OmnibusOmnibus December July 20142013 OMNIBUS The termly newspaper of Wilson’s School

WILSON’S GOT TALENT?

Oscar Taperell tells us about this year’s ‘Wilson’s Got Talent’ event.

Wilson’s Got Talent? Who would’ve thought it!? Where These two were joined by a pair of maths teachers, namely ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ has Ant and Dec, we have Mr Ng; Ms Tattersall (her second time as a judge) and Mr Elwood where BGT has Simon Cowell, we have Mr Carew-Robin- (new to the game). son; where BGT has Susan Boyle, we have Michael Ahearn. As the panel were deliberating on the winners, Satchit Sri- And at lunch-time on 7th May, hundreds (literally!) of Wil- kanth and Jack Robertson from U6 gave David Bowie a run sonians poured into the main hall in search of raw talent… for his money as they played a fantastic song. Another U6, And they weren’t disappointed! Jaian Patel kicked things off Jack Taperell, performed some rather unusual (but astound- with his moves, and not once did the audience’s attention ing) magic, using all five of his senses. I could see that act ‘break’ from his dancing. Yet this plucky Year 8 had fierce coming. competition, as Kyriacous with his superb Zorba’s dance And now, ladies and gentlemen, a drum roll for the results: and Luke Stokes with his new and improved dance routine both did brilliantly. 1st place: Oscar Taperell 2nd place: James Watters As always, amazing singing acts are expected at Wilson’s 3rd place: Michael and Eruba Got Talent and that was certainly delivered. The marvellous Michael and Eruba would almost certainly reach No. 1 if Yet although students were thoroughly annoyed that the a single was released, whilst Sai Prabhu left us all wanting event didn’t eat into Period 5, all felt a sense of satisfac- ‘MORE?’ with his rendition of ‘Consider Yourself’ from tion to know that the £1 entry fee went to the charity the musical ‘Oliver’. Two great bands also took to the stage, Kids’n’Cancer. Overall, £378 was raised for the charity, with ‘The Blueberry jam’ delivering a delicious performance which supported Wilsonian James Carpenter recently. and ‘Mind The Gap’ showing they had ‘train’ed for a long time beforehand.

All those who proclaim men unable to multi-task have now been proven utterly wrong by Andy Deng (an audacious Year 7!), whose graceful playing of the violin - and skate- boarding! -left the panel speechless. Oscar Taperell (who could that young chap be, I wonder?) then came on stage dressed in explorer attire, confounding the audience as to what (life) on earth his act might be. But the audience’s funny bones were soon well and truly tickled, as this fake David Attenborough did a sketch on ‘Life at Wilsons’. Although there were no huge buzzers for the judges, the panel all did excellently. Mr Carew-Robinson gave some pretty ‘punny’ comments on the acts, whilst Harry Perkin, the head boy, lent his years of experience to the discussion.

1 OmnibusOmnibus DecemberJuly 2014 2013

D.M. Charnock, Magister, Floruit 1999-2014

finally become fully selective in 1995 and the newest intakes were very promising indeed. Our better facilities and our excellent grounds, added to our already well es- tablished reputation as a fantastically competitive sports school, now began to have strong traction in the admis- sions stakes. To add to the good fortune, the fragile finances of the school were also about to take a turn for the better as the 25 year rent review of the old school in Camberwell came up in 2000, and the income shot up from a paltry £16,000 a year to a handsome £250,000.

