Abingdonian 2010 2 The Abingdonian The Abingdonian 2009 – 2010 Volume XXIV No. 5 Issue 314

Contents

Editorial 2 Headmaster’s Foreword 3 Common Room Farewells 4 School 16 Clubs and Societies 24 House Reports 30 Service Activities 50 Departments 70 Art 84 Design Technology 94 Drama 98 Abingdon Film Unit 112 Dance 115 Music 116 Sport 130 University Places / Leavers 180

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www.abingdon.org.uk 1 Editorial

It’s possible that I am the only person who reads every single word of The Abingdonian – and every single comma, and every single full stop. However, should anyone think this might be a tedious process they would be very wrong. Who could remain indifferent when following the triumphs and disappointments of the sports’ teams, or fail to be moved by the pleasure of the Moldovan children holidaying in Romania courtesy of the Abingdon supported charity Agape.

Time and time again writers use the words dedication, challenge, effort, commitment and hard work to describe the boys’ activities, and mention their determination to learn lessons, embrace different cultures and help the less fortunate. It makes me very proud of them. You will only to have to read a fraction of what’s in here to feel proud of them too. I hope you will.

I’d like to thank all the boys who have helped with the production of this magazine; their commitment has been impressive! With the retirement of Anne Soper, who used to happily proof read the whole document and pick up numerous mistakes, I can only apologise in advance for the inevitable errors that I will have missed.

Sarah Wearne

The Abingdonian Editorial Group:

From L to R in photograph: Lawrence Lai Barry Au Kelvin Poon Chun Maan Chin Timothy Hui Jay Jung

Jacob Diamond (not pictured)

2 The Abingdonian Head’s Foreword

This is my first formal association with The Abingdonian, a publication I greatly admire because it is such a fantastic record of the life of this wonderful school over a whole year. Everything is here from Rifle Club to dance, concerts to fencing. There’s something for everyone, memories of a trip abroad, success at a particular sports fixture, an image of a painting or sculpture.

Tribute is paid to my predecessor Mark Turner at the end of his eight and a half years’ service as a fine Head for Abingdon School. In years to come the boys will look back on the 2009/10 edition, fondly I hope, and recall the events of this year and their individual role. And you never know – the archivist might be asked to source material for a future biography of a boy who’s gone on to do extraordinary things. Felicity Lusk with Mark Turner More than anything though it’s worth reading for its own sake. I hope that you enjoy this edition of The Abingdonian as much as I have.

Felicity Lusk

www.abingdon.org.uk 3 Common Room Farewells

Mark Turner Mark and Elizabeth Turner Farewell Party 2010 A single article cannot attempt do justice to the work of Mark Turner over the last eight and a half years. David Lillycrop, Chairman of Governors for the past two, spoke at Prize Giving of the strength of Abingdon at the end of the Headmaster’s tenure. As the Headmaster himself has said, he inherited a thriving school in 2002, and history will attest that he has succeeded in strengthening it further. He has been assiduous in ensuring that Abingdon moved forward during his tenure.

Mark Turner arrived in January 2002, having already served six years as memorable boathouse, driven by a increase in achievement in sport has headmaster of Kelly College. The wave of parental enthusiasm and led to stronger fixture lists. Reporting achievements of the School during endeavour after the success of the too has been modified to include more the last eight years are apparent first VIII in 2002 when they won the detail. The Headmaster himself, in the from a glance at the Abingdonian, Schools’ Head of the River, the National front of the Other Half booklet, defied Headmaster’s newsletters and Schools’ Regatta at Nottingham and anyone to research what is on offer Abingdon News (which he instituted). the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley. and find nothing that stimulated their The boom years of the last decade The new Sports Centre, declared a top interest or enthusiasm. have been used as opportunities to priority in an early parental survey, took renew and to build afresh, and to years of planning and construction. strengthen and broaden the Other Half Somehow the Headmaster managed by careful recruitment and deployment to convince the Governors to borrow of staff. The Arts Centre was built large amounts of money to fund the in the early years, followed by the building of this outstanding £9 million facility. The strengthening of the Other Half has not just happened through provision of better facilities. Monitoring of pupil participation has increased, with clear expectations given to the boys. There has been a broadening of activity to include such items as the Film Unit, and more meetings of departmental societies. These have been accompanied by rising expectations that new and established staff offer opportunities for pupils to Boat House 2003 May Fair 2003 develop beyond the classroom. An

4 The Abingdonian tradition has often been mentioned to new staff at their induction and Mark Turner has sought to ensure that academically able boys are recruited and then developed in order to ensure they have opportunities for life beyond school. Analysis of the statistics illustrates the point: the size of year- groups has grown, with an increase in their average ability on entry measured by standardised tests. A*s at GCSE have gone from 27% to 42%. A level results have risen from 76% A&B in 2002 to an average of 90% for the last four years.

Mark’s own work rate has been phenomenal. It was evident to me each morning in the pile of correspondence he had read and the detailed letters of reply he had dictated. Annual assemblies on leadership, usually around the time of appointment of prefects, often made mention of the officers’ manual given to the Headmaster on his entry to Sandhurst, With HRH The Princess Royal 2006 with the title Serve to Lead, a path he sought to follow.

Keen that all boys experience service to At the final assembly Euan Campbell, In all his work for Abingdon, Mark was others, early on in his tenure the Third Head of School, spoke of the ably supported by his wife, Elizabeth, Year Service scheme was introduced Headmaster’s contribution in many herself head of Religious Studies at as a compulsory element of the Third- areas of school life, mentioning in Abingdon Prep. She was frequently year curriculum. Opportunities for boys particular the impact he had on the first welcoming prospective, new and to go overseas as part of charitable XV when spotted on the touchline. He current parents at school receptions, ventures have been encouraged and was rarely absent from home fixtures, and entertaining at Lacies Court, often developed too, in part due to the or from musical or dramatic events. accompanied their two engaging sons, Headmaster’s own enthusiasm for such When he spoke at the Concert in Alexander and Gideon. ventures. the Sheldonian Theatre in June, the Headmaster declared that attendance A man with a clear vision of what at the myriad musical events was far Rowing Abingdon – Henley matters in education, Mark’s from being just a duty, it had given him 2010 achievements at Abingdon were great pleasure. applauded at many farewell events during his final days before his move to While other schools focused solely Shrewsbury. I hope his time there will on raising their league table position, be as fruitful as his time at Abingdon Abingdon has developed an attractive has been. all-round education at the same time as increasing academic standards, David Dawswell making it an attractive place to parents and boys. Abingdon’s grammar school

www.abingdon.org.uk 5 get answers, and he has become known Alun Watkins almost affectionately by Abingdon’s small criminal underclass as D. I. Watkins. When Alun was appointed to Abingdon in 1989 an internal memo from a member Alun has a traditionalist’s commitment to of the interview panel, who shall remain the best of ‘old fashioned standards’, a nameless, said ‘If I had been headmaster belief that successful schoolmastering is I would have got on with it, rung him based on strong personal relationships up and offered him the job by now’. – hence his massive investment in Thankfully, even after a period allowing meeting boys off the buses almost every for the exercise of headmagisterial day of the school year – and he never consideration, not to mention let his colleagues on SMT forget that in procrastination, the phone call was made a boys’ school the Other Half is a vital and Alun was appointed to Abingdon. key element, and not an adjunct to the The powerful first impression he made education on offer. In fact, over the at interview was quickly consolidated years, Alun has been a stalwart defender on arrival in the School as he showed of Saturday school. We will watch with real gravitas as a classroom teacher, interest to see whether this is introduced demanding high standards. Alun’s M.Phil at Victoria College, Jersey, where he has research at Exeter on ‘some rather been appointed Head. obscene dung beetle’ is indicative of the The Watkins family have been Abingdon’s fact that he has never been squeamish leading dynasty for over two decades. about rolling his sleeves up and exploring the Rugby Club to ever higher levels of Four successful Abingdonian sons have the murkier sides of school life. These ambition. He quotes as his proudest attended the School, and it must be have proved to be vital skills over the moment the 1992 away win over Radley recorded that Sue, his wife, has been last few years in his role as Deputy Head in which James Tilley scored a breakaway a tireless and passionate supporter of Pastoral. try in the closing stages of a tense match hundreds, if not thousands, of Abingdon to win 14-9. events. We should perhaps consider ourselves fortunate that Alun ever entered teaching From reading this tribute thus far, you In fact, Abingdon has been a point of in the first place. The current generation could easily be mistaken into a belief consistency in that Alun’s entrepreneurial of Abingdonians could perhaps be that Alun’s main role at Abingdon was and DIY interests have frequently forgiven for forgetting that Alun was once focused on the Rugby Club – far from it. meant the family have been ‘of no fixed the statuesque fly-half for Bath during His commitment to every aspect of the abode’ during phases of expansion, the years 1981-85, when he notched up School, and the respect he earned from refurbishment or speculation. We are over 100 games on a quasi-professional boys, meant that on reorganisation of the delighted that over two decades they basis for one of the most successful sixth form in 1997 he was the obvious chose to make Abingdon their home. clubs in the country at that time. Had candidate as Upper Master. As such he the professional opportunities available was responsible for the general wellbeing, Somehow, despite the fact that Alun is a to today’s players been open to him he good discipline and academic progress non-swimmer and reluctant flyer, we all may have gone down a route to fame and of the entire sixth form. Such a challenge know that he will make a huge success riches. It was most fortuitous that instead required a rather authoritarian approach, of his new responsibilities. Welsh granite Alun saw the benefits of a teaching career but over time, and with growing has some pretty durable qualities. and took up a position at Downside confidence, the relationship between sixth School. Inevitably, he was heavily form and Upper Master brought a much Mark Turner involved in rugby coaching, an aspect more positive atmosphere. On another of his contribution to school life that he reorganisation of the SMT in 2006 he was hoping to play down on appointment was appointed Deputy Head Pastoral. to Abingdon as Head of Biology. No In this role Alun has been a colossus. chance. In fact Alun was soon coaching Complex disciplinary knots have been Abingdon’s 1st XV and encouraging untangled with a steely determination to

6 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells

Will was Head of Boarding for the past Will Phelps five years, a job he did with huge style and effectiveness. He loved to wind up So many labels were used to describe his boarding-housemaster colleagues Will during his final weeks at Abingdon by talking about “my boarders”, but that originality in this respect became this never detracted from his attention quite a challenge. On Leavers’ Day to detail, his work rate, his genuine alone he was described as ‘a Legend’, concern for the boarding community ‘a Colossus bestriding the Atlantic’, both day to day and in the long term, ‘one of the big beasts of the Abingdon and his astuteness. His showmanship jungle’, and ‘a rainbow’. I saw him in this capacity does however need to quite simply as one of the pillars of our be celebrated, as anybody who ever society. attended the Boarders’ Christmas Dinner knows; there was always genuine Will Phelps, who has been appointed as expectation in the air as Will stood up Headmaster of the British International to make his speech, not least with the School of New York, arrived at Abingdon Headmaster – “I have no idea where from Aldenham School in September this is going” Mark admitted, as last 1998. An RS teacher, a boarding tutor December’s offering from Will took yet in Crescent House, and an enthusiastic another surreal turn. But he always contributor to the Other Half from the got there in the end, and everybody moment he arrived – a fresh-faced felt somehow wiser – despite the still bachelor, with all the makings of a first- mystifying references to moose heads rate schoolmaster, it seemed. In reality, or decoy ducks. I would also like to Will will be the first to acknowledge the we had a monster in our midst – a say how much I enjoyed being part of significance of the role-played by his heavy smoking, hard drinking, goatee- the unholy trinity that is the boarding- wife Kimberley, both in the position he beard-wearing hell raiser – it was as if housemasters team; this was in no small has left, and the one he is now starting. Michael St John Parker had pulled off part due to the way Will managed that There will certainly be a strong power the major coup of employing the Prince team. behind the Headmaster’s throne at of Darkness himself to teach Religious the British International School of New Studies at Abingdon. But Will became a Will was also asked to take on a role of York, not to mention the beginnings of a force for good, at the same time holding fundamental importance in the school formidable networking team… on to his desire to live life to the full and – child protection officer. This brought to his very infectious joie de vivre. His him into direct contact with many more So, Will Phelps– ex Head Boy at Clifton generosity as a colleague, as a teacher members of the school community than College, former jackaroo, founder and as a host knew few bounds. most of us, and enhanced his reputation member of the Abingdon staff Hellfire for a judicious mix of plain talking and Club, wit, raconteur, bon viveur and pillar Will was an extremely effective charm. of our society – we wish you and your and inspiring teacher of RS and family all the very best in the Big Apple; demonstrated the same skills as a A pillar of Abingdon society needs to we pay tribute to your warmth and House Master. On taking over Waste know his way round the various school generosity, and acknowledge the fact Court in 2001 he set about creating the committees, and know how to make that although the Abingdon edifice will School’s biggest House by introducing the most of meetings. Will was well probably survive the removal of such a dayboys, and he called for and got the practised at this as his shrewdness and central pillar, we will definitely miss you. House spirit that is now associated with ability to see the big picture made him his name. In doing this he showed in a welcome presence on a large number Douglas Aitken abundance the wisdom that is needed of School committees. He was good at by everyone in this position, the wisdom making the party line clear – charmingly to recognise what really matters, and clear, but clear none-the-less. This skill what is trivial. will of course stand him in good stead in his next post.

www.abingdon.org.uk 7 Wycombe Abbey and Westonbirt Simon Balderson School. In November 2010 he Dan Smith accompanied to Helsinki the team of Simon Balderson joined the ICT ten boys who were competing in the department in 2007 and soon showed international session of the European his mettle teaching ICT skills to the Youth Parliament. As befitted a teacher Lower School and A level ICT to a of ICT, he also tried to modernise group of eager students each year. He this oldest of Abingdon societies by also lent the weight of his technical streaming debates online and adding and programming expertise to the weekly summaries to the School Department, helping to develop new website. technologies as well as the Study Site. Simon also supported the Cross- Country Club and is a highly Outside the classroom, Simon’s profile accomplished athlete in his own right: as a keen and gifted jazz musician he competed in his local cross-country soon became apparent and it was league, ran the London Marathon, not long before he was appearing as had competed in countless Olympic a tenor saxophonist in the Big Band and sprint distance triathlons and and, on occasions, deputising as latterly in the Wimbleball half ironman. Leader. In July 2009 he joined the While helping to coach the runners highly successful Big Band tour to at Abingdon he was inspired and got Tuscany. Simon’s vocal talent is now When the time came to appoint a new fit enough to complete Ironman UK immortalised on the new Big Band CD, physics teacher we all agreed that in 2008. It is no surprise therefore singing opposite Head of School, Euan what we needed was an experienced that while coaching as part of the Campbell, in the Sinatra/Sammy Davis classroom teacher, and yet as soon as Cross-Country Club he also led and Jnr number, Me and My Shadow. we interviewed Dan we changed our managed a hugely successful Triathlon mind and appointed him fresh from his Club here at the School: he coached In charge of the Debating Society for PGCE course – no doubt something and encouraged boys and staff to one year, Simon organised several to do with his much remarked on enter the Blenheim Triathlon in which successful dinner debates with charisma and charm! Although not he competed himself – between quite as young as he looked, he being interviewed by the local media instantly showed that he had the talent and Channel 4 who were televising and ability of a much more experienced the event and promoting triathlon at teacher and, despite being an NQT, he grass-root level. As a cross-country fitted seamlessly into the Department, coach he was unfailingly systematic happily teaching physics at all levels in his approach and hugely patient from the Third Form to the Upper Sixth, and committed to the long-term and getting very good results with all development of the boys as athletes. his classes.

He was known for his constant In his five years at Abingdon, Dan enthusiasm, and this saw him arrive showed himself to be a natural teacher at every training session with a smile who could easily capture the attention and an infectious positive attitude. He of his class and maintain a high always led by example and supported standard of discipline. Yet he was the boys in whichever way he could. always approachable and was prepared to make time to help any boy, even David Haworth those he didn’t teach. He was popular and effective with the very highest fliers – many of whom he successfully coached for Oxbridge – as well as with

8 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells

those who found the subject difficult. was always happy to go beyond the His degree in Engineering at Imperial, Cherry Briggs specifications in order to promote the followed by a Doctorate in Coastal subject she enjoyed. Cherry started at Abingdon in Engineering at Cambridge, meant he September 2007. During these three always kept his teaching grounded in Cherry has been a tutor in School years, she has not only come a long the real world. House for three years, the last of way herself but has also made a huge which she has spent resident in the contribution to the School. Dan also taught A level maths, House. Throughout this time she coached the J15 rowers with some has worked with both great charm When she was appointed she was notable successes, helped with the and consummate professionalism, in the process of completing her Christian Union, D of E expeditions, whether in day-to-day contact with Biochemistry degree at Oxford rowing camps, Modern Language her tutees or looking after the whole University and this strong academic trips, and with football. In addition he House boarding community on her background has proved to be a real was a resident tutor in School House duty nights. She took over her first asset to the School. In the Biology and took his fair share of responsibility tutor group as they were going into Department, Cherry has taught across within the Physics Department. Dan the fourth year, and her first task was the full range of abilities and year has moved on to teach physics at to impress on her charges that tutor groups as well as getting involved Manchester Grammar School and periods and Facebook time are not outside the classroom with Biology whilst we are sorry to lose him we wish one and the same thing! She met Society, Oxbridge preparation and him all the best. further challenges with these young advising potential medical students. men equally resolutely, and saw them She has always been completely John Brooks through to some successful GCSE committed to her teaching and given results. All good practice, possibly, for her full effort to all of her classes. Dan’s PhD thesis on waves was very the dangerous holidays she regularly She was always professional in her useful when it came to coaching indulged in. The reward was a tutor work and set high standards with her rowing, especially at the National group all of her own from the very planning and delivery of lessons as Schools’ Regatta in Nottingham. He start, and this particular generation of well as with her thorough marking has been a key member of the Boat Abingdonians hugely appreciated her and feedback to pupils. Cherry had Club coaching staff during his time calm, measured approach at the same the ability to inspire and motivate and at Abingdon and his credentials were time as recognising that high standards put to the test in his first term when were expected. They will certainly be he raced with the boys in America. sorry to see her go. Her contribution in Since then he has guided numerous the evenings included some invaluable crews to success and his humour and advice to aspiring Oxbridge scientists, enthusiasm will be greatly missed on but she also made Monday evenings the water. in School House her own in other ways – she was very much in charge! Athol Hundermark The cheeky rumour did the rounds on her arrival in the resident tutor’s flat that it had something to do with a formalisation of her relationship with Dr Smith, but she treated this and other nonsense – including in the House Christmas review – with good grace, and with the disdain it deserved.

Cherry has made an excellent contribution to the Boat Club over the last three years and will be sorely missed. Her small figure belies a booming authoritative voice when it

www.abingdon.org.uk 9 comes to cajoling hordes of third- Youth Parliament final at Durham references, leading to an invitation to formers running along the towpath. University. Lower School boys OA Hugh Leach to come and speak to Despite an initially tentative start to were encouraged to be ambitious in boys about his time as a diplomat in coaching she has grown in confidence researching their debate speeches, and Afghanistan during the timespan of the and played a key role with Henry a reply from the Australian PM (‘the novel. All of these initiatives emerged Morgan and Hugh Price in getting the monarchy should be abolished’) was organically and unpredictably, covering J14 2nd boat across the line first at the prized by boy and Celia alike. the specification and way beyond. National Schools’ Regatta. She cherished the intellectual Her love of travelling informed her In the three years that Cherry has independence and creativity afforded by teaching, with holidays divided between been with us, she has given a lot and teaching in schools like Abingdon, and travelling and travel writing, and made a huge impression on the School ‘spirit’, and ‘the importance of taking exploring Oxfordshire’s gastronomic House community. We wish her every risks’, were words that were rarely delights. Celia’s collegiality and success with her move to Sri Lanka far from her lips. She could be found commitment to cross-curricular work and look forward to hearing her news. setting a ‘one-armed egg decapitating’ saw her arrive at INSET armed with She will be a tough act to follow at prep task (‘Boy’), as well as recreating resources from Ethiopia, Syria and the Abingdon and will be missed by many. the Rime of the Ancient Mariner in the Galapagos Islands for example. She school garden. She valued the library, shared her experiences of the tsunami Simon Bliss and Douglas Aitken coaxing reluctant readers to ‘go for with Sixth-form Geographers and gave gold’ in the Reading Bonanza. Oxbridge lessons on Spanish film. The best example of Celia’s philosophy Celia Shephard can be seen when a student in her Celia credits the Abingdon Film Unit as set became committed to studying a major reason for applying to teach Celia arrived at Abingdon in 2007 with International Relations at university here. She regrets not finding time for a richly diverse experience of teaching so she opted to teach The Kite the AFU, but has dabbled with Juniors in top independent day and boarding Runner. An Upper-Sixth-form trip C Hockey and Fifth-form recreational schools, an IB international school, the to SOAS inspired a visit to Iran to football, joining in as a central defender state sector and an informal advisor to research the role of Persian literary in her Newcastle United top. What Havelock Academy and Lincolnshire Montessori. As an experienced examiner, she brought invaluable insights to her teaching and enjoyed debating educational issues with colleagues.

In a results-driven culture, Celia’s main achievement was her contribution in August 2009 to the English department’s best GCSE results in a decade. She was as proud of the EFL boy’s A* grade (the first by a Korean boy at Abingdon) as she was of hard-won A grades. She credits these successes to the boys’ EFL and learning support teachers, but they reflect her commitment to forging partnerships with colleagues, boys and parents.

As head of debating, I valued her championing of public speaking, both in the classroom and at the English

10 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells

looked like a conversation about the very successful time at St Peter’s York art of defence was a discussion about Gareth Callan and I am looking forward to seeing his Dickens with an Oxbridge candidate. Gareth joined the School straight career develop over the coming years. As an Olympic trialist, too few from working in industry two and a Abingdonians have benefitted from half years ago. Having never taught Ian Middleton her swimming expertise. We trained before he was thrown right into the job together and, reassured that butterfly and proved to be a very quick learner. is ‘all in the mind’, I progressed to He worked very hard at learning the Owen Cobbe half a mile butterfly. At Abingdon craft of the classroom and earned The first glimpse the boys got she qualified for the Masters’ World the respect of the boys across the full of the fresh-faced Owen was in Championships and developed a new range of age and ability at this School. Canada, where he arrived to replace interest in open water swimming, most He set himself, and the boys in his the slightly weathered, outgoing recently swimming the Henley Regatta classes, very high standards and I was head of rugby, Kevin Brennan. He course at dawn. She combined her impressed at the amount of time and immediately impressed everybody love of English, swimming and travel effort he was prepared to devote to with his loquacious manner and when she swam the 4.5km Hellespont, getting things spot on. following in Byron’s leg-kick and his professionalism. The tourists were quick to respond and an easy winning her age group category (and During his time at Abingdon, Gareth rapport soon developed. His youthful the greater prize of her poem being was fully involved in the life of demeanour and firm-but-fair approach read out in a Radio 4 documentary). the School. He made significant soon had the boys making rapid contributions to the boarding progress with their ball-handling skills Celia established water polo at community in his role as a tutor for and also their scrummaging. Abingdon, which she valued in both School House. On the sporting side It came as no surprise that his sporting and pastoral terms. She ran he was a highly successful Junior Colts protégé, Damian Shirazi, who followed the U18 and Senior Colts water polo rugby coach and he also coached Owen out of the door at Portsmouth teams and helped me form the Juniors a number of cricket teams. In the Grammar School, has also proved to team. When school commitments Chemistry Department he developed a be a capable coach. Owen’s youthful permitted, she played for City of very impressive demonstration lecture, energy has invigorated those around Oxford. She initiated links with the which was always a big hit on open him on many occasions. This ‘two for Oxford University men’s team and led days and with feeder schools. Abingdon to a most fortuitous first one’ package has benefitted Abingdon immensely and Owen’s role as father national title. Gareth will be very much missed in the figure has allowed Damian the freedom Chemistry Department and the School to flourish. This gets to the heart of She was a Middle School tutor in as a whole. I am sure he will enjoy a O’Doherty’s for three years. Her the appeal of Owen’s approach to tutees appreciated her diplomacy coaching. Whilst he has been quick to and encouragement. Her reports provide structure and discipline, he has were often personalised with cryptic also been equally adept at providing references to ‘Percy Pig’, points compassion and empathy. emphasising her knowledge of boys as individuals. Although he has only been with us for two short years, it is not difficult to see Abingdon’s loss is most certainly how much he could have achieved Durham’s gain. We wish her well in her given more time. He has ensured new role as Head of English and water that rugby at Abingdon continues to polo coach, and in learning to row! flourish with an ever-greater number of fixtures, and more teams fielded than David Boyd the School has ever managed before. What is remarkable about this is that there has been no dilution in quality. For example, this year the Abingdon

www.abingdon.org.uk 11 department being treated on many Silvia Vidal Oriol occasions to delicious tortillas, tapas and casseroles. Silvia was always Two years ago it seemed impossible good fun on an evening out, and that someone could follow in Alba’s always brought a touch of glamour footsteps and be invited again to spend (except on one memorable occasion – two years, instead of one, as Spanish Sixth-formers may take some years to assistant. And then along came Silvia, forget the image of her dressed up as her natural charm and ever-immaculate a black-habited nun at our end-of-year appearance ensured that she made goodbye party…). a good first impression, and we were not to be let down. Highly organised Silvia is luckily not too far away, working and 100% reliable, Silvia did everything at present in a marketing position for with the minimum of fuss and always a company near Chipping Norton, and with good humour, never fazed by 1st XV has reached new heights in she remains very much in touch. We last-minute requests or exam pressure. reaching the quarterfinals of the Daily hope to see even more of her if she She had an excellent relationship Mail Cup. There is little doubt that goes through with plans to do a PGCE with the boys, who valued her for the the depth and experience that Owen in Oxford next year. In the meantime, qualities above and for her constant gleaned from more than a decade as she has our heartfelt thanks for all the willingness to give up her free time to a semi-professional rugby player was work she did here. help them – the many extra lessons she partly responsible for this triumph. gave to pupils undoubtedly boosted However, some credit must be due to Sophie Payne their confidence and contributed to his boyish charm. their success. I know that many members of staff are also grateful to He was by no means just a rugby Claire Martin her for her readiness to help out with coach, but a true sportsman. Indeed extra-curricular activities – often at late his enthusiasm with the Junior Colts D Claire had been studying in Paris notice. hockey team showed a real love of the before arriving at Abingdon and we competitive spirit, which compensated already knew from her references that Silvia was incredibly creative, effortlessly for what he might have lacked in she was an ambitious and bright girl producing interesting resources and technical hockey advice. A similar with a wide range of interests. She artistic displays. This flair extended cost-benefit analysis could be paralleled immediately fitted in very well and her into the culinary realm, with the MFL in the classroom where Owen was cheerful approach made her a popular keen to impart the fundamentals of Biology to the next generation.

