MH Magazine Issue 4

MILL HILL SCHOOL MAGAZINE. SPRING & SUMMER 2019 Mill Hill Magazine Jane Sanchez Welcome Head, Mill Hill School One function of the Mill Hill Magazine is to pause to draw breath, looking back at two busy terms since the last Issue was published and celebrating achievements and landmarks in the School calendar. In this issue, we look back further, reflecting on the centenary of the end of the First World War which we marked in a special extension to our customary Remembrance Ceremony, which included the placing of 100 poppies, crafted by pupils in the Art Department, on the Chapel lawn. We honour our traditions, but try to do so imaginatively and with a fresh awareness of their meaning. This issue also celebrates forward thinking, in the form of the Big Idea; a competition which invited pupils to submit their ideas for a project which would enhance school life and for which a prize of £2,000 was on offer. The winning House, Weymouth, can now begin to make a reality of their Wellbeing Garden, a resurrection of the xxxxxxxx Garden beside the swimming pool which will become a haven for relaxation, meditation, yoga and conversation; a quiet spot which we can all benefit from. The same feature also summarises innovative projects which have flourished across all four Schools in the Foundation. Other recent highlights have included Bugsy Malone, which brought together pupils from all years in a colourful and 4 6 8 10 highly entertaining whirlwind of music, dance and drama of ACT OF REMEMBRANCE THE NEW HYMN BOOK MUSIC SCHOLAR BUGSY MALONE the highest order. No less uplifting was the Big Sing in the Article Article Article Article Chapel, an evening of hearty singing of many of our favourite hymns brought together by the Chaplain in the 12 14 16 20 beautifully produced new Mill Hill Hymn Book. BIG IDEAS VIDEO PRODUCTION SOCIETY ARTICULATION SPORTS GOES DIGITAL With much behind us this academic year, there is also much Article Article Article Article to look forward to as the days grow longer; enjoy the magazine and watch this space! 22 24 28 29 CCF PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTS SAILING TO VICTORY LOOKING FORWARD, Article Article Article LOOKING BACK Article 30 31 OLD MILLHILLIANS VALETE Edited by Front cover Article Article Mr Tony Binns Xxxxxxxxxxxx MILL HILL MAGAZINE 4–5 Centenary Act of Remembrance The Gate of Honour has two particular much over the years to provide a window into Mill Hill has long paid solemn homage to the layers of poignancy. It was intended to both individual lives cut short by conflict and Old Millhillians whose lives have been lost in commemorate the dead of the Great War and I our School’s narrative. have always found it important to point out to the service of their country. Indeed, the annual pupils that the main walls situated on either side The past four years have witnessed a of the gate were designed as a memorial; the succession of centenary commemorations of Act of Remembrance, which began in 1920 with rest of the structure was not intended to be an the Great War and its significant battles. This active register. The side walls would later be year it was felt important to add a new the opening of the Gate of Honour, has remained used to record the names of those lost in the dimension to our reflections and the inclusion 2nd World War and an additional name would be of soldiers’ photographs in the Chapel fundamentally the same. The inaugural added after the Falklands War. It would have together with the planting of poppies ceremony was captured on film by Pathé News been truly shocking to those walking through designed and made in the Art Department the Gate in the 1920s and 30s to imagine that added extra pathos. I chose to share the and can still be seen on the School website some of their names would find their way on to stories of three OMs whose names practically the Gate. bookend the Gate of Honour both in order of www.millhill.org.uk/2018/11/centenary-service- appearance and age. Hopefully the 23 years ago the then Chaplain, Reverend Paul remarkable story of Herbert Ward and the remembrance Hunt, asked if I would take the lower school in a tragic stories of Frederick Stafford and Noel separate act of reflection since they missed out Bishop will have given our current pupils a real on the profound splendour of the chapel sense of the human cost of war. service. This has since become a staple of our Act of Remembrance with the History by Department bearing the responsibility for Mr M Dickinson separate lower school presentations; doing Head of History MILL HILL MAGAZINE 6–7 The new Hymn Book The Big Sing in Chapel in March marked the The event was led by the Chapel Choir as Our hymn book not only contains 100 of America, Austria, France, Germany, many former and new members of Mill