If you’re looking for girl power, you’ll find it at Moreton Hall

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 1 of 94 Email: [email protected] Moreton Hall, Weston Rhyn, Telephone: (+44) 01691 773671 , Web: www.moretonhall.org SY11 3EW

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 2 of 94 Contents

4 News Highlights 38 STEM

7 Special Awards Winners of 2017 40 Art Gallery

9 A day in the life of Jonathan Forster 44 A journalist covering under reported stories across Africa 10 Silver Service 46 Moreton’s Unsung Heroes 11 Carolyn Tilley 48 Duke of Edinburgh 12 Head Prefects’ Speeches 50 Creative Writing 14 Leavers’ Ball 2017 The Journey 17 Face2Face War 18 Little Shop of Horrors 52 Enrichment outside the classroom 19 Aladdin 54 Catering For The Masses 20 The Community Theatre 57 Classics 22 Performing Arts with Beth Clacher 58 Moreton Photography 24 Annual Investec Business Lunch 59 Sport 26 Moreton Enterprises 65 Moreton First 28 Enrichment Section News Highlights Bronwen The 3 R’s Jenner The Art Gallery

32 To My Remove Self Expressive Arts Sport 34 Careers at Moreton Hall 77 The Old Moretonian 36 Spoken English

The Moretonian 2017

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 3 of 94 News Highlights

Senior Mathematicians are Top 2% of the UK Moreton Hall’s team finished in the top 2% of the UK at the National Final of the Senior Team Maths Challenge in , on 7th January. The team, comprised of Phoebe Jackson (U6), Pauline Ji (U6), Vinna Sun (L6) and Georgie Lang (L6) excelled. This was the first time a Moreton Hall team had qualified for the National Final and the girls departed with the happy knowledge that they were already “Moreton’s best team ever”.

Moreton’s Music Department Wins National Award We are delighted to announce that the Moreton Hall Music Department has achieved the ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) Bronze Certificate in Music 2017. It has been awarded for the excellent results in GCSE Music last year where more than 10% of all GCSE students at 4 took and achieved an A*-C in music, placing Moreton within the top schools across .

Helen Rayner, Director of Music, commented: “In a time of uncertainty for the arts, this award highlights the value and importance of music within education. We are delighted to be acknowledged for our excellence in music.”

Moreton Hall - A Top ‘Value Added’ School in the UK The 2016 MidYis ‘Value Added’ results have been published. Yet again, Moreton is at the top of the tables for both the independent sector and on a national level. In both the Remove to U5 and U4-U6 categories, Moreton falls within the top 2% and 4% of the country.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 4 of 94 Business Lunch with Lord Hague This year’s Annual Investec Business Lunch at Moreton Hall saw guest of honour, Lord give an outstanding speech to 600 guests and pupils. Covering everything from Brexit to his time in the House of Lords, this funny and insightful guest gave a masterclass in public speaking. Read more on page 24.

National Success for Upper Sixth Artist Cicely Peers (U6) has been selected from over 2,400 entrants to have her A Level painting, ‘Shadow Bars’, exhibited in the Royal ’s A Level Summer Exhibition Online. She is one of 45 students selected as having submitted ‘Outstanding Work’, by a panel including Royal Academician and winner of the Turner Prize, Wolfgang Tillmans!

Careers Convention This year’s Careers Convention proved to be the most impressive to date. Over seventy professionals and university delegates lined up to offer insightful advice to both students and parents. Particularly valued was the presence of so many Old Moretonians whose ‘horse’s mouth’ advice was much appreciated by the current U5 and L6 students.

The diverse array of delegates and speakers was highlighted by one parent, who commented, “My son is at a prominent boys’ independent school, down south. They offer nothing on careers which is comparable to the scale and quality of this.” Indeed, from the Russell Group universities, to the range of professionals, there can be no doubt that Moreton’s Careers Department did a sterling job.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 5 of 94 Cultural Enrichment: Beyond the Classroom and UK Our bespoke and varied curriculum is no more apparent than with the wonderful trips students embark on across the world, to discover new experiences and broaden their knowledge. Moreton Sixth were inspired by Venetian art, students explored stunning Spanish architecture in Salamanca, and our fantastic Australian exchange programme was yet another success. Read more on page 52.

Confirmation 2017 The Bishop of , , presided over Moreton Hall’s Confirmation service at St. Oswald’s Church. This was a very happy occasion in which ten girls, all from Lower 5, were confirmed and two of their number, Alysha Brown and Saskia Wells were baptised.

Moreton Sportswomen Play on National Stage For talented sportswoman Milly Home (U5), gaining a place in the U19 England Lacrosse Team was, in her words, ‘a childhood dream; achieved’. Alongside specialist England training sessions, Milly recently put her top level skills into practice as she relished the opportunity to play for the U19 North Regional Team in the Senior Regional Tournament in March. Moreton sports coach, Holly Harrington also part of the England squad, represented the North A Regional Team in the same tournament.

Holly commented: “It was a really great weekend of Lacrosse, the level was extremely high and it was really good to get out and play against tough competition. The U19s, and Milly especially, played exceptionally well against the senior teams.”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 6 of 94 Moreton Hall has been named by as the UK’s top performing non-selective school following Moreton Hall Ranked outstanding A Level and GCSE results. This impressive accolade followed hot on the heels of The Tatler Schools Number One School Guide, which pronounced: ‘If you’re looking for girl in the UK power, you’ll find it at Moreton Hall.’

Special Awards Winners of 2017

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 7 of 94 Special Awards

The Moreton First Gaia Vyas Adam Anne Lloyd Trophy Ji Yihao Achievement Award for Mathematics

The Moreton First Effort Award Holly Longfellow The Reakes-Williams English Buffy Boroughs GCSE Cup The Grace Lloyd-Williams Libby Jones Award (for good citizenship) The Owen Trophy for English Selina Schoelles The Moreton First Music Cup Emma Barnes The Hodgkinson Prize Georgina Johnson for French The Stables Music Cup Maya Falah & Bonnie Gray Bruna Hodges German Prize The Middle School Music Cup Romy Grigg Harriet Lang & Vanessa Wells Modern Languages Spanish prize Laura Morris Choral Cup Cara Povey Tara Beasley The Ollier Prize for The Kenneth Brown Music Cup Yang Huanyi Francesca Lisle Modern Languages Senior School Music Cup Lucy Reade The Wilding Middle School Eliza Kiel The Anne Barber Trophy Coco Harpin Science Cup

The Gittins Trophy Serena Grace The Bolton Biology Trophy Molly Ashworth Morgan Hockey Trophy Jemima Boroughs The Bourne-Greatwood Florence Wade-Smith Chemistry Award Janet Norton Award for Sport Tara Beasley The Faraday Physics Prize Scott Trophy Florence Wade-Smith Phoebe Jackson The Piaget Psychology Prize Prize for Outstanding Tia Barlow Verity Snow Commitment to School Sport The Davies Roberts Science Cup Molly Ashworth The Simlett-Groves Award for Sally Hughes & Emily Cooper Jenner Award Lydia German Commitment to Sport Classics Trophy Emily Kiel The Field Drama Cup Charlotte Rollason & The Economics Trophy Karina Brown Georgie Reeves Prize for Religious Studies Courtney Meredith & Middle School Drama Award Nell Clacher & Maya Falah Alicia Holland

GCSE Drama Cup (U5) Georgina Grace The Cookson History Trophy Selina Schoelles The Macdonald Performing Bethan Clacher Prize for Contribution to Verity Snow Arts Award Moreton Enterprises

The Nicholas Drama Cup (U6) Tara Beasley & Hannah Jones The Abiola Trophy for Hannah Jones Ebun Clark Trophy Belinda Matthews & Business Studies Emma Vivian The Salter Prize, for Food & Ellie Jones Textiles Technology Halsall-Williams Spoken Jin Xiaoxi English Middle Trophy The Knight Cup Ruth Jefferis (Duke of Edinburgh) Halsall-Williams Spoken Georgina Lang & English Senior Trophy Kitty Davenport Selina Sasse Geography Cup Grace Samuel & Karina Brown The English Speaking Holly Jones Geography Prize Ana Berry Board Trophy The Hebblethwaite Award Jessica Spencer & Tia Barlow The Millicent Kaye Cheng Eva Yue Ying International Citizenship Polina Sokhina Junior Art Award Award Lingard Research Award Imogen Slack The Hill Trophy Georgia Cox & Rebecca Davies The Nicola Hooper Art Cup Cicely Peers -Hayhurst Bracelet Ruth Jefferis The Lora Gadd GCSE Eliza Kiel Upper Sixth Diligence Award Noriko Kusumoto Art Trophy Charlesworth House Prize Lea Ten Busch Outstanding Achievement Ruth Jefferis Award for Art The Ursula Roberts Award Ella and Grace Newbrook The Wilding School Zhang Yunping Karefa-Smart Trophy Tara Beasley Mathematics Cup Principal’s Awards Aytan Guseynova The Pinder Mathematics Trophy Phoebe Jackson Ellie Jones Simran Shah

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 8 of 94 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF Jonathan Forster

Get up - time variable - today No two days are the same - in School life - attend every play, 6.00am to write this article. addition to parents, tomorrow, concert and match you can. Work best under pressure, I’ll see all the housemistresses Paula comes to as many events rarely eat breakfast. and senior management. as she can - as well as managing my life and my family. I sometimes go for a swim before I like to walk around the school work - or sometimes after. every day and chat to anyone Moreton has always been a I bump into - girls and staff. family school, so having had our I like swimming, but it makes daughters at the school - as many me hungry. So I get fatter, not The senior prefects and tutor staff do - is enormously helpful in fitter, by swimming every day. groups come in to see me on a understanding what is important regular basis - my way of finding to pupils and their parents. I have a good idea what I’m doing out how the students feel about each day before I go into work - the school. And then in the holidays, I’m Dad, my PA Ruth Brown and wife Paula and now a grandfather - maybe keep reminding me. So I’m ready Lunch - either sandwiches and a our 3 granddaughters will be the for whatever the day brings. banana or lunch in the Dining Hall. next generation of Moretonians! There’s always so much choice Tomorrow, I have four sets of and all of it so delicious. As school term ends, our “Fourth prospective parents - four term” of courses, academic - all different daughters This is a good time to catch up programmes and holiday clubs and different concerns. informally with staff - and to have a immediately moves into top look at the wonderful murals in the gear, generating the income So we’ll make sure that we’re ready dining room by OM Denise Rylands. the school needs to flourish. to welcome them to our school. Wednesday - next Wednesday - It’s time for a breather for me Every prospective parent and is a Governors’ meeting, the time and the family too, but I’m never student has a different story to to bring the Governors up really away, because Moreton is a tell - so I listen to them first. to date with the School, the business - and the best business They’re often quite nervous, successes of the school year, the is the fun of continuing to and I try to reassure them that plans for the future, then lunch develop this wonderful school. we’re friendly and supportive. with the Governors and some staff in our house and back to A tour round the school with girls the office for some admin and almost always does the trick. catch up with school life.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 9 of 94 Silver Service

Twenty five years ago, we were invited to Sunday Paula has brought so much to the school, not just as lunch in the conservatory at the home of a Moreton a teacher but as a Moreton mother and someone parent: included in the party was the new Principal of who recognised the need for the school to have an Moreton Hall and his very pretty wife, and happily, international dimension and a wide appeal. She has I was given the seat next to Jonathan Forster and spent tirelessly and generously opened her home, always the next couple of hours in really terrific company. smiling, always welcoming and invariably ready with her special brand of Yorkshire wit and common sense. Anyone who spends more than ten minutes with Jonathan on his favourite subject simply cannot be anything other than wholly captivated and They are, in all senses, a converted and, deal done: both of our girls spent their best and most important years at Moreton splendid pair and have created for which I am eternally grateful. It is probably the best investment we have ever made. the bedrock of the school. A quarter of a century has been so well-spent and Under Jonathan’s unique style of careful management, they can justifiably look back and know that each and Moreton blossomed and grew in an individual and every day which they have given to Moreton has been wonderful way, taking the best of its traditions, and of infinite value to the girls, teachers, parents and history of its beginnings under the legendary Bronwen, everyone who has the good luck to find themselves in retaining and developing its staff, its infrastructure, its a position to call themselves a friend and colleague. beautiful site, its depth and range of academic studies, its sporting prowess and its art, music and drama. They have two terrific daughters and now a growing brood of grandchildren - clocking up three babies last But Moreton under Jonathan also came to be known year! Congratulations on twenty five very special years. for its special magic: that comes from totally loving the place and his position as its leader; making, with Jeannie France Hayhurst Paula, a really genuine family environment where girls Chair of Governors feel valued and appreciated. Jonathan is someone who transforms dreams into realities, thinks outside the box and manages to weather storms with good humour and a commitment to his sound principles. He is always charming and persuasive but never a pushover, embodying the best sort of leadership and example.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 10 of 94 Carolyn Tilley Vice Principal

All children, including those from general many local authorities are where reticent pupils who would disadvantaged backgrounds, struggling to finance the specialist normally shy away from answering deserve a well-rounded and teaching of Music, Drama and Art, a question or participating fully culturally rich education. However, particularly in primary schools. in an activity, were engaged. many have gone further than this, arguing that arts education itself Moreton Hall has always had a Claire Morgan, Headmistress at directly improves pupil attainment. strong commitment to working Selattyn , said “we with the local community, and believe in a holistic approach to A report by the Warwick none more so than now. From education, therefore the Creative Commission insists that the opening of Gobowen Station, Arts are a really important arts education should be an in the early Nineties, to teaching part of a children’s journey – entitlement for all children. Science and Mathematics to the arts free them, allowing “Policymakers are obsessed with gifted and talented pupils from them to be more expressive a siloed subject-based curriculum local schools – we now look and share their emotions”. and early specialisation in arts to what we can do to promote or science disciplines that student access to the Arts. The New Community Theatre ignores and obscures discussion will play a significant role in around the future need for all We are currently working with bringing the community together children to enjoy an education two local primary schools on to access a wide range of that encourages creativity.” a bespoke arts programme to performance opportunities – enhance the learning of their year a space for community groups Evidence has shown that in 5 and 6 pupils. This culminates to meet, and for local schools recent years the government has in a performance at the end of to access professional theatre viewed the arts as ‘soft subjects’ the term in front of the pupil’s facilities for their own productions. and have sought to demote their parents. The first performance This is an exciting new phase importance in favour of the for the two schools took place of Moreton Hall’s continued more ‘robust’ science subjects. at the end of the spring term. development of its commitment What will become of the student to the community. Creativity is who thrives in the arts, whilst Due to this performance what helps the development of struggling in other ‘academic’ programme, the children have ideas in all subjects, and shapes subjects? There have been cuts grown in confidence each week, the entrepreneurs of the future. to funding in education, and in particularly in the classroom, It’s an absolute must!

An education in music and the arts builds self-esteem, improves behaviour and social skills, and increases broader academic achievement. These are opportunities that should be available to everyone. Lord Lloyd-Webber

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 11 of 94 Head Prefects’ Speeches

Read extracts from the Head Prefects’ speeches from Speech Day 2017 below. To read the full versions, please go to www.moretonhall.org/Speeches

Tara Beasley

Putting together my speech today was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do over my academic life. How could I express how grateful I am and how sad I am to be leaving. I thought I would begin with my time of the sports field. I would never have guessed that I would spend my last Lacrosse season at Moreton as Vice Captain. Whether I was on the pitch or on the sideline, I was screaming at the top of my lungs, along with Miss Harrington and Mrs Lewin. But the skills I gained from helping lead a team are ones I will cherish forever.

Whilst sport helped me learn how to lead, I can be sure that I gained my confidence from drama. I came to Moreton not even considering the possibility that I would take my place centre stage, but here I am, 5 years later, having gained 3 major roles in my time. The relationship the Upper Sixth Drama group have had with Mrs Howells, is honestly something I’ve never experienced. She has been an amazing teacher and a fantastic friend. Although we have all wanted to hit her, numerous times over the years, we could never have got to where we are now without her.

