The Chelmsfordian 2017 1

2016 - 2017 The Chelmsfordian 2017 2 Contents

2 Introduction and Foreword

3 School Captain’s Report

4 Headmaster’s Report

7 Valete

8 Salvete

9 The Fallen

11 Otto Deutsch: A Eulogy

12 Assemblies

18 Miss Saigon Review

19 Essay: De Moribus

23 Essay: What Did Crusaders Hope to Achieve?

27 Combined Cadet Force

28 House Reviews

30 Sport Reviews

34 The KEGS Motto: An Exegesis

35 KEGS Hymnody and Music Review

36 Art Exhibition 2017

37 Monteverdi: 450 Years On

39 Editorials

The Chelmsfordian 2017 3 Headmaster’s Introduction t gives me great pleasure to introduce this worked on it, and particularly to Mr Hugh year's Chelmsfordian magazine. I hope that Pattenden for his tireless work in leading and anybody reading this will find much of coordinating the venture. interest, and that it will also serve as part of Ithe historical record of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford. I am very grateful to all the Mr T. Carter contributors, to the editors Declan Hickey and Headmaster Oliver Parkes, and the other students who have Foreword

ow in its 123rd year, the the tone of the school from all perspectives. It is Chelmsfordian continues to record clear from the diverse collection of reports; and celebrate the events of the historical records; reviews; assemblies and topical school. Whilst each edition will bear pieces, that KEGS has undergone significant Nthe greatest relevance to its contemporary changes in its transition into the twenty-first readership as a record of achievements over the century, but that the tone of the school remains year in drama, sport, and academics, it is important centred on an awareness of our past, respect for to recognise the historical importance of this others, and academic excellence. publication. In this vein, the 2016-17 edition remembers those from KEGS who fell in The Great War exactly a century ago, records the activities of the agèd CCF, and acknowledges those Declan Hickey members of staff who are both leaving and joining Oliver Parkes us. Editors It is through contributions from both staff and pupils that this year’s edition manages to capture

The Chelmsfordian 2017 4 School Captain Henry Sainsbury School Captain’s Report Deputy School Captains Oliver Barnard highlight of the school Aberystwyth, educated at KEGS in year for many was the the 1960s and now Parliamentary Declan Hickey superb production of Miss Under-Secretary of State for Wales, House Captains Saigon earlier this year. It appearing as the guest speaker. Holland: Charlie Mellor Ais school-wide events such as these Another prominent feature of this Mildmay: Tom Burdge that make KEGS more than just its school year has been the 1551 Strutt: Jovett De Cordova- academic prowess, while showing off Appeal. Although it is the staff and Harris not only the extraordinary talent of students that make KEGS the Tindal: Billy Sawyer the students here but also the amazing educational environment dedication and commitment of the Prefects that it is, the school is in no small staff. Matthew Beazeley way reliant upon excellent facilities Charles Bradford The house system once again provided and the new Nigel Fanshawe Sports great entertainment and served as a Hall will be a superb addition to the Augustus Brown shining example of KEGS school, ensuring that the school Rohan Bungre sportsmanship and friendly continues to enrich and empower Joseph Clark competition. With the competition the bright minds of the future. Robert Cornwell remaining close between Strutt and It’s been an absolute privilege to George Cristin-Marks Holland until the last event, it was have served as School Captain this James Glover encouraging and inspiring to see the past year and I’d like to end on a Ryan Hart love the house captains had for their note of thanks to my excellent Samuel Hegedus houses evident alongside their deputies Oliver Barnard and Declan Edward Hepburn comradeship and friendship. Hickey and the rest of the prefect Jay Ho As always, the school also had its more team. It’s been a pleasure to work Bowen Huang serious events in the calendar. The with you all. Emmanuella Ibrahim Annual Prizegiving in December Kendal Karaduman proved a timely reminder of the Adam Kirchel achievements of both past and present Henry Sainsbury Joseph Langworthy KEGS students, with Lord Bourne of School Captain Jahnavi Lele Mahiban Manoharan Julia Mikhailova Heidi Mills Olivia Moul Oliver Parkes Mathushan Perinpanathan Oliver Phillips Dante Philp Raid Rahman Tristan Reid Greg Roffey Prithvi Sachithanandam Anurag Sahare Leona Sharma Carl Simela Luke Spencer-Smith David Suriyaarachchi

The Chelmsfordian 2017 5 Headmaster’s Report

Prize Giving Speech 2016

016 was, I suppose, a momentous year for this country. At KEGS much has continued as normal, 2but there is still a considerable amount to comment on, and to celebrate. As is usual, some staff moved on in the Summer. After distinguished service to the school, Shirley Sharp decided to retire – I am particularly grateful for her many years running the Duke of Edinburgh scheme for us. Then Jo Moore decided on a change of career, leaving behind the English Department and her role leading Special Educational Needs. And Tim Burcher and Suzanne Bode relocated to an international school in Prague. And in the Science Department, we said grateful thanks to Science technicians Peter Oxford years. And a remarkable twenty-eight (not the same twenty- and Carol Denyer. Peter has gone eight) KEGS students went on to study Medicine at University. to study for a degree, and Carol has League tables have many flaws, but these A level and Pre-U retired. results, alongside those at GCSE, helped push us up the Sunday My thanks and best wishes go to Times listings from 17th two years ago, and 14th last year, to 12th them all. in 2016. It was pleasing to see both the two Chelmsford Summer 2016 also brought arguably grammar schools so well placed nationally. our best ever A level and Pre-U At GCSE, 48% of grades were at A* and our A*/A percentage performance, with an A*-B was just over 81%. And then 2016 brought a raft of new percentage (excluding General Government measures. 98% of Year 11 achieved the Studies) of 89.5% and a record 68.9% Government’s Ebacc measure and our “Progress 8” score, as of grades at A*/A. The credit for released by the Government on 13th October, was +0.53, putting these figures goes of course KEGS in the top category of schools in the country for progress substantially to the pupils made by pupils between primary school and GCSE. Who knows themselves. Twenty-eight students how long these measures will be the yardstick – they are both achieved five or more A or A* flawed in their different ways, but nevertheless there is some grades, beating previous record satisfaction from students being recognised for the efforts they

The Chelmsfordian 2017 6 made. Looking to the future, our Year 9 linguists two teams in the top five nationally, and in again set new records with their GCSEs in Cryptograhy a team of three Year 11s won the French and German, with an astonishing 70% of national Alan Turing competition. Perhaps our grades at A*. cyber patrollers and code breakers could form a Exam results are, however, just one aspect of new section of the CCF, which under Major Brown school life. They paint a picture but they should continues to provide such opportunities for so not define an individual or an institution. many students. I am very grateful to both her and Memories of 2016 are more likely to be coloured Mr Worrall for their work with the CCF and with by other events. The passion of Les Mis, here in the Corps of Drums. this hall, was a revelation to many of us – that a In other areas of school life, our Year 11 Young school production could be that good and that Enterprise team won a collection of awards. And in gripping. An undertaking such as that has the public speaking, for the second year running, a potential to lift the whole school and leave KEGS team emerged as winners of the Gepp and memories for a lifetime. I am particularly Sons annual Schools Legal Debate. A different grateful to Mr French and Mr Worrall for their though certainly equally impressive feat was work, but there were also many others who achieved by Guste and Juste Rekstyte, who worked tirelessly to bring it together and cover produced a three minute film to enter the first ever every detail. We look forward very much to Miss Gamble and Hill Prize competition, run by Saigon, although I am sure that it will have its Cambridge University’s Politics and International own different flavour, and be far from just a Studies Department. The film tackled the repetition of a previous triumph. experience of Syrian refugees and won joint first prize. Music and theatre continued to feature strongly in the Summer term. Near the start of the At this point, and in a theme of foreign countries, it 2015/16 year I did an assembly on Chopin’s first seems appropriate to thank the many staff involved ballade, one of the hardest pieces in the piano in our trips and visits programmes. There are so repertoire, little expecting that I would hear it many trips now that I could not possibly mention live and performed by a student at KEGS less them all. I would instead like to thank Lynn than 12 months later. The musical performing Mepham, who tirelessly fixes all the details of so and composing talent amongst our current Year many trips. And I would like to draw particular 11 students is remarkable. And so too is the attention to our annual visits to our partner school variety of theatrical performances – three nights in Mogonjet in Kenya. This is a special sort of of wonderful entertainment in July deserve partnership – one that enriches both partners so particular approbation. very much. I hope that it thrives long into the future. I cannot possibly pay tribute to the multitude of competitive successes achieved by different I turn now to sport. Our tennis team were Eastern individuals and teams during the 2015/16 year. Region champions, and not so far from being But notable results were notched up by our junior national champions. Our Under 14 badminton maths team – 22nd in the country; and our chess team were narrowly beaten in the final of the team – 5th in the country, and that from a team Regional Finals. And we were zonal finalists in the featuring no one above Year 10 at the time. A Under 16 English Schools table tennis member of the junior maths team, Peter Ball, championships, semi-finalists in the Year 7 Essex achieved what is I think the first maths Olympiad Cup for basketball, and Under 17 Essex Cup T20 gold medal in my time at KEGS. In Cyber finalists in cricket. However, the outstanding Security, surely a growth industry, we managed individual sporting performance of last year was

The Chelmsfordian 2017 7 surely that of Anthony George - 8th in the students who I am privileged to work with, to country in the triple jump at the English Schools the parents, who support us so well, and to Championships. Management and Foundation Governors, all of This is perhaps a suitable point to say something whom, without exception, have provided me about the future developments that we hope to see with encouragement, advice and help. A school very soon at KEGS. Bedford Fields is a wonderful does not thrive because of the skills or asset to the school, but the provision for PE at our dedication of any one particular person – it is, main Broomfield Road site has been lacking for most emphatically, a team effort. some time. A successful bid during 2016 saw us awarded a large amount of government funding. With the commitment of some school reserves, we estimate that we are about £500,000 short of Mr T. Carter being able to achieve everything that we need: a Sports Hall, dedicated to the memory of celebrated Headmaster former Headmaster Nigel Fanshawe, and capable of hosting a full range of basketball, badminton, netball, and tennis courts; an indoor football pitch; indoor cricket nets; gymnastics and table tennis equipment; and a fitness suite. Furthermore, the transformation of existing spaces which would be vacated would enable the creation of a larger canteen, a new science lab, a new theatre and more sixth form study space. There will also be two new classrooms helping us to cater for the increasing numbers in the school. In the last few weeks, in the pre-launch phase of the appeal, we have made a wonderful start, with pledges and actual donations totalling over £150,000. But, we really need as many people as possible to help us. Parents of former students, it is lovely to see you all back in this hall – your sons and daughters benefitted from the generosity of those who gave to previous appeals, for example enabling the Music School and the Darwin Centre to be built. If you are grateful for a KEGS education – whether of seven years or two years – please consider supporting this appeal, and helping those who follow to have the facilities they need. All the details are on the website, or pick up a brochure from the display in the canteen. Thank you very much. And now I would like to conclude with a number of other important ‘thank you’s – to the staff and

The Chelmsfordian 2017 8 Valete We say farewell to those who are leaving the school...

SANDRA NAISH has consistently been one of the highest performing within the context of a selective Sandra Naish originally came to KEGS in grammar school. The department also took on September 1998, following a career as a research Geology A level very successfully. During scientist. She then spent ten years with us before Stuart’s time at KEGS, he has also worked in the spells in two other schools. She then returned to pastoral team as a Head of Year. He has led KEGS in January 2013, rapidly becoming joint fieldtrips to numerous locations and his dedication Head of Chemistry and UCAS coordinator. She has and enthusiasm for the subject have resulted in also worked as a Head of Year. Sandra is both an pupils from the school winning the Young outstanding classroom teacher and a source of huge Geographer of the Year competition three times. expertise in all things related to university Stuart has now taken the decision to retire, and applications, and her knowledge will be much we wish him a long and happy retirement. missed in both these areas. Over the years she has given huge amounts of her time to helping young people. Sandra has also experienced the life of a BILL WHEELER KEGS parent and thus has seen the school from Bill Wheeler came to KEGS in September 2013, different angles. She has now decided to retire; we having taught previously at Cambridge do hope very much that she will still keep in touch. University, where he completed his PhD. Bill

rose rapidly to become Head of Department in JENNY PLATT January 2015, and also from September 2016 he Jenny Platt came to KEGS in April 2009, having combined his work at KEGS with a part-time had a long career in history teaching, which teaching fellowship at UCL. Bill is renowned included positions in seven different schools. Whilst amongst both staff and students for his academic at KEGS, Jenny has had responsibility for running background and ability to bring that into the Politics A level, within the History & Politics classroom. He has also encouraged an interest in Department, and she also took over the Philosophy at KEGS, both through societies and coordination of GPR in recent years. Jenny’s trips. He leaves us to take up a post at a charismatic command of the classroom will no university in China – perhaps this will bring doubt be remembered by many different KEGS further opportunities for KEGS to build links with Chinese students. pupils, and her contribution to the wider life of the school is also much appreciated. She leaves us now, after a long and distinguished career, in order to SUPPORT STAFF enjoy what we hope will be a very happy retirement. Jackie Dawson joined KEGS in 2007 and worked as a Science Technician, mainly specialising in STUART HITCH Biology. She left KEGS in February. Cleaning Supervisor & Custodian Darren Harmer joined Stuart Hitch came to KEGS in September 2003, as KEGS in March 2016 from Sandon School. He Head of Geography, having previously worked at left the school in February. We wish them both Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College. Over a period well in their future careers. of fourteen years, Stuart has led a department which

The Chelmsfordian 2017 9 Salvete ...and welcome to those who join us.