Well, I can at least claim not to be a fool if only because Every Year 7 boy undertakes in his first few weeks at I haven’t made a mess of it. Boys sometimes ask me, school a piece of work that is designed to develop his what does a Headmaster do? The implication behind skills in evaluation of historical significance. The task is the question is one that makes me smile, but it is a good to consider the careers and achievements of a number question. The answer, of course, apart from being a of different Headmasters of Wilson’s School to assess decision-making machine, is that the most important their significance for the school and to place them in job of a Headteacher is to employ good teachers and rank order of importance. It is a clever task and one establish a first rate staff. If I am to claim any one which the boys enjoy, if for no other reason than that it achievement in my years as Head, it is to have recruited gives them an opportunity to tweak the nose of the pre- a superb team of teachers and administrative staff. sent, soon to be former, Headmaster and put him well When I leave at the end of this year, there will remain in his place, some way down the list. I have never had on staff only three teachers (all excellent) whom I have any cause to disagree with the boys’ usual assessment not appointed. Everything that has been achieved has that my tenure, in the great scheme of things, has not been achieved only with the teachers, the support staff been one of the more significant ones: there are many and of course the boys and could not have been others with a much greater claim. After Edward Wilson, achieved without them. I am genuinely very proud of the Founder, it is Norman Friskney, who rescued the the school we have made together. Our vision has been school from almost certain closure by moving it from a common one, as has our endeavour. Camberwell to Sutton in 1975, who usually tops the list, and rightly so. The Wilson’s of 15 years ago was not a school I would My main reflection, after a tenure of 15 years, (in itself very much like to have attended. It had virtues of a distinctly average achievement compared to that of course: there was some great teaching; the sport was William Jephson,1803-1843, who was appointed at the wonderful; there was clearly a strong Wilson’s sense of age of 21 and continued to run the school, almost into identity and pride and pleasure in holding the name of oblivion as it happens, for forty two years,) is that while Wilson’s. There were some wonderfully clever students I may not have been the most significant of the school’s and some outstanding academic achievements. The Headmasters, I have certainly been one of the luckiest, CCF was excellent and embodied the motto of the for I took over the school at one of the most propi- school in the impressive way it continues to do today. tious moments in its history. I remember the outgoing There were some wonderfully distinctive characters. Headmaster, Chris Tarrant (1995-1999) saying to me, in But it was a school in which too many went to the wall a rather unnerving aside, that “only a fool could make both academically and socially, in which too many didn’t a mess of this”. He was right. Coming into Sutton in fit in, were bullied and were not well cared for. It was the 1970’s the school had had to struggle long and hard a school which had a justified reputation for not being to establish itself. It had started as the Johnny-come- good at pastoral care and, as a result, behaviour was of- lately of the grammar schools, number three in the ten less than impressive. It was a school in which there list of the three boys’ grammars, but by the mid 1990s was some poor teaching and a good deal of compla- those days were finally behind it and it was biting at the cency. (Continued on the following page) heels of the other grammar schools. The school had 2 OmnibusOmnibus December July 20142013

The Wilson’s of today is certainly one that I would love to have had the opportunity to go to. It is a deeply We chatter excitedly as we walk through the school, inclusive community in which all can flourish and in searching for the right venue to attend the biggest show of which all have a contribution to make and in which all Wilson’s School- ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Is it in the drama are very well cared for. It is a school in which there suite? The lecture theatre? The main hall?! The canteen? is a deep admiration of and aspiration for academic I, along with the rest of the cast, hurry around school to excellence and in which teachers and students together will strive for nothing but the best. I am thrilled by the find the right venue. When we finally find the right place fact that it is a school in which music is now as strong (which takes us up to 3:45) we are warmly welcomed into as sport and in which English and philosophy and his- another day of exhausting yet enjoyable rehearsals with tory are as successful and respected as maths and the the experienced and talented theatre performer ‘Mr Ka- sciences and economics. And by the fact that Wilson’s vanagh’- he’s certainly the heart of the show, the director boys have lost none of their edge and sense of fun: and the captain. As the boys (well, some of them) confi- that they remain fiercely, proudly competitive on the dently approach Wallington Girls (who also accompany us sports field, that they love the thrill of victory but also in this entertaining show), others sit around on the floor take defeat like gentlemen. laughing away; talking about the previous days rehearsals; having a fun conversation or even having ‘facial’ conversa- While I look to my future in China with anticipation, tions with the people on the other side of the room. Yet nothing there will diminish the pride, satisfaction and when Mr.Kavanagh orders us to be silent, we follow his sense of privilege that I have had in being the Head- command. master of Wilson’s. My abiding emotion on departing is one of gratitude, to the fates for smiling on me, to ‘Today we shall be continuing with the opening number, all those, too many to name, who have worked so hard Belle…..’ Other times, it’s ‘today we shall be starting ‘Be for and with me to make the school what it is today, Our Guest’.. As these words are spoken, I see faces filled to all the boys who have made us so proud and who with excitement, joy, eagerness to start, or sometimes, have rewarded our teaching and care of them a hun- tiredness and sighs. Well, we all need to endure the pain dred fold with their acute and questioning intellects, of dancing through hot temperatures, yet I’m sure every- their beautiful and elegant work, their achievements, their sense of fun and their the pride in the name of one would easily say that these rehearsals are absolutely Wilson’s, to the Governors for the unfailing trust, entertaining and a great way to spend 2 hours after school! confidence and support. It has been wonderful. Complicated dance steps, perfect routines, singing in key, the right timings - all the requirements for a magnificent sight to look at in each and every song. It could be argued that these routines we complete, to accompany songs of this show, could easily be enough exercise for the day (I’m not actually joking). All of this intensive work will defi- BE OUR GUEST! nitely contribute towards an eye-pleasing and impressive show that Wilson’s School Year 7s and 8s will bring to you Husnayn Nazim tells us all about the rehearsal for in July! Wilson’s summer production ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ is the famous Disney tale about a beautiful village girl, Belle who’s captured by the Beast in his palace and Gaston, an evil villain who’s desperately trying to make her his wife. This beast isn’t as beastly as he looks and eventually, Belle falls in love with him. When Gaston hears this horrific news, he hurries to try and kill the Beast. With an army of the rest of the villagers, Gaston invades his palace and war commences over love. I won’t tell you the ending, but I can assure you it’s not something you will want to miss!

