a member of the Henry, Elliott, and Nick along Sam Cartlidge and Samuel fastest third year team. with Matthew and Rory from Ashby-Crane both had the L6th. In the 63-mile walk displays of their work that had The Summer term, as always, we had Alexander Whitworth, been done for the AS course, saw a change of emphasis to- Charlie, Henry and Elliott. and Harry Parker was showing wards exams with fourth years some of his GCSE pieces. All straight into them, soon Most boys were involved in the looked amazing. followed by exam study leave Inter-House Athletics and I can’t for the fifth years, then Lower mention everybody here, so In the final Inter-House and Upper Sixth. During this I’ll highlight the highest points Competitions, George and time a new initiative started for scorer in each year. Ivo won William Taylor did really well in the third year scholars. Each both of his track events, the the tennis doubles and came scholar was set the task of re- 800m and 1500m. Tom Wiblin second. The sculling quad of searching a topic of their choice went for full participation and Tom Wiblin, Jack Lewis, Robbie and giving a presentation to the came second in the 400m, Allen and Harry with Rory Fisher rest of the group and teachers. fourth in the 1500m, seventh in coxing just worked really well together and were clear winners. The cricketers also had a really good afternoon, winning two of their three matches to go into the final against O’Doherty’s. All in all, the afternoon was a good one and was rounded off with the last barbecue in the Jekyll Gar- den!

Mike Webb

109 Lower School The start of the academic year in Lower School is al- ways pretty hectic and this year was no exception as the 63 new first years took on the challenge of adapting to life at secondary school with all the extra demands that that makes of their personal organisation and resilience. To encourage them in their efforts we were very pleased to welcome Mark Hatton, Commonwealth and European champion in the luge and, at nearly 90mph, Britain’s fastest ever Olympian, at our Cau Tait and Tom Woods on were victorious in both the Be the Best launch two weeks drums, our performance of rugby and the cross country, into term. His inspirational story Drive by by Train impressed the while 2C defeated 1P in the of overcoming all the hurdles judge enough to secure us sec- grand final of the Lower School in his way to achieve his dream ond place, Lower School’s best Challenge with Mr May doing a really gave the boys something ever result in the competition. creditable impression of Jeremy to think about and his message Paxman in the question master of making sure that you walk Music was also to the fore at role. away from every endeavour the end of term with the first able to say that you have given year choir impressing at the The traditional first year “walk it everything you have got is Christmas Concert and, a new and talk” on the history of the one that will stand them in good development this year, the School took place on 31st stead throughout their Lower School Band under the January to coincide exactly with Abingdon careers. baton of Nigel Sommerville the 450th anniversary of John playing a medley of Christmas Roysse’s bequest to the school The highlight of the term was tunes before our Carol Service in 1563. The boys visited perhaps our performance in the – it is great to see the future the Roysse Room, site of the House Singing Competition. of music making at Abingdon school room that his bequest Ably conducted by Greg Davies in such secure hands. In tutor funded, Abingdon Museum and accompanied by Gianluca group competitions 2M and 1H where they were some of the first to view the exhibition “Abingdon to Zanzibar - a history of Abingdon School over 450 years”, and St Helen’s Church where a wreath was laid on John Roysse’s tomb by a current holder of the Academic Award named after him. The fact that there were exactly 63 boys in the first year this year Yazan Odeh was a rather wonderful coincidence!