total of six new teaching staff began already works at KEGS as a German “assistant”. with us in September 2016. As well as holding two engineering degrees, Anastasia is fluent in German and Russian, having completed her education in these A countries. MATHEMATICS SUPPORT STAFF Max Wells was appointed to the Maths department. After a degree in Maths from London In the support staff, following departures at the he completed his PGCE; KEGS is his first end of the Summer term 2016, Mikaila Waite teaching position. and Janine Haagman both joined the Science technician team, Mikaila as our Head Science SCIENCE Technician. Both Mikaila and Janine bring extensive prior experience of working in schools In the Physics department, following the in these roles. Later in the year, in March 2017, retirement of Shirley Sharp, we were joined by the Science technician team also welcomed Jana Kelf, who holds a degree in Physics from Darren Wright, who also moved from the British Columbia University as well as a PhD, and technician team in another school. In addition, moved to KEGS after previously working in a two new members of staff joined the Catering school in West London. Team during the Autumn term. Francesca Arundale-Curd was previously at catering ENGLISH company Ashlyns, and has also worked in a number of office roles. Laura Whitten came In the English department we were joined by from a retail environment but had previously David Murphy, who had previously worked in worked as a nursery nurse and childminder. London and holds an English Literature degree from the University of East Anglia, and also by MATERNITY COVER Sarah Bridge who holds an English Literature degree from Durham and begins her teaching Two different maternity cover positions meant career in schools in this country at KEGS. that we were joined during the course of the year by Amy Cowell, as our HR Officer, and by MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES Janine Lilleker as an Art teacher. Amy joined us in December 2016 having spent some time in The departure of Tim Burcher and Suzanne Bode the Middle East recently, and before that having brought gaps in both German and Russian, and so worked extensively in HR roles. Janine joined us in the MFL department we were joined by in April 2017 having made the decision to step William Attwood , who holds a degree from down from a senior middle leadership role in Oxford in languages and has worked widely another school for family reasons. abroad, as well as by Anastasia Buyanova, who

The Chelmsfordian 2017 10 The Fallen: September 1916– September 1917 Filios amissos maeret constantia domus

ance Corporal Geoffrey Seldon Geoffrey Seldon Arnold-Wallinger Arnold-Wallinger, Inns of Court Lance Corporal OTC, 24/9/1916, aged 27 Inns of Court OTC 1889-1916

LSub-Lieutenant Owen Hobbs, Anson Battalion, Geoffrey Arnold-Wallinger was born in Royal Naval Division, 13/11/1916, aged 27 Writtle in 1889, and was educated at KEGS, (Master) Framlingham College, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was an assistant master at St George’s College, Harpenden before the war, Lance Sergeant Harold Witney, Royal and was ordained a deacon in 1915. He died in Fusiliers, 18/11/1916, aged 20 Aylesbury Military Hospital on 24th September 1916 of wounds received whilst Private Leonard Moss, Honourable Artillery training with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. He was twenty-seven. Company, 1/4/1917, aged 22

Owen Hobbs Second Lieutenant Leonard Ling, Norfolk Sub-Lieutenant Regiment, 23/4/1917, aged 23 Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division 1889-1916 Second Lieutenant Ronald Savill, Essex Regiment, 30/4/1917, aged 23 Owen Hobbs was born in 1889, and was educated at Batley

Grammar School, Private Leslie Cooper, Essex Regiment, and Merton College, 11/5/1917, aged 27 Oxford. He came to KEGS as senior Second Lieutenant Reginald Harris, Middlesex science master in 1911, later leaving Regiment, 24/7/17, aged 36 (Master) to teach at King Edward VI School in Second Lieutenant Charles Wenden, Royal Southampton. In Garrison Artillery, 31/7/1917, aged 28 1915 he joined the Public Schools’ Battalion, later taking a commission in Hood Battalion of the Royal Rifleman Cyril Killick, Queen's Westminster Naval Division. He was killed in action at Rifles, 16/8/1917, aged 29 Beaumont Hamel on 13th October 1916, aged twenty-seven.

The Chelmsfordian 2017 11

Harold Witney at Arras on 30th April 1917, aged twenty-three. Lance Sergeant He has no known grave. Royal Fusiliers 1896-1916 Leslie Cooper Private

Essex Regiment Harold Witney was born in 1896, and studied at 1890-1917 KEGS from 1908 to 1911. His family lived at 26,

Park Avenue, Chelmsford. In 1914 he enlisted in Leslie Cooper was born at Great Dunmow in the Royal Fusiliers, serving in France from July 1915 until his death in action on the Somme on 1890, and attended KEGS from 1903 to 1905. 18th November 1916, aged twenty. Before the war he worked for Driver & Son, Chelmsford printers. He enlisted in the army in Leonard Moss 1916, serving first in the Essex Yeomanry, and Private then in the Essex Regiment. He was killed in action at Arras on 11th May 1917, aged twenty- Honourable Artillery Company seven. Leslie Cooper has no known grave and his 1895-1917 name is recorded as such on the Arras Memorial to the missing. Leonard Moss was killed in France on 1st April 1917 whilst serving as a private soldier in the 2nd In 1918 a memoriam notice appeared in the Essex Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company. He was County Chronicle, placed there by his wife and twenty-two. mother:

Leonard Ling We often sit and think of him, and think of how he died Second Lieutenant To think he could not say good-bye before he closed his eyes. Norfolk Regiment Could we but kneel beside his grave and shed a silent tear 1894-1917 But oh, he sleeps in a distant land - one we loved so dear.

Leonard Ling was killed at Arras on 23rd April Reginald Harris 1917 whilst serving as a second lieutenant in the Second Lieutenant 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. He was only Middlesex Regiment twenty-three and has no known grave. 1881-1917 Ronald Savill Second Lieutenant Reginald Harris was born Essex Regiment on the 3rd September 1884-1917 1881, and was educated at Warminster Grammar Ronald Savill was born in School, and the Brentwood in 1884, and University of London, was educated at KEGS and after which he followed a teaching career, teaching Brentwood School. Before at a number of schools before finally arriving at the war he was a clerk. He served in the ranks of the KEGS in Easter 1911. He taught history, French, Royal Fusiliers, and as an Latin, and mathematics, as well as playing cricket officer in the Essex for the school, and had a salary of £150 per annum. Regiment. He was posted as wounded and missing He left KEGS in 1913 to move to Enfield

The Chelmsfordian 2017 12

Grammar School, where he was working when 104th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He war broke out. He took a commission in the was twenty-eight. Middlesex Regiment, and served with them in France and Flanders. On 20th June 1917 his Cyril Killick battalion were in trenches which stretched Rifleman from Railway Embankments near Battle Wood Westminster Rifles to the Ypres-Comines Canal where they soon 1888-1917 came under heavy artillery fire. Harris was wounded by a shell on 22nd, and was taken out of the line, only to die of wounds on 24th, aged Cyril Killick was born in 1888, and attended KEGS 36. Another officer was wounded by the same between 1895 and 1897. He was working as a clerk shell, but fortunately survived. at the Mayor’s Court in 1911. He lived at 6, Tower Avenue, Chelmsford in 1914. During the war he

served as a Rifleman in the 1/16th Battalion, the Charles Wenden London Regiment, until he was posted as missing Second Lieutenant near Ypres on 16th August 1917. Royal Garrison Artillery This article makes use of material from the 1889-1917 Chelmsford War Memorial website (www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk) by the kind Second Lieutenant Charles Wenden was killed, permission of Andy Begent. Photo of Ronald Savill courtesy of Brentwood School archives. along with seven of his men, on 31st July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, when Mr H. Pattenden an 11 inch shell landed on the road just behind Staff Editor their gun. He was at the time serving with the Otto Deutsch: A Eulogy A human reminder of the past.

or over a dozen years the KEGS his father History Department was very was betrayed fortunate to be able to invite Otto by a member Deutsch as a guest speaker to talk of the Hitler Fto our Year 9 students studying the Holocaust. Youth, who Sadly, Otto had been unwell for a period of time were led by and passed away in January 2017. his next door neighbour – Otto was born on 12 July 1928 in Vienna into a Otto‘s father’s best friend. At the Holocaust Jewish working class family. After the Nazis rose Memorial Day Ceremony in 2015, Otto said: to power in 1933 he witnessed a rise in anti- ‘What shook me most of all is that they were led Semitism in Austria. One of Otto’s strongest by the very same man whom I called uncle’. memories of his childhood was Kristallnacht, Otto’s father was captured and Otto never saw known as the Night of Broken Glass, which took him again. In 1938, Otto managed to leave place on 9 - 10 November 1938. On this night, Austria and travel to the UK on the

The Chelmsfordian 2017 13

Kindertransport: an organised rescue effort number of schools that saw the transfer of nearly 10,000 in Essex, enlightening a predominantly Jewish children from Nazi whole generation Germany to the UK. His family, however, of young people, telling sadly perished. When he arrived in England, his tragic story without Otto could not speak English and faced many resentment and challenges adapting to his new life. A Catholic enchanting all with a family near Newcastle took Otto in and message full of hope treated him very well. and always with his trademark warm and lovable persona and his wry sense of humour. Frank Meisler’s In later years, Otto was ‘Kindertransport—The Arrival’, justly honoured Liverpool St. Station and recognised by many, including several public figures. With no close family he chose to share this pride with his many close friends in the Southend community.

Otto remained in Britain for the rest of his life Mr J. Levitt and during his retirement visited a large Teacher of History

Nature and Nurture Mr Davies’ assembly on sporting success

or more than two decades, the Finch's pitches take about the same time to reach annual Pepsi All-Star Softball Game home plate as a 95-mph fastball does from the had been contested by major league standard baseball mound, 60 feet away. A 95-mph baseball players only. That is, until pitch is fast, certainly, but routine for pro baseball Fthe American League stars went down 9-1 in the players. Plus, the softball is larger, which should fifth inning. The American League team was in a make it easier to hit. deep hole, so in came the ringer. Sauntering past a When Albert Pujols, one of the greatest hitters of phalanx of the world's best hitters, Jennie Finch his generation, stepped forward to face Finch, the reached the sun-drenched infield. The crowd other major leaguers crowded around to watch. thrummed with excitement as Finch, the 6' 1" Finch adjusted her pony-tail nervously. A smile Team USA softball ace, took the pitcher's mound stole across her face. She was exhilarated, but also and curled her fingers around the ball. afraid that Pujols would hit a line drive right back at Finch, who in a few months would win a gold her. medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had been For four decades, scientists have been constructing a invited only as a member of the American League picture of how elite athletes intercept speeding coaching staff. Thrown from a mound 43 feet objects. The intuitive explanation is that the Albert away and travelling at speeds above 65 mph, Pujolses and Roger Federers of the world simply

The Chelmsfordian 2017 14 have the genetic gift of quicker reflexes, which give of random people. them more time to react to the ball. Except that In order to explain what they saw, Chase and isn't true. When people are tested for their simple Simon proposed a "chunking theory" of reaction time, most of them, whether they are expertise. Elite athletes "chunk" information. teachers, lawyers or pro athletes, take around In other words, rather than grappling with a 200 milliseconds, or one fifth of a second. That is large number of individual pieces, experts about the minimum time it takes for the retina at unconsciously group information into a smaller the back of the human eye to receive information, number of meaningful chunks based on for that information to be conveyed across synapses patterns they have seen before. to the primary visual cortex in the back of the brain, and for the brain to send a message to the spinal Studies that track the eye movements of cord that puts the muscles in motion. All this experienced performers, whether chess players, happens in the blink of an eye, but as quick as pianists, surgeons or athletes, have found that 200 milliseconds is, in the realm of 100-mph as they gain experience, they are quicker to sift baseball pitches, it is far too slow. through visual information and separate the wheat from the chaff. Experts swiftly discard A typical major league fastball travels about 10 feet irrelevant input and cut to the data that are in just the 75 milliseconds that it takes for sensory most important in determining their next cells in the retina to confirm that a baseball is in move. Most important in sports, perceiving view and for information about the flight path and order allows elite athletes to extract critical velocity of the ball to be relayed to the brain. The information from the arrangement of players or entire flight of the baseball from the pitcher's hand from subtle changes in an opponent's body to the plate takes just 400 milliseconds. And movements in order to make unconscious because it takes half that time merely to initiate predictions about what will happen next. muscular action, a major league batter has to know where he is swinging shortly after the ball leaves Elite athletes need less time and less visual the pitcher's hand -- well before it's even halfway to information to predict what will happen in the the plate. future, and, without knowing it, they zero in on critical visual information. Even skills that The advice to "keep your eye on the ball" is appear to be purely instinctive, such as jumping impossible to follow. Human beings don't have a to rebound a basketball after a missed shot, are visual system fast enough to track the ball all the grounded in learned perceptual expertise and a way in. Given the speed of the pitch and the database of knowledge about how subtle shifts limitations of our physiology, it seems to be a in a shooter's body alter the trajectory of the miracle that anybody hits the ball at all. Still, Pujols ball. Without that database, which can be built and other All-Stars see, and crush, 95-mph fastballs only through rigorous practice, every athlete is for a living. So why are they transmogrified into Albert Pujols facing Jennie Finch: he is Little Leaguers when faced with 68-mph softballs? stripped of the information that allows him to It's because the only way to hit a ball travelling at predict the future. Since Pujols had no mental high speed is to be able to see into the future, and database of Finch's body movements, her pitch when a baseball player faces a softball pitcher, he is tendencies or even the spin of a softball, he stripped of his crystal ball. could not predict what was coming, and he was Tests of innate physical hardware – qualities with left reacting at the last moment. which an athlete is apparently born, such as simple The result of expert study can be summarized reaction time – had done astonishingly little to in a single phrase that played like a broken explain expert performance in sports. The reaction record in interviews with psychologists in the times of elite athletes always hovered around field: "It's software, not hardware." That is, the one fifth of a second, the same as the reaction times perceptual sports skills that separate experts

