THE THE THE SKINNERS’ 2019-20 LEOPARD SKINNERS’ SCHOOL SCHOOL The Skinners’ School 1887 1stXV-Rugby 1926 The Skinners’ School 2020 1stXV-Rugby 2019-20 The Skinners’ School Tel: 01892 520732 St John’s Road Fax: 01892 549356 THE Tunbridge Wells Email: [email protected] Kent Website: www.skinners-school.co.uk TN4 9PG @LeopardTweets LEOPARD 2019-20 Robin Bell in his Boater Robin Bell, 1958 Robin Bell in 1958 described by Cecil Beeby in his school report as The School Staff 1887 ‘A perky cheerful little fellow of enterprise and very good ability too’ The School Staff 2020-21, socially distanced and attending online Rafi Tootal, Year 7 2020 Max Johnston, 6th form 2020 Present day; the wearing of blazers was relaxed in September 2020 to try and prevent the spread of Covid-19 THE LEOPARD 2019-20 THE LEOPARD 2019-20 JOURNAL OF THE SKINNERS’ SCHOOL TUNBRIDGE WELLS ELCOME to The Leopard 2019-20; the Wfirst, and possibly only edition, to be published amongst the backdrop of a global pandemic. Yet, despite the rather peculiar and unparalleled set of circumstances that have dominated each of our lives, as well as the end of this academic year, school life has A socially distanced editorial team: Ollie Knudsen, Tom Pickering, failed to grind to a halt. Dom Burns, Sam Cunningham, Matthew Walkington, Tola Alake and Joe Youdan In true Skinners’ fashion the students and members SKINNERS’ LIFE 2 Hockey 81 of staff have worked Fencing 86 industriously throughout the THE ARTS 20 Football 87 year overcoming the range Art & Design 20 Karate 87 of obstacles created through Creative Writing 29 Basketball 88 the virus. This year’s Leopard Drama 31 Badminton 90 has still managed to record Music 37 Table Tennis 91 all aspects of school life; Library 42 Swimming 92 from the once-in-a-lifetime Skiing 93 excursions that students have TRIPS 43 Extra Curricular 94 been lucky enough to attend to the erection of a new and CCF 48 WELL-BEING WEEK 96 impressive school building. CCF 48 VE Day 51 PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION 98 Many thanks must go to all Final Salute 54 of the staff members and students who have diligently THE MITCHELL BUILDING 55 STAFF LEAVERS 100 contributed to this year’s publication. Special thanks SPORT 56 OBITUARIES 103 go to Mr Wesson and Mrs Rugby 56 Dray, as if it was not for Cricket 77 LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS 104 their assiduous nature and organisation, especially amongst the arduous circumstances, this would not PRODUCTION & DESIGN: Jo McCarthy | Alison Harvey have been possible. Finally, PRINTED BY: wfmprint.co.uk enjoy reading this chronicle of another busy Skinners’ year! PHOTO CREDITS: All photos were taken by students and staff, except for all team photos which Paper from sustainable Tom Pickering were reproduced courtesy of Bruce Elliott Photography. sources www.skinners-school.co.uk 1 SKINNERS’ LIFE gay couple) which contrasted weekly meetings, we would freedom of expression with individually research stocks that Clubs… discrimination. All members of we predicted would increase the society have put forward in value. As we were investing strong, reasoned arguments and other people’s money, we had to LEOPARDS’ LAIR the weekly debates have been act in everyone’s best interests. fascinating. Hence, we would pitch our Earlier in the year, a group of positions to the team and would boys from Years 7 and 8 used Matthew Walkington debate whether the investment the Leopards’ Lair to strengthen was viable. This experience has and develop their entrepreneurial given us a valuable insight into skills. This brand new opportunity the volatile nature of the stock entailed coming up with their HISTORY market, and how we must not own business ideas, developing SOCIETY let our emotions interfere with them over 8 weeks and eventually our decision making. Some of pitching their plan to a Lair of Despite only running until March, the team enjoyed the thrill of Leopards – a selection of A level the upper school History Society investing so much it has made Business prefects. The pitches has thrived this year. A wide them consider future careers in ranged from eco-friendly toy cars variety of talks from both pupils investment. Hopefully, with the to origami creations. in the Sixth Form and Mr Clucas continued support of the school All the boys that took part have taken place, ranging from and the new Year 12, the team will displayed impeccable teamwork Matthew Walkington’s talk on re-enter the competition next year. and determination skills. The The Troubles in Northern Ireland first prize was awarded to to Thomas Hill’s presentation Lewis Smith and Isaac Bowers for his eco-water on the bloodthirsty Genghis Cameron Lock business model. This involved Khan. Talks have been in-depth recycling water from roofs and and thought provoking, sparking gardens. discussion and debate. With Leopard’s Lair was a great the society becoming more POLITICS success and hopefully the and more popular, it is beyond SOCIETY years to come will show equally question that detailed talks will talented pitches from students. continue. Every Tuesday lunchtime, the Politics Society met and Oliver Armstrong Edward Hillsdon discussed the events of the week, as well as important topics of interest. Whether it was the prorogation of LAW SOCIETY SHARES FOR parliament, the climate change Revived by Marcos Purse and SCHOOLS protests, the dramatic general Matthew Walkington, the election, or the impeachment Skinners’ Law Society meets on The Shares4Schools Competition of President Donald Trump, the a Tuesday lunchtime where we allows sixth form students to issues were scrutinised and discuss controversial court cases. invest real money in real stocks debated. The society offers a The society has proved to be very and shares. Some key members productive dialogue where we popular even in lockdown, where of this year’s Skinners’ School are free to disagree and learn it has continued on Microsoft team were Ben Dufty, Jamie from each other. Many of the Teams. Some key cases we have Wildman, and ourselves, members also helped with the discussed include R v Blaue (a with mentorship from James school general election, which case questioning whether a death Corcoran, Jono Newman had a very different result to the after refusing medical treatment and Jack Field. The team national election, with a Liberal amounted to murder) and the invested £2000 into the stock Democrat victory. Asher’s Bakery Case (a refusal market, some of which was to bake a wedding cake for a our own money. Prior to our Alex Smith 2 www.skinners-school.co.uk THE LEOPARD 2019-20 PHYSICS ENGLISH in September where the team scored enough points to qualify for SOCIETY SOCIETY the regional finals of the National The Physics Society, chaired Founded by some of the lower Schools U19 championships. by Dr Bebb, is the chance for sixth English prefects with the Skinners’ also hosted the upper school physicists to learn help of Mr Ubly, the English regional final of the ECF Team new concepts, and to offer what Society read a book a fortnight Chess Challenge. Ten teams took they’ve learnt to others. and exchanged ideas on the texts. part and the event was won by We covered novels from Orwell’s Eltham College and our ‘B’ team Rocket Engine 1984 to Fitzgerald’s The Great came second. Gatsby. Through English Society, Since lockdown, 32 boys Every week, a member of our collective understanding of have joined our ‘new’ club on PhysSoc (as we call it) gives a literature and our ability to discuss Lichess. They have had weekly presentation on a topic they’ve texts was greatly improved. competitions which have all been recently enjoyed – my last very well attended. We have presentation was on rocket Thomas Forsdick also had a number of interschool engine efficiency. I’ve discovered competitions which have been so many new ideas I’d never even very successful and have given heard of, and had a chance to our players the opportunity to play share my discoveries with others. CHESS CLUB against top schools from around I encourage any and all sixth form The Chess Club has once the country. We plan to continue physicists to come along and again been very popular this with these online competitions in become a part of it. year. We played in a number the new school year. of competitions including Reuben Saunders the Eton Rapidplay competition Jacqui Charvat Visits… AC GRAYLING We were delighted to welcome back to Skinners’ the eminent writer and philosopher AC Grayling early in March. As always, Professor Grayling gave an insightful lecture to the Sixth Form on the importance of AC Grayling with Sam Tripp (left) and Alex Smith the Humanities for continued intellectual development, and he and well-informed questions to Professor Grayling for his fielded a number of thoughtful from the audience. Many thanks continued support of the school. AN HOUR WITH MARCUS DILLISTONE Marcus Dillistone, Bafta winning British film director and Old Skinner, now based in California, visited the school on Monday 16th September 2019. We were fortunate that he came and talked to students about his career in the film industry. www.skinners-school.co.uk 3 SKINNERS’ LIFE COVID-19 and Lockdown Mr Bannister with sons of Key Workers S the coronavirus high throughout, with various pandemic intensified challenges and activities occurring and restrictions whilst at home including the toilet Atightened, the 20th roll challenge and an online version March 2020 saw the closure of Skinners’ Got Talent. of the school as Skinners’ was In an attempt to make life as plunged into the unprecedented ‘normal’ as possible, Activities times of lockdown.