His tutees entered into the Sixth form with a secure grounding in the study skills necessary to flourish in a more demanding situation, but also hopefully with something of Owen’s zest for life and that indefinable ‘je ne sais quoi’ that made him such a memorable figure in the MCR. Clearly Abingdon’s loss will be Mount St Mary’s gain as Owen assumes new responsibilities as Head of Sixth Form there. One lesson he will need no help with is that of teamwork. Good luck, Cobbler!

Steve Brenchley

12 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells

assistante with the boys. She showed great initiative and efficiency and took on Oxbridge lessons as well as her normal conversation lessons where she planned an ambitious and varied literature programme. Her help with the Modern Languages Club has also been very much appreciated.

She came to Abingdon with the intention of continuing her studies but, unlike many assistantes before her, she actually kept going and managed to complete her Master 1 dissertation with flying colours, which is impressive. Claire did all this without missing out on either committing fully to the department or enjoying a rich social life while here. Her main aim was always to improve well and I have enjoyed my runs with everything she did made her a real asset her English and she is now going back her. She bravely signed up for some of both to the boys’ appreciation of all to Paris to finish her Masters before the races too, impressing the boys with things German and, just as importantly, intending to come back to the UK to her focused approach to running. to the successful running of the German do a PhD. I am certain she will go very department. She worked tirelessly with far and we will miss her great sense of On top of this, she helped with the the AS and A2 candidates, particularly in humour. Modern Languages Club as well as preparation for their oral exams. Anne’s with such occasions as the boarding positive attitude was tangible on even Estelle Slatford taster day. the most gloomy of days, following Kästner’s saying that “mit jedem Stein, We will miss her a lot (as well as the der dir in den Weg gelegt wird, kannst Marina Blégean pancakes…) and wish her very well for du etwas Schönes bauen” (‘with each the future. She is intending to continue stone that bars your path you can build Marina came to us from Brittany her studies in France before embarking something beautiful’). Her enthusiasm where she had been studying English on a career in teaching, which will suit for involving herself in the extra- at university. Her origins soon came her very well. curricular life of the School was just as in very handy as she cooked us lots memorable. She enjoyed working with of delicious crêpes for Open Day, as Estelle Slatford the Lower School boys at Languages well as on several other occasions Club and on the annual Lower School during the year. She is quiet but Drama production and even enjoyed always cheerful, and happy to get Anne-Kathrin the odd Duke of Edinburgh expedition involved. Having her in the department – the boys certainly enjoyed having all year has been wonderful as she Hippold Anne around on such trips. Anne was a was popular with the boys who liked keen member of the staff circuit-training her gentle yet assertive manner during After a string of male German assistants group on Wednesdays and perhaps an conversation classes. She has been at Abingdon, it was high time to expose even keener socialiser on evenings out very efficient in all the tasks she was the boys to a strong female Germanic in Abingdon and Oxford. Anne was given while here and showed a lot of influence and Anne-Kathrin Hippold a real ray of sunshine in the Modern initiative too. She has got on very well certainly rose to the challenge of Languages department and will be with staff and pupils alike and fitted in inspiring our keen Germanists. Hailing missed having returned to Germany to well at Abingdon, especially since she from Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, complete her university studies. was very interested in sport. She was Bavaria, Anne’s zest for people and able to take part in Cross Country as her infectiously cheerful approach to Andrew Loughe

www.abingdon.org.uk 13 Rod MacDonald James Gough David Carson

The Music Department has been most Abingdon’s reputation has risen over fortunate to have had organist James the last half-century to the unremitting Gough as our Music Assistant over the accompaniment of clinking from last year. James came to us from the builders’ trowels; nor has this been Royal Academy of Music where he had mere background music – successive been studying the organ for two years. improvements to the School’s facilities Prior to that, he had taken a music have made possible all sorts of degree at Bristol University where he advances in teaching and learning, had been a friend of last year’s Music which in turn have prompted yet more Assistant, Andy Hall. demands for material change. It has been an exciting process, and it is James’ prowess in the organ loft was good to know that it is one which is not just one of his many strengths. He over yet. worked closely with the music staff in accompanying choirs and ensembles, Many people have contributed to the Rod MacDonald joined Abingdon in and he was happy to help with some of physical development of the School January 2009 from South Africa to the mundane but essential tasks that are over the last 50 or 60 years, including, take up the role of assistant master in needed in a busy department. James obviously, architects and builders, charge of rowing. Rod was a jack-of- ran and presented some thirty lunchtime appeal directors and maintenance staff; all-trades and found himself teaching Informal concerts over the year and one who deserves particular credit is Middle School physics, maths and also helped with both theory and aural David Carson, who played a role of chemistry and tutoring in Crescent teaching. increasing importance, under various House. Although he appeared to titles, the last of which was Estates have a laid back approach to life, his An affable and good humoured teacher, Bursar, between October 1994 and organization was meticulous. It didn’t well liked by pupils and staff, we will December 2009. take long for him to make his mark on miss him next year. He has been the Boat Club, especially on one of accepted on a PGCE course in London, Much of David’s work was necessarily the rowing eights when he parked it to train for classroom music teaching concerned with more or less routine in a tree at the Bedford Regatta. The where, clearly, he has much potential. matters of maintenance; but those J16 oarsmen, who he guided to a win We are grateful for all his work here and words “routine” and “maintenance” at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta, wish him well for next year. glide easily over a multitude of minor and a bronze medal at the National defects and inconveniences which, if Championships in 2009, lapped up his Michael Stinton not promptly and effectively addressed enthusiasm and experience. Under Rod’s guidance the J16s flourished in 2010 winning numerous events throughout the season including the Wallingford Regatta, Bedford Regatta and narrowly missing out of the gold medal at National Schools Regatta. Five of the boys went on to successfully represent Great Britain in the GB French match. Rod contribution will be missed and we wish him all the best at St John’s College in Johannesburg.

Athol Hundermark

14 The Abingdonian Common Room Farewells

could rapidly become major difficulties qualities of décor and furnishings. He and crippling obstacles. Many of seems at times, in fact, to be an interior them, moreover, could have human designer manqué! dimensions which required the application of discreet understanding And so, in 2002, David was able and tactful diplomacy. David’s to make full use of the experience expertise in applying the stitch in gained at Waste Court and Whitefield time that saves nine, directing his to undertake the restoration, both resources to places where they were internal and external, of Lacies Court most needed (not always the places – a project which I had longed to see where people were shouting loudest), undertaken during my own quarter- and applying the right materials and century of residence there, but one methods (not always the cheapest or which had to await the arrival of my the quickest) to put things right, had successor. I am told that the results do a cumulative effect on the efficiency of full justice to this jewel in the School’s the School’s working fabric. ‘property crown’.

David’s more conspicuous memorials, involved a huge amount of work, in the The detailed undertakings described however, are to be found in his course of which a finicky attention to above were balanced, in David’s involvement with a series of works detail had to be contained within an workload, by his commitments as a projects on a scale that varied from extensive engineering vision. member of the School’s team dealing the modest to the seriously large. with the contractors for a series of Over a ten-year period between 1994 Waste Court, a complex of historic major works projects – the completion and 2005, he took a leading part in buildings which had received of the Amey Hall and Arts Centre, the the rolling programme which saw spasmodic and not always sympathetic logistics involved in the building of the Abingdon’s boarding accommodation attention over preceding decades, was boathouse, and – not least – major reconfigured and refurbished to eventually brought into proper shape extensions and developments at meet the changed conditions of and condition with the help of David’s Josca’s (as it then still was), including today’s market. The conversion of discriminating expertise between 1994 work on Cox’s Fields. In all these, his dormitories into study-bedrooms, and 2008. The real quality of this skills of organisation and diplomacy and improvements to the privacy and fine but complicated property (once were valued by architects, contractors efficiency of washrooms and lavatories, sketched by JMW Turner, who was and end-users alike. may not have been much noticed by under the impression that it was Lacies David Carson deserves to be the dayboy element in the School, Court) had never been fully realised until remembered as an important but the whole programme of boarding this major restoration, which exercised contributor to the material development works was essential to the continuing David’s skills to a special degree. of Abingdon School during a critical plausibility of Abingdon’s offering as period of its growth; like a certain great a boarding school, and hence to the Whitefield, a less historic but still landscape architect of the eighteenth maintenance of part of its essential and valuable and important house (lived century, he saw “great capability of ancient character. in at one time by Arthur Preston, the improvement” – and having seen it, he great Abingdon antiquarian) at the other went on to realise it! Altogether more noticeable, if perhaps end of the School, was similarly the more mundane, was the landscaping object of David’s attention in successive Michael St John Parker which transformed the surrounds of the episodes from 1995 onwards. David’s main range of school buildings from an talents for perceiving opportunities for untidy mess of dirty gravel, alternately the effective use of internal spaces, and turning them into reality with shrewd puddled and dust-ridden, into a seemly David Carson was Contingent economy of effort, were fully deployed and practical brick pavement which Commander of the Abingdon here, and were happily matched by should mellow gently over the years. School CCF from 2001 to 2008. his sense of form and colour, and his Though the result is probably taken See The Abingdonian Volume 24 No. 3 for granted now, this was a job which discriminating respect for the historic

www.abingdon.org.uk 15 The School Chapel

At the Leavers’ Service in St Michael’s services. Compline was sung on Church, Adrian Lo played the Ashokan some Tuesday afternoons in Lent. Farewell on his violin and Euan Cambell, Major festivals and saints days were accompanied by Joe Mason on piano, celebrated with Holy Communion. sang You’ve Got a Friend in Me. Of the leavers, the Chapel will miss in particular There are prayers for the School at the Headmaster and Mr Phelps for their 8.20 every morning. At the Annual splendid support, and Mrs Turner for her Remembrance Assembly the names of glorious arrangements of flowers. OAs who died in the two world wars The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, were read out, prayers were said, there Bishop of Reading, confirmed in Chapel At a variety of services for the boarders were two minutes silence and a wreath nine boys: Alex Fanshawe, Adam on Thursday evenings the preachers was taken to the War Memorial plaques Hargreaves, Hugo Hubbard, Will Hollier, were: Father David Forrester (RC); the in Chapel. Lachlan McGregor, Harry Stott, Ben Reverend Dr Marcus Braybrooke, former Wills, David Wills and Leo Wood. In President of the World Congress of At a special Chapel Service on the a splendid service, the Bishop gave a Faith; the Reverend Kevin Davis, Rector theme of Art, Beauty and Worship, there powerful sermon and the Chapel Choir of Langtree; Father Michael Smith, were Biblical readings and meditations sang part of Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D SJ; The Reverend Jonathan Beswick, based on different aspects of the Trinity and an anthem by Graystan Ives. Vicar of Jericho and the Reverend Dr Window, which was was ‘alive’ with Jonathan Arnold, Worcester College, colour on a gloriously sunny morning. Confirmation preparation included visits Oxford. The Reverend Dr Allan Doig, Chaplain to the three central Abingdon Anglican and Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Churches of St Nicolas, St Helen and In three services the boarding houses University of Oxford, preached on how St Michael and All Angels, as well as to each sang an anthem en masse art can enrich worship. The Abingdon St Edmund’s Roman Catholic Church, under the inspired conducting of Miss Academicals sang canticles and an Dorchester Abbey, Iffley Church, the Matthews. There were services for the Easter anthem by John Sheppard. Carmelite Priory on Boars Hill and, in new boarders and for each boarding Afterwards, at a reception, Nicholas Oxford, Christ Church Cathedral, St house. At sunset on Midsummer’s Mynheer, who created the Trinity Mary’s Church and University College. Day, a dramatized reading of the Window, revealed his exciting designs comical Pyramus and Thisbe scene for the other windows. It is hoped Our historical connection with the from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer donations will be forthcoming to enable Abingdon Anglican Churches continues Night’s Dream followed a short service his vision to be realized. with three annual School services at on Waste Court lawn. Boys played St Helen’s: for the new School year, the six characters. Star Williams had I am most grateful for the playing of the Christmas and the Commemoration a walk on part as Moonshine’s dog. Chapel organists, for the assistance of our Benefactors combined with Led by choirmaster Ed Howe, fourteen with services led by the Reverend Paul Passiontide. Visiting preachers this year boarders sang Christmas carols under Gooding and other colleagues, and for were the Most Reverend Metropolitan the lamplights in Park Road and Park the ladies who arranged flowers for the Kallistos Ware of Diokleia, and the Crescent, raising over £100 for Charity. Chapel. Reverend Aiden Bellenger, OSB, Abbott The Chapel Choir sang at some of Downside. boarders’ services and in the School The Reverend Henry Kirk

16 The Abingdonian The School

The Library

Summer Holiday Work Over the summer, whilst the School was on holiday, work was going on in the Upper Library to restore the woodwork after the flood damage incurred earlier in the year.

At the start of the Michaelmas term, the new boys in the First Year were able to select a book of their choice from a wide selection of current children’s Librarians literature as part of a government initiative for all Year 7s nationwide. Reading Bonanza Abingdon hosted the presentation of Early in the term, Open Day provided an The Reading Bonanza started again the awards in October, where it was a opportunity for our team of pupil librarians after the Michaelmas half term. pleasure to welcome the winners of the to manage the Library and talk about the The Bonanza runs from then until Primary Illustrated Book award: Michael work they do as part of a service to the the Summer term and its aim is to Rosen and Nick Sharratt. Michael and School as an Other Half activity. encourage boys to read as many Nick kept everyone fully entertained books from as many different genres with the account of their experiences Kid’s Lit Quiz as possible, trying to winkle them out of writing and illustrating their winning In November the annual national Kids’ of their safety zones of adventure and book, Mother Goose. Nick extended Lit Quiz was held. This event is open fantasy! Second-formers can choose his afternoon by visiting the Art to all First- and Second-formers, a percentage of their books from the Department and talking to GCSE providing an opportunity for them non-fiction section of the Library, which graphic art students. to demonstrate their detailed, and has proved popular with our sports and sometimes obscure, knowledge of techie readers. Joint Schools’ Author Event children’s literature. An internal heat In the Lent term the Joint Schools’ was held to determine the two teams Awards were presented at the end Author event, organised by the of four boys who would represent of each term with notable successes librarians from three Abingdon schools Abingdon School in the Oxfordshire/ by Edward Reynolds and Joseph (Abingdon, Our Lady’s Abingdon Berkshire heat held at the Newnham Barber who won platinum awards and the School of St Helen and St Rooms in Oxford in November. in the Summer term for proving avid Katharine), took place. The venue is readers of as many different genres rotated between the three schools and “Today’s heat finished on a high in as is possible. Adam Hargreaves and this year The School of St Helen and Oxford, the last of the regional heats. Joseph Kelly both achieved gold for St Katharine was host to the award- All teams displayed a tremendous having read twelve different genres. winning author, Marcus Sedgwick. The literary knowledge (at this event which Twelve silver awards (for eight different visit provides an opportunity for as was) well attended by teams and genres), and fifteen bronze awards (for many primary and secondary students spectators. Six authors supported the five different genres) were also made. as possible from the local area to hear event: Lucy Coates, Dennis Hamley, a first-class children’s author talk about MG Harris, Elizabeth Kay, Mark Robson Oxfordshire Book Awards their work. Marcus talked about the and Susie Day. They were pushed the The Oxfordshire Book Awards influences and research involved in his whole way by the kids’ teams! Prizes are children’s book awards with work, including vampires. Particularly were awarded by Cllr Tony Crabbe, a difference as it is the children fascinating was a slide of his work-in- chairman of Oxfordshire County themselves, rather than teachers and progress diary, a real insight into his Council.” Blog Wayne Mills, librarians, who choose the shortlist, the way of working. Quizmaster Extraordinaire longlist and even the eventual winners.

www.abingdon.org.uk 17 More Author Visits We were fortunate to host Chris Bradford, author of the Young Samurai books, for World Book Day in March and were pleased to be able to invite a number of other schools to experience his all-singing-martial-arts road show. Chris started work as a teacher and it has certainly taught him how to hold an audience’s attention. His knowledge of martial arts and love of everything Japanese really showed through, inspiring many of the pupils and staff present.

It really has been a very special year for Abingdon’s Carnegie ‘shadowers’ author visits: in May, in conjunction with with some of the shortlisted books the Classics Department, we hosted a visit from Caroline Lawrence, author of the Roman Mysteries series. year held at Our Lady’s, Abingdon, as The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman gives students the opportunity to and Chris Riddell. Primarily invited to speak at the Annual exchange first impressions of the Classics Dinner, Caroline very kindly shortlist by comparing covers, ‘blurbs’ Thanks agreed to speak to Lower School in and first paragraphs. Each group The Library would like to thank the the afternoon as well as fitting in a makes a short presentation on their team of pupil librarians, without whom bookshop signing! favourite for each category. it could not run, and the contribution made by the boys serving as senior Our final visitors of the Summer term Abingdon hosted the Carnegie Quiz, librarians in their final year who were came in the shape of three very the next event in the Carnegie calendar, Thomas Finch and William Otterburn. different authors: where a more in-depth knowledge of the books is required. With thanks to The Library would like to acknowledge Steve Feasey; MG Harris & Tamsyn Rory Fraser-Mackenzie, we ‘staged’ the donations received as follows: Murray. Their talks served to illustrate Quiz on the Amey Theatre stage, which the different routes that lead to writing; made a novel and successful venue. Dr C Burnand (staff) the very varied influences that have led Michael Dowell (author & pupil) them to that point and once there, the The culmination of ‘shadowing’, is the Mr David Wharton (author & OA) different ways that they research and Carnegie Forum, which was held in Miss Dora Tildesley (staff) hone their final piece of writing. the Guildhall, Abingdon with Larkmead Mrs F. Wills (parent) School assuming the ‘hosting’ Bielefeld Exchange 2009 Shadowing the Carnegie responsibility. Over a hundred students The estate of Nigel Hammond (OA & The main library activity of the Summer took part in the day-long event, ex MCR) term is ‘Shadowing the Carnegie’: a which has a mixture of discussion Modern Languages & Geography Dept. national scheme involving over 30,000 groups, rehearsals and presentations Mrs Gaynor Cooper (staff) school children reading the shortlisted centred around the shortlisted books. Contributing publishers to the titles of this prestigious award, the Marcus Sedgwick, shortlisted for My Oxfordshire Book Award Carnegie Medal, which is awarded Swordhand is Singing, talked about the Nicholas Topping (pupil) annually for the best children’s literature highs of being a shortlisted author. Abingdon Film Unit published in the last year. William Fearnehough (pupil) Students from all the Abingdon The Forum voted Chains by Laurie Mrs Sophie Payne (staff) secondary schools join in shared events Halse Andersen as their winning book, held at the six participating schools. which as usual was at variance with the Gaynor Cooper The first event, the Carnegie Tea, this national winner, which was announced

18 The Abingdonian The School

Portrait of an Artist

The portraits of two headmasters were presented to the School during the past year, that of Michael St John Parker, Headmaster 1975-2001, and of his successor, Mark Turner, who left at the end of the Summer term. Both portraits were painted by Jonathan Hills. In the article below Jonathan writes about his life and of how he became an artist.

Sarah Wearne

After Winchester College, where I was taught history by Michael St John Parker, I went to Queens’ College Michael St John Parker Mark Turner Cambridge with the intention of reading Art History. Good enough at essays, I think it was here I decided that my main expertise (and interest) was in On leaving Cambridge I became first left South Kensington for Kent, and a making pictures, not talking about of all an archeological illustrator. It’s bigger Studio, with room for a family. them. In that heady place, what really hard to imagine a more boring job, excited me was illustrating university measuring and illustrating poorly made People come here and sit, and magazines, directing undergraduate flint tools, but at least I was drawing sometimes I go to them. In my fifties plays, painting sets and even going on for a living, just like Hockney. By a now I paint people and dogs and tour with our own shadow puppets. piece of unforgivable deceit I was horses, and what I see on film sets Putting on a one-man-show of introduced to Graham Chapman, of when I’m asked along. I’m still not paintings in the Latimer Room, Clare Monty Python fame, as one of Europe’s Europe’s ‘leading canine artist’ but College, was an incidental extra. At ‘leading canine artists’, with a view to both the Royal Academy and the Royal Cambridge it’s easy to pretend to be drawing his beloved terrier. Of course Society of Portrait Artists have exhibited anything you want, which is why it’s so I drew a good dog, and I drew him my work. much fun. too, surreptitiously. He recognized something in the dog, but it was his Being asked to paint a second own face that he liked best. I was Abingdon headmaster was a huge treat hired as the court artist, with particular because Mark was so approachable responsibility to depict Graham as and so charismatic. I had to hurry to often as possible in his up and coming get the portrait finished for Prize Giving, autobiography. I designed film posters but it wasn’t quite ready and so had for him and then for others, illustrated to be shown all unvarnished and shiny books for children and grown ups, and from having been worked on the night painted anyone who would sit still. I before. However, I worked on it over found a studio in South Kensington up the summer holidays and it was finally in the roofs above Pineapple Dance ready in the Michaelmas term. studios, and kept a foot in Soho where filmmakers need artists for sets, Jonathan Hills posters, ideas and visual trickery. I Jonathan Hills got married in my mid thirties and

www.abingdon.org.uk 19 Abingdon and Old Abingdonians at War 1939-1945

This exhibition in the Amey Theatre foyer – a chronology of the Second World War from the experiences of some of the Abingdonians who fought and died in it – marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war. The earliest incident concerned Paymaster Douglas Woolf who, in December 1939, was serving on HMS The narrative boards in Ajax in the South Atlantic when it the Amey Theatre Foyer joined the hunt for the German pocket battleship the Admiral Graf Spee. HMS Ajax was present at the subsequent transporting troops from the Dunkirk on the airfield at Toungoo, Burma. Battle of the River Plate in which seven beaches to the waiting ships. Squadron Leader Alexander Osmand members of the crew were killed. In was killed on 23 October 1943 when another naval incident, in February Italy entered the war on the side of the the Japanese attacked the airfield at 1940, Torpedo-Officer Laurence Axis powers on 10 June, threatening Chittagong, and Major Arthur Adams, Cresswell was serving on board HMS British shipping routes through the Red Royal Artillery, on 19 March 1945 just Cossack when it intercepted the Sea and the Suez Canal. Lieutenant before the Allies recaptured Mandalay. German supply ship Altmark and freed Henry Genders, Essex Regiment, was Terence Charley, Hong Kong and the 299 British merchant seamen it had killed on 26 August during the fighting Singapore Royal Artillery, taken prisoner been illegally carrying. in the Sudan, whilst 2nd Lieutenant after the fall of Singapore in February Douglas Mills, Royal Artillery, was killed 1942, survived as a Japanese prisoner The Germans invaded Norway on 9 later in the same campaign on 18 of war until liberated in 1945. In April 1940, two nights earlier, Pilot February 1941 at Keren in Eritrea. 2004 he gave the School a typescript Officer David Wardlow was shot down memoir of his incarceration. over the Norwegian coast whilst on In the Mediterranean, the island of a reconnaissance flight. On 13 April, Malta – of vital importance in the Abingdonians were involved in all the Laurence Cresswell took part in the North Africa campaign – came under main theatres of war. Signalman Peter naval raid on the Norwegian port of relentless attack and Sergeant Lewis Woolf, serving with HMS Wild Swan Narvik and was awarded the DSC for Godwin was killed in an air raid there on convoy duty in the North Sea, his part in the action. on 28 February 1941. Lieutenant was one of the 31 members of the Harry D’Almaine was lost when the crew to lose their lives when enemy On 15 May 1940, Germany invaded submarine HMS Undaunted failed to action forced them to abandon ship France and the Low Countries. Holland return from a patrol off the Tunisian off the coast of Portugal on 18 June surrendered immediately; the British coast on 13 May, and Corporal Selby 1942. In December 1942, Signalman ordered a retreat on the 26th, Belgium Walford, Royal Marines, went down Kenneth Corbett was serving on HMS surrendered on the 27th and France with his ship, HMS Neptune, when it Fidelity when she was lost with all on 17 June. Five OAs were killed in hit a mine off Tripoli on 19 December hands after Convoy ONS154 came the fighting: Major Oliver Raymont, 1941. Later in the war, on 8 January under prolonged U-boat attack in Welch Fusiliers, on 16 May; Major Philip 1943, another submariner, Engine the mid-Atlantic. Flight Lieutenant Morley, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Room Artificer Edmund Hunt, was killed Dennis Healy, DSO, was killed on 25 and 2nd Lieutenant Michael Holme, in the same area when the ‘charioteer’ September 1942 near Murmansk in Royal Berkshire Regiment, on the HM Submarine P311 was lost with all the Arctic Circle having completed top- 21st; 2nd Lieutenant Robert Emmett, hands off the coast of Sardinia. secret reconnaissance work in the area. East Surrey Regiment, on the 22nd, Dennis’s brother Brian, who survived and Signalman George Baker, serving The war in the Far East claimed the life the war, served in the Royal Naval on HMS Speedwell, on 1 June whilst of Flight Lieutenant Henry Ellison on Volunteer Reserve and took part in the 24 March 1942 in the Japanese attack recapture of Rangoon in May 1945.