Although we are all about to venture into the next chapter in our lives, we will forever be Moreton Girls. Thank you.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 12 of 94 Verity Snow

Throughout my time at Moreton I have achieved things I never thought I could. From my acting career - the highlight being a drunk weasel in one of Jackie Knight’s infamous plays - to running Moreton Enterprises, I have been given so many amazing opportunities that I wouldn’t have had the chance to take on anywhere else. Whilst I have found success in the academic and musical side of Moreton, I think it’s pretty safe to say that both the Art and Sport departments breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn’t compulsory for me to attend their lessons any more. However, I am running a half marathon in September so perhaps those hours spent on a muddy lacrosse pitch were worth it!

Cicely Peers

When sending me mail in the last three years my parents might as well have addressed it to Cicely Peers, The Art Room, Moreton Hall. I lived there. It is such a wonderfully inspirational place: a friendly, enriching environment which facilitates a want to learn rather than a force.

Alternatively they could have sent it to the dining room, which allows me to clear up one myth about boarding schools. food is not what one would expect from Malory Towers. In reality Moreton’s cuisine is mouthwatering - witness the usually lethargic sloths metamorphosing into Usain Bolt after church on Sunday mornings in order to scoff down a full English.

I feel privileged to have experienced so many of the things that have happened to me in the last 5 years here. I would like to leave you with something I have learnt during my time at Moreton Hall - “Learning is not a spectator sport.”

Hanna Jones

Like you can’t have fish without chips, or tequila without bad decisions, or thunder without lightning: you can’t have drama without music. Although my relationship with the chamber choir has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster over the years, one of my favourite memories of Moreton will forever be the choir tour to Prague. From impromptu busking in the square, to the romantic boat dinner, to the disgusted comments when we were made to walk up several steep flights of steps. My favourites were: “this is why we are in choir, we’re not made for physical activity!” And “we didn’t sign up for the sports tour!”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 13 of 94 Leavers' Ball 2017

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 14 of 94 The Moretonian 2017 15

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 15 of 94 All photos are courtesy of Helen Baly.

To view the entire gallery and purchase prints, please contact Carolyn Tilley on [email protected]

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 16 of 94 Face2Face runs every Friday evening from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at Moreton Hall. Applications for the Autumn Term are now open. For more information please visit: www.moretonhall.org/face2face

The Face2Face Performance Academy has been taught by visiting industry professionals, including nurturing local talent at Moreton Hall since West End Actors, who have appeared in shows January 2017. Open to boys and girls aged 9 - 18, such as Wicked, as well as critically acclaimed the programme is composed of three of the key choreographers and a Stunt Coordinator. performance disciplines, Singing, Dancing and Acting, with an emphasis on professional preparation for Face2Face classes focus on getting the best out of a future in the arts. Classes take place on a weekly each individual and this was demonstrated in June, basis, running alongside the academic term. when the students hard work and determination culminated in a highly successful show that played to The team behind Face2Face is led by Singer, Actor, packed auditoriums in a revue at both Moreton Hall and Moreton Hall Drama Teacher, Michael Jenkins. and Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn. ‘A Night at the Accompanying him are a vast array of experienced Musicals’ was a hit with audiences, as it showcased mentors, dedicated to nurturing children’s potential the Face2Face company, who performed a variety in a safe and friendly environment. As well as of songs from both West End and Broadway the resident team, Face2Face also runs lessons musicals in this toe tapping extravaganza.

I have really enjoyed every aspect of my Face2Face experience so far. The team are friendly, welcoming and talented and I am excited to see what we will be doing in the future. Jessica, 11, from St Martins

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 17 of 94 Little Shop Of Horrors

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is described as a ‘rock musical horror comedy’ – which all sounds a bit overwhelming, The energy, pace, singing and maybe not Moreton’s usual fare… The storyline is improbable to say the least – an alien seed grows and acting talent on stage into a man-eating plant that brings huge success and huge tragedy to its hapless carer and his colleagues, all was breath-taking – within the four walls of Mushnik’s Flower Shop of Skid from the main roles to a whole range of characters Row – but this riot of fun, song, dance, pathos, great who joined Mushnik’s employees on their journey characterisation and fearsome fauna was a treat to from penury to prosperity (all thanks to Audrey II’s behold, and a triumph for all who took part. growing size and fame), and of course the fabulous Ronettes and chorus. Harry Allmark and Ryan Maddocks were both superb in the main roles of the irascible Mr Mushnik Ultimately Audrey is lured into Audrey II’s gaping and nerdy Seymour, and their presence and talent mouth. Heartbroken at the loss of his true love, enriched the show. We saw Tara Beasley in a whole Seymour sacrifices himself to the same fate and in new light as she switched Head Prefect duty for a drill, doing so leaves New York and the world at large, nitrous oxide and a fabulous quiff - she certainly took vulnerable to Audrey II’s plan for world domination. the song ‘It’s just the gas’ to a whole new level! Hanna Thank heavens that the whole cast had the ability to Jones and Beth Clacher shared the role of Audrey on magically reappear to beseech us all: ‘Don’t feed the alternative nights and both skilfully put their mark on plant,’ in the most breath-taking ensemble piece that the character, capturing both Audrey‘s vulnerability as was a fitting end to a truly memorable show. well as her growing love for Seymour. Fun, funny, tragic, energetic, irreverent – ‘Little Shop The plant itself – radiantly voiced by Megan of Horrors’ was all the proof required that Moreton Keaveny, and fondly known as Audrey II - grew needs a theatre to showcase such talent to a larger from an inauspicious pot plant to a vicious, raunchy, audience. We left wishing that we could see the show carnivorous monster before our very eyes. The curl all over again, but sadly there weren’t enough seats… of her lip, her raucous laugh, and her appreciation of a variety of human fodder was comical and disturbing all By Rachel Clacher, Parent at the same time.

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 18 of 94 This year’s Middle School musical Will fate intervene? Not fate exactly, transported us, on a magic carpet but a Genie, whose humour and What made this play to the Orient. Opulent settings, eccentricity were captured so ably work so well? The radiant costumes, warm lighting: by Charlotte Rollason. pink, red and orange hues enriched sense of inclusion. the stage. Audiences familiar with Indeed, the audience laughed Howells’ work will know that she out loud at so many comedic Every member of the rejects the conventional and adds performances: Olivia Murton as the chorus performed with her own unique spin: opening with supercilious Jafar, Belinda Matthews black and white clips of the cast as the downtrodden yet prescient expressive charm and in rehearsals. From the outset, the Iago and Kundai Chipondene playing energy and pace underpinning the the ever munching Razoul. The passion, booming out production was evident. princes too, strutted onto the stage the lyrics with aplomb! exuding the sass of errant suitors. The premise of the tale is simple: street urchin, Aladdin meets Jasmine The narrators swished their way (princess at the royal household and along, filling in the gaps, raising soon to be married off). Frustrated questions, giving a sense of cohesion by her father’s parental autocracy, to their tale. Close your eyes, listen Jasmine strives for freedom with a to their voices and to the musical modern feminist determination. score. Sleepy Shropshire exists no It’s an old tale and the patriarchal more, Arabia encircles you. Sultan asserts his rights. The battle between father and daughter By Sarah Thomas, Parent ensues. Will true love prevail?

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 19 of 94 A Theatre For Everyone

The last eighteen months has seen the Foundation Committee working hard on what is the most It is not just a important development in Moreton’s 100 year history; a Community Theatre at Moreton. school theatre.

This has been a period of intensive research and It will change the cultural landscape of North assessment, establishing the need and talking to all Shropshire and the Welsh Borders as well as interested parties including community groups, arts providing Moreton pupils with direct access to organisations, schools, businesses, local government professional drama and theatre performances. and consultants. Following two surveys, one robust business plan, architects’ plans, branding and a This could never have been considered without 3 year operating budget; we are about to launch the support of Bill and Julie Holroyd, Moreton the public appeal for this amazing development. parents. They are the impetus behind the Community Theatre. They saw the need and The importance of the Community Theatre potential of such a theatre and drove the vision at Moreton can’t be emphasised enough. forward in 2015 by an incredibly generous donation.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 20 of 94 As Bill says: “I have seen the As well as being used by community Funding of the Community Theatre results of community engagement groups, amateur drama societies is progressing well. With the to deliver projects that help a and arts organisations, the theatre support of many generous parents local area at many levels. I feel will be utilised by the surrounding and past parents, a commitment that the girls of Moreton Hall primary and secondary state from the school, plus grants from can successfully lead a campaign schools which will have access to trusts and foundations, we are that will add to their experience the theatre as well as teaching, now well over £900,000 of our - but most importantly, result performances and workshops £1.4 million funding target. in a place for the community from the Moreton Hall Drama to come together and learn Department. Moreton’s Face2Face Next year will be a busy year about, participate in and enjoy Performance Academy will also be for the Foundation; as well as all that the arts have to offer.” able to expand its programme of launching a fundraising campaign for drama, dance and music theatre. £300,000, it will be a year of drama The £1.4m 290 seat theatre has and fundraising events involving all been designed by Tim Ronalds, A new charitable incorporated Moreton supporters; the students, an experienced theatre architect organisation (CIO) with governance parents, past parents, OMs and responsible for the Hackney Empire drawn from the school and the members of the wider community. in London. The theatre will offer community is being established the surrounding communities to run the new theatre. This will We look forward to working a stimulating and extensive ensure efficient management, with you, so that we can realise programme of arts; local and and maintain the right balance the dream of a Community professional performances in and benefit between school Theatre at Moreton Hall. drama, dance, music of all kinds, curriculum, community use Katy Tanner literary events and cinema. and extra curriculum uses. Development Director With a mezzanine level to enhance the theatrical space, the theatre will have state of the art technical facilities; retractable and adjustable seating, professional lighting and sound equipment and specialist theatre ventilation. A generous glass foyer with bar and catering facilities will meet the needs of theatre- goers and have the dimensions to be used as an exhibition space.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 21 of 94 THE

BETH CLACHER

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 22 of 94 Kate Howells in action

In recent years, Moreton has produced some of its most impressive and memorable I have been a Drama performances: Back to the 80’s, Grease, Cats, Annie, Little Shop of Horrors and of late, Aladdin. student and enthusiast

The Moreton stage has hosted man eating plants, at Moreton for 9 years flying carpets and crowds of singing, dancing girls. Behind it all has been Mrs Howells, who directs, now and have noticed how more and more girls choreographs and designs the productions as well have been taking part in the showcases, plays as teaching GCSE and A Level Theatre Studies. and competitions. I asked Mrs Howells why she thought Drama played an important role in life Kate Howells first moved into Drama when she at Moreton; she said that it has helped teach not begged her parents at the age of 10 to attend the just performance techniques, but also encouraged Sylvia Young Theatre School for two weeks. Spotted us to learn to be confident, articulate, patient, by a scout, she moved away from her family farm considerate, eloquent and open minded. in Mid- to study acting, singing and dancing at the Arts Educational School in Chiswick and I went on to ask why she thought that our plays and subsequently the Guildford School of Acting. Drama exams have been such a success in recent years. The answer was that when staff care as much Her next move was to work in acting jobs as well as as they do here, it becomes just as important to the taking on the role of agent in the Ravenscourt Theatre students. By raising expectations we raise standards. School, where she worked with Directors on a day Drama should be fun and most of the time rehearsals to day basis to find roles for children in the industry. and lessons are. Girls who were previously shy of standing up on stage find themselves loving it, We often ask Mrs Howells what originally inspired entering ‘Moreton’s Got Talent’ or auditioning for roles. her to move into Drama and she repeatedly insists There really is something for everyone at Moreton. that she cannot remember ever wanting to do anything else: “I had very supportive teachers in my By Beth Clacher (U6) primary school, they encouraged me to attend the summer course where everything started off.”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 23 of 94 ANNUAL INVESTEC BUSINESS LUNCH

For this year’s annual Business theatre - “A theatre for all”, Lunch, Moreton Hall and Investec whilst Lily provided an overview were delighted to welcome over of Moreton Enterprises. Our Head 600 guests. The Keynote speaker Prefect, Tara, wrapped things up was William Hague, a true political for the girls by providing the giant, or to give him his full title: audience with more details of The Right Honourable, The Lord the community theatre. Hague of Richmond. His topic: Following a delicious lunch and ‘The post-Brexit world’. much lively conversation, Lord Hague took to the stage and With the guests busy networking in a speech punctuated with over pre-lunch drinks, the Moreton anecdotes and humorous one- Enterprises team had a fantastic liners, spoke of his concerns for opportunity to meet and learn from the future, concerns that extended business leaders from Shropshire well beyond the outcome of and beyond. Indeed, so interesting any Brexit negotiations. Namely: Lord William Jefferson Hague, were these conversations that it the resurgence of the far-right, Baron Hague of Richmond took a concerted effort by Mr particularly if more centralist Lang to encourage people to take parties didn’t tap into the mood A British Conservative politician and their seats for lunch. Before lunch of populist nationalism and address life peer. He represented Richmond, commenced, an introduction to the concerns which are causing Yorkshire as Member of Parliament Moreton Enterprises was provided people to seek far-right solutions from 1989 to 2015 by the Lower Sixth Directors, to their problems. Lord Hague Martha and Lily. Martha took this said that, whilst it was unlikely opportunity to introduce the that Marine Le Pen, leader of the assembled guests to the school’s French National Front, would win newest venture: our community the Presidential elections in France,

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 24 of 94 it was inevitable that she would become President one day if more centralist parties couldn’t connect with the electorate’s concerns. Let’s not be afraid to Migration was another factor that he thought would shape the years to come: with increasing numbers of people on the move, speak the common governments the world over will need to think carefully about this sense truth: you issue. Lord Hague suggested that concerns about migration were placing the EU on a path towards “slow disintegration”. He also spoke can’t have high of his worry that the growing use of social media was contributing to the growth of an ever more polarised society, as people were standards without repeatedly fed on a diet of information which agreed with their own views rather than contrasting views, which would help them form a good discipline. more balanced idea of the world. As he pointed out, this might work with Netflix, where if you like one film or genre you will get ten more William Hague recommendations of a similar , but it was concerning in terms of politics and current affairs.

When reflecting on his life in politics, Lord Hague spoke of the highs and lows of public office: his pride at framing the Disability Discrimination Act in 1995 which transformed the lives of many people with disabilities and his deep regret that the government failed to secure a lasting peace deal in Syria in 2012, that would have prevented so much suffering and loss of life.

When the Q&A session drew to a reluctant close, I was left with a sense that the Brexit negotiations were in some way the least of our problems! Lord Hague presented a view of politics that was far-reaching, compassionate and thought provoking, proving him to be one of the greatest public orators of modern times.

By Martha Stewart (L6)

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 25 of 94 Moreton Enterprises Directors 2016-17

Moreton Enterprises

Enterprise is a big part of the USP of Moreton We have learnt the importance of organisation, Hall: it captures our imaginations... Gets us time management and board meeting discipline; thinking... Innovating... Calculating... Risk assessing the need to expand leadership responsibilities, and of course collaborating. All invaluable and so everyone feels engaged and responsible for much sought-after skills for life beyond school. the success of the business. Delegation is key - whilst you may wish to do everything yourself, There is nothing transient or gimmicky about to succeed, you must trust your team. business at Moreton. Our thriving retail outlets, event management and product innovations team But crucially, we have come to understand the regularly create a turnover of around £50,000, importance of creating a business with longevity - and are run entirely by the girls of Lower Sixth. to achieve this we must plan and invest in the future. All the businesses are supported by our creative marketing team and our thrifty finance team. With this idea in mind, we have begun a novel event: The Directors’ Table. These events will give girls of This experience has been, at times, turbulent - varying ages the opportunity to meet successful with its highs and its lows. However, coming out entrepreneurs and business people, providing the the other side we may reflect on what we have opportunity to discuss their experiences, enlightening learnt: to lead and motivate a team; to organise and preparing us for the completive world of business. our time; to manage the tricky relationship between employees, who are also our friends.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 26 of 94 The spoils and thrills of Moreton Enterprises have certainly kept us on our toes. A personal highlight must be taking our signature gin: Moretons spirit, from conception to market. We might not have gone into production with a local top-class gin producer as initially envisioned, but hey – our Moreton spirit’, a sloe gin - is all our own, 100% guaranteed - unique to us, just as it should be!

