20 abingdonian 2 The Abingdonian The Abingdonian 2010 – 2011 Volume XXlV No. 6 Issue 315 Contents Head’s Foreword 3 Common Room Farewells 4 The School 13 Clubs and Societies 16 House Reports 20 Service Activities 42 Departments 51 Art 64 Design Technology 76 Drama 80 Film 94 Music 96 Sport 110 University Places 156 Design by Deepfusion - www.deepfusion.co.uk www.abingdon.org.uk 1 Zong Hao Tan and Philip Zealley It is 122 years since the first issue of this magazine was published, since which time it has formed an unbroken commentary on Abingdon life. Looking back through it you can see that some things have changed completely. FA Bartlett, writing in the 1911 magazine, describes how when he was at school in the 1860s lessons began at 6.40 am in the Spring and Summer terms. Boys worked until 8 when they all went home for breakfast, returning at 9.45. They went home again for lunch at 12 noon and afternoon lessons resumed at 2.15. Barlett doesn’t say what time lessons finished for the day but one suspects that it wasn’t early. Some things haven’t changed however. Exactly one hundred years ago a writer in the Abingdonian lamented that “the decay of manners does not allow us twentieth century decadents to write a decent letter (like our grandparents) set out with style and circumstance – a scribbled note perhaps, better a wire or ‘phone.” Substitute the words email and text message and it could be a twenty-first century lament. The production of the magazine is now thoroughly twenty-first century, so much so that all last term one of the two sub-editors worked remotely because he had another commitment on Wednesday afternoons and the design consultant, Simon Greenland OA 1996, is working from Australia. I should like to thank both of the sub-editors, Zong Hao Tan and Philip Zealley, for their dedicated work on this magazine, and David Dawswell for reading through the proofs. Sarah Wearne - Editor 2 The Abingdonian Head’s Foreword Reading this edition of the Abingdonian, it has the ring of familiarity about it for it coincides with my first full year at Abingdon. If I was impressed on arrival by the sheer enormity of the opportunities offered to the boys, then seeing the diversity and variety of School life written up in this publication certainly reinforces that impression. Each boy will find something which reflects his own special interests. It is also a record of a whole year of Abingdon endeavour and will be a reminder for the boys in years to come of their time here. I hope that each family will keep a copy in perpetuity for this very reason. Happy reading! Felicity Lusk www.abingdon.org.uk 3 Common Room Farewells his new school. Music also played a large part in Marcus’s life and he played bass for School House in the House Singing Competition and appeared with Jeremy Taylor and others in Abingdon’s Got Talent. Marcus’s faith, which he demonstrates by example rather than by preaching, underlines his whole life. To this end he involved himself in Alpha Courses at the School and in supporting counselling courses. plenty of opportunities to get it wrong Marcus joined the Abingdon Physics Marcus Gibbs on field exercises where teenagers are Department from King Alfred’s School, firing blank ammunition and on other The ISI report made particular note Wantage, in 2002. He leaves to trips, like the occasion when Joss had of the “quiet passion” of the Physics become Head of Physics at Ipswich to lead the cadets off the Lauberhorn Department and this is a good High School for Girls. I will miss his mountain in Switzerland in minus 20°C description of Marcus’s own approach enthusiasm, caring approach, good and in white-out conditions. Others to his subject. He really cares about humour, wit, support and friendship. might have panicked but Joss, a BASI physics and physics teaching and The whole Department wish him well in ski instructor, calmly led the cadets has always been keen to pass on this his new job. through what could only be described enthusiasm to his pupils, and to help in as ‘character building’ conditions! what any way he could with the running John Brooks of the Department itself: setting exams, taking on extra duties like Common Entrance and Oxbridge entrance Joss Williams holds dearly to the and introducing the very popular Commando principles of Electronics GCSE. Joss joined Abingdon School in courage, determination, September 2005 from Oundle. I unselfishness and cheerfulness came to know him mainly through in the face of adversity Marcus’s faith .... the Combined Cadet Force. He is underlines his whole life a former Royal Marine Commando Organizing exercises has grown more and holds dearly to the Commando challenging in recent