20 The Abingdonian The School

Following the German surrender in North Africa in May 1943, the Allies invaded Sicily on 9 July. On the night of 8/9 July, Flight Sergeant Leslie Bernthal was killed on a bombing raid over the Sicilian port of Syraceuse. Two months later, on 3 September, the Allies landed on the Italian mainland. Although Italy surrendered on 8 September, the Germans put up fierce resistance and forced the Allies to fight for every inch of ground. A year Douglas Mills’ grave, Keren, Eritrea back left later, Trooper David Pimm, 9th Royal Lancers, was killed on 5 September in the Allied attack on the Gothic Line just continuing battle for Caen. them until the end. His son and below Rimini. On 17 September 1944, the Allies daughter lent the exhibition an album of used airborne troops to attempt the photographs that recorded not only this On 6 June 1944, D-Day, the Allies capture of eight bridges on the Dutch- part of his war but every other part of invaded Normandy, initially winning a German border. Lieutenant Eric Slatter, his war service too, including the Allied foothold on the five invasion beaches 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment, was landings at Salerno and the advance and then fighting their way to Paris, killed on 19 September by a German through Italy. which fell at the end of August. During patrol whilst reconnoitring the bridge this period, the Allies suffered more at Grave. A second attempt to use Hitler committed suicide on 30 than 208,892 casualties. Among the airborne troops to cross the Rhine, this April 1945 and on 7 May Germany dead were Private Ian Holland Ox and time successful, took place on the night surrendered. The Allied leaders met Bucks Light Infantry, killed close to of 24/25 March 1945. Flying Officer at Potsdam in July to decide the Sword beach on D-Day+1; Trooper John Rayson piloted one of the gliders, post-war settlement. Hugh Lunghi, a Dennis Hillier, 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, successfully bringing it to land under Russian speaker and ADC to General killed on 29 June in the attack on Caen; fire at Hamminkeln. ‘Q’ Martel, Head of the British Military Lieutenant William Giles, 2nd Fife and Just over three weeks later, on 18 Mission in Moscow, interpreted for the Forfar Yeomanry, killed the next day in April 1945, British troops met Russian British Chiefs of Staff, and for Churchill, the same battle, and Lieutenant Denis troops at the River Elbe. Donald Willis, at the Potsdam Conference, just as Holme, 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment, Abingdon Common Room 1939-40 he had done at Teheran and Yalta. whose brother Michael had been killed and 1946-77, joined the advancing He retains vivid memories of Stalin, in May 1940, killed on 9 August in the forces on 10 March and was with Roosevelt and Churchill.

Roger Morewood Terence Charley Dennis Healy

www.abingdon.org.uk 21 and died in February 1945 at Dora- Mittlebau concentration camp where he had been working on the construction of V2 rockets.

Whilst many of its former pupils were caught up in the fighting, the School itself had to cope with the effects of the war, taking in boys from schools Nicholas Kortwright John Rayson in the invasion area together with a number of Jewish boys, refugees from Hitler’s Germany. Robert Jackson Four days after the Conference ended of both Henry Genders, killed in the remembered going back early at the the Allies dropped their first atom bomb Sudan in 1940, and that of his younger beginning of the Autumn term in 1939 on Hiroshima, followed by a second brother, Flying Officer Douglas Genders, and helping to make and put up the one on Nagasaki on 9 August; five who was killed in an accident on 11 blackout. Eight months later, as the days later Japan surrendered. September 1939. These 49 casualties Germans overran the Low Countries, come from a school that had never had the School, fearing invasion, dug a Throughout the war, regardless of more than 140 pupils on its roll at any trench system and an air raid shelter the military campaigns, Bomber one time. Of these casualties, twenty- – John Lambourn remembers cutting Command had kept up its relentless three – 46% – served in the RAF: his hand badly on the corrugated attacks on German cities, sustaining thirteen were killed in action, including iron – at the corner of Bath Street huge casualties: Sergeant Pilot Peter Alan Wiggins, whose Mosquito was and Faringdon Road. The JTC, Darbishire was lost over the North Sea shot down by friendly fire over Belgium precursor of the CCF, redoubled its on 16 December 1940 following a raid on 29 September 1944. Five lost their training activities and in 1941 C Flight on Berlin; Squadron Leader Richard lives in flying accidents – four during 1056 Squadron ATC was formed at Langebear was shot down off the flying training and one, Flight Sergeant Abingdon School, preparing boys for French coast on 5 May 1941 after an Michael Barnard, on a routine cross immediate entry into the RAF. John attack on German shipping; Sergeant country training flight after he had Rayson recalled fire watching from the Graham Randall’s Wellington bomber, served one complete tour of duty with roof of the County Hall and Richard part of the Pathfinder Force, crashed Bomber Command. A further two were Lesser playing chess in the gym with in Belgium on 16 April 1942 following killed in enemy attacks on airfields and the headmaster, Mr Grundy during air- a raid on Dortmund; on 6 June 1942 we don’t know the cause of death of raid warnings. The boys had to write Sergeant Nicholas Kortwright’s Stirling the remainder home every week and, unbeknown crashed over Germany returning from to him, Richard’s parents kept all his a raid on Essen; Flight Sergeant Bill There were seven deaths among who letters; they told of war time food – Dockety’s Wellington crashed on take served in the Royal Navy and the Royal stinging nettle sandwiches; JTC work off from RAF Leconbury, en route to Marines: one at Dunkirk, two whilst – drill and camouflage; collections for the Wanne Eickel synthetic oil refinery, serving on submarines, and three on War Weapons Week – great rivalry on 2 February 1945 with a full bomb convoy duty. Military casualties, of with Radley, and the night a German load; Flight Sergeant Thomas Foy’s which there were nineteen in all, tended bomber followed a group of British Lancaster was shot down by German to peak around the great battles: four bombers back to RAF Abingdon and fighters near Pontoise on 2 August Abingdonians were killed in 1940 in dropped its bombs on the airfield. 1944 after a daylight raid on a flying- the fall of France, and four in 1944 In addition to the narrative boards there bomb storage site. during the invasion of Normandy. The were a number of display cabinets. location of the other casualties reflects One held John Viney’s uniform, medals, The School’s Roll of Service records the worldwide nature of the fighting: logbooks and other memorabilia, the names of 380 Old Abingdonians India, Italy, Palestine, Eritrea, Nigeria, recently donated to the School by his who served in the armed forces during Libya, Burma. We have no record of son and stepson. Wing Commander the Second World War, and 47 who civilian deaths other than that of Claude John Viney had flown two complete were killed. The list omits the name Painter who was arrested in Jersey tours with Bomber Command before

22 The Abingdonian The School

retiring at the end of the war at the age of 25 with the DSO and the DFC. Another cabinet, containing memorabilia associated with Hugh Lunghi’s war, displayed examples of Hitler’s stationery from the Reich Chancellery. David Carson, the Estates Bursar, lent the exhibition examples of British and German uniforms and weaponry; Wing Commander Roger Morewood, a former Battle of Britain pilot, sent a selection of wonderful photographs recording his war service, and among the other exhibits was a bolt from the Bridge on the River Kwai and a Japanese sword taken at L to R Hugh Lunghi, Field Marshal the surrender of the Japanese on the Montgomery, General Slavin Andaman Islands.

At a reception on 6 November, to mark the opening of the exhibition, guests included John Rayson, veteran of the airborne crossing of the Rhine in March 1945; members of the families of some of those who died in the war – Michael Barnard, Alan Wiggins, Dennis Healy – and a number of OAs who had been at School during the war including Richard Lesser and John Lambourn.

After the reception, Julie Summers gave a talk on the continuing work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which was preceded by the playing of Last Post by Hugh Leach, OA 1953. John Viney, centre

Sarah Wearne

John Viney’s uniform Alan Wiggins

www.abingdon.org.uk 23 Clubs & Societies

Veeral Manek (3/3) won all their games matches, and Abingdon expect to face Chess Club on the lower boards; Omri Faraggi Magdalen’s top team, MCS Blackbirds (6/12) and Aslan Sayfimehr (5/10) 1, who this season finished last in After two years of determined campaigned resolutely on the middle Division II. rebuilding, the Club returned this year boards; Edward O’Brien (3/8) earned to winning ways. The main source of valuable points on Boards 1 and 2, Michaelmas term began, as in external competition was again the mainly through hard fought draws; and the previous two years, with Old Oxford and District Chess League, Dr Jeffreys (5/6) and Mr English (8½/12) Abingdonian Stuart Robertson visiting whose matches are played on weekday also achieved respectable tallies, mostly the Activities Fair and playing blindfold evenings from September through on Boards 2 and 3 respectively. But against all comers on the School’s giant to April. In only its second season, the real star was Abingdon’s new player chess set. He won all his games, even Abingdon’s team, City 5, achieved a from Hong Kong, Jeffrey Yu (9/10), who beating Jeffrey Yu. Some weeks later, tremendous run of results, winning achieved a near perfect run of wins on 14 October, another popular event Division IV with two matches in hand. on Board 1. This superb achievement was held: the annual simultaneous Its record of 10 wins, 3 draws and 1 earned him the Oxfordshire Chess display. This year we invited a top loss was the best of any team in any Association’s Sam Phipps Cup for the Swiss woman player Alexandra Wilson, division of the league. But victory was best individual player in Division IV, and whose ECF grade is 176, to conduct far from easy. Cowley 4, with its Oxford he was later awarded School colours. the “simul.” She faced 18 boys, from High School players, MCS Blackbirds The other players who contributed across the Abingdon age range, and 2, with its Magdalen players and were Tomer Faraggi, Henry Kibble, Alex 2 members of staff, the established Cumnor 2 were all strong contenders Davies, Syahmi Suferi, Thomas Salt, format. And for the first time in three for the title. And remarkably 6 of Matyas Hanisch, Michael Bicarregui, years, Abingdon won. This, however, Abingdon’s wins were by the minimum Thomas Kelly, Giles Waterson, Edward was largely due to Miss Wilson’s possible margin of 3½ - 2½. Reynolds and Leon Wu. The full results inexperience at handling clock simuls. are available at www.oca.oxfordfusion. She had achieved winning or drawing Many players contributed to City 5’s com/. Promotion to Division III next positions on all but one of the boards success. Richard Slade (4/4) and season will mean longer and tougher - Well done Dr Jeffreys! – but the flags kept dropping before she could finish. The final score was 12 - 8. Alexandra Wilson conducting the annual simultaneous display. In the background are Giles Waterson, Luke Teh and Thomas Howard. The Oxfordshire Chess Congress, held last Easter at Abingdon, was this year transmogrified into the Oxfordshire Junior Chess Tournament and held at MCS on 8 November. Twelve Abingdon players entered, which was the largest contingent from any school. Lower School boys Edward Reynolds, Alex Churchman-Davies and Leon Wu scored 2½/6; and Middle School boys Thomas Salt, Aslan Sayfimehr and Omri Faraggi scored 3/6. But Abingdon’s best player was Jeffrey Yu. After two easy wins, he defeated Marlborough’s Marcus Harvey (ECF 177) and drew

24 The Abingdonian Stuart Robertson, left, playing Szymon Pozimki, at the 128th Varsity Chess Match

The 2010 Berkshire Megafinal, Wellington College. From left to right: Omri Faraggi, Thomas Salt, Richard Slade, Leon Wu, Aslan Sayfimehr, Thomas Kelly, Jeffrey Yu, James Anderson-Besant, George Constable and Edward Reynolds with Magdalen’s Matthew Daggitt (ECF The other two winners were Richard Abingdon was the best represented 169) before losing to the eventual Slade and Michael Bicarregui. Leon School at the Varsity Chess Match, winner, Aylesbury Grammar’s James Wu successfully tempted his opponent held on 6 March at the Royal Foster (ECF 175), finally ending on into a draw by stalemate, which was Automobile Club in Pall Mall. Stuart 3½/6. an excellent example of fighting chess. Robertson, playing for Cambridge on And the other ½ point was earned by Board 5, was held to ½ point when his Abingdon entered two equally balanced Michel Baumgart. Abingdon’s Team B wily opponent forced the game into teams in the knockout section of players all faced stronger opponents. a drawn Rook versus Bishop ending. the prestigious National Schools’ Jeffrey Yu, graded 160, faced Jeffrey Graham Morris, a winner for Oxford in Championship. Team A, comprising Levicki, graded 175, Edward O’Brien, 2008, this year lost his game on Board mostly Upper Sixth Form players was still ungraded, faced Matthew Daggitt, 6 due to his self-confessed “addiction Henry Kibble, Veeral Manek, Michel graded 169, and so on down the list. to time-trouble.” The match was drawn Baumgart, Richard Slade, Thomas Team B’s sole point was earned by 4 - 4. Salt and Michael Bicarregui. Team B, last year’s Lower School Champion, drawn entirely from the new generation Edward Reynolds, with a fine County chess has been a new of Abingdon players, was Jeffrey Yu, consolation victory on Board 5. departure this year. Abingdon players Edward O’Brien, Omri Faraggi, Aslan travelled to matches in Basingstoke, Sayfimehr, Edward Reynolds and In the Michaelmas term, boys also Winchester College, Cumnor and Louis Hampden. As often happens competed in knockout tournaments in Wellington College to represent in this zonal tournament, Abingdon the Lower School, Middle School and Oxfordshire in Division III of the was drawn against MCS, who are Sixth Form, the finals all being played Chilterns’ League. The Abingdon currently the strongest school club in on Wednesday 2 December. In the players’ performances – Mr English Oxfordshire. Our Team B was drawn Lower School tournament, attracting (4/4), Aslan Sayfimehr (1½/4), Richard against their Team A and vice versa, 12 entrants, Leon Wu defeated Edward Slade (½/2) and Thomas Salt (1/1) – both matches being played at home Reynolds to win the Nightall-Jakubovics helped Oxfordshire achieve victory in an on 27 November. At the last minute, Cup. In the Middle School tournament, unbeaten run of four matches, including Thomas Salt had to substitute for a attracting 13 entrants, Edward O’Brien the play off against Hampshire. The missing Omri Faraggi, and promising defeated Thomas Salt to retain the full results can be found at www. first year Leon Wu joined Team A on Pearce Cup. And in the Sixth Form chilternleague.org.uk/. We are Board 6. Team A won 3 of its games tournament, attracting 8 entrants, extremely grateful to Steven Bennett of and drew 2, a 4 - 2 result that was Jeffrey Yu defeated Michel Baumgart to Cumnor Chess Club for organising the just insufficient, because of the age- win the Harding Cup. Winners received twelve-strong U-125 team. handicap system, to put them through book prizes. Edward O’Brien’s victory to the next round. Henry Kibble’s win was especially significant, being his The House and Lower School Chess on Board 1 against Daniel D’Souza-Eva third in a row in that tournament, a tournaments took place in the Lent (ECF 112) was particularly noteworthy. perfect record. term, both finals being played on

www.abingdon.org.uk 25 10 March. Houses were this year George Constable, Alex Davis, Thomas Nd4 21 Nxd4 Qxd4 22 cxb5 axb5 23 represented by individuals, while the Salt, Thomas Kelly, Giles Waterson, Qc3 Qxc3 24 Rxc3 Ra7 25 b4 Rfa8 26 Lower School tournament retained Edward Reynolds, James Anderson- Ra1 Ra4 27 Rb3 Rc8 28 g3 Rc2 29 teams of three. In the House Besant and Leon Wu. On 3 May, ten Kg2 f5 30 Kf3 Kf7 31 Ke3 Ke6 32 f4 tournament semi-finals, Jeffrey Yu of of these boys travelled together to exf4 33 Kxf4 g5+ 34 Kf3 Ra7 35 Re1+ Phelps’ beat Omri Faraggi of Boyd’s, Wellington College for the Megafinal, Kd5 36 Re8 Rh2 37 Rb8? g4+? 38 and Angus Chan of Crescent beat where they performed exceptionally hxg4 fxg4+ 39 Kxg4 Rg7+ 40 Kf3 Rf7+ Syahmi Suferi of School House. well. In the last two years, Abingdon ½-½. White’s King cannot avoid being Phelps’ won in the final. In the Lower has had two qualifiers for the next checked by Black’s Rook, so White is School tournament, 1SW represented stage, the Southern Gigafinal. This forced to accept the offer of a draw. by Leon Wu, Douglas Ward and Joe year, not only were there five qualifiers, Jeffrey later realised that he could have Blanch defeated 2AJL, represented by but three qualified as section winners, obtained a decisive advantage on move Edward Reynolds, Alex Churchman- or ‘supremos’. The qualifiers were: 37 by playing Kd4. Davies and Rhodri Lewis. Leon Wu Richard Slade 3/6 (U18 Supremo), here notably added team triumph to Jeffrey Yu 5/6 (U16 Supremo), Thomas Summer has traditionally been a quiet earlier individual success. Salt 4/6 (U16 Qualifier), Omri Faraggi term for the Chess Club, but with five 4/6 (U15 Supremo) and James members qualifying for the Southern Another main event of the Lent term Anderson-Besant 4/6 (U12 Qualifier). Gigafinal, not held until 4 July, and with is the school stage of the UK Chess Deserving special mention is Jeffrey numbers holding up well on Tuesday Challenge, a tournament whose Yu’s performance in the third round, and Wednesday afternoons, Club popularity locally is, I suspect, partly when he drew with Lateefah Messam- meetings remained lively, and we were responsible for the demise of the Sparks (ECF 180), who last year came fortunate that Mr Wells was available to Oxfordshire Schools’ League at fourth in the national Terafinal and coach right through to the last meeting secondary level. From 32 Abingdon was the best girl. Here, for posterity, in June. Mr English also coached over entrants, there were 13 who earned is Jeffrey’s game, which he recalled at the Preparatory School. sufficient points to qualify for the between rounds: Lateefah Messam- Berkshire Megafinal. Jeffrey Yu won Sparks (White) v Jeffrey Yu (Black): 1 We are grateful to Dr Burnand, Dr all seven of his games, and so finished e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 d3 Nf6 Jeffreys, Grandmaster Peter Wells first on a maximum 21 points. Second 5 Nc3 h6 6 0-0 0-0 7 h3 d6 8 a3 a6 9 and Mr Truran for their splendid efforts was Edward O’Brien on 18 points. Be3 Ba7 10 Bxa7 Rxa7 11 Qd2 Be6 coaching. We are also grateful to Old And joint third were Omri Faraggi and 12 Nd5 Bxd5 13 Bxd5 Nxd5 14 exd5 Abingdonian Richard Lesser for the Aslan Sayfimehr on 17 points. The Ne7 15 c4 b5 16 b3 c6 17 dxc6 Nxc6 gift of an exceptionally fine, turned other qualifiers were Richard Slade, 18 Rfe1 Re7 19 Rac1 Qb6 20 Qc2 metal chess set. Mr Lesser often played Headmaster Grundy during night air raid alerts, before going up to Cambridge in 1944. Chatting to him when he visited the Abingdonians at War exhibition in November really brought to life the early history of the Club. Going up to Cambridge this year is the latest recipient of the King Trophy, Richard Slade, who has made an excellent contribution to the Chess Club in recent years, not least in his willingness to give time to younger players.

Andrew English

Richard Lesser, OA 1944, and Jeffrey Yu

26 The Abingdonian Clubs & Societies

The Edmund Society

The Society enjoyed a year of which tells of eleven Foreign Secretaries. Emma Williams, Philosopher-in- distinguished speakers who gave Having served under Margaret Thatcher Residence at Rugby School, discussed lectures on matters of theology, and John Major, as Foreign Secretary, as the philosophical question, ‘Do you philosophy and ethics. well as Secretary of State for Northern have free will or are your actions Ireland and Home Secretary, Lord determined?’ The audience agreed that Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral Hurd was able to give an expert view it was an excellent lecture but were not and Pastoral Theology at Oxford, asked; of the history of British Foreign Policy. sure whether they could have decided ‘Was the Invasion of Iraq Just?’ In His learned lecture, and his answers otherwise. suggesting answers to this controversial to questions, revealed why he is so question, he explained the traditional highly regarded as a wise statesman. In his talk, ‘How to Survive and Just War Theory and considered He spoke confidently and with great Defeat Evil’, Michal Giedroyc told of whether the USA was a legitimate authority on the rights and wrongs his remarkable adventures. In 1940, authority for deciding to invade. of British foreign policy, and included aged 11, he spent a fortnight in a his forthright views on the wrongness sealed cattle truck whilst he was taken Tim Stevenson, Lord Lieutenant of of the Iraq war. Lord Hurd may well by Soviet Troops from his home in Oxfordshire, discussed the relevance of have inspired some future OA Foreign Eastern Poland to Siberia, where he the monarchy for the United Kingdom Secretaries! survived two and a half years of hard today. The Queen’s representative labour. He signed copies of Crater’s revealed how the Royal Family benefits Dr John Lennox, a remarkable Edge, an account of his survival. The the nation and considered some polymath, was an Oxford Professor of evocative title refers to the struggle of criticisms, particularly concerning cost. Mathematics and has publicly debated grass shoots to survive on the edge of with ‘the new atheists’, Richard a crater. The Lord Hurd of Westwell, CH, CBE, Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. In PC, lectured on ‘Rights and Wrongs in a passionate lecture, he sought to rebuff The Reverend Henry Kirk Foreign Policy’ and then signed copies their challenge to the Christian Faith. of his book, Choose Your Weapons,

Stephen Poland, Alexander Ward, Lord Hurd, Euan Campbell

www.abingdon.org.uk 27 Rifle Club Target practice

The Rifle Club has competed in a number of matches this year in addition to its annual exchange and match against Stade, Germany. We were successful in matches against Harrow and Port Regis but conceded a narrow defeat against Wellington. Pupils from Abingdon also shot in this year’s Oxfordshire championships, competing against adult shooters. Ben Bryant, Tom Pugh and Jonathan Goves won the Symonds Bowl and Finn Ryley and Ben Bryant were the winners of the In addition to cultural trips, some days Germans fielded two teams against the C/D class pairs. were used to train on the German Abingdon team, one team comprising ranges. This allowed boys to shoot younger shooters aged 14-16, and a The annual German exchange included at 50m (many for the first time) and to second team of shooters aged 17-20 10 boys and 3 members of staff gain invaluable training and practise (one of whom had just returned from an (Alan Smith, Simon Grills and Mandy before the end-of-week match. It international competition!). Abingdon Pritchard). As in previous years, we also provided the chance for the tour won against the German Junior team enjoyed the benefit of staying in the party to shoot different disciplines but were defeated by the Senior team. Buxtehude Sports Hostel for visiting from prone (including standing and The trip also provided an excellent sports teams, which is only a short kneeling rifle) as well as air pistol and opportunity to mix with the German walk from the town centre, the range cartridge pistol. These were firsts team and we were extremely grateful and the train station. for many and were really enjoyable. for their hospitality. They accompanied Range time also allowed members us on many of the day trips, shared The cultural visits to Bremerhaven, of the team to make significant meals with us and both teams were Stade and Hamburg were extremely improvements in their position. Some also able to spend time together at the interesting and were enjoyed by advanced training looked at ways of Buxtehude hostel. This was especially members of the Abingdon and Stade achieving variations in measurements good for some members of the party teams alike. An open-top bus tour of less than a millimetre in order to because it was their fourth meeting of Hamburg gave us a chance to optimize performance when shooting at with members of the German team. see most of the city without even competition targets. having to walk too much! The visit to In addition to the domestic and Bremerhaven’s ship museum provided On the day of the match, after international successes of the Rifle one of the trip’s highlights: a visit to a transporting the equipment to the Club’s team, some mention should WWII submarine. range, we spent time preparing. The also be made of the Club’s coach. In 2009, Alan Smith was asked to help coach the GB Junior Development Squad. In 2010, Alan Smith competed in the English Smallbore Union Championships held at Bisley. Shooting over 50m, he secured 10th place in England with a score of 585/600. He has now been asked to compete in matches for the England civilian team – well done Alan! Visiting Bremerhaven’s Ship Museum Simon Grills and Ben Bryant 5 DJB

28 The Abingdonian Clubs & Societies

The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell

Alpha welcomed the Right Reverend Alpha Course Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, Real Tennis as its guest speaker on 14 October. The Club enjoyed an undefeated Abingdon School’s Alpha is an He gave an inspiring talk on ‘How season. Next year we hope to arrange opportunity for Sixth-formers to explore and why should I read the Bible?’ fixtures. The committee led by the Christian faith in a relaxed setting. Bishop Stephen spoke on how the example: Captain Campbell Garland Throughout the term there are ten Bible conveys God’s love for humanity and Vice-Captain Joon-Ho Sung thought-provoking sessions. Each through a wide variety of books, all in are the Senior Doubles champions; week, there is a short presentation differing literary styles. His talk was Steward Henry Firth is the Junior from an outside speaker. Local followed by a lively and thoughtful Singles Number 1. church youth leaders Andy Murray and discussion from both believers and We enjoyed expert tuition from Paul, a Carrie Heyward then help to facilitate non-believers. All were impressed by professional coach, until he transferred discussions in smaller groups. This is how Bishop Stephen conveyed deep to France, a move possibly influenced where pupils get to discuss what they ideas in a very light-hearted manner. really think and to ask any questions by Henry’s insistence on volleying whilst lying down. The end of the season tour they may have. The Alpha course is Marcus Gibbs designed primarily for pupils who are not of Australia was cancelled due to the churchgoers and each session is open lack of suitable opponents. to any sixth-former from Abingdon or St Helen’s who would like to attend. The Reverend Henry Kirk

www.abingdon.org.uk 29 House Reports Phelps’

This will be the last ever ‘Phelps’ House demonstrated in the form of Will report as Mr Phelps will be moving to Horlock, who was a member of the take up a new post as Headmaster A crew, winning a gold medal at of the British International School of Bedford Regatta. Angus Weir is a key New York. We all wish him and his member of both the A team for Rugby family every success for their new life in and Cricket. Nickolas Leah has also Manhattan. The boys of Waste Court excelled in sport outside of School, can be proud of their achievements being ranked 2nd in Berkshire for the and of their contributions to all areas of U15 cycling championship. As for the Richard Oastler school life. Other Half the Fourth-formers have been keen to get involved in school feared by other Houses in the School, In August last year, the senior boys trips, with Ian Middleton being a part of for its wealth of athletes in numerous of the House were rewarded for their the group that travelled to Egypt on a sports. Congratulations must go to efforts when public examination results trekking expedition. Gregor Hearn and Sam Hughes, who were announced, a just reward for all were key players in the undefeated the hard work. The House was one of The Fifth-formers are an excellent U16 rugby team, as well as Patrick the highest achievers academically. group of young men, who are set for Stinson, who played almost a whole great exam results in the summer, season for the 1st XV, despite being The new Third Form arrived and quickly thanks to their diligent approach to two years younger than the majority settled into the life and routines of the all aspects of school life. Academic of his teammates. Christian Reedman School. They are a gifted group of excellence has been shown by Aslan was a member of the successful cross- young men and I know that Mr Davies Sayfimehr, who won the House country team who won many races this will make them into a dynamic group. academic prize for his brilliant set of year. Guy Giles has been successful results in the GCSE January mocks. once more in the pool, qualifying for the The Fourth Form has had a successful However the tutor group is known for South England Championships. Not year. Sporting prowess has been its presence on the sports fields, and is to be overlooked on the pastoral side, Charlie Leslau was a prevalent member of the Public Speaking team, and Calum Smith was promoted to Lance Corporal in the CCF. Credit must also go to Miss Hicks, who has been a devoted tutor to the boys.

