Watford Grammar School for Boys Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JF. Telephone: 01923 208900 Fax: 01923 208901 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.watfordboys.org Twitter: @WBGSExcellence Fullerian 2015-16 The Fullerian 2015-16 Headmaster’s Notes 1 Drama 70 Interview with Mr Cooksey 2 Art 75 School Life 4 Sport 78 English 28 University/College Entrants 94 Trips and Exchanges 34 Staff Leavers 96 CONTENTSClubs and Societies 58 School Prizes 99 Students’ Work 60 Acknowledgements 101 Music 62 Editor: G Aitken Student Editor: Deven Voralia 10N Cover Design: Jesse Rist L6T Design: Many thanks to John Dunne. Thank you very much to all those who helped with the production of this year’s Fullerian. Watford Grammar School for Boys Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD18 7JF. Telephone: 01923 208900 Fax: 01923 208901 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.watfordboys.org Twitter: @WBGSExcellence Student Editor Front Cover by Jesse Rist L6T Many thanks again to The idea behind my design for the Fullerian cover was to have all Deven Voralia who has, parts of the school coming together to form one great structure with an almost ruthless towering up into the sky. Each section represents a different efficiency, chased up block or subject at the school, with it all working together to articles. Those teachers form the tower. The older main school building forms the base who thought they had of the tower, highlighting the school’s grounding in rich and some relief when Deven wonderful tradition, whilst the crane and construction above went off to do his GCSEs is to symbolise how the school is still growing and expanding; were unprepared for physically and academically, helping its students to reach new his ability to combine and greater heights. The drawing itself took over 10 hours to his revision with the complete and was first done in pencil then inked by hand, next organisation of sending of being scanned into the computer where I coloured and painted emails requesting articles the image in photoshop. be submitted. Deven is actively involved in the school and an easy option for those teachers who appreciate Deven’s talents as a writer, was to suggest he write the articles himself – which of course he did. Another student who deserves a mention is Danny Figg, whose ability to produce an informative, perfectly punctuated and grammatically correct article overnight has been very much appreciated and his contributions will be found in theatre reviews and cross country. Thank you too to the many teachers who have written articles themselves, produced photographs, or encouraged students to write articles so that, yet again, the magazine gives a taster of the academic and extracurricular year. GA HEADMASTER’S NOTES Becoming a ‘Fullerian’ ollowing on from my first headship at Dr Challoner’s but because of the contribution made by some of our boys High School, I have now been in post here at who seem to know some extraordinarily arcane facts about Watford Boys for just one year, but I am already the American Constitution. Having discussed the better known clear that taking on the leadership of this fabulous First and Second Amendments, when asked by the ambassador school was a great step for me personally. I feel whether anyone knew the Third Amendment, one of our boys very privileged and honoured to have been given was straight in there with his recherché interest, declaring that Fthe responsibility and it is also humbling to know that I the Third Amendment prohibits the government from quartering follow an incredible succession of influential and impressive troops in private houses. The ambassador had visited almost 100 Headmasters. I am grateful to all of my predecessors for their schools in the UK and it was only at Watford Boys that he was considerable legacy and I am very thankful for the successful able to find a student with such a detailed knowledge of the US leadership of Mark Allchorn, who led the school through a constitution. In fact, he doubted whether he would find students period of transition. with a similar knowledge in most US schools. I have now met a number of alumni and, almost without Moving on to the third entry now. Sometimes, if you’ve exception, they talk about their experiences with considerable been around for a while, it is possible to take things for granted affection. It is easy to see why that might be the case. After and I think that there is a danger of that in many areas at just one year in post, I can Watford Boys. I have worked in already say that Watford a number of schools with strong Boys is under my skin musical traditions, including Tiffin and will soon be coursing School, and I can honestly say through my bones like the that the concerts here were the lettering in a stick of rock. very best school instrumental Along with Nick Hornby, I am concerts I have ever attended. a huge fan of ‘Top 5’ debates: The range of ensembles and the ‘Top 5’ favourite films, test diversity of the repertoire have matches, Botham innings, both been great and the quality of holiday destinations, cars the musicianship is extraordinary. and the like. So I thought Moreover, this is not a product of I’d challenge myself to come a small core of capable musicians up with my ‘Top 5’ favourite – there are hundreds of them; so moments so far at Watford many in fact that each term we Boys and I’m pleased to have to stage two concerts back- say that although there to-back to include the full gamut. were many contenders, I’ve For those of you that may have settled on a final five. taken this for granted over the My first entry in the years, I would encourage you to list was the moment when think again and admire the really I discovered the reason exceptional quality that emerges for the distinctive and not from the Clarendon Muse. unattractive smell in the The fourth entry very nearly school hall and the adjoining corridors – Angie Dukes and a tin of didn’t come to pass. At the start of the year I was approached Brasso is a force to be reckoned with and I don’t know of any other by a group of 6th form boys who wanted to put on a play. They school in the country where it is standard to be able to see your were quite keen on Alan Bennett’s ‘The History Boys’ which face in the gleaming brass floor plates and door handles. Having was of course filmed at the school a few years ago. For those served the school for many decades, she embodies the loyalty and of you that know the play, you will be aware that it explores care that so many people have for this institution. some themes which don’t lack for controversy. Torn between The next entry stems from the visit of the US ambassador the desire to reward independence, initiative and creativity to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, who joined us in whilst avoiding scandal and letters of complaint, we gave November. He was an excellent speaker and he explored our the boys free reign to produce the play on the condition that students’ perceptions of the United States and its role within the they would accept that if it was deemed inappropriate by Mr world as well as explaining some of the policies and constitutional Macleod, our very own Lord Chamberlain, the performance matters that define its approach. However, this doesn’t make the would not go ahead. After watching the run-through, I received Top 5 on the back of his presentation, excellent though it was, an email on the evening of the school concert from Mr Macleod. THE FULLERIAN 2015-16 1 It read: ‘Have just finished watching their there were many joyous moments on the our weight. Not literally of course! HEADMASTER’Srun through. Agenda item to discuss at touchline and boundary rope.NOTES The visit As I’ve already said, these our meeting tomorrow morning!’ Whilst to the home of the Saracens to see our entrants in my ‘Top 5’ had some strong somewhat cryptic, my heart sank. The 1st XV hammer UCS was pretty good, competition, including some superb following day, not being one to miss but I think that for the boys themselves, lessons that I’ve been privileged to a dramatic opportunity himself, Mr the victory over Merchant Taylor’s by visit and moments of great hilarity and Macleod started his feedback by saying 21 points to 0 was especially satisfying camaraderie. However, I have chosen ‘Well I’ve watched their play and (long and will represent a highlight of the these 5 to underline a few important pause……..) it is brilliant – it has to go rugby season. Not just a local derby, and significant first impressions. Watford ahead’. And indeed it did and indeed it but a match between schools with Boys is blessed with loyal, dedicated was. In fact it played to packed houses very different levels of resourcing. We and extremely talented staff. It is also and extremely appreciative audiences do not have the luxury of conditioning blessed with many imaginative, creative, and I am in awe of their achievement coaches, coaches for the backs, for the determined and talented students. I have which was entirely self-driven. forwards, masseurs and the like, as is really enjoyed my first year in the post I’ve attended many sports fixtures the case at some independent schools.