THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE Vol. V No. 3 1 December 2006 COLLEGE POND ‘In the Capability Brown landscape of Radley College it At the beginning of each Summer Term we are told – traverses about 150 yards from tee to green over the ‘No swimming in the lake: Weil’s disease’, but there’s College Pond. This teems not with pike but with trout. not much need for this warning as no one in their right A huge and lovely willow on the far bank pushes you to mind would want to swim in there in its current state. the left, where a greenside bunker awaits the one that Once, while raft-building in the Shells with WOCM, I you “come over on too quickly”, as the BBC fell in. The water smelt disgusting; fronds and branches commentators say. underwater wrapped around my legs. When my feet ‘In the season the Canada geese strut with dignity and touched the bottom a cloud of mud erupted followed by droppings behind – and occasionally on – the green. At huge bubbles of stale, revolting-smelling gas. Once I other times the swan family glide majestically across was safely back on the bank I went to shower and the path of your mis-hit eight iron. And, if fearful of gargle mouthwash but even after using copious amounts under clubbing against the wind, you over hit the green, of shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, &c, I still stank of the return chip calls for the touch of a seven if you are pond for days. not to finish with very wet socks.’ But it need not be like this. For the groundsmen, who Twenty years after this affectionate description of the do an impeccable job as far as I can see in every other Radley Eighth (by Mr Alan Dowding, formerly Tutor of corner of the school, it must be a thorn in their side. It B Social and Second Master) published in a Daily would take time, money and work in order to reform Telegraph article on favourite golf holes, has anything this, potentially beautiful lake. Just because it is called – changed? rather affectionately and with no pretension at all – ‘College Pond’ rather than ‘College Lake’ does not One can still look down from the great country house mean that it should be left to fester as an unloved over verdant terraces to a shimmering in the middle village pond. The silt at the bottom needs to be dredged distance: a lake protected from the evening sun by noble out and the trees should be cut down to size. The water trees. Some boys play golf, each hitting their ball is stagnant, and conditions are wonderful for bacteria perfectly over the lake and onto the green. Others are and algae to thrive. fishing; further out, near the island, huge trout disturb the surface. A few ducks sit peacefully incubating their A fountain in the middle to oxygenate the water, a few feet on the green while a small boat is moored up rushes and water plants, and maybe a decimation of the against the grassy peninsula, bobbing up and down. On fat duck and rat populations would do the trick. Top up hot summer afternoons after games there is swimming with trout to keep the Radley fishers happy. (In Shop and bathing in the cool, clear water. the other day I was looking at the ties I might be eligible for, and spotted a rather elegant fishing tie. I assume, as Does this remind you of anywhere? This is not quite the I have never seen it before, that it is an old society now College Pond we know – you may be more familiar defunct. What a shame! I know of many a keen with the muddy edges, semi-submerged branches and fisherman here who would love to join.) smelly, disease-filled water. The occasional dead duck is found lying in the mud and a few dead fish glistening It may not be an easy job but one that would make all just under the surface. The small pontoons are the difference: Pond could be a thoroughly nice place to beginning to rot while midges swarm in huge clouds be at all times of the year. We can’t guarantee every over the dense reeds. Rats scurry along the bank golf ball’s safe passage, but at least with a clean lake we collecting litter and scraps. could swim for them.

– – — INSIDE — – – Poll – page 50 • Social Stereotype – page 51 • Fauré: Requiem – page 56 • The History Boys – page 57 Partsong – page 60 •Desert Island Dons – page 63 • The Visit – page 64 • Correspondence – page 75 and more… 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE A POLL OF THE THINGS THAT OVERHEARD… MAKE RADLEY… RADLEY A regular column devoted to memorable quotes from all quarters of College. Forty Radleians, one from each year in each social were asked for ‘the top five things that made Radley…Radley’ in their opinion. The answers were Overheard in an English lesson: compiled into a little league table and we present Don: ‘What is “journalese”?’ below, with considerable surprise at the results, the Boy: ‘A spray to get rid of journalists?’ top ten things which make Radley…Radley, in order of popularity. We can only assume that some of the Overheard in a lesson on European History: responses were not entirely serious in some of their nominations. Don: ‘So Charles V found himself having to put many fingers in many holes of 1. Bigside Rugby many dykes...’ 2. Singing in Chapel 3. Gowns Overheard in an English 4. Shop lesson, discussing poetry of 5. The Golf Course Sharon Olds: 6. No Girls 7. Socials Boy: ‘And here it talks of 8. Wednesday Supper Eden…’ 9. AER’s Coloured Don: ‘—Exactly! Whenever Trousers you go near Eden there’s 10. The JCR always a snake nearby.’

Please send in suggestions for Overheard in a History lesson future polls to regarding the fetishes of a [email protected]. Renaissance Pope: Don: ‘Rumour has it he made them undress and then pick FIRST up walnuts from the floor.’ Boy: ‘Pick them up with IMPRESSIONS what?’ We asked a large cross- Overheard in Hall: section of over 50 Shells what their impressions of Radley Boy: ‘So there I was, were after the first seven exercising my right as a VI.2 weeks of term. We have to go to the front of the queue, printed the most interesting responses – many were and...’ duplicated – spread throughout the issue. Overheard in a Spanish lesson: ‘I don’t like the sausages’ Boy A (translating): ‘It is necessary to recycle paper, ‘Usually very good food from the kitchens but the glass, plastic and, ummm...’ quality can slip’ Boy B: ‘Plates?’ ‘The chips from Shop are great’ Overheard in a Physics lesson: ‘The food was really good to begin with, but now I am Don: ‘Obviously I’ve had too much cannabis; I’m a bit not so fond, and we seem to have curry all the time’ unsteady.’ ‘The food is better than I thought it would be’ Overheard in an English lesson during the don’s ‘I wish we could always have Pain au Chocolats on a briefing for a dept. outing: Sunday’ Don: ‘…And no, we are not having whipped cream ‘I like having second helpings all the time’ this time!’

Please send us (printable) quotes

50 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 SOCIAL STEREOTYPES An occasional series profiling well-known Radley types who may be lurking in a Social near you… 7. THE CHRONICLE EDITOR Since being appointed in his Remove year the ‘Sorry, chaps, it’s policy. I just can’t tell you. Anyway, youngest ever Editor, Julian has developed a College- it’s a collaborative effort. Now, anyone heard any wide reputation as one to be wary of. His friends are good quotes today?’ His dining companions disappear careful what they say in Julian’s company because he fast, and when left alone he strains his ears for gossip tends to take down the conversation in shorthand in his and rumours from the VI.1 tables to be wildly little black notebook, ever on the lookout for exaggerated in the next issue. He hears a whisper scurrilous Overheard quotes. His dons, too, are about IT’s new mail server and its nickname and trots realising that their frequent appearances in the off to social happily: this is all he needs for inspiration Overheard column can be traced back to that Fifth to write several hundred words on the subject later that Form set: a bit of judicious cross-referencing over a evening in prep. gin in Common Room soon pinpointed the culprit. His history don is becoming impatient about the week- He edits others’ copy savagely: cutting adverbs, late coursework: ‘Sorry, sir,’ he says smoothly, ‘next adding asides and lavishing semicolons about with issue’s due out soon – you know how it is... deadlines, abandon, but takes offence if anyone so much as tsch!’ The don knows ‘how it is’ but couldn’t moves a comma of his own sculpted prose... Julian remember the last time Julian had made a deadline of decided early on that the only way to keep on top of his. ‘I’ll be able to get you your copy once my lead his Chronicling was to make the article on hoodies is finished,’ is top-secret high-security Julian’s next offer, sensing CourseForum editing site his dissatisfaction The don bites his laptop homepage (thank God for lip to stop a fruity observation wireless networking!). This little emerging that would inevitably trick saves him so much time, as end up as an Overheard. he can instantly see the ‘Recently Despite his own shambolic Changed’ pages and follow what approach to getting essays in on everyone else has been working time, Julian is punctilious about on. Other, less keen, Editors are chasing up boys and dons who well aware how often he visits the owe articles with polite but pushy site and posts pithy criticisms on emails: their pages; and he was once caught by his Tutor at 2am writing ‘Dear Sir, the most recent instalment of A I think you will remember that Tutor’s Diary... ‘If you let me off last term you agreed to write this time, sir, then I won’t put in 2,500 words for us on the the bit about you at Social Prayers Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, last week...’ he said, thinking and it seems to have gone quickly. The Tutor backed off, astray as I haven’t seen it in thankfully, or it could have got my inbox yet... please can you nasty. send asap? He assiduously goes to concerts and plays, flashing his Yours ever, Chronicle Press card at the door and insisting on a seat Julian right at the back. There he sits sucking thoughtfully on Chronicle Orthopaedic Editor his reviewing pencil between jotting down carefully I Social’ considered bon mots as they occur to him. He is so He arranged some work experience at The Times over bound up in his literary effort that he does not even the summer by sending his entire published oeuvre in look at the performers or appear to hear them; for him, back issues of the Chronicle to Marco’s father, who is the inner process of analysing his own reaction to the the Deputy Editor. A letter came back: ‘We’ll be performance and churning out the copy to a deadline is delighted to see you for a week in August’. He all important. imagines his talent and industry will be spotted He sits smugly in supper – his new lime and mandarin immediately, and perhaps, in due course, he will be Chronicle tie trumping even the tasteful Choir one – offered a regular column under his own byline. Little refusing to tell his friends Jonno and Marco who wrote does he know that all he’ll end up doing is the latest Social Stereotype (The H Social Luvvie) – photocopying and running out for sandwiches. 51 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE

WHERE DO RADLEIANS LIVE? Following the interest taken by people in the list of We have italicized all the foreign places (including names publicised last issue, we applied the same rules Scotland). Oddly, though it is much nearer, no to the counties or countries where Radleians live. Only Radleians admit to being from Wales. 45 live outside England, 17 of whom are in Scotland. If you have any ideas for other ways in which we can London (131 boys) is the most popular location within analyse and display Radley info using a ‘tag cloud’, England, narrowly beating Oxfordshire (129 boys). please do write to us at the usual address. The old county of Middlesex and London retain their historic postal independence.

Australia Bahrain Bedfordshire Berkshire Brazil

Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Channel Isles Cheshire

Cornwall Cumbria Devon Dorset East Sussex Essex France

Gloucestershire Hampshire

Hertfordshire Hong Kong Isle of Man Kent Leicestershire Lincolnshire

London Luxembourg Malaysia Middlesex Nigeria Norfolk

Northamptonshire Northumberland

Oxfordshire Pakistan Portugal Rutland Scotland

Shropshire Singapore Somerset South Africa Spain Suffolk Surrey Switzerland Thailand

USA Warwickshire West Sussex Wiltshire

Worcestershire Yorkshire

For those of you that are really interested, this tag cloud Notepad++ and used a regular expression to convert it was generated by quite a cunning method: we trawled by into a SQL statement to import it to MySQL. A PHP hand through the Grey Book, noting down the counties in script took the data and for each row produced some the addresses, then created a list in Excel, exported the HTML that could be copied into Word. first name column as a .csv file, opened that in

