KES CHRONICLE 1997 The Annual Magazine of King Edward's School Birmingham CHRONICLE 1997 KES CHRONICLE 1997 CHRONICLE EDITORIAL I am writing this on the first of July, at least five months before you or I will have the chance to see the Chronicle in its entirety. Even though I have just semi-scrupulously edited the paltry collection of articles that are now in the Chronicle file, I have, in truth, little idea of how well or badly the thing will turn out. Yet I am still expected to write an editorial about a magazine that does not actually yet exist. This could be a bit tricky. However, I can predict with almost complete certainty that there will be a Chronicle this year - as if there were not, you would probably not be reading this. Whether that Chronicle is a good or a bad one will largely depend on two things - firstly, on the Chronicle section editors in the Divisions, an intrepid band of volunteers responsible for obtaining articles and writing them up. However, I am not the first Editor to point out that the Chronicle largely depends on the labours of ordinary members of the school. To write a Chronicle article well is a difficult task, yet potentially a rewarding one, in that by doing so you will be contributing something to the history of the school. Yet curiously enough, the Chronicle is not a chronicle, not a mere dry record of events. Through the many different writers it has (perhaps even you, dear reader, have already scrambled your way through the pages to see your own article and checked whether we have spelt your name correctly), it provides a lively, varied and, at times, witty discussion of the events that have taken place during the school year. Chronicle articles can even be useful. Those of you who, in the future, find yourself in a position of authority may well appreciate the experience of previous years as displayed in their writings in Chronicles past. I know, for example, that the Agent of the Conservative election campaign carefully studied past Mock Election records in order to learn from their successes and failures, and agrees with me that such study leads to good results. Even heads of societies may find ideas for meetings within these pages: the Secretary of Parliamentary Society informs me that many of its events had their origins in previous Chronicles. Take note of the experiences of the past, and you will be far more capable of facing the future. My thanks go the Resources Centre for helping in the production of this magazine, to the Section Editors who have been so efficient in their work, to Miss Tudor and Miss Sheringham and, of course, to Mr. Burns, the real head of the whole operation [honestly Patrick, you are too modest - Chronicle Staff], and to anyone else who has helped in making Chronicle as good as it probably is. And finally, thanks to you, dear reader, for reading Chronicle, as if nobody read it, there would be little point in my writing it. Patrick Finglass, Editor P.S. I must apologise for stating in the Music section last year that the concert to commemorate the retirement of Miss Evans took place in March, when it actually took place in May. I couldn't show myself in public for weeks afterwards... Finally, apologies are also due to my good friend Idnan Yunas, whose article about the 1996 Young Europeans' Conference failed to include his name at the bottom. HIS MASTER'S VOICE... After seven years at the helm, I pass the good ship 'Chronicle' on to Miss Sheringham and Miss Tudor: I wish them every success (even if I did, fleetingly, feel like rubbing my hands together and cackling wickedly, like a lunatic leaving his unwitting victims holding not so much a baby as a bomb). My thanks go, as always, to the helpful and supportive staff of the Resources Centre, to the editorial team who have worked furiously to type up and lay out the sections, to Patrick Finglass for gracing us with his presence (last year) and his legacy (this year), and to Philip Wheatley, editor-elect, who has already tackled the post with unprecedented energy and conscientiousness. JCSB KES CHRONICLE 1997 HRONI COMTEhTS MELL05 5 GOODBYE5 13 FEATURES 19 REVIEW5 47 WORD5 55 PICTURES 63 TRIP5 71 HOU5E5 87 MU5IC 95 SOCIETIES 101 5 PORT 113 EDITORIAL STAFF HELL05 6l GOODBYES The Team FEATURE5 Philip Wheatley REVIEWS <3u5 Gallagher TRIP5 5imon Moriarty MOU5E5 Ben Sharp MUSIC Andrew Clayton SOCIETIES James Murphy 5PORT Kevin Garrington a EDITOR PatricK Finglass 5TAFF Julian Burns, Catherine Tudor and 5ophie 5heringham ARTWORK