As the bell rings and the clock strikes 3:30, the school day ends and I’m blinded with a pack of eager and desper- ate children scurrying through the commotion of other students. Whilst the school day ends for those lucky people, there are still about 100 of us whose day continues for another 2 hours…

3 OOmnibusmnibus DecemberJuly 2014 2013 PARKRUN! Andrew McDonald tells us about this summer’s ‘parkrun’ event.

After the rigours of the working week, whether it be at People were warming up, standing around and chatting, school, work or some other endeavour, the prospect of whilst the volunteers were taking up positions along the two day’s weekend break is something we all relish. With route where they would later encourage expiring runners. Saturday morning comes the opportunity to start the day Like every Saturday, the pre-run sight was a diverse blend differently, breaking free from the weekly routine. Exercise of adults and children, friends and family, elite runners and is surely the best option, as it gives your mind and body a casual joggers, all of whom knew that within the next half complete change of scene, whilst working your heart and an hour they could rest easy for the following two days, giving you an adrenaline blast. having done something physical for the weekend. With a few minutes to go, everyone began to gather at the start of the course, with the backdrop of Roundshaw Downs open- Unfortunately, what seems to turn most people off is the ing out in front of them. The standard announcements thought of highly demanding, uber competitive sport, were given about safety, new runners were welcomed, and which, when pitted against the weekend lie-in, drives most Steven Hewitt, a Roundshaw veteran, was congratulated people back to their beds. Parkrun, however, provides a far on having run 250 Parkruns, after which he was given the more inviting alternative. Starting at 9 a.m. every Saturday Parkrun 250 T-shirt, an item instantly recognised within morning at 267 of the UK’s parks and open spaces, this running circles, and which is also awarded in different event is a weekly 5km run open to all ages, sexes, shapes forms to those making their 10th, 50th and 100th appear- and sizes. Its local formula of free entry and inclusiveness ances. Then, without further ado, it began. The fastest run- has proved hugely popular since it was launched in 2004 at ners quickly cut through to the head of the crowd, as eve- Bushy Park in Kingston, and it has become something of ryone began to find a steady rhythm that would see them a model for other nations, such as the US and Denmark, round two laps of the course. The field then spread out as which have looked to establish similar community events. runners crossed the bottom of the Downs, before running The nearest Parkrun to Wilson’s is of course right next up the far side, turning back along the top and coming back door at Roundshaw Downs, and with the recent creation down again, shortly to reach the half-way mark. This is the of the ‘Wilson’s School’ running club, many members of best and worst point of the run; you realise that you are the school are now regularly running there or at other local only half-way round, but also that thereafter every stride Parkruns, of which there are many. The Roundshaw course need not be repeated before you reach the finish line. By is challenging, but also offers impressive views of the Croy- the time the runners reached the top of the Downs for the don skyline, and is set within a surprisingly large expanse second time, their facial expressions were a mix of exhaus- of parkland, tucked away on the boundary between Croy- tion and relief, as before them lay one final glorious stretch don and Sutton. Last Saturday’s run gives a typical example of downhill, the finish line beckoning to them at the bot- of the Roundshaw experience. By 8:50, the Eastern Corner tom. By 9:30 most of the runners had finished, although of the park was swelling with runners, simultaneously many stayed for a short while afterwards to talk times, the questioning their sanity and in some perverse way looking weather, and what they had planned for the rest of the forward to an invigorating and satisfying bit of exercise. weekend.

