The 2015 Contents The Leicestrian 2015 Contents THE LEICESTRIAN 2015 INTRODUCTION 2 SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS 4 ART 16 6th Form Writers & Interviewers CLASSICS 25 DEBATING 29 Harrison Ashman Joshua Baddiley Dominic Clearkin Rosie Gladdle Mary Harding-Scott Samantha Haynes ENGLISH & DRAMA 35 FOUNDATION DAY ESSAYS 46 Isobelle Jackson Rhona Jamieson Mohini Kotecha Harvey Kingsley-Elton Priya Luharia Holly Mould HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY & RS 52 ICT AND DT 64 Fathima Mukadam Lauren Murphy William Osborne Kirath Pahdi Sarah Saraj Elise Walsh MODERN LANGUAGES 66 MUSIC 73 POETRY 77 SCIENCE & MATHS 80 SPORT 88 1 The Leicestrian 2015 Introduction A Word from the Headmaster C.P.M. KING Selecting my favourite once again I find myself on the proverbial horns of a city presents me with dilemma. Should I choose the dramatic setting of Sienna, a real challenge. the unique Venice, the cities of the North or South? In As a geographer I’m the end it has to be Rome, because of its history and tempted to say it will architecture and because if you love life you can sit in be the next one I’m the Piazza Navona and watch the Italians enjoying their going to visit, which lives. I commend this edition of The Leicestrian to you as in my case is Istanbul. a comprehensive record of the past year and as a jolly However, I suspect good read. I thank all who have worked hard to shape this is not quite in the this edition and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I spirit of the excellent have enjoyed observing the events which this publication initiative designed to showcase creative writing in the records in its pages. school. I will, therefore, have to pick an Italian city, but A Word from the Managing Editor MRS. HIGGINSON Copenhagen is my favourite city because of the supremely the water to Sweden (thus saving their lives) in a tightly relaxed, slightly withdrawn, truly polite Danish people. organised, stealthy, conspiracy of kindness. I like how walkable and human-scale the city is, with The Foundation Day Essay Competition began as my its very light traffic – cars being heavily taxed and big plot to generate a richer strain of material for The cars even more so. There are a number of excellent art Leicestrian and to give the magazine an organising theme. galleries, with some particularly fine Matisse paintings in The topic of “My Favourite City” was a greater success the National Gallery. The Danish Impressionist artists than I or any of those who helped me to organise the were new to me, with Anna Ancher, 1859 -1935, making competition could have expected owing to the diverse the greatest impression. The Tivoli Gardens is a family- experiences, wit and eloquence of the students of centred theme park, where people not only line up for Leicester Grammar School. What fun I had reading the roller coaster rides, but also chase after a stray peacock entries (and Mr Kidd the shortlist). Venice and New York or a mother hen and her chicks. If you stay until dusk and seemed to come up the most often and many Year 7 then nightfall (or keep your tickets and come back after students designed their own ideal cities. Three teachers dinner), there is real magic as the neon lights come on submitted their essays – Mr Griffin’s entry appears in over the fountains and follies and the amusement arcade the English section. From the enormous cranes and becomes a nearly-genuine Diagon Alley. A short train- diggers that have been busy at the front of the school ride out of the city is the house of writer, Karen Blixen, all year, building our extension, anyone might have said an old-fashioned storyteller with a tragic life-story. The that our favourite city is Sydney and that we were trying Museum of the Danish Resistance is deeply inspiring, with to dig our way there. Far-reaching new trips this year the last letters of the brave young Resistance fighters have seen LGS staff and students in Berlin, Geneva (for displayed underneath a big stained-glass window. I take the CERN Physics trip) and Reykjavik. Last summer LGS heart from the story of the Nazi occupation of Denmark: sport teams went to Bridgetown in Barbados, Venice and how somehow the Danish people got away with saying, Singapore. The cover for this issue depicts a new building “No, we don’t need yellow stars for our Jewish citizens” at De Montfort University in Leicester, the most familiar and how, on the night before these same citizens were city to us of all. The cover was designed by the head of due to be deported to concentration camps, the vast our Art department, David Maddock from a painting by majority of them were whisked away by fishermen over the very talented Charles Fraser, Year 10. 2 Introduction The Leicestrian 2015 A Word from the Head Boy & the Head Girl CHARLOTTE HICKMAN AND HARVEY KINGSLEY-ELTON Charlotte: Being the last Head Girl to experience both the Peacock Lane and Great Glen sites has been an honour and a privilege. From the first day of Year 6 to the last day of Year 13, I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester Grammar School. The school has offered me so many amazing opportunities that I will cherish. Completing my gold Duke of Edinburgh award has been an interesting experience; spending five full days with my friends carrying a quarter of our bodyweight really allowed me to get to know them. The sports tour to Malaysia and Singapore last summer was easily the most amazing two weeks of my life, as we embraced local cultures, played against excellent hockey and netball teams and washed and fed elephants in the sanctuary. Being a member of the hockey and netball teams has been such an important part of my school career. Despite being guilty of taking the competitive factor of the game too far sometimes, I have looked forward to all of the training sessions, matches and county tournaments. I am so grateful for the opportunities that the school has provided me. I would like to take this chance to thank a number of people who have made my time during Sixth Form much more enjoyable. Firstly Mrs Sains and Mr Longson, who have helped to keep Harvey and me organised and informed of goings on around the school, and taught me to pronounce words for my Bible readings. Particular thanks goes to my personal tutor, Mrs May, whose guidance supported me through stressful moments. Finally, I would like to thank Harvey for always calming my nerves before services and being so organised. During our first time walking into assembly, Harvey promised me that if I fell over he would fall with me – luckily it never came to that. Harvey: As my tenure as Head Boy draws to a close, I can safely proceedings, I felt privileged to be involved with Mr Longson and state that the experience has not been easy. The position comes his Sacristan group in laying the wreaths in Great Glen, on behalf with high blood pressure, trouble sleeping, and an addiction to of the student body. caffeine, and whilst none of those are actually applicable to me, Over the course of my time here at LGS, I have also made a few there’s no denying that being Head Boy is busy and stressful films about the school – a Junior School film, a Senior School film, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Over the course of the year, and also a film about the Old Leicestrians. These experiences, and I have gained a multi-faceted insight into the school and its people. my time as Head Boy, have given me an insight into the school I think that the most unique experience by far was our trip to the on all levels, all ages sharing a fondness for the institution and its King Power stadium, to represent the student body at the Young people. Having spent six years here, I know I have made friends Achievers Awards. I remember it vividly; fine dining with the for life, and secured a great foundation for my future. My teachers Headmaster, the Deputy Headmasters, and an array of teaching have taught me more than the curriculum, and helped me seize and administrative staff. Having never voluntarily undertaken any every opportunity when it came to filmmaking. I’d like to thank form of physical exercise in my life, I found myself sitting next to Mrs Sains, for somehow managing to organise a team of seventeen Mr Thacker and Miss Mould, the sporting powerhouses of the prefects, both Mr Rich and Mrs Ewington for helping us with every school. I actually thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was difficulty faced, and of course Mr King, for giving us this opportunity nice to interact with the teachers in a more informal environment. in the first place. I must also thank Charlotte for helping me survive Being able to put faces to Dino and Pete, of Capital FM, was an the stress of the year -- I would not have shared the experience additional bonus. It was also a pleasure to be involved with the with anyone else. various services and assemblies throughout the year, in particular the Remembrance Day Service. Having always only observed the 3 The Leicestrian 2015 School-wide Events Blue Parrot Variety Show BY HARRY ASHMAN (PHOTOS BY HARVEY KINGLSEY ELTON) On November 7, 2014, Leicester Grammar School hosted our second Blue Parrot Variety Show on the new Great Glen site.