Alasdair Jubb and Tom Slater KES CHRONICLE 1997 King Edward's School, New Street, cl 733 FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BIRMINGHAM The first erection, of wood and plaster, which had stood about three hundred and twenty years, and was originally on the outside of the town, was taken down in 1707, when the present building arose on the site. It is in New-street, at the lower, nearly adjoining to the Hen and Chicken's hotel, and occupies three sides of a quadrangle, of which the line of street forms the fourth. The style is heavy, and the area wears a gloomy aspect. In the centre of the building is a tower, which was ornamented with a statue of King Edward VI, dressed in a royal mantle, with the ensigns of the garter, and holding a bible and sceptre, having beneath it this inscription, now remaining: - "Edvardus sextus Scholam hane fundavit anno Regni quinto." This tower contains a clock and bell. In 1824 it was found necessary to take down the statue of the royal founder from the niche of the tower, a portion of it having, from decay, fallen into the front area. The vases on the balustrades (set up in 1756) being also in a very perished state, were, for the prevention of accidents, at the same time removed. Very recently the cupola and vane with which the tower was surmounted, have also been taken down. J?ase4 ^^l^^v/Ns^ HScsfe <sSCs^-^^^ KES CHRONICLE 1997 NickBarrable fjords, dammed-ice lakes, elks and so TFC: It seems to be very high, and on. There we watched the sun set at more to the point, very rapid. half eleven at night. It was pretty Everything moves much more quickly incredible. than it would do at a state school; apart from the obvious example of boys C: Is orienteering the new rock'n 'roll? being entered early for GCSE, for the NB: Orienteering is the taste of today first three or four years they're taught and the future. very rapidly. C: Mr. Barrable, thank you very much. C: How do you think maths can be made more interesting especially to, Tim Cross say, Shells and Removes ? TFC: Well maths is very much its own discipline, separate to a large extent from other subjects, and interest depends mainly on enjoyment. The lower school has been encouraged to C: Tell us about your past. take part in these Maths Challenges, NB: Well, I grew up in Kent and went something a bit more fun, which lets to Skinner's school, where I did a lot you test yourself. People like a of running over the Wealden challenge and that is what makes the countryside. I then went to Oxford to subject interesting. There is also a lot do my degree and, after a spell of of satisfaction in being able to think teacher training in Sheffield, I came for yourself - you have to learn and here. apply in maths. C: Do you have any hobbies outside C: Did you have any preconceptions C: What did you do before KES? school? about King Edward's? TFC: I was born at an early age...well, TFC: I do, yes. I particularly like NB: No, not really. I just thought that I was previously teaching at Wolverley reading crime and thriller novels, but it was a very good private day school High School, near Kidderminster, for I don't get much chance now. I used that wasn't very good at running. five years, where I was second in to have time, as a student... I also play C: What do you think of the department and in charge of Sixth the piano and have four children who Birmingham nightlife? Form Mathematics. Before that, I take up a lot of my time. Any extra NB: There are a few hot nights out spent eight years at Droitwich, time is taken up with maths and there but you really have to know teaching maths. I did a PGCE at problem solving, oddly enough. where to look. There are a lot of very Birmingham before that, having done poor nights out as well. a maths degree at Nottingham. C: Finally, who is your favourite Spice Girl? C: What do you think of the K.E.S. C: How are you finding life at K.E.S? TFC: I don't really know who they are pupils ? TFC: I'm very much enjoying it. It's - they all seem to flash their knickers NB: Generally, I find them well a lot of hard work and there's always a lot, which makes it hard to tell them behaved and fairly enjoyable to teach. something to be done. I notice that apart! I only know a few names; Mel, Obviously I don't have a vast amount every time I empty my pigeon hole, Mel, Em. Whatever... of experience with which to compare, somebody comes and fills it back up but I did my teacher training in a again! It's also nice to teach so many C: Mr.