This is Parkrun, an event that brings together the whole community in the best of settings for the best of reasons: to keep healthy, to challenge yourself, and to do something a little different on a Saturday morning.

4 Omnibus July 2014 Omnibus December 2013 CARNEGIE SHADOWING 2014 JoJo Daniels on what it has been like to be part of the Carnegie Shadowing group.

The Carnegie Shadowing group has been a great adventure where I have been able to share my love of reading. I have especially enjoyed sharing my view- points with my peers and hearing about their views of the books.

We meet every Friday lunchtime and discuss the book that we have been reading. We think about the book from the authors point of view and that helps us to choose which books have been our favourites so far. The books that have been short-listed are: ‘The Wall’ by William Sutcliffe, ‘The Bunker Diary’ by Kevin Brooks, ‘Liar and Spy’ by Rebecca Stead, ‘Ghost Hawk’ by Susan Cooper, ‘Roof Toppers’ by Katherine Rundall, ‘Blood Family’ by Anne Fine, ‘The Child’s Elephant’ by Rachel Campbell Johnstone and ‘All the Truth that’s in Me’ by Julie Berry.

I have currently read three books (‘All The truth that is in me’, ‘The Bunker Diary’ and ‘The Wall’). Generally speaking the internet poll shows that the best books are ‘The Bunker Diary’ and ‘The Wall’ and person- ally I agree. Kevin Brooks writes in a realistic manner that makes you feel the situation is real and not just a fantasy-fairy kidnap book.. I think that one of the novel’s main themes is personal identity.

On the critical side, ‘The bunker diary’ has a slightly disappointing ending. I thought that the last words were fine, but it felt a bit rushed. This was actually a point raised by some of us in the group.

Overall, being part of this scheme has been a great op- portunity, and I would recommend it to the new Year 7s!

5 Omnibus December 2013 Omnibus July 2014 AN INTERVIEW WITH TEACHERS

Charlie D’imperio and Rohit Prabhu asked teachers three questions:

1. What is one of your favourite films and why? 2. What type of film is it? 3. Bonus question / What subject-specific film do you like?

Mr Charnock Mr Mclaughlin 1. ‘If ’. I remember it from when I was 18 years 1. ‘Forrest Gump’, which is about a simpleton old. who finds himself in huge events, such as starting Ap- 2. Thriller ple. It also had wide-ranging themes 3. Since you’re leaving at the end of this year, do you 2. Science Fiction have any last word to this school? 3. ‘Independence Day’ because it is all about I’ve actually written an article on that in ‘Omnibus’. aliens, sci-fi, action and I enjoy a bit of collateral dam- age and civilian casualties. Miss Tyler 1.‘Life of Pi’.- I felt like it actually did the book justice. Mr Sturt It’s a very thought-provoking film. 1. ‘Angela’s Ashes’ because it’s a sad and uplifting 2. Fantasy adventure story about a girl growing up in Ireland 3. ‘The Woman in Black’. The film really brings the 2. Comedy story to life - it’s very creepy! 3. ‘Supervolcano’ and ‘Day after Tomorrow’ Mr Manivanan 1. ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’. It portrays Mrs Christofi three different characters in a compelling way’ 1. ‘The Little Mermaid’ because it was my favour- 2. Clint Eastwood because I like a good strong ite childhood film storyline and a bit of comedy 2. Romcom Have you seen the maths film Pi? 3. Amelie, which is my favourite art film 3. I liked ‘Life of Pi’ because it was a nice family Seeing as you’re leaving at the end of this year, after film and the kids found the Tamil references hilarious. being here for a couple of months, what do you want Miss Waterhouse to say to this school? 1. ‘Pulp Fiction’ because it had a lot of big names This is the best school ever, you are all very lucky used cleverly. They really brought out the Saturday Ms Lemaire Night Fever and Grease in John Travolta, for example. 1. Lord of the Rings (the first one) because it was 2. I’m very versatile with films. I like good char- just before 3D and it had lots of good action and was acters, but am not a big fan of blockbusters as too a good adaptation of the original story much money is spent on them. 2. Comedy, superhero films 3. ‘Chocolat’, which is a cookery related film 3. ‘Amelie’, which is a film set in Paris about Ms Prestney someone with short black hair who helps people 1. Classic 80s- ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Top Gun’ Mr Winstone because it had great music and great fashion. It was a 1. ‘Fantasia’ because I saw it when I was very great era and I love Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise. young, when it had an impact on me and I think it has 2. Rom com some clever parts 3. Super volcano because it has some great one- 2. Comedy liners, ‘Day After Tomorrow’ because it reminds me 3. ‘Le Ballon Rouge’ because it is silly, has a wry of Christmas look and there’s no other film like it