We have come to understand that whilst creating a profitable, thriving business is important, giving something back to the community is vital. Thirty years ago, Moreton girls set out on a rescue mission, to save Gobowen station from closure. However it is now, once more endangered. We hope to save it once again and will be donating a percentage of our profits to this important asset in our local community.

By Lily Mainwaring & Martha Stewart (L6)

Success is not final, Failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 27 of 94 The Bronwen Society

season liberally with tales of women the Link. In September, OM and Take one Member on the front line, the reflections of Conservative Party MP, Amanda a Supermodel and the story of one Milling, joined us to explore the of Parliament, add of Britain’s best-loved children’s direct links between her time writers. Invite an enthusiastic on the Lacrosse pitch and with an award winning audience, keen for enrichment Moreton Enterprises and her life in and inspiration from beyond the politics. The resilience, teamwork journalist, a well curriculum, and serve as part of and courage which she had travelled zoologist this year’s Bronwen Lecture series! developed in the former have been key skills for the latter. Journalist and a record It has been another wonderful and OM Jess Hatcher reflected year with an eclectic array of on the same skills in her Bronwen breaking explorer, speakers and we’ve enjoyed full lecture on her work as a journalist houses in both the Musgrave and working in some of the world’s

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 28 of 94 most challenging trouble spots, Mark Baldwin’s lecture. To quote on how to be a top Business reporting on conflict, crisis and Selina in U6: “the extraordinary Woman without turning into Alan the people swept along in its work of these brave women was Sugar and Mr Lang’s illuminating wake. As part of an evening very inspiring and motivating talk on Islamic State, offered much celebrating Duke of Edinburgh for the Moreton girls.” food for discussion and thought. awards achievements, adventurer Tori James inspired us with tales We started the Spring Term with We ended the year with a new from her many expeditions, a very different, but still very Bronwen event and one we plan including her ascent of Everest. inspiring woman. Adwoa Aboah is to repeat: a debate. The teams a supermodel and feminist who of staff and students went head A very different woman was under has been making waves with her to head over a motion which pit the spotlight in November, when campaign ‘GurlsTalk’, launched Science against the Arts. For Alura Matthew Dennison joined us to talk to empower girls through their and Alice “It made the audience about the subject of his latest book, shared conversations. Inspired open their minds to a new, deeper Beatrix Potter. To quote Sophie by her work, Hermoine (U5) set of ideas and arguments”. A from L6: “The seemingly simple and approached her and next thing ringing endorsement not only of sweet stories Potter created reveal we knew she was in our midst for this event but of our Bronwen aspects of her life and character.” a day of workshops and talks. year! Next year’s programme promises to be as exciting and In stark contrast to Beatrix There was of course, plenty more stimulating - we look forward to Potter’s life, the women of the talking to come and amongst many the pleasure of your company! SOE were the subject of historian highlights, Rachel Clacher’s insight

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 29 of 94 Jenner Medical Society

Under the direction of Student Jenner Representatives, Molly Ashworth and Lydia German, the Jenner Medical Society has had an inspiring and interesting year, enriched by its brilliant speakers! Lower Sixth student, Jasmine Singh, tells us more...

Dr Emma Woolley, a distinguished Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon from North Wales, inspired us with her dual degree in Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery while Dr Sharmi Bhattacharya from Wrexham Hospital introduced us to her speciality of old age psychiatry giving more fodder for our debate on mental health issues. Careers in medicine were

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 30 of 94 further covered by two GPs who From the Veterinary Medical With an entrancing video - recounted their extremely busy School of Nottingham University, Cynamatics, Mr Long, Head of typical week and medical imaging Dr Janet Douglas gave an amazing Physics, emphasised the role of by senior radiographer Ms Rachel talk on the evolutionary journey sound and light revolutionising Louise Dunn, Director for Marketing of the horse’s limbs. Jenner became medicine from diagnosis to and Communication at Alder Hey a part of biology in action as we treatment. Such enthusiastic children’s NHS Hospital, encouraged visited University of Warwick. speakers were instrumental in us to be curious and look out for With five experts guiding us guiding Jenner’s debates from the wider opportunities with the through research and future epigenetics to ethics in stem cells STEM subjects. prospects in biology, from bad or the practices in the GP sector science to surgery, biodiversity and the NHS. Undoubtedly Jenner’s OM Becky Lewis, now a Zoologist to forensics, we observed the students had an immensely valuable from Cambridge presented a amazing life of a scientist for a day. experience throughout the year! very intriguing talk on the gorillas from the Zoo as Dr Jan An invitation to attend the Open Jasmine Singh (L6) Hoole, Director Biologist at Keele Day of the research department University, helped trace our roots of Robert Jones Orthopaedic from the apes that appeared 23 Hospital was almost like science million years ago! fiction as we saw the hypoxic chamber, a life cell imaging platform and stem cell research!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 31 of 94 To My Remove Self

Well dear, what can I possibly say… yes, you did overhear your parents correctly, you’re going into “Remove”.

Yes, I know the term sounds a tad Don’t worry if your teachers Be warned Remover, the ominous, more in keeping with seem, well, a little different from psychic abilities of Moreton a teen dystopian novel than a what you have come to expect. Housemistresses are legendary. quirky boarding school, but fear They are not run of the mill. In Hogwarts house staff have nothing not dear Remover – because fact, most of them will vigorously on them – they can read hearts Remove is where it’s at! resist your attempts to squash and minds to three decimal places them into any of your teacherey in the blink of an eye. There is So don the long blue kilt, (the stereotypes. Each one of them nowhere to hide, (though the dressing up feeling will soon wear is a delightful curiosity for you to shower is always worth a try if off!) and make yourself at home: put explore at your leisure. Later, much you’re trying to skip assembly and your feet up; have a cup of tea; pet later, post-GCSE’s and probably only get a few more minutes shut-eye). your house dog; introduce yourself when the finish line is in sight, you’ll They will know the instant the to the chickens; eat toast; watch come to appreciate them for their thought “midnight feast” filters into reruns of Friends and know that the intellect, their love of their subject your consciousness, (but of course girl perched on the arm of the sofa and their commitment to you – but don’t let that stop you – traditions and the one lolling on the bean bag hey, that’s a long time off, for now must be maintained), but equally will be your friends forever, (thank it’s just fine to be in awe of their they know when only a hug, a hot goodness, as they will know far, far dress sense (History department, chocolate and an early night will too much about you!). This dear take a bow), or their insightful do. Rest assured Remover, at times Remover is where it all begins.... analysis of . of strife, (yes you will have some),

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 32 of 94 your Housemistress has got your my own extensive collection of essays to write, cakes to bake, back. Do not underestimate her anecdotal evidence), suggests that conflabs to have, socials to plan, power: think mother bear defending the teenage brain needs to rest on equations to learn, dogs to walk, her cubs. Academic staff take note. a soft pillow in a darkened room debates to organize, money to for as long as possible, especially raise, protests to mount, exams to in the mornings. So take heed pass, friends to love, opinions to my friend: don’t put your neural form and reform, and reform... pruning at risk. Have a lie in! And suddenly you will find yourself In a blink you in the Lower Sixth, GCSE’s under By half-term you may find that your belt and already forgotten. will find that you you are developing the symptoms It’s a strange transition, a bit like of TAES (Tired and Emotional going from the infants to the have been sucked Syndrome), you are grumpy, juniors, you kind of have to grow fractious and starting to act like into it, but of course the new suit into the heart you’re six years old again. This is and heels help. And of course, (a) normal, (b) infectious, (c) well at last, you’re free to follow your of this eccentric recognized by all house-staff and passions... so make sure you do! little family (d) requires you to go home for a week. Parents please note that So, go with the flow dear Remover, and that you’re being carried along your daughter will need extensive you will doubtless get tossed by the ebb and flow of school life. bed rest, please don’t disturb her around a little, even maybe hit the All of a sudden you’ll find yourself before noon for the first three odd rock, but that’s absolutely fine, busier than you can ever imagine. days, after which social interaction I’d even recommend it, because Don’t panic, you’ll soon adapt. can be reintroduced slowly, but at the end of the day you’re Say yes to everything (even the never before 10am. Please do not surrounded by the safest pairs terrifying lacrosse – I tried Mrs be concerned, this is completely of hands. Explore, have fun, take Groves – honest), because you normal and should be taken a risk and remember everything never know what will float your as fantastic evidence that your will be just fine. I promise! boat. When I entered my first daughter has become a Moretonian, English Speaking Board examination you are all in for the long haul. By Martha Stewart (L6) with a rendition of ‘Billy MacBone And so my dear Moretonian, the has a mind of his own’ (Allen years will pass, but you’ll be too Ahlberg), I never imagined that wrapped up in the moment to four years later I would be opening notice... There will be first night the Business Lunch as Director of nerves, and last night parties, Moreton Enterprises and enjoying banter with Lord William Hague.

However, there is one activity that I would advise you to approach with extreme caution - Early Morning Fitness - this seems to attract keen- bean science types, but I really think that they have failed to robustly examine its evidence base. Surely all the evidence (from both proper random controlled trials and from

Upper 4 girls sharing a joke at break time over tea

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 33 of 94 Careers at Moreton Hall Catherine Ashworth reviews the year:

With the impact of the A Level reforms still unfolding, more university course choices than ever, and a growing number of Higher Apprenticeship schemes targeting every sector; there’s never been a more exciting time to take over as Head of Careers.

And what a year it has been! No and College courses will provide Mr Dennison helped me go into sooner had we waved the class the first step, with university my Cambridge interviews and of 2016 off to University, College to follow for many of them. other Engineering interviews feeling or Gap Years than the class of totally prepared and confident 2017 was on the countdown Every offer is an achievement but that I would be able to answer any to their UCAS deadlines. among this year’s highlights are question thrown at me.” Equally four girls with offers from Oxford impressive is the fact that 30% of Making plans for the next step is a and Cambridge in specialisms the year group will be studying life changing moment for our Upper which cover the whole curriculum STEM related subjects at university: Sixth girls and Caroline Lang and including Classics, Linguistics, a real testament to the investment I love every moment of the part Modern Foreign Languages, English in our Centenary Science Building we are able to play in supporting Literature and Engineering. Matthew and the confidence our STEM them throughout the process. 80% Dennison’s unique teachers instil in these girls as they of the current Upper Sixth have programme is a key part of the enter what is still a statistically chosen to go straight to university process and is hugely valued by all male dominated environment. with a staggering 72% securing an the girls under his care. Upper Sixth offer from their first choice. For student, Phoebe Jackson enthused the remaining girls, Gap Year plans “The Oxbridge preparations with

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 34 of 94 Hanna Jones will pursue her Drama “My son is at a prominent boys’ aspirations at The University of But it’s not independent school, down south. Bristol: “I always knew I wanted They offer nothing on careers to study theatre after A Levels just about the which is comparable to the scale and when searching for the best and quality of this.” Indeed, from the course for me, I came across the Upper Sixth! Russell Group universities, to the Theatre and Innovation course at Upper Four have completed the range of professionals, there can be Bristol. It’s the first course of its Career Investigator programme no doubt that Moreton’s Careers kind so the application process was with their tutors which match Department did a sterling job. quite competitive. In addition to their personality and interests to my personal statement I was asked broad career themes that they can The most exciting (and indeed to submit a video application on then investigate further. Many girls challenging) thing for all of us YouTube explaining why I think I’m also took part in the ‘take your whether student, parent or careers innovative. This was intimidating as daughter to work’ initiative during advisers is that the world of work it meant you could see all of the the Easter holiday to experience is evolving at an extraordinary competition - so I was thrilled when first-hand what working in a real speed. For the younger girls, it is they offered me a place.” organisation is like. Lower Five likely that their career paths will completed their Online Morrisby be fluid and varied and it is certain Medicine and Veterinary Medicine profiling and it was fascinating for that some of the roles they will are notoriously difficult fields to Mrs Fitton and I to discuss the embark upon on have not even get into but again this has been a huge array of future possibilities been created yet. The challenge for stellar year and our full house of during their one to one interviews. us is to make sure we encourage medic and vet offers is a matter them to be open minded and help of great pride to not only the For Upper Five and Lower Sixth the them make choices that will enable Careers Department but also Mrs highlight of the year has to be our them to keep all their options open. Peel and the Jenner Society who annual Careers Convention. This provides so much support and year’s event was bigger than ever Before we leave for the summer enrichment on this challenging with 70 organisations represented break I am about to run a UCAS application. A special mention must including 35 universities. We were Registration session for the go to our Head of Jenner and particularly delighted to welcome Lower Sixth for entry in 2018. aspiring vet, Molly, who received back many Old Moretonians They will have a staggering offers from all four of her university including Laura Yule who delivered 50,000 undergraduate courses to choices. Molly commented: “The an inspirational keynote speech. choose from at 395 institutions: Jenner society provided me The diverse array of delegates exciting times ahead! with invaluable support during and speakers was highlighted by my application to vet school.” one parent, who commented,

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 35 of 94 Spoken English

Thomas Cranmer Awards Eliza Kiel (U5) and Morgan Darcy Rees-Deacon (L6) qualified for the National Finals of the Thomas Cranmer Awards. Moreton students saw excellent success, achieving an impressive fourteen first places in a variety of classes. Winners include Sophie Bunce, Alexander Van Liefland, Anya Harting, Holly Longfellow, Lydia Cobb, Charlotte Brown, Eloise Boyer, Rebecca Ho, Romy Grigg, Eliza Kiel, Elizabeth Mainwaring, Emma Young, Jasmine Singh and Cariad Maddocks. Kitty Davenport achieved 2nd place in the years 12, 13 and over ‘Famous Speeches’ category.

ESB Young Speaker of the Year Harriet Lang (U6) was awarded ESB Young Speaker of the Year for her performance in the Advanced Certificate in Language Arts examination as part of Moreton Hall’s Lower Sixth ESB programme. In keeping with the Shakespearean theme, Harriet’s presentation and performance was entitled ‘All the World’s Stage: the Life and Times of Britain’s Greatest Playwright’ and included extracts not only from the Bard but by those inspired by him. Lucy Allinson (U5) celebrated her success as a runner up in the ESB’s Sixty Second Shakespeare Competition.

Yet again we have enjoyed outstanding success throughout this year. English speaking continues to be a cornerstone of the Moreton education. Merriel Halsall-Williams, Head of Spoken English

Moreton Team Qualify for Rotary Youth Speaks Regional Finals The Moreton Hall intermediate team qualified for the Regional Finals of the national Rotary ‘Youth Speaks’ competition. Coco Harpin, Charlotte Brown and Emma Vivian (U4) spoke eloquently on the topic of ‘Today’s Technology’ and impressed the judging panel, securing first place. In the senior competition, two Moreton teams were placed second and third.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 36 of 94 Public Speakers Gain First Place at BPW Competition Moreton Hall students walked away from the Business and Professional Women’s Public Speaking Competition with awards, confirming their outstanding abilities in the field. The competition saw Moreton’s A team win the event and qualify for the Regional Finals. The team comprised of Lucy Allinson (U5), Georgie Lang (L6) and Jasmine Singh (L6).