110 2W and 1S won the inter-tutor group hockey, 2M and 1H the road relay (which this year featured a fancy dress entry with a team from 2W dressed as cows pushing each other round in a wheelbarrow to raise money for charity), and 2C and 1H the public speaking, which was this year of a very high standard indeed. Special mention should go to those who were successful in the various scholarship assess- Tom Woods ments: Thomas Butcher, Joseph Nash (academic), formal assessments. Plenty of Sporting events saw 2W and 1S Robert MacLennan (academic advice was offered on how to win the swimming gala, 2W and and music exhibition), revise and it was good to see 1H triumphant in athletics, and Benjamin Pickford (music the vast majority of the boys 2C winning a very tight cricket exhibition), Gianluca Cau Tait handle things convincingly. competition on run difference. (art), and Michael Sutton (art Particular congratulations go Edward Green beat exhibition). to those who topped their tutor Alessandro Cantarelli in the final groups and were awarded the of the tennis tournament while The majority of the boys were Lower School Academic Prizes Callum Ravden beat Max Owen able to attend the Adventure at prizegiving: David Bunn 1H, in the pool tournament. Mean- Trips in the Easter holidays. Yazan Odeh 1P, Liam Rogers while the Amey Theatre played PGL Liddington proved to be 1S, Joseph Nash 2C, Thomas host to a stunning performance a good new venue for the first Butcher 2M, and Robert of Twelfth Night directed by Mr year trip, while very heavy snow MacLennan 2W. Phillips which saw all the made the second year trip to performers convincingly getting Plas Pencelli an experience that The summer also provides time to grips with the tricky will live long in the memory. for plenty of fun. The second Shakespearean dialogue, and years visited Hampton Court, a superb Lower School Gala In the summer thoughts turned the first years Fishbourne Concert which included a towards the end of year exams, Roman palace, while a mixed thrilling rendition of the theme which for many of the first years group enjoyed the Modern music from Skyfall by the were their first ever set of Languages trip to Normandy. massed ranks of the Lower School Band.

The final week of term saw the Be the Best Celebration when Mark Hatton returned to remind the boys of the hard work and determination it takes to fulfil your ambitions – a useful reminder for the second years as they ended their time in Lower School and moved into the third year. Mark also awarded the special prizes:

111 Baker Awards were presented to Jonny Fieth, James Heron, Oliver Moody, Joseph Nash, and Tom Shaw, the Broadbent Cup went to Ethan Webb for his excellent contributions to all three main sports, Joe D’Souza won the Woodgett Cup for his all-round contribution to the life of Lower School, while the Dillon Cup for Lower School Service was presented to Hugo Eddleston for the dedication he has shown both to Chapel Choir and as a librarian.

The end of term saw two Lower School tutors, Mrs McRae and Mr Cotton, depart to take on roles in other areas of the school. Their contributions have been much appreciated and, along with fellow second year tutor Mrs Wigmore, they have worked very hard to prepare their tutees for the challenges that lie ahead. It seems appropriate to end by reminding those tutees of the quote from Nelson Mandela that I used at the “Be the Best Celebration”: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

Adam Jenkins

Callum Ravden

112 Staff Farewells Staff Farewells Lara Ehenfried, Elise Fondu, Tristana Gillet, Hector Portela, Ying Yuan (Carole) – Foreign language assistants

We were delighted to welcome five new language assistants to the department this year. Each one brought their own personality, good humour and talent to the job. Not only were they all much appreciated by colleagues and pupils alike but they also got on splendidly as a team and it has been lovely to witness firm friendships being formed.

Lara arrived in the department business like approach to les- Having finished her English as one of the top graduates sons, invaluable contributions degree back in 1998, Ying Yuan from the university of our part- to languages clubs and their (Carole) became one of the ner town, Bielefeld, where some colourful displays on the notice best English teachers in the of her work had already been boards. Elise will not be going city of Chengdu. She had been published. With a sharp intellect far as she is leaving to do a teaching in Chengdu North- and good sense of humour, she PGCE at Oxford Brookes Uni- West Middle School for the last forged very positive working versity. Tristana has also been 14 years. As an experienced relationships with the students inspired to go into teaching and teacher, she very much valued and worked tirelessly to is applying for suitable courses. this opportunity to teach at a create interesting and motivat- different school in a different ing activities for the boys. We Héctor joined Abingdon from country. Carole was diligent know that she will relish the the prestigious University of and dedicated to her teaching renewed intellectual challenge Salamanca. Having graduated at Abingdon; we often found of a masters course in English in English Linguistics and her sitting in the Quiet Room Literature at Durham University. Literature and previously spent making worksheets for the a year abroad in Dublin, he was boys, and she has spent days Elise and Tristana both came to very keen to broaden his teach- and evenings updating the us from the University of Reims ing experience at a successful Chinese section of our Study although, as they were studying academic school like Abingdon. Site. Our fourth year boys much on separate campuses, they He quickly created a rapport appreciated her input for their did not know each other before with both colleagues and controlled assessment. They they arrived. Elise had just pupils, made excellent contri- have worked very hard with completed a degree in English butions to the department and Carole to achieve the best pos- and Tristana had completed a brought Spanish cheerfulness sible grades. Carole has gone law degree before also gradu- to every aspect of school life. back to her school where she ating in English. Both fitted into He is now leaving to complete will continue teaching English. the department very quickly an MA in Translation Studies at and impressed us all with their the University of Salamanca. Jane Mansfield