52 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 DIARY OF A VOLUNTEER AN NCO’S REPORT OF RAF WEEKEND Saturday 7 October Sunday 8 October I signed on the dotted line: what have I let myself in Managed to extract two hours sleep out of last night, for? Signing up was clearly a mistake as I found out and woke not to the sound of the trumpet, but rather a very soon that being an RAF NCO wouldn’t just booming officer’s voice. After multiple attempts to involve flying round Oxford on sunny afternoons. cook my luxury ration pack, I gave up and started 3 The day started, for the forces, rather late – at 7.25 pm forcing my sleeping bag back into its 5cm carrying case. The amusement for the day was fatigues (hauling (sorry, 1925 hours) with a bus drive to an ‘undisclosed huge hunks of wood round a forest, our way of saying location’: considering it was now pitch black, it soon became difficult to track where we were going. And I thank you to the owners of the land), and the inevitable raft-building exercise. I’m happy to report was overheating under 14 layers of military clothing. Good. A delinquent Vth colleague was trying to map that most failed. our vectors and displacement using his internal We then had to make/cook (what do you do to a gyroscope in case of the ‘out you get and find your chicken?) our lunch on small fires – extracting way back to Radley’ line came up. Smart thinking, but excrement from the rear ends of dead rabbits was the sadly it didn’t, and he was as lost as I was. high point. We must mention that a certain large Our sleeping arrangements shocked me even more Scottish member of Common Room refused to eat even the most tender fillet of fish – never mind, we than at Summer Camp, as we were under ‘bashers’ for had enough fun poisoning the landowner’s child to the night. Fine, I hear you all say tucked up warmly in bed, but not so fine when on a 60° slant. Our worry about him: ‘If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us distraction for the next two and a half hours was shall we not revenge?’ (that’s Shakespeare). wandering round in circles over a 500×300m area, either trying to spot invisible ‘trees’ or trying to Hysteria began to set in on our return to Radley as we become ‘trees’ and not be spotted. A surprising spent several hours cleaning our mess tins, which had amount of fun as the spotters were given walkie- seen absolutely no action at all. Don’t they teach the talkies (what were the dons thinking?) – conversations chemical properties of aluminium in Scotland? Now went something like: ‘Alpha bravo x-ray hotel two I’m sure we all know that aluminium gains a slow niner, on finals.’, ‘Alpha Bravo x-ray hotel two niner, progressive layer of oxide with however much you are cleared to land’ etc. This was all great scrubbing – not that the Army cares. amusement but gave the ‘trees’ an easy job – despite Sitting in the comfort of my own room, I now have the this my group managed to catch one pairing 16 times. will-power to say that it was a good weekend, and On one occasion they stood on me for several minutes, despite the ‘no sleep, no food, no rest’ method adopted and upon realising my existence, promptly ran hell for by the Army, I did, surprisingly, enjoy it... whether leather down the road and collided with a rather sturdy that statement will come back round to haunt me when metal pole. Doyng. I’m asked if I want to come next year, we’ll just have The evening finished with tales of a Navy member’s to wait and see. ‘giant light-up phallus-slash-lightsabre’ or, to those of us without mental setbacks or a sci-fi addiction, a ‘torch’. Thank God, though, no ironing, bulling, nor any cleanliness of any sort…yet.

53 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE THE IMPORTANCE OF I Many Collegers will know that there will soon be two Apple-related from the school… a plausible theory. new socials, J and K, to join the existing eight, H, G, Even with an education that costs twenty-five grand a F, E, D, C, B and A. Most seem to already know the year, some Radleians (or their parents) may well have details – who the new tutors are going to be, where the made that connection. However, there is a socials are going to be built and when they will open. misunderstanding here: the ‘I’ in iPod is different from However one huge question that I’ve heard and asked the ‘I’ in IGCSE: the former meaning, I think, many a time is, WHY IS THERE NO I SOCIAL? It’s ‘information’ (in a trendy lower-case way) and the the next letter in the alphabet. It’s not unlucky like the latter ‘international’. The new GCSE exams are number 13 (is it?) or Friday the thirteenth. So why International and certainly not trendy. miss it out? Fear of the number 13 is, famously, After asking many a Radley boy why he felt there was triskadekophobia, so, to coin a new word and diagnose no I Social I began to realise that the one recurring a new personality disorder, perhaps someone out there answer was that I looks too much like a number one with their finger on some important buttons has however I can’t help but be critical of this as all the iotophobia (iota being the Greek letter i)? other socials are letters and if you are showing round In the first issue of this term we published a letter people you are not going to say ‘There are 10 socials purporting to be from an alumnus of I Social about this at Radley: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, one and J’. very matter: the writer was wondering if the reason for It was more likely, at that stage of my research, that the lack of an I Social was because of the running people were just fed up with me asking the same jokes through seven chapters in question over and over again our spoof A Tutor’s Diary: the until they gave me an answer. Tutor regularly says things like, Hmmm. Thinking laterally, ‘You’ve let yourselves down, perhaps we should not have an I you’ve let me down and you’ve Social, but an iSocial – a virtual let I down…’ to his naughty Social world for those Radleians charges when he catches them having a tough time of it in the doing something they shouldn’t real one, where boys can create be. atavars and meet up for coffee, I asked one don the social-naming or virtual cigarettes by the virtual question and his theory was that if extractor fans. More seriously, there was an I Social then some people would though, an online social site where socialising and associate it with iPods, iTunes, iMacs and other Apple exchange of information can take place, where the products. This, of course, would completely defeat the currency used by all are iChicken Rolls. Ah, it sounds IT Department’s secret policy of eradicating anything wonderful – sign me up now…

FIRST IMPRESSIONS (2) ‘The school seems enormous when you get here but ‘The Chronicle is brilliant as it keeps us up to date isn’t actually that big when you know where with other things above our year’ everything is’ ‘Music is good but it would be great if they could post ‘There are outstanding sports facilities’ the music lesson timetable in other places lest we forget to go’ ‘Huge Chapel – really love the golf course – expert sport tuition – friendly people here’ ‘Shop is a good idea’ ‘There are lots of unwritten rules around the school ‘Chapel is new to me as we didn’t go everyday at my that you have to find out for yourself’ last school’ ‘I dislike the gowns – they are pointless and always ‘Radley has helped me discover many things about fall off my shoulders’ myself that I never knew. For instance I now know I ‘The drama here is brilliant and I thought that the am a rubbish golfer’ Haddon cup was a great way to start the drama for our ‘I’ve had a great time so far and can’t wait to try out year.’ all the things that Radley has to offer’

54 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 ENTENTE CORDIALE – PART ONE An impression of the Radley end of the French exchange visits with a lycèe in Paris. Tuesday 31 October Thursday 2 November With my hands gripped tightly to the tray I walk into A day of rest for the Radleians as the Frogs go to see Hall with trepidation, wondering just who I am going the many sights of Oxford, returning with all the to spend the next five days dragging through lessons, souvenirs – Burberry ‘he say eet not fake!’ scarves, ‘I Chapel, and Radley life in general. As I approach SB, love London’ T-shirts, and inexplicably ‘special to the man responsible for setting up our fantastic links Oxford’ Scottish shortbread. It made me realise how with Lycèe St Geneviève in Paris, he grins at me and draining getting understood by foreigners really is – breaks the suspense – ‘Your correspondante is almost like having a dog trotting around after you, Thomas’ (pronounced ‘tom-a’). He indicates a except they always want to know what’s going on! smallish boy with a white scarf enveloping the lower Nevertheless, I tried to remain optimistic as we part of his face (many of the French students wore boarded the trusty Radley battle buses for the journey scarves this time round – it must be a fashion over to Winchester, in order to see a play put on by their there – and thus managed to look infinitely smarter boys – in FRENCH (I thought this leg was designed to than the Radleians. How do the French always manage improve the Frenchies’ English?). As I had suspected, this?) This chap looks even more nervous than me, his I didn’t understand a word, relying on the detailed arms glued to his sides as he attempts a little bow. synopsis to work out just was happening. A worthy Taking my seat I peer around at the visitors, all sacrifice, I thought, if the French were getting jabbering away in the language I am supposed to be something out of it. However, it turned out that they able to speak but sadly, cannot. I think to myself, ‘if couldn’t understand most of it either, due to the his English is as bad as my French, I’m screwed.’ ‘straange eenglish axon’ – one of many things they Luckily it’s virtually perfect, apart from the occasional seemed to find hilarious, as well as the appearance of Gallic problem with the letter ‘h’ – illustrated perfectly some of the female members of the cast... Another two when we asked them all to say ‘huge hands’. The word hours later in the bus we pulled up to the epitome of squirrel was also a major source of amusement, either western haute cuisine chez MacDo for a good dose of being said ‘squ–rel’ or squeerrrell. grease before returning at the end of another long day, although a great excuse was provided for an essay Another incident which burns deep into the memory is extension... that of the French first experience of Chapel. With many of them seated in front of the keen B Soc VI.2, Friday 3 November they were subjected to 15 minutes of lusty bawling of In theory the main event on the Friday was the supper a foreign language in their ears – at the end I was provided by the fantastic catering team (and SB) for asked by several ‘how the eenglish can speak after?’ the whole party of exchangees, before the French left Yet this was not all that occurred on that first day: on Sunday. However in practice this was (in some after prep SB led an expedition to Radville’s finest ways unfortunately) overshadowed by that which public house, where Halloween celebrations were in followed: several cases of over-relaxation, and in one full swing. We encountered quite a selection of dons, a total case of relaxation, framed perfectly by photos with WOCM heading towards another win in the fancy which were to be circulated in the following week. dress competition in his body-size ‘front-page news’ Another Radleian was to be lampooned mercilessly in suit – headlines such as ‘NEMO FOUND’ and ‘BEER the days to come for his excellent rapprochement and MADE FREE ON NHS’. All in all, a cosmopolitan entente very cordiale with a citizen of the Fifth first impression of Radley for our guests. Republic. All this did not mar what was a fantastic few days for Wednesday 1 November the Radleians, as well as hopefully the Frogs. SB said The reactions of dons differ when met unwarned by afterwards that it was the best group he’d ever had in extra continental pupils in their classes, I soon terms of getting on with everyone (and especially a discovered. Some made an effort to accommodate the certain jeune fille called Solene). We shall see if this Frogs with their best attempts at Franglais continues in the return leg in Paris: read all about it in explanations (and even the parallel French history); the Chronicle next term. others merely fished out moth-eaten copies of The Tempest for the guests and let them get on with it. A draining day of lessons for the visitors, followed up by the famous Wednesday supper. However most of them took their lead from certain VI.2s, and just walked to the front of the mile-long queue. 55 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE FAURE’S REQUIEM: A LITURGICAL PERFORMANCE SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER, CHAPEL On the evening of Remembrance Sunday there was a George Nye (E) rose admirably to the challenge of the performance of Faure’s Requiem to accompany a solo part, a part which perhaps requires the gravitas of Solemn High Mass. Our Victorian Chapel seemed a mature voice. An unexpected treat was the Sub designed for a service like this, with the carvings in Chaplain’s voice in the Sursum Corda; it’s a pity it stone and wood coming to life in the flickering doesn’t get more of an outing! The Sanctus was spine- candlelight, a light which draws the eye automatically tingling, from the rippling harp at the beginning to the to the finest features of the building – the roof and the loud Hosannas at the end; the fanfare of horns and the reredos – while dark, plush vestments, some bells and strings’ staccato chords were easily carried by the more than a whiff of incense, courtesy of a server who super volume of the choir. nervously got into the swing of things, added to The highlight for me was the Pie Jesu, sung by the something of a Puseyish atmosphere. I thought that the chorister treble James Allen, who powerfully projected founders of the College might have felt very much at a sweet, strong voice without ever compromising home and tried not to imagine my own Presbyterian pitch. It is difficult for young lungs to cope with the forbears performing backflips in Calvinist indignation. demands of this part, but his slight breathlessness was Having said this, I was at first not a problem, and any nervousness unsure whether the event had the only served to colour this mood of a religious service or of a unpretentious performance with a concert with props. An orchestra charming touch of vibrato. was tuning up in the sanctuary and Contrasted with this solo was the the impressively augmented choir, ensuing Agnus Dei which gathered not in its regular stalls, was unrobed. the richer tones of the chorus, But once the service began, the orchestra and organ; the bass line music and the liturgy complemented was particularly rich and gorgeous. one another powerfully and I found The choir palpably enjoyed the myself paying much closer attention Libera me, joining in heartily after to the words of the Requiem because Alex Douglas (C) had stepped up to of the liturgical context. These sing the solo. I wasn’t sure how well words, grave, timeless and resonant this piece served the mood of the as only Latin can be, were delivered communion taking place at the time by the choir, especially the trebles, but the ensuing silence emphasised with good pronunciation and clarity the sanctity of the occasion. The In throughout. I was a little Paradisum was heart-achingly disappointed that the spoken words haunting and ended with an were not also in Latin – that would incredibly long chord which have been very grand, if a achieved a sense of finality. Romeward step too far! After the service everyone seemed The Introit set the solemn tone to agree, over their chestnuts and beautifully and, having already mulled wine, that it had been a most heard pieces from the Requiem effective, enjoyable and moving performed in Chapel with just the occasion. It was encouraging to see organ, I immediately realised the so many people supporting a huge benefit of having an orchestra Sunday evening event, and it was there. Instruments and voices especially heartening to observe the blended well as the orchestra odd Radleian in the congregation changed the underlying harmony. The particularly rich who was making it along to Chapel for the second string sound was created by just the violas and cellos time that day. The retiring collection for the Jane and basses – unusually the violin only makes a brief Ashley Unit, the dedicated breast care ward in the appearance in the Sanctus and the final movement. Churchill Hospital, served to make the evening even more worthwhile. Thank you to the boys, girls, dons In the Kyrie a spacious and majestic sound used the and choristers of the Chapel Choir, the music teachers building’s acoustics, with the horn cutting powerfully forming the orchestra and, not least, to the Precentor through the mid-texture. I had not previously been who guided them all. very familiar with the Offertory and was struck by its melancholic beauty, and by the dark, chthonic lyrics; SAG 56 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006