Second place achieved in ESU Public Speaking Area Finals Lucy Allinson (U5), Halcyon Gaynor-Johnson (U5) and Carys Pryce (U5) spoke eloquently and lucidly on the topic of ‘Should we be nervous of experiments that attempt to modify DNA’. Special congratulations must go to Carys, who won ‘Best Questioner’ in arguably the most challenging category.

Six Excellent Orators Excel in Debating The six speakers: Charlotte Rollason, Elin Pryce, Coco Harpin, Emma Vivian, Sofia Arens and Amira Deji-Abiola were split into three separate teams. The Moreton team consisting of Emma and Coco were placed second overall and Emma was heralded the third best speaker in the competition.

ESB Excellence yet again! Students from all year groups took on the examination and celebrated a hoard of impressive results. Students from the Prep School through to achieved outstanding results at the Shropshire Festival.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 37 of 94 STEM

Some of our strongest Lower Sixth Chemists entered the prestigious Chemistry Olympiad

There is a popular myth, still all too prevalent in many quarters, that says: “Girls don’t do Maths and Science”.

Nationally, there has been a drive to encourage more To start, great teaching is undoubtedly key. Not just girls to study STEM subjects and at Moreton Hall great teachers - which we are certainly blessed with - we are proud to be at the forefront of this initiative. but also an approach to teaching that puts the building Across the UK, the percentages of girls studying STEM of confidence at the heart of every lesson. The ethos of subjects are woeful: 14% take Biology, 9% Chemistry, the STEM Department is that getting a girl to believe 3% Physics, 19% Psychology, 12% Mathematics and she can do it is most of the way to her actually doing it. just 1.6% study Further Mathematics. At Moreton Hall, 70% of our girls take at least 1 STEM A Level, The second element, which is closely related to the 38% take 2 or more; 22% take 3 or more and a hardy first, is fostering a fear-free learning environment. cohort of 6% are currently studying 4 STEM A Levels. Scientists and Mathematicians must fearlessly take Further Mathematics is a particular success: nationally risks with their problem solving - it is the only way the take up is just 16 girls out of every thousand to improve. They need to do this knowing that the but at Moreton Hall we have 17 girls in our Sixth worst that can happen is getting it wrong. No angry Form of just 125. teacher, no obnoxious boy giggling, and no classmate doing anything other than suggesting an alternative So where does the Moreton STEM Magic come strategy for the second, or third, or tenth attempt from? How can such a small, essentially non to wrestle a solution from an intractable problem. selective, school punch so far above its weight?

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 38 of 94 And finally, success come from hard training. At Moreton Hall we don’t just train our girls for public examinations we also train them for Olympiads and other challenges (in Mathematics, BIology, Chemistry and Physics). I believe these are the key to our success. Over the last three years the results speak for themselves: a grand total of 358 awards have been gained and 49 of those were Gold; a total of 37 girls qualified for follow-on competitions; 3 Olympiad Medals have been won; 2 girls were placed in the UK’s top-10 in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls; 1 girl qualified for Round 2 of the British Physics Olympiad (our first ever); and 2 girls were invited to Oxford University for the highly prestigious Summer Training Camp (they take just 22 students per year). In team competitions the Competition is tough at the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge results have been equally impressive: two National Finals for Junior Teams and, to top everything, a 24th place finish for the Senior Mathematics Team in the most recent National Final.

At Moreton Hall: “Girls do STEM!”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 39 of 94 40 The Moretonian 2017

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 40 of 94 New digital facilities and a developing team of teaching staff have ensured that this year in the Art Department has been most exciting. It hasn’t taken long for our new Head of Department, Ruth Mills, to settle in and adjust to the vibrant and open atmosphere of the Design Centre. Photo- stencil Screen Printing equipment and the full Photoshop Suite has opened up new avenues with which girls can develop their ideas creatively and with some speed – it can be a challenge to keep up! Inspiring trips and Artist workshops have kept creative wells full to overflowing, with visits to , , London, and a spring time sojourn to Venice particular highlights of the year. Five days in Venice saw Lower and Upper Sixth students, with Ruth Mills and Amanda Blackham, immeasurably inspired by the faded glamour of the inimitable floating city.

Upper Sixth student Ruth Jefferis’ great success in the Ruthin Craft Centre’s ‘Raising The Bar’ programme has seen her access workshops and courses at Manchester University. This year’s Upper Sixth Artists move on to exciting destinations including Manchester, University College of the Creative Arts Canterbury, Oxford Brookes, and School of Art. They will be much missed!

The younger students have loved working towards the National Gallery’s ‘Take One Picture’ competition, which saw Moreton First developing exciting work based on Ruben’s ‘A Roman Triumph.’ Under the expert direction of Head of Lower School Art, Jan Miller, the children made giant papier-mâché feet, clay candlesticks, monoprinted headdresses, and much more.

Thrillingly, Moreton First have been selected to take part in the exhibition at the National Gallery this Summer, with Charlie Miller’s mixed media piece selected to feature on the Gallery’s marketing literature! The Chester Art Fair also saw great success for Moreton First, with Holly Longfellow, and Moreton First, awarded first prize in the Primary category. For Remove, Lower Four and Upper Four, a muscular start to their year in Art was made possible by a project based on the juicy colours and textures of meat – vibrant triptychs on display in the department are testament to the girls enthusiasm to get stuck into a project, no matter how challenging!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 41 of 94 Cicely Peers - U6 Lily Roberts - U5

Ruth Jefferis - U6

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 42 of 94 Moreton Hall Art - Instagram

With so much going on in the department, the year has flown by for girls and their teachers. For next year, new directions continue apace with the introduction of Photography A Level. To keep up with the fast paced world of Moreton’s Art Department, do remember to check out the Instagram account: @moretonhallart!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 43 of 94 Jessica Hatcher-Moore: A journalist covering under- reported stories across Africa

What’s a children’s party entertainer from Now living in Llangollen, writing feature stories Loughborough doing in Somalia in the middle of and ghost writing an autobiography, she relates her a civil war? Bizarrely, when Old Moretonian Jessica idiosyncratic success to her independent Moreton Hatcher-Moore met Bill Brookman in the Somali spirit. “My Moreton self would be delighted. I did capital of Mogadishu in early 2013, this British clown just what I’ve always wanted, and what I’ve learnt and performance artist was working for the United is, if you really want to do something, knocks to Nations, using art and music to encourage people your ego don’t matter so much, you just think away from violence to end the war. “This incredible ok, let’s try something else,” she explains. character works in areas of conflict doing things that only a clown with wild, curly hair and a diabolo might Jessica was at Moreton Hall from 1995-2000, after be able to do; building relationships with rival war-lords which she read Modern Languages at Oxford University. and gangs and uniting conflicting parties,” she says. Her route into journalism was unusual. She spent stints in London, first working in communications and, Without her career as a news reporter in East later, writing gossip for the London Evening Standard; Africa, Hatcher-Moore, who now lives in North enjoyed a short spell on a Welsh beach writing a Wales, would never have discovered this man from satirical novel; worked for the BBC in Oxford and Loughborough, the subject of her forthcoming article. Shropshire; cycled across sub-Saharan Africa filming a documentary and then moved to Nairobi, where “At the time, my journalistic she met her husband to be, a photojournalist. instinct was buzzing; I On moving to Nairobi, Jessica developed an interest in human rights, conflict resolution and international knew that I had to write development. She says, “There are a lot of very in this man’s story one day.” your face problems, like man-made famines and massacres. As a journalist you can’t ignore them.” Jessica moved to Nairobi, Kenya, in 2011 and spent almost five years reporting on conflicts and crises in Her work can be harrowing and has brought East Africa. During her time there, working mainly attention to under-reported stories such as ongoing for , she wrote about Somali pirates, conflict in Burundi. Earlier this year, she won the D.R. Congo’s threatened gorillas and a murder One World Media Award for ‘Murder in Burundi’, mystery in Burundi – among many other things.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 44 of 94 a 5000-word article for the Guardian about the brutal killing of three Italian nuns, which took her “Personally, when I was months to research and a further month to write. younger, I had always Jessica’s success comes from following her passion. wanted to be a writer, but “My advice to girls at Moreton would be to find out what is important to you. It may take time didn’t know whether it be a but keep discovering the things that you love journalist or novelist. I just and are best at, and don’t be afraid to identify something that may not be important to other wanted to be working with people - focus on what is right for you,” she says. words and telling stories.” By Alice Edwards and Molly Bruce (L6)

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 45 of 94 Moreton’s Unsung Heroes

As thousands of students everything perfect for everyone the maths test and dominate the across the country pack else. These people are the vital match, and talking of matches their corner pieces that hold the jigsaw scrumpalicous match teas, really are their freshly stocked of our incredible school together: the talk of Shropshire. This brings pencil cases and empty without them chaos would reign. us to the next group of people... folders for the first day of Let’s start where it all begins: with Facilities Manager, Rob Watkinson school, I can safely say it’s Stephen Conroy and the Kitchen and his band of merry maintenance Moretonian girls that do staff and their fantastic food. Food men. They keep the cogs turning it with a smile. So, what is all important at Moreton, be it and the school running smoothly. makes us love our school? the welcome back Sunday roast Without them the school would with Yorkshires to die for, or the be a very different place. Events fact that our Kitchen Staff always wouldn’t have the ‘Moreton shine’, Well, as you’ve been flicking through seem to know when an extra-large we wouldn’t be able to rehearse the Moretonian, you can’t fail to helping of curly fries is really what for the next big drama production, be impressed by our legendary you need to get you through the moments after an examination lacrosse team, glitzy theatre day. They work tirelessly to cook had just finished in the Musgrave. productions and stellar exam us three gourmet meals a day, and Speech Day would be impossible results but, it’s our unsung heroes constantly stock up the common to pull off and moving in at the that make every day special. We room with biscuits and toast. They start of term with heavy trunks would like to take this moment never complain, even when they would be a mammoth task! Thank to give a shout-out to Moreton’s have to get up at 5am to cook you for everything you do! unsung heroes: the people who breakfast for school trips! They fly under the radar, and make provide the fuel we need to ace

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 46 of 94 Our beautiful grounds don’t just we need, she gets to know us, Of course, Aunty Pat has to happen overnight. Our Groundsmen, and is always ready with an idea have a special mention, she is Jody Wilson and the team, work for an English-Speaking exam, or an absolute Moreton Treasure, tirelessly: pruning and trimming; and a title that she thinks will inspire. always smiling, and always ready mowing and rolling ‘til perfection with a solution to our last-minute and “they still have time to give me Our last group of unsung heroes are dilemmas. No one embodies and my bags a lift to the bus on probably the first ones you and your the Spirit of Moreton more. their golf buggy,” said Martha (L6). parents ever encountered, they are Next time you walk past Pilkington our administrators: they sent out With such unsung heroes just remember those flowers don’t the prospectus, and answered that supporting us every inch of the just spring from the ground! On first tentative enquiry! Ever since way, we totally agree with the the topic of our beautiful school, they have been in the background Good Schools Guide when they said, we couldn’t let this opportunity ensuring Moreton’s wheels keep “every girl in England should have at pass without thanking our amazing on going around. They make our least a term in this environment”. cleaners, who somehow manage to days run smoothly and keep make the school look as though it the whole Moreton Community By Charlotte Brown and isn’t inhabited by the hundreds of abreast of developments. One Florence Tyne (U4) teenagers! So, thank you, our school member of the Admin Team said, is just stunning and just wouldn’t be the same without you, even the drives are well looked after and that brings us to are next group of “I love supporting unsung heroes: our bus drivers. the development Not every student boards so our of the school, it’s team of warm hearted and friendly bus drivers are vital for ferrying our really exciting.” day girls to and from school. Tilly Prythech, Upper 4, day girl said “the drivers are so reliable and start my morning off on an up-beat tempo.”

A Lower Sixth veteran of the early morning school bus dash added, “Lessons really start the moment you get on the bus ranging from, hazard perception (Sixth Form only), to debating the pros and cons of Brexit. The return journeys are usually more chilled, even stopping for an ice cream on the first hot day of the year – courtesy of our kind bus drivers.”

And of course, how could we manage without Mrs Nolan, she doesn’t just organise our fantastic library, and guide us to find what

The Moretonian 2017 47

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 47 of 94 Duke of Edinburgh

Expedition We set out on our expedition early in the The second day was more enjoyable as there was morning with our rucksacks full. We were no rain. We climbed up the massive Long Mynd, and dropped off along a road which we drove up and we ate lunch on the highest point in Shropshire. down multiple times before finding Mrs Gingell, We soon passed a group of teachers and heard hidden in a hedge. Once this first challenge was that we were the fourth group past and that we overcome we were left in the pouring rain at the had to take the hardest route – not happy. We just bottom of a very large hill. Freya took a while to about avoided getting lost thanks to the kind advice realise we had to get to the top in two hours! of some passing walkers. Finally, we found our way to our destination. Here we found that we were To keep our spirits up we took to some the first to arrive and an ice cream was waiting! singing – probably a bit too loudly. Finally, it stopped raining and we reached the top of the Fenella Hallett (L5) Stiperstones. After a long walk, down the hill, we were first to arrive at the campsite, and just got our tent up in time. We cooked our pasta surrounded by ducks, who nearly stole mine!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 48 of 94 Volunteering I began thinking about what I could My idea crystalised: I started a mini do for the Volunteering section revision session every Monday and of DofE? There were already a Thursday for girls who are studying number of students volunteering Chinese. I was very happy when I in Moreton First. I had to think of got such great feedback from my something else, and that thing came friends, especially when their exam to me when my friend asked me a grades improved! It gave me an question about her Chinese prep. immense sense of achievement. I asked whether my explanation was helpful and she said yes. Cici Jin (L5)

Skills Early this year I completed my to re-touch digital images (using Bronze Duke of Edinburgh. For Photoshop) including cropping, my Skills Section I chose to do a adding effects and adjusting colour. Creative Arts activity: Photography. During one of our lessons we took I learnt about composition and photos of an actual Ox heart and experimented with different used many interesting effects when colour filters, working in natural editing it. I think Photography is a and artificial light and presented very useful skill to have and doing my findings to the group. I learnt DofE has helped me find a new how to use an SLR/DSLR camera, passion which has become a hobby and have become proficient in the I will pursue for years to come. different functions it has to offer. With these skills, I managed to Sophie Barlow-Evans (L5) teach my father how to use his new Canon. In Photography, I learnt how

Physical Over the last three months I have The Duke of Edinburgh Award gave completed the physical section of me an incentive to carry on learning my Bronze DofE award. It’s been even when things got tricky. Figure an amazing learning experience, skating is a wonderful sport that not only just learning how to figure combines balance, coordination and skate but also finding out what a little bit of courage, which was I was capable of with practice definitely needed on the Duke of and concentration. It’s really fun Edinburgh Expedition. I would love now being able to get on the ice to encourage more people to take each week with confidence and up skating and if I managed to get the reassurance that if I fall I’ll get my mum on ice, then it’s a start! up again (that was the first thing I learnt - I’ve definitely needed Tatyana Kahn (L5) that skill quite a few times)!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 49 of 94 Creative Writing