years and the principles of courage, determination, easy option would have been to tone In addition in his responsibilities in unselfishness and cheerfulness in down the training for our cadets, but the Physics Department, Marcus the face of adversity, qualities that Joss always put the cadets’ training ran the Careers Department with a he has displayed both as Contingent needs first, leading one regular army similar degree of organisation and a Commander of the Abingdon CCF and captain to comment that our advanced commitment to update and improve as Housemaster of Crescent House. infantry training was on a par with the provision of careers advice at It takes courage to shoulder the some army training regiments - a Abingdon. He also willingly helped responsibility for the health and safety wonderful accolade. In addition, Joss out on Duke of Edinburgh Award legislation involved in CCF activities. As forged strong and very beneficial links expeditions and with the Sailing Club, a TA officer you are subject to military with the Oxford University Officer where he started as a beginner but law and, if you get it wrong, a holiday in Training Corps. Our cadets were now intends to set up a Sailing Club at Colchester Garrison awaits! There are privileged to be able to train with the 4 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells OUOTC, testament to how the Colonel Deputy Head at Culford School. He viewed the calibre of the Abingdon has been a tower of strength to many, cadets. As a sign of the regard in which an inspirational leader and a loyal he is held, Joss was selected to serve friend. We will miss his company, as Assistant Directive Staff at the Cadet professionalism, leadership and lust Training Centre Frimley Park, and to for life, qualities that he will, no doubt, report to senior army officers on issues bring to the Common Room at Culford facing contingent commanders. School in the years to come. It was a boy in Crescent who Paul Gooding commented, “Mr Williams brought to it a real sense of community spirit, which ensured that the quality of the House was not down to just bricks and mortar Sophie Payne for the people who call it their home. He ensured that friendships existed Sophie joined the Language both within year groups and through Department in 2006 and it was soon the House as a whole.” This statement apparent that we had been very speaks for itself and reflected Joss’s fortunate to gain such an extremely During her time at Abingdon, Spanish determination to make a real success talented Hispanist who had a real became firmly established as a popular of Crescent House. To make it a home passion for the subject, qualities that and vibrant Department, and Sophie’s for the boys is the challenge for Sophie conveyed effectively in the commitment played an important every Housemaster and one that classroom where she quietly gained the part in this. She also taught German, Joss achieved. respect of her pupils. demonstrating the same level of Another pupil said, “No one can doubt Having lived for several years in both dedication and attention to detail, the input that Mr Williams has given to Spain and Latin America, her Spanish which enabled her charges to perform all aspects of Abingdon School and it was not only extremely fluent but she well. She was well liked amongst her is clear that he has had a huge impact had also acquired a wide knowledge colleagues, who warmly appreciated on many students during their time at of the culture of the Spanish-speaking her good humoured, tolerant approach Abingdon”. One of his initiatives was world. This knowledge, supported and her patience with those less to set up a new Karate Club, which the by her previous experience of A-Level competent than her in areas such as boys have both enjoyed and benefitted teaching, was put to extremely effective ICT … from; he has also been a rugby coach. use at Abingdon. The School’s charitable activities In fact I have sometimes wondered if Sophie established a formidable also benefited from her guidance, Joss ever slept as, in addition to all partnership with Trish Henderson, a her organisational skills and her this, he found the time to finish his former Spanish and French teacher at commitment to the various fund-raising MBA and gain his black belt in Karate. the School, and her enthusiasm and activities, which as a result invariably The Abingdon boys that Joss touched competence in the classroom was ran smoothly. – as officer, schoolmaster or friend – instrumental in the impressive results Sophie has left to devote more time to fed off his enthusiasm. He encouraged the Department gained – with several her young family and we wish her well.