THE HISTORY BOYS A review of Alan Bennett’s latest film. There must be few people here (in the Sixth Form, at teacher, Hector is a flawed man, and his unhealthy least) who will have missed mention of Alan Bennett’s interest in many of them eventually comes to haunt new play The History Boys. The play gained rave him. Griffiths was remarkable on stage and one of the reviews from UK critics, ran for months at the main disappointments of this film is that much of the National Theatre and then transferred to Broadway, sparkle of his performance is missing on the silver where this essentially English drama scooped the top screen; his formidable presence is weakened. Tony Awards, including those for Best Actress, Best Another problem is that if you don’t side with Actor and Best Director. Now Nicholas Hytner, the Hector’s style of teaching and philosophy of life then play’s director in its stage version and a previous much of what happens later in the film loses its Bennett collaborator (he directed The Madness of King impact. The motorbike scenes – merely described in George in 1994) has brought The History Boys to the the play – were shown in full, and this is perhaps big screen, with a screenplay by the author. where Richard Griffiths got in the way... his bulk is The History Boys is set in Sheffield in 1983. It follows now so huge (and unremarked upon – where in the eight boys who, after completing their A levels at their 1980s you might imagine that it would be even more grammar school, have returned for a term’s coaching unusual than it is at the moment) that it seemed for the Oxbridge entrance exams. The action is set unlikely that the motorbike would be able to take his mainly in the school while Bennett’s wonderful weight, let alone one of his younger passengers as dialogue subtly examines the changing friendships and well. The groping was almost funny – the obese relationships between the boys and their teachers. The Hector being portrayed a benign harmless figure rather situation that the boys find themselves in, as 7th term than a predatory teacher – ‘a benediction’, as he puts it Oxbridge applicants, does not exist any more1. to the Headmaster. Part of the play’s success at the National Theatre and The wonderful Frances de la Tour seems underused, on Broadway was the obvious chemistry between the her role now reduced to delivering a long rant in a cast. Fortunately the entire original cast has returned mock interview about how history is dominated by for the film. Of the eight boys, three give stand-out men. Conversely, Stephen Campbell Moore is a performances: Dominic Cooper plays Dakin, the cool revelation in the film. Campbell Moore makes Mr one, worshipped by just about everyone. Cooper Irwin, the young thrusting History teacher who makes his character charming, arrogant but likeable believes there is no such thing as the truth and has no and he has true charisma in front of the camera. problem manipulating any subject to make his point, much more human and tragic than in the play. Samuel Barnett plays Posner, the boy who is painfully in love with Dakin, and he also has many of the film’s Alan Bennett went through this whole Oxbridge best lines. Barnett makes an embarrassing scene, process at his Yorkshire grammar school (twice – the where he sings to Dakin first time unsuccessfully) and which both amusing and one feels that in this play he achingly poignant. Finally has returned to his there’s Jamie Parker, who educational roots and tackled somehow manages to make a subject that he feels strongly the ostensibly religious and about – and one that is conservative Scripps funny, human and perhaps the absolutely relevant to us at Radley today – namely easiest for the audience to relate to. whether one should strive to read widely, to gain a true understanding of (by necessity) a limited number of The teachers include the magnificent Richard Griffiths texts; to read for the sake of it, to appreciate learning as Hector, a teacher who inspires the boys by teaching and knowledge as ends in themselves. Or, to try to them to love knowledge for its own sake and not just achieve a smattering of knowledge, a veneer of so it can be regurgitated for exams. Although a great sophistication, by cynically playing the exam game, being deliberately controversial (for example, Irwin 1 The exams for entry to Oxford and Cambridge were abolished in encourages them to argue that Stalin was a nice bloke, the late 1980s (Cambridge) and mid 1990s (Oxford); the exams much misunderstood, and Hitler was an economic could be sat in the fourth term or the seventh, which involved the genius) simply to stand out from the crowd and appear pupils returning to school (as VI.3s in Radley’s case) after A levels original. Of course, the deception is that if one is to cram for the very particular and, at the same time, general demands of the papers. The successful candidates obtained taught this technique and applies it consciously, then interviews at their chosen colleges and were accepted original it ain’t. ‘Gobbets’ of sparkling quotations and unconditionally by Christmas. tangential cultural references should be sprinkled 57 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE throughout, giving the impression that sources have PIANO RECITAL been consulted and that genuine learning is there under CORDELIA WILLIAMS the surface, but more cannot be said under the time pressure of the exam. Is this not a brasher cousin of the FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER, SILK HALL technique that we learn here for A level, and, still most Cordelia Williams, sister of Greg in C Social, and a pertinently, for Oxbridge interviews? student at Clare College, Cambridge, won the Piano The emphasis placed on the importance of league table section of the BBC Young Musician of the Year position by the headmaster was anachronistic and competition last year, reaching the concerto final on slightly disconcerting. The league-tables are only a national television. She has been giving recitals around recent phenomenon and were out of place in an early the country and we were fortunate to be able to entice eighties grammar school. There is an interesting her to Radley. contrast presented between Hector and the head: the old and the new. Hector is a sympathetic but very sad figure who gropes the boys but provides a passionate and far-reaching education; the headmaster, unimaginative, chippy, concerned only with results, is a symbol of the new age in which league tables and outward appearances are the most pressing issues for a school. The music was great – toe-tapping ’80s classics from She entertained and amazed an audience with works Duran Duran and others were mixed in with songs and by a wide variety of composers: Bach, Debussy, little performances from the 7th termers – particularly Chopin and Gershwin were complimented by works of Posner, who has a very good singing voice; another of lesser known composers such as Lyapunov and none the few details that did interrupt our suspending of other than Radley and Oxford’s very own Hugh Brunt disbelief was how there came to be pianos in every (formerly of C social). Hugh wrote several pieces classroom of this Northern grammar school, and how specifically to be played by Cordelia, of which the every member of the Oxbridge set could sing and act audience was presented two. so well. Little vignettes like a scene from Brief She opened the concert with an epic cantata by JS Encounter were played out at the end of lessons as Bach. It contained the usual flashy finger work with theatrical gobbets: part of Hector’s unorthodox which Bach liked to challenge performers. However, pedagogic style. French, too, was learnt through role- some of the slower sections convey both a morose and playing in a brothel. serene air that she held well. This was followed by It can sometimes be a mistake for a playwright to Hugh’s two works, which transcended between revise their own material. Bennett has not been mystical melodies and awe-inspiring effects. Then entirely successful this time. There is not enough came an arrangement of Glinka’s The Skylark and an differentiation between the static, overly dramatic tone Etude Transcendente by Lyapunov. The audience appropriate for the stage and the faster paced, more became increasing more involved as they went on, emotionally subtle tone needed for film. The film, set hanging onto every note during the etude. firmly in the two classrooms of Hector and Irwin for In a complete contrast, this Russian world of music the majority of the scenes, is resolutely uncinematic, was swept aside for George Gershwin, a famous feeling more like one of his 1980s plays for TV than American composer. Cordelia played two pieces, one anything more modern. a saucy number which perhaps described a seedy bar- Finally, some of the play’s darker aspects are missing room scene. The other was I got rhythm – the world- as well as much of Bennett’s contemplations on the famous work and one of his greatest. She really got manipulability of history and the media, which added into the jazzy style and seemed to enjoy having a good more depth to the stage version. His dialogue, though, jam. is, as always, a joy – the sparkling one-liners spread Another contrast came in the form of the very serious generously through the film alone make it worth Ballade No. 4 by Frederic Chopin. This is an absolute seeing. It is right that there is a record of that classic of the piano repertoire but she brought a fresh extraordinarily good stage cast in action together. approach to this well known work. One moment, she On the limited dimensions of the London stage there glided through floating lines, and the next stormed felt as if so much was going on, so many layers in through virtuosic passages. Moreover, what really play. The film, unfortunately, does not show these showed the professionalism of her playing was that layers with as much subtlety: something has definitely she didn’t seem greatly taxed by even some of the been lost in the projection. hardest music around. The audience was delighted with the encore, a beautiful Debussy prelude. 58 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 VI.2 LECTURE SERIES VI.2 LECTURE SERIES ‘MOZART’ ‘JUTLAND: WW1 AT SEA’ THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER, THE THEATRE NOVEMBER 10, THE THEATRE Roderick Swanston, a music broadcaster and lecturer, Andrew Gordon is currently head of maritime history was an extraordinary fellow. I never thought that I at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at would meet a real-life Uncle Monty, or Alan Bennett’s Shrivenham, and last week he came to Radley to Hector embodied, but on seeing him one instantly deliver a talk on the battle of Jutland. For the moronic drew the connection. This old, wild-haired, large- among you, the Battle of Jutland occurred in 1916 and bellied eccentric wore enormous glasses, an ill-fitting was the first and only WWI engagement between the three piece suit complete with pocket watch, and a British Grand Fleet and Germany’s High Seas Fleet. considerable frilly blue bow-tie: he was a success with The British fleet was commanded by Admirals Jellicoe his audience of Radleians even before he had begun. and Beatty, and it was on these two gentlemen that Andrew Gordon put his primary focus. The talk was in But he was a most impressive speaker. He spoke fact more focused on the naval command structure of fluently for 45 minutes with only a few images on a WWI. The talk was an interesting one, but then I am screen to prompt him: no written notes. Many things writing from the view of someone who is interested in he would say would prompt him to quote Luther, WH History. One can easily see how those with little Auden or Hughes. His talk was titled ‘Mozart: Time to serious concern for history would have found it Demythologise’ and was, even to the lay VI.2, slightly boring; and this was for one reason. fascinating. Mr Swanston revealed the truth of the elaborate tale that has built up around Mozart in the 200 years since his death. He dismissed Peter Shaffer’s version of events as untrue. That is to say that neither was Mozart particularly poor, nor was his talent disregarded. Mozart in reality earned roughly ten times the amount of the average musician in Vienna at the time, and after meeting Haydn, the most prominent musician of the era, was proclaimed by this influential man as the most talented composer he had ever met. Furthermore, instead of being able to write an entire symphony in a day, he apparently struggled in the writing of much of The problem with the lecture, as I am sure all who his music in his attempts to make it forward looking. were there will agree, was not the content of it. In fact, The reason for this gradual elaboration of Mozart’s life what Mr Gordon had to say was extremely interesting is because in the Romantic era, he was converted into – it was his presentation that let him down. Primarily, an idol: an undiscovered genius, a suppressed talent he read the entire presentation off of a piece of paper, struggling to earn his upkeep. This was an image that only occasionally looking up to engage his audience. appealed to the Romantics, and this twist of the truth As I am sure even the most primitive public speaker has become generally accepted as the real story, will know, you must convince the audience that you particularly following Shaffer’s popular and successful are both interested and excited by your subject matter, play and film Amadeus. and the audience should therefore feel the same way. We were presented with a brief display of this at the This revelation of the actual truth rather than the end when he fielded more specific questions from us altered version followed on beautifully from the theme on Jutland, and he was forced to think and talk on the of Truth at the conference with St Helen’s the week spot. At this moment you realised that he truly enjoyed before, as AER pointed out. There were other and was interested in his subject, and we felt the same. intriguing aspects about Mozart’s operatic style and his writing, particularly interesting was his description However, when this is all said and done, what Andrew of a piano concerto being very similar to an opera, in Gordon had to say on the merits and demerits of the that the pianist is actually a character on stage. He WWI naval commanders was both extremely played us short extracts from various works to enforce interesting, especially when one knows it comes from his points, which was delightful. such a prominent authority on the subject, and easy to understand. It was a fascinating talk but, Mr Gordon, In conclusion, he was one of the most amusing should you be reading this, learn your speech rather speakers we’ve had so far, whose sense of humour, than reading it off a piece of paper – that was terribly immense knowledge and eccentricity captivated the GCSE English-oralesque! audience from start to finish. 59 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE THE PARTSONG & ENSEMBLE COMPETITIONS 2006 FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER, THE THEATRE It was seating-room only as nearly half the school and Vibrations arranged by their own Alex Rose. The nearly a third of Common Room assembled for the pace, dynamics and shape of the piece were very well new-look Inter-Social Partsong and Ensemble handled, as were the modulations which really drove Competition which used those dead periods 4 & 5 the song along and the ‘nice percussive elements’ before Leave-Away. The expert marshalling of boys to noted by the adjudicator. While some tuning of middle social seating-blocks and back-stage green rooms left parts was not always perfect, one never felt the piece space for a further ninety in the auditorium. It was a was losing direction or pitch. It was a popular piece shame that no more than the one or two sets of parents which was well received. loitering guiltily at the back were able to be there to The C Social orchestra followed with a tremendous support, given the more flattering acoustic of the Silk rendition of that Classic FM favourite, Tchaikovsky’s Hall had been sacrificed for the larger capacity of the Trepak Dance. The communication between all the New Theatre. players was evident throughout resulting in some With a very tight schedule to keep to, the occasion superb ensemble playing; these were experienced started very promptly and confidently with B Social music scholars showing their colours. singing the traditional spiritual Down in the River to Under the Boardwalk (The Drifters) was E Social’s Pray. This was a rather serious and sombre Partsong, confidently led by soloists George Nye and performance, but the balance of voices was good and Pelham Groom, but the rest of the choir was not seem their breathing was together. The adjudicator praised to be excited about the prospect of having fun and Jonathan Quicke and Jonathan Lam for their clear alto making love. The tendency for backing vocalists to and tenor solos. While there were not many look either petrified or bored was a common problem opportunities to change the pace and style within the for a number of the groups, and E Social’s singers did piece, the dynamic could have varied a little more. not manage to overcome it either. The eclectic B Social ensemble – including a The line-up of musicians for that great Wilson Pickett euphonium, four trumpets and a violin – gave a number Mustang Sally was formidable. As the spirited performance of All You Need extended and noisy tune-up proceeded, is Love, complete with swivelling I noticed that the instrumentation was trumpeters. It was tempting to join in not as programmed. It was like one of the chorus along with the alto sax. those magazine puzzle questions where G Social’s singers changed the mood you have to draw a line linking the entirely with a semi-staged rendition of person with the correct instrument. The The Gambler (Don Schlitz). A western choreography and presentation was one saloon atmosphere was created on of the best of the morning, but stage and Harry Mayes drawled the unfortunately the excellent solo breaks introduction in a convincing growl. on saxophones and trumbone (sic) were There was variety of tempi – not all overwhelmed by the amplification of intended perhaps – and some of the the electric bass and piano. important words were not clear. D Social’s barbershop group Nevertheless, the style was never lost entertained us with a very warm version and the audience enjoyed the of Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love participation immensely as they were Tonight arranged by their own Jamie encouraged to clap along. Hepburn. This contained some good Nick Buchanan led the G Social harmony singing, but their dependency ensemble in his own arrangement of the 1st movt of on the written music hampered their communication Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor. His playing with the audience. This led to a rather under-confident was warm and skillful, and the blend and balance of performance; another few rehearsals and who knows? the small continuo including James Nineham on ‘cello, I very much enjoyed the D Social jazz band’s version Dan Lumby on violin, Rory van Zwanenberg on piano of Brooklyn Youngblood (re-arranged from the brass and Andrew Savill on French horn was excellent. A band version by Charles Cutteridge). The impressive little more communication between the players might and well-balanced group included baritone, tenor and have held some of the sections more tightly together. alto saxes, whilst two trumpets also played really well C Social’s barbershop octet presented a very together. The riffs were slick and backing phrases professional rendition of the Beach Boys’ Good were well-punctuated and phrased together. The 60 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 improvisations were very confident and enjoyable. managed to achieve a lot with another rather disparate This was a most accomplished performance which group of instruments. The piece was another crowd- certainly got the audience tapping their toes. If there pleaser and one found oneself humming along. had been a little more variety in dynamic – always a Finally, H Social came on with more finger-clicking, problem when instruments are amplified – the jackets-akimbo, Tony Blair-style, singing Follow Me. ensemble would have scored very highly, in my The singing was not always even, and some of the opinion. words were lost, but the choreography had been The pace was slowed down by F Social’s barbershop carefully thought out and was very effective. Again, group giving a most enjoyable dead-pan delivery of however, intonation was not always secure and some the music hall song She was an Acrobat’s Daughter, middle parts wandered a little. which had been arranged by Freddie Tapner. The The H Social jazz band played another well-known diction of the treble soloist, Rory Robinson, and the jazz standard: Night Train (Forrest). The orchestration choir was excellent, and the humour of the piece was was excellent and the soloists, Seb Lomas, Charlie carried through to the end with subtle turns of the head Walker (saxophones) and Charlie Vey and Ed Parsons as an imaginary trapeze swung across the auditorium. (trumpet), played skillfully. The piece needs to have Some of the middle parts were a little uncertain, but the feel of an urgent train and this was achieved well the audience laughed in all the right places. at times by the rhythm section AJ Montgomery The F Social swing band performed the Joe Garland (drums) and Jack Emmett (bass). classic In The Mood, famously associated with the After the enthusiastic applause died down, we waited a Glenn Miller Orchestra. In this case, the bass was moment for the silverware to take the centre stage and under-amplified and this led to a rather uneven tempo. for Mr Neville Creed, ex-Radley don and now Some parts were doubled and the familiar rich Director of Music at St Edward’s School, to give his chording of the original tune was also not possible adjudication. He gave a warm tribute to SDJC and with this small group. It is often difficult to assemble AJAW for organising the event so efficiently – it all the parts, but care should be taken to ensure the finished bang on time – and also to all the socials for music is not left with a harmonic hole. managing to produce worthy competition entries from The obvious enjoyment of A Social’s group singing very uneven sources of instrumentalists and singers. Don’t Worry, Be Happy was very infectious. The This had made judging outright winners in both communication by Alex Easdale, Ali Maxwell and sections difficult. Fred Rowe with the audience was very well received. He was delighted that every group had overcome that Some of the middle parts were lost on a number of X-factor/Pop Idol hurdle of singing unacco mpanied. occasions, and the finger-clicking was not always He emphasised that communication, the use of eye- together, but the audience was definitely happy and contact and the blend of tone with the singers were not worrying. most important to get right, as well as controlled Alex Easdale’s arrangement of Eton John’s (as the variety in performance. All these were best achieved programme had it) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by C Social with Good Vibrations. Likewise, balance and ensemble playing of instrumentalists is paramount for a successful orchestral or band piece. Again, C Social’s orchestra just took the prize. SAT