The Journey

I sat staring outside Granny’s kitchen “What do you mean?” I chuckled. Suddenly I didn’t feel hungry window, lost in thought. The curtains Granny sat down placing her hands anymore. The cackle of the radio were drawn back in a neat fashion, around her favourite porcelain cup heightened in the silence. I tucked not dissimilar to how she tied her of Earl Grey. “I found that brooch a loose curl behind my ear. Slipping hair. A soft scent of her lavender disguised in the rubble, when our the napkin off my knee, I placed it perfume diffused through the air. house got bombed, back in 1942. on the table which was draped with The radio was on, a gentle fusion I think it must have fallen out of a paisley patterned cloth. I wasn’t of muttering voices, spitting at each my mother’s jewellery box. It’s the sure what to say. Granny often fell in other in the background. Then only possession I have that survived to silent moments of contemplation; suddenly I caught sight of something the bombing. I was only nine at there was something mystical I’d never seen before: it was a the time, so I don’t remember about her when she was thinking. beautifully embellished brooch, the details very clearly; but I’ll Her eyes looked like dilated black placed neatly on Granny’s never forget the all-consuming pearls, reflecting light like sequins. buttoned cashmere cardigan. fear, that everything I’d known could be lost at any moment.” “Thanks for having me round “Granny, where did you for supper, Granny.” get that brooch?” I got up to retrieve the plates which Granny had served the food on. “It Placing her hand on the brooch, Granny didn’t hear me the first was a different world back then,” she Granny gave it a pull and moved time; she was too busy arranging said, picking up her fork thoughtfully. it from her chest. She unclipped the vegetables on her plate. So the clasp at the back and then I tried again, a little louder. “Is it very special?” I enquired. caressed the edges of the tarnished metal with her thumb. “Well, this was given to my mother when I was born but she never had “I want to give this brooch to you. “This brooch, you the opportunity to give it to me. It I’ve realised that I don’t need it. It was there in the rubble, with a note will mean more to me if I know you see, has been on attached to it. The rain had blurred have it: a piece of me will live on. quite a journey,” the writing; all I could make out I know that you will look after it. was my name. Out of something You can take it on your journey.” announced so sad came something beautiful: I knew I had a small fragment of my By Carys Pryce (U5) Granny proudly. mother to keep after the bombing.” There was a moment’s pause.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 50 of 94 War

Today, we’re going to war. We said been our bandanas. Gus decides helmet; Niamh battling through the our goodbyes to our parents and that we’re going to the ditch. I brambles in her dress; Me, with you they left us at about five. Since clip my dock-leaf embellished know, my dock leaves. A car draws then, we’ve been utterly bored. helmet on under my chin. up which we don’t recognise. Our babysitter, called Jade, is sitting in front of the TV with her Niamh goes out to the corridor feet up on the couch, biting her and starts pulling things out of the “It’s a foreign nails, picking her black nail polish dressing up box. Gus sits on the off and dropping it on the carpet. doorstep sharpening one end of tank. This is war!” She won’t give us any attention a branch he hacked off the apple and it’s making me a bit cross. tree yesterday. Mum wasn’t very Gus mutters and I decide not to go into a strop happy about that. Niamh comes because frankly I don’t have the back to the kitchen in her baby fixes his bayonet. energy after a long day’s work pink duchess dress clutching a Out from the car steps a young refurbishing the Sylvanian bakery. bundle of dress up costumes, big man with black curls and a Green sheets and a gun. Balanced on top Day T –shirt. He walks to the I stretch out in front of a burning is a giant 20 pack of toilet roll. front door and then Jade appears. log fire, with my head resting in my Jade, looking rather worried, hands. She’s what Granny would “What are you bringing points towards our trench. call irresponsible and what I think that for?” I ask. could be an excuse for some fun. “They’ve seen us,” I whisper. I leave the sitting room and she “To throw missiles at Jade,” Jade and this mysterious, curly doesn’t even notice that I’m going. she says with an evil smile. haired man walk towards us, slowly. I nudge Gus, like I always do; it’s “Pass the bombs, lads,” Niamh like our special handshake, but… We embark on our expedition demands, unwrapping the thick less normal. In our family we like to the ditch. Passing each item, plastic off our white paper bombs. to do things a bit differently. He hand to hand, into the ditch, We lob the toilet rolls at the understands that I’m suggesting we we set up our base in what is approaching enemy, watching go outside to the camp in the ditch, now the ‘trench’. In the distance, the paper flutter in the air. so we crawl across the wooden across no-man’s land, through the floor to the kitchen. Niamh follows hazy sitting room window, we “We’re not going to bed!” reluctantly, more out of curiosity. watch Jade. Jade is on her phone, we shout. probably texting her boyfriend. Gus gets out the map of the A gentle breeze blows the long By Hermione Byron Low (U5) garden which we coffee stained grass in front of us. Our three and dried in the sun to make heads keep peering over the top it look like a pirates’ map. The to check that the coast is clear: traveller kids on the beach Gus with a purple bruised cheek believed us when we told them from when the apple tree fought we were pirates. It must have back and a tiara clipped onto his

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 51 of 94 Australian Exchange

I must admit, as I waved goodbye to my daughter, Milly, at Manchester Airport I had a lump in my throat and wondered how on earth I was going to get through eight weeks without her. How was she going to cope, on the other side of the world without her support network of family and Moreton?

Well, it wasn’t long before I understood why the Aussies say “no worries”. Fairly soon mine evaporated like rain in the Great Victoria Desert. From the moment she arrived Milly absolutely loved Abbotsleigh School.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our stay so worthwhile and thank you for making us feel so welcome here in a new country. Lulu Wertheimer and Phoebe Harris

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 52 of 94 We have made many new memories that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Jemima Tanner and Milly Wray

Located just outside Sydney, Abbotsleigh is a very different school from Moreton physically. But in other respects it was very familiar. Just like at Moreton, all the girls were friendly and welcoming. Mutual respect and support thrived there and the teaching staff were kind and understanding. Along with the house staff, the people there made it feel like a home from home for her and her fellow exchange student, Jemima.

During the week Milly and Mima would stay in school and follow the timetable of their new classmates. They experienced new and exciting sports, different lessons and teaching styles, different food and obviously climate. At weekends their host families showered them with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, from city visits to Melbourne and Sydney, to a stay on a cotton farm in the outback. They also had the chance to go whale watching, kayaking and so much more.

In return, together with Mima’s parents, we hosted two lovely Australian girls, Lulu and Phoebe. Incredibly well- mannered and excellent company, we enjoyed showing off our beautiful country with visits ranging from theatre and sightseeing in London to days out in Ironbridge, Chester, Oxford and a Shakespearian play in Stratford. The girls at Moreton enjoyed having Phoebe and Lulu stay with them in the boarding house and friendships were made which will last a lifetime. Aside from the cold

This exchange has been a success for all involved. weather we had an It has broadened horizons, created strong and lasting friendships and has given all the girls involved absolute blast! memories which will stay with them for life. Lulu Wertheimer and Phoebe Harris

By Alison Wray, Parent

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 53 of 94 Catering For The Masses

MasterChef Style

At every school pupils complain food article he can get his hands “One of the main differences from about the quality of the food, but on - including this one I’m sure! working at hotels is catering for the Moreton is mostly an exception. A He eats out regularly, thinking how masses,” he says. Every day about few weeks ago, the kitchen served he can adapt restaurant meals to 1,200 complete meals leave the lime and meringue pie for pudding. make the perfect school food. kitchen doors; if the dish is popular My (slim) friend Julia ate 7 slices! it might be even more. The scale Having a background in catering of the task to feed 600 for a single The food at Moreton has always jobs at high-end hotels and bars, meal is staggering. And let’s not been good. But over the last two Stephen arrived with a task: ‘to forget, the vegetarian, vegan, gluten and a half years, new catering modernise and refresh’. Alongside free options and the salad bar. manager Stephen Conroy has a dedicated team of around 22 made our meals tastier than members of settled staff - two Creating so many meals that are ever. Visitors to the school of whom are coming up to their individual, professional and finger- often remark how healthy us 49th year at Moreton - he is on lickin’ good, whilst also catering girls look; fortunately we’re all his way to achieving this goal. for any dietary requirements, isn’t growing upwards not outwards! easy! School food, as Greg Wallace would say, doesn’t get better than Recently a parent from a local The kitchen standard this! Just ask my friend Julia. school accompanied her daughter to match tea, ‘wanting to experience is impressive, with Moreton’s famous reputation for By Molly Bruce (L6) herself.’ She wasn’t disappointed. a 5-star rating Many friends also rave about school food: ‘the fantastic variety’, for food hygiene and a maintenance ‘multicultural menus’ and the plan to ensure that it remains ‘cornflake tart’! These creative thus - lingering slugs your days are recipes are not accidents. Stephen numbered! And all the produce reads cook books, menus and any that can be, is locally sourced.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 54 of 94 The Moretonian 2017 55

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 55 of 94 Bookcase in the Principal’s study

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 56 of 94 Classics

Matthew Dennison examines why we study classics There is a bookcase in a school that is home to the world, to the fullest expanse of human aspiration, the unbridled excitement of matchless intellectual ferment, the agony and exhilaration of the human heart, the first - and astonishingly accurate - attempts to understand and explain the mechanics as well as the spirit of existence. Its authors wrote not in English but Greek and .

Any classics bookshelf shows us first attempts at taxonomy in Theophrastus’s descriptions of animals and plants, the origins of modern ophthalmology in the writing of the physician Galen, Euclid’s mathematical principles and the wonderfully ambitious early encyclopedia compiled by Pliny the Elder in the first century. Herodotus earned his moniker ‘the Father of History’ in his systematic organisation of research materials carefully evaluated within a sprightly narrative, an innovation thrillingly abused by Suetonius and Tacitus. Homeric epic, later emulated by Virgil, offers readers immortal stories of heroic derring-do, cunning and resourcefulness, love and hate. And every one who has ever loved understands Catullus’s protest that, at intervals, love and hate are close bedfellows.

Greeks and Romans invented the world. Centuries after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Renaissance rediscovery of the classics reshaped western Europe afresh. Plutarch’s account of Spartacus inspired one of the first successful slave rebellions, on Haiti, at the end of the eighteenth century. Aristotle guided the hand of Thomas Jefferson composing the Declaration of Independence. Denied university education, Suffragettes quoted Medea and Antigone, heroines of Greek tragedy.

The ancient world was one of ambition, love and yearning; enlightenment and exploration; bravery and bravado; aesthetic, philosophical and intellectual questing – and dizzying excitement in the present and the future. Western scholars broke open its treasure trove centuries ago. Its glister is undiminished, awaiting rediscovery... waiting for each of us.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 57 of 94 Photography

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 58 of 94 Sport

Moreton’s U14 Lacrosse Team with Ashleigh Gloster, Co-Captain for England

Lacrosse The outstanding Lacrosse captaincy of Moreton’s lacrosse teams Florence Wade-Smith has propelled have had an exceptional sporting year once again with the First Team through a superb season, an unprecedented number of girls being selected for Scottish and North Champions - regional and national teams, as well as clean sweeps against unbeaten on the first day of National five competing schools and a total of over 25 matches won. Championship at Guildford. Jonathan Forster

The 2017 Rathbones National Schools Lacrosse Championships once again produced another fantastic display of lacrosse at Surrey Sports Park with over 3500 girls competing over four days of competition in the flagship schools event in the English lacrosse calendar. Both the 1st Team and U14 teams finished in the top 16 schools in the UK.

Both 1st and 2nd teams became winners of the Welsh Rally, with the 1st team also achieving the title of Scottish Schools Lacrosse champions for the fifth consecutive year.

1st Team at National Schools Lacrosse Tournament

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 59 of 94 Other incredible results from throughout the season include: • North County Lacrosse Champions for four Moreton Teams! The 1st, 2nd, U12 and U14 teams were all crowned champions • Moreton enjoyed clean sweeps against Harrogate Ladies’ College, Haberdashers, Monmouth, Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Queen Margaret’s • A staggering 13 players have been selected to attend England’s regional academy with 12 members of our U13 team being selected to play for Shropshire • A further six players have been asked to join either the Welsh or English U19 lacrosse squads

My end goal is the World Cup, I started playing in year 7 and I have dreamed ever since that I would one day play for England. Now it’s actually happening, it’s incredible! Milly, selected for England U19 lacrosse team

During the Summer holidays the U14 team took part in the Lacrosse Festival at Guildford alongside the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup. The team played superbly and finished fourth overall, a fantastic result considering the high standard of opposition. The team were even picked to play in an exhibition match for Princess Anne!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 60 of 94 Hockey Hockey has seen some of its best results ever over Congratulations to Buffy Boroughs, who was this school year, with over 30 matches being won selected to play in the Mercia Lynx Hockey Squad. during the autumn term alone! The squad has gone on to play at the Futures Cup Hockey Tournament, which is one level below Highlights include: national selection and extremely competitive to • The U16s became County Hockey Champions get into. Buffy commented: “It means everything with the U18s making it to the semi-finals to me, my goal is to play for England and to be one step closer is an exciting thing.” • Clean sweeps were achieved against , , Rydal Penrhos and • Our U11 team were runners up in the Prep School Tournament after narrowly missing out on the championship on goal difference • More than eight players have been selected to play for Shropshire County Hockey, and one player selected for England’s future cup

Cricket Following on from the success of last year’s cricket results and the installation of indoor cricket nets, Moreton has continued to strive forward in our development of cricket.

To name a few of the highlights this year: • Some strong batting ensured Moreton’s 1st • The U15 cricket team were crowned Ladies Cricket team secured a win against champions of the North Shropshire Lady with a score of 282 – 264 Taverners cricket final, and runners up in the • Our U15 and U14 teams both had wins Lady Taverners County Indoor Cricket finals against Shrewsbury High School and • The U13 Cricket team were runners Ellesmere College, with the U14 team also going on to beat up at the North Shropshire Cricket Tournament, beating Prestfelde, Shrewsbury High School and Ellesmere College

A special mention must be given to Milly Home who has been selected for the Loughborough Lightning Cricket Development Squad. Loughborough is world renowned for its outstanding multi-use sporting facilities. It boasts a number of ex-pupils who have gone on to gain national sporting acclaim at events such as the Rio 2016 Olympic and .

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 61 of 94 Cross Country & Athletics Hockey has seen some of its best results ever over this school year, with over 30 matches being won during the Autumn Term alone! • Moreton’s Junior and Intermediate athletics teams were both placed 2nd overall in the first round of the English Schools’ Athletics Association, qualifying them for the regional finals • The Intermediate Cross Country team went on to become winners of the ESAA cross country championships with the Juniors being placed 3rd • Both U14 & U16 Cross Country teams became winners of the North Shropshire Cross Country Race • The U13s were placed 3rd in the Prep School Cross Country Races • The Intermediate athletics team won the semi-final of the Shropshire Schools’ Athletic Country Championships by a staggering 15 points • The North Shropshire athletic championships were won by Moreton’s Junior team whilst the Intermediates came in as runners up

Shropshire Championships County Championships

Name Medal Discipline Name Medal Discipline Hattie Jones Silver 1500mm Hattie Jones Bronze 1500mm Harriet Pereira Silver Discus Elin Pryce Bronze Discus Daisy Reeves Bronze 300m

Netball & Swimming

In the North Shropshire Swimming Gala both the U19 and U13 teams placed 3rd, with the U15 team pushing forward to gain 2nd place.

The U12 Netball team progressed to the semi-finals at the North Shropshire Netball Tournament, only losing by one goal!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 62 of 94 In May, Moreton took place in its inaugural ‘Road to Wimbledon’ championship. The event is for budding sporting stars aged 14 and under, with the tennis champions excelling at the event progressing to the Tennis & regional final and competing for a chance to play at Wimbledon! From the initial draw of sixteen players, Yasmin Hui (U4) came out victorious, Badminton securing her place in the next stage of this national competition.

• In the Midlands School Tennis Tournament, • In addition to winning the King’s School Tennis the 1st and 2nd pairs both finished Tournament, the U14 team have ranked third out of eight schools in the top eight of Midlands schools. Both • The 1st tennis team reached the quarterfinals U14 and U15 teams have gone on to beat of the regional Aberdare cup competition Shrewsbury High School, Ellesmere College, Queen’s School and Rydal Penrhos • Moreton’s U19 Badminton A team were • The U13 Tennis team put in an excellent winners of the North Shropshire Badminton performance, winning the Repton School Prep Tournament with the B team placing 2nd School Tournament and were awarded runners up • Four Moreton tennis players competed in the of the Moreton Hall Prep Schools’ Tournament Asbury Bailey Cup at with one pair qualifying for the knockout stages

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 63 of 94 Name Result

Giant Slalom:

U14 Charlotte (U4) 2nd U16 Alysha (L5) 1st Skiing Team 1st After a wonderful two days in Flaine, France, the Moreton Ski Team won national acclaim as they were Slalom: named the Best Overall Team at the British School Girls’ Races 2017. Skiing their way to victory, the team sped U16 Alysha 1st

through slaloms to achieve some fantastic individual and st overall results. They brought home a total of 8 medals, Team 1 with four 1sts and three 2nds. The girls can certainly be extremely proud of this successful trip. Best Overall:

U14 Charlotte (U4) 2nd U16 Alysha (L5) 1st Team 1st

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 64 of 94 Bringing Learning to Life

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 65 of 94 News Highlights

Sensational Science Festival How do Chemists solve crimes? Why do some animals move faster through water than others? And where does my pancreas live?