6 Omnibus July 2014 Omnibus December 2013 CREATIVE CORNER A short story by Mahesh Mottram 8S

but this boy worked, played and ate under this burning DUST monstrosity and with a quick blink, he moved on.

Bahram sprinted along the bottom of the dried up river Bahram stopped. between the Arma mountains in which he lived. His small feet shot dust, which coated the landscape, up into the air in He had found his village. It no longer looked, smelled or clouds of grit. The naked heat of the sun sliced through the sounded like his village but this was his village. The earth dust clouds and burned his neck. The smell of dead things was scorched; Blackened by some source of unimaginable was welcoming to him. This meant he was near home. Was heat. The scorched earth seemed to form a circle around a the dog dried out and ready to be eaten? crater with black streaks radiating from it. Clouds of smoke rose from the epicentre. But these were not dust clouds. Bahram felt free. Free from his sister constantly moaning These were the toxic fumes of cordite and other explosive and free from his mother shouting at him. He stopped at a chemicals that burnt lungs if inhaled. Bahram no longer mound of rocks. He wasn’t far from home now. He looked heard the crying of babies or the voices of children as they around and spotted it. The rock, just how he had left it. played. He just heard the sizzling of flesh. Bahram curled his bony fingers around it and tugged hard. It fell with a thud to his side. He watched the little beetles A glint in the dirt caught his eye. Ignoring the heat, he crawling around and sat there fascinated. One day he would picked up a piece of burning metal. Although Bahram move to America and work at the zoo. One day. could not read, he thought he recognised English letters and numbers. Spotting smoke rising up into the sky Bahram stared up- wards and was blinded by the sun. He cursed himself as he What Bahram didn’t know was that it was part of a GPS fell over in confusion. Was it not a bit too early to start the guidance system for a million dollar BGM-109C Tomahawk fire? Especially when they were short for firewood. Bahram Land Attack Missile. Designed to be fired from U.S Navy carefully put the rock back and wandered forward. He leapt Destroyers over 300kms away and hit a designated target out of the river bank. Suddenly he realised that the smoke accurate to 20metres. But this missile, which had been was coming from far up in the mountains where his father authorised to neutralise a Taliban training camp, had missed worked. This was not his town; it was the Taliban’s. Bahram by over 200 metres and slammed straight into a civilian set- ran ahead. The Taliban propaganda on the walls around tlement. him was a blur. Somehow he had managed to take the wrong path home. This sun was driving him crazy. There was only one thing that remained of Bahram’s vil- lage. The minute grains of dust made it impossible for Bahram to climb the short rock face above him to reach the road. Dust. He was surrounded by Taliban slogans, it was impossible not to look at their fowl teachings. He was blessed by the fact that he could not read. He tried to block it all out as the walls seemed to close around him.

Panic rose from his stomach and spread over his body like a disease. His hands shook uncontrollably and his vision blurred. Bahram kicked out in frustration. The dust mixed with the humid air creating a fowl concoction that got into his eyes burning them. They began to water and vision completely left him for a few moments. But as the dust began to clear, he realised he had staggered back to where the Taliban camp joined the road. Wiping the mess from his eyes with a sweaty, brown hand, he trudged forward. Scrambling over the peak of the mountain, Bahram was met by the full extent of the sun’s glare. It burned his eyes

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