FIRST IMPRESSIONS (3) ‘It all works like a well oiled machine after the first two weeks’ ‘Rugger is jolly spiffing’ ‘After six weeks I can only find one problem – some windows in Chapel have lost their stained glass’ ‘The tiny Removes have Small Man Syndrome’

61 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE HUDSON STRING PRIZES TUESDAY 14 NOVEMBER, SILK HALL INTERMEDIATES Prize. However, as Alex Easdale (A) filled the Silk Hall with the first and second movements of Handel’s The Intermediate String Prize was a strange affair this Violin Sonata in F, I was the only non-performing boy year in that the standard was so high that any of the in the Silk Hall and I was joined by only seven more performers could have fitted into the Senior Prize. A as the evening developed. good sign. Alex Easdale’s performance, played with a basso The competition opened strongly with Laurie Flaux continuo of TMM on the harpsichord and Mrs Andrea (E) stepping into the spotlight to play part of Vivaldi’s Williams on the ‘cello, developed in character as he Winter from the ubiquitous Four Seasons concertos. relaxed and his true musicality began to show as his This emotive performance captured the entire – if sound blossomed. Next Jonathan Wong (A) presented disappointingly sparse – audience, setting the standard us with a Beethoven Sonata which, as ever, was for the ensuing competition. Tristan Jermyn (H) next performed with finesse and musicality showing great took centre stage and really began to shine as he technical prowess. Next Theo Whitworth (C) changed relaxed into Dance Rustique for ‘cello by Squire. A the mood with a very intimate performance of a viola appeared next, played by the talented Shell Piers Tartini Sonata. This was slightly peculiar choice of Saich (B) performing the traditional English tune piece for a competition, however Theo pulled if off Greensleeves harmonised by Vaughan Williams. Just with poise and some beautiful, technically tricky when I thought the standard of playing could not get double stopping. any higher, the ‘cello returned, this time coerced into sound by Alexander Donger (H) in a fabulous Tom Scott-Cowell (C), as the only Shell in the senior rendition of the second movement of Vivaldi’s Third section, played Von Paradies’ Sicilienne from memory Sonata. To round the competition off Ben Sheen (C) on the cello. This was stunning performance, with played Beethoven’s Spring beautifully on the violin. beautiful phrasing and a rich sound in which Tom communicated well with the audience. Rory The difficult decision of choosing the winner was left Stallibrass (C) followed this performance with a very to our distinguished adjudicator. Slowly he went eloquent introduction to his piece in which he around the candidates taking the time to give explained that he was going to play the third individual pointers as well as presentation advice for movement of Corelli’s Violin Sonata in B flat before all. At last he came to his decision: having the second because the third ended with a diminished commended Ben Sheen he handed the victory to seventh, and to finish on this would, obviously, sound Alexander Donger for his Vivaldi. This, however, was ridiculous. The performance which followed was very a controversial decision because the adjudicator said musical with a good sound. Next Greg Williams (C) he was judging on performance rather than skill and took to the floor to conclude the first section with a sound so, whilst the winner was energetic, he had a majestic performance of the first movement of Bruch’s bite to his bow, lacking the pure sound. Another 3rd Violin Concerto. This demanding piece was example of this manner of adjudication was his performed with real flair with some wonderful mood criticism of Laurie Flaux for moving his stand higher, changes. The piano accompaniment did not in any way thus obscuring his face; in my opinion the validity of do justice to this incredible violin piece although his judgement was debatable, depending on whether AJAW’s single handed imitation of an orchestra did the competition was one of ability or one of fairly well. performance. Without doubt the greatest skill was shown in Ben Sheen’s performance of Spring – a Myles Watkiss (H) began the second section with a much harder and longer piece, even if it did contain very lively and expressive performance of Saint- the odd dodgy moment. Saens’ 3rd Violin Concerto. Once again, the piano accompaniment felt a little under strength for such a piece. Myles created drama through mood contrasts, SENIORS accompanied by some even more amazing facial I have yet to discover whether it is the fact that expression which ranged from smiling to grimaces of Radleians today are so busy that they have no time for anguish, and even to a look which can only be anything else, whether it is because we fear that ever described as one of pure hatred. Jonathan Lam (B) had so long and arduous journey over to the Silk Hall, or a very hard act to follow, however his performance of even perhaps the fact that we have become a group of a Bach sonata was relaxed and performed with a good Philistines, that keeps us away from such uninhibited sound. displays of talent as that of the Senior Hudson String Next George Stinton (D) played the first two

62 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 movements of a Handel sonata. This was performed sound which he produced was commended by the with a basso continuo and as he relaxed, this turned adjudicator. into a very sound performance. Daniel Lumby (G) After much deliberation the adjudicator awarded the followed on from George with the last two movements cup jointly to Arthur Sawbridge and Myles Watkiss. of the same sonata. This was performed technically Greg Williams, Jonathan Wong and Tom Scott-Cowell well, with evident musicality and a particularly were highly commended. The outstanding quality of beautiful slow movement. He is clearly a very the String Prizes this year was reflected in the number polished performer. of commendations given, and with a wide range of Arthur Sawbridge (E) performed Nigun by Bloch. This styles performed, it was an outstanding demonstration was technically excellent and a very expressive of the talent present at the Radley and the quality of performance accompanied by a lot of swaying and the string teaching under Brenda Steward, the Head of flamboyant waving of the bow. Some amazing Strings. dynamic variation gave this piece real character and Perhaps next year the number of boys in the audience created drama. Finally, James Nineham (G) performed will venture into double figures. the third movement of a Rachmaninov ‘Cello Sonata. He is clearly an outstanding cellist and the warm DESERT ISLAND DONS A new series of mini-interviews with musical members of Common Room where we imagine that they are marooned on a desert island. They are allowed to choose ten pieces of music and a book, luxury, etc (alongside the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare) to accompany them in their solitude. NO. 1 – THE WARDEN 1. Quae morebat et dolebat from Pergolesi’s Stabat ‘A fantastic opening and roar. It’s also the World Mater, James Bowman singing. Cup 2006 theme tune.’ ‘I love the sound of the countertenor voice and the 10. Adagio from Bruch’s Violin Concerto. Stabat Mater is a wonderful work.’ ‘Beautiful tones and colouring. Very affecting.’ 2. Didn’t We (Webb) sung by Frank Sinatra. Which song would you take, if only allowed one? ‘No one phrases a song as well as Sinatra; no ‘Mozart’s Lacrimosa (choice no. 4)’ one’s diction is better.’ What luxury? ‘A guitar.’ 3. Moderato from Piano Concerto no. 2 by Rachmaninov. What book? ‘The poetry of George Herbert.’ ‘Wonderfully intense and moving and a memory What drink? ‘Tea.’ of playing in the Radley orchestra.’ What film? ‘American Graffiti, which was directed and 4. Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem. written by George Lucas.’ ‘Glorious choral music.’ If you could take a celebrity with you (past or present) who would it be? ‘Alistair Cooke, the British- 5. Morning Dance by Spyro Gyra. American broadcaster and journalist.’ ‘Vibrant jazz, the ideal start to a day.’ If you could take any literary character, who would 6. Let Me Down Easy by Ralph McTell. you take? ‘Charley the large French poodle from Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley.’ ‘A simple and beautiful song.’

7. Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen. The intrepid interviewers from C Social were minded ‘Great song which reminds me of a great film. to ask ‘If you could take any member of Common Springsteen is a great writer and performer.’ Room with you, who would it be?’ but fortunately 8. La Vie en Rose (Louiguy/Piaf/David) performed by thought better of it this time. Louis Armstrong. Please send nominations for dons you would like to see marooned on a desert island (as part of this series) ‘Romantic, wonderfully phrased and great trumpet to [email protected]. playing.’ 9. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Townsend) performed by The Who. 63 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE IRRATIONAL HATRED A review of The Visit, the new Video Unit Film After Genesis 96 (1995) and Taboo (1997) we have learning, I would be able to play like this,’ and Bach’s The Visit, brought to us by the Radley College Video famously chilling Toccata in D minor flows Unit. In the guise of a chilling ghost story, directors majestically from the organ. The directors are not Pelham Groom (E) and Max Horsey show us the afraid to let the music play on and the dissolve from consequences of bullying, a universal topic the pipes to the effective sepia flashbacks works particularly relevant to schoolboys. Not for the first particularly well, as do the final moments of horror. time has this theme been explored; one thinks, for One of the greatest problems for the amateur film- example, of Circus, a powerful drama written and maker is the audience’s familiarity with both setting produced by Will Mufti in 1993. and actors which renders the suspension of disbelief In the first scene of The Visit victim and perpetrator more difficult. Yet such was the quality of the acting meet after some years. Though far apart they are that one soon becomes involved in the story. Hugo inextricably linked, their destinies intertwined. Walker (B) is suitably strange and spectral as Phil, while Theo Whitworth (C) convinces as a bully, ‘Jack and Phil went up the hill / Full of fun and apparently reformed, who will revert to type when laughter. / Phil fell down and broke his crown / And cornered in the Chapel. Pelham Groom’s Jack came tumbling after.’ cinematography, too, is excellent which is no mean Like Phil’s distorted version of the nursery rhyme, the feat considering the interruptions that inevitably occur. movement of the film is from up to down. High angled Even the occasional slightly jarring cut is forgiveable shots from above the train, the crane shot of the boys when the ratio of footage unseen to seen is only about walking up the drive and finally the scene in Chapel, 5:1 (the average feature film is 20:1 while Apocalypse all mirror the sense of falling as well as the suggestion Now was 95:1). that someone is looking down, protecting the There is no doubt that The Visit works well as a drama, previously vulnerable Phil. but it raises questions too. Can it be taken at face value The first shot of the approaching train with ethereal or is this tale of the supernatural Jack’s guilty music suddenly overlaid with bass chords is conscience at work – ‘Voices in your head again, immediately unsettling and the sense of unease Jack’? Whatever your interpretation, the Video Unit gradually grows. Scriptwriter Jamie Randall (C) hints has produced an interesting study of irrational hatred as to the direction the story will take: and its aftermath, and all the members of cast and Jack: ‘You’ve changed.’ Phil: ‘More than you could crew are to be commended. Four Radleians involved ever imagine’ in Genesis 96 and Taboo now work in the world of cinema and television. How many of the makers of And later, walking up the drive, Jack says, ‘How’s it The Visit will follow in their footsteps? going?’ Phil: ‘It’s been good fun since I last saw you…like heaven.’ Then there is the irony of Phil’s CRB reply to Jack’s question, ‘What have you been doing?’ ‘–Well, apart from eating, sleeping and generally staying alive, not much.’ But it is in the scene on the FIRST IMPRESSIONS (4) pitches, as Phil seems to disappear only to reappear ‘All the other Shells in my social are freaks too so I fit unexpectedly, that the audience becomes aware that in nicely’ something supernatural is taking place. ‘Cubicles are great’ For this reviewer the group scenes worked slightly less well. Certainly they showed unkindness, the idea of ‘Cocoa Room needs improving’ hunting in a pack reflecting the prep school gang, a ‘The showers are disappointing’ sharp contrast to the fine weather and birdsong heard in the background. Perhaps the scenes are a necessary ‘I am in a really good social – it is great fun’ build-up to the excellent scene in Chapel. For it is in ‘Cocoa is cool and different’ the last ten minutes that the film truly grips. As the celestial music from the beginning of the film is ‘The Shell dorm is too cold’ repeated, the atmosphere becomes increasingly eerie, ‘We manage ourselves more by doing laundry culminating in arguably the finest and certainly the whenever we feel like it’ most moving moment of the film. As Phil sits at the organ having berated Jack and his posse for his inability to play he quietly says, ‘If I had carried on 64 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 ARTWRIGHTS EXHIBITION done entirely in pencil but a little too grey, a little too boring. 3-23 NOVEMBER, SEWELL CENTRE GALLERY Three views of a Secret is interesting, representing the What would you do with $140m? Give a bit to your decaying form of a woman’s body. Again, the textures friends, some for your family, a bit to charity, and present here are fantastic; the orange body looks like a keep the rest for yourself? That’s what most people tipped over old rowing boat where the wood over time would probably do. But would you spend it on literally has decayed in huge sections creating a large hole in a slab of canvas with paint drippings over it so that its hull. The three individual items are made of what it you can put it in your living room above the fire describes as pate de verre (grains of glass fused place? Is it the beauty of the piece that would attract together), cast iron, and ‘criment fondu’. Mmm. you to buying it? Is it the emotion which it evokes The watercolours on the left as you enter are clever to which is so important? Or is there another reason for catch the light in the right places on the rocks and on spending $140m on it, like some undisclosed bidder the water, but they could have even more contrast did last month, because, let’s be honest – if I had that between the various tones I feel. The light boxes are sort of money, I would not start buying Art. If I stunning – the fresh, vibrant colours shine out, lit from wanted to appreciate the dribbled canvas, I would get a behind, and after staring at it for a while, you become picture of it off the internet. mesmerised by the warmth and sparkle of them. Now, Back in 1991, a Californian named Teri Horton found that is doing something; that is worth something. It a paint-splattered canvas in a junk shop, and decided draws you into the work; and that is what I think Art to make an offer to buy it of $5, instead of the $7 the should do. shopkeeper wanted. He bought it, and it could have been the best move of his life. Now fifteen years later, a fingerprint on the painting has raised the possibility FIRST IMPRESSIONS (5) that it is in fact a ‘masterpiece’ by Jackson Pollock worth $50m. On confirmation of this the piece, it will ‘It has been a warm welcome and a good change from go from being worth $5 to $50 million, without so prep school’ much of an atom of it changing. The fact the work is ‘I have to work harder than I did at prep school’ worth $50m because the artist is famous means that the Art is becoming an investment. It is not the ‘There is much more freedom around school and in intrinsic beauty of the piece at all. Art is losing the social than at my prep school’ factor which makes Art, Art, and the general ‘I think Radley is fun – how we aren’t restricted so population seem to be losing interest too. much as prep school’ Perhaps something can be done: individual ‘Some teachers are a little strict on general etiquette contributions do build up to greater things when but the lessons are interesting’ combined. Perhaps one free prep time or central hour, whether you consider yourself interested in Art or not, ‘The school is very big and hard to find your way you could go and have a look at the latest exhibition around to begin with’ here at Radley, as I think you may be surprised. As ‘There are good facilities – you can do so much and you enter the Sewell Centre each time there is a never get bored’ different person smiling at you, waiting patiently for people to come and look and admire (there never normally is), and for some reason I find this quite humorous – it shows their dedication. The work is done by so many artists that I can’t attempt to list them, but a few in particular stand out from the others. Most notable is the ostentatiously placed sculpture right in front of the door as you walk in. However, just on the right is Canalside, a multi-media work with some stunning colours and fantastic textures (this, you will be pleased to know, is only £135). The works in this style stand out, I think, as they include a huge range of textures in such a small relief. The Pop Art selection next to it is, in my opinion, a little uninspiring, a lthough there are some clever subtle jokes hidden in them, as is the huge work based on Op Art on your left as you walk in. It plays on your eyes –

65 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE EXPANSIONISM You may have noticed that things at Radley are getting runs the risk of failing to do what Radley is known for: rather a tight squeeze. Perhaps you have noticed it in to take ordinary boys and produce extraordinary Chapel, where (on the rare occasions when everyone results. In Science and Languages, indeed, the Shells turns up, at least) there is not enough room to sit, even are now in seven sets – but if everyone did that, we with the extra chairs crammed into the sanctuary. would need more dons, which rather undermines the Perhaps you have noticed it in Hall, where the new financial case for expanding the school. kitchens and servery have speeded up the process of Surely what makes Radley different is precisely that getting food and instead created a bottleneck when it we don’t select rigorously at application – even the comes to actually eating it. Perhaps you have noticed it most charitable can hardly call our minimum Common in Social, where the ever increasing number of Shells Entrance standard challenging. Instead, we take the leaves little room to swing a cat, let alone a choirboy. boys who sign up early enough, and make the most of The latter problem, of course, will be solved by the them, individually and collectively. opening of two new Socials in 2008. This is in many In any case, why is it always assumed that if ways welcome; it marks a return to the sort of size of something is going well, it must get bigger? Why not house that prevailed in previous generations. There reduce the numbers in the school to a more should be more room all round: the smallest studies manageable size – say 560 or so, seventy per social – will be abandoned or amalgamated; space will be and save money: cancel the new socials (with available for larger games and TV rooms, for apologies to NM and MKTH, who would instead take computer rooms and kitchens, and things will be over the next two existing Tutorships to come up), altogether more civilized. More to the point, the social reduce the number of dons a little (no need to make will be a more friendly size – boys should get to know redundancies – simply wait until some retire), forget each other, and their Tutor and Sub-tutors, better. about expanding Chapel and the golf course? We When the new socials were could then get on with doing planned, it was announced that what we do best, which is there would be no increase in being a small, focussed, the size of the school. But each friendly, united and above all social (old and new) will manageable school, with a contain 65 boys; there will, in tradition of doing things other words, be about 650 together, rather than apart. boys in the school, not about 630 as there has been for the last decade and more. This FIRST may seem only a small increase of 3% or so; the IMPRESSIONS (6) Bursar, though, probably sees ‘Radley is good fun. It is very twenty extra sets of fees with big and the work is hard, but no more costs. But when we there is lots else to do already don’t all fit into Chapel, twenty more is twenty ‘The teachers are scary and too many. Indeed, the school is starting to talk about could shoot you without warning…’ expanding Chapel; we certainly don’t want to go the ‘At the start of term things were great but my teachers way of Eton, amongst others, where it is impossible to have become less helpful’ put all the school into one building for carol services, ‘I enjoyed the New Boys’ Games Circus because it or Remembrance Sunday, and the feeling that the gives you a chance to do most things’ school is in any way united has been lost. ‘My work’s all fine except for my languages’ There is also the question of how you fill those extra twenty places. You might think, looking at the ‘The uniform is cool and I really like it but I often expanded Shell year, that the idea was simply to add forget my gown’ four boys to each year. That in itself would be ‘Everyone is supportive and genuinely nice’ dangerous; Shell 6 or 7 does well partly because they are usually a smaller group, so can have more attention ‘The lessons are hard but you learn a lot’ from their dons to bring them up to scratch. Making them into the same class of 22 or 23 as the other Shells