113 Carolyn King (oboe) her studies at The Royal involved in a whole range of College of Music in London. activities outside of the Carolyn has taught in the Several years ago Caroline was classroom. Abingdon Music Department appointed conductor of the for some 33 years. Carolyn’s Oxfordshire Schools Symphony Carole will be teaching biology first career was as a research Orchestra, a role that she next year at St Helen’s although biochemist, having a BA from enjoys greatly. Caroline leaves rumour has it she will be Oxford and a DPhil from the us to find time to develop this popping back to help with the University College Hospital area of her music career. gardening club. Medical School in London. A fine player, Carolyn has pro- Alex Ho (piano) Simon Bliss duced many talented oboists and enthused about all things Originally from Hong Kong, but James Fox double-reeded, including her educated at Tonbridge School, famous double-reed ensem- at University College, London James was only with us for a bles. She has been a loyal and (BSc) and The Royal College of year but he made a large dedicated teacher at Abingdon. Music (MMus), Alex replaced impact during that time. He was his pianist sister, Cindy, five appointed as Master in Charge Frank Toms (jazz piano) years ago, when Cindy married of Rowing but also taught biol- and returned to Hong Kong. ogy. From his first day he threw Frank Toms, who has taught Alex is a very versatile musician himself into life at the boat- jazz piano at Abingdon for – he plays in a band, as well as house. He took on a over 16 years, also retires this giving classical recitals and he committed bunch of J16s as year. Frank has also had a very has been a popular member of well as overseeing the running varied career, first as a scien- the department. We wish him of the whole club. tist in the polymer industry and well for his relocation to the latterly as a science and math- other side of London! All the boys he coached would ematics teacher and lecturer speak of his enthusiasm and in Buckinghamshire. All this Michael Stinton the passion for the sport that he time, Frank was playing jazz instilled in them. Under him the and gigging in the region, so Carole Stokes club went on to win the when an opportunity came up Princess Elizabeth Challenge at Abingdon in his late fifties, Carole joined us in March to Cup at Henley Royal Regatta Frank seized it. He has nurtured cover Sarah Gibbard’s mater- for a third successive year. This many fine young players, in- nity leave. Primarily she taught is only the second time in cluding Henry Binning. He has Lower School science but also history that this has been done. thrown himself into Abingdon covered some biology classes musical life, including several of in the Middle School. She was James was also a very effective our overseas music tours. a very experienced science biology teacher. He was teacher and had taught in a passionate about the subject Caroline Hobbs-Smith (flute) number of schools in the and always felt it important to London area before starting be involved in academic teach- Caroline, South African by birth, with us. She brought with her ing as well as coaching rowing. has taught flute for some 9 an enthusiasm for her teaching years and has been a very and a desire to immerse herself We wish him every success as dedicated and charismatic in the life of the school. he returns to Winchester teacher. In her earlier years, College where he will take on Caroline was Principal Flute of As well as her timetabled the role of Housemaster. the Johannesburg Symphony lessons, it quickly became clear Orchestra, before extending that Carole wanted to get Simon Bliss and Henry Morgan