The Chelmsfordian 2017 15 from the rest are learned, or downloaded (like vision that can help pick up the anticipatory cues software), through practice. They don't come they need earlier, making raw reaction speed less standard as part of the human machine. The important. 10,000-hour rule has become embedded in the It’s easy to understand why an athlete with world of athlete development and an impetus for outstanding visual acuity but without the mental starting children early in hard training. database of what to look for is as useless as Albert But as genetic science became more prominent, is Pujols facing Jennie Finch. But once the data is it enough for scientists to say that only practice downloaded into the brain, it’s advantageous to matters? In his first year of research on the LA see those signals as early as possible. While Dodgers, Louis Rosenbaum met with an physical hardware alone, such as visual acuity, is unexpected problem. The players were literally as useless as a laptop with an operating system off the charts. As the team ophthalmologist, but no programmes, innate traits have value in Rosenbaum was tasked with testing the visual determining who will have a better computer acuity of the players within the organisation. The once the sport specific software is downloaded. trouble was that Rosenbaum used commercially In his book The Sports Gene, David Epstein available Landolt ring charts, which tested visual searches for the roots of elite sport performance, acuity down to 20/15 – someone who can tell the travelling from Jamaica to the Arctic, the Rift difference between an ‘o’ and a ‘c’ on a chart from Valley in Kenya to the US and Sweden, in search 20 feet away. A typical person with 20-20 vision of an answer to the question ‘How do the best could only detect this if they stood up to 15 feet athletes become the best?’ And for anyone away. Nearly every player maxed out the test. interested in elite sports performance, and the The following spring Rosenbaum returned to implications of both practice and genetics I can Dodgertown with a new custom made visual thoroughly recommend it. acuity test. Tommy Lasorda the Dodger’s So to conclude, is it nature or nurture that is legendary manager challenged Rosenbaum to imperative to success? Well the answer in truth predict which minor leaguer would thrive in the is probably a bit of both. "There isn't a single majors. Armed with the custom test at the 1993 geneticist or physiologist who says hard work spring training, Rosenbaum, without access to the isn't important," says Joe Baker, a sports players’ baseball statistics, identified the player psychologist at York University in Toronto. whose vision tests stood out: Mike Piazza, a "Nobody thinks Olympians are just jumping off lightly regarded catcher. Piazza had been picked the couch." I would suggest that in this room are up 5 years earlier by the Dodgers in the 62nd a group of individuals fortunate enough to possess round of the draft, the 1390th player taken overall. the hardware to reach great levels of success in a Nonetheless, Piazza would make good on whole range of fields. The challenge now is to Rosenbaum’s prediction. He won the National spend the time and show the determination and League Rookie of the Year in 1993 and went on dedication to download the necessary software to to become the greatest hitting catcher in baseball fulfil that potential. history.

After 4 years of testing, Rosenbaum found that major league players had an average visual acuity Mr J. Davies of 20/13, with those in hitting positions Teacher of PE averaging 20/11. About 2% of the players at the Dodgers dipped below 20/9, flirting with the theoretical limit of the human eye. So while major league hitters might not have any faster reactions than you or I, they do have the superior

The Chelmsfordian 2017 16 Dialogpolitik Mr Steele’s assembly on the importance of communication

eetings get a bad press: they last too Sometimes success is largely symbolic – long, they achieve too little. But bridging the gap between two antagonistic what about the ultimate meeting, the powers and often wholly foreign cultures. A summit? In their new book, striking example is President Richard Nixon’s M Transcending the Cold War:: Summits, visit to the People’s Republic of China in Statecraft, and the Dissolution of Bipolarity in Europe, February 1972, 20 years after the two countries 1970-1990, Professor David Reynolds and Dr had fought each other in Korea. Little of Kristina Spohr explain how, sometimes, meetings substance was achieved when Nixon finally can change the world. visited the Forbidden City, since it took seven years for formal diplomatic negotiations to In the spring of 2014, Russia annexed the Crimea – commence. But, in fundamental ways, and the German chancellor Angela Merkel took to journalists at the time were right to dub this the air. She jetted some 20,000 kilometres around ‘the week that changed the world’. Pictures the globe, visiting nine cities in seven days – from beamed around the globe of the handshake Washington to Moscow, and from Paris to Kiev – between Nixon, a famed ‘commie basher’, and holding one meeting after another with key world Mao Tse-tung, the supreme ideologue of the leaders in the hope of brokering a peace deal. Middle Kingdom. It signalled the entry of ‘Red Haunted by the centenary of 1914, Merkel saw China’ into the international community. Here summitry as the only way to stop Europe from summit diplomacy was more a ‘performative act’ ‘sleepwalking’ into another great war. in cross-cultural relations, rather than having anything to do with policy or deals. Face to face encounters at the highest level clearly still matter, even in our age of email and Skype, Secondly, once governments are talking, mobile phones and videoconferencing. The urge to summitry is important to keep open channels of look another leader in the eye, to “get a smell of communications, especially in times of tension. each other,” as the West German Chancellor Willy The German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt was a Brandt pungently put it in 1970, remains great practitioner of what he called Dialogpolitik, compelling. And skilful summitry is essential when arguing that a leader must always try to put international relations are fractious and fraught – himself in the other guy’s shoes in order to something that will undoubtedly be the case over understand their perspective on the world and the next few years. to construct compromises that were viable. He orchestrated the so-called ‘Beach Hut summit’ at The word ‘summit’ was originally coined by Guadeloupe in 1979 with leaders of the USA, Winston Churchill. In 1950 he called for another Britain and France to thrash out the fraught ‘parley at the summit’ to help defuse the Cold War. issues of NATO’s nuclear strategy. And during But it seems that the desire of leaders to meet is the ‘New Cold War’ of the early 1980s when almost innate. Having made it to the top of their superpower relations were stuck in a deep own political system, they yearn to compete on the freeze, he conducted shuttle diplomacy as the world stage. self-styled ‘double interpreter’ between Washington and Moscow. Clearly ‘parleying at the summit’ is a high-risk business — with sometimes far-reaching It was not until the 1980s that Cold War consequences. What makes for success? Research summitry generated a chain-reaction with truly on the last half-century shows that much depends transformative consequences for Europe and the on circumstances, timing and the personalities world. The unlikely partners were Ronald involved – but that a number of general principles Reagan, who had denounced the USSR as an apply. ‘evil empire’ in 1983, and Mikhail Gorbachev, who, having risen up through the Soviet system, Firstly, symbols can be as significant as treaties. saw reform as a way to reinvigorate its global

The Chelmsfordian 2017 17 competitiveness. Yet they were both closet radicals, Summitry enabled the Federal Republic – West convinced that, in an ideal world, nuclear weapons Germany – to absorb East Germany peacefully should be abolished. Circumstances were also by through international agreement. now favourable, with both sides shocked at having come to the brink of nuclear war in 1983. The time For Kohl and Gorbachev it reflected a shared was ripe to talk. desire to move into the post Cold-War era in a spirit of entente, founded on common The four Reagan-Gorbachev summits in 1985-1988 ‘democratic’ and ‘universal’ values. generated a remarkable synergy that allowed the two men to speak the unspeakable and then do the At stake in moments of international crisis is unprecedented, scrapping a whole category of how to strike the right balance between the nuclear weapons. The catalytic moment occurred at politics of deterrence and the diplomacy of the end of the first day of their talks in Geneva in dialogue, making up your mind when to stand 1985. After frank but stormy sessions, they parted firm and when to reach out. This is a nerve- company in the car park with a handshake that jangling judgement call for leaders, involving Gorbachev called ‘a spark of electric mutual trust’. calculations about opportunity, timing and the Reagan muttered to his chief of staff: “you could personality of one’s opposite number. The almost get to like the guy.” creative summitry between Reagan, Gorbachev and Kohl shows that major transformations of So why did that handshake have such an electric the international order can be managed by effect? Partly because of the personal chemistry consent and co-operation. between the two leaders who were ready to talk with each other and not at each other. But it was And what can we perhaps learn from this? As I also made possible by the quiet work of their cast my eye around the canteen sometimes, I advisers behind the scenes, their respective foreign wonder: is our reliance on technology and social ministers George Schultz and Eduard media chipping away at our ability to Shevardnadze, who met more than 40 times before communicate, to look each other in the eye, and and between the summits: they managed to anchor talk to each other, especially in times of conflict? the intense but sporadic encounters of their volatile As a linguist, I’d argue that there is little more bosses within formal bureaucratic processes. powerful than a conversation, maybe even a bit of Dialogpolitik. You never know what you The Reagan-Gorbachev meetings are an example might achieve. of what is called ‘transformative summitry’. In 1990 Gorbachev and Helmut Kohl, then Chancellor of Includes excerpts from an article in ‘CAM’ Alumni Germany, used summitry to settle the ‘German Magazine. Question’. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and revolutionary changes across Eastern Europe, Mr A. Steele the East German state had become untenable. Teacher of French and German That Untravell’d World Report of the World Challenge trip to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands

his summer, 23 KEGS sixth-formers, in delightful indigenous tribesman, José, schooled two teams, travelled west to Ecuador and in the ways of this alien environment, the Galápagos Islands as part of World introduced us to the overwhelming profusion of Challenge. plant and animal life, including explaining the T medicinal, hallucinogenic, or water-bearing In Week 1 we went east though, to Tena, over the properties of every leaf, cane or vine we came highest mountain pass in the country to be traversed across! by a main road, which wriggles over the continental divide at 4,100m, and we were still in a mini-bus at There followed a day of grade-three whitewater this point! We then plunged down through ever- rafting down the Napo river, provided by ex- thickening vegetation into the westernmost reaches pats who played host recently to Bear Grylls of the Amazon Basin, and into the rainforest… A and his film crew: sooner or later we were all

The Chelmsfordian 2017 18 bounced out of the dinghy into the frothing For the final week we flew west to the Galapagos: waters racing towards Brazil (and that’s without an extraordinarily rare ecosystem of relatively counting the gratuitous rugby tackles from Y13s young islands, only a few million years ago: virgin eager to drag their teachers overboard.) We later landmass, ripe for colonisation. It was here that learnt that just downstream was the town of Charles Darwin spent five weeks aboard HMS Orellana, named after the Spaniard who, forced Beagle as part of the Royal Navy’s expedition to downstream, inadvertently discovered the mighty chart South America. Darwin’s observations on river Amazon for Europe, and gave it its name, the flora and fauna of the Galápagos Islands, for because at one point, skirted topless warriors all their seminal influence later on, were thus attacked from the banks who reminded him of the really a happy afterthought! We had the chance to Amazons of Greek mythology. snorkel in mangrove swamps and in the sea, swimming with sea turtles at Darwin Bay where Week Two took us south down the pan-American the Beagle is thought to have made first landfall, highway to trek around the peaks and dust-filled under frigate bird cliff. Miss Chant, as she ravines and canyons on the west of the Avenue of prepared to step ashore again onto the wooden Volcanoes, jetty, found herself having to give way to a including the marine iguana which swam alongside and decided spectacular he was climbing out of the water first. The sheer crater lagoon domesticity of numerous wild species never failed at Quilotoa. to surprise: the sea lions basking in equal numbers We found with the people on beaches and waterfront o u r s e l v e s benches; the brown pelicans and herons sitting on staying with the fishmonger’s stall. We visited the Darwin A n d e a n Research Station, to hear about the tortoise villagers in breeding program and met Diego, the male solely their remote responsible for the survival of one of the 13 communities, where even Spanish is only specially adapted sub-species. A postcard was sent imperfectly spoken and the native Quechua is the from Darwin Research Station to the Darwin norm. Centre here at KEGS, which arrived last week 3 months on … I can only assume the delivery was Defying every probability, we all managed at to entrusted to Diego himself… slog our way to the summit of Guagua Pichincha volcano, overlooking Quito to the west, at nearly 5,000m: the highest any of us had ever walked by quite a margin. Miss Patel‘s calm humour and gritty resolve played a considerable part in helping not just herself, but several others to the top, against all the odds.

Week Three took us north to our project, near Otavalo, well clear of the tourist trail. The team’s funds bought materials and allowed the villagers to hire local expert labour, and we were roped in to help with rehabilitating a site sacred in local tradition, landscaping around some natural It remains for me to thank my intrepid colleagues. springs, and building a visitor centre, all part of a and of course and foremost the sixth-formers bid to generate some long-term revenue towards themselves: our thanks also go to Mrs Mepham, the community’s cripplingly expensive land taxes. who so unobtrusively and good-naturedly helped Our hosts’ gratitude was palpable, as was their to organise these trips, like she does with so many astonishment at just how committedly the team others. worked: late afternoon also saw us picking the corn and milking the cows. This all culminated in the purchase and slaughter of a pig and two Mr F. Garcia guinea pigs for a grand roast send-off. Plenty Head of Classics there to engage the anatomical interests of our aspiring medics!

