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Contents Leicestrian 2014 Contents LEICESTRIAN 2013 INTRODUCTION 2 SCHOOL-WIDE EVENTS 4 ART 27 Writers & Editors CLASSICS 35 CREATIVE WRITING 81 Harry Ashman Louisa Butland Eleanor Higginson EBOOKS DebaTE 23 ENGLISH & DRAMA 38 Elizabeth Hobbs Sophie Jefford Gwenan Jones Charlotte Julian HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY & RS 45 ICT & DESIGN 72 Oliver Wilson Laura Wiselka MODERN LANGUAGES 61 MUSIC 66 SCIENCE & MATHS 72 SPORT 89 1 Leicestrian 2014 Introduction A Word from the Headmaster C.P.M. KING The fact that The Leicestrian is such a positive and remarkable publication is simply because it reflects all that happens in this vibrant and successful school. The problem for the editors is what to leave out rather than what to include, because with every year the pupils offer more for the magazine to record and report. I recommend this new edition to you as a product of all the hard work put into it by the editorial team and as something we can all take justifiable pride in being associated with through our links to the Grammar School. The editors also work hard to prevent it simply being a dry historical account of past events and I believe they have imaginatively woven into this production elements of creative writing as well as capturing the rhythm of the annual academic year’s events. You can read it from cover to cover or dip into it where you like, but I am sure you will enjoy any article upon which your eyes alight. A Word from the Managing Editor MRS. HIGGINSON Our cover for 2014 was designed by the Head of our Art with the other U6th Form students who have assisted department, David Maddock and is based on outstanding me, in particular this year Louisa Butland, Elizabeth Hobbs, GCSE artwork by Elise Walsh, which is both portraiture Sophie Jefford and Laura Wiselka. Aspiring journalists and a commentary on the nature of art itself. Mr Pilbeam may wish to read Eleanor’s account of attending the has taken a number of photos for me, including the moon- Exploring Journalism conference. Aspiring writers may rock photos and the beautiful portraits in the Creative wish to read about the visits LGS has had this year from Writing section, and our talented student photographer, the famous poets, Andrew Motion and Simon Armitage, Oliver Siddons has also contributed a number of photos as well as the prize-winning poems by Elina Turapova including the Year 11 prom, House Drama and a Duke and Emma Nisbet written for the Hope Against Cancer of Edinburgh training session about which he has also Poetry Competition. Creative writing also featured this written. Many thanks to Mrs Hunt in Public Relations, as year includes villanelles written by two of my Year 10 well, who took some wonderful photos of Dr Whittle students and futuristic stories written by Samuel Cole playing the school organ. and Alfie Barratt in Year 9. The Baccalaureate Extended Project (excerpt) that is included this year is Francesca This is the last year that I have been able to call on my Curtis’ biting reflection on Damien Hirst. daughter, Eleanor, to write reviews, conduct interviews and deliver her opinions and I will greatly miss her, along 2 Leicestrian 2014 Introduction A Word from the Headmaster C.P.M. KING The fact that The Leicestrian is such a positive and remarkable publication is simply because it reflects all that happens in this vibrant and successful school. The problem for the editors is what to leave out rather than what to include, because with every year the pupils offer more for the magazine to record and report. I recommend this new edition to you as a product of all the hard work put into it by the editorial team and as something we can all take justifiable pride in being associated with through our links to the Grammar School. The editors also work hard to prevent it simply being a dry historical account of past events and I believe they have imaginatively woven into this production elements of creative writing as well as capturing the rhythm of the annual academic year’s events. You can read it from cover to cover or dip into it where you like, but I am sure you will enjoy any article upon which your eyes alight. A Word from the Managing Editor MRS. HIGGINSON Our cover for 2014 was designed by the Head of our Art with the other U6th Form students who have assisted department, David Maddock and is based on outstanding me, in particular this year Louisa Butland, Elizabeth Hobbs, GCSE artwork by Elise Walsh, which is both portraiture Sophie Jefford and Laura Wiselka. Aspiring journalists and a commentary on the nature of art itself. Mr Pilbeam may wish to read Eleanor’s account of attending the has taken a number of photos for me, including the moon- Exploring Journalism conference. Aspiring writers may rock photos and the beautiful portraits in the Creative wish to read about the visits LGS has had this year from Writing section, and our talented student photographer, the famous poets, Andrew Motion and Simon Armitage, Oliver Siddons has also contributed a number of photos as well as the prize-winning poems by Elina Turapova including the Year 11 prom, House Drama and a Duke and Emma Nisbet written for the Hope Against Cancer of Edinburgh training session about which he has also Poetry Competition. Creative writing also featured this written. Many thanks to Mrs Hunt in Public Relations, as year includes villanelles written by two of my Year 10 well, who took some wonderful photos of Dr Whittle students and futuristic stories written by Samuel Cole playing the school organ. and Alfie Barratt in Year 9. The Baccalaureate Extended Project (excerpt) that is included this year is Francesca This is the last year that I have been able to call on my Curtis’ biting reflection on Damien Hirst. daughter, Eleanor, to write reviews, conduct interviews and deliver her opinions and I will greatly miss her, along 2 Introduction Leicestrian 2014 A Word from the Head Boy JONATHAN BLAKE When I first came to the school, back in 2007 when LGS was fun. Being in Upper Sixth gives you a sense of ownership over still on Peacock Lane, I felt completely out of my depth. It was a the school that you look forward to from Year 7 onwards, and huge change from the small primary school I’d been at before. To it comes with a sense of responsibility. The teachers respect you begin with, I spent my mornings in Mr Shaw’s room. I wasn’t even so much more in Sixth Form. Within a day Miss Hughes can go a big musician at the time, as I only really played the guitar, but from telling people to quiet down in the library to sharing her Mr Shaw let me sit in his room anyway, even if he had a lesson, views on Woody Allen with me in the corridor – we did not and we would just chat or we would listen to Radio 4, which he agree, but still had a good conversation. Being Head Boy has been always had playing. Slowly he helped to build up my confidence; he great: I’ve been able to see my friends wearing the black gowns, I gave me instruments to try out and would eventually teach me the have given readings during services and been a part of interesting saxophone for five years. Whenever I see him now, he is as warm school events. Having a Head Girl so dedicated to the role has and friendly as ever and I don’t think I would be writing this article made it easier and I don’t think anyone deserved the post more if it was not for his influence. I will definitely miss the activities I than Milly. Some have criticised the way that I walk ahead of Milly have been a part of during my time at LGS, especially playing guitar when we enter the room for assemblies, so I want to explain in the Folk Group. The concert we played in Cornwall, in shorts that I don’t walk quickly – she just walks slowly. I cannot name and sunglasses, as people walked in and out of the Lemon Street everyone I would like to thank and everyone I will miss, it would Market was very memorable. All of our friends came to watch be too long and boring. I have made friends for life at LGS and the and we all had a really good time. That music tour was a great strong, supportive staff should be thanked. Mr Allen guided Millie experience and is one of the reasons I would highly recommend and me through the year, Mrs Sains co-ordinated every assembly learning an instrument at LGS. perfectly and Mrs Hunt was incredibly lovely. I am grateful for the experience of being Head Boy, for the skills I have gained and the When I found out from Mr King that he wanted me to be Head positive memories I will take away with me. Boy, I truly was not expecting it and worried that he had chosen the wrong person, but the year that has followed has been really A Word from the Head Girl EMILY COOKE I feel that I can truly class myself as a Leicester Grammar School Walking at high altitude for eight hours a day in the Atlas Mountains veteran, having had the experience of the Spencefield Lane, in fierce heat tested us to the full, but I will always treasure the Peacock Lane and Great Glen sites.