These were just some of the questions over 150 Year 5 students were faced with when they took part in the Junior Science Festival at Moreton.

Children from eight schools across Shropshire, including Moreton First, tried their hand at different experiments designed to prove that science is fun!

Annual Prep School Art Day Six schools enjoyed the annual art event this year. The ‘regal’ theme heralded a surprise announcement from Martin Wood, the tallest town crier in the world (and town crier of Shrewsbury!). The students drew antique military brass buttons on a large scale and then used mixed media and three types of printing to add colour, texture and pattern to create close-ups of the jacket, badges and braiding.

Curtains Up On The Face2Face Performance Academy Budding thespians are given a taste of song, dance and the stage every Friday evening at Face2Face. Sixty young performers between the ages of 9-18 have been taught invaluable performance skills by a team of experienced coaches and guest professionals. Their end of year finale show was a huge success!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 66 of 94 Road Safety Workshop Moreton First pupils were treated to a specialist road safety workshop. Our visitor, with luminous gear in tow, taught students the necessary steps needed to stay safe when faced with busy roads.

Exploring the Arctic in Our New Igloo The Arctic Cave provided a reading haven. The snowy bubble was the perfect place for pupils to explore the wondrous adventures of the Arctic!

Moreton First Sponsored Two Acres of Rainforest During a recent assembly, the Eco team were delighted to announce Moreton First have raised enough money to sponsor two acres of Rainforest! In conjunction with Rainforest Concern, the money raised by the dedicated Eco Team will have vast positive effects for our planet. Sponsoring acres ensures they will save real Rainforests and turn threatened habitats into protected nature reserves.

MacMillan Coffee Morning raised over £320!

‘Under the Sea Day’ The Moreton First children were treated to an action- packed, fun filled day to consolidate the term’s theme ‘Under the Sea’. The day began with a rousing assembly, detailing Stephen Harpin’s fated Atlantic sea crossing. This was followed by the pupils’ sponsored swim for the RNLI. The whole school swam over 20 miles and we raised over £2000! Other activities included house and poetry competitions, pond dipping, art and cookery.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 67 of 94 The Rs

The Core of a Successful Education In the ever evolving world of curriculum. Noise levels were high, address educational concerns. education we have witnessed few completed their tasks, every Reading, Writing and Arithmetic: trends come and go. Those of us one left school with a headache. three areas of learning which form who are long past our NQT year the bedrock of our education. can recall fashions and ideas that Despite such teaching fashions, shaped classrooms until the next British education has had at its Independent schools have been fad arrived. My own career began core the ‘Three Rs’ since the more resilient to trends and by having to provide the Year 6 1800s. Robert Peel’s Factory Act driven ahead with a traditional class with a child centred ‘integrated 1802 required an employer to curriculum. This could be true at day’. Children were supposed provide instruction in reading, Moreton First as we have posters to move through a carousel of writing and arithmetic during at and notices visible in every lessons within one room. Art least the first four years of the classroom, reminding us all about could be happening in one area, seven years of apprenticeship. the importance of the three Rs. We while other children completed a The emphasis on the the Rs has regularly use the three Rs as the Grammar exercise, others a Maths been a constant theme since focus for assemblies and Personal, assignment whilst the teacher tried then, a flag frequently unfurled Social, Health Education lessons. to teach a particular aspect of the as governments argue how to

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 68 of 94 However, rather than drawing our attention to literacy and numeracy skills, the Moreton First three Rs are the code of conduct by which we hope to grow, work and play together at school. Respect, Reaction, Resilience

We believe by teaching the three Rs we will enable the children to grow into caring, responsible people. More than ever now in our current political climate it is important to ensure the children develop a sense of RESPECT for others, which will make them global citizens. In school we explain that we can choose our REACTION to a disappointment, friendship issue or misunderstanding. By encouraging RESILIENCE, we show that not every disagreement warrants tears and that in life there will be times when we feel disappointed but we can learn from each experience.

In teaching the 3 R’s we hope that Moreton First children will have sufficient self-esteem to deal with problems they might face. Whether it’s ‘bouncing back’ from minor disappointments, to treating every other person with consideration and assessing how we can react to others in a positive way. This is not a fad or trend which will fizzle out, but the core of a successful education.

By Catherine Ford Head of Moreton First

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 69 of 94 The Art Gallery

Artists from various years in Moreton First have had outstanding success with their work this year. Sit back and enjoy our latest round-up.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 71 of 94 Name - Y? Expressive Arts

It is fair to say that Moreton First’s Music and Drama has continued to blossom this year under the direction, enthusiasm and commitment of Head of Moreton First Music, Amy Lott and ably assisted by Sudeshna Chakravarty and the sensational team. The Infant production of Jack and the Beanstalk was not just charming and endearing, but incredibly well executed with every child oozing enthusiasm and enjoyment.

The Junior production of ‘Oh What a Knight!’ was another highly committed performance with comic timing that you would only expect from a much older cast. The year culminated in a fabulous evening of musical entertainment at the Summer Spectacular. Moreton First Juniors performed alongside the Stables Choir and the North Shropshire Training Orchestra to create a ‘tour de force’ with a rendition of not just one, but two finale numbers!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 72 of 94 Moreton Hall is now the home of North Shropshire Music: a Centre of Musical Excellence

Just when you thought that it couldn’t get We work in proud partnership with the much better, we are pleased to announce Shropshire Music Educational Hub. some exciting new music-making initiatives from September. During the course of next Area ensembles, such as a Training Orchestra, year, all Infant children will be given the a Schools’ Orchestra and a Children’s Choir opportunity to play a stringed instrument will be based in our Music School. Chorally, in a new ‘musicianship programme’ as part Moreton First are already very strong but of their Expressive Arts provision. A similar we hope that many Moreton First children initiative will be extended to Years 3s and 4s will take the opportunity to extend their giving them the opportunity to play a wind enjoyment of singing, taking their passion to instrument. A similar initiative will be the next level by joining the Children’s Choir. extended to Years 3 and 4, giving them the opportunity to play a wind instrument. There are clearly very exciting times ahead! Watch this space!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 73 of 94 The sport and activity programme for Moreton First ensures that our students appreciate the value of exercise. We pride ourselves on the variety, standard and stretch that we provide. The children gained so much from the This year, Moreton First became members of IAPS - The Independent Association of Prep Schools - an association with around 650 of experience and have the world’s leading Prep Schools. Being a member is a recognised returned more mature, kitemark of quality and with varying regional tournaments and events throughout the year, Moreton First’s sporting dynamic independent and has been stretched and challenged providing a tier of strong sporty young people. competition. Some of our highlights from over the year include:

IAPS Regional Netball Qualifier - March 2017 Our Netball team travelled to Stoneyhurst School to take part in the regional qualifier event. The girls relished the day and despite the wet conditions they battled on and finished sixth place overall which was a great achievement.

IAPS Regional U11 Hockey Qualifier - October 2016 A fantastic experience for the girls with over 27 different Prep Schools attending. Competition was fierce but this didn’t hamper our determined team. This exposure was hugely beneficial to their hockey development.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 74 of 94 IAPS Regional Swimming Gala - January 2017, hosted at Moreton This was our first time hosting the IAPS Regional Gala and it was a huge success. Six schools took part in the day and competition was tough in order to qualify through to the National IAPS Swimming Gala.

IAPS U11 Cricket Tournament - June 2017 Moreton Hall were selected as one of only five IAPS schools from across the country to host an U11 Girls Cricket festival. This was a fantastic opportunity for the development of girls cricket and very exciting for Moreton to be involved in this venture. Five IAPS schools competed in the day and it was encouraging to see so many girls embracing this fast developing sport.

In other sporting news: We continue to build on our effective club school links TNS All Saints Football Club provides children with to allow children to have added benefits to the sport expert football coaching skills at school every week. that they engage in during school, allowing them to In addition, the children also attend weekly training develop their skills further. sessions on the 3G pitches at The Venue, Oswestry.

We have established strong links with Borders Counties Gym Club which sees the children in using professional gym equipment and being trained by expert coaches.

Oswestry Cricket Club host the boys every Monday to train in a club environment with other children. With full integration into the club atmosphere, the boys love it! The girls train at school with the older year groups and our newly appointed Cricket Coach, Simon Gregory.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 75 of 94 Moreton First Junior and Infant Sports Days

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 76 of 94 The Old Moretonian

The intricacies of the school photo 1985

A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 77 of 94 OM News 2017

1942 Jennifer Harrison (Formby) We celebrated our 50th Wedding “I see ‘Bron’ is becoming a school Anniversary with a trip to icon. My memories of her was of to stay with our youngest. Our a very dissatisfied person, she was eldest granddaughter is now training very ‘left-wing’ and did not want to be a midwife - how time flies!” to be headmistress. She worked for left-wing newspapers until she 1962 Janet Hardie, (Cheswright) became Principal after her sister “I am now living in beautiful Mary Lloyd-Williams died. While Northumberland with my I was there she took us to listen new husband Alastair Hardie. to the local labour candidate We are enjoying creating speak in Gobowen in 1947. It a garden with a pond.” was just before The Queen’s 1955 Subhra Basu (Guha) wedding to Prince Phillip, and Subhra’s son has informed the 1966 Elizabeth Evans (Howard) he was very critical of the OM Office of his mother’s death: The OM Office is sad to report Royal Family, so we girls booed. “My mother died last year at the the death of Elizabeth Evans. Bron was furious with us. age of 79. She was a student from India at Moreton Hall in the mid- 1967 Victoria Harper (Galbraith) I learnt a great love of music and 1950s. She would speak fondly “I met up with Sue Tunstall textiles while at Moreton. I have a of her days at the school and the (Woodcock) at the OM Australian memory of listening to a blackbird friends she made while there. She Reunion in Sydney with six sing his heart out in a flowering cherished the education, friendships other Old Moretonians. cherry tree somewhere near the and experiences afforded to games field and as a result being her during her time at Moreton It is a very small world – OM late for maths... Oh happy days.” Hall. After school, she returned Mary Goldfinch (Buist) grew up to India and was married within in with my best friend 1947 Mima Lander a few years. My parents lived here in Sydney - Mary and I were Mimi is still living in Flushing. in India, and finally chatting one day about boarding She was born in Malaysia and retired to Canada. They lived in school and reminiscing about was sent to board at Moreton. Vancouver, BC, for twenty-five years our eccentric Headmistress’s She remembers Bron well. before both passing away within when we discovered we were several months of each other. “ talking about the same person!” 1950 Rosemary Webber (Attfield) 1955 Susan Young 1967 Brenda Locke “Our son Christopher has married (Ffoulkes-Jones) (Stephenson) for the second time to Anne Jordan. Susan is living on Long Island, two Brenda and her sister Rosemary His daughter is to be married a year hours’ drive from New York: “We returned to Moreton for the first later; also our grandson Richard have three children, all married, time since leaving in 1967. Brenda is to marry the following year. I four grandchildren and two is now living in Atlanta, Georgia. continue to do voluntary work for a great-grandchildren. All live in the nursing home on the Isle of Wight.” States. My husband (Herb) and I 1968 Kristin Corbet-Milward have lived all over the world and Having trained at RADA, Kristin 1950 Hermione Bovill finally settled down here when has worked at the NT, RSC (Hanbury-Sparrow) we retired. We built a house on and all over the provinces. She The OM Office is sad to report the Peconic Bay, and it is beautiful, a has toured all over Europe as death of Hermione earlier this year. place that all the family likes to well as playing on Broadway. come back to. We also winter 1954 Sheila Reid in Arizona. I would love to hear 1973 Rosemary Marsh After being awarded a Fellowship from any OM friends of mine.” (Stephenson) by the Rose Bruford College, Sheila Email: [email protected]. Rosemary visited Moreton for the has just finished touring in a play by first time since leaving in 1973. She Sandy Toksvig ‘Silver Lining’ which 1959 Mary O’Brien is a nurse and living in Cambridge. is described as “a laugh-a-minute (Younghouse) comedy with serious messages “We continue to travel abroad about the universal fear of old age every May and June and September at its heart by the Ely Standard. (hence why I miss so many reunions).

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 78 of 94 1975 Gina Jennings (Bras) 1992 Anna Welch (Hughes) 1994 Joanna Chaytor “I now practice much less law After 17 years working in the Joanna is married, no children but than I used to and instead enjoy advertising industry, Anna and her collecting animals at her small more travelling - France and Sri husband Russ moved to Cheshire in holding in Surrey. “I manage our Lanka and Canada. I am also a 2010 to be closer to their families. properties which include long qualified professional coach and They now have 3 year old twin lets and holiday houses. And life coach with a fascinating client boys, Max and Barney and Anna randomly live next door to fellow list. I still keep in touch with works with her father-in-law at the OM Sarah Symonds (Mostyn)!” many OMs from my year and family’s conveyancing company as recently had the chance to catch well as managing her small property 1995 Fiona Griffith (Hogan) up with former English teacher - portfolio. Anna regularly sees Alex Fiona is moving from London to Nigel Pickford, now a published Gale (Wright), Rachel Robinson North Wales in the summer. author - check out ‘Lady Bette Pickles, Shelley Welch (Westlake- and the murder of Mr Thynne’.” Bryant), Jane Barnett, Gillian Hughes Fiona is a technophile with a and Anna Pullan (Graesser). keen interest in innovation and 1975 Theresa Woodcock technology development, and “I have retired as a nurse, and 1993 Olivia Norton (Verity) has supported the growth of the enjoy an active life. I visited my Olivia writes: “My husband and I Technology Approval Group (TAG) sister Susan Hall (Woodcock) recently took our three children model from the outset. As such for a family Christmas in 2015 on their first skiing holiday she is well placed to lead Isle’s and we went down the Great (James 8, Felicity 6, and Wilbert strategic business development. Ocean Road in Victoria.” 5). We had a chalet host and a chef in the shared chalet. It was Over the years she has gained 1978 Hilary Whitehead (Elliot) clear from the outset that the considerable experience both in the The OM office is sad to report chef worked ten times harder UK and overseas, working alongside that Hilary died in February 2017. than the host and her creations technology companies and users and effort was monumental. of technology and investors. 1985 Zanny Minton Beddoes Zanny has been awarded an One evening when she was 1995 Helen Napoli (Wheeler) honorary doctorate from able to sit and dine with us, she Helen is currently living in Qatar. . explained she was on her gap year. My husband asked where 1996 Kate Sherrard 1985 Kay McArdle she was from? Chester, came the Kate is living and working in Kay has been living in Hong reply. Where did you go to school, Singapore. She is a Partner at Kong. After leaving Goldman he continued... oh you wouldn’t Clifford Chance LLP in Singapore. Sachs, she is now CEO of the know it, a small boarding school PathFinders Charity in Hong near Wales. Indeed she looked 1996 Alison James Kong, a humanitarian services quite shocked when my husband Alison works in the film industry as and human rights organisation said: “Oh you mean Moreton Hall, a successful location manager, having which helps over 4,500 of Hong my wife is an Old Moretonian”. worked on films such as Spectre, Kong’s most vulnerable babies, Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock children and migrant women. On our final day my husband Holmes. Ali is seen here on location took a photo of Katie and me in working on Spectre 1989 Wura Abiola both together. Katie Bibby was before the set was then blown up! Wura’s nieces joined Moreton on fine form and doing a sterling this year; Amirah in Upper IV and job under very challenging Zahra in Lower VIth. They are circumstances; it made me proud pictured here with Wura on the to be an old Moretonian!“ first day of the Autumn Term.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 79 of 94 1997 Suzie Branch 2000 Jessica Hatcher- Suzie is currently Director of the Moore (Hatcher) Greater Professional Jess has won the Print Award in Services Academy at Birmingham the One World Media Awards Metropolitan College. for her article ‘Murder in Burundi’ written for the Guardian in 1997 Kitty Ross November 2016. Jess’s work Kitty is the CEO of Pentabus Rural focuses on gender equality, human Theatre Company, a prestigious rights in conflict and post-conflict rural touring theatre company. situations, refugee rights, and She is based in Bromyard. international development. (“Many, many congratulations Jess!” – Ed) 1998 Belinda Barnes Read Jessica’s article on page 44. Having graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in African Studies, Belinda spent 10 years working at Rathbone Brothers Plc, a FTSE 250 wealth management firm.