The Chelmsfordian 2017 19 Miss Saigon The heat is on in Saigon!

xpectations were high after last year's Harper's GI Chris, and Olivia Moul as his wife Les Misérables. And this is a much more Ellen. challenging piece: a less familiar sung- through score, and dark, adult themes. The staging is simple, with many of the E numbers presented on the walk-way But this outstanding production is every bit as surrounding the pit. The helicopter is sketched impressive, musically and dramatically, with James with sound and animation, the wire fences paint French as director, and Tim Worrall as musical a stark image of despair. director. The ensembles are tellingly used – the military, The orchestra, wrapped around by the action, the dancers, the whores. And the junior chorus produces a full, symphonic sound, the keyboards makes its mark, too, as urchins, refugees, mini- rightly taking second place to the real me Uncle Sams, and as the brilliant Bui-Doi instruments. Good to see Declan Hickey's “solo choir, making a powerful opening to Act Two saxophone” given some well-deserved limelight. with Benjamin Kinder's strongly sung John. And vocally the standard is stunningly high, both from the ensemble and the soloists. This is musical theatre work of a very high standard, artistically and technically. A cliché, Hiya Dhar makes a superb Kim. Her mature voice but no less true for that, to say that we forgot never falters, her numbers are emotionally charged that we were in a school hall, and all these but never overdone. She's well matched by Joseph actors would be back in the classroom next Folley's compelling Engineer – a mesmeric week – Dreamland, Ho Chi Minh City and the presence, with perfectly delivered numbers. A rice fields no more than an imperishable creepy, slippery survivor, he gets what few laughs memory. there are in this hard-hitting story. His American Dream will be hard to forget, I feel: a great production number choreographed by Gavin Michael Gray Wilkinson. Former Head of MFL

Strong contributions from many others, including Rafee Ahmed's commissar Thuy, Samuel

The Chelmsfordian 2017 20 De Moribus Winning entry to the KEGS Foundation Prize 2016 am fascinated by different theories on what set of rules cannot be adapted to any situation makes something right or wrong, and the like a general guiding principle can. It is conflict between deontological and impractical to come up with a set of rules that consequential ethics is one of the most govern every single possible act. This means that Iinteresting queries of all of them. I have done my the system is not malleable enough to be used in best to examine this conflict inside out and have general life. This is why I am more inclined to come to the conclusion that a conflict never needed put my faith in act utilitarianism to exist in the first place: the two theories are, I believe, merely examining different issues. Deontology is the opposite of this. It states that a good or bad action is determined by the motives Utilitarianism is the idea that whether someone’s of the person doing it and whether they are conduct or actions are right or wrong is dependent acting out of a sense of moral duty or merely out on the total pleasure or displeasure taken from the of compassion or personal gain. Let us take the consequences of the action. Whilst seemingly parable of the Good Samaritan as an example: the logical, a common criticism of pure utilitarianism is deontologist would argue that the actions of the that someone can be entirely ignorant that they are Samaritan were only truly moral if he was acting doing wrong and still have their actions out of a sense of duty, as opposed to hoping to be condemned as morally deplorable merely for their rewarded or being swayed by his emotional ignorance, as opposed to any malicious intention. compassion. This moral theory was pioneered by Thus, utilitarianism can find itself condemning Immanuel Kant, who said that “Nothing in the those with ‘good’ intentions but errors in world—indeed nothing even beyond the world— judgement. It also allows for two people to commit can possibly be conceived which could be called exactly the same actions and yet only one of them good without qualification except a good will.” be condemned as acting immorally: if two people Through this, Kant states that, as a first set out to commit murder, and one of them principle, the only thing that can ever be said to mistakenly buys syrup rather than hemlock, they be good is a good intention. However, this begs may have both followed the same procedure with the question of what constitutes a good will. For the same intent and yet only one would be if a good will is defined by a desire to achieve a considered to have acted immorally. This means good consequence, then it seems that this ethical that any moral decision can be excused, provided theory is reliant on a consequential theory such that, by a stroke of luck, there are no negative as utilitarianism. If it is shown that one relies on consequences. another, then one cannot exist without another one and if one cannot exist without another one Another flaw in this system is that, in some then it seems absurd to posit that the reliant circumstances, trying to abide by the utilitarian theory is a more sound one than the theory it principle can lead to disastrous consequences. For itself relies upon. I believe that this criticism is example, a state may use the greater good of the not necessarily valid if the theory is looked at future to justify atrocities, when, in practice, there from a different angle, but more on that later. is no better future. This utilitarian miscalculation Another rebuttal I have with Kant’s theories is could lead to the deaths of millions. Even some that he applies a maxim to moral choices, namely utilitarian philosophers have advised against the asking if you would will your action to be a general populace basing their decisions on universal law. A common example showing that utilitarian principles, including John Stuart Mill, such a maxim is inappropriate is the issue of who proposed “rules and precepts for human lying: in the particular case of a murderer conduct.” They instead say that only those who are knocking on your door and asking where your truly capable of understanding the consequences of children are, it could still make sense to lie as, actions to the fullest extent should live their lives while applying the maxim to the idea of lying in in this way. general may show that you must tell the truth, you may will that it be a universal law that Rule utilitarianism also falls into a number of someone lies when confronted with this specific pitfalls in terms of practicality. This is because a situation. Both seem to make sense under Kant’s maxim but they contradict each other. They

The Chelmsfordian 2017 21 cannot both be right as they conflict and so this be considered bad. This is because it has negative maxim is shown to be invalid. Another of Kant’s consequences for people. I use the word ‘bad’ here maxims I disagree with is that one should never as opposed to ‘immoral’ as it does not constitute a use another person as a means to an end, merely moral decision, for which a motive is necessary, an end in itself. However, in doing many things, which is absent in this situation. While each part of we are using people as a means to an end. Kant a moral event can be classified as ‘bad’ only the states that using people as a means to an end motive in conjunction with the rest of the model constitutes using someone in such a way that they can be called ‘immoral.’ This is for the reasons that could not, in principle, consent to it. However, I have stated before, that without an intention, a there is a criticism to this in that no one can moral decision has not been made. So, since a bad possibly comprehend all the factors in making a act and consequence can exist independent of any decision, and, theoretically speaking, the tiny motive, they must be distinct and separate parts of details of an action may convince someone against a moral event. the action as you cannot read their mind. Therefore, the only way of truly making sure that The justification I have for separating the parts of you abide by Kant’s second maxim in its purest moral consequence and act is that, while they, by form is to devote an inordinate amount of time my theory, must both exist in order for either one into explaining every last detail to someone and to be classed as bad, they can still, once again, exist making sure that they understand exactly what independently of one another. For instance, it is you are saying as, theoretically, any theoretically possible for an act to have no moral misunderstanding or tiny detail they did not consequence. For example, if someone were to comprehend would lead to you using the person choose between two identical spoons to use to put as a means and not as an end. This is not a point sugar in someone’s tea, there would be no moral against the second maxim being an ideal to strive consequence whichever spoon the person used. for, merely a criticism of the implications of Therefore, while the person would act in choosing following it in practical situations. The second which spoon to use, there would be no maxim, however, does seem to conflict on a consequence. logical level with what Kant said previously. If someone acts out of a sense of moral duty, but in I have separated the components of the motive and doing so uses someone as a means to an end, then the consequence for obvious reasons. There is no are their actions wrong or right? In this, Kant conceivable way for a motive to have any moral seems to contradict himself. I will not criticise the consequence unless an act is influenced by that third maxim as it is based on the first and second motive. Therefore, the motive cannot have a maxims, which, if we are to accept my criticisms, consequence without the presence of the act. There are not entirely valid. are situations in which these two components cannot logically appear together, and so they must The reason I criticised the maxims of Kant is so I be separate and distinct. can combine certain elements of Kantian ethics with the utilitarian principle in this theory I do not think that the Kantian theory and the without someone bringing up the maxims as a utilitarian theory clash under my model as they counterargument. categorise distinct and separate parts of the model. While the Kantian theory, sans maxims, deals with To lay the groundwork for the theory, I will first the motive of a situation, the utilitarian theory explain the model I will use for the construction seems to only apply to the consequence, and so to of the theory. I think that a moral event involving the act. a person’s actions consists of three things. These are: the person in acting/the person’s intentions, Next, I shall define what a good intention, act and the act itself, and the consequences of the act. consequence are. A good intention is one that takes into account all the information that is of The reason I have distinguished the intention of significance and gives each piece of information someone from the person’s act itself is that the act significance in comparison with each other. This is can exist independently from any intention because this is the thought process that is most whatsoever. The perfect example is a natural likely to lead to a positive consequence and so a disaster: this was not caused by anyone positive action. In this way, the whole process is consciously, but was a motiveless natural event. based around what is most likely to lead to a However, I do not think that means that it cannot positive consequence.

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There are, of course, types of bad intention. The In order for any of my further comments to be most obvious of these is malicious intent, acting even close to being considered valid, one thing knowingly with the intent to do harm. Whether must be accepted as true, that life has no inherent the person in question is acting in accordance with goodness or value, and that we ‘inject’ value or an objective moral principle does not matter for goodness into it from a subjective point of view. the interests of evaluating intention. The only Thus, I argue that instead of happiness being the thing that needs to be in agreement is someone’s goodness in the consequence of an act, it is adding preferred outcome and the objectively ‘right’ or subtracting the goodness people perceive their outcome in their minds. Malicious intent occurs own lives to have. In this way, we do not assert when what someone ‘wants’ to happen when acting that anything other than goodness has goodness is both in accordance with what the person intrinsically within it. intellectually predicts will happen but not in accordance with what the person believes is the This principle would function much like simple objective morally correct outcome. I again utilitarianism in that it will still work on the same reiterate that this has nothing to do with the act basis of rough ‘ethical calculations’ to determine and consequence of an action, merely with the whether an act was right or wrong. For instance, intention or the ‘person in acting.’ To help to if someone found goodness or value in their lives illustrate this, I have constructed an example by killing others, this would not be morally scenario: permissible as, while it adds goodness to the murderer’s life from his perspective, from the Jack resolves to blow up a football. He has tried his respective subjective standpoints of his victims, hardest to construct an explosive to achieve this they have lost perceived goodness in their lives. In aim, which he believes to be objectively morally this way, we can have an objective viewpoint of wrong. However, Jack has unwittingly created a everyone’s perceived gain or loss in their pleasure generator. As a result, instead of killing subjectively perceived goodness in their lives. In everyone at the stadium, Jack gives them all a this way, the idea of rough moral calculations is wave of euphoria. In this case, Jack still had a bad preserved. intention and was wrong in pressing the detonator. This is because, when pressing the button, Jack This principle is, of course, very easily criticisable believed he was killing the 30,000 people, and on a practical basis. It is extremely idealistic to knew this was wrong. So Jack’s prediction was not assume that everyone, or even someone, can know in line with what he believed was the right the various things that contribute value to consequence. So, while the ultimate consequence of someone’s life if they do not know them extremely his act was good, his intention in committing the well. Even if they were very close with the person act was wrong, so it can be said that he was wrong in question, they still could not profess to know ‘in acting.’ for sure all the things that they perceive gives their life value. It is for these reasons, that, unless As far as I can see, there can be nothing someone is entirely sure that they know what intrinsically wrong in an act itself, and the moral gives someone’s life value, they should use rightness or wrongness of an act is entirely pleasure or happiness as a rule of thumb for what determined by the consequences. gives people’s lives value. This is because I think that most people find some value in their lives I do have one objection to utilitarianism as Mill through how much happiness they experience. describes it, that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to There is also room for criticism from a clear front produce the reverse of happiness." I think that the idea of “what makes this theory of morality objectively of happiness being what constitutes a good right?” and I think that I might be able to respond consequence relies on the objective goodness in to this criticism with some effectiveness. This is happiness, which I don’t think is entirely evident. I because, while someone may make the claim that am now going to try to argue for a system of someone cannot do objective right, they must morality that is wholly based on the inherent surely concede that they can do right “by goodness in goodness and nothing else. This will, someone”. For instance, if I help an old woman necessarily, be based on subjective perspectives as across the street, then one might say I am doing to not fall back upon an objective goodness in a “right by her”, as her perception of the value that certain quality. she ascribes to her existence will have increased,

The Chelmsfordian 2017 23 however insignificantly. Then, if you also concede are capable of correctly estimating the that, mathematically, in terms of what is right, to consequences of our actions prior to the act, then do more ‘right’ is better than to do less ‘right’, then it seems we must say that act utilitarianism is the you must also concede that to do right by more way to go. If, however, we find that we are people is better than to do right by fewer people. incapable of correctly estimating the consequences This means that I think, purely based on of our actions to a satisfactory amount, then we subjectivity and maths, one might be able to must be far more reluctant to stray from a construct some form of sustainable objective carefully considered set of rules by which to live morality. our lives.