Hill the best-loved hymns, but also includes a Ireland, Russia, Scotland and Wales as launch of the much-anticipated bespoke Mill Hill gathered to sing a selection of their history of the Chapel, as well as a large well as England. The collection favourite hymns; it was our own version of selection of motivational readings, contains four-part harmonies for all the School Hymn Book, a publication which will the popular BBC series Songs of Praise! reflections and prayers which will help to hymns to enable greater musical “instil values and inspire minds”. It is a appreciation and participation, as well enable us to develop our long tradition of being a Thanks to the wonderful generosity of hymn book of which we can be rightly as several rousing descants to be sung almost one hundred donors, including proud. Some of the world’s most by Mill Hill’s Chapel Choir. The hymn school which invests in the power of singing to current members of the school community distinguished musicians have composed book will also be available for sale to all build our community. as well as many Old Millhillians, the school many of the hymn tunes. These include those who leave the school in the has been able to produce its own unique Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Haydn, Holst, coming years, to remind them of the hymn book with the school Coat of Arms Howells, Mendelssohn, Parry, Purcell, many poignant experiences in Chapel and Motto embossed in gold on the front. Sibelius, Vaughan Williams and Wesley, as as well as being a personal resource for Moving personal dedications written in well as several of the best modern ongoing spiritual and moral formation. beautiful calligraphy, will also be found composers of sacred music such as Rutter inside the front covers of almost 200 hymn and Willcocks. Different hymn styles are by books. incorporated, with tunes originating in Revd Dr Richard Warden Foundation Chaplain MILL HILL MAGAZINE I think of the Mill Hill Music School as my second home. Every morning I dump my bags on 8–9 the bench in the foyer and head to a practice room before registration. Sometimes, on a cold winter's day Mrs Mills has been known to make me a sneaky tea. The Life of a Music Scholar by Ellen Baumring-Gledhill L6 I feel totally comfortable in the Music Being a Music Scholar has enabled me to Some of the musical highlights from my School where I started as a nervous Fourth balance the best of both worlds - a ‘regular time so far at Mill Hill have been playing the The Mill Hill Music Department is like an Former who looked up to and was inspired education’ at Mill Hill and a specialist first movement of the Haydn Cello extension of my family and they have by the older music students. Now, as a music education at Junior Guildhall every Concerto in C, with the school orchestra supported and encouraged me in all my Sixth Former, it feels a real privilege to be Saturday, where I have my first study cello (2018); forming a piano trio with two musical endeavours. Mr Kyle has been a asked to help inspire the younger lessons with my teacher and Uncle, Oliver extremely talented musicians when I was in guide, advisor and mentor to me and I am musicians, not only with playing but also Gledhill, who has inspired, encouraged Remove form, and having the opportunity so grateful for his encouragement, and with coaching, conducting, and giving and supported me since I started learning to play in a lunchtime recital together; solo that of Mr Chakravarty and Miss Thurtell. advice. the cello at the age of five. At Junior cello performances in the termly Scholars' The School has supported me through Guildhall I also have piano lessons with Concerts; a lunchtime cello recital in Fifth challenges and celebrated with me in my I love the inclusive approach that Mill Hill Zoë Mather, as well as playing in different form, accompanied by a fellow student; musical successes. At Mill Hill there is takes to music making. There are so many ensembles including the Junior Guildhall and my successes in the Mill Hill much collaboration between students in opportunities for everyone at every level String Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra Instrumental Competition and the Farrow different year groups. For me this sums up including the Annual Instrumental Music and Chamber Ensemble, as well as a Singing Prize. the essence of the Music School. I feel the Competition with different categories for weekly Musical Awareness class. I also School has recognised the demands and beginners to advanced players, the Farrow have the opportunity to give regular solo Life as a Music Scholar is very busy, with pressures on me as a musician who aspires Singing Competition, the Composition performances in Open House Concerts.

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