In 2015 she left the City to volunteer as a riding guide at Estancia Los Potreros in Argentina. A career break transformed into a Rebacca Cronshey dramatic career change and after a brief period guiding in 2000 Sarah Martin (Forster) 2002 Clare Marlow (Forster) she returned to Estancia Los Sarah and Sam had twin girls last Clare and Ben have had a Potreros as the House Manager. summer named Matilda and Martha. baby girl called Elizabeth.

This working beef estancia is located in the beautiful Sierras Chicas, and has won a reputation as one of the must visit destinations in Argentina, both for keen riders looking for the ultimate riding holiday and non-riders wanting a genuine rural estancia experience. Read Belinda’s article on page 90.

2002 Rebecca Cronshey Rebecca is a film producer whose 2006 Bathilda Milton-Haynes film ‘Little Bird’ premiered at the Bathilda moved to Nairobi with Tribeca Film Festival in March 2017. her husband in 2013 where she The film was awarded the Kodak worked for the Home Office Kickstarter Grant, the Jameson at the British High Commission. 1999 Sarah McMillan (Scarrat) Works Film Bursary and the She is now a full-time mother to Sarah is an estimator for Rupert Audience Award Jury Prize. Rebecca Isabel (2), enjoying a peaceful life Bevan, a company specialising in has been working in the film in the green suburbs of Nairobi. bespoke furniture and finishes. industry since 2010 and has worked She works between offices on such films as ‘Dredd’, ‘Sunshine 2007 Lucinda Kempsey in and London. on Leith’ and ‘Ex Machina’. More Lucinda left her position as Head recently she has produced short of Pre-Prep at Ibstock Place last 2000 Annabel Hitchen (Allen) films for several talented young summer for a new position at The Annabel is living in Bristol with filmmakers as well as researching for Perse, Cambridge. She married husband and daughter Hebe, a wide range of industry-leaders in Will Gray, Old Salopian, in July. running a millinery business making British film such as Joe Wright, Ben hats and headpieces for special Pugh and Eleanor Moran, Natalie occasions, Annabel Allen Millinery. Dormer and Michael Robinson.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 80 of 94 2007 Catherine Kempsey 2010 Jemma Moore 2011 Annabel Kempsey Kit is working as a real Jemma has a role in the recent Annabel has left Putney Girls High estate lawyer in the city. block buster film ‘Wonder Woman’. School to start a new position Having initially been chosen as a at Kensington Wade. This is a 2007 Emma Radford rider in the battle scenes, Jemma new school in London starting Emma writes: “Maria Ignacia Garib met director Patty Jenkins, who in September. Annabel and a (2007) chased me down in the moved the actress to ‘cast’ as a Chinese teacher will teach the cafeteria at Harvard Business member of the Queen’s Guard. mostly English pupils each day for School, where I’m now a first year Jemma says: “It was one of half of the day in their respective MBA student, after recognising me those experiences where you languages. It is the first school across the room. We shared a dorm didn’t quite realise what you of its kind in Western Europe. in Upper IV back in 2003 when were doing until you had a Maria spent a year on exchange quiet moment or break. I think I from Chile and hadn’t seen each welled up in tears at one point. other since. It was a wonderful if “I’m getting Instagram followers unexpected reunion. If any other who are saying ‘thanks for being Moretonians are visiting Harvard a role model’ which is bonkers.” or thinking of applying, I’d love to show you around. Contact me Jemma has also been involved with at [email protected].” producing an all-female crewed short film called All of Me which 2011 Ellie Owen premiered at Cannes film festival. Ellie qualified as a Doctor (MB, ChB, MSc) from Leeds University this year.

2011 Rebecca Lewis Becky received an MSc in Wild Animal Biology from Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London in 2016. As well as achieving one out of only two distinctions awarded, Becky got the award for the best research project. 2009 Joanna Chavasse “Freckles, my nanny agency, launched in London in January 2010 Elizabeth Ollerhead 2017. We specialise in flexible Izzy is now a staff nurse at childcare for working parents. Great Ormond Street Hospital, Contact me if you need childcare! specialising in oncology. at [email protected]” 2011 Sarah Bailey 2009 Phoebe Lee-Ball Sarah graduated from Birmingham Phoebe married Captain University in July 2016 and is Harry Amos on the 20th now working in her first post 2011 Roseanna Yeoward May 2017 and will be moving on the Respiratory Ward at the Roseanna graduated from Exeter to Dubai this summer. Worcester Hospital as a Doctor. University in 2013 with a 2.1 Her mother writes: “From being in Spanish and Business. She in Norton Roberts and the calls has just completed a gap year home from the pay phone to travelling through Central America going off to Prague in Sixth Form, (Nicaragua up to Cuba), ski season Sarah was involved with everything as a chalet girl in Val D’ Isere and a and everyone at Moreton and season on super yachts in the Med enjoyed every minute of the as a stewardess and deckhand. amazing family environment which 2010 Michelle Kynaston is a testament of how well the 2012 Emily Broad Michelle has left Westminster for school is organised. As an example Emily is currently on an industrial a return to the Midlands for a few of the invaluable lessons learnt placement year from Leeds University years. She is now working at the at Moreton, her Spoken English and is working at Debenhams Head Department for Business, Energy has helped her throughout her Office in Euston in International and Industrial Strategy as a Deputy university years and now working, Area Lead for local growth and Merchandising. Read her article as she regularly has to give about Internships on page 87. devolution, based in Birmingham. presentations to her colleagues.”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 81 of 94 2012 Phoebe Griffith 2012 Rebecca White 2014 Charlotte Edwards Phoebe received an MSc in Rebecca graduated from Lancaster Charlotte is at Bath University, Wild Animal Biology from Royal University in 2016 with a First on her placement year Veterinary College and Zoological and a job in Merchandising working at Urban Outfitters Society of London in 2016. As well with The White Company. in the Buying Office. as achieving a distinction, Phoebe got the award for the highest 2013 Roisin Ni Chulachain 2014 Madeline Rolfe aggregate marks on the course. See Roisin is on the graduate Maddy is at Kings College the photo of Phoebe with Becky. scheme in Management London, where she continues Consulting at Deloitte, focusing to play lacrosse. She writes: “Last 2012 Gaby Harrison on Strategy and Operations. week we had our club tour to Gaby finished Cambridge with a Newcastle. We played against First in English in 2016. She is now 2013 Stefanie Leigh-Ford , where Ella Edwards taking an MA in Art History course “Sarah and I have moved to plays. It was so great to be on at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Prestbury (Cheshire) where the same field as Ella again!” Mum and Dad are running a 2012 Lilly Hedley beautiful 16th Century Pub 2014 Chloe Whittaker Lilly has set up a food company called The Admiral Rodney.” Chloe is in her second year at which was a finalist in the Homerton College, Cambridge Rural Business Awards: 2013 Phoebe McHugh studying History of Art. Phoebe has just graduated from “The idea behind setting up The Newcastle University with a 2.1 2014 Natalya Kahn Bridge Lodge company was to in English Literature. She has been Natalya has just graduated with a encourage a simpler, healthier travelling around Argentina and First in Classics from Magdalene way of living. We wanted to go writing a blog about her adventures. College, Cambridge. Natalya, back to the basics of making food Satsuki Ishii, Betty Xing and with the wild foods growing right Yijae Kim had a mini reunion outside our doorstep. With each at the Magdalene May Ball. of our products we not only want to create a tasty, seasonal product but more importantly increase awareness and appreciation of what nature grows around us.” www.thebridgelodge.co.uk

2012 Katie Ollerhead Katie completed her Geography degree at Newcastle University 2015 Abigail Bunce in 2016 with a First Class Abigail is studying Classical Singing Honours Degree and won the at the Leeds College of Music. award for the best dissertation for Human Geography. 2013 Nell Whittaker 2015 Molly Piggott 2012 Hannah Tomes Earlier this year, Nell won the Molly is in her second year annual Cassandra Jardine Prize for at Reading University. Hannah has been working young women writers, in memory and travelling in Australia after of the much-loved Telegraph graduating from Leeds University features writer, right, who died in 2016 with a degree in English in 2012. The prize, launched in and History of Art. She starts an 2013, invited entrants to submit MA in Print Journalism at Sheffield a feature article on any subject University in September and has of their choice – an interview, recently been writing for the a piece of commentary, serious Guardian and the Huffington Post. or light, or an investigation.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 82 of 94 Leslie and Effie Cadwallader Leslie and Effie have very kindly donated a Denise Rylands Moreton print to be hung in the Centenary OM Staff Sports Pavilion. Effie is still singing and working as a Community First Responder.

Jane Wright-Roberts (Hodgson) Jane recently contacted the OM office. Many OMs will remember her as Head of Geography from 1974 to 1977. She writes:

“One memorable moment was when the swimming pool was first opened (uncovered of course) and Bob the elderly Latin teacher, got in along with Frau Hodges in her flowery swimming cap and he lost his false teeth which promptly sank to the bottom of the deep end. The PE staff had to dive down to retrieve them. Luckily this was a staff only swim so no pupils were traumatised, although I am still laughing about it after all these years.

Another amusing tale was taking my UVI on a Geography Field Trip to sand spit at Barmouth. That Name Those Staff - the Moreton Staff circa 1987. was in the days before MOTs and my 1951 VW A prize to the OM who can correctly name all staff. Beetle was a little tatty. My driver’s door lock failed Email: [email protected] so every time I went around a left hand bend (lots in North Wales), I had to hang onto the door handle.”

Obituaries

1931 Molly Brettell (Hart) Molly sadly died in May 2015 following a fall. She was 101. She was one of the first girls to matriculate from Moreton, and one of the first women to study architecture at Liverpool University for five years during the 1930s, cutting short her career to get married. She also played lacrosse for Lancashire. Three of her four daughters attended Moreton, Gillian, Jacqueline and Susan, all on music scholarships. Her eldest daughter Sally’s child, Sarah Nichol also attended Moreton in the Sixth Form.

1945 Philippa Heather (Rowell) Sylvia Sullivan-Tailyour writes:” Philippa died on 3rd April 2017 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. “Aunt Lil” (Lloyd-Williams) was her great Aunt. She would have been at Moreton from about 1935/6 to 1946/47 as she was sent there at a very young age, her parents being in India. Philippa was very good at games and gymnastics and I think was in most of the teams and was much liked by the Staff and other pupils.

She was very happy at Moreton, it being her main ‘home’ for a number of years when her parents were in India. She was also a first cousin of Dorothy (Toonk) and Jennifer Hudson who were at Moreton just after the war.”

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 83 of 94 OM Reunions

Old Moretonians Reunion Down Under - February 2017. Who would have thought that organising a reunion in the middle of the Christmas festivities and in a country as large as Australia could turn out to be such a mammoth task?

With the help of my daughter Nicki, we finally settled on Mr Wong’s Chinese Restaurant in the centre of Sydney, famous for its Peking Duck, and We had a fun evening reminiscing about our days the following OMs met up for a jolly evening; Caro at Moreton and the antics we all got up to in those Hill (Barrett 1994), Vicky Harper (Galbraith 1967), heady days. Stories encompassed Bronwen Lloyd- Maggie Fisher (Renshaw 1970), Mary Goldfinch Williams, Blondy P, Mr Cussell, and how much things (Buist 1961), Nicki Lambert (Tunstall 1990) and myself. have developed, games pitches, boarding houses, dormitories and academic buildings under the Needless to say it was not too hard for us all to leadership of Jonathan Forster over the last 25 years. recognise one another even if we had not met before... one can always tell an Old Moretonian! Sue Tunstall (Woodcock 1959)

Moreton Connect Drinks at the Jam Tree, London – April 2017

The OMs held the inaugural Moreton Connect Drinks Party at the Jam Tree, Chelsea in April.

Over 70 OMs from all years including many younger university leavers, came along to talk about career and internship opportunities. Over a glass or two of prosecco, older OMs who hold valuable experience in the world of work were happy to pass on their advice and mentoring to the other younger OMs.

The importance of the old girl network can’t be emphasised enough and the OMs will continue to run this popular and successful event.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 84 of 94 OM Drinks for the Upper VIth – April 2017 At the beginning of the Summer Term and before A Levels kicked in, the OMs gave a drinks and supper party for the current Upper Sixth to introduce them to life after Moreton and the benefits of being an Old Moretonian.

OM 1997 Reunion - June 2017 The 1997 OMs returned to Moreton in force, to celebrate 20 years since leaving Moreton. Drinks in the Front Hall catching up with staff members, was followed by a delicious lunch in the Centenary Sports Pavilion and much chat and laughter. For old-time’s sake, the OMs even managed to set off the fire alarm during tours of the school!

OM 1987 Reunion – June 2017 The 1987 OMs celebrated 30 years since leaving Moreton on a beautiful Saturday in June. We were thrilled that OM Staff Les and Effie Cadwallader were also able to attend the Reunion. Lindsay Jones who along with Aunty Pat, is a face of Moreton to many OMs, helped with drinks in the Front Hall and many of the OMs remarked with amazement, “I remember you! You haven’t changed a bit!”

Ed’s Note: Lindsay celebrates over 40 years at Moreton this year which is only surpassed by Jean Jones (and her renowned apple pies) celebrating 48 years!

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 85 of 94 The Value of Internships

In this globally competitive world, three young OMs talk about the importance of internships.

