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Ellesmere SPRING TERM 2012 news Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 Ellesmere Students at Westminster Abbey he College Choir and Orchestra had an for the rehearsal at 10am. The combined Senior Choir for outstanding Autumn Term performing at the the service consisted of nearly 200 singers from various usual annual events such as the Autumn Concert Woodard schools. They led the congregation in the Tand the Carol Services. However, in November the Music hymns and psalms and sang Parry’s famous anthem Scholars enjoyed a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience of being ‘I was glad’, which was sung at the Queen’s Coronation invited to travel down to London to sing at Westminster and the recent Royal Wedding. Abbey. This was for a special service to celebrate the life Lower School Choir members (also pictured on the front of Nathanial Woodard, the founder of all the Woodard cover) gave a confident performance of ‘Arise and Shine Schools like Ellesmere. Forth’ by Sally DeFord as an introit. It was an amazing Thirty-nine pupils attended from College, with an early musical experience for everyone involved. start of 5am to ensure they arrived at the Abbey in time Page 02 Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 Choir Members with Director of Music, Mr Roger Paul (left) and Head Master, Mr Brendan Wignall (right) Page 03 Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 In November a group of students from Year 11 and the Sixth Form took part in an international Model United Nations conference, this time in the beautiful city of Leiden in The Netherlands. We asked them to give us a flavour of the experience: The view from the Press Room – by Alice Tow of Year 11 While the other Ellesmere College pupils participated as but also reported on the fun side of the weekend, such as delegates in various Committees at this year’s LEMUN 2011 the costume contest and the search for the LEMUN (lemon) in Leiden, I served as Press Officer instead, and may I say in the school. I loved the experience! Walking into a room full of unfamiliar Dutch-speaking The amazing press team at the Stedelijk Gymnasium students on my first morning was scary. But after two hours compiled, edited and printed off four newspapers known of writing my first article, I felt I had made friends. I soon as ‘Limes’ in the space of just three days. Everyone worked learned that there isn’t much time for the press team to to the best of their abilities and we also had great fun and produce each article. We usually had around two and a half a fair few lollipops, as the pictures prove. hours to write an article, and sometimes only two. The press team was responsible for writing about issues My three days as part of the press team definitely gave relevant to the MUN delegates. It featured interviews with me lots of experience as well as a true taste of journalism, the different committees and reports on the conference, which is what I hoped for in the first place. Page 04 Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 The view from the Committees – by Vicky Schaeff and Anne Bartels in the Upper Sixth After several months of researching issues of global The day was not quite over, though, as the communal dinner importance such as nanotechnology and the protection of at the guest house had to be prepared – rustling up a starter, minority populations, the 17th of November 2011 finally main course and dessert for 16 people tested our culinary arrived: time to depart for this year’s Model United Nations skills. There were not many volunteers for the washing up Conference in Leiden. afterwards, but everybody enjoyed eating and talking together. After travelling first to Manchester airport and then by train Then it was time to get ready for the LEMUN party, themed from Amsterdam to Leiden, we arrived at our destination in ‘Brave New World’. Many different costumes were produced the early evening. Wes and Jan, our Dutch hosts, were on hand and Charlie Chaplin attended the party, too! to welcome us to their guesthouse and we immediately settled in. It was not long until our group of fourteen pupils and two teachers had completely taken over the whole guest house. Friday morning started with a historical tour of Leiden organised by the students from the Dutch Stedelijk Grammar School. Oisin, our guide, showed us several historic buildings, the many canals running through the town and the world- renowned University. He was happy to answer lots of questions, too. Upon return to the Stedelijk, it was time to collect our badges and attend the opening ceremonies. Then we met in our various committees for the first time. We acted as representatives for South Korea for the Human Rights Council and The General Assembly for Disarmament and National Security. We shared resolutions with delegates from many European countries Our final day was Sunday. Time to conclude the debates, swap and the US who in turn represented countries as diverse as e-mail addresses with new friends from all over the world and Malaysia, China, Cameroon and Gabon. Having successfully set off for Amsterdam’s airport. Fog delayed our evening flight passed several resolutions, these were sent to the approval to the UK but the resulting tiredness was nothing compared to panel for debate on the following day. the enormous benefits of the trip: numerous new friends from Saturday was by far the longest day, as the various committees all over the world, an improved confidence in public speaking, were in session from 9am to 6pm. An international atmosphere a heightened awareness of urgent global issues and a first pervaded everything. It was good to have an input into the taste of the Dutch language. We thoroughly enjoyed the MUN resolutions. Various delegates were asked to speak to the conference and would strongly encourage all Sixth Formers to whole committee, including both of us. A scary experience participate in future conferences if they are offered the chance at first, but one which you quickly become used to! as it’s an unforgettable experience. Page 05 Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 Roger Fisher brings the mighty Schulze to life n November, Big School once again reverberated It was rescued and brought to its new home at to the voice of the historic Schulze Organ, the College after St Mary’s was made redundant in this time brought to life by the sure touch of 1981, and is in the care of the St Mary’s Tyne Dock international concert organist Roger Fisher. Schulze Organ Trust, who are currently raising I money to pay for a much needed scheme of repair Formerly Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chester Cathedral for twenty-nine years, Roger and cleaning. joined with the College’s Music Scholars’ Ensemble As well as being played by pupils and sounding out to inaugurate a series of concerts in aid of the the music of ‘Jerusalem’ for every Sixth Former’s Schulze Organ Appeal Fund. last moments in school at the annual Ball, the Schulze Organ is regularly visited and played by The Organ, which began its life in St Mary’s Church, organ enthusiasts from around the world, and Tyne Dock, South Shields, is one of only a handful will be the focus of further fundraising concerts of instruments remaining in this country which this year. are the work of the great German organ builder, If you would like to know more about the Schulze, Schulze, whose instruments became notable after or how you can contribute to the appeal, go to he exhibited in the Great Exhibition of 1851. www.schulzeorgan.co.uk Schulze Organ Page 06 Concert Ellesmere College Newsletter - SPRING TERM 2012 CCF Army Autumn Expedition Ready to go with webbing, weapons and kit, the coaches With slick obstacle crossings and squeezing under hedge lines delivered us at Nesscliffe for another three days of little sleep where there were no crossings, our close target reconnaissance between late night patrols, platoon attacks, ambushes and lots missions found us within hearing range of the enemy’s briefing “of running and crawling around covered in cam cream. for later section attacks, but attempts at circling the area found Along field boundaries and across obstacles, patrolling gave all four of us diving over a fence to avoid being seen by passing us a chance to familiarise ourselves with the training area’s vehicles, climbing over swampy riverbanks to remain unseen, network of fields. After arriving at the bunker where we were and getting right up against the walls of the bunker where the to sleep for the next two nights, we were given radios before enemy were all gathered together. setting off on reconnaissance patrols to gather information That evening we were given the opportunity to be section on ‘terrorist activities’. commanders for the first time and lead the evening exercise – Co-ordinated as a platoon, one section would provide a a nerve-wracking experience that made me appreciate my running commentary of the enemy’s activities and give the section’s scout’s acute sense of direction! My section tried word go, when the other two would push forward from two approaching our target from three different directions, only to angles, arrest and disarm the terrorist groups. When the last run up against stationary sentries surrounding it in all directions enemy decided not to co-operate we had a chance to use and so we returned to the rendezvous to hear the heroic story of up the rest of our ammo in a final push to arrest, disarm and two of the third section section being separated and holding an clear the area.

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