Whilst the utilitarian principle still remains the I would argue that our competence at making basis for making practical moral decisions, one moral decisions is incredibly reliant of our important difference from the principle of utility is emotional state. If we are required to make an on- that happiness no longer has inherent value. The the-spot decision about what to do when faced utilitarian principle is no longer the ideal formula with a moral decision, we are far less likely to be for making ethical calculations; it is merely a able to carefully consider all the possible pragmatic tool born from the idea that value is consequences of that decision. In a similar way, added to most people’s lives when they experience when we are in a heightened emotional state, we happiness. are unlikely to be in a fit state to evaluate the decision well. We will either be impatient or in an Some of my readership may also recognise that I irrational state, in which we are not interested in am arguably rewording the work of John Stuart effectively weighing up the consequences of our Mill in saying that what we should strive for, as an actions. If we are in an irrational state, it is far effect to our actions, is what people desire. easier to combat that state’s influence on our However, I disagree with Mill’s assertion that decisions by having simple rules to follow, as what we all want is happiness, and I do not think opposed to risking having our irrationality wield that his conflation of those terms is necessarily control over our evaluation of the situation. justified. There are many instances in which someone has desired to be sad or angry, and has Whilst, on the whole, most people are capable of taken a form of pleasure from that. For instance, considering the consequences of their actions to a there is the phenomenon by which ordinary people satisfactory extent, it is still helpful to have rules choose to watch films that they will cry about. with which to generally base your decisions While these films might not make them feel happy, around. Generally, whether you deviate from they perceive some value in the emotions they are those rules or not when in a state where you are experiencing. Thus I think that Mill’s conflation of capable of logically considering the consequences the two terms “what people ultimately desire” and of your decision all depends on how far you are “happiness” is not justified. I would instead sure you have all the information and have not propose that what people ultimately desire is been misinformed. Here’s an example of what I whatever they consider valuable, and that while mean. this is often happiness, it need not be the case that it is. James is in a room and is able to kill a man, whom he believes is a brutal dictator. James was present So, in terms of pragmatic morality, not much has at the recent UN conference where the dictator changed. But we are still faced with a fairly major had declared that he would soon “wipe out another problem when making a moral decision, and that is few thousand people” and so is convinced that he how far to trust ourselves. This is the conflict has all the evidence needed to conclude that it between rule and act utilitarianism. Rule would be a good thing to kill the dictator. As a utilitarianism states that we should be very result, he breaks the general rule that “killing is reluctant to deviate from a set of rules that wrong” generally generate the most happiness. Act utilitarianism instead argues that we should Janine is confronted with a similar scenario of evaluate each situation individually, regardless of being able to kill the man, but she does not know rules that generally lead to maximal happiness. I that he is a brutal dictator. Another man walks think this is a question of how much we can trust into the room, whom Janine knows is the man’s ourselves, as humans, to correctly judge a situation main political opponent. The man tells Janine and the possible consequences of our actions. If we everything that James already knew. However,

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Janine decides that she cannot trust the man’s or bad, utilitarianism is instead a theory on how to information as it has been provided by someone evaluate an act by its consequence. However, I with a vested interest to see Bruce dead. Thus, she disagree with the deontological theory that one follows the general rule that “Killing is wrong,” acts morally if they act out of a sense of duty, and and lets the dictator live. instead argue that a good intention relies on the agreement between someone’s predicted outcome In both examples, these people acted in a way that and their view of the morally correct outcome was appropriate to the amount of information they when they act. Likewise, I think that the had available to them and how reliable that utilitarian theory that happiness is the factor to information was. In the end, I think that it is down consider when evaluating the consequence of an to both how much information you have, and how act is a good rule of thumb, but is only a practical reliable the information is, when deciding to tool. The ideal factor to consider is how far the act deviate from a general utilitarian rule. To clarify, has given value to people’s lives from the point of this is not an evaluation of what makes a good view of the experiencer of the life. I also think that intention, it is advice on how to act in a way which rule utilitarianism is a good tool for those who are I think will lead to decisions which will lead to a incapable of properly predicting the consequence good consequence. of their actions in their current state, and that these rules should be abandoned if we are in a To briefly conclude: I do not think that deontology rational state and have enough reliable and utilitarianism necessarily disagree as they deal information to conclude that breaking the rule is a with fundamentally different parts of a moral good idea in that situation. event. While deontology is a theory on how to evaluate whether an intention when acting is good What Did Crusaders Hope to Achieve?

Highly commended essay for the Robson History Prize, Trinity College, Cambridge

he motivation of Crusaders cannot be historians such as J. R. Smith have highlighted the determined without establishing what importance of piety in the era, and hopes of is meant by the term Crusade. For achieving spiritual rewards. Western culture of centuries, a lack of clear definition has the time would also have influenced the personal Tcaused not only historians, but also participants desires of Crusaders, due to the chivalric nature of themselves, to disagree on what was meant by ‘the society, as well as feudalistic structures. However, taking of the cross’, consequently making what strategic objectives include those such as aid for each individual hoped to achieve vary widely. This the Byzantine Empire, defence of The Holy Land, essay will focus on those taken to the Middle East, and vengeance for injustice and brutality against to fight against Islamic opposition. In the same Christian people or beliefs. It is important to way that historians have debated the scope and acknowledge that these arguments are not chronology of the Crusades, what Crusaders hoped mutually exclusive, and that such motivations to achieve has also come under scrutiny. An could easily co-exist in the minds of whoever ‘took essential point to clarify when answering what the cross’. these intentions were is to whom the term The attempt to strategically defend the Byzantine ‘Crusader’ refers to. By the pluralist approach, a Empire was clearly a leading motivation for Pope Crusader was any man or woman who took the Urban II calling for an armed resistance against Crusader vow, therefore presenting a vast range of Muslim opposition in 1095. Islamic expansion had individuals. Any attempts to generalise the inflicted severe losses on the Byzantines, including motivations of Crusaders therefore immediately the loss of Jerusalem in 638, and the Seljuk Turks fails. Nevertheless, it is possible to weight created an immediate threat, advancing on the motivations differently. Essentially, hopes of capital of Constantinople. The schism of the Crusaders can be categorised as either personal Byzantine Greek Orthodox Christians from the aspirations, or strategic. For example, one Catholic Church caused Pope Urban to hope for a traditional and widely debated dispute of personal reunion that would heal the dispute, which he hopes is that of materialistic desires. Alternatively, believed could be achieved through offering aid to

The Chelmsfordian 2017 25 the Byzantine cause. As argued by Steven emphasises the importance of not forgetting how Runciman, the battle of Manzikert in 1071, when intellectually respectable the Christian theory of the Seljuk Turks captured Emperor Romanos IV positive violence was, and the devotion society had Diogenes, “justified the intervention of the West,” to God’s will. The idea of fighting against God’s as it led to severe economic and civil political strife enemies was not a new phenomenon, but one that for the Byzantines. By 1081, when Emperor had been growing in strength for centuries. The Alexius I came to power, it seemed likely that the Norman conquest of Muslim Sicily between 1060 empire would fall, as Muslim control throughout and 1091 showed the mounting popularity for Anatolia grew. His request for the assistance of campaigns in the name of Christ. This growing western volunteers therefore saw responses from sense of revenge was therefore able to ignite a many armies across Christian Europe, suggesting Crusade in 1095, and became increasingly used in that the immediate strategic threat posed to the propaganda and recruitment after 1100. Bernard Byzantine Empire provided a trigger for of Clairvaux quoted Psalm 149:6-7 to help recruit Crusading. However, it could be argued that this for the Crusade in 1147: ‘Let the high praise of objective faded in later Crusading: the sacking of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in Constantinople in 1204 by Crusaders suggests that their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen the two groups were unable to reconcile, and that and punishments upon the people.’ Whilst revenge the Crusaders were not working to achieve such is unlikely to have been the most significant goals for the Byzantines by this point. motive of Crusaders, it would have strengthened the opinions of many. Despite this, political and strategic factors remained important to the cause throughout the Although strategic support for the Byzantine Crusading period. Crusaders would have wanted to Empire, defence of Christians, and control of The reclaim the lost land they believed rightfully Holy Lands may have been more officially granted to them by God. The increasing presence recognised objectives for the Crusades, a number of Islam had limited Christianity’s expansion in of personal aims would also have motivated Africa and the Middle East. The Islamic Crusaders. Many historians, such as Steven conquering of The Holy Land would have given Runciman, have offered economic change in the Christians an aspiration to reclaim lost territory. period as a cause for the vast involvement seen. The Third Crusade itself was instigated by With the population rapidly growing, and Saladin’s seizure of Jerusalem in 1187. One could multiple poor harvests, families would have been argue that such strategic motivations merely fighting for the scarce resources available. This provided a more palatable excuse to Crusade. For therefore suggests that economic and material example, Pope Urban III used the renewal of benefits would have greatly enticed many Muslim threat in 1195 to initiate the Fourth struggling in their current situations. Accounts Crusade, as it created popularity for military depict Crusaders seizing large amounts of gold, action. Nevertheless, whilst this argument must be precious stones and property when Jerusalem was considered in order to position the relative attacked in 1099, and it was stated that those who importance of such triggers, the reclaiming of entered and stayed in a house were entitled to it. previously lost land was used as a fundamental Furthermore, the introduction of primogeniture ambition of the Crusades at the time, and created a meant all inheritance would go to the eldest son, foundation on which Crusaders lay their cause for leaving younger siblings with desires for land and launching Crusades. It is therefore clear that the wealth. It has therefore been argued that the First retaking of The Holy Land played a significant Crusade in particular, was one of the second sons, role in the motivations of Crusaders, as it was a and other men with no alternative than to invade clear objective that they wished to achieve from and claim land and fortunes elsewhere. Whilst the such campaigns. decree at Clermont clearly expressed that no man Alongside the reconquering of important territory, should partake in hope of honour or money, an historians such as Christopher Tyerman have early battle cry was recorded to request God’s aid highlighted desire for Christians to avenge the so that they may ‘gain great riches’. Bohemond I, a suffering of Christians under Muslims. Pope Urban leader of the First Crusade and conqueror of II and the proceeding popes, especially Innocent Antioch, serves as a sound example. Bastardised III, were able to utilise such anger, presenting it as by the annulment of his parent’s marriage, it is the duty of the people to save those in the East, likely that opportunity of an eastern principality and defend the honour of God. J. R. Smith enticed Bohemond towards the Crusade. Furthermore, the capturing of cities such as

The Chelmsfordian 2017 26

Constantinople can be used as examples in which encourage ‘mighty men of valour’ to fight for little religious motivation can be found. In 1204, their God. However, it is also important to those engaged in The Fourth Crusade invaded the consider the ambitions behind such chivalry. Byzantines in Constantinople, looting and Whilst some men would truly have been destroying the greatest city of the Christian world. righteous, eager to perform good deeds, many This would therefore suggest that Crusaders hoped would have seen the Crusades as a chance to gain to achieve physical rewards from participating in personal glory. It is evident that to some extent, such campaigns. Despite the clear stance that Papal the attraction of improving one’s reputation authority took on the matter of materialistic gains would have influenced many to take the cross. For from the wars, evidence has also been found of their example, the chivalric motives can be questioned use of such rewards to encourage participation. For in the likes of Crusaders such as Richard the example, a French priest referred to Pope Urban’s Lionheart. His decision to crusade suggests a implications of ‘landed prosperity’ for those that genuine moral obligation to execute God’s will answered God’s request. Thus, the possibilities for over material gains, since his eagerness to such rewards seem to have rallied many to the cause. participate led to heavy taxation on the English people in order to fund the Third Crusade, and However, recent research has led, to some extent, to risked invasion and disorder whilst he was away. the downfall of this materialistic argument, This suggests the ideal of chivalry played a characterising younger landless brothers as unlikely significant part in his motivations. However, clichés. Firstly, it is untrue that the Crusades saw Thomas Asbridge, whilst stressing the predominantly second sons, as a number of those significance of chivalric duty in Richard’s motives, involved were financially stable aristocrats. As also refers to his personal impulses and arrogance. argued by J. R. Smith, whilst some lords would have It is known that after the fame and achievements returned with physical rewards, the vast majority of his parents, Richard was attempting to arise would not have seen significant gains from their from their shadows. Furthermore, he would have travels. It is important to remember the risks that wanted to demonstrate his excellent many would have undertaken for such a task, and swordsmanship. This suggests the King wanted the economic strain that would have been exerted on to participate in the Crusades for selfish reasons many in raising the funds to travel east. Indeed, for alongside other motivations. Nevertheless, this many, the Crusades presented strong financial can scarcely be seen to discredit the argument of losses. Likewise, the argument that numerous chivalric duty. Whilst a number of Crusaders may Crusaders migrated in search of new, more have participated partially to improve reputation, prosperous lives has been heavily critiqued, as the and see adventure, this does not mean that none majority chose not to settle after they believed their truly and selflessly hoped to achieve safety for quest had been completed, suggesting a new life in those living in or travelling to The Holy Land, the East was not an ambition of most Crusaders. As and to receive justice for the honour of God. expressed by J. R. Smith, the argument of land or The entirety of the feudal system must also be physical rewards is difficult to sustain, and therefore taken into consideration when analysing what a number of other factors must be considered in Crusaders hoped to achieve, since this hierarchy order to conclusively decide the leading motivation caused social and political pressures on entire of the Crusaders. societies. If a king or prince were to take the cross, there would often be expectation on those The structure of Western society in the Middle around him to join. For example, John of Ages itself would have provided objectives for Joinville’s records of Louis IX’s knights show that Crusading. Chivalry, the west-European aristocratic on the eve of the King joining the Crusade in social, religious, and moral code of conduct, allowed 1267, the knights discussed that they would lose Crusading to quickly become a popular act for the King’s favour if they did not take the cross, knights, such as the Future Conrad III of Germany. yet taking it through fear of displeasing the King Even the Church, which often banned other acts of would lose them the favour of God. Those with chivalry. such as tournaments, increasingly significant positions in society were therefore able supported the Crusades as one of the highest acts of to use such authority to influence the decisions of chivalric behaviour. To those men seeking the others, and the higher the position of the noble, recognition of military ability and piety, fighting for the greater such pressures would be. This God would have been the highest honour. Such therefore suggests that it was often not what prospects were heavily referred to in recruitment, Crusaders hoped to gain, but what they feared to with men such as Bernard of Claivaux writing to lose. The goodwill and support of those above