114 Piers Taylor

Piers joined Abingdon in Sep- tember 2012 from an interna- tional school in Mexico to teach chemistry. He made an immedi- ate impression with his passion for the subject and enthusiastic teaching. He was always willing to find time to answer boys’ questions and support both the most able and those who found the subject challenging. Significant contributions were also made to the coaching of rugby and he managed a very successful U15 B team. Having spent a lot of time in the West tradition of gently satirising all in hard work and dedicated Country, he took an opportunity areas of school life, including enterprise coupled with a to move to a school in Bristol the Blog of Ferocity Risk, Head certain cynicism about for September 2013. of Fabingdon School. practically everything. When asking some of his students as Ian Middleton The mighty task of helping the to how he is perceived, “excel- boys organise the Griffen Ball of lent teacher” seemed to be the Hannah Allcock 2013 was also one that she was oft repeated phrase, with “great ready to tackle, as was serving bloke” (which I suspect he’d Hannah Allcock joined the on the MCR committee, and appreciate more) coming as a English Department in taking on the role of Exchange kind of afterthought. September 2011 and brought Co-ordinator. Needless to say, with her bags of enthusiasm she did it all with enthusiasm Staff will remember him as a and humour. She was a and commitment. passionate rugby coach and a wonderful member of the supportive and wise manager. Common Room, throwing Hannah is moving on to My sense is that while he did herself into her teaching with Cheadle Hulme School back many things, he may be most passion and verve and was ‘up North’ so she can be nearer remembered for remodelling the always dedicated to helping the to her family but will be greatly Westridge room, making private boys achieve their best, often missed by many boys and staff study studious and demonstrat- going above and beyond. She and will surely be long remem- ing the art of preparing carefully also worked hard as co- bered at Abingdon for her style, for public speaking. To us in the ordinator of our Lower School pizzazz, great sense of humour Religious Studies Department curriculum during her second and wonderful teaching. he will best be remembered year with us. Not only did she as an outstanding collague, throw herself into her English Rachel Yarrow ever ready to lend support and teaching, however, but also into advice and generous almost many other areas of school life. James Barker to a fault with the outstanding As part of the Southwell- resources he so carefully Sander’s ‘Green Army’, she was James came to Abingdon in prepared for his students. We a dedicated sixth form tutor. 2010 to teach Religious Studies wish him all the very best. She took over Words and That and take on the role of Upper and carried on the honourable Master. He showed a firm belief George Moody

115 Sara Northey same time and also taken three boarding community and, over- Lower Sixth sets through their all, just about making himself Sara joined the Abingdon AS period studies on 19th indispensable. He leaves us to School History Department in century Britain and shown un- take on the lead deputy 2010 as a part-time teacher feigned (well maybe position at Warwick and I know and quickly proved herself an slightly feigned) enthusiasm for in particular that the SLT will excellent addition to the team. mid-Victorian politics. miss his forthright opinions Being a part-time teacher can in our meetings (always lively be tricky but Sara proved up to Sara leaves us to move to when you get David onto the task and quickly established Broadchalke (a picturesque certain subjects!), his unfailing a good rapport with the boys village near Salisbury). Her hus- good humour in the face of and the other teachers in the band Ian is now responsible for everything life at Abingdon department. She proved to be a the National Trust in throws at you and, most of all, lively and popular teacher and Dorset/Wiltshire and Somerset the phenomenal drive he has at coped with having to fill gaps in so hopefully she will still be able his core to make life for all the the teaching and adapt to what- to do some travelling, even if boys as interesting, challenging ever the situation demanded. only in the confines of Wessex. and transformational as he can. We wish her all the best. Sara joined the school having Felicity Lusk worked in various fields. She David McGill travelled widely in her twenties, spending a year in Chile and David Wickes then returning to complete an MSc at the London School of David Wickes came to Economics. This means, Abingdon in September 2008, annoyingly, she can easily first as Upper Master and then trump most of my traveller’s Deputy Head Pastoral from tales with something more September 2010. David has remote and arduous than the been our guide and guru in all cocktail lounge of the Holiday matters pastoral, taking on this Inn in whatever country we huge responsibility with a light- are discussing. After this she ness of touch and a serious- then worked for 9 years as a ness of purpose. He has been policy officer and lobbyist for a constant and dynamic the National Trust before being presence in the school: greeting accepted on the government the boys off the buses in the fast-track teaching scheme. morning, guiding our reflections After completing her PGCE at in chapel services, running John Chapman the Institute of Education in to the classroom to provoke London she worked at Bullers historians into proper argument John Chapman was a modest Wood in Bromley for three years and going off to coach rugby man who nonetheless achieved before leaving the city. to the highest level. Aside from a great deal in his eight years at all that, he has been doing his the school. He had an Since working here, Sara has main job: working alongside extremely interesting military had to juggle the demands of all the housemasters and their career behind him and had also two children and her teaching, teams to strengthen our worked as project manager with and has done so with good- pastoral provision, dealing with IBM. He first became involved humour and grace. She has some really tough and difficult at Abingdon whilst helping train also had two years of teaching pastoral situations, being highly the Ten Tors team and then three third year groups at the visible in his support of the gradually expanded his role to