The Lower Sixth is a large group, with two tutor groups in the House. Their achievements have also been significant, with Will McDowell being involved in the successful film on Moldova, and Alec Burt representing the House in the Public Speaking final, with a charismatic display in his first Caspian Mitchard conducting at the House Singing Competition year at Abingdon.

30 The Abingdonian efforts as Head of Boarding. Last but L to R Milan Banerjee, Alex Fanshawe, Ben Yaxley, Will Horlock not least, Mr Litchfield whose efforts as tutor are greatly appreciated; his regular tutor group quizzes providing lots of enjoyment!

Looking back at all of these achievements, the boys should be proud of what they have achieved; it is their efforts which help to make the House what it is, and contribute towards its identity. May I just take this opportunity to thank the Phelps’ house tutors, Carol, and Mr and Mrs Phelps, The Upper Sixth-formers have been to school drama, and was deservedly who we wish every success in the a great tutor group throughout their rewarded with a service colours tie. USA. All the best to Mr Davies, and time in the House, and contribute to Eric Gartz demonstrated his talent as the younger boys in the House, who all areas of school life. They will be an economist, obtaining 200/200 in will continue to succeed in all aspects sad to move on, but will no doubt his AS level economics exam. Hugo of school life. look upon their time at Abingdon as Morrison, Tom Hughes and Liam Smith, a happy and successful one. Harshly who all represented the 1st XV for Liam Smith VI MIL under-represented on the prefect body rugby, once again showed the sporting this year, they did not let this affect talent of the House. Hugo Morrison A final word... them, and this is a testament to their was rewarded for his hard work and I have been very proud to be the characters. Caspian Mitchard, Guy dedication to the Rugby Club, by Housemaster of Phelps’ House; it has Stephens and Ulrich Bauer must be winning the 1st XV prize at prize giving. been my dream job. Many pupils believe congratulated on all obtaining offers to Ben Read has been talismanic as that teaching must be an easy career but read their chosen subjects at Oxford Head of House Sport, even though an actually it requires clear communication, and Cambridge. Tom Finch was unfortunate injury prevented him from and detailed planning. Abingdon justly rewarded for his contributions making his 1st XV rugby breakthrough. has many exceptional teachers and I to school debating, by winning the Dylan Robinson and James Carter were have been proud to work with such a EYP event held in Helsinki over the key members of the Hockey Club, who committed team. summer. Richard Oastler should also enjoyed a successful season. Finally, be congratulated on his contributions mention must go to Nam Jo, for his Some people fear time as it seems to stalk us but I believe that this is wrong. Time should be seen as a companion L to R Patrick Stinson, Hugo Morrison, Tom Hughes who reminds us that life needs to be cherished and enjoyed. Kim and I will take with us many happy memories and a lot of really good friendships. I would like to congratulate the pupils of Phelps’ House for all their wonderful, achievements and I feel sure that Mr Davies will create a fantastic team. My final word of thanks must go to Carol Webb, the House Matron, thoroughly reliable and devoted to ‘her boys’, she has been a great work colleague and a good friend. ‘Live long and prosper’.

William Phelps

www.abingdon.org.uk 31 School House

If one of the main aims in School of the boys themselves, as well as The Lower Sixth, with six boys new House over the past four years has about the sort of support they got from to the School, were the biggest tutor been for us to be able to talk about their tutor Mr Castle, himself by now group in the House, and certainly gave one community rather than two – the very much part of the School House enough food for thought to another boarders and the day boys - then furniture. It wasn’t plain sailing for all new member of the School House this was the year during which we of them by any means, and I would community – their tutor Mr Carson. A started to make real progress. This like to pay particular tribute to those tutor group Curry Night early in the was partly due to time of course; even who coped with adversity and still had year, with a rigidly imposed seating the old stagers were getting used to a smile on their face on Leavers’ Day! plan, helped to break much of the ice, the situation by now, and four out They did their bit for Abingdon sport, and they went on to make their mark in of the five year-groups in the House with another strong contribution to a big way in many areas of Abingdon had known no different. The two rowing taking pride of place perhaps, life. During the course of the year they outstanding Heads of House, Jakob and were not found wanting on results made great strides academically, and Schleu and Ali Ibrahim, certainly played day. Their departures did however several have become realistic Oxbridge a big part with their humour, their mark the passing of an era in School candidates. Nor is there a shortage thoughtfulness and their loyalty. There House. They had started their time of musicians, athletes, rowers, rugby was also as good a team of House in the House as the last exclusively members of staff as any Housemaster boarding year group, although they did could want. One of the sad things not know it at the time, and were also about the year was the number of these this Housemaster’s first new intake. we had to say goodbye to at the end. I hope the others will forgive me if I mention those who lasted the full The senior boys in School House, our course by name – John Bartlett, Daniel Upper Sixth group, started the year Boddington, Ali Ibrahim, Jonathan Ient, with great ambitions, both academically Gabriel Ling and Max Makarov – and and in the Other Half. That many of thank them for all they have done for Ali Ibrahim, Joint Head these ambitions were achieved says the House. I just hope they have not of School House much about the tenacity and ability forgotten the risotto cooking lessons!

L to R – Vassilis Ragoussis, Daniel Boddington, Tim Richards (Southwell-Sander’s), Jakob Schleu

32 The Abingdonian House Reports

and badminton players, cross-country not disappoint, and there were some boy, the irrepressible Duncan Chow. runners, D of E participants, debaters, outstanding individual performances; Thomas Browne and Sam Baxter were tech. crew, et al. – if Abingdon did it, they provided some strong members appointed as Lower School Assistants they were there! Their achievements of the School’s most successful rugby at the end of year, a fitting reward for included some excellent AS results team; there are some great musicians their contribution throughout. The and some glowing Other Half reports. and actors; and Will Abell and Toby many talents of this group of School There were two well-deserved Blong made excellent Lower School House boys should also get a mention appointments as School Prefects at the Assistants. Those who will still be here here. They will miss the banter with Mr end of the year – Forrest Radford (as in the Sixth form have the opportunity Callan, and I am sure they will join me in good a wine waiter as you could ask to impress, certainly. I also wish the wishing him well in his new post in York. for) and Nick Williams. Nor do I have leavers well – Charles Buchan, Henry any doubt that the two new Heads House, Charlie Howard and, of course, And Miss Briggs could finally have a of House will do a great job in their Dr Smith. tutor group all of her own from the very final year – Gleb Kozlov and Vassilis start! The new boys to the House, Ragoussis. The Fourth-formers, as they had the Third Form, settled in quickly with somehow become, had developed a their tutor’s help, and despite one or As I contemplate the Fifth Form, I great relationship with their tutor, Mr two ‘moments’ along the way, made a begin to search through my library of Callan – they certainly learned from hugely positive impression as a group teacher’s euphemisms… neither their him that the best thing to call a spade during their first year. Once again tutor, Dr Smith, nor I would suggest is … ‘a spade’. Their loyalty to each we had our fair share of outstanding that every single contribution by every other, and to School House continued sportsmen, musicians and academics, single member of this group was to grow, and one of their highlights but even more importantly, we once entirely positive, even in this particular was the great performance put in by again had more than our fair share forum. Having risked causing offence, (new boy) Ian Chan, Danny Sharp of engaging, committed, thoroughly perhaps, by what I have just written, I and Andy Yi to win the House Public decent young men. So what did Miss will go some way towards putting that Speaking Competition – with the whole Briggs go and do? She left. The right. This is an extremely talented tutor group there to support. School boys will certainly miss her, and will be group of young men – their GCSE House’s contender for ‘Smiler of the thinking of her in Sri Lanka. results, taken as a group, certainly did Year’ competition was another new Once again, I would like to record my gratitude to the house staff for all they L to R – Kieran Routledge, Thomas Browne, Thomas Farrant, have done to help the boys – Di, Ratko Harry Blackwell, School House quads crew and all the ladies, for whom and with whom there have been very few dull moments; to Yvonne Aitken, not just for making sure the tie matches the shirt; and to the boys themselves – they know what for…

Douglas Aitken

www.abingdon.org.uk 33 Crescent

Cox: Luke McCormick Rowers: Ed McLaughlin, Jonathan Lord, Luke Derrick, Jamie Irwin

For Crescent House 2009-2010 has earlier. Nick Acutt and Temitope Alakiu- Bobby Aigbogun, Xilin Song, Alex been a very eventful year. Members Marquis were responsible for the House Ward and Ed Howe all represented of the House have achieved great tuck shop and were able to donate the school in 1st XV rugby. In rowing, things in all aspects of school life a significant amount of money to the Jamie Cook and Andrew Nagi proved from sport to music and of course charity Help for Heroes. to be the vital members of the 1st examination results. The House has VIII. Tom Price represented the first said farewell to a number of tutors this Exam results in the Upper School were XI cricket team as an all-rounder for term. Mr Cobbe has moved on while once again of an exceedingly high the second year running. The Hockey Mr McDonald has returned to South standard with the zenith of academic Club benefited from the might of Africa. Although Mr Price is still at the achievement being Jay Jung gaining the Howe Brothers; Fred Howe and School, he has left Crescent House to six AS Levels all at grade A and the Ed Howe; making one of the most become a Lower School Tutor. They vast majority of the Upper Six getting successful seasons for the 1st in recent will undoubtedly be missed; not only into their first-choice university. These years. The influence of these boys by their tutees, but also by the whole achievements truly are exceptionally and many others in the Senior School House for the enjoyment they brought considering the multitude of extra- has obviously worn off on the younger to the House and their care for us. curricular activities these members of members of the House who have been Crescent were involved in. equally successful throughout the year. The seniors have led the House Andrew Halls and Daniel Leach added impeccably this year. The Lower Sixth Crescent House is renowned for the to the Fifth Form’s spectacularly high were so strong that a number of them plethora of Other Half activities in which exam grades this year by collecting were appointed House prefects a year its members get involved. In sport, 10 A*s and an A each. Andrew Halls

Fred Howe Jamie Cook

34 The Abingdonian House Reports

The House Singing Competition: Adrian Lo conducting, Jay Jung cello

As a House, Crescent embarked on concert and recital as well as being Adrian Lo many trips this year, highlights being an avid member of the Chapel Choir. the celebrations for Chinese New David Jorgensen, William Haines and Year and watching Brainiac: Science Chris Green represented the House well Abuse in Oxford. In the House Singing in the CCF, developing their leadership Competition, we were placed a and building significant reputations as creditable second. senior cadets of the future. Jack Trodd covered himself in glory on the stage The trips, clubs and societies that the taking a leading role in West Side Story. members of Crescent House partake in is renowned around the School; Sam It is certain that Crescent will be equally Bowers acted as the chairman in the strong next year under the newly Young Enterprise team; Nicholas Acutt appointed Heads of House Edd Arnold and Matt Roberts travelled to Norway and Xilin Song. Our congratulations to complete their Gold D of E; Matt go to Nick Acutt and Matt Roberts for Roberts also travelled to South Africa being made School prefects for the also represented the J16s in a strong for the South African Shayandima year coming. We wish Nick well in his squad along with Stuart King and partnership project. Adrian Lo was appointment as Head Boy. Jamie Galyer. Jamie Ward represented an outstanding performer in the Music Crescent in the Lower School, acting School this year, playing in nearly every Matt Roberts 6 MWF and as a Lower School Assistant. Amir Garmroudi 6 MWF

Bobby Aigbogun Ed Howe

www.abingdon.org.uk 35 Tian Ji in Fen

Boyd’s

Mike Summers and Jonny Barrow gave hugely of their time and effort to enrich the Music Department. I can recall occasions when they may have spent days and days rehearsing before concerts, cramming prep in where they could and eating chips in the Houseroom before the performance. They never complained and took it all in their stride. None of them though was a single-activity student. Abingdon produces great all-rounders and Mike for example was an outstanding athlete who competed regularly for the county.

Tom Lowenthal, Harry Gray and Jasper Marlow, as part of the European Youth Jasper Marlow (back row left), Parliament team that I had the privilege Tom Lowenthal and Tian Ji (back row second and third from right), of taking to Durham (where we won Harry Gray (front row second from right) the UK final I might add), showed that Abingdonians’ finely honed talent for talking nonsense to distract their I have been putting off writing this, Sam Newman led the tutor group and teachers in lessons has a much more partly because it’s difficult to find time House as both a School prefect and practical use. All of them displayed a in a hectic school term to think back to Head of House. He was a fantastic rhetorical skill of international quality and the previous year, but also because last leader and role model, who showed that did a sterling job representing the UK year’s Upper Sixth were a special year it was possible to be a 1st XV rugby in the European Youth Parliament held group being as they started at Abingdon player, a top academic achiever and a in Helsinki last year. Tom is currently the same year I did. It was a particularly modest and kind person. He inspired training in law, Harry in medicine and poignant Griffen Ball for me at the end confidence and loyalty from his peers Jasper is aiming to become Prime of the Summer term, saying goodbye to and thoroughly deserved is place at Minister or, at the very least, MP for students that I had first taught when they St Hugh’s, Oxford. Jim Humberstone, Henley. were much smaller First-formers and I another School and House prefect was a just-qualified, naive teacher fresh did a great job helping the younger from Cambridge. students who joined the House become Veeral Manek acclimatised to the way Abingdon I appreciate that this publication is worked. It can be a daunting experience most read by our leavers and so it to go from a small prep school to a seems appropriate to focus upon the school of 850 and Jim was an ‘old hand’ recently departed Sixth-formers. As I’ve who could deliver authoritative and said already, this group had a special informal advice to nervous Third-formers. significance for me, but there are many A budding chef, I hope that he carries on others in the School who would also cooking at the prep school where he is agree that they were an outstanding working this year. group of young men: academically, on the sports’ field and, most crucially, There are three young men who stand socially, they were a brilliant bunch of out particularly for me in their contribution students to teach and tutor. to the School’s music: Veeral Manek,

36 The Abingdonian House Reports

Boyd’s at the House Singing Competition

Richard Moon and Josh Stedman (who who spent more hours in hospital rooms minefield. It is an incredibly daunting joined us in the Lower Sixth) were two of than classrooms over the years, and task to guide such talented young men the brightest young men in the School who had the distinction of making even as they try and work out what future and, as the exam boards told us, the a hardened rugby player like Mr Watkins paths they might take in the midst of country. Both students of the sciences wince at his injuries on the field. worrying about exams, girlfriends and they enjoyed a healthy academic being picked for this or that team. Emily, competition which pushed both to higher There are others and you know who you to put it bluntly, was superb. There were levels of achievement. Both committed are. 5-a-side tournaments, with trophies Christians and decent and generous and pizza to follow, Saturday morning people, Richard has gone forward to It would be remiss of me to skip over one presentations, coffee and cake in the Art medical studies and Josh aims for aspect of the boys’ time at Abingdon Department and of course, the meals Cambridge next year. and that is their tutoring. The group had out to Ask. I have cause to remember the benefit of two fantastic teachers as these particularly because it became an I would like to make a brief mention of their tutors. In the Middle School Dr May unfortunate tradition that at some stage Alex Ward who, although he left the might have caused tooth decay with a towards the end of the evening, the lights House in the Middle School to join the never-ending supply of chocolate for would dim, and a cake would emerge ranks of the Boarders (and eventually commendations (of which there were from the restaurant kitchens and the boys become Head of School) was always a many in this group), but she cared and would start singing ‘happy birthday’. My presence around the Houseroom and nurtured them for three years through guaranteed embarrassment was reward remained an honorary member of Boyd’s the Middle School on the perilous enough for them! House in the eyes of his old tutor group. journey from innocent Third-formers to hormonal teenagers. She even opened My final words are for the leavers as they I have only mentioned half of the group up her home to the tutor group and was depart for university and other career and my apologies for not covering always prepared to speak to parents options. I wish you good fortune and everyone in detail, such as Ollie Read about any issues they had. Needless success in whatever you set your mind to who always brought a smile to our faces to say, there were high standards for in the years to come. You enriched this in tutor period and was an incredibly Mrs O’Doherty to continue in the Sixth School as much as it did you. It was a gentle and sincere individual. Tian Ji, Form. Thankfully both tutor and tutor pleasure to be your Housemaster. whose legendary sartorial elegance was group were new to the system and the envy of the Sixth Form. Alex Beech, helped each other navigate the UCAS David Boyd

www.abingdon.org.uk 37 Christodoulou’s

3 NMR were successful in a broad who went on to represent Abingdon our top sportsmen, James Smith, range of sports, skills and academia: School in the National Schools’ Oscar Newman, Rory Brampton, James four boys were included in the U14A Gala, and Nicholas Whitehead who Rogers and Charlie Bethell, continued rugby squad; Nick Boreham captained contributed the most points to the to represent the School in the top the Oxfordshire County rugby team, House. Finally, the all-important House teams. The sports highlight of the term, gaining the highest score ever recorded Sports Day was won by a team effort in the context of sacrifice, was Oscar on the ‘fast test’. The Lent term with all the boys taking part. Newman’s acrobatic mid-air catch of a brought even more success with the cricket ball going for six; for his pains nerve wracking victory in the inter-House 4 DJWF had a very successful year in he received a shattered clavicle and the Road Relay whose team included terms of musical, sporting and academic admiration of the House. Angus Parker, Yusuf Safa and Harry achievement. James Smith, Patrick Lay Stott: Angus Parker ran an incredibly and Gareth Lloyd reached the final of 5 MB: The Fifth Year proved to be the quick first leg, winning Christodoulou’s the Public Speaking Competition, but busiest year for the tutor group. With the competition effectively. Soon after, lost by a narrow margin. All the boys the menace of GCSEs fast approaching Max Robinson, Teddy Clamp and Henry taking early GCSEs achieved As and it would be understandable to see the Crowe argued their way to gold in the A*s, as well as obtaining good end of members of the tutor group withdraw Inter-House Debating Competition. Max year exam results across the board. In from the Other Half and focus solely on Robinson should also be mentioned terms of music, our star musicians in the academic tribulations ahead. This for his sailing achievements outside the form of Jack May, Jacopo Blumberg could not be further from the truth. School where he has been competing and Joe Ereaut continued to reach new On the sports field the likes of Charlie at regional level. The Summer term was levels: all three took Grade 8 Cello and Manasseh and Peter Allan dominated dominated by rowing and it brought were awarded distinctions. They also the rugby field with an incredible even more achievements: Harry Stott played in the First Orchestra. Moreover, season with the U16As, and Charlie coxed the U14A VIII, which secured a Manasseh was also selected for the victory at the Reading Town Regatta. 1st XI cricket team. Felix Newman Toby Butterworth was in the U14B proved himself on the river in such a VIII, which won the National Schools’ way that he represented the GB team Regatta B crew category, and Hugo in France, successfully taking on the Hubbard was in the C boat, which also French National Champions. The reached the final of that competition. House also worked well as a team, The term also included the House under the leadership of Oliver Bailey Swimming Competition which was again the tutor group reached the finals of won by the NMR boys – the House the inter-House Hockey Competition. team was captained by Harry Bruce Robert Brooks In the musical world, Rupert Waterson

38 The Abingdonian House Reports

Jonathan Bourchier Jack Perry Luke Abbott

achieved distinction in Grade 8 piano Murrell having outside success winning Martlet while Charlie Robertson, Luke – an extraordinary result. In the drama a men’s doubles tournament for his club Abbott, William Fotherby and Will side of Abingdon life, William Nott alongside his father. Jonathan Bourchier Hutton flawlessly served the school managed a Headmaster’s Praise for and Andrew Russell were key members community as prefects. Tommy not dropping a mark in the examined of the cricket 1st XI that got to the Pritchard, Alexander Davis and Robert performances. At the summer’s end, national finals of the Schools’ Twenty20 Lloyd created a masterpiece of speech Matthew Landells, alongside two other Competition. James Boreham was that saw them win the Inter-House Abingdon boys, embarked on an named captain of the Rifle Club; he Public Speaking Competition. Charles ambitious 1,047-mile bike ride, hoping was also given the role of sergeant-in- Brampton achieved a place at Harper to raise £1000 for charity, by the end charge of recruits in the CCF. Robin Adams to study Management, and Alex the ride – from Land’s End to John Veale, Matthew Boyd, Harry Copson Ereaut at Cardiff to study Medicine. O’Groats – £2,486.42 had been raised: and Andrew Russell were made school William Fotherby will always be a truly awe-inspiring achievement. To prefects for the following year. Robert remembered for his outstanding fencing top off an already remarkably successful Brooks played Action, a key role in West accomplishments on the international year, results day proved to be a day Side Story; he also managed to achieve stage, his stature and talent promise of elation for all. The credit for all this Grade 8 cello and half colours for music. much for the future. James Wilson success must go to MB’s departing David Wills completed his Silver and made an outstanding contribution to the tutor, Dr Megan Bowdrey. She will be Gold in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. House spirit and the School’s Cross- sorely missed and it will be difficult to Mr Peter Coke takes over this tutor Country Club too. My special thanks replace her. group for their Upper-Sixth year. go to the two Heads of House, Tommy Pritchard and Will Hutton, and my two 6 ATH: In rugby, Harry Copson 7 APS: Robert Lloyd was a highly trusted House Prefects, Rob Fife and represented the 1st XV on a regular successful editor-in-chief of the Luke Parker. My final thanks go to Jack basis whilst Jamie Hall was the captain Tinker and Alex Ereaut for all they did of the 2nd XV. In hockey, Jack Perry, for the House during the Inter-House 1st XI goalkeeper, was awarded Singing Competition. I was especially half colours after the team’s highly proud and happy to see Jack Tinker successful season. Robin Veale was a leave such a strongly admired and member of the Cross-Country A team worthwhile final legacy at school. I wish that went on to win the South-East him and all of the leavers the very best England Schools’ Championships – they in their future endeavours. were undefeated nationally. Sam Murrell and Robert Brooks both represented Alexis Christodoulou the first team for tennis, with Sam William Fotherby

www.abingdon.org.uk 39 Franklin’s

David Mears

Adam Uberoi and Gem Vongseenin. The first two paired up for the House Badminton Competition, and, of course, they won it. It was a fine achievement presaging more to come. All three have a bright future in the School team too. Tom Watkins, Alex Muir, Alex Veale and Richard Meadows We had an even more extraordinary coup in the Inter-House Tug-of-War. The rules of the competition were as Heads of House for this year were were commended for our musicality, slippery as the grass underfoot, but we Richard Meadows and Robert although the judge lost some of our got a grip on them, on the rope and on Winearls. Mature actors both, they confidence over the Phantom Drummer victory. We won the competition in all showed confidence and poise as Mystery… hmm. three – yes, all three – age categories. well as leadership and good humour. We totally pulled. The House prefects were Freddie The Road Relay, of course, once again, Cleworth, George Constable, James ever and aye, we won. The course I was very glad to be able to watch Holland, Joe McDonagh, Alex Muir itself has been rolled up and placed most of our performances in the House and Tom Watkins. They were a forever in our bulging trophy cabinet. Cricket Competition. The co-operation superbly friendly and helpful group, Tom Watkins, Alex Muir, Alex Veale and between Fourth and Third Years is and set a tremendous example of Richard Meadows brought the baton a key feature of this event, and is enthusiastic participation to the rest of home in the fastest time in the School, generally as pleasing as the cricket the House. Joe, Alex and Tom were and it was brilliantly appropriate after itself. James Dewar captained, and also School Prefects, and all three were all these years that the Watkins-Muir everyone played a part in our run to the commended for the contribution they pair matched each other perfectly, both final. I was delighted that, having come made to the running of the School. breaking the awesome 8 minute barrier so close in the past, we went all the in 7.59. They had also led the School way and won it. Well done to all. The House Singing Competition was Cross-Country team with distinction, the usual roaring success, or at least integrity and inspiration. Alex Veale There were many individual successes roaring. Henry Jenkinson was again was very quick indeed, and reminded over the year. Richard Slade and Tom our talented and charismatic director, us why he had become such an Watkins won places at Cambridge, and Alex Veale accompanied with important part of the School team. and Alex Muir at Oxford, all to read quiet brilliance; Tom Spears and Nick variations of Classics. Mark Power Schneider were also instrumental in our More glory was to come. We have Smith came into his own as a superb performance. We sang I’m a Believer all the badminton talent in the world debater and achieved real distinction with all the belief we could muster, and (Middle School) with Daniel Chen,

40 The Abingdonian House Reports

Henry Jenkinson conducting at the House Singing Competition

Mark Power Smith

Alexander Hatzis continued to develop as a national-standard rower. Peter Barnshaw has achieved more national success as an athlete, setting records and PBs in a frightening range of events, and cycling from Lands End to John O’ Groats with two friends over the summer holiday to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Luke Terry became a key talent in the cross- country team.