The Chelmsfordian 2017 27 them was vital, and therefore many would partake in The Faith was a continuous objective throughout Crusades so as to achieve such approval and favour. the whole of the Crusades. As argued by J. R. However, it must also be considered why those Smith, the idea of religious devotion is far higher in the feudal system felt the need to recruit stronger than the likes of financial and material others in the first place. In order to regain control of gain. It is difficult to ascribe a motivation of The Holy Land, defend Christians and perform personal motivation to rich, powerful men such as God’s will successfully, vast numbers of men would Raymond of St Giles, and so true personal be needed. This therefore suggests a genuine devotion clearly did motivate many. Whilst it is devotion to the cause from the highest in feudal now thought that very few were able to benefit society, and so the motivation of God’s will remains physically, everyone was told they could benefit significant. spiritually, and the reward of God’s approval and Whilst the motivation of religious devotion has eternal life would have been greatly desired by all often been discounted as an excuse in previous times, who took the cross. historians such as J. R. Smith have rightly reassessed In conclusion, it is evident that each Crusader the extent to which it could have rallied troops. would have had a number of objectives to achieve Most people, across all social classes, would have during their time Crusading. Strategically, factors been intensely devoted to Christianity, willing to do such as the threats to the Byzantine Empire, the whatever authorities told them God needed. loss of Christian Holy Lands, and the dangers to Furthermore, it must not be forgotten that with Christian inhabitants or travellers in the East, religion and belief in the Middle Ages also came fear. provided both political and emotional motivations The prospect of hell frightened the western for Western intervention. However, personal population into the need to repent and cleanse their issues and incentives must also be considered. souls. In Pope Urban’s Clermont speech, he spoke of Although the financial cost of Crusading means ‘the new path to salvation’. The remission of sins that materialistic gain cannot have been a huge was promised to those taking the cross for motivator, the hope for personal spiritual rewards Christianity, and this spiritual reward would have would have affected virtually all Crusaders, due to been seen as an extraordinary opportunity for many. the religious devotion seen in society at the time, It is therefore often now seen that faith truly did lie and the fear of God’s condemnation to Hell. This at the heart of Holy War. The finer details of such implies it was not material greed, but hopes to rewards varied throughout the Crusades. During the achieve reputational and spiritual improvement. Fourth Crusade, Villehardouin claimed such Honest religion should not be underestimated. indulgences were only for those serving more than a Whilst other factors would have contributed, year. Alternatively, by the Fifth Crusade, possibly obscuring the main goal occasionally, the participants believed far less was needed to fulfil desire to defend one’s faith was primary, requirements, many only staying for a season of providing a common, uniting goal across all strata campaigning. This could imply weakening sentiment of Crusaders. The chivalric society would have of those partaking, as more grew selfish in their spurred this on. Simultaneously, pressure from greed for spiritual rewards. The indulgence was the feudal system caused many to join their increasingly provided for, with even those simply superiors in arms to gain their favour. However, paying the Saladin Tithe (a Crusade tax) being given no matter how political, economic and social portions of the reward. factors may have influenced one’s decision, it is clear that religion centred in the minds of the Despite this selfish taint to religious motivation, majority when they were called to take the cross. spiritual devotion was nevertheless greatly It was the undeniable strength of ideals and important to Western society. By fighting the Devil, religious belief that led people from all classes, Crusaders believed they were performing God’s will. backgrounds and areas of the West to defend The importance of God’s approval is evident what they believed were Christian lands. They throughout the Crusades, as the outcome of a battle aimed primarily to achieve justice for those was often seen as a reflection of His will. When harmed by Muslims, power over the Holy lands, Jerusalem was unpredictably taken in June 1099, the and spiritual rewards from God, whom they had victory was accredited to a divine miracle. This defended. They truly believed that Deus vult. implies that performing in a way that pleased God was of great importance to Crusaders, Whilst other factors may have aided in persuading many, Georgia Frampton, 13C sometimes even obscuring the central goal, it was religion that unified everyone, and fighting to defend

The Chelmsfordian 2017 28 Combined Cadet Force A Summary of the 2016/2017 School Year

he new academic year started a new carried out by those who went on the trip. chapter for the KEGS cadet force as a Subsequently, seniors went on to teach the same new training plan was put into action. principles, using the tech block as the urban The newer year 9 cadets began with the fighting zone. Tessential drill and fieldcraft, before spending three Soon after coming back from the Easter break, the months on rifle drill. This long regime will ensure Biennial Inspection came around again. An that they can safely and correctly handle the admirable amount of effort was put in by every weapons they will use both in the range and on cadet to perfect their drill and kit. This year’s exercise. Year 10 continued to expand their skills inspection had the largest turnout of cadets to date with navigation and first aid lessons. They also and the event ran smoothly: a proud moment for earned their section attack drills, an essential aspect both the staff and senior cadets, for whom this was of the more active side of cadets. Year 11 is an their last inspection. The Corps of Drums also important year as the cadets learn how to teach the performed at the inspection, and put on an lessons themselves, with senior cadets passing on impressive display. their knowledge and experience. Having a group of confident and practised younger cadets provides a As the summer term brought a wind down to solid teaching base for when the seniors leave for events, the teaching continued and Year 11 have exams and university. The new calendar year also begun to take lessons ready for September. To brought a set of new staff as we welcomed Messrs finish off the year, a group of cadets will be heading Murphy and Pattenden as Second Lieutenants, off to Romania for a week of trekking and camping whilst Lance-Corporal Alex Sprules, RM served for in the mountains. Despite the past year throwing several months as a temporary SSI. up some challenges, the CCF team, both staff and cadets, have risen to the challenge and the next The annual Easter camp to Colchester was a year is bound to bring more development and highlight for most cadets this year. Three days in expansion to the KEGS CCF. Many thanks go to the field was a new experience for some, but as a Major Brown and Captain Worrall for their result fieldcraft technique was vastly improved. It is continued support. safe to say that, even after an all night reconnaissance mission for one section, a good time Sarah Amass was had by all. For the first time urban training Cadet Company Sergeant Major (using the skills houses available at Colchester) was

‘p.s’ Congratulations to Captain Worrall on receiving his Cadet Forces Medal this year, marking twelve years of service with the CCF. HCFP

The Chelmsfordian 2017 29 Holland Strutt 1st Place — 5,177 pts 2nd Place — 4,982 pts

Back (left to right): Ryan Hart, Charlie Mellor (House Captain); Front Left to Right: Tolulupe Akingbade, Sam Hegedus, Charlie (left to right): Chiamaka Okafor, Emmanuella Ibrahim, Ollie Phillips Bradford, Jovett De Cordova-Harris (House Captain), Alex Tredgett, Ben Kinder It has been an absolute pleasure to represent Holland I have thoroughly appreciated leading the Strutt House throughout the year, and I would to thank Mr Lowe for Team this year, with such a fantastic team in the forms being a great House Master, the Holland house team of Charlie, Alex, Tolu, Greg, Ben and Sam. Each and for their continued support, and all the members of every one of them has put in a great deal of effort to Holland House who participated in each and every make life as a House Captain smoother than it would event throughout the year, and I wish the best of luck have been otherwise. They have been active to each house for the future. participants in the House System, helping me with the running of assemblies, and attending and participating Being Holland House Captain has been a dream of mine in plenty of events throughout the year. I would also ever since I joined KEGS in Year 7. Having narrowly like to thank Mr Davies, the House Master, for missed out to Strutt last year, and with the House providing me with both his continual support and a coming under the new management of Mr. Lowe, we wonderful team. had a point to prove this year. But, with such a strong house team and some very strong performances in the Living up to Strutt’s first place position last year has Mogonjet Mini Marathon and House Tug of War, we proven to be more difficult than we all anticipated, with all felt optimistic. House Music saw incredible outstanding performances from the other three houses, performances from every house, but Holland came out but all of us have given it our best efforts over the past on top with especially brilliant renditions of Sweet Child year to strive for that silver, glistening House Cup, as of Mine and Ain’t No Sunshine. particularly evidenced in our well-deserved victory in House Drama. Throughout the year we saw great performance in sporting events, and Holland managed to maintain the The House Competition is a fundamental part of KEGS, healthy lead for most of the year, despite Strutt’s and a symbol of the communal spirit of the school. It compelling performance in House Drama. Nevertheless, has been a true honour to take part in such an advanced Holland’s house spirit gave us an emphatic win in position in my final year at the school, and I wish my House Cross Country, allowing us to maintain our successor all the best and hope they find the same winning position at the end of the house year. incredible enthusiasm and astonishing talent in Strutt next year. I will inevitably look back on my seven years Charlie Mellor at KEGS with pride and Strutt House will be where Holland House Captain some of my fondest memories lie. Jovett de Cordova-Harris

Strutt House Captain

The Chelmsfordian 2017 30 Mildmay Tindal 3rd Place — 4,472 pts 4th Place — 4,027 pts

Back (left to right): Kismet Lalli, Joe Clark, Sachin Chopra; Front Back (left to right): Catriona Heyworth, Josh Roche, Tomasz (left to right): Tom Burdge (House Captain), Ellen Thompson, Hill, Matthew Beazeley, Chris Jennings, Rebecca Everitt; Front: George Sadek, Adam Kirchel, Becky Conroy Billy Sawyer (House Captain) Mildmay came into the competition strong at the Despite Tindal’s overall defeat last year, I can honestly opening of the competition, triumphing over Strutt, say it has been an honour to lead the house with my last year’s overall winners, in House Quiz. From there fellow house officials. Although we failed to cement our victories continued to be in the niche areas, with our position in House Music, one of the most our best results in table tennis and the Mogonjet Mini importance events of the year, we nevertheless Marathon. performed impressively in sporting events through the year: we achieved a considerable number of laps in Above all, credit goes to the teachers who work Mogonjet Mini-Marathon, which catapulted us into tirelessly to ensure that the house competition Sports Day, where a respectable number of successes continues to be the resounding success that it is. Miss were achieved for the Tindal House, with special Walton has continued to lead our house with unity thanks going to Anthony George for his incredible throughout this year, I know that her enthusiasm and efforts in Year 9. Despite intense effort being put into commitment inspires the whole of Mildmay, and no big events such as Sports Morning and House Drama house events would exist if it were not for Mr across all the year groups, Tindal unfortunately did Harding’s perfect orchestration. come last again. Special thanks go to our house team. Sachin and Becky Mr Worrall’s invaluable guidance throughout the year, have been incredible as deputies who supported every and the support of the House Team, has helped to event along with Kismet and Adam. In spite of an make leading Tindal a rewarding experience in spite of unforeseen changeover in music captaincy, Joe took our defeat. My personal highlight of the championship house music in his stride to secure second place for will to be House Tug of War where I was able to battle Mildmay with a beautiful rendition of Alicia Keys’ New the beasts of Holland, Strutt and Mildmay alongside York. Laurence and Mathushan managed to help the strength and might of Anderson in a game of Mildmay return to its former sporting prowess. House courage and desire. Tug of War serves as a perfect analogy for Mildmay as a house: despite the immense personal strength of Whilst it may seem that fourth place has been Tindal’s individuals, such as Dante and David, it is when we only result recently, house spirit continues to live on, have worked together that we are strongest. and I would like to wish every ounce of good luck to the officials who will replace us. Tom Burdge Billy Sawyer Mildmay House Captain Tindal House Captain

The Chelmsfordian 2017 31 Cricket Season Review Senior Cricket KEGS vs The President’s XI—Sunday 2nd July ollowing some gloomy early season The sun shone at the Old Chelmsfordians in the weather the sun finally came out for the traditional President's day match between KEGS U17 side who chased down a challenging and the President’s XI. KEGS produced a strong target of 165 in the final over as they beat bowling and fielding performance to bowl out the FRobert Clack in the Essex Cup 1/4 final. Sanjeevan President's XI for 206 with Ollie Phillips claiming Sandhu top scored with a fine 76 in an opening 4-29 and Matthew Bowerman 2-17. Then, with stand of 110 with Matthew Bell and debutant the game in the balance, Alex Tredgett produced a Connor Hicks hitting 13 runs off only 6 balls to win captain's innings, scoring an unbeaten century to the game. Unfortunately, the semi-final vs Barking secure the victory and claim the shield. Abbey was rained off with the visitors at 54-2, and

KEGS were unable to advance to the final. KEGS U19 hoped for better luck as they faced Newham VI Junior Cricket Form College for a place in the County Cup final. KEGS cricketers managed to produce some KEGS bowlers started well and looked to be in the excellent performances in the opening rounds of ascendency with the opposition 65-5 after 12 overs. the Essex Cup with the U13, U14 & U15 all However, with some devastating hitting from their winning their opening matches.The Y8 cricket number 7, NewVic posted a daunting total of 146. team held their nerve to beat Bancrofts by one run Much relied on the KEGS top 4, but early wickets in an epic match, Ben Reynolds hitting a superb meant that KEGS were always behind the rate. A 72* in KEGS 151! In the next round KEGS beat brief cameo from Jovett De-Cordova-Harris gave Shenfield by 96 runs to set up a quarter final tie KEGS encouragement but they eventually came up with Great Baddow. KEGS produced another well short of their target. strong display to win by 8 wickets. In the semi- final, KEGS limited New Hall to 124 off their 25 overs, but none of our batsmen could produce a KEGS 1st XI vs the MCC—Wednesday 28th June match winning score, with New Hall running out In the annual fixture vs the MCC at the Old eventual winners by 24 runs. The year 9 team Chelmsfordians, captain Alex Tredgett elected to produced a strong bowling performance to win field to take advantage of some bowler friendly comfortably against Barking Abbey in the Essex conditions. The opening partnership of Ollie Cup and William Edwards in the next round. Phillips (9 overs 0-25) and Jenushan Jeyarooban (10 Ilford County High proved a game too far as the overs 2-33) bowled tightly to limit scoring KEGS cup run came to an end. KEGS faced opportunities. At lunch the game was finely Boswells in the Y10 competition and a spell of 3 balanced with the MCC at 73-2. Following the wickets for only 4 runs from opening bowler Euan interval the MCC batsmen accelerated to Singleton helped the Y10 team to a 9 wicket win accumulate 212-4 before declaring. KEGS’ opening against Boswells in the Essex Cup. Following a victory over Cooper’s Coborn, KEGS faced New partnership of Jeyarooban and Sandhu negotiated the tricky twenty minute session before tea, and a Hall who proved to be too strong. KEGS Y7 team win looked a possibility. However, after the break faced a set back when they were knocked out of the wickets tumbled cup by Ilford County High, but bounced back at a steady rate, strongly to secure w i t h o n l y comfortable wins Tredgett (36 against Coopers runs) offering any Coborn, Westcliff kind of resistance, and Southend. At and the KEGS the time of side were bowled writing they are out well short of looking forward to a semi-final in their target. t h e p l a t e competition.