Since finishing school I have Buying internship for the first as a part-time Sales Assistant for come to learn that although part of my University ‘sandwich’ retailers such as John Lewis, Liberty having a University degree in placement year. Throughout this of London and Harvey Nichols. itself is fantastic, the value of time my knowledge and skills grew This means that by the end of my work experience and internships tremendously, and it was interesting University placement year I will alongside the academia can’t be to apply some of the things I had have a plethora of different retail underestimated. learnt in the first two years of my experiences in both the shop floor business degree to the workplace. and Head Office environment. After leaving Moreton in 2014, I have been studying a Business Doing work experience and Management degree at the It’s amazing how internships alongside my degree University of Bath. From day one, valuable three months was genuinely the best decision I my tutors stressed that we should ever made. Many students worry be looking for part-time jobs and can be - after adding about graduating and trying to work experience throughout our find a job, but I know that I can degree, and that it was advisable the experience to my return to complete my final year of for us to complete a ‘sandwich’ LinkedIn profile I was University in September with a clear placement year in industry as part career path in mind and plenty of of our course. Taking this on board, shocked that a couple experience to back it up! I researched different industries and jobs throughout my first year at of retailers contacted University and decided that I would me with positions I explore Retail Buying. should apply for! After hours of emailing my CV So on finishing my three months to multiple retailers, and with the at Fortnum and Mason, I then crucial help of family and friends, sent off applications- with my now I managed to secure two weeks much enhanced CV- for a second Buying work experience at Fortnum internship to fill the rest of my and Mason at the end of my first placement year. After a number year. This gave me the most amazing of interviews I was delighted to insight into the role of a Buyer and be offered a six month Buying I made a conscious effort to build internship at my favourite shop contacts within the office. This paid Urban Outfitters. As I write this I off - they said that they would love am half-way through the internship to have me back in the future. and learning more everyday than I One year later, at the end of my could ever have imagined. Alongside second year, I returned to Fortnum OM Lottie Edwards (2014) these two internships I have also and Mason for a three-month been working through an agency

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 86 of 94 The placement has been an amazing experience, giving me an insight into the retail world, teaching me about international markets and how to interact with After leaving Moreton in 2012, I embarked people from different cultures. on a Business Management degree at After my placement, I will return to Leeds to the University of Leeds in 2014. complete my final year in Business Management. Alongside my university degree, I also take I am currently on a ‘Year in Industry’ placement part in two mentoring schemes; I have both a at Debenhams Head Office in central London, mentor and a few first year mentees. I am also near Euston where we share our building with a member of a business consulting scheme. Facebook’s UK Offices. I am working within the Debenhams International Division, part of the Living in London is a contrast to the relaxed life up Territory Merchandising team for our Asia stores. north in Leeds, and it took a long time to adjust to the 9-5 hours and the tube commute! However, it We have 21 Debenhams stores across Asia; has been huge fun experiencing life ‘down south’ and in Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and the finding my way around London. Luckily I have Moreton Philippines. I communicate with our partners friends in London, and it has been lovely to meet up! in all 5 countries via weekly conference calls or emails, discussing the previous week’s trade, After I graduate in 2018, I plan on returning future promotions and current stock levels. to London to work for Debenhams again. A major challenge is the lines of communication; due to the time difference, we are only in our respective OM Emily Broad (2014) offices for one hour together at a time; between 9-10am UK hours. Our partners visit London twice a year, for a week of intensive product sessions, meetings and Debenhams store visits (a very hectic time for the international division, which also includes organising evenings out in London to entertain the visitors!).

A key part of my department’s role is to accommodate all of the cultural differences between markets. Our priority is ensuring we send the right product at the right time. This can be difficult, as each market operates differently, with different cultural restraints, climates and product restrictions and/or opportunities.

During the placement year, I have to submit three essays to my university, highlighting the value I have gained from the placement, my progress to date, as well as my goals for the remainder of my time at Debenhams. My university tutor also pays a visit to the office during the year to see how I am getting on.

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 87 of 94 The reality is that this multifaceted endeavor is really tough!

The significance of the experience episodes have not necessarily gained through an internship can’t all been typically educational, be overlooked. Without doubt yet have added to my list of today’s employers favor prospective things to talk about, setting me employees who have had apart in an interview. Spending 6 experience both within and outside months at KPMG provided a good the sector. A school education may grounding to my economic ability provide the impetus to continue – although I admit that I didn’t into higher education and pursue really have a clue what was going a degree – which will help build on in the accounts! Nonetheless job out there calling to me - is to up academic proficiency in various as aforementioned, it was just as keep your horizons open. The range theoretical and notional senses – much a learning curve for me to of applications that I completed but will lack the practical training be living independently in London, in my penultimate summer of required for a job. An internship outside of the Moreton Hall bubble, university is certainly illustrative brings these classroom textbooks to commuting along the Central of my lack of course! But I did life and propels a student into the Line with the other 3.4 million know that any experience I could professional world; surrounded by workers and arriving at Canary gain would stand me one place colleagues performing “real” tasks Wharf for a working day. The next above my previous self in the and being awoken at 6am by the 6 months travelling around the field. Sure enough, I was right – drill of an alarm are all part of the world, before setting off for Bristol since quite often an internship will fun. Needless to say, the early wake- University were also educational, lead to a permanent position. up has still not become any easier! but I shan’t go into that now. I was offered a job on completion What is involved in the application I suppose I really started to of my RBS summer internship process and fulfilling strict appreciate the value of having programme to commence once I requirements for an internship is internship experience in my had graduated. This meant that I not something to be taken lightly. second year at university when could spend my final year at Bristol The reality is that this multifaceted I was applying to work in the concentrating on my academic endeavor is really tough! In fact, it bar in my halls; they rejected my studies, as opposed to racing up took me a total of 33 applications application, saying that I hadn’t and down the country attending in the summer of 2015 – to banks, had any experience. I thought to assessment centers, and I couldn’t consultancy firms, energy suppliers, myself, well if this is the case now, have been more relieved (but I still surveyors and audit firms - to surely this model will just translate didn’t manage to bag myself a first!) land myself just one placement at further down the line and become RBS for 10 weeks. An employer a more detrimental problem? I The overall message that I am trying does, however, know of these knew I already had KPMG under to get across to all of you as you competitive struggles, recognising my belt, but I also knew that I step out of the Moreton bubble, is and (sometimes) rewarding a shouldn’t rest on my laurels – being to seek experiences in the work candidate’s perseverance and without work for 4 years between place, gaining exposure to the determination to learn. KPMG and graduating would professional world, as you never Since leaving school (where I surely paint an idle picture to an know where you might end up. thought I had the world of business employer? So I began my search. figured, having managed a shop OM Lottie Eyre (2012) within Moreton Enterprises selling The best advice that I can give toiletries...), I have been on a quest anyone that was in the same to broaden my knowledge of the situation as me - who chose world that we live in by throwing Geography because I didn’t really myself at opportunities – it is know what else to choose and important to note here that these also didn’t really see a vocational

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 88 of 94 Founder Feelings

A pair of rediscovered poems by Ellen Lloyd- Williams offers surprising insights into the character of Moreton Hall’s founder a century ago. In 1917, Ellen Lloyd-Williams could be forgiven a yearning for escape. Widowed for less than a year, with three of her eleven children still of school age, two sons fighting in the trenches of the First World War and her finances severely straitened, Mrs Lloyd-Williams faced a present in appearance utterly altered from the early days of her marriage. Four years previously she had begun the school that became Moreton Hall. Compassionate, of deeply held religious convictions and commendable self-control, she sought fleeting succour in verse, according to the evidence of a recently discovered volume of wartime poetry, Welsh Poets. Ellen’s contributions, written in English, offer an alternative to the increasingly realistic, savage protest poetry of the second half of the war. ‘The Corpse-Light’ imagines the ghost of a dead soldier appearing to his mother at night. His assurances that the beauties of his native Wales eclipse Heaven’s ‘flowers’ suggests a longing to return to life that must be bittersweet to the mother who acknowledges finally that ‘the room was empty, the house was still, in the cold of the ‘The Maid and the Knight’ goes a step further. dawning day’. Her son is lost to her, though he longs The influence of Keats and Coleridge overhangs its for life. At least she has had her vision. Criticism of five regular stanzas. In this narrative verse, a Welsh the war is non-specific. It is the inevitability of death maiden defeats the Saxon warrior come to attack and bereavement that provides the poem’s pain, not her homeland: she kills him with a deadly embrace, any particular bungling or deceit of a named conflict. offering the ‘keen, cold kiss of death’, like a host of poetic femmes fatales. Here the atmosphere recalls Coleridge’s Gothic ‘Christabel’. The ‘maid of the Cymric clans’ is beautiful but dangerous, the conflict not that of the trenches but a distant, past conflagration between neighbouring peoples – and, at its heart, a battle between male and female, aggression and seduction, bombast and enchantment. Ellen Lloyd-Williams’ pupils called her ‘Aunt Lil’, affectionate in their attitude towards this gentle gentlewoman turned headmistress by necessity. It seems unlikely they suspected her of subversiveness – the steely alternative vision she confined to poetry of conventional but unconventional intent.

Matthew Dennison

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 89 of 94 BE MORE GAUCHO!

Dust is swirling, hooves are pounding, there are shrill whistles and shouts, my lasso is snaking through the air…

suddenly the rope is taught in my hand! Sadly, any the end of 2014 I found myself on a riding holiday coral-cred I may just have won with the gauchos with friends at the beautiful and serene Estancia Los at having roped a calf is ruined by my overexcited Potreros. Off the grid and away from all distractions I celebration! These days roping (or trying to rope) a felt more alive than I had in years and it was suddenly calf may not be a daily occurrence, but it’s not unusual. clear that a break from the city was exactly what I Leading a ride, enjoying sweeping views over the Sierras needed. Six months volunteering as a riding guide in Chicas mountain range as the evening light pierces Argentina seemed a good basis for a career break; through the clouds, is not unusual. Helping the gauchos an opportunity to clear my head and evaluate what I to round up our herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle is wanted to do, whilst riding incredible horses in stunning not unusual. Hosting a ‘chef’s night’ with our cook and scenery. Returning to the UK, I secured one of the showing guests how to fold an empanada is not unusual. coveted spots as a Los Potreros guide, quit my job, Being teased by the gauchos and cooks for my general rented out my flat and booked a flight to Buenos Aires. lack of lasso and culinary skills is also not unusual! Only a couple of months into my new role I realised A few years ago, the notion that I would ever rope a that I had no desire to play corporate snakes calf had never crossed my mind. I was running along and ladders anymore and I wanted a simpler, less the corporate treadmill, enjoying the perks that come materialistic life. I was rapidly falling in love with with a City career and salary, and generally living it up in Argentina; the land, the people, the culture, even the London. However, after ten years working for Rathbone language (and I am no linguist). A total of 10 months Brothers Plc, a FTSE 250 listed wealth management firm, living and travelling in Argentina convinced me that this initially in compliance, then in corporate development was a country I wanted to know better. From tip to and most latterly setting up and heading a dedicated tail it is beautiful, and in spite of, or perhaps because investor relations function I felt desperately in need of of, its political and economic issues, people here a change. My degree in African Studies was supposed really do live for the day! The wide-open spaces, vast to have safeguarded me from falling into ‘an office job’ skies, dramatic weather, and warmth and generosity - yet I had still somehow slipped into a City career… of the people I met, also reminded me a lot of East and thanks to great bosses and fabulous mentors it Africa, where I had spent part of my childhood. had been interesting, varied and surprisingly good fun. However, I had reached a point where I felt I was Six months after leaving the estancia, I was riding and missing out on much of the colour, noise and flavour working in the Ecuadorean Andes. It was breathtakingly that life has to offer, if you are not sitting behind a desk! beautiful; it was a far cry from my previous London I firmly believe that we make our own opportunities in life… but it wasn’t Argentina. A few hours and life; although they do not always come packaged as we multiple cups of coffee later, I had written and sent might hope or expect - sometimes they do. Towards a proposal for a permanent job to the owners of

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 90 of 94 Estancia Los Potreros. I returned to the estancia as their House Manager in January, focussing on our guest experience and marketing endeavours.

One of the things that makes Los Potreros so special is that it is not a hotel; guests become part of the family for the duration of their stay and join in with the daily activities on the farm. Being able to chat to everyone and anyone is a pre-requisite of the job, something that my time at Moreton definitely prepared me for. No two days are the same and whilst they can be long, they seem to fly by. Although many of our guests are keen riders, visiting us for the thrill of galloping across the hills with the gauchos on our incredibly fleet and sure footed horses, we also have many non-riders, who come to experience life on a working cattle estancia or to relax in secluded nature. Riding or walking over the estancia, pointing out all the different wildflowers or birdlife, and explaining the farm to guests, is a daily pleasure; as is strolling to work along a dirt track with a pack of dogs, as the sun blushes over the hills, wondering what adventure the day might hold.

Life on a remote Argentine farm teaches you to take each day as it comes, to expect the unexpected, to live more spontaneously and to value the important and often simple things in life, to chase your dreams and not to dwell on the ‘what ifs’. For some this might be encapsulated in the life motto ‘carpe diem’ but these days I prefer ‘be more gaucho’!

For more information about Estancia Los Potreros please visit www.estancialospotreros.com.

OM Belinda Barnes (1998)

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 91 of 94 OM Loveday Ingram A Life in Theatre

Loveday Ingram has had a stellar twelve months.

Her direction of The Rover by England’s first female Loveday is a Moreton child of the 1980s and part of playwright Aphra Behn (1640–1689) at The Swan last the Sixth Form that organised the infamous ‘Moreton year won 5* reviews from the critics and indeed her Food Strike’, a seismic event which has gone down in staging of the play was described by Sam Marlowe in the annals of Moreton history. Following generations The Times as, terrific, riotous fun, the delicious froth of Moreton girls have much to thank this plucky group, tinged with tangy truths about the powerplay, pitfalls who pushed a drastic regime change in the Moreton and pleasures of the game of love.” It was the highest kitchens, beginning the process of the wonderful food grossing and fastest selling show at The Swan last year. that Moreton enjoys today.

Now Loveday is directing a new production of Julius Loveday kicked against the conventional expectations Caesar at the Storyhouse Theatre in Chester as part of for a Moreton girl in the 80’s – she was determined not the Theatre’s highly anticipated opening season. In this to do a cooking or secretarial course as most girls were age of political uncertainty and controversial leaders, advised to do, and instead went to university to read Loveday gives Shakespeare’s immortal thriller new English and Classics. It was at university that she realised relevance and a contemporary twist. her passion for drama.

Within six weeks of starting at Aberdeen, she had auditioned for Pinter’s The Homecoming and got the “In Loveday Ingram’s female lead part, then remaining heavily involved in the Drama Society for the next three years. Every university swaggering production, summer saw Loveday learning her craft; devising, acting Caesar bids to ‘make Rome and producing plays to take to the Edinburgh Festival and in her fourth year, she rang all the newspapers in great again’, then poses for Edinburgh asking to become a Festival reviewer. Armed with her Press Pass, Loveday saw every play going, selfies at a rock festival.” analysing what other people were doing, why certain The Guardian plays worked and others didn’t. “It was the beginning of wanting to become a director.”

After an MA in English and Classics, and a couple of She comments firmly about Shakespeare: “Shakespeare years with the Financial Times, Loveday went to work is for everyone… it’s not necessary to understand for John Barton at the Royal Shakespeare Company, every word to appreciate the power of the play. That’s whom she assisted for four years. Since then Loveday’s the beauty of it. It’s poetry. There’s a reason the genius career has been varied and successful. She has directed of Shakespeare has prevailed for centuries.” for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre where she was Associate Director, and Bath Christmas sees Loveday directing Baskerville: A Sherlock Theatre Royal among many regional theatres, as well as Holmes Mystery at the Everyman in Liverpool. Written having had plays and musicals on at The Noel Coward by Olivier Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig, Theatre, The Haymarket Theatre Royal, The Barbican the story is about the famous detective who is sent and The Piccadilly in the West End. Her shows have to investigate the death of Charles Baskerville and a won and been nominated for several awards nationally. sighting of a black beast. Running from 8 December to She was also the Assistant Director on the hit musical 13 January 2018, Loveday is ingeniously bringing Conan Mamma Mia. She has also worked as Assistant and Doyle’s gripping classic to the stage, with just 5 actors Senior Assistant Director at the National Theatre. conveying 42 vivid characters. While at Moreton, Bob Matthews, the English

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A69377 Moretonian Magazine 2107_AW.pdf Page 92 of 94 teacher, was a great inspiration. Many Old Moretonians will remember him as a teacher of great energy and passion. Declaiming Shakespeare in his classes was a great pleasure. He realised Loveday’s potential and challenged and encouraged her to take risks. Pomme (Miss Norton) was also another supportive member of staff. Recognising Loveday’s wild streak, Pomme nominated her for Head Girl, remarking: “if you don’t make her HG, she’ll be trouble.”

Her succinct advice to Moretonians wanting to go into the competitive world of theatre:

“It is brutal and unfair. You must passionately want to do it, to the point where you are going to be desperately unhappy if you don’t. But if you can carve out a career, it is an exciting industry to work in. Work becomes an adventure, full of twist and turns, and sometimes welcome rewards.”

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