I was particularly heartened by the pleasant atmosphere in the House. Co-operation for the various House events and competitions was eager Matt Landells (Christodoulou’s), and friendly, and the Houseroom felt James Tracey (Southwell-Sander’s), like a good place to play pool, do prep Peter Barnshaw (Franklin’s) or just relax.

I would like to thank my House tutors for the School; he also proved himself Henry Jenkinson achieved tremendous for all the work they have put in, a fine journalist on the Martlet staff. reviews for his drama and singing. dealing with the day-to-day concerns Robbie Winearls and Richard Meadows Joshua Bull played some great cricket and overseeing the academic progress showed again what good actors in the 1st XI. Joe McDonagh and of their tutees. In many ways I feel that they are, and I particularly enjoyed James Percival became key players this has been the House’s best year My Country’s Good. David Mears in the 1st XV, and Ed Hughes is a since I arrived, and this is in large part managed to play for the National Youth great prospect; Tom Kynge and Joel due to the time and care the tutors Orchestra without denting his superb Cooper demonstrated their talent at have shown. academic progress. Richard Slade county level, and James Dewar is played some brilliant chess and was also becoming a superb player. Alex David Franklin a key member of the School team. Jeffreys earned his Black Belt in karate.

www.abingdon.org.uk 41 O’Doherty’s

the House tag rugby competitions and O’Doherty’s power to victory at the House Quads vowed to come out all guns blazing Max Brittan, Henry Lambe, Kristian Wood, Jonathan Moloney, next year. Edward Antonian

The Lent term got off to a great start with the news of Geoff Penington’s offer from Cambridge to reads Physics. Geoff has been the outstanding academic in the House in recent years, but remains a modest, likeable character respected for his debating and whole-hearted commitment to House competitions. Hundreds of pounds were raised for charity by the sponsored ‘swim the channel’ The House really gained momentum However, new stars are emerging in undertaken by many O’Doherty’s boys during this academic year and the this area such as Third-former Edward (in the School pool). The driving force boys managed to achieve significant Antonian. behind the project was Henry Wood success in a wide range of traditional whose tenacity is admired by all and inter-house encounters, nationally in In October the hugely tribal House was recognised by the School in the sport and the performing arts, and Singing Competition took place and summer at Prize Giving. internationally in public speaking. Once whilst our rendition of Scouting for again I feel that there are too many Girls’ She’s So Lovely, conducted by We finally got going in inter-house achievements for me to pay more than Sam Prior, was commended for its competitions in March with wins for the brief reference to them but I would like commitment and volume, the song was Third and Fifth Years in hockey. Sean to emphasise that, whilst not everyone not sufficiently challenging to have a MacLachlan, our county star, dragged is mentioned here, the contributions chance to win. Thomas Wilson took himself from his sick bed to inspire his and efforts of all O’Doherty’s boys are on a job in arranging that was a big team, and the Fifth Years beat a much- valued by me. test for him personally but he organised fancied School House team on the way a performance that showed passion, to victory. In the Michaelmas term Oliver Todd, enjoyment and togetherness. We have Matthew Copson and Geoffrey vowed to add some musical quality to Josh Smith Penington formed the core of the these characteristics next year to try to School public speaking team that won wrest the trophy from Webb’s. the national round of the European Youth Parliament competition in The House continued to provide more Durham. The prize was a trip to than its fair share of players for the Helsinki to take part in a ten-day Rugby Club: Nathaniel Watkins, Beno session of the EYP with teams from the Edwards, Josh Smith and Freddie EU member states and beyond. The Humfrey all represented the 1st XV, rapier-like debating of earlier rounds and Sam Hogan, Peter Moore, Kristian would now need to be put aside in a Wood represented Oxfordshire. Joe festival of European integration and Hogan was outstanding in the Colts’ general showing-off! Whilst probably unbeaten season, proving that he could favourites for the House Debating bounce back from the misfortune of Competition of the Lent term, the trio being coached by me in his first year were adjudged inferior to Boyd’s ‘your at the School. The Sixth Form and mum’ jokes and sexual innuendo. Third Year were both runners-up in

42 The Abingdonian House Reports

Oliver Todd (3rd from left), Matthew Copson (3rd from right), Geoffrey Penington (2nd from right) – members of the winning European Youth Parliament Competition at Durham Nathaniel Watkins

Alistair Duff was crowned U17 county The Summer term saw a strong In June Nathaniel Watkins captained cross-country champion in January, performance from Kristian Wood in the 1st XI and Josh Smith kept and followed this up with a great multiple roles in the Middle School wicket on finals day of the National performance as part of the U19 team production Faustus. He followed this Schools’ Twenty20 cricket competition. that won the South East Schools’ up alongside Jonny Moloney, Max Nathaniel has played in the 1st XI for Championships against most, if not all, Brittan, Henry Lambe and Edward six years and Josh currently represents of the strongest schools in the country. Antonian in the victorious House Quads the Northamptonshire Academy. Both Remarkably Alistair also won a place competition. Whole House success boys have been outstanding sportsmen as a percussionist in the National Youth came in the demanding Athletics throughout their careers at Abingdon Wind Ensemble this year. National competition. Every member of the in not only cricket but also rugby and success was also gained by Matthew House competed and the points hockey. They both take up places at Copson whose film One Foot on the gained in fifth place of a B-string field Durham University next year and look Ground had its London premiere competition were every bit as important set to be selected for the Cricketing at the National Film Theatre in the as those won at the head of the blue Centre of Excellence, following in Spring. The film depicted the story of a ribbon track events. Nevertheless Tom the footsteps of Nasser Hussain and Moldovan professional basketball player Foxon’s huge points haul helped win Andrew Strauss, and possibly on to in the context of the country’s struggles both the Sixth Form competition and first-class careers. since gaining independence. the overall competition. In July the House said farewell to a hugely talented and committed Upper Sixth who will go on to be successful doctors, scientists, architects, physiotherapists, businessmen, artists, musicians, sportsmen and who knows what else. Celia Shephard leaves after three years as a tutor to take up a position as Head of English at Durham School. We wish them all good fortune and thank them for their contributions.

Nick O’Doherty

www.abingdon.org.uk 43 Southwell-Sander’s

Stuart Rankin, Timothy Richards, Ted Thompson and Aidan Watts. First and foremost a special mention must go to Alistair Nicoll and Joe Kempton, my joint Heads of House. Alistair has been a stalwart member of the House, providing me with invaluable support throughout my first year, while Joe has really helped to garner the sense of House spirit that I feel is tangible in the Houseroom. It would be remiss of me not to mention the amazing Joe Mason who along with James Richards, Matt Carter, Alex Sunderland and Tom Pagel Alistair and Alex Black worked tirelessly to help organise a fantastic contribution It seems strange to be writing my first inclusivity and mutual respect, without to the House Singing Competition and annual review of Southwell-Sander’s losing the important sense of fun that the spectacular candlelit Christmas House, especially as it only feels like school should bring. Carol Service. A choral scholarship yesterday that Jamie Older was handing at Oxford awaits Joe and he deserves me the reins of an incredibly well run Unfortunately, as well as being able to every success. Special mention should and vibrant group of lads. As the sun celebrate the many House successes also go to Matthew Hinkins and Alistair sets on my first year, I hope I can say that we have had, it is also time to Nicoll for some superb artwork on that while some of the clientele might be say goodbye to a fantastic group of display during the A2 presentation in different, there remain many similarities Upper Sixth-formers. Bringing with May. Sporting performances have with Older’s House where the lads from them a colourful reputation from the been many and varied and include the Fifth Year groups create a lively, Middle School, I have been immensely Joe Kempton’s role in an incredibly welcoming and productive atmosphere impressed with the progress they have successful cross-country team, while both in the House room and around the made and the work they have put into Callum Keown played for the 1st XV School. As I was jotting down the main the past year. The leavers include rugby team and Edward Callow was an events of the year, it became abundantly Henry Beggin, Alexander Black, Edward invaluable member of the badminton clear what a talented and busy House Callow, Andrew Doll, Matthew Hinkins, squad. From a musical perspective, we we are. In addition, I never cease to Joe Kempton, Callum Keown, Henry had an incredibly talented bunch of lads be impressed by how the boys are also Kibble, Anthony Lloyd, Olly Mallett, Joe who were regular members of the Big able to engender an atmosphere of Mason, Alistair Nicoll, James Plumb, Band and the 1st Orchestra, including

Joe Mason

Joe Kempton in the lead Alex Black

44 The Abingdonian House Reports

Alistair Nicholl Alex Black conducting at the House Singing Competition

Joe Mason, Alexander Black, Andrew As I write this the Fifth Year are House. Yet whilst these are important Doll, Alistair Nicoll, Edward Callow and wallowing in some superb GCSE characteristics, I place just as much Anthony Lloyd. results with the whole group performing importance on those House members extremely well. Special mention should who contribute on a daily basis to what All bodes well for next year with an go to Thomas Salt, Edward O’Brien and I feel is a welcoming, fun and inclusive equally versatile and talented bunch Sarab Sethi, and George Apps, each House environment. A big thank you of lads looking forward to embarking of whom achieved 11 A*s. Edward goes out to all the boys in the House on their final year at School. Particular O’Brien continued his monopoly of and I hope you have enjoyed the year congratulations should go to the newly Middle School chess, winning for the as much as I have. appointed School Prefects: William 3rd year in a row. From a charity Davey, Edward Griffiths and John Carter. perspective, James Tracey, along with Events such as the House Singing William and John, along with Jamie two friends, spent their summer cycling Competition, with a rousing Copus and Hugo Mendus, deserve from Lands End to John O’Groats for performance of You’ve Got a Friend a special mention for all representing Macmillan Cancer – a really splendid by Carole King, directed by Alexander the 1st VIII at Henley, while Jamie and achievement. In House rowing the Black with Joe Mason on the piano, as John represented Great Britain in the Fourth and Fifth Year crews won their well as the memorable candlelit carol European Championships in Belgium, House Ergo Competition, beating Sixth- service and the summer ‘strawberries coming home with 2 gold medals – a Form teams in the process. Further and wine’ social, will provide me, and really great effort. In addition, Edward down the School, the Fourth Year hopefully the boys and their parents, along with Alexander Bowyer and dominated on the sports field, winning with many happy memories of an active, Jonty Cook have each been selected both the House Rugby and Hockey enjoyable and fun-packed year. A big to head up their respective CCF unit, Competitions in their age groups, thank you must go out to the tutors, with Jonty also being selected for the while the Third-formers were the Mrs Jennings, Mr Evans, Mr Bickerton, British Keelboat Sailing Academy. So, unlucky losing finalists in their hockey Dr Jeffreys and Mr Willerton, for their as you can see, we have some high competition. hard work, care and professionalism calibre lads heading up through the throughout the course of the year. House next year. Couple this with No doubt I have missed out some key Together they enable the boys to numerous sporting, community service events and achievements for which I flourish and make my life a lot easier. All and musical achievements, as well as am sorry. However, reading over what that is left for me to say is to wish you an excellent looking group of newly has gone on during the past twelve all happy holidays and one year down, appointed House heads and prefects, months brings home to me what a several more to go I hope! and the House appears to be in good talented, hard working and determined hands next year. bunch of young men I have in the Robin Southwell-Sander

www.abingdon.org.uk 45 Webb’s

flavour to an epic eat-off between a pair of Upper Sixth boys, and to Christopher ‘organisation’ Edwards who was part of the committee that made the event such a success.

The fiercely contested House Pool Competition entered another year, and its victor, Fraser Capill, sadly left us in the New Year, feeling the need to pursue life in New Zealand. The inaugural Middle School House Social followed hot on its heels. The success Victors of the House Singing Competition of the evening owed a lot to the Head of House and the efforts of the House prefects – Michel Baumgart, Peter As Christopher Edwards and I sat in an accomplished musical backing of Peter Brombley, Richard Brown, Andrew Oxford café putting together this tale Brombley, Rory Marsh, Hal Parke and Dart, James Edwards and Julian Martin of Webb’s 2009/10, it made us realise George Rossiter, together with the – who volunteered as team coaches for how quickly one moves from Abingdon treble additions of Johnny Burrow, the 5-a-side football. life to pastures new. It seemed a long Thomas Kelly, Thomas Padfield and time since September 2009 when we Oscar Talbot, led to another victorious, Our all-conquering Sixth Form fittingly had tried to help the new Third Year performance. completed a successful Michaelmas cohort settle down and had met the term. The Tag Rugby team of Euan many new House tutors: Miss Glenn This success acted as a great morale Campbell, Ben Stockwell, James – new to the School – became Lower boost and members of Webb’s House Edwards, Andy Elliot, Mark Francis, Sixth tutor, Dr Wiejak received the took part in many of the Michaelmas Henry Mills, Richard Parkin-Mason baton of Fourth-Year hopes from the term activities. Alex Fisher, a constant and Jack Rogers, secured victory promoted Mr Southwell-Sander, and in the J16A, travelled with the Boat for the second year in succession. we were sorry to lose Mr Crook to Club to Philadelphia for the Head of Richard Parkin-Mason completed a the haven of inner-city Manchester. I the Schuylkill Regatta. Richard Brown, dedicated season as captain of the 1st attempted the daunting task of starting Christopher Edwards, James Honore, XV, alongside fellow 1st XV regulars up a House news blog, which will Oliver Stanier, Max Dooley, Angus James Edwards and Mark Francis, who hopefully gain some permanence. Six Wilson-MacDonald, Joe Greenman, were all present for the fantastic and members of Webb’s were selected to Toby Ross, Neil Salata and Alexander atmospheric clash at Iffley Road against become prefects: Euan Campbell – Whitworth headed south for Tunisia MCS. Mention should be made of Head Boy, Jacob Fries, Henry Mills and with the Classics Department, whilst Hamish Grant who, already part of the Richard Parkin-Mason together with Hamish Grant, Rory Marsh and Joel unbeaten Senior Colts A XV season, Peter Brombley and George Rossiter. Morris went on the Spanish Exchange saw himself promoted to a couple of with the girls from St Helen’s. At the 1st XV games at the end of the season. The House Singing competition is School’s main charity event, Abingdon’s The lower years showed that Webb’s always a good opportunity to get to Got Talent, Euan Campbell’s part in a has the potential to continue its rugby know the new members of the House winning duet – Crazy by Gnarls Barkley dominance into the future, with Rory and, as defending champions, we were – was popular, along with a band Garrett and Matt Cammack being part encouraged to select a more daring containing Rory Marsh, who showed of a number of impressive Juniors’ song, namely Teenage Dirtbag by his 1st Orchestra percussion talents. outings, whilst Ned Roberts, Thomas Wheatus. The captivating conducting Credit should go to James Edwards, Padfield and James Peirce showed talents of Euan Campbell and the whose supervision added much needed their worth in the B and C teams.

46 The Abingdonian House Reports

of the National 20/20 Championships, played at Lord’s. Henry Sensecall and James Edwards were key components of this landmark achievement. On the same day as this final, Webb’s athletes were causing a stir as George Baldwin, Matt Cammack, Mark Francis and Tim Gladstone gained victories in both track and field.

Even at the final weekend, Webb’s boys were gaining recognition at the end-of-year Prize Giving. Finn Ryley won the Shooting Prize – a worthy reward for his years of success at the School and for his place in the Mark Francis and Richard Parkin-Mason GB Junior squad. Charles Pope and Thomas Kelly pocketed the House academic prizes. Christopher Edwards The 2010 Lent term was an unusually The Easter holidays saw the CCF’s earned the ‘Leadership’ prize for his short one, but this only increased major annual training camp take place dedication to the CCF and as Head of the intensity of activity. The Fifth and on Salisbury Plain. This was the first House. George Rossiter was heralded Sixth Form sat their all-important proper taste of military activity for Third- for the Rowing Prize after two years mock exams, which demonstrated form recruits Sam Ashby-Crane, Matt as a 1st VIII crew member, and for solid individual performances from Cammack, Oscar Jackson (member his silver medal at the 2009 Junior Hamish Grant, Sanchit Turaga and of the best section), Oliver Phillips World Championships. Finally, Euan Euan Campbell. Webb’s badminton (winner of most improved recruit) and Campbell, handing over the position of players continued to be part of their Ned Roberts. Congratulations to Head Boy to Mark Francis, summed unbeaten squads. The School was Christopher Edwards – i/c recruits – for up the domination that Webb’s enjoy captained by Julian Martin, with Ramon seeing that the week went smoothly. across the School. Bonfield – a loyal servant of the Club The AI Cadre, involving Nick Bradfield, – as captain of the U19B. Naimish Harry Wilder and Alexander Whitworth, This year, Webb’s continued to be Adroja showed impressive potential set the Fourth Years on the way a breeding ground for excellence; by launching into the Juniors A, and through the tougher standards required. with arguably one of the most potent featured as a reserve to squads much Oliver Stanier and Chris Burgess Upper Sixth groups the School has higher up too. The Cross-Country continued to offer their support and ever seen. In this respect it has been a Club enjoyed an unbeaten season, in services as talented NCOs. pleasure for Christopher Edwards and no small part thanks to the efforts of myself to review the year, it has been a Michel Baumgart, Chris Burgess and As usual, for many, the Summer term rewarding, fulfilling and enjoyable job. Rory Marsh. With the Club effectively was a rather curtailed affair. However, To those who haven’t gained a mention dubbed national champions, this is this didn’t stop Joe Greenman, Michael in this epic (more cynically, long-winded an incredible feat by all three. The Esnouf and Tim Gladstone setting and pretentious) tale of manliness, try Upper Sixth showed their continuing a number of school records in the harder next year. Regardless - from talents with an impressive 4th place in Inter-House Swimming competition. the specially gifted, to the plain special, the Road Relay, as Michel Baumgart, The Tennis Club, captained by Euan every boy has offered something to the Jacob Fries, Henry Mills and George Campbell, and featuring leading players House. To all the leavers and stayers- Rossiter all skilfully ran the course Joel Morris and Henry Mills, recorded on, we both wish you all the best. (note: ran) in sub 11-minute times. its most accomplished season for many Farewell. Chris Burgess and Julian Martin, years, winning 8 out of 10 fixtures. The running in other teams, showed our 1st XI Cricket team became the most Christopher Edwards VI IM competitive depth. successful ever by reaching the final and Richard Brown VI IM

www.abingdon.org.uk 47 First Year

Meanwhile the Lower School drama production of The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew saw many First-formers taking on key roles, perhaps most notably Joseph Kelly (1M) as Oblong Fitz Oblong. Mrs Wigmore had clearly perfected her motivational team talks by this time as 1W swept to victory in all of the inter-tutor group competitions in the Lent term, winning the Chess Tournament, the Road Relay, and the Public Speaking Competition, while Conor Graney (1M) was the overall victor in the annual Lower School Pool Tournament. ‘All Aboard’ at Little Canada During the Easter holiday fifty-one members of the group, along with five members of staff, travelled to the September 2009 saw fifty-three First tune but also some truly cheesy disco- PGL Little Canada centre on the Isle Years begin their time at Abingdon choreography. Gus Mills (2L) bravely of Wight for the annual residential School. As ever, they approached took on the challenge of conducting adventure trip. The excellent range their first few days with a mixture of and did an excellent job of bringing the of activities were complemented excitement and uncertainty, but it was best out of the boys during the final by superb sunshine and the boys clear early on that this was a group performance. A special mention by the were certainly encouraged to push that was going to be keen to make the judge was considered promising for themselves beyond their limits, most of all the opportunities on offer. It our first foray into the competition, but especially in a new activity, ‘All Aboard!’ was also obvious that they were going we will be aiming for silverware next in which they had to work in teams of to take everything in their stride, even year. The Lower School Choir sang three to climb to the top of a telegraph when things went wrong, as evidenced again in the Christmas Concerts when pole, stand on a small platform on the by the massive grin on the face of the they performed a jazzed-up version of top, hold hands, and then lean out individual who happily reported to the Hark the Herald Angels Sing with great – this was an activity that the Lower rest of the year group that he had got gusto. School Housemaster felt was best on the wrong bus home on his first day viewed from the ground! and ended up in the wrong village! The By the Lent term routines had become Election fever swept the country at new team of Lower School Assistants established and, if their reports were the start of the Summer term and organised activities to help the new anything to go by, many of the boys boys get to know each other, and the were really impressing their teachers CCF also led a teambuilding morning. with the work they were producing In an exciting development this year, in lessons, and were also making Lower School were for the first time significant contributions outside the allowed to compete in the House classroom as well. The rugby season Singing Competition and so the week came to a successful conclusion before half term saw frantic rehearsals with an overall victory rate of 80% for of Blame it on the Boogie by the the U12As and 66% for the U12Bs Jackson 5 as the one-hundred-and- while Michael Fabes (1S) was winning twenty strong Lower School choir got plaudits in the cross-country squad, U12 Cricket – to grips with not only the words and competing several years above himself. County Championships

48 The Abingdonian House Reports

(1S) and Leon Wu (1W) for coming top in their class in the exams and thus winning the tutor group prizes at Prize Giving. Several inter-tutor group competitions took place in the post- exam period with Sports Day proving a good showcase of the athletic ability in the year group – individual winners came from all three tutor groups, but 1W were eventually crowned the overall winners. Their domination of these competitions came to an end however in the last week of term when 1S emerged victorious in one of the most 1W’s Road Relay team L to R closely contested swimming galas of Joe Blanch, James Robinson Ranger, Will Fearnehough, Adam Lilley recent memory – all three tutor groups were still in contention for the top slot before the last event – and in the-tug-of so the tutors spent time discussing St Helen’s Church, to study church -war competition. The U12 cricketers Parliament and the different policies architecture with the Religious Studies meanwhile had an excellent season of the political parties with their tutees Department, the Roysse Room and St in no small part due to the dedicated to enable them to make an informed Nicolas’ Church, to find out more about coaching of Mr Southwell-Sander – decision in the School’s mock General the original site of the School, and they showed an excellent team spirit on Election – this was all in vain however the Christ’s Hospital Almshouses with their way to securing the U12 County as the Monster Raving Loony Party School Governor Mrs Ronaldson – the Cup in a final against Cokethorpe, were swept to power in the Lower boys enjoyed the chance to find out repeating last year’s success in this School constituency having realised more about the history of the School competition. Alec Curtis (1M) deserves that all they had to do to win the hearts of which they are the latest generation. special mention for leading from the and minds of First-formers was to The end-of-year exams were handled front as captain, while Conor Graney promise them free jelly babies! Several well by most of the boys and showed himself to be a very promising trips took place over the course of the represented a useful preparation for batsman hitting several key knocks, summer, including the annual walk the more important tests that lie ahead including the rare feat at this level of and talk on the history of Abingdon – special mention should go to James scoring a century. School during which the boys visited Anderson-Besant (1M), Anthony Bracey As the report above clearly shows, the First Year of 2009/10 is a group The Thwarting of with huge potential both inside and Baron Bolligrew outside the classroom, and they will undoubtedly go on to achieve great things as they go up through the School. My thanks go to the three tutors, Mrs McRae, Mr Shirazi and Mrs Wigmore, who have guided them so sensitively and skilfully through the challenges of their first year at secondary school, and to the boys themselves for having been such good fun to work with.