The Chelmsfordian 2017 32 Rugby Season Review EGS senior team opened up their season Saffron Walden to Bedford Fields. The KEGS against Bancrofts school. In the first half eight, in particular Gbemiga Lewis, responded KEGS showed some early season rust to well to their captain and started crashing runs to concede an early lead, a more cohesive give the backs time to execute their well-drilled Ksecond half performance saw debutant Callum Bain moves, which eventually resulted in fly half cross for two tries, but KEGS couldn’t close the gap Callum Whittle running in under the posts. He any further with the final score at 24-12. converted his own try and it was 7-0 to KEGS. The KEGS scrum was dominant throughout the In their second game KEGS produced a more game, but one pass attempt too many led to a clinical display to beat St Martins 33-0 in a keenly turnover and an equalising try for Saffron contested match in the Natwest Vase. Winger Alex Walden. KEGS responded quickly, heading Tredgett and fly half Alec Parris were particularly straight down the other of the pitch and score, pleased to cross the try line against their former Lewis deserving his try. A further try was added team. Next up, KEGS travelled to Upminster to in the second half after a quick penalty resulted in take on The Cooper’s Company & Coborn School Alex Tredgett running in. The roll on roll off and in a very competitive match the KEGS pack substitutions helped KEGS keep this lead, with performed well, but a number of handling errors the final score 17-7 to KEGS. proved costly as they were just edged out 12-10. Despite a weather-induced shorter season, the KEGS squad still managed to produce some pleasing performances, showing some great Eager to bounce back from their previous defeat, rugby and superb commitment in defence. I KEGS faced another away trip to Southend. In would like to thank captain Pat Johnson for his probably the performance of the season, KEGS leadership, and wish all of the Y13 players the produced some excellent rugby to secure a 34-7 very best as they leave the school. victory. The highlight of the match was when George Sadek, second row, showed a rare glimpse of The future looks bright as junior Rugby his blistering speed as he collected his own kick continues to thrive. Highlights of the season ahead to score. Full of confidence, KEGS’ 1st XV include the year 8 team winning the Bowl faced a very strong SEEVIC team in the Essex Cup competition at the Essex 7’s tournament and and produced an admirable defensive performance, finishing runners up in the MESSSA 7’s but the Southend side proved to be formidable competition. The year 7 squad also finished the opponents and eventually ran out comfortable season with a strong performance finishing as winners, before going on to win the competition. Runners Up in the Plate Competition in the Essex 7s’ tournament. In the final game of the year KEGS welcomed Athletics Season Review

n their first team event together as a squad we the boys excelled on the track, finishing with a weren’t quite sure what to expect from the total of 412 points. This score was enough to junior boys in the 1st round of the English qualify for the Regional B final. schools track and field cup at Melbourne Istadium, but they performed impressively, finishing In the Regional B final at Watford, the Inter with a fantastic score of 423pts. This was the twelfth boys improved their points tally to 433, with best first round score in the whole country and strong performances form Joe Eames (Hurdles), qualified the team to compete in the Regional A Final. Cristian Santos (Discus), Daniel Famakin (100m) An excellent achievement. and Anthony George (Triple Jump).

The Inter team started slowly on the field events, but The junior side travelled to the Bedford

The Chelmsfordian 2017 33 International Stadium for the Regional A Final, the Oscar Osuala (100m), Matthew Olatunji (Long first time a KEGS side has qualified for this stage. Jump) and the 4x100m relay team. KEGS started strongly on the track with particularly Not to be beaten by their younger team mates, strong performances from Oscar Osuala (100m) and the year 10/11 team also became district Eliott Morley (Hurdles). In the afternoon there were champions, with 1st places for Daniel Soyobo again some excellent performances, including new (200m and Triple Jump), Anthony George (Long personal bests for Matthew Olatunji (Long Jump) and Jump) and Zach Bridgeland (3000m). The Ben Wicks (Javelin). KEGS amassed a total of 423 4x100m relay team were also victorious. points which saw them finish in a creditable 9th place. In their first championships the year 7 team Following on from their successes in the Track & performed well, finishing in 3rd place, with Noah Field Cup, KEGS athletes entered the CESSSA Miller winning the Long Jump. Championships in a confident mood, leading to further outstanding performances. KEGS repeated their In the overall competition KEGS finished in 3rd success from last year, with the year 8 team finishing place, and will be keen to return next year to see in 1st place. The following boys won their events: if they can go a couple of places better. Basketball Season Review he KEGS basketball season this year has been bigger and better than ever. All Unlike the last game, KEGS started extremely teams were again competing for the Mid strong, finishing the first quarter 15 points up, Essex Schools title and performed with the score 21-6. This was mainly down to Textremely well, with the highpoints being the Year 8 some terrific fast break play, with Adam scoring team winning the Mid Essex League and the Year 10 11 points in just 5 minutes, and some exceptional team who made the semi-finals. man to man defence, which was a theme throughout the game. Though up by 15 points, But the main highlight of the season was the Year 8 KEGS knew that they could not lose focus, as a team’s Essex Cup campaign. After missing out in the great team like Great Baddow could get back semi-final last year to Great Baddow, the team were into the game within a few minutes. keen to try and go one better and get to the Essex final. The team were drawn in a group with Westcliff The second quarter was a fairly tight affair, with (80-8), Becket Keys (Conceded), Appleton (66-45) and both teams playing some fantastic end to end Plume (75-4), where they finished top. This meant basketball. Great Baddow had upped their game they faced Eastwood in the Quarter-finals. This was a and managed to close the gap to just 7 points, tight game but, in the end, KEGS were too strong, however KEGS didn’t panic, and with some winning 56-34. terrific offensive plays, they finished strongly, going into half time 33-19 up. Last year’s winners St Martin’s were waiting in the semi-final, and the team knew that if they were to After a half time break and calming team talk, win, it would take momentous effort. This was an the team were ready for the all-important third extremely tight affair, with the score never more than quarter. KEGS had really enhanced their 4 points apart. With three minutes left on the clock, defensive play, with everyone in the team KEGS were down by 2 points, but with some working incredibly hard, which made it incredible defending and composure in offence, KEGS extremely difficult for the opposition to have a managed to win the game with the last shot of the good shot at the basket, let alone score. As a game. Final score: 55-53. result, Great Baddow were taking a lot more risky shots, which KEGS used to their Great Baddow stood in the way of KEGS’ first Essex advantage, as they claimed many rebounds, basketball title. The teams met in last year’s semi- which they turned into fast breaks, many ending final, where Great Baddow won the game in KEGS baskets. A fantastic quarter for the comfortably, so the boys knew that they would be up team, leading by 25 points going into the crucial against it. fourth and final quarter.

The Chelmsfordian 2017 34 KEGS knew that with such a healthy lead, they just needed to slow the game down, look after the ball and see the game out, which is exactly what the team did. KEGS continued to play some magnificent basketball right up towards the final buzzer, with Karl, Adam and Obinna finishing on 20 points respectively. However, this was a real team effort, with every individual playing a crucial part in the success. As the final buzzer sounded, the crowd cheered KEGS on a tremendous performance, with the final score being 79-48. KEGS win and become Essex basketball champions!

A massive well done to all the boys, for their hard work and dedication to the team this year; they deserve every bit of the success! Overall, a very successful season, which hopefully the boys can continue next year! Football Season Review he season started with the tough task of do so, which meant the score was 1-1 going into the selecting a squad of players to help bring last twenty minutes. Unfortunately, the boys ran out some long awaited silverware back to of steam, and lost the game 4-1, with Brentwood KEGS. It was fantastic to see over forty punishing a couple of mistakes in what was a fairly Tboys try out for the team, however only 18 were lucky even game of football. The team had to forget about enough to make the squad for the opening game of the the result and take the positives from the game as season vs Westcliff, in the first round of the National they were to play their Mid Essex Cup second round Cup. The new-look KEGS, led by captain Ryan Hart, game. Straight from the first whistle, you could see produced a solid performance in their first game KEGS were up for this derby game, with lots of together. KEGS played some fantastic football and strong tackles on show. It was KEGS who were the took the lead just before half time. Again, in the second more dominant team, outplaying St Martin’s and half, KEGS were the better team; but with ten minutes managing to win the game 7-3 and move forward to to go, Westcliff scored two goals in the space of three the Mid Essex Cup semi-final. minutes. The team were clearly shook up but didn’t give up hope, and with one minute left on the clock, St John Payne were the team that stood in the way of Alex Tredgett stepped up with a cool finish in the KEGS and the Mid Essex final. Unfortunately, this bottom corner from outside the box. Extra-time was a was the team’s worst performance of the season, with cagey affair and, with the light fading, the game went St John Payne taking full advantage of KEGS’ errors. to penalties. Unfortunately, Westcliff’s goalkeeper The game finished 2-0 to St John Payne, with the managed to pull off a couple of amazing saves, which team extremely disappointed with their performance, meant they progressed through to the next round and for many their last performance in a KEGS shirt. KEGS were out of the National Cup at the first hurdle. Overall, the KEGS 1st XI team performed extremely well this season, and missed out narrowly in cups to The team had to pick themselves up quickly, as they some very good teams, but they will be back even were to face Brentwood Ursuline School in the first hungrier next year to win some silverware. I would round of the Mid Essex Cup. This time, the boys were like to extend my personal gratitude to all the much more clinical in front of goal, with the final score players this year for their hard work and dedication being 9-0 to KEGS, meaning a second round date throughout the season. against St Martin’s. Before that, the team faced Brentwood School in the first round of the Essex Cup. Cricket, Rugby and Athletics contributions from Mr With the opposition just missing out on the title last J. Davies, Teacher of PE year, the boys always knew it was to be a tough task. Basketball and Football contributions from Mr R. Yet again, KEGS played some fantastic football, Lowe, Teacher of PE passing the ball between them and being confident to

The Chelmsfordian 2017 35 The KEGS Motto: An Exegesis

Duffield Library

he KEGS motto, embroidered on our Thus, far from being simply being an inspiring blazers, is well known to us all. With call to excellence and action, our motto has a far its literal translation of ‘Whatever you more urgent message: act whilst you can, for may do, do it wisely, bravely, and from our time to make a difference on this earth is Tthe heart’, it may seem straightforward: a Biblical limited. We would do well to remember this. quotation from Ecclesiastes 9:10 which empowers us We should strive for achievements not just for to act in whatever capacity we can. Beneath this their own sake, but because they are a precious apparent simplicity, however, lies an interesting commodity, and we do not know when we will context, both Biblically and historically. next have the chance to perform well.

Our motto is just half of the verse of Ecclesiastes The very Latin text of the motto is also of 9:10, and consequently it is important to place this historical context, with its origins obscure. One motto in its more general scriptural context, in order might expect any Latin translation of scripture to capture its overarching tone. As a whole, to come from St Jerome’s fourth century prose Ecclesiastes focuses not merely on the importance of translation, the definitive text canonised in the action and wisdom, but also includes a darker Catholic Church. Were that the case, our motto undercurrent of the finality and inexorability of would actually be quodcumque potest manus tua death, and the randomness of failure and misfortune. facere instanter, which bears far closer The following number of verses after our motto resemblance not only to the original Hebrew of demonstrate this well: but also to the King James Bible translation of ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with For there is no work, nor device, thy might’, familiar to us from the text in the nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the Duffield Library. Our motto instead comes from grave, whither thou goest. I an obscure translation of Ecclesiastes into a returned, and saw under the sun, perfectly dactylic line of Latin hexameter verse, that the race is not to the swift, nor and, whilst the overarching message is the the battle to the strong, neither yet same, the focus on intellect — sapiens — is an bread to the wise, nor yet riches to addition to the strict scripture. Perhaps this is men of understanding, nor yet appropriate for a school so focused on academic favour to men of skill; but time and rigour. chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil Oliver Parkes net, and as the birds that are caught Editor in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them

Ecclesiastes 9:10-12 (King James Version)