66 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 THE SPENS TROPY FINAL After a panic in B Social earlier that day about suggested but at one point Samuel L. Jackson was whether Adrian Pascu, last year’s victorious caption, guessed to have been the actor in the 1945 production had taken the Spens Trophy back to Romania with him of Robin Hood… oops. after last year’s exciting contest, there it was, After G Social’s early lead A were always only about reassuringly sitting on the quizmaster’s table, as we 50 points behind and at one point they were even filed into Silk Hall expectantly for this year’s final. drawing. Annoyingly for A, who were seconds behind Both teams had already beaten three other socials with G on the buzzers, G pulled ahead in the last stages of some huge scores appearing at times. Just before the the quiz with a string of 50 points and when the time final began, both teams were ready and waiting and I was up G had managed to accumulate 200 points more had my first view of the members of these socials. On than A Social. G’s side, Tom Blest led a formidable force of Rory This final was not just special because of the brilliance van Zwanenburg, Nicolas Buchanan and Hector Bevan of the eight contestants, it was also the last Spens and at the opposite table sat A social’s Jake Cheetham Trophy that Dr Morris was presiding over and this was with his entourage of Myles Dowley, George Leeming commemorated by the appearance of the previous and Rupert Grace. adjudicator, Mr Hastings. His speech dragged us back The first blooper occurred before the questions even in time to when the trophy was first awarded, in the began as Jake Cheetham set the mood when he pressed 1980s by Mr Michael Spens, Tutor of B Social. his buzzer as Dr Morris was introducing the teams. The audience gave resounding applause to both However, if Cheetham set the mood then Tom Blest Socials, the retiring TMM (probably the first time he certainly intensified it after scoring his team an early has ever been called retiring) and the question master 50 points in the opening minutes of the game. emeritus, CWH. Congratulations to all who took part After a few high scores the two teams settled down in a great set of quizzes this year. Full scores of all and for a while questions were being bounced back rounds are shown below. and forth between the two tables, with neither getting the right answers. Finally, after one joker had suggested that ISY invented the pneumatic bicycle pump, the game began to build up as A fought back SPENS TROPY RESULTS 2006 from an early defeat to come within 10 points of G First round Semi-finals Final Social’s score. Both of the teams showed their weakness in the Science fiction questions – according A 450 \ to G the alien Vorlons had featured in Deep Space v A 370 \ Nine whilst A were sure that it was in fact Deep Space Ten. B 380 / \ Who’d have thought that you could connect coffee A 480 \ with computers yet that is exactly what one of the C 370 \ / \ questions did. Knowing only of one coffee brand I was trying to think of a computer language called Kenco v F 310 / \ and it seemed that Blest was following the same tracks F 420 / \ but sadly for both of us that wasn’t the answer; A scored a vital point with the right answer, Java. G Social As time went on I was able to see what each player’s D 280 \ / strengths were. Myles Dowley soon stood out as the v G 660 \ / sports tsar of A with his rapid answer to any sporting question asked. Leeming’s innate knowledge of G 620 / \ / modern music came out as well as Van Zwanenburg’s G 650 / knowledge of classical music. E 310 \ / The G Social captain, Tom Blest, quickly and confidently assumed the position of highest scoring v H 200 / player as well as giving us a glimpse of his squirrel H 450 / knowledge with his immediate answer to the question,

‘what is a squirrel’s nest called?’ Robin Hood was a curse and a blessing for both teams as most of the actors who portrayed this Sherwood outcast were 67 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE MINUTES OF SMAC MEETING D. of E. CHRISTMASSY QUIZ MONDAY 6 NOVEMBER, HALL Do you want to win over 2 kilos of delicious Cadbury Present: CRB, PJD, Mr Brian Pease, Second Prefect chocolate? Do you want to give a little money to a and reps from A, B, C, D, E, G, and H Socials. good cause? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’ then give this D. of E. Christmassy quiz a go! It’s just Apologies were received from the Senior Prefect. £1 cash for a very good cause, Whizz-Kidz. CRB welcomed PJD (Mrs Dickens, the new Catering ‘Whizz-Kidz changes disabled children’s lives – Manager) to her first SMAC meeting. literally overnight. By providing them with customised 1. The minutes of the last meeting were read and mobility equipment, training and advice, we actually agreed. give them something much more important. We give them the independence to live a life of freedom.’ 2. Matters arising:

• Breakfast coffee for the sixth form was very welcome but it would be appreciated if it could appear To enter fill in the answers in Shop during Short at 7.15 for the earlyish birds. Break, outside Hall during lunch this week or during • The pain au chocolat debate continues. More were prep. Hand in the answers to a member of the D. of E. requested for Sunday breakfast. PJD will monitor team: Archie Vey (B) Ed Monkley (A), Alex Easdale relative number of pains and pastries consumed. (A), Robert Cole (G), Alastair Hope-Morley (E), Nick Bethell (C), LRIS, or email answers to Alastair Hope- • Cereals. Some cereals were on the counter opposite Morley. The deadline is Monday 4 December at 1.30 for those who do not wish a cooked breakfast. Few pm. seem to realise this. 1. What fruit is associated with a Christingle 3. Brunch dates will be decided and calendarised. Christmas? Themed meals will be decided on. 2. Where did the Christmas tree originate? 4. Soup is popular as are chilli con carne and chicken Kiev. The latter is an expensive option and both are on 3. In which century did the first printed reference to the menu cycle. Christmas trees appear? 5. PJD said that she welcomed any feedback from the 4. Name 2 of the 4 countries in which Lapland is boys either personally or through their Social SMAC located. reps. 5. St Nicholas was born in which country? 6. The number of nachos that have appeared recently 6. One of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes takes was commented upon. Mr Pease explained that the place during the Christmas season. Name the kitchens also run themed weeks and recently it was a adventure. Mexican week. Wheat-free pasta was requested; 7. If you were given some frumenty at a Medieval fortunately this is a pasta week. Christmas party, what would you probably do with it? 7. Ice-cream tasting. This followed and the following 8. How many reindeer does Santa have? votes were registered: 9. Name all the reindeer. Orange and Muscat sorbet 1 th Elderflower sorbet 1 10. Which famous scientist died on 25 December Banana ice-cream 5 1727? Mint and chocolate chip 1 11. How long (to the nearest metre) was the longest Therefore the banana (it was delicious) won the day. ever cracker? 8. Waste. PJD will monitor waste. Various SMAC 12. In what year was Christmas abolished by the reps claimed that they were far more careful about British Parliament? what they took but it is still felt that boys are not really 13. Which Pope declared in 320 AD that the official aware of how much is wasted. date of birth of Jesus Christ was 25th December? 9. Very occasionally mayonnaise etc runs out though 14. Which famous comedy actor was born on 25th usually there is plenty in stock. Salt is not put on tables December 1889? to discourage the ingestion of too much salt. 15. What girl group had 3 consecutive Christmas 10. Positive feedback on B Social’s pie night and C Number 1 singles in the 1990s? Social’s Thai green curry. A smoothie evening was In the event of a tie, the result will depend on the tie- suggested. breaker. The D of E boys will be in Shop / outside Hall CRB thanked PJD and the catering staff for the hard / around during prep in social with a jar of chocolate work they put in for all of us. coins. T-B: How many chocolate coins are there in the jar? 68 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 SPAMALOT The Monty Python Musical Few people have not been exposed to the genius of film. None of the original Pythons are in it, save John Monty Python at some time or another. Their first Cleese as the voice of God, but director Mike Nichols piece of original material since The Meaning of Life decided to remain with the almost identical double (1983) has come to London via Broadway and, in their casting format as the original. There in lies Spamalot’s own words, is ‘lovingly ripped off from the original biggest problem: the original Pythons were not telling motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. the jokes here, and the stage actors lacked some of the timing and charisma of the originals. An impossible Written for a Broadway audience, its transition to the act to follow, I would think. West End has been slightly awkward and could perhaps have benefited from a little more rewriting. Both the film and the play have a weak plot and are The song You Won’t Succeed On Broadway (If you just excuses for sketches but this allows for many don’t have any Jews) was slightly out of place – we characters to appear and entertain. Though Tim Curry don’t have the canon of Jewish jokes that New York was cast extremely well as the ‘bumbling thrives on. I just thought it stank of not-so-comic anti- idiot’/chump, his performance as Arthur felt tired and Semitism à la Borat. The jibe was pretty alien to a lacked engagement with the audience. It would be West End audience and slightly marred the otherwise hard to name the best character, both due to their excellent script. Divided by a common language... consistent quality and due to the sheer amount of couldn’t they just have translated it? them. However, the French Taunter and the Black Knight are both viable contenders. Idle’s cheap shot at Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice certainly was transferable across the Atlantic: Spamalot is a thoroughly enjoyable production and, though largely lifted from Monty Python and the Holy ‘Once in every show Grail, the jokes retain their uniquely surreal flavour There comes a song like this and are not damaged by being recycled, but only if It starts off soft and low you are ‘one of those’ die-hard fans. The fact is that it And ends up with a kiss’ lacked any originality what -so-ever; what was also Similar ridiculing is repeated throughout the show and off-putting were the people sitting in my immediate the main instigator of this is the Lady of the vicinity who seemed to know the words Lake. Played by Hannah Waddingham, she already and were reciting them to each other. sings fantastically in an over the top operatic This I fear will be typical: beware the middle- style, sporadically entering the plot and aged losers... belting out many a cynical number such as The Diva’s Lament (Whatever Happened To My Part), and the aforementioned The Song FIRST IMPRESSIONS (7) That Goes Like This. ‘I enjoy the rugby because it is a higher No Monty Python project is complete standard’ without their fantastically humorous songs. Spamalot, being a musical, is therefore even ‘I enjoy the rugger and how you are more jam packed full of musical gems than encouraged to take part in everything’ any of the films. There are the original songs ‘The sport is a lot har der to get into higher from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, such teams and a lot more exercise than I’m used as Brave Sir Robin and Knights of the Round Table, to’ but the writers also managed to sneak in songs from other shows such as Always Look On The Bright Side ‘Rugby is played almost all the time’ Of Life and The Fish Schlapping Song (a reference to ‘I love the food except the apple crumble’ the Fish Schlapping Dance) yet the new songs, by comparison were, frankly, lyrically inept and not that ‘The day finishes so late’ funny. There were also references to sketches such as ‘I don’t like the strictness of College but I like all the the Dead Parrot Sketch and the Ministry of Silly free time’ Walks. ‘At first I was awed by t he size of the school but now To those who have seen Monty Python and the Holy it seems a lot smaller and I know my way around’ Grail the play will seem very familiar; the Black Knight, communist Dennis and the Knights Who Say Ni are just a few of the characters from the original