Adam Jenkins

www.abingdon.org.uk 49 Service Activities

Charity Fundraising – how the School raised over £16,000

Selling doughnuts on Open Day

Winners of the Lower School Football Tournament

Now a permanent fixture in the on Open Day, run by Dr Ridd, which the Nightingale Children’s Project, Abingdon School calendar, Abingdon’s raised £80 for Water Aid; a Christmas an orphanage in Romania co-run by Got Talent was the main fundraising wrapping paper sale presided over OA Ben Wells. A further £375.73 event of the Michaelmas Term, raising by Mrs Uhiía, which raised £100 split was donated by staff and boys in the a fantastic £2,000 for Agape, our between Helen and Douglas House Christmas Service collection, and was Moldovan Charity, and Build the in Oxford and The Asha Society in sent to the charity Trax. Nations, a South African charity we Delhi; a pupil-designed Christmas card, are supporting for the second year organized by Mr Nairne, which raised Fundraising in the New Year got off to running. As ever, as well as being a £239.50 for Agape, and a Third-Year a brilliant start with £1,317.84 being great fundraiser, the show was hugely disco, organized by Sixth-formers collected for Oxfam after the New Year enjoyed by both participants and Jamie Cook and Andrew Nagi, which concert. Sports events raised the most spectators. raised £500 for the Nelson Mandela during the Lent Term, with the Lower Foundation. In addition, parents once School Football tournament raising Other Michaelmas term events again gave generously at the Christmas £213 for the Meningitis Foundation; included the annual doughnut sale Concert collection, raising £1,074 for Mrs O’Doherty and her runners raising

The Reading half-marathon team

Home clothes day

50 The Abingdonian The Dragon-Boat crew an incredible £2,397.50 for Helen Disasters Emergency Fund, which was There were more events in aid of and Douglas House by completing sending funds out to Haiti. Abingdon Agape in the Summer term: Mr Jenkins the Reading half-marathon; Richard musicians also did their bit: a Choral organized a Lower School Quiz Night, Parkin-Mason’s Dragon Boat racing Concert raised £710 for Agape and which raised £200, and a sponsored team sending £583.30 off to Helen and Abingdon joined with other schools to ‘Swim the Channel’ in the swimming Douglas House; and with rowers, under raise £1,849.99 for Helen and Douglas pool which raised a wonderful pre- Mr Hundermark’s guidance, bringing House, Amnesty International and Gift Aid £1,909. Help for Heroes was in £600 by completing a 31-mile row Médecins Sans Frontières. Church also well supported, with £201.53 in aid of the Nemato Rowing Club in service collections raised a further being raised by Miss Matthews’ Lower South Africa. £311,40 for PACT, a charity supporting School Gala Concert and £347.43 families and adoption throughout at the Leavers’ Service. Another The Lent Term also saw the annual Oxfordshire, and £68,72 for the collection raised £248.42 for the ODBF home clothes day, which raised £2,100 Footsteps Foundation, which provides Administered Fund, and the cleaners’ for Merlin, the international medical intensive physiotherapy for children raffles this year raised an impressive relief organisation, Damascus, a local across the UK with neurological £1,000 for various charities. charity working with young people disorders. in villages around Abingdon, and the The fantastic total of £16,329 (not including the money raised by the Lent Concerts in conjunction with other schools) is thanks to the efforts of many boys and staff, but special credit must go to those mentioned already in this report, to The Reverend Henry Kirk and Mr Stinton, and to the Charities Committee, headed by Alex Iley, whose tireless efforts have helped the smooth running of many events.

New Year Concert Sophie Payne

www.abingdon.org.uk 51 Community Service

The Christmas Tea Party

Visiting the elderly is an integral part citizen. At the end of each term a ubiquitous quiz and raffle. Charlie of Abingdon’s Community Service Community Service tea party is held in Beirouti and Mihai Clapaniuc were programme, which takes many forms, the Abingdon Dining Hall. Drink, food excellent Masters of Ceremonies, aided whether it is a group of boys visiting a and entertainment are all on hand in and abetted by Campbell Garland and nursing home, or a single boy visiting what always proves to be an enjoyable Eric Gartz. an individual. In a society where it event. After having been a part of seems the elderly are often forgotten the Community Service group for a Summer Tea Party or sidelined, I think that this is a very substantial period of time now, I can Residents of some of Abingdon’s worthwhile activity. Visiting the elderly honestly say that greater involvement residential homes were entertained to is a very rewarding experience and in the local community has not only a tea party in the School dining room the group visits always involve a brought benefit to those who we visit, on 29 June. Master of Ceremonies chance to chat while serving tea and but it has also helped those who Charlie Beirouti introduced musical coffee, accompanied by some kind of are a part of the Community Service entertainment from Mr Pope and David bread, cake or biscuits that the boys team feel that they have made a real Mears, together with a comedy show will have baked beforehand. There difference. from the Drama in the Community will also usually be a quiz that the Group. The Headmaster, Mr Mark boys will have prepared themselves. Charlie Beirouti 6 SJG Turner, thanked the guests for their Dramatists and musicians occasionally support of the School during his time join the groups and they put on well- Christmas Tea Party here. After strawberries and scones, rehearsed performances that everyone On 8 December, a tea party was a challenging quiz and raffle ended a can appreciate. Individual visits to the held for sixty elderly residents of most enjoyable afternoon. elderly are reserved for older boys in Abingdon. To the accompaniment of the School and are really a chance the Brass Band, they enjoyed mince Sam Ward 3 NPS for boys to connect with a senior pies, sandwiches, fruit cake and the

52 The Abingdonian Service Activities

The Easter Tea Party The Easter Tea Party

Charlie Beirouti, Mihai Clapanuic and Campbell Garland Cygnet Court

Cygnet Court

www.abingdon.org.uk 53 Abingdon: South Africa Partnership 31 July – 24 August 2010

mixing concrete, clearing areas of the compound and, most famously, shifting bricks! We also spent two mornings providing classroom assistance in the Charity’s School (Shayandima School of Tomorrow) to children aged from 4 to 17. This gave us an insight into the teaching methods of the school, which uses the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) system. We witnessed that this promoted independent learning from an early age and saw how motivated the children were to get the most out of their education that they could. I had the opportunity to answer questions from a class of Grade 3 (7 – 8 year old) students about where I came from, and was amazed at the awe-inspired looks on their faces when I told them about snow (something that caused never-ending fascination!), and In August 2010, six fellow Sixth-formers During our trip we were based at the my life at home, as well as my attempts – John Mulvey, Matthew Roberts, Charity’s Shayandima Mission Base to teach some basic French. We found David Grant, Josh Ridley, Jonathan Ient in Venda. Work at the mission base the physical work fulfilling because and Iain Galpin – and I travelled with consisted of time helping in school in we could see that by doing basic Mr Andy Loughe and Mr Mark Forth the morning, and working around the tasks we were allowing the permanent to Venda in the Limpopo province of base in the afternoon. In the evenings volunteers on the base the chance to northern South Africa to work with the we had the chance to relax in the do other things such as planning our Christian Charity Build the Nations. lounge on the base (all exhausted outreach projects. Although the chores This was the second annual visit to due to a combination of hard work could have seemed menial they were South Africa by an Abingdon School and extremely competitive games of in fact of vital importance. There is team and we spent three and a half football) and get to know some of the also something surprisingly satisfying weeks there helping the charity in twenty-two permanent volunteers who about devoting an entire day to mixing a variety of ways including building work there. For the first two days concrete and finally seeing the task projects, school classroom assistance we stayed exclusively on the base, completed before supper! and with the distribution of aid. helping with manual work such as

54 The Abingdonian Andy Partridge and the Back Alley Boys Service Activities

After this brief introduction to the repairing desks and constructing a see a rhino (there was also a potentially school, the base and its routines, volleyball court. During break times mythical crocodile sighting whilst we we undertook a two-day outreach we all participated in competitive canoed across two dammed lakes on project at a local school about 40 football games with the children. On Sunday morning!). minutes away called the Rambuda the second day we donated a bag of Christian Academy. On both days sports and classroom equipment to On the Monday and Tuesday of the we left the base early and worked the school’s principal, Tulani Ncube. following week we undertook an for the whole day at the school with These included balls, a cricket set, outreach project at another local a delicious lunch of traditional Venda notebooks, pencils, which we had school, which was run by a lady food – including ‘pap’, their staple bought in Abingdon with some of the affectionately known as Aunty Hannah. carbohydrate which is something like money ASPA kindly donated to our trip. While there the team, sustained by solidified maize porridge and became Our time at the school was concluded a staple for us too during the trip – all by the ceremonial planting of three of which was cooked for us by the commemorative trees – two for the women locally. The work was varied, I two Abingdon South Africa Partnership spent the majority of my time cleaning trips to Rambuda (2009 and 2010) and painting a set of shelves which and one by the Shayandima School of was used to store books and other Tomorrow in recognition of our support. school equipment. Others helped in paving an area in front of the school, On our first weekend our hard work was rewarded by a visit to the Nwanedi Nature Reserve where we camped for Saturday night, en route visiting the world’s biggest baobab tree. Once at the nature reserve we got the chance to jump off cliffs into a waterfall plunge pool, track a rhino, sample some impala steaks and generally relax and get to know each other better. On our game drives we caught sight of giraffe, wildebeest, impala, kudu and some of the group were even lucky enough to

www.abingdon.org.uk 55 bolting pieces of local wood to make a ladder, swings and other parts of the playground. The next day we explored the local area, and the day after that we drove to the village that was to have the new playground where we found to our immense relief that the soil there was very sandy and therefore easy to dig. We set up the playground and cemented it into place. After this, we distributed sweets to the local children, and food aid to the women of the village, including maize and sugar. Next morning we set off for the Kruger National Park. Having crossed back over the border we saw a lot of elephants and giraffes just on a slow drive down to our first campsite called Shingwedzi. Highlights of our time in Kruger included seeing two lions on an large quantities of biltong, set up a we arrived at our home for the next four early morning drive, a night drive during netball court and a volleyball court by nights – Xikumbane Baptist Church – which we saw a leopard and a genet digging the necessary holes, cementing outside which we pitched camp. cat, as well as a morning walk which in the poles, and whitewashing the for one of the groups yielded another court markings on the ground. On The next morning we started work leopard sighting! We headed back to the second day we gave one of the with part of the team fixing the village Shayandima on Thursday 19 August, classrooms a new coat of paint and water pump which had been broken having picked up our AS and A2 public were watched with fascination by the for four weeks. The rest of us began exam results that morning via phone. children – in an area consisting almost to prepare and construct the different entirely of black people a crowd of sections of a co-ordination playground, A busy day on Friday included more white boys was obviously something which we were to put up in a village help in school, including assistance worth staring at! that was about an hour away. This at an athletics practice session, a trip work included cutting, drilling and into Thohoyandou (the area’s major After helping out in school and working on the base on Wednesday, we set off bright and early on Thursday morning at 6 am for a seven-night trip to Mozambique and the Kruger National Park. Our drive took us through the Kruger before we arrived at the border crossing into Mozambique. Once we were safely through the immigration controls we set off into Mozambique on a potholed, winding, dirt track road and were immediately taken aback by the difference in the level of development between Mozambique and South Africa. Tarmac roads were non-existent, brick or stone buildings rare, and mud-huts the normal type of housing. After a few hours of driving

56 The Abingdonian Service Activities

town) where we sampled beetles and up early the next morning on our way with vast amounts of meat and toasted termites from a street vendor, and a back to Johannesburg via a two night marshmallows. By the evening we walk into the township (Shayandima) to stop in Pilanesberg National Park were flying back to England and in get a glimpse of how the local people where we saw at least 15 white rhino the morning our captain greeted us live on a day-to-day basis. Our last (thus completing our hunt for the ‘Big with the ironic, but not unexpected night on the base was carried out in 5’) as well as eland (the world’s largest announcement, “Welcome to London a traditionally friendly way with food antelope), spoonbills and sacred Heathrow where there appears to be and games round the fire, which went ibises. Our last night in South Africa, some inclement weather!” and so we on long into the night. We were then of course, had to be a Braai (barbecue) saw rain once again – we knew we were home.

The trip to me was quite literally the experience of a lifetime – I had the opportunity to try new things, learn new skills, meet new people and most importantly help the lives of some of Southern Africa’s poorest people. When our vehicle pulled- up at the roadside in Mozambique and we handed one of our baskets of food to a lady at her hut the look of pure happiness on her face was indescribable, as was her celebratory dancing! Those moments will undoubtedly stay with me for the rest of my life.

Nick Williams 6 KTC

www.abingdon.org.uk 57 The Moldova Project

Abingdon has been supporting Lesson time the work of the charity Agape in the Eastern European country of Moldova for some time now and has been visiting every year since 2003. Amongst other fundraising events this year, April saw a group of Sixth-formers gathering in the swimming pool to take on the challenge of swimming 1,416 lengths – the equivalent of the English Channel – in order to cover the costs of a summer camp for Moldovan children from the village of Ialoveni through sponsorship. After a tiring afternoon’s work, over £2,000 was duly raised and so fourteen Lower Sixth-formers and two members of staff travelled to Moldova in July.

On arrival in the capital Chisinau we the Abingdon boys how to make the Carpathian Mountains of Romania were met by members of Agape and origami frogs! In addition, we had the in which we were joined by twenty taken to Ialoveni to meet the families time to visit Chisinau to see the sights Moldovan children aged between 9 and we would be staying with for the next and also to meet the UK Ambassador 14. For most of them this was their few days. During our time in Ialoveni to Moldova, Keith Shannon, who made first ever trip outside Moldova and it we visited the Agape Community it clear to the group how important had been quite an administrative feat Centre, where Jamie Brown (OA 2009) projects like Abingdon’s are for for Agape to secure the necessary had recently finished working for four Moldova – as well as serving up some passports and visas in time. The months of his Gap year. The children excellent pizza! Abingdon group had its own first taste we saw there were very keen to play of Moldovan bureaucracy when we team games and sports – despite the The third day of the trip saw us travel arrived at the border and had to wait 36 (temperatures – as well as showing by coach to the camp in Lacu Rosu in for two and a half hours while the coach was searched and scanned (after we had been advised to remove Rowing on Lacu Rosa all food in case it got irradiated by the scanner!) and a request put in for the hubcaps to be removed – clearly the sight of Abingdonians is enough to put Moldovan customs officials on high alert! Eventually we arrived at the cabana that was to be our base for the next five days and began to plan our activities. The first morning saw a visit to Lacu Rosu itself – the charming story behind its red colour being that it’s from the blood of a group of holidaymakers killed by the avalanche that created

58 The Abingdonian Service Activities

A recorder lesson

the lake in the first place! Here a fleet It was great to watch the Moldovans Walks and trips were planned to enable of rowing boats were hired and mixed so obviously enjoying the chance to us to get the most from local scenery crews of Abingdonians and Moldovans practise and improve their English and with a climb up to the top of one of the formed. At first, as one would expect to hear one of the Abingdon boys say nearby mountains leading to a stunning from a school with such a rowing that he now had more respect for what view over the lake, while a coach trip pedigree, Abingdon boys took the oars, his teachers back in England had to to Praid allowed us to visit the massive but it did not take long for the tiring go through! During sports sessions, salt mines which have been converted job to be handed over to the younger volleyball, cricket and rugby were all into a leisure area – the Abingdon boys Moldovans with varying degrees of taught even if difficulties in translation were disappointed to be judged too big success – the ensuing chaos did meant that not all the intricacies of to play on the inflatable bouncy castles much to break the ice between the the rules were fully understood, while so had to content themselves with two groups! Once back on land, an the art sessions allowed the children playing cricket underground instead! ‘extreme’ game of Grandmother’s to create a variety of things that they Evenings were spent in a mixture of Footsteps, in which the Moldovans could take home, including masks and different activities including a board were carried by the Abingdon boys, Hama bead decorations. In addition, games evening in which Campbell caused further amusement (and the computer program Comic Life and Garland became very proficient surprisingly not injury!) and, as we digital cameras were used to create at giving directions for Twister in walked back to the cabana, it was clear comic strips which included an episode Romanian, and a mini-sketch show that the initial bonding between the two of CSI Lacu Rosu and a version of the at which the Abingdon group realised groups was well and truly completed. film Twilight starring James Bater and that much Moldovan humour is based In the afternoon the Abingdon boys Edward Kempell as far too convincing on humiliating English boys – Tom organised a mixture of sports, art and vampires. Music also played a part Fishpool’s impression of a kangaroo will craft, and English lessons. The latter with one session being used to teach live long in the memory, as will Matthew took especially careful planning as the Moldovans how to play the guitar Boyd’s Romanian omelette recipe given there was quite a range of language and recorder and sing silly English in the style of an abandoned lover and ability among the Moldovans and the songs – Head, Shoulders, Knees and Jamie Hall and Ben Stockwell’s brush Abingdon boys were quick to realise Toes and Row, Row, Row Your Boat with a Moldovan comic genius with that it was better to teach the children proving popular. black soot all over his fingers! The in small groups in quite a formal way. final evening saw a Grand Talent Show

www.abingdon.org.uk 59 View from the top

in which the young children treated Joseph Read, Edward Otty, Harry those who had taken part in the camp us to some Moldovan singing and Copson and Ben McGuire, as well as and with words of thanks from Nicu dancing as well as card tricks and a scarring many of the viewers for life, Bocaneala, Director of Agape. virtuoso accordion performance. Tom proved conclusively that Abingdon’s Spears replied with some excellent Not Got Talent. The show ended The long coach journey back to guitar playing, but the dance by with certificates being awarded to all Moldova the next day, and subsequent flight home, gave plenty of time for reflection on the events of the previous week. It was striking how quickly relationships had been formed between the two groups and how eager the Moldovan children were to learn from the Abingdon boys. At the same time, through their excitement and pleasure in the simple things of life and by their determination to make the most of every single opportunity, the Moldovans perhaps had plenty to teach the Abingdonians. It is the two-way nature of the benefits of the partnership between Abingdon and Agape that has always impressed me and makes me confident that there will be sixth- formers keen to travel to this little known country and spend time with its ‘Extreme’ Grandmother’s wonderful people for years to come. Footsteps Adam Jenkins

60 The Abingdonian Service Activities

“A dream that came true. A beautiful “This summer holiday together with my “This summer together with my class dream, from which I didn’t want to colleagues we spent a great time at and with our friends from England we wake up – this was the camp from the camp organized in Romania, Lacul went on a holiday in Romania. We Lacul Rosu. Rosu. We spend a great time there. lived in a big and cozy house. We visited many interesting places: climbed I enjoyed very much this camp, Together with the students from two huge mountains, went by boat on because I spent there the greatest Abingdon School we played various the lake, walked to Cheile Bicazului. I moments of my life, together with my interesting games. Also, they taught us enjoyed very much these picturesque colleagues and our dear guests from a lot of subjects that we didn’t know. views. Great Britain. In this camp I learned For example: we learned to play some many interesting and useful subjects. I notes at the guitar, recorder, we learned All the activities prepared by our friends enjoyed very much the English lessons, how to make artistic masks and other from Abingdon were unique. The arts and sports activities. I really felt drafts. Besides these, we visited English lessons helped me strengthen great at this workshops, because beautifully places, such as: Salina, my vocabulary. The guitar and recorder we received great attention from the Cheile Bicazului, Lacul Rosu, where lessons were something totally new camp’s young leaders, that is why we boated and enjoyed the unique for me and it was fun to try playing we learned everything easily. One of sceneries. at these instruments. In the Talent the most interesting activity was the Evening we had the chance to discover movie-making contest. Especially We will remember forever the time that and express our talents. here, we had the opportunity to we spent at Lacul Rosu with our friends discuss and collaborate more with the from England and we hope that we will Far from home, I realized how dear English guests. Working with them participate at another similar camp in are to me my parents and my sister. and making a movie was totally a new the near future.” This missing was diminished by the and fun experience for me. I think presence of our dear teacher and our that Our Twilight was very enthralling Priimac Natalia, 4th grade guests, which were very kind to us and and everybody watched it with great taught us a lot. I have a lot of beautiful interest. and unforgettable memories from this camp. I want to thank again our guests from Abingdon School for organizing the I am looking forward to another camp camp, for the great care and friendship to see my friends, make new ones and that they showed us.” visit nice places.”

Zincua Sîli, 8th grade Bâta Ionu, 4th grade

www.abingdon.org.uk 61 An Uneasy Encounter in Moldova

Poverty announces itself with a smell. Her husband is about the same but son, Ion, arrives home unexpectedly Other things, too, of course – the seems smaller. His head and neck from his work as a builder. Although rough block-work of the building, with protrude from his shirt collar like a it is 6pm and already dark outside, Ion splashes of mortar that look as though wizened tortoise’s. The skin of his face is usually required to labour from 8am they’ve been applied by Jackson is dark and lined by a combination of until midnight in what is one of the Pollock; the gloom of the interior, sun, wind and drink. His hands are country’s few regular sources of work brightened only by a low energy bulb nearly as black as the tiny home-grown for men, regardless of their education. hanging from the ceiling; the bed in grapes he offers us in bunches as we We have already met one other young each of the three small rooms that is sit awkwardly in the largest room, and Moldovan who has a Masters Degree in more or less the only furniture – all you soon realize there is no obvious Finance, yet is working similar hours on these things reveal the status of the source of water in the house, apart, a building site, as it’s his only chance of inhabitants pretty quickly, but there is perhaps, from a plastic bucket covered employment. nothing that hits your senses as hard, with a cloth that stands ominously or tells you where you are quite so in the corner of what seems to be Lydia Cuzic sits by the door. She is forcefully, as the smell. It is a mixture both the kitchen and the parents’ fourteen, almost fifteen but, like so of things – animal fur, sweat, sour milk, bedroom. Flies land on your head and many teenagers in Moldova, she could mud and unwashed clothes – and it is face. The smell catches you again as be older. She wears jeans, trainers and all around you. There is no escape. you flick them away. Quickly, you feel a colourless top. There is something ashamed at the generosity of people immediately striking about her, although The Cuzic family are small people. who have so little, yet who are so it’s not easy to say what at first. The mother, who meets us at the gate welcoming. While the parents stand, Certainly, she is pretty. Her round face and surprises me with a few words we sit, surrounded by our bags and and high cheekbones are framed by of English she’s learnt at the village expensive camera equipment, filling an attractive swirl of auburn hair, whilst church, stands perhaps four feet two the already cramped room. As we her upright posture could, in another inches in her cracked white trainers. exchange pleasantries, the couple’s context, suggest the grace and poise

Lydia Ion Claudia

62 The Abingdonian Service Activities

of a dancer. Here, however, there is streets are a fascinating mixture of the elections, Moldova’s then president, something unsettling about her. Her old and new: crumbling Soviet tower Vladimir Voronin, made a surprising face and eyes show no expression at blocks and sleek plate-glass offices; and controversial attack on the police all. There are no signs of the warmth decaying public buildings and garish when he accused members of the or ready smiles that greet you when stone-clad villas built by the nouveau anti-trafficking department of being you encounter other young Moldovans, riche. Even the traffic has the same complicit in the illegal supply of girls. who are among the friendliest people pattern. Clapped-out trolley buses you can meet. No. Something seems with cracked windscreens that first Lydia’s mother says that although to be wrong. When Lydia lifts her eyes saw service in the 1980s jostle for her daughter has said little about her from the floor to look at you, there is position with fleets of the latest fat cat experiences, she has already told her a directness in her gaze that makes Mercs and BMWs. According to one she was frequently in the company you want to look away. You feel ex-pat resident of the city, prices in of men with high positions during her uncomfortable. You feel as though you Chisinau’s glitziest fashion boutiques five months’ captivity. Some of them are being accused of something. And far outstrip those in Bond Street. were wearing police uniforms. Not perhaps you are. Bars and nightclubs with names like surprisingly, perhaps, the detail of Giraffe, Caligula and Booze Time bear Lydia’s ordeal may never be known. One day in June 2009, Lydia further witness to the emergence of disappeared. She’d told her mother a new class of wealthy citizens intent Lydia no longer goes to school in she was going to a friend’s house in on splashing their cash in the most Chisinau. She used to enjoy her daily Chisinau after school. Her mother ostentatious surroundings. journey to the capital, and the contrast would not see her again for five between the pace of life in the city and months. Many visitors are puzzled by these at home in the village. Now, however, mixed messages of affluence and she goes to the local school, where it Chisinau is Moldova’s capital, a austerity, yet it does not do to enquire is impossible to escape the stigma that bustling city in the middle of this former too closely into what lies behind them. comes with a record like hers. No one Soviet Republic that is home to nearly As The Lonely Planet Guide advises, wants to associate with a girl who has 700,000 people, or around 15% of the “You don’t wanna know and we ain’t been ‘trafficked’. country’s 4.5 million population. Its asking. The stunning contrast between rich and poor is only overshadowed by Without friends or sympathetic the conspicuously bold acts committed teachers, the prospects for Lydia will by individuals who are clearly above be bleak. She and her parents need the law and shamelessly conduct support, and soon. themselves as such.” Jeremy Taylor What happened to Lydia in Chisinau is still not clear. Lydia herself is still too traumatised to talk openly about it. But the basics are clear. She was kidnapped and held against her will by people who supply girls to men for money. That’s bad enough, but it could be even worse. Moldova has long been known as a place in which the crime of human trafficking thrives. The previous government even established a dedicated anti-trafficking department within the police to counter the activities of a sector of the criminal population that is thought to be worth millions of dollars a year. Yet shortly Vladimir before he was ousted in the July

www.abingdon.org.uk 63 Combined Cadet Force

Inspection

64 The Abingdonian Service Activities

atrocious weather on Easter Camp as simply ‘liquid sunshine’. Although all ranks (and parents) were drenched on Easter Camp final parade, the sun burst out as Lt Col Andy Rudd RE and I marched on to the parade square. God clearly decided that we had had enough of being cold and wet in our younger days. Thanks to Colonel Andy for taking the parade (where his son Alex was passing out).