116 gratitude for helping them learn ness again and again. He was lessons you can only learn in always well organised, particu- the wilderness and on larly when it came to setting up expeditions. Lessons about cake rotas for the sixth form. who they are and also about This organisational skill led to what make them tick. We wish him becoming science coordi- John God’s speed and all the nator, where he has shone in very best for the future. negotiations with architects for the new science centre. Paul Gooding and David McGill David’s contribution to sailing David Bickerton is almost immeasurable. He has regularly led sessions at David joined us in 2000 from Farmoor on Mondays, Wednes- King Alfred’s School Wantage days, Fridays and Saturdays with a proven track record both in fair weather and and foul, all for teaching physics and for through the year; however cold, sailing. if there was enough light, there was sailing. On top of that David quickly settled in as an David has given up a huge include SSI in the CCF and also excellent physics teacher. He amount of his holidays for Duke of Edinburgh coordinator. was a very valued member of sailing. We all feel jealous of the the department, always Greek islands in the summer, He will be remembered as a prepared to take on a difficult but not the preparatory trip in good-humoured, calm and class, and always having the the Channel at Christmas. patient man who helped boys time to listen to the boys. He achieve goals they would not always put in a lot of time and David will be sorely missed but have thought themselves effort with the boys he taught he will return in September to capable of. John was always or tutored, and, flicking through cover Peter Willis’ sabbatical. concerned for the pupils’ well- old leavers’ year books, his being, safety and enjoyment. A name is mentioned with fond- John Brooks large part of the SSI role, which can be hugely bureaucratic at times, goes unnoticed but is crucial to the success of any activities undertaken. He made sure that all the MOD require- ments were in place for CCF camps, exercises, VIP visits and the like. Abingdon CCF is extremely well respected by both the Cadet Training Teams and Oxford University OTC and John deserves a real degree of credit for keeping the organisation running smoothly.

We will miss John very much and we know countless boys owe him a huge debt of

117 Rodney Mearns difficulties and crises with that master i/c all things UCAS that steadiness of temperament and Rodney has been December 2012 saw the absolute reliability that additionally important to them. retirement, after thirty years’ colleagues and boys came to Rodney stepped into the role in distinguished service, of trust implicitly. 1999, and for the past thirteen Rodney Mearns. He officially years he has steered hundred relinquished teaching duties But for all his achievements, it of boys through the often in the summer of 2011, since is in his role as English teacher complex and challenging when he has continued to play that many hundreds of processes by which inchoate a leading role in the school’s Abingdon boys came to know aspiration might be converted university applications office. Rodney. Teaching for him was a into a real university place. That Rodney’s contribution to matter of having his pupils so many have under his Abingdon has extended far and encounter an intriguing guidance progressed to wide, and in his retirement we challenge. In effect, he stood prestigious universities is a bid farewell to a man who has before young minds and said, matter of some pride to unostentatiously won the admi- “Here is something I want to Rodney; more important to ration and affection of genera- persuade you is interesting and him have been the many boys tions of pupils and colleagues. important”, and what followed whose paths were not straight- would be a careful unfolding forward but whom he was able Rodney joined Abingdon’s of why a text had something to help towards personal English department in 1982. about it that was worth their success and achievement. With a research degree from attention, perhaps even their Oxford and university teaching life-long attention. His lessons Rodney has approached his experience in his native Dublin, embodied a shared experience: career at Abingdon with a Rodney brought a special with expertise and learning modest vigour, an unfussy distinction to the English lightly worn, he prompted, sense of responsibility, and a department, though in fact it cajoled, and challenged boys purposeful energy that has was his expertise in rowing into discovering that what they preferred service to self- that had particularly impressed took for granted needed advancement. He will approach Michael Parker. So it was that questioning, and that what they retirement in just the same Rodney teamed up with his found difficult was not beyond spirit, and with sleeves rolled then Head of English, Graham them. up. Abingdon will miss him: we Barrett, to coach generations wish him every happiness. of oarsmen: countless hours For recent generations of were spent by the two of them Abingdonians, it is in his role as Andrew Swarbrick in preparing crews, transporting boats and boys, participating in regattas and charging up and down the Thames towpath.

Other duties followed: for some years, Rodney produced the school magazine; he took his turn in directing drama productions and was appointed a dayboy housemaster in 1989. For ten years, Rodney led his house with that quiet authority that has come to characterise him: he dealt with the inevitable

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