69 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE IN SEARCH OF GOD Surely belief in God is illogical? Perhaps religious evolutionarily advantageous? Possibly, but we are not belief is a way to explain the unexplained and to sure how. Circumstantially, this seems reasonable, attribute our weaknesses and strengths to a being other when one looks at the independent existence of than ourselves. Anthropologists estimate that it was religious belief systems in virtually all cultures that only 10,000 years ago that our ancestors began to have developed across the globe. Science is all about wonder about death. This was the spawn of religion – enquiry with an open mind: trying to apply theories to speculation about an afterlife. explain phenomena in the natural world, but, if they fail, searching for a better model. Two of the most We did not know where the afterlife led to and this popular words in scientific articles are ‘surprising’ and frightened us. The Neanderthals of Eastern Europe unexpected’. Scientists love results that do not fit in seem to have been the first to prepare the dead for a with the current orthodoxy: it means that a better form of existence in the afterlife. Graves have been model may yet be found, and an understanding of what found with intricately arranged flowers, and later, is at hand is furthered. pottery. From this evolved our modern beliefs about the afterlife. These include reincarnation (from Religious people seem to be blinkered. They have Hinduism), eternity with God (in Heaven), eternity in signed up – a lifetime contract, even – to a certain absence of God (a euphemism for Hell), nearness to view of the world and a certain behaviour pattern, Allah, and so on. Basically it is believed by most investing a great deal in that. They cannot claim to religions that if you are a devout believer you will find have made a rational decision because there is no eternal happiness after death; if you are a poor believer empirical evidence for, say, the truth of the Christian or non-believer you will be faced with eternal religious model over the Buddhist one, or over none. suffering. It is my ‘belief’ as an Atheist that we go to Over the last 2,000 years, and incredibly increasingly the same place that we were before birth, i.e. nowhere. over the last 100 years, Science has disproved many of That there is no ‘soul’ that has an existence the beliefs of Religion. We can now say that independent of the body. thunderstorms are caused by colliding air masses and An argument once posed to me by a Christian friend of that earthquakes are caused by sliding tectonic plates, mine is that we cannot become ‘nothing’; at least our but there is no way to convince an irrational Theist soul cannot, due to the basic characteristics of matter. that God is not making these air masses and plates ‘Matter and energy cannot be destroyed,’ she said, ‘it move. It’s genuinely that simple. These beliefs may or can simply change form; we know that the flesh can may not be held by all Christians or Muslims or Jews decompose, but your atheistic belief cannot account but if they are, how do you tell them they are wrong? for the soul.’ I countered that the soul has no matter, it How can I convince an ancient Greek from classical has no energy, it is nothing, like the ideas we had in times that Atlas is no longer responsible for holding our head before we died. It would be nice to think that the earth up and, harder yet, that he never was? To when we die, our soul (I suppose which would be them this would be heresy and lies. The level of divine containing all the information in our brain) would be explanation has simply moved up a couple of levels – whisked away to some ‘higher place’. from creating the world in seven days to creating the Universe in a fraction of a second. Once we, that is to say the humans, had tackled the great after-life conundrum, we went o n to analyse As children most of us believed in Father Christmas things like earthquakes, disease, thunderstorms, because our parents told us he brought presents on volcanic eruptions – pretty much anything not caused Christmas Day. Perhaps most of us believed in God, by man: ‘Acts of God’, as the insurers still call them. because He was used to explain many things that This was thousands of years ago, and although we otherwise could not be explained to us. So what have advanced greatly in many things, we still believe happened to Santa Claus? When younger we would that many things are ‘Acts of God’. It is possible to defend him to the best of our ability if someone told us even obtain insurance against ‘Acts of God’. he didn’t exist, and perhaps cry if a cruel older brother or sister would tell us that our parents had ‘just made As an Atheist, one of my ‘beliefs’ is that Science is the him up.’ And at some point we asked them, and if they most powerful thing man has created, even more felt we were old enough, they would tell us the truth… powerful than any of the Gods we have created. Not to that he was all made up. We weren’t stupid because digress too far, but I think that man created God, not we believed in him, just ignorant, or to put it more vice versa because there is no proof of the existence of politely, ill informed; this is just the case with God. God. Psychologists now think that the human brain We were never told by our parents that he didn’t exist, has a propensity to believe in religion and superstition because nobody told them, or when they did, they wired into it. Was this wired by God? Was this defended God to the best of their ability, or went to 70 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 their own parents to attempt to discover the truth, a wide range of other things, but we atheists put these which was never forthcoming. things all in the same category. The only reason that we’ve ‘disproved’ the existence of Santa Claus is Believing in Science (not an irrational belief but a because supposedly he delivers presents to all the good faith in the method of understanding our world from boys and girls annually at Christmas. We’ve seen objective evidence) I admit that the existence or non- clearly that he does not in fact do this or, maybe he existence of some things cannot be proved. This isn’t a does but none of us were ever good enough to actually major flaw in most cases, but with God, it is a major receive presents from him, so our parents had to buy problem. Scientists can only rely on their own presents for us and tell us it was from him. Thus, I observations to determine results. These beliefs come guess Santa Claus can go in that magical category with from thorough testing, and seeing the same results God and invisible flying dragons. repeatedly, whereas the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved by any testing or research. So why do some people believe in God? There are Neither can the existence of invisible flying dragons or things out there that just cannot be explained. HOOLIGANS OR GENTLEMEN? ‘Football is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans unconscious by another. Last year the focus in football while rugby is a game for hooligans played by was on dishonesty i.e. players diving, play acting and gentlemen’. In most cases this seems an accurate so on. As the Queen may have wanted to say last week description of the two sports. Whilst Rugby fans – ‘Divers or divas, off with their heads!’ Yet, away honourably cheer good play with their Guinness and from the pitch, some players regularly give away Cornish pasty, English Football fans are notorious for percentages of their salary to charity including English their ‘mob-mentality’ with coins and mobile phones internationals Frank Lampard and David Beckham, thrown at players, and violent drunken confrontations with Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldo acting as in the streets. Despite both sports growing out of ambassadors for poverty in South America. Public Schools, Football’s reputation has spiralled out Frenchman Thierry Henry has been hugely influential of control to now being played by Liverpudlian street in the Premiership’s ‘Stand up, Speak up’ campaign kids, whilst Rugby has been reserved for the middle- against racism in football. In January 2003 the Daily classes. Telegraph did a survey to investigate the cultural Apart from last weekend with Arsenal’s Robin Van differences between Rugby and Football fans, finding Persie and Fulham’s Claus Jensen being hit by coins, that 32% of Chelsea fans earned over £30,000 year, and a fourth official hospitalised in similar fashion, with 28% of Manchester United fans having a holiday hooliganism in football appears to have decreased. house. Out of Southern England the class issue is Worryingly, Rugby looks to be going in the opposite blurred, with rugby league historically attracting direction. Last week in Grenoble, popular support in the North as a former French Rugby captain Marc Sunday job for steel workers from the Cecillon of 46 caps, was accused of Sheffield area. shooting dead his wife in a drunken In Radley sport the differences are rage when over six times the legal not as polarised. Whilst all Radley limit. On the weekend, British boys have done no less than a term of Rugby league star Stuart Fielden was Rugby, many keenly support football, taken to hospital with a badly broken and choose to play it in the Easter nose after an angry confrontation term. At least half of the school turn with Australian Willie Mason. This out to the Bigside sidelines to watch confrontation also included a barrage their sporting heroes’ bestial of four letter expletives, some at the referee, yet not encounters with Wellington, Harrow and Tonbridge, only did he avoid a red card but he stayed on the field yet there has been no shortage of heated exchanges altogether. The RFU has refused to act, and a certain even at this level. We were even warned about our representative also claimed it ‘showed the players’ behaviour on the sidelines earlier in the term. Whilst I desire to win.’ in no way disapprove of Radley’s passion for Rugby, I On the other hand, footballers are booked for trivial merely believe that we should not be so pontifical offences such as time wasting, removing their shirts in about this supposed Public School game, when all celebration or kicking the ball away in disgust at a around us we see behaviour that is no better than that decision and are sent off for even attempting small which occurs in London council estates daily. Should petulant kicks at opponents. In the history of the the Establishment really praise behaviour on the pitch Premiership, no player has ever been knocked that would get us an ASBO if used on the streets? 71 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE THE PROBLEM WITH ENGLISH SPORT Supporters howled in frustration two weeks ago as the the players’ credit, England produced a heroic Argentinean players celebrated and England trudged defensive display but penalties were once more the disconsolately away. The defeat to Argentina stark horror. completed the worst run the England rugby side has The fundamental reason for England’s continuing ever had. Now the blame game starts to identify those failure is that the youth development in the country responsible for this string of bad results. The team all remains flawed and, according to one Premiership put their hands up individually, none more so then the manager, coaches are keen to see players ‘play with captain Martin Corry who claimed ‘no one can be their heart rather than their head.’ The proof that responsible apart from the players.’ Most though are coaching at a junior level is substandard is the pointing their fingers at Andy Robinson, the England emphasis by coaches on a British-style long-ball game coach. More specifically, reflecting on the defeat, rather than a more measured approach geared to opinions are hardening that it is not simply rugby that maintain possession. This was evident throughout is failing but English sport in general. England’s World Cup campaign: the all too familiar However as always in modern sport, the truth is more sight of a Gerrard long ball to the isolated Peter complex than either a screaming headline or a brutal Crouch (who is rubbish enough as it is). However statistic. Despite England’s far from convincing win coaching is not poor simply at junior level. over South Africa it became clear that the Autumn The tactics of Steve McClaren, the England manager, Tests are about more than the fate of Robinson or the against Croatia were derided for displaying a lack of crude statistic about the longest losing streak in intelligence associated with his former, discredited English rugby history. The heart of the crisis is the fate boss Sven Goran Eriksson. Some might suspect that of English rugby and a crisis of its very development any criticism confirms that England have potentially and existence. few great players, but that would be a mistake. According to Dick Best, the former England coach the England is blessed with an abundance of talent but problem is that ‘the academies to club competition to what is missing is the absence of dedicated experts to the national team’ are all failing. He adds: ‘the nurture natural genius. cupboard is virtually bare and, if we don’t start Driven by an insatiable lust for money, the system is spending time and money on developing players in a to blame. In the Premiership, teams are looking for proper manner, we’ll be heading for even worse instant success which prompts the recruitment of trouble.’ established foreign talent, thus squeezing out The obvious signs of trouble are shown in the promising, young players. Neil Warnock, the Sheffield Guinness Premiership. Observers have noticed a lack United manager feels that England cannot ‘develop of creativity and too much physicality. There is a lack players in the light of very stiff competition from of the kind of smart, skilled rugby played in New foreign imports. There’s a distinct lack of opportunity Zealand. The main predicament at the moment is the for players to break into club teams, particularly at conflict between the clubs and the England rugby Premiership level, and I don’t think we are now doing union. Unlike the successful structure in Ireland where the right things at international youth-development most of the players play for either Munster or Leinster, level to prepare them for international football.’ And in England players picked internationally do not often even when managers look for new talent, they usually play with one another at club level. The consequences go to Spain or Italy. The perfect example of this is for English rugby are numerous if adjustments are not Arsene Wenger whose team is built on young foreign made, but Best believes that what is most important is players instead of developing young English hopefuls. ‘admitting that we have to change rugby in this The only manager in the Premiership in the last fifteen country from the bottom upwards. Otherwise as years to build up a young British side was Sir Alex former world champions, we’re going nowhere.’ Ferguson who successfully unveiled the likes of Giggs, Neville and Beckham. And one just has to look Though the reasons for failure at the moment in rugby at the record to see the success it brought Man United: are different to football, there is a common problem from 1990 to 2003 they won eight Premiership titles, that young prospects are not being used effectively. four FA Cups, one Champions League and one Cup This problem among others was illuminated for Winners’ Cup, making them the most successful club English football at World Cup just five months ago. (bar Liverpool) in England. Much of this was down to The media and most of the public had branded the home-grown ability. selection of players going to Germany as the ‘golden generation.’ Despite this, the nation’s hopes were To some, the future of English football looks bleak. shattered at the end of the game against Portugal. To The solution requires a fundamental change in

72 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006 methods to produce great cup-winning sides. There THE CAGE-SIT seems an abundance of young talent. The conundrum is how England unlocks that gift and how it is used. Walking down Covered Passage a few weekends back one may have been surprised to find that the usually

respectable and ordinary corridor had been hijacked by COLLEGE SERMON a dirty and offensive looking cage. Peering through the MR JONATHAN AITKEN bars of this curious cage a dark and lonesome figure TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER, CHAPEL could be seen, crouched down and staring at the floor. Dressed all in black and with only a shabby blanket for When I hear the word ‘convict’ the first image that comfort, it was hard to imagine what this was all pops into my head is that of a violent shaven-headed about. A new and improved Detention? Or maybe the man wearing a grey full-body suit with black arrows overcrowding in prisons, that we have all heard so on it. I’m sure I’m not the only one. much about in the media, was having a greater effect What Jonathan Aitken made me realise was that this than expected? stereotypical picture needed to go. His story of his On closer examination it turned out that it was neither. time at prison revealed that if you commit a crime and The cage was actually only a replica and those go to jail, that doesn’t automatically slap you under the ‘imprisoned’ were in fact volunteers. A silly idea? category ‘evil’. If you saw this distinguished-looking What was the point? pensioner on the street would you know that he used to be a convict? You may have seen films that follow the It was all in aid of Amnesty International, the same tract to Aitken’s story. The Shawshank organisation that campaigns to free people imprisoned Redemption is a personal favourite of mine that I for their political or religious beliefs, providing they believe shows very well the message that Aitken was have not used or advocated violence. It was awarded trying to get us to understand. the Nobel Peace Prize for 1977 for its contribution to ‘securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and Aitken’s story told us something about prison life. He thereby also for peace in the world’; it is a great was asked to give a speech on Psalm 130 in the prison invention of this country on behalf of prisoners of chapel on the last Sunday before his release. The conscience and a great call for justice. speech was announced throughout the prison. What’s amazing is that, on that Sunday evening, the church So what was the point of it here, at Radley? I am not was full, far beyond the usual attendance. sure about you, but I was shocked by the image; it raised my awareness of the harsh conditions some Now if that kind of a speech was announced at Radley people face around the world for merely expressing you can be sure that the audience would consist of their beliefs, be it political or religious. It hit home for about twelve people, eleven being there as a me, and really showed for the first time how lucky and punishment and the last one only there because he met privileged we are to be here at Radley – free from the speaker on the way out of Dinner and couldn’t most oppression. escape before it was too late. Many Radleians expressed serious concern for the Now, you may be thinking that if you’re in prison it treatment of people unlawfully imprisoned and hoped gets pretty boring after a while so many criminals just to become involved in Amnesty at Radley. Some may came to the talk because they had nothing better to do. even be surprised to hear that our own Warden was However, after his talk, Aitken was approached by the among those who volunteered to be imprisoned, along big cheese of the prison, called ‘The Big Face’, and with a whole host of Common Room and most asked to give his speech again in private, apparently to housemasters also took their turn to sit in the cage or a genuinely emotional response. act as a guard to the prison to show their support for Aitken’s final words were ‘Through repentance comes Amnesty and their concerns for the treatment of those the forgiveness of God and all the rewards with it.’ unlawfully imprisoned. These words created a new image of the ‘convict’ for Among those that the Amnesty group at Radley was me and made me realise that to be a criminal is not to petitioning for was the Eritrean gospel singer, Helen be ‘evil’ but rather to have sinned and be given the Berhane, who was imprisoned for her Christian beliefs chance to repent. and has now, fortunately, recently been released. We can all only hope for more success stories like that of Helen Berhane, and with continued support from the Radley community, one hopes that they will become a more regular event.

73 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE CASINO ROYALE An impression of the new James Bond film. A lot of the elements that have made James Bond sequence with Bond on the receiving end (if you’ve movies what they are famous for are missing from read the book, you know what’s coming). All of this Casino Royale. There are few cheesy puns, no Q with has been well choreographed and executed without, an arsenal of high-tech toys, and not even a queue of apparently, the usual reliance on CGI technology. But pliant young women eager to fall into our hero’s arms. like all Bond films, this one is too long, too convoluted and too loaded with unnecessary plot tangents. What In compensation we get something 007 movies sticks in the mind, though, is not the spectacle or the haven’t delivered for a long time: a sense of discovery. mayhem but instead Craig’s superb performance and While introducing the excellent Daniel Craig as the some wonderful writing from Neal Purvis and Robert new Bond, this wildly successful franchise has Wade, writers of Johnny English and Die Another reinvented itself. Casino Royale, although set in the Day. present, finds us at the beginning of 007’s career. This restart gives us a Bond who’s feeling his way, learning Casino Royale is the first Bond film to qualify as a to deal with a spy’s life of betrayal and solitude, who character study. Take for example, the first-rate hasn’t yet developed his ultra-cool persona. A Bond dialogue between Bond and Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, who, in the words of the dour M (Judi Dench, the beautiful but vulnerable and rather uptight returning to the role), is a ‘blunt instrument’, too crude accountant who’s been sent along to keep track of Her for her refined tastes but undeniably effective. As a Majesty’s money. result of effectively going back to its roots, we see the In a great sequence in a train’s dining car, the two, origins and essence of James Bond in Casino Royale. ahem, feel each other out, trying to discover the The franchise’s change in direction is immediately other’s past by analyzing the ‘signs’ each presents to obvious. Bond movies have often been over-lit, the world. studiedly lush, and smugly slick due to the immense Their banter, with its underlying current of disapproval sums of money splashed out on visuals. Casino (he doesn’t want a handler, especially a woman while Royale, on the other hand, has a sweaty, lived-in feel. she thinks he’s an egocentric loose cannon) tells us It’s crawling with atmosphere. The black-and-white tons about both characters. And though they never opening sequence in which Bond eliminates a traitor touch, the scene is sexier than anything the Bond has the dark shadows and grittiness of classic film movies have yet given us. Up to now, sex with 007 has noir, and a couple of scenes set in Africa are thick with been less about eroticism than athletic dominance, but dust, mud and humidity. there is a rare quip from the blond Bond: Instead of the silhouetted scantily-clad girls that She: ‘You like married women, don’t you?’ usually dominate the title sequence of Bond films, this He: ‘It keeps it simple.’ one begins with a stylized spy who is shooting, running and suavely posing against a background of The direction by Martin Campbell (Goldeneye and the pop-arty animation based on playing cards, his victims two Antonio Banderas Zorro films) obtains a nice bleed streams of bright red hearts and diamonds. balance between action and intimacy. But the glue that holds all this together is Craig, who gives us the most Plotting has never been the strong suit of the Bond complex Bond ever. He’s got the physique and nose of franchise, and Casino Royale is no exception. The a street brawler while viewed from certain angles he basic narrative has Le Chiffre (played by Mads looks brutish. However, we can watch him grow, as Mikkelsen), a private banker to the world’s terrorist when he dons a tailored tuxedo for the first time and organizations, squandering his clients’ money and inspects himself in the mirror, clearly impressed at trying to save his neck by earning it all back in a high- how nicely he cleans up. Behind it all you can see the stakes poker game at Casino Royale. Bond, armed character’s unspoken thoughts and feelings. with a fat stake courtesy of the British treasury, is assigned to take on Le Chiffre at the table, clean him After seeing this performance one can only be excited out and then turn him into an informant. at the prospect of watching Craig’s Bond mature and change over the course of several films. It’s doubtful In Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel the game was baccarat; that the franchise will be killed by straying too far transforming it into poker is a brilliantly effective from the tone of the previous 20 Bond movies. But ploy, given our current fascination with that game. should they ever recognize that in many ways 007 is a After all, at any hour at least one TV channel is airing semi-tragic character, they’ve found the actor who can a poker championship. Around this central plot are the fearlessly push the part to the very edge. requisite chases, explosions, shootouts and mano a mano encounters, including an excruciating torture 74 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE 1 December 2006

CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence is invited from any interested parties: please send contributions via email to [email protected]. Correspondents are welcome to use a pseudonym but must make their identity known to the Editors. To the editors of ‘The Radley College Chronicle’: imperial fathers would have drunk as they took a refreshment break from keeping control of rebellious Dear Sirs, Indians. Surely if this nation is to be reckoned with In the last issue (Vol. V No. 2) you published a letter again, things must start (in the mornings) with the one from ‘Virus’. Here are a few responses: thing that held our former empire together? No we don’t need wireless internet access. However, Yours imperially, living in a first world country, we can expect utilities like running hot water, electricity and wireless internet ‘GHANDI’ access. If you want to be backward, don’t use it. The other few hundred of us are glad to have the service. Dear Sirs, Your next few quibbles don’t really make sense: We I would like to thank the Radley kitchens for their can check our emails in Social, and have been able to fantastic new addition of the pasta bar. A reliably tasty for many years – certainly all the time I’ve been here. alternative to the normal food is welcome, and The first three weeks of what? Which online probably relieves pressure on overcrowded queues. I economics textbook? Assuming you mean hope it is a permanent fixture. CourseForum, this raises a few more worries: There have been no fewer than four emails on the notice However, I would like to make a suggestion to the boards about how to sign into it this term, and the fact catering department regarding breakfast on Sundays. It that you are studying economics means you are in the is incredibly irritating when, on days when Chapel is Sixth Form. That means that you are aged 16 or above, at a different time (such as Remembrance Sunday), and cannot read. What are you doing at Radley? breakfast stubbornly closes at ten o’clock or earlier. Is it too much to ask that breakfast might be extended on As for your ultimate concern, the College probably such days, even if it is just cereal which is left out? didn’t justify unleashing ‘the violent side in a majority of the school’, because that would be stupid and Yours hungrily, inappropriate. ‘GIUSEPPE’ Yours,

‘SOPHOS’ Dear Sirs, I would like to say how wonderful it is to see that Dear Sirs, SMAC have brought into focus, once more, the pain au chocolat issue. Even though we had a meeting a Now that freshly ground coffee is being offered to few weeks ago the kitchens do not seem to have VIth formers, would the next step not be to improve reacted. When will this happen? We should be told. the quality of tea in the kitchens? Too long have Radleians suffered at the hands of cheap tea-bags that Yours, more resemble dust diluted by milk than anything our ‘SMACer’ 75 1 December 2006 THE RADLEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE Dear Sirs, Not only do the company try to save money by not I hope Rugby Dons are aware that when their players using the air conditioning system, the buses themselves are unreliable and frequently break down. I try to weave their way out of away matches by believe that the time has come to have another look at convenient privis or injuries, it tends not to be their unwillingness to play; instead it’s a direct objection to the allocation of funds in the sport travel budget, and strongly consider whether we are spending the money the trauma of an hour and a half of sitting on a hot, in the most efficient way possible. uncomfortable and unreliable Tappins coach. After war-like games against Wellington and Harrow, it Kindest regards, seems unfair to put players through further ‘COLUMBUS’ unpleasantries when top level sport should be a privilege.

RUGBY REPORTS

For reasons of space, as well as difficulties in obtaining reports from our correspondents, all the rugby short reports and the league table of results have been pushed back into the last edition of the Michaelmas Term.

INDEX EDITORS

Vol. V No. 3 30 November 2006 Jake Cheetham (A), Alex Sants (B), Will Symington (B), Alex Gilbert (B), George Lines (B), Ed Chalk (C), College Pond 49 Asa Bennett (C), Michael Shepherd (D), David A Poll on the things that make Radley Radley 50 Wynne-Griffith (D), Pelham Groom (E), Freddie Overheard 50 Tapner (F), Sam Radclyffe (H), Ben James (H), Social Stereotypes – 7. The Chronicle Editor 51 Jonathan Williams (H), Alex Chadwick (H), Will Where do Radleians Live? 52 Woolsey (H), Luke Bartlett Esq. & Ian Yorston Esq. Diary of a Volunteer – CCF RAF weekend 53 The Importance of I 54 ASSISTANT EDITORS Entente Cordiale – Part One 55 Alex Easdale (A), Max Blanshard (B), Will Baker (B), Faure’s Requiem 56 Alex Wise (C), Archie Manners (C), Kanishka The History Boys 57 Brijnath (D), Joss Richards (H), Chris Taylor (H), Piano Recital 58 Noah Assheton (H), Arthur Laidlaw (H) & Jamie VI.2 Lecture Series – Mozart & Jutland 59 Crole (H). Partsong & Ensemble Competitions 60 Hudson String Prizes 62 Desert Island Dons – 1. The Warden 63 CONTRIBUTORS The Visit – Irrational Hatred 64 Alex Bower (A), George Leeming (A), Jamie Artwrights Exhibition 65 Macfarlane (A), Jamie Randall (C), Rory Stallibrass Expansionism 66 (C), Greg Williams (C), Alex Rose (C), Jamie Brown SMAC meeting minutes 67 (D), Felix Neate (E) & Henry Woodward-Fisher (G). D of E Christmas Quiz 68 If any Radleian is interested in writing for the Spens Trophy Final 68 Chronicle or becoming an Editor, please contact LB or Spamalot 69 ISY. In Search of God 70 Hooligans or Gentlemen? 71 The Problem with English Sport 72 Contributions and correspondence on any topic are College Sermon – Jonathan Aitken 73 welcomed from all current or former members of the Cage Sit for Amnesty International 73 Radley community: please send to Casino Royale 74 [email protected] or to ‘The Editors, The Correspondence 75 Chronicle, Radley College, Abingdon, Oxon. Index 76 OX14 2HR’. The illustrations on pp 50, 53, 56, 58, 59 & 75 are by Adrian Pascu (OR); those on pp 51, 54, 57, 61, 65, 66, 69 & 71 are by Arthur Laidlaw (H); and the illustration on p 60 is by Hugh Brunt (OR).

The fourth issue of Volume V will be published near the end of term. The deadline for copy and letters is Wednesday 6 December. © Radley College 2006. Printed by Radley Reprographics 76