Major David Carson has the congratulations of all ranks of the Contingent upon his appointment as Colonel Commandant of the Oxfordshire ACF and promotion to Colonel. In the lead up to my first Biennial Having the Contingent Commander – Inspection as Contingent Commander, due to instruct on the ski camp – break Colonel David was kind enough to host the MOD certainly decided to give a bone in his foot during a karate bout us again on his farm for the annual me an interesting time. Two weeks ten days before departure added to survival exercise. New thinking means prior to our ski camp all funding was the entertainment and last minute that our survival exercise has to be withdrawn. At the same time, all re-planning, and, apparently, “served called a ‘self reliance’ exercise now – transport funding for the year was him right for doing such a nasty some concern about the semantics of taken from us. We were told to crack rough sport” according to some other what it might mean if a cadet failed a on as usual, but with nothing to do nameless officers. ‘survival’ exercise … it with. My sincere thanks are due to parents who picked up the tab for As the year has drawn to a close, Defence cuts and reviews have more expensive trips this year, the further restructuring of the officers has caused a lot of thinking high up Headmaster and Bursar who helped taken place. Captain Dave McGill, OC about the cadets. This has had an find extra transport funding, and my Recruits, has departed the CCF under impact on our day-to-day training and stalwart SSI Captain John Chapman the burden of other work commitments camps. That looks set to continue BEM, who helped to sort the mess out! after six years of excellent service. as some joined-up thinking about The section reports outline how Captain Matthew Perriss, OC Army, the cadets nationwide – and how busy we have been. Add to this the has also taken a step down, but will to fund, structure, train and plan it events staged this year to celebrate remain a section officer. The SSI thus all – is welcome, even overdue. We 150 years since the foundation of the puts on yet another hat as OC Army, are certain to continue to work in cadet movement, requests for our and Flt Lt Richard Ashdowne takes interesting times. cadets to help at charitable and fund- on the role of OC Recruits. Former raising events, school fetes, military Abingdonian, Flt Lt Paul Tolley, our own I was delighted when the Contingent planning meetings and the usual tame jet pilot, has been a regular on received an outstanding report for camp every holiday, we have certainly training days and camps and we have our Biennial Inspection. My thanks been challenged to adopt, adapt and had significant support from Major to all officers and ranks for their work overcome. The Contingent has visited Marcus Dicks MBE, OC A Coy, 7 Rifles, to achieve that, most significantly to RAF Brize Norton, RAF Benson, RAF and his staff, including another old Captain John Chapman BEM. New Henlow, Shrivenham, Salisbury Plain, boy, Captain Bjorn Rose, together with regimental motto: “The impossible will Wengen in Switzerland and Jersey. endless unstinting help from Captain be done by tomorrow; miracles take up Paul Chapman RLC, RSO of 4LSR at to a week, Sir.” Dalton Barracks – para trained and Major Joss Williams, Officer younger than many of the officers in Commanding Abingon School CCF the Contingent, he shrugged off the

www.abingdon.org.uk 65 Army Section and disaster management skills. the Contingent each year. The Fourth- It has been one of the most challenging Following the exercise, the aim of the formers learnt a variety of self-reliance years in recent memory for the Michaelmas term was to press on with skills aided by the Fifth and Lower Contingent after the MOD pulled the the preparatory training for the Easter Sixth-form partisans. The Upper Sixth funding nationally for the Combined Camp. meanwhile played the part of the Cadet Force. Despite this considerable hunter force, establishing observation hurdle yet another very successful year The Fourth-formers were thrown positions and conducting a daring was enjoyed. This is a true testament straight into training for the Advanced close-target reconnaissance of the to the dedication of the officers who, Infantry Course with lessons focusing partisans’ harbour area. Thanks should as ever, gave a generous allocation on weapons handling on the LSW go to Captain Gooding for organising of their own time to continue the (Light Support Weapon), navigation, the exercise, and to the Lower Sixth for smooth operation of the Contingent. and the orders process. The structure their well-rehearsed lessons. The dawn of the new academic year for the year is designed to develop signalled an immediately busy start cadet’s individual skills and confidence, The next major event was the official to the training for the Army Section. enabling them to experience leadership launch of the Royal Logistics Corps Within two weeks of having returned, in preparation for the NCO course run Section to run alongside The Rifles the September Exercise went ahead in the Fifth Year. The Fifth-formers’ infantry in the Army Section. Open as usual, the focus of the exercise course is focused on how to teach and to those in the Sixth Form, the being to recap skills that may have pass on the knowledge cadets have venture is aimed at forging closer become ‘rusty’ over the summer. This acquired themselves to those in the ties to Abingdon’s resident unit at was a new scenario, designed by younger years. Dalton Barracks. It also allows the the Contingent Commander to allow smoother operation of exercises cadets to exercise their leadership Operation White Horse, our annual within the Contingent, and provides skills. Each section followed a route self-reliance exercise, a beat-up for the more leadership roles for senior and encountered different scenarios Advanced Infantry Cadre, went ahead cadets. Easter Camp was the first of which they had no prior knowledge. at Alton Barnes in Wiltshire in March test for the RLC Section, and it Diplomacy and conflict resolution on the farmland of Colonel Carson, immediately demonstrated the reason were tested, alongside civilian aid which he kindly makes available for for its creation by providing much

66 The Abingdonian Service Activities

needed help to the SSI who is always On arrival at camp the recruits practising their field skills, including immensely busy during the Camp. started their training schedule with ambush and anti-ambush drills, as an orienteering competition. On well as platoon attacks. The cadre The weather was atrocious at some Sunday the recruits took part in a deployed for their exercise on Tuesday, points during the week with hail and range package, with command tasks but after spending a night in the rain rain of the horizontal variety arriving at as background activities. On Monday they were forced to return to camp regular intervals, most notably during the recruits had their first taste of briefly to dry out the following day as the final parade, but nevertheless the field craft, with demonstrations of a result of the extreme weather. Major Recruits and Advanced Infantry battled shelters, cooking, camouflage and Williams was heard to comment that it on. The Easter Camp is a crucial fire-and-manoeuvre. There were a was “somewhat inclement”, so things time for the Army Section as it allows larger than ever number of recruits must have been bad! However, this the various year groups to deploy in attending this year so they were split did not stop the cadre carrying out a strength for an extended time, thus into two platoons. Over the next successful final attack on Thursday increasing the effectiveness of their three days they visited The Rifles morning. training. 2009/2010 has been a great Museum in Salisbury, prepared for year for the Army Section and as I hand the 24hr exercise and then deployed The recruits and AI spent Friday and over to Ed Griffiths as the new Colour on exercise. Unfortunately this year Saturday morning preparing for the Serjeant, I know that this will continue the recruits were not able to stay out final parade in which we had Lt Col for the foreseeable future. at night due to the extreme weather Rudd as the inspecting officer. A huge conditions, but they made up for it with thank you should go to all the officers Colour Serjeant Oli Todd 6 JHW an excellent final attack the next day. and NCOs who gave up a week of Army SNCO 2009-2010 their time to help in the running and The AI cadre arrived a day early preparation of the camp. Easter Camp to allow them to get straight into This year’s Easter camp ran from 26th preparation for their exercise phase. Colour Serjeant Ed Griffiths 6 SAE March to 3rd April at Knook Camp, After orienteering on Saturday the Army and Contingent SNCO 2010-2011 Salisbury Plain. cadre spent the next three days

www.abingdon.org.uk 67 Duke Of Edinburgh Award: Arctic Expedition

Lyngen Alps in background

In July 2010, six Sixth-formers and something special about catching your were also able to see the midnight four Fifth-formers travelled to Tromsø in own cod and eating it within the hour, sun that night. I’m sure that it was a Norway for 10 days for the expedition really fresh fish! moment that none of us will ever forget. part of their gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. We took a flight from Despite the huge distance that we had We headed off the next morning Gatwick airport on the 10 July, flying to to cover, the group managed to make expecting to take two days to get back Tromsø and being met by Dr Gunn who good speed and were not deterred to base camp. It was hard going but had driven a minibus and kayak trailer on Day 4 when the tents were blown our experience at navigation allowed to Tromsø from Abingdon! We were down at 3am and the sea was deemed us to make the most of the tides and driven to our campsite at Skittenelve, unsafe to paddle on. We managed the wind. We camped on a small which is 25km from Tromsø. Although to explore parts of the island near our island, camping was getting easier as it was windy and quite cold, the wind campsite by walking upriver and the we became more accustomed to the kept the dreaded mosquitoes at bay day’s rest allowed us to carry on at Norwegian weather, and as our boats and we had the necessary kit to remain a fast pace. The weather on Day 5 got lighter through eating our packed warm. was marginally better, allowing us to food. We set off on Day 9, 38km from continue kayaking. It was undoubtedly base camp and fully intending to have The Gold group of Sixth-formers our biggest test ever as we were one more night on the island. However, kayaked around the island of buffeted at all times by wind and rain. we soon realized we were making great Ringvassøya, the sixth largest island in We were unable to stop for lunch as progress and decided to battle back to mainland Norway and a tough trip for there were no landing points and we base camp without stopping. It was paddlers of even the highest standards. needed to keep ourselves relatively one of the toughest day’s paddling any Being above the Arctic Circle we were warm! of us had experienced but the feeling meant to face 24-hour sunlight, but as we landed on the beach for the final the weather was not always on our The perseverance paid off. After a time was immense. On the last day side and more often than not it was good sleep we set off in beautiful we were able to have a look around 24-hour cloud. Despite this fact, sunshine and could at last fully the town of Tromsø, allowing us to spirits remained high, mostly due to appreciate the spectacular Norwegian buy souvenirs and get a taste of what the brilliant fishing available at almost scenery. We enjoyed a day’s paddle, Norway is like, despite the high prices anytime. It was a great change to unhindered by weather, and were able of everything. be able to eat fresh fishcakes, even if to cover enough distance to have they were made with instant mashed another rest day on Day 7. We climbed Huge thanks must be given to Dr potato; at least it wasn’t something out to the highest point next to our camp Gunn, Mr Bliss, Mr Ian Barrow, Jen of a can or boil-in-the-bag! There is and got a brilliant panoramic view. We Clough and Peter Jones for supervising

68 The Abingdonian Service Activities

George Ball with cod

and running the trip. It was a real bring hundreds of reindeer to the cemetery on the islet of Risøya. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I island for summer grazing. The first beautiful place was the burial ground would recommend it to anyone looking night found the group camped on a (until ten years ago) for the village of for a great life experience. The Gold sloping patch of grass by a boathouse, Finnroken just across the water on group consisted of Matthew Roberts, and after some ‘discussion’ with the Reinøya. On a training day we had Nicholas Acutt, Felix Bird, James landowner a fair night’s sleep was chatted to a couple who came yearly Francis-Barrie, Digby Coulson and had. Day 2 was very windy with fair from south Norway to visit relatives in Alexander Bowyer. sized waves to contend with. After the village, and to place flowers on the a difficult crossing of the sound the graves of the lady’s relatives. The Silver group had a poor start to group camped on a windswept point their trip due to forgotten kit, but once near the village of Grunnfjord. The After a good night’s rest the group they had acquired the missing items mileage required to complete the paddled off on a 14km crossing they were able to embark on two days circumnavigation of Ringvassøya to enter Ullsfjorden and view the training before paddling off round the was so large, and the weather was stunning mountains of the Lyngen east side of Ringvass Oya. The first so uncertain, that the group wisely Alps. A truly wonderful campsite day was spent travelling up the sound opted to change their route and return was found, complete with a sandy between Ringvassøya and Reinøya, the southwards down to Langsundet and beach and stream. A day was spent latter name means reindeer island so start on a new route. Day 3’s campsite kayaking down the fjord with snow- called because to this day the Lapps was in a very quiet place indeed, a capped mountains and small glaciers dominating the view. Returning to the campsite at Nakkovika everyone appreciated the day, which was rounded off by a meal of fresh cod and coalfish. A rare glimpse of the midnight sun completed a spectacular day. The weather next day reverted to its usual rain and overcast cloud. The group kayaked back to Skittenelv and the welcome hot showers! The Silver group consisted of Chris Hall, George Bull, James Richards and Oliver Bowyer.

Nicholas Acutt 6 RM and Tim Gunn One o’clock in the morning

www.abingdon.org.uk 69 Departments

Chemistry

During the course of the academic resulted in multiple medals for our From this first round, Josh Stedman year 2009 – 2010, Chemistry has Sixth-formers Geoff Penington, Josh went forward for a selection weekend seen success both in and out of the Stedman, Richard Moon and Jeffrey Yu where he was chosen as one of four laboratory, as well as at a national and who were placed in the top 210 pupils Chemists to represent the UK at the international level. in the country and took Gold medals. 42nd International Chemistry Olympiad Well done to Jeffrey, who achieved held in Japan in July. Here he won The annual Royal Society of Chemistry this feat whilst in the Lower Sixth. a silver medal with a score of 80.4. Olympiad begins with a written paper, Silver medals went to Ulrich Bauer, Abingdon has been extremely fortunate which is taken in the schools. This Chun Mann Chin and Alex Leung. as this is the third successive year that a pupil of the School has been chosen to represent the country at the L to R Geoff Penington, International Olympiad. Richard Moon, Josh Stedman In the laboratory, the ongoing research project to deposit fine layers of metals on the surface of non-conducting polymers gained four Upper Sixth-formers Gold CREST Awards. Josh Stedman, Richard Moon, Geoff Penington and David Choy worked approximately 100 hours in total for the national award scheme, which focuses on practical work, with an accompanying write-up. Following their success, the current cohort of Lower Sixth-formers have been attempting to L to R Luke Carter, Omri Faraggi, alter the wetting properties of polymers Charlie Haines, Thomas Chan by modifying the surface coating. Experiments completed, the analysis of the products is carried out by Oxford University and results are pending.

Middle School pupils have also been busy, with a four-strong team – Luke Carter, Omri Faraggi, Charlie Haines, Thomas Chan – managing the position of runners-up in the regional finals of the RSC Chemistry Challenge.

Congratulations to all the pupils on their efforts, and success.

Megan Bowdry

70 The Abingdonian Geography – Iceland

Although recent volcanic activity seemed to have put the trip into jeopardy at one point, eighteen Sixth- formers made the trip to Iceland with the Geography Department in late August. For most of us this was our first visit there, and although it was a short visit we definitely made the most of our time, packing in plenty of sights on our daily excursions from our base near the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

As soon as we arrived at Keflavik Airport we were whisked off to the famous waters of the Blue Lagoon. Aside from the sulphurous odour and the surprising hygiene requirements, it was actually quite relaxing and a good way to start the trip after the three-hour flight.

Our first full day involved visits to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at Thingvellir, the awe-inspiring Gullfoss waterfall and final day consisted of a whirlwind tour situated, being only a short journey the hot springs at Geysir. A day trip of thundering waterfalls, the ominous from many of Iceland’s most famous by ferry out to the Westmann Islands Black Glacier and the atmospheric natural landmarks. The football pitch gave us the chance to climb the Eldfell stacks and arches of the Black Beach. nearby was the setting for many high Volcano, still warm after its eruption quality encounters – standout moments in 1973. On a short boat trip around In general the weather treated us included Jack Channon’s stunning the island we were treated to dramatic well, with only one day of rain and strikes and James Percival’s fearless coastal views, as well as an impromptu mild temperatures throughout. Our goalkeeping. saxophone solo from the captain! Our comfortable accommodation was well Thanks are due to Mr Gooding, Mr Perriss and Mr Southwell-Sander for organising the trip and always being informative and entertaining, as well as to Jens, our driver, for braving the 2.30 am wake-up call on the final morning to drive us to the airport.

Overall, I really enjoyed the trip as it was a great opportunity to spend time in an interesting and unique environment, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of going on any future trip to Iceland.

Joshua Bradlow 6 MDP

www.abingdon.org.uk 71 Classics

On 23 October a large rabble of excited Heading away from Tunis and Africa’. I would certainly agree, as these teenage boys stepped off a plane into civilization, we ventured into the two places housed some incredible the Tunisian heat with five members of mountains glimpsing many an aqueduct houses, temples and theatres, which staff – Mrs Fishpool, Mr Jenkins, Mr arch along the way, until we reached the had us scrambling for our cameras Price, Mrs Cooper and Dr Burnand for source of the aqueduct at Zaghouan, after paying our one dinar for the a packed week of classical discovery. the start of this 144km-long piece privilege. Continuing into the mountains We were met by our guide for the week, of remarkable engineering. We later we eventually reached our hotel cum Yassin, and bundled off to a hotel on visited the towns of Thuburbo Maius hunting lodge, complete with armed the outskirts of Tunis, a remarkable hotel and Dougga, celebrated as ‘the best hunters sharing the lift! for a school trip where the sumptuous preserved Roman small town in North all-you-can-eat buffet was an omen that this would be a great week.

The following morning was spent in the ruins of Carthage – Rome’s greatest enemy – exploring what was left of the city and even finding the ‘ash-layer’ from when it was burnt down. This was followed by a visit to the extensive port area and the magnificent Bardo Museum (which houses a remarkable collection of world famous mosaics), and a trip to the Medina where we experienced haggling for the first time. In spite of all the warnings, one nameless individual learnt he was not very good at using the vital word ‘no’. Bulla Regia

72 The Abingdonian Departments

After fleeing the guns as quickly as possible the next morning, another packed day saw us exploring a Roman quarry, the source of some of their fantastic coloured marbles, and the towns of Bulla Regia (with its underground houses) and Makhtar. These again provided us with some splendid photos, including the Arch of Trajan featured in Sam Wright’s winning entry for the photo competition, now proudly on display in CB’s room. Stopping only to eat and sleep, we The amphitheatre at El Djem pressed on the next day to the gloriously preserved Sbeitla with its Antonine Gate and olive presses, all ably explained by The next morning offered a more far more than the Colosseum at Rome Yassin, a positive mine of information on conventional insight into Islamic culture can do. In this place we really could all this subject as he was on everything all as we explored the great mosques believe that ‘what happens in life echoes week. This then took us to the fourth – although Yassin’s tales about the in eternity’! holiest city in the Islamic world, Kairouan, circumcision of young boys at one of and our 5 star hotel where, much them brought a collective wince from With our sightseeing over for the week to the other guests’ horror, we were us teenage boys. We then moved we headed to the coast and our final immediately in the pool. Later, as we on to our last and most magnificent hotel at Port El Kantaoui, a hybrid of headed off into the local Medina, Yassin classical sight, the amphitheatre (not Blackpool and Las Vegas. From this excitedly explained what ten dinar could Flavian in this case) at El Djem. Being base we headed into Sousse and to get you in the rooms just off the street, a able to physically walk beneath and up the Medina there with our haggling bargain apparently. this great monument brought it to life now down to a fine art, except for the said nameless individual who remained hapless. Then after visiting some dingy catacombs, which were a bit of a come down after El Djem, and a very optimistic but eventually disappointed rug salesman, we retired to the beach for some R&R and as only the British can do, managed to fashion an impromptu game of cricket.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say this trip provided a fantastic window on to the classical world, which few ever visit, for Tunisia offers a vast array of sites as good as Rome, but without the crowds and rope line. You felt that you truly could experience the classical world. I would like to thank the staff who accompanied the trip and, of course, the unforgettable Yassin!

Thomas Watkins VI JEF

www.abingdon.org.uk 73 Economics and Business Studies

Outside Lloyd’s of London

The Economics and Business Studies In the Lent term we visited the Coca seeking to insure themselves to a Department took three trips to a variety Cola factory in Edmonton, London. greater extent as the perception of of businesses during the academic In addition to sampling some of the increased risk heightened. The trip to year 2009-10. In December 2009, company’s wares, pupils were given a the LME (the largest non-ferrous metal approximately thirty Lower Sixth- guided tour of the bottling factory, the hi- market in the world) gave pupils a formers visited Chelsea Football Club tech warehouse and the accompanying chance to see the charged atmosphere hoping to learn something about the dispatch facilities. A presentation about of a real trading #oor too. Following the running of the Club. The physical tour the company’s marketing strategy was tours, a presentation by the Director of encompassed the press conference highly informative and was followed by Texel Finance (a company specializing room, the changing rooms, the ‘dugout’ a practical exercise where pupils had to in insuring political risk) explored the adjacent to the pitch, and the Club’s create a new soft drink product aimed at impact of rapid growth in China on museum. From a business perspective, a speci"c target market. commodity prices and the implications the tour broached topics as diverse that this might have for resource as ticketing and pricing, the use of The year ended with a trip to the City, in politics. technology, marketing, player contracts particular to Lloyd’s of London and the and sponsorship. It was an enjoyable London Metal Exchange (LME). The Apart from these trips, Abingdon day and the facilities were impressive, physical tour of Richard Rogers’ Lloyd’s economists have had some success in but comments like, “its not exactly the of London building was an education national competitions during the year. Emirates…” proved that Chelsea wasn’t in its own right, but pupils also had the In September 2009, three Abingdon really Abingdonians’ team of choice. chance to get a sense of how brokers economics students won prizes in the However, for Mark Kardos (probably and underwriters interact in the market Institute of Economic Affairs’ national the only Chelsea fan on the trip) there for insurance. In the midst of the credit essay competition. The students were was, at least, the chance to sit in Mr crunch it was also interesting to hear required to write a 1,500-word essay Ancellotti’s seat. how the insurance market remained on whether increased government buoyant because companies were spending was the best strategy for

74 The Abingdonian Departments

Inside Lloyd’s of London

getting the economy out of recession. of the economy and then "eld questions #exibility in different countries, and Mr The competition attracted 400 entries from three Bank of England judges Adrian Lajtha, a Director of Accenture, from schools across the UK and a (including a member of the Monetary gave us an insight into the impact of distinguished panel judged the entries. Policy Committee). The team argued globalisation on product and labour Eric Gartz won the second prize of that interest rates should be held at markets in a variety of countries. Next £500, and Jonathan Wong and Mark 0.5%, but quantitative easing should year we will be delighted to welcome Power Smith were runners up winning be increased to £225bn. Over 400 the following speakers to address our £100 each. teams entered the competition and the Economics Society: Mr Andrew Dilnot Abingdon team came 3rd in the South (Master of St Hugh’s College, Oxford), In the Lent term, Matthew Choi, Eric East of England "nal winning £350. Mr Stephen Fitzpatrick (Director of OVO Gartz, Sam Newman and Jonathan Energy) and Professor Tim Jenkinson Wong competed in the South East and We were also delighted to welcome (Keble College, Oxford). East of England area "nal of the Bank of two speakers to Abingdon’s Economics England’s ‘Target 2.0’. This competition Society. Dr Owen Darbishire of Simon Grills requires pupils to give a seventeen- Pembroke College, Oxford talked minute presentation on the current state about the impact of labour market

Mark Power Smith, Jonathan Wong, Eric Gartz

www.abingdon.org.uk 75 History

Berlin Trip Glienicke Bridge, to Potsdam, the scene of the conference between Over the course of the May half Stalin, Truman and Churchill at the term holiday the History Department end of the war. We made our way embarked upon a three-day trip to back to the city for an evening of Berlin. We departed at the ungodly ten-pin bowling. The evening ended hour of 2 am in order to accommodate in controversy as both Connor Taylor an epic itinerary that included visits to and Sam Pope laid claim to the the Reichstag, the Olympic Stadium highest score while Omri Faraggi and Sachsenhausen Concentration and Mr Wickes spent the evening Camp. in intense discussion over whether Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo Once more the Abingdon spirit was was more significant in Man. United’s on display when we hit the ground championship winning season (2008-9)! in Berlin. Several tonnes of sugar had been consumed and as a result By Day 3 normal human beings would our star historians were running be feeling the pace but the relentless on overdrive. Our guide, Andrew Abingdon historians were up at the Pennington, was almost overwhelmed crack of dawn stomping round the by a glittering array of questions as we lobby anxiously awaiting the arrival of made our way beneath the gigantic Battlefield Tour the staff. Their desire for knowledge pillars of the Olympic stadium to the On the first day we left the Abingdon was barely sated by the Allied Museum, spot where Hitler had stood to open School coach park in what seemed to the Check Point Charlie Museum the games in 1936. A brief pause for be good weather. It was five o’clock and a section of the Berlin Wall. It lunch was followed by a visit to the in the morning and nobody was very was only the time spent wandering town centre to the site of the Holocaust active. round the dark damp corridors and Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and depressing cells of the Stasi Prison the Soviet War Memorial. We finished We stopped at some services to collect that finally seemed to have the effect the evening by climbing the dome of our guides, all experts on the First of calming their appetite. By that point the Reichstag to overlook the city. World War. Our epic voyage across to there was a little time left for a brief France took under an hour. Travelling shopping stop in Berlin’s Potsdamer Day 2 began on a more serious to France, we were not as scared as Platz, before we returned to the airport note with a visit to Sachsenhausen the British soldiers when they travelled for the flight home. It was a weary, Concentration Camp. The camp to France in 1914, for obvious reasons. but nonetheless happy group that formed the model for all other camps returned to the Abingdon coach park at constructed by the Nazi regime over We arrived at Ypres at a memorial and midnight. Once more the students had the course of the early 1940s. The we saw a few different ones. It was demonstrated immaculate behavior and pupils experienced a moving insight interesting how the British and French a high degree of intellectual curiosity. into the life of a camp, visiting the cemetries differed from the German However, more remarkable was their inmates’ accommodation, punishment ones. While the British and French ability to eat non-stop for three days bloc, and parade ground. However, graves were laid out in patterns, the without, seemingly, ever becoming full. there was also evidence of the German graves were perfectly aligned continuing spirit of the prisoners in in a big square. The German graves Edward Davies the form of some unusual cartoons were black, and the ground where depicting the preparation of different they stood had no grass, which was forms of food, which had been painted quite the opposite to the British and on the walls of the kitchen. From there French graves, which were white and we made our way, via the famous surrounded by green life. This was

76 The Abingdonian Departments

number of tunnels that you could explore. There was authentic lighting and sounds of shells played through speakers. This simulated how trench soldiers must have felt being in such cramped conditions. Except, for the soldiers it was real.