The Chelmsfordian 2017 36 KEGS Hymnody ‘βροτοῖς ἥδιστον ἀείδειν’

arlier this term, while practising for a conspicuously absent: for example, in a book of Friday assembly, I was approached (by 500-odd hymns, there is not a single composition someone who will remain nameless) and by Mozart or Beethoven, to name two examples. asked why I was playing the German Although J.S. Bach is well-represented, the other Enational anthem, because he “thought we’ve left two composers who appear most frequently are Europe now”. While this particular question wasn't Ralph Vaughan Williams and Martin Shaw, two serious, it does beg the question as to how that tune rather obscure names which are rarely mentioned has arrived in an English hymn book, and where its anywhere else. origins lie in the first place. It is now used to Of course, probably the best known hymn at accompany not just one but two of the hymns that KEGS is Jerusalem, although it has had a we sing at KEGS. This has prompted me to try to relatively troubled history. It uses the text of a shed some light on that odd collection of tunes poem by William Blake, which was based on an which we sing on a Friday morning. apocryphal tale that Jesus visited England (almost The current set of 20 hymns forms a cut-down certainly not true); it has been banned in several collection from the original 'KEGS Hymn Book' of cases where it was deemed too nationalistic. I vow over 400, which is where those mysterious numbers to Thee, my country, and several at Christmas join it that get read out are taken from. These texts have a to be generally better known than most of the rest diverse background: even among the collection used at KEGS, but they all remain a firm part of the at KEGS, the words range from the text of a Psalm English cultural heritage. in the Bible, to a sixteenth century poem, to items And the aforementioned tune to the German written by living poets. This is especially national anthem? That was in fact written by impressive when you consider that close to all Franz Joseph Haydn, an Austrian composer, in Church music (in Western Europe at least) was in honour of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. It Latin until the sixteenth century, and that what we was almost 50 years later that the “Deutschland, think of as a 'hymn' only really developed in the Deutschland über alles” text was written, and yet eighteenth. that is what it mainly has become famous for. The origins of the tunes are equally variable: we There was in fact an alternative tune for the find everything from anonymous melodies hymn words commissioned in 1942, for what attributed to seventeenth century composers to must be obvious reasons, and both tunes remain modern compositions. A striking feature of this is popular today. that the famous names of classical music are all Daniel Carter, 12E

Music Review usic continues to be held in high Sibelius in the autumn term (Symphony No. 9 and esteem at KEGS, both in and outside Karelia Suite respectively), and the seldom heard the classroom. In an effort to nurture Symphony No. 5 by Ralph Vaughan-Williams at the talents of the youngest pupils, the the spring concert. Alongside the Vaughan- MYear 7 project continues to bolster the musical Williams was an impressive rendition of Joseph activities of the school, whereby a group of Year 7s Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai by the school choir, is given regular instrumental tuition during lesson who also delighted listeners at the annual Carol time. Many of these pupils have become enthusiastic Service with a selection of familiar and some more members of the Junior Orchestra, and it is hoped contemporary carols. At the time of writing, the that this zeal will enrich all of the school’s flagship choir is singing to the audiences of Barcelona on ensembles in the years to come. Among these its first international tour in some years. The stands the Senior Orchestra, which boasts a number summer concert, which typically has a more of exceptional instrumentalists, allowing it to relaxed atmosphere, saw uplifting performances perform the challenging repertoire of Dvořák and from the Jazz Ensemble (led by math's teacher Mr

The Chelmsfordian 2017 37

Leverett, no less!) and the Wind Band, highlighting led the choir in particular to unprecedented the diversity of musical activities at KEGS. A heights in recent years, and Director of Music Mr welcome addition to this year’s series of concerts Worrall, whose wealth of musical knowledge and was the recital given by Old Chelmsfordian Tim experience suffuses every rehearsal under his Carey (1967-74), aided by two of his current KEGS baton. The music department will, without doubt, pupils, which raised money for the restoration of the continue to enhance the school community in the beloved Steinway piano in the school hall. Whilst years to come. success in music is predicated on a great deal of private practice, at KEGS it is also dependent upon Declan Hickey the dedication of Mrs Steele, whose innovation has Editor Art Exhibition 2017 A Selection of A Level and GCSE Art Work...

The Chelmsfordian 2017 38 Monteverdi: 450 Years On

usic historians and enthusiasts, as in poet’s message, as opposed to the graphic many other fields, are naturally images of earlier madrigals, was hugely drawn to composers who can be innovative, and a practice fully exploited by described as ground breakers. It is Monteverdi’s Romantic successors (albeit Munsurprising that we attribute particular seldom in the madrigal form). Similarly approbation to those who initiated musical change, progressive was his departure from the for hindsight allows the modern listener to point to Renaissance idea of equal voices, often specific moments and individuals without whom the favouring the texture of a duet over a history of music would have been significantly harmonically supporting bass, and the different. The most celebrated of these figures is introduction of a basso continuo part: a textural undoubtedly Ludwig van Beethoven, and with accompaniment which involves a bass appropriate justification; his ‘Eroica’ symphony is instrument and a harmonic instrument. All of aptly titled not only for its connotations with the the Italian master’s madrigals from the last of seismic political change of the early nineteenth Book V onwards featured a basso continuo part, century, but also because of the audacious message it which musicologists now understand to be a gave to audiences and composers then and since. central aspect of Baroque composition and Without Beethoven, the contemporary label therefore cements Monteverdi’s position as a ‘Romanticism’ may well have held a very different musical innovator. In his eighth book of meaning, but the musical historian will always seek madrigals lies the truly ground breaking to discover the shoulders on which composers, work Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, ground breakers or not, stood. The 450th anniversary which sets to music Torquato Tasso’s of the birth of Claudio Monteverdi invites us to look Jerusalem Delivered and describes the combat to another musical pioneer, whose innovation laid between crusader knight Tancred and heroine down many of the principles of modern music. Clorinda. With instruments imitating the Born in Cremona in May 1567, Monteverdi lived galloping of horses, the clash of swords and until 1643, allowing him not only to experience the the excitement of combat, it is difficult to transition from Renaissance to Baroque music, but refute that this fits the label of programmatic also to influence the various changes which took music, well before it became a preference of place between the sixteenth and seventeenth the Romantic composers. The description centuries. It is pertinent to begin with his madrigals given by the composer himself was the aptly – that is, secular vocal music typical of the titled stile concitato (excited style), and any Renaissance and early Baroque periods of which listening to this work or others in the style Monteverdi was a prolific composer. His ability to will immediately justify its title to the freely combine homophonic and contrapuntal part- listener. Perhaps now is an appropriate point writing, and to evoke the essence and colour of the to look to Monteverdi’s role in defining text in music, granted him the position of unrivalled musical ‘practices’. master of the madrigal technique. The latter of these In 1605, Monteverdi distinguished between achievements is perhaps unremarkable to a twenty- two different styles of composition: the prima first century audience which inherits a legacy of prattica (first practice) and seconda prattica nineteenth century Romanticism, where feeling and (second practice). The first of these described expression dominated the approach of many a style of vocal polyphony developed by composers, but it is important to note the context in Dutch composers such as Adrian Willaert, which Monteverdi produced his madrigals. The idea while the second referred to the style of that dissonances could convey the emotion of the Monteverdi’s contemporary Italian composers

The Chelmsfordian 2017 39 such as Cipriano de Rore and Luca Marenzio. The L’incoronazione di Poppea (first performed in essential distinction between the two practices was 1643), in which Monteverdi unusually the relationship between text and music. Whilst the resisted the trend towards a separation of aria text was largely ancillary to the music of the old and recitative by seeking a fluid combination Netherlanders, it became increasingly central to the of the two principles of opera. This fluidity is nature of the music within the seconda prattica, hence marked his decision to interrupt recitative Monteverdi’s exploitation of harmonic dissonances. passages with brief moments of aria, even in Monteverdi’s greatest achievement was, arguably, the absence of the librettist’s strophic or other his capacity to write in both styles with equal aria-like verse. It is thus clear that, in keeping comfort, reaffirming his position as the essential link with the principles of the seconda prattica he between Renaissance and Baroque styles of himself established, Monteverdi’s shifts composition. His 1610 Vespro della Beata Vergine (or, between recitative and aria were determined more commonly, Vespers) remains intriguing as the not by poetic form, but by content; not by the work fits comfortably into neither style. It stands as affectation associated with opera, but by a a setting of the commitment to emotional expression. It is complete this unique aspect to Monteverdi’s liturgical Office compositional approach which makes his with traditional music timeless, providing some of the earliest Gregorian chants works in the operatic genre still performed as cantus firmi today. (typically slow It is difficult to view Monteverdi without a melodies in the sense of admiration for his independence of tenor voice), but thought, and creativity of composition. One exploits all the must remember, however, that as Beethoven new resources of stood on the shoulders of Joseph Haydn and the time: J.S. Bach, so Monteverdi was indebted to recitative, aria, those musical ground breakers who came all varieties of before him. His brother Guilio Cesare Monteverdi four times referred to Cipriano de choral and instrumental groupings. The fact that Rore (Franco-Flemish by birth but prominent this work is still regularly heard today, popularised in Italy) as “the first renovator of the second by the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra under Sir John practice”, who made the contrapuntal Eliot Gardiner’s baton, is a testament to the technique “a faithful servant of the text”. To composer’s lasting influence. return to the musical historian who seeks to explore the lineage of all musical Monteverdi remains, however, most celebrated for developments, it is undoubtedly true that his status as ‘the father of opera’. Orfeo, produced in Claudio Monteverdi has inspired various Mantua in 1607, is based on Alessandro Striggio’s composers in the 450 years since his birth, but setting of the famous tale of Orpheus and Eurydice the overriding lesson that can be learned it which has excited various composers, but this is far perhaps this: innovation is often grounded not from a typical composition. In contrast to the in a rejection of the past, but in a profound Florentine convention, whereby operas featured a understanding of how it can be developed and small number of lutes or similar instruments hidden improved. One thing that still rings true today is, however, Monteverdi’s own behind the scenery, Orfeo was orchestrated for a observation that “the aim of all good music is remarkable forty instruments. Not only is the scale to affect the soul.” impressive, but Monteverdi opted to specify at which moments given instruments ought to play – a Declan Hickey practice surprisingly uncommon in the Baroque era. Editor Other innovation can be detected in his later opera

The Chelmsfordian 2017 40 Editorial

emembrance is necessarily a keystone purpose? of any historic institution such as Perhaps we at KEGS value tradition so much KEGS. There is a reason that the 1551 because it provides a useful anchor. Any school is, Appeal takes its name from the in its very nature, protean — a sum of its present Rfoundational year of KEGS, and that the new staff and students. However through our shared sports hall will be named after the influential institutional past, we can find a consistent common former headmaster, Nigel Fanshawe. The ground. In Georgics IV, Vergil, through his use of continuing centennial celebrations for The Great War have thrown the process of commemoration an apiary as a model for human society, beautifully into further relief. With this in mind, the editors of captures just how comforting such an institution, this year’s Chelmsfordian have continued to note which outlives its individual parts, can be. He draws a contrast between the brief lives of the bees the school’s past and traditions, as well as record as singular units, to whom he, by happy recent noteworthy achievements. circumstance, ascribes a lifespan of seven years, Yet the process of remembrance is not always clear and the longevity of the tribe as a whole: cut. Russia was faced with two important Thus tho' the race of Life they quickly run; anniversaries this year: the seventieth anniversary Which in the space of seven short Years is done, of the Battle of Stalingrad, and the centenary of the Th' immortal Line in sure Succession reigns, 1917 abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. The former, The Fortune of the Family remains as always, was celebrated with dignity and scale, as a symbol of Russia’s heroic sacrifice in the Second Ergo ipsas quamvis angusti terminus aevi World War; the latter remained untouched by the excipiat, neque enim plus septima ducitur aestas, government, since the subsequent emergence of at genus immortale manet multosque per annos the USSR remains controversial for Russians stat fortuna domus today. Vergil, Georgics IV, 206-2019

Such a handling of remembrance prompts us to consider why we commemorate the past. Is it, as Declan Hickey the treatment in Russia seems to suggest, to Oliver Parkes celebrate only what present generations see as Editors worthwhile, or can commemoration serve a deeper

Staff Editorial his year sees the beginning of a new In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries sports hall at KEGS, a facility that many people, Dr Arnold included, emphasised the will vastly improve the provision for importance of extracurricular activities, games at school. This can only be a particularly sport, as a part of education. To Tgood thing: in a place as academic as KEGS it is Victorian and Edwardian schoolmasters it was obvious that young men fit for life had not only easy to forget the importance of a well-rounded book-knowledge, but also all the wisdom and skills education for young people. The scholar, sitting in accrued from other activities. a solitary fashion, cramming information, and writing endless essays may learn much in a It is no surprise then that the rules of both rugby narrow academic sense, but misses out in many and association football were drawn up by public- other ways. schoolboys, nor that it was to a ‘game’ that Captain Nevill of the East Surrey Regiment

The Chelmsfordian 2017 41 likened the attack on the first day of the Somme, Editors: Declan Hickey (13E) and Oliver Parkes even kicking a ball into No-Man’s Land as the (13B) whistle blew. Staff Editor: Mr H. Pattenden

And surely the Victorians were right: there is so The cover design is a reproduction of one used on much that one cannot learn from academic study the Chelmsfordian in 1903. alone. Teamwork, so vital in many activities, is IT Support: Ms V. Cleave virtually impossible to learn for exams - not only Printed In House is it not a theoretical subject, it requires experience to develop. Leadership too is a key life skill hard to With thanks to Mrs B. Gray and Mr M. Scullin develop in the classroom — sure, there are limited Special thanks to Mr A. Begent opportunities for children to lead tasks, but it is (www.chelmsfordwarmemorial.co.uk) and Dr S. outside class that the most valuable lessons are to Palmer (Brentwood School archivist) for material be learned. for ‘The Fallen’ article.

There also is much to be said for the Victorians’ belief that physical activity promotes mental acuity A final thought... — if people move more they learn more. And, perhaps, tongue in check, there is also the argument that it is good for high achieving pupils to engage in his fortunati qui umquam studuistis in aulis activities at which they might not be automatically Edwardi Sexti, grammaticalis eri ! successful. As Rudyard Kipling wrote, there is a praesertim qui nunc divelli a matre paratis - distinct skill in being able to “meet with Triumph and Disaster | And treat those two impostors just the same.” sint vobis cum alma omnia fausta nova !

KEGS is fortunate to have so many opportunities available outside the classroom, worth their weight Mr F. Garcia in gold: and what they teach is as important as that Head of Classics which can be gleaned from any textbook.

Mr H. Pattenden Staff Editor