We visited the mine crater from the mine that went off on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. It was huge. We went to another memorial where you could buy ice creams, an interesting touch. Next to this memorial there was a field, and many other fields all over the area, that were littered with pieces of old shrapnel and barbed wire. We collected bits of shrapnel as souvenirs – some of them interesting as it showed the different we saw the memorial to the missing were surprisingly big! attitudes to death different people can of the Somme at Thiepval. A huge have. structure covered in the names of the At the end of the day we went to the missing, and behind it an even bigger Menin Gate. The Menin Gate is a Having seen the memorials, we went field of graves. memorial to the missing soldiers of the to a museum in Belgium. We went Ypres Salient. Every soldier fighting into the town and were shown a big Another thing we went to was a at Ypres would have walked under tower. This was no ordinary tower museum where you could go into the gate to get to the trenches. At 8 because until recently it was used a pretend trench system. It had a o’ clock every evening, the Last Post for a ceremony involving a cat, and ceremony is held. The road is closed gravitational potential. This tradition off and buglers sound a piece of music, originates from when all the witches Last Post, which is used at all military in the town were burnt, and their cats funerals. The ceremony was extremely were thrown from the tower. They moving, almost as moving as being hit never really got out of the habit, until by artillery fire. the authorities banned it. So, they replaced the real cat with a not-real cat, On the last day we went to the biggest stuffed full of sweets and money. This memorial in the whole universe (well, option is more approved, but cats are probably). The biggest, and last one probably deeply offended. we saw. It was a brilliant and thought provoking conclusion for the trip. The The next day was a busy one. We set guides knew stories about some of off on the coach once again, this time, the people buried in the graves that destined for the Somme. We saw the we visited. I would recommend the British trenches, which were still there. trip to anyone because it teaches We also saw some Canadian trenches, you a lot about the war, and it’s great which were perfectly preserved. The fun, and you get to actually be there, trench systems were very complicated. which gives the subject another whole dimension than just studying it at The day before, I had thought the school. memorials we had been to were big. This assumption was demolished when Michael Bicarregui 3 MJS

www.abingdon.org.uk 77 Modern Languages: French

Sixth-Form Study Trip to Paris In the February half term, 22 Lower and Upper Sixth boys accompanied by two members of staff travelled on the Eurostar to the heart of the French capital for a cultural tour of the city. The group stayed in a centrally located hotel with easy access to the métro for getting around. They enjoyed some typical tourist attractions such as a trip along the Seine in a ‘Bateau Mouche’, Paris by night, and the ascent of the Eiffel Tower, queuing bravely to reach the very top despite the sub zero temperatures of early evening February. They were also able to take in the spectacular view of Paris Wilde altogether?), and walk in the French Exchange from the top of the Grande Arche de la footsteps of Audrey Tautou in the This year’s French exchange, the fifth Défense in the city’s modern business grocer’s and bar featured in the film that we have done with the Lycée la and commercial district. Museum Amélie when they went to visit the Nativité in Aix-en-Provence, proved to visits included the La Cinémathèque Montmartre district. The five-day trip be another tremendous success. A Française and the Cité Nationale de was busy and varied and, in addition to total of 32 Fourth and Fifth-formers l’Histoire de l’Immigration, both very all the above visits, time was found for were involved, hosting 35 boys and relevant to the current A Level syllabus, shopping, sampling the food on offer in girls from ‘La Nat’ in February. During as well as the Musée d’Orsay and Parisian restaurants, and a trip to the their stay, our French guests enjoyed the Cité des Sciences, for a more cinema to see a biographical film of the a civic reception in Bath (the city is general cultural experience. On a more life of French singer/songwriter Serge twinned with Aix-en-Provence), had a original note, the boys were able to Gainsbourg. Everyone, throughout the tour of New College in Oxford, went to indulge in some celebrity spotting in tour, had a thoroughly good time. Warwick Castle and the Black Country the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery Museum and also had a tour of the (where else could you find Edith Piaf, Nick Krol 5 AJPE Jaguar plant in Castle Bromwich. Jim Morrison, Salvador Dali and Oscar During the the Easter holidays, 27 Abingdon boys spent the first week in the French families of their exchange partners and enjoyed a taste of Provençal life. Cultural visits included the Roman amphitheatre in Nîmes, the Pont du Gard, the Villa Ephrussy de Rothschild, the Stade Vélodrome (home of Marseille Football Club) and a confiserie in Aix where the traditional ‘calissons’ are made. Below, several of the boys report on their trip.

Jayne Jennings

78 The Abingdonian Departments

Cathedral Cloister, Aix

I already miss the French exchange; My week in France was probably the it was so enjoyable. When I first best week of my life. The weather arrived I didn’t expect to have such was beautiful, my exchange’s family an amazing time. The exchange, were lovely, and I thoroughly enjoyed as well as being fun, has improved the various excursions and places we my French and it is very noticeable. visited during the week. I enjoyed it I have learnt how to speak it a lot so much that my friends and I have better as well as to understand it. already planned a trip back there in At first you find that the French speak the summer. I honestly couldn’t pick a very quickly but you soon get used highlight. If we weren’t visiting beautiful to it and take part in conversations places, we were playing volleyball on confidently. the beach or eating delicious French David Wheatley 4 NPS cuisine. We were never bored! Toby Marlow 4 HCGM My exchange partner was an outgoing sports enthusiast who I thought the French exchange in Stade Vélodrome, Marseille lived in a little village half an hour’s Aix-en-Provence was a fantastic trip. drive from the school. We hiked It was great to be able to practise through the French countryside, speaking French and learn the French mountain biked in the southern way of life whilst living with a French French mountains and swam in the family. I learned a great deal about Mediterranean. The best part for France while I was there and would Candied fruits me was going to a bustling French willingly return in the future to see market (and getting lost in the my exchange and her family. All in crowd). I thoroughly recommend all it was a superb experience, which going on an exchange. developed my understanding of Charlie Bethell 4 DJWF the language even further. I would recommend this trip to anyone studying French. Nick Leah 4 NPS

www.abingdon.org.uk 79 Modern Languages: German

match, in which the Germans lived up to their fierce reputation and beat the English hands down yet again, a trip around Münster, a visit to a traditional German ‘Imbissbüde’ (snack café) and embarrassing falls (for some of us, at least) at the ice rink.

The weekend was time spent with families, and for some of the luckier amongst us that meant a weekend trip to Berlin, where the snow reached an astounding height of 50cm (only fun if you’re in the back seat of the car, apparently…)

We left with heavy hearts after eight and their families, and then went Bielefeld Exchange splendid days immersed in German home for a well-deserved night’s On the 7 February 2010, eleven Fourth- culture, with memories to cherish, tales sleep after our flight. The week then formers and eleven Fifth-year St Helen’s to tell, for the luckier ones a ‘phone consisted of a lot of snow, lessons girls went to Bielefeld in northwestern number or two… and for one lucky in German (a highly entertaining and Germany. This was the second leg of boy, a girlfriend! But aside from that, enlightening experience), a visit to the 43rd exchange between Abingdon the 2009-10 German Exchange was an Bremen, exploring cultural similarities and Bielefeld, following the German experience thoroughly enjoyed by all, and differences in the Anglo-German party’s visit to Abingdon in October 2009. obviously with a high educational value. Project (of which the most memorable key word was ‘Vorurteil’ – prejudice), We were welcomed late on Sunday Jack May 5 DJTF the traditional Anglo-German football afternoon by our exchange partners

Lower School Rhineland exception! On the Friday, following with a relaxing boat cruise down the Trip 24-27 June 2010 a guided tour of Boppard, we took a river. An early start on the Saturday chair lift, which provided a spectacular took us to the city of Bonn and a This year’s Lower School Modern view of the Rhine. After this, we visited visit to the house in which Beethoven Language trip took thirty-five First and a local winery before ending the day had been born. We then headed to Second-formers, plus four members of staff, to Germany and a visit to the Rhineland. Setting off in glorious weather – that remained throughout the trip – a four hundred mile journey by coach via Eurotunnel seemed to pass remarkably quickly, and we arrived in time for a good night’s sleep at our hotel just outside the Roman town of Boppard.

In addition to practising a little of the native language, the purpose of these trips has always been to allow boys to sample a wide variety of cultural The group at Marksburg Castle excursions, and this year was no

80 The Abingdonian Departments

Modern Languages: Spanish

Cologne Cathedral and the dizzying Spanish Exchange The Cathedral at Santiago de ascent up one of the one hundred and It started with the group of us meeting, Compostela fifty metre high spires. The climb really still asleep, at a far too early time. sharpened up the boys’ appetite so Upon arrival we met our partners at it was perhaps fortunate that we then the school and it was time to decide stopped to visit the Lindt chocolate between a handshake and an awkward museum for sustenance, before hug. Something ‘in between’ seemed ending our excursions at the wonderful to be the consensus. medieval Marksburg Castle in Koblenz.

Nearly everyone went out in the town Throughout our stay the impeccable that night to explore. My group got behaviour of the boys was frequently a bit of an introduction to ‘parkour’, mentioned by our hosts and tour pretty impressive. Most of the time we guides, and although news of England’s spent relaxing in the park’s cafes just World Cup defeat to Germany slightly getting to know the Spanish people darkened the mood on the journey and finding our Spanish wasn’t quite up home, the whole party arrived back in to scratch. Abingdon with large smiles and some wonderful memories. The next few days it was the same as any exchange, museums, cathedrals Richard Castle and other different tourist attractions, some of which were really quite fun. German Christmas Market important. So, quite a few people did meet up, but five of us sat in a café On 11 December 2010 fifty three Saturday was possibly the first major test and watched what turned out to be a Second and Third-form Germanists in Spanish; a lot of us had lunch with 0-0 draw. accompanied by Mr Revill, Mr Cotton, our exchanges families. Awkwardness Mr Loughe, Mr Aitken and Anne can get pretty high if you don’t make By the time Thursday had come, Hippold travelled to Birmingham an effort. It’s better to look a bit bad at no one wanted to leave. They were city centre to visit the world famous Spanish than to not even try. all great people, and we’d all had a Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt. The boys great time over there, in addition we enjoyed perusing the 100-stall-strong Sunday held more of the same, and knew the weather would be worse market, which offers authentic tasty in my case, an even bigger family to in England. So we spent an hour, or German goods, including Currywurst, talk to. They eat well in Spain. There maybe two, just talking to our hosts Brezeln, Lebkuchen, Bratkartoffeln, were so many courses I lost count. and saying goodbye. Now it was time Kasseler, Gluehwein and heisse Food just kept coming. Later on most for the less awkward hugs, that weren’t Schokolade, along with a wide range people went into the town again, I went so ‘in between’. Everyone watched out of traditional German gifts, toys and to a football match. The chants you of the window as we left, wishing we crafts. The boys also made the most hear in England are nursery rhymes could have stayed longer. of the opportunity to practise chatting compared to the Spanish ones. in German to the stall owners. The Surprise, it was raining in England the market, the largest of its kind in For the next few days, it was back to day we got back but every one of us England, is now in its tenth year and museums and cathedrals. They seem has said that we will make their time welcomes over 2 million visitors each to really like stairs in Spain, first in the here as good as ours was there. year. The boys certainly got a feel for cathedral then in the Torre de Hercules. a German Christmas thanks to the exciting and authentic atmosphere. We had all thought we’d meet up on Michael Deeks 5 OJC Wednesday night, as it was our last, Andrew Loughe but apparently football’s a bit more

www.abingdon.org.uk 81 Sixth-Form Study Visit to Cuba

The group departed from school early on 24 March, heading for Gatwick and the nine-hour flight to Havana. We arrived in Cuba at approximately 8 in the evening, where we had to go through a hostile set of border controls before collecting our bags and heading towards our accommodation. We were immediately struck by the heat, the backward nature of the country, and the significance of the revolutionary figures Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, who of the major grammatical points of our in some hotly contested volleyball seemed to be depicted in murals on exam syllabus as well as learning about matches, and attempted to play cricket virtually every street corner. Cuban culture. before realising that tennis balls don’t bounce on sand! We stayed in two separate houses in In the afternoons we did various trips the Havanan suburb of Vedado, with to Old Havana: the world famous cigar Many thanks go to Mrs Glenn- the Lower Sixth on one side of the road factories, the museum of the revolution McKibbin and Dr Smith for organising and the Upper Sixth the other. The and a cannon procession at El Morro, a an unforgettable trip. Without a doubt, Cuban families were very hospitable and former fortress. The salsa lesson was a the School trip to Cuba was something cooking two meals a day for our group particular highlight for the group with us none of us will ever forget. It gave us of eleven was no mean feat! all seeming to master the basic steps. a new opinion of that part of the world and many of us would love to return From 9:30 to 1:00 every day we had Both Saturday and Sunday saw us on soon. lessons at the Sprachcaffe in Havana, a the beach to the east of Havana. The language school where we covered all weather was perfect and we all played Mark Francis 6 LPG

Modern Languages: Mandarin

In July 2010, I was one of a group of Abingdon boys who travelled to China for a two-week visit. Our trip to China was amazing. You cannot put it plainer than that. There are plenty of similarities and differences between Britain and China, but of course it is the differences that stand out.

When we first arrived we were astounded; Beijing seemed impossibly large, and very foggy. The Bird’s Nest and Water Cube (the Olympic sports stadium and swimming pool) are constructions of a type that is unseen in Britain, and office blocks compete to be the most seemingly bizarre yet wondrous in the city. Those were just Bicycle rickshaws our first impressions.

82 The Abingdonian Departments

The lessons in the school were interesting and colourful, full of information, which helped us in our understanding of China, and to get the best out of our trip. We had great fun in making lanterns, learning the art of calligraphy and painting pictures in Chinese-style. Painting is not one of my strong points, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Kung Fu and Tai Chi were calming experiences among the excitement that is China and were a totally different type of exercise to anything that I had done before – yet another new thing to remember!

Ciqikou took us back to old China Our hotel was beautiful and catered Calligraphy lessons where bartering and haggling were for our every need, serving some really commonplace. I’m glad I was given a exotic meals, many of which were chance to try my skills out and gain a delicious, even for the likes of me! The few non-everyday items along the way. visits came hard and fast; we hit the Great Wall just a day after arriving. The talent show was a nerve-wracking The Great Wall was the attraction, but experience when it came to the time for the distraction was the heat – it was our performance. But, other than that, sweltering – and climbing the Great it was an entirely enjoyable occasion Wall soon became a feat doubled by with which to cap off a brilliant week in the pure, raw heat. Having said that, Chongqing. the views at the top were well worth We then travelled to Chongqing, the second largest city in China. the climb, and the artistry used in the Once back in Beijing we visited the Chongqing, the city of bridges, they call designing of the Wall leapt out at you as Temple of Heaven, a very peculiar it. I might make a case for re-naming the culture shock seeped in; the bastion looking place but one that evidently it the city of skyscrapers. There are so at the bottom of the Wall looked as occupied a special place in history due many of them because the city holds a much a decorative temple as a defence to its isolated state. After that, we were population of 32 million people and is mechanism. given another chance to perfect our the largest municipality in China. bartering skills in a very large modern The afternoon of the Great-Wall visit market. was an adventure in itself as was the The hotel where we stayed was also very nice, and the school that hosted visit to the hutongs – alleys lined with Throughout the trip I steadily got to our visit was very welcoming. traditional courtyard residences – and know my friends better and, I am glad the outings arranged by the Hanban to say, I made some new ones too. – the organisation for the promotion The trip was fantastic and I would of Chinese language and culture. The recommend it not only to those studying Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square Chinese but to all those who want to try were packed with people eager to see something different and experience new the heritage of a great nation, and it cultures. I learnt so much and had a didn’t disappoint; it could not have been great time, so thanks for a fantastic trip! more exquisitely constructed, beauty seeped from every stone in every wall of Teddy Clamp 3 NMR every building. Hutongs

www.abingdon.org.uk 83 Art

84 The Abingdonian Type Piece 1 by Stuart Lonergan Art Department

The Art Department’s schedule seem to following students went on to Art and it. We quickly realised that focussing get busier each year with the Design foundation courses: Matthew in on a few pieces in detail rather than highpoints being the number of Copson to Camberwell, Charlie Floyd, trying to see everything was going to visiting artists and designers to the Stuart Lonergan, Henry Dunbar to be the best strategy for this venue, and Department. Our GCSE graphic Brookes, Alistair Nicoll to Totnes – for the rest of the week. Friday saw design students welcomed illustrator before he takes up a place to read the group visit the Musée d’Orsay, the Pete Fowler, who came in and led a architecture at Cardiff. The following Rodin Museum and the Maillol Museum character development workshop, secured places to study Architecture: before ascending the Eiffel tower in the producing several large temporary Anthony Grieveson (Liverpool), Kenneth evening. The celebratory lights of the banners for the Sports Centre corridor. Chow (University of Hong Kong), Beno tower dazzled us, just as we had been Illustrator Nick Sharratt spoke to both Edwards (Cardiff), Matthew Hinkins by the superb painting in the Musée Fourth and Fifth Year groups, showing (Brookes). d’Orsay and sculpture of Rodin earlier examples of his work and speaking in the day. enthusiastically about the development The art and design section of the of the ideas and images for his stories. school website aims to cover recent art Saturday was just as full as we tackled For fine artists, Steven MacIver came news. The pages that follow contain the vastness of the Louvre, the diversity and led a workshop for our Lower Sixth just a selection of the wonderful art of the ethnographic artefacts of the as well as talking about his work to the work from the boys in our examination Musée de Quai Branly, the modern art Fourth Year and conducting tutorials year groups. The selection is mine - I of Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de to selected Upper Sixth-formers. expect the boys would have chosen Paris and its exhibition of the German Steven went on to be our first artist-in- quite different images. abstract painter Albert Oehlen. The residence in the summer term, working evening was spent touring the shops out of ‘the shed’, a large temporary Museum and Galleries tour to of the Champs Elysées before we all building at the edge of Heylin’s garden, Paris – October 22-26 2009 met up on the fourth #oor of the huge normally used to house four Upper Haagen Daz restaurant to eat waf#es, Leaving the Abingdon coach park Sixth students – overspill from the main sodas and ice creams. at 6am straight after the end of a Upper Sixth studio. Andy Glass our busy and tiring half term felt like hard part-time 3D teacher, worked as an Sunday was a lie-in but we work and a rush, but was it worth it? artist to lead a group of Fifth-formers to still managed the modern and Undoubtedly yes! The galleries and make a ‘Big Sculpture’ one Saturday contemporary art of the Pompidou museums of Paris are superb and we early in the Michaelmas term. Centre, followed by two smaller managed ten of them in our "ve days, museums commemorating C20th plus some tourist spots as well. The There was the usual plethora of trips sculptors Zadkine and Bourdelle. An boys worked hard from the start. this year with Sixth-formers travelling evening river cruise followed before we We’d given them all new sketchbooks to the Saatchi Gallery, Tate Britain, #opped back to our hotel. Monday to "ll and they drew in the Eurostar Tate Modern and the Royal Academy was more relaxed as we visited the train, in front of the art, while having to see Van Gogh’s letters. There were Montmartre area and then spent meals, even walking through the parks. other trips to the newly refurbished some time shopping before catching Many of the boys brought cameras too Ashmolean Museum, and ‘Turner an evening train back to London and - the aim was to capture and record and the Masters’ exhibition at Tate so onto Abingdon. It was a busy as much of our experience of Paris as Britain for GCSE groups. The climax and exciting tour. Colleagues Mrs possible. of the year’s trips was the Sixth-form O’Doherty, Mr Glass and, a guest from gallery and museum tour to Paris in Modern Languages, Mr Loughe, were Our "rst viewing of art was at FIAC, the Michaelmas half term, reported on invaluable companions. The boys were an international contemporary art fair, separately. hard working, very focussed and fun to spread between two large venues and be with. full of galleries from around Europe Once again we had a very committed showing off their favoured artists... Upper Sixth and a good number left James Nairne such varied work, so little time to view to pursue art at a higher level. The

www.abingdon.org.uk 85 GCSE Art

A Mask Acrylic Toby Blong B Road through trees Acrylic on canvas Charles Buchan C Purchasing Coffee Acrylic Guy Bud D Abstract landscape Acrylic Guy Bud E Toby Acrylic Laurence Copson F Cold Spring Woods Acrylic Laurence Copson G Self-portrait Acrylic Drew Finnigan H Work, Rest Play Mixed media Harry Gibbs I Mountain range Acrylic Harry Gibbs J Danny Acrylic Joe Hogan K Abingdon Streets Acrylic Joe Hogan L Self-portrait Painted plaster and card relief William Huck

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I J L 86 The Abingdonian M Self Portrait Chalk Jonathan Hunter N West St Helen’s Street Acrylic Jonathan Hunter O Service Acrylic Alexander Jefferys P Self-portrait Acrylic and paper collage Mark Lee Q Mask Painted card construction Mark Lee R Self-Portrait Graphite Daniel Leyland S Street Acrylic on board Daniel Leyland T Night scene Paper collage Ben Longden U Cubist Portrait Charcoal and chalk Ben Longden V Jericho café Ink and watercolour Tom McGivan W Work, Rest, Play Acrylic Jack Ponting

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A Head Painted card construction Dominic Ramli-Davies B Interior Acrylic and Charcoal Dominic Ramli-Davies C Mountain range Acrylic George Rothwell D Cell Repeats Various Finn Ryley E Shooting Collage and acrylic on board Finn Ryley F Underpass Acrylic on board Simon Spafford G City Acrylic on board Simon Spafford H Play Acrylic on board Charles Studdy I On Board Watercolour, pen on paper Nicholas Topping J Portrait Painted card construction Harry Williams K Coastal Landscape Acrylic Harry Williams L Greetings from Goring Acrylic Howard Win"eld M Interior Acrylic on carved wood Howard Win"eld A

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J L M 88 The Abingdonian A Work, Rest, Play Painted relief Ronan Baird B Tate Poster Laser print Robert Brough C Play Pen and ink Robert Brough D Ashmolean Poster Laser print Gerald Chan E Pinky Childrens’ book illustration Gerald Chan F Hot Chip Vinyl sleeve design Sam Hardy G Howdy Jumped Childrens’ book illustration Oliver Howard H Life’s game Illustration Nicholas Krol I Ski Poster Laser Print Dan Lloyd J Trainers Mixed media illustration Joel Morris K Stand and Stare Illustration Fahmi Safa L LC Lion Childrens’ book illustration Paul Woo

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A Figures 1 Mixed media on canvas Edd Arnold B Horse’s eye Mixed media on board Edd Arnold C Colour abstract Oil on board Edd Arnold D Still-life abstract Oil on board Peter Barber E Interior/exterior Oil and charcoal on board Tom Fishpool F Still-life Oil on board Tom Fishpool G Head of a dog Mixed media Jamie Gallagher H Coastal views Mixed media on paper Amir Garmroudi I Interior Monotype Amir Garmroudi J Diane Keaton Mixed media Harry Granger K Arches Ink on canvas Harry Granger L Warrior Fired ceramic Wellington Hsu M Interior Oil on canvas Wellington Hsu A

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K L M 90 The Abingdonian O Self-portrait Oil on canvas Mark Kardos P Still-life Oil on canvas Mark Kardos Q Cuba Photographic collage on canvas William McDowell R Mirrored Mirror, wire William McDowell S Keep Out Mixed media Jack Oliver T Street Concept Mixed media on board Jack Perry U Street Concept II Mixed media on board Jack Perry V Kanye Mixed media on Canvas David Snead W Life drawing Pen and ink David Snead X Life drawing Chalk Jack Trodd Y Street Mixed media Ben Westcott

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A Boats Oil on canvas Tom Bateman B Golden Village Mixed media on board Tom Bateman C Indian Crowd Oil on plywood, Cut-out James Carter D Portrait head Plaster James Carter E Abstract Construction Painted board and paper Kenneth Chow F Abstract Construction Painted board Kenneth Chow G Portrait Oil on board Freddie Cleworth H Bust Card construction Freddie Cleworth I Russian Doll Painted sculpture Matthew Copson J Lydia Oil on canvas Matthew Copson K Faces triptych Acrylic on Board Henry Dunbar L Abstract Car Acrylic and collage on board Beno Edwards

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K J L 92 The Abingdonian M Bathroom portraits Printed ceramic tiles, ceramic bowl, mdf. Christopher Edwards N Us twins 15 Lino cuts Christopher Edwards O Punters Acrylic and pen on canvas triptych Charlie Floyd P Coastal landscape Cast plaster, steel, plywood Anthony Grieveson Q London Skyline Oil and acrylic on board Matthew Hinkins R London Panorama Mixed media Matthew Hinkins S Type Piece 1 Acrylic on board Stuart Lonergan T Type Piece 2 Acrylic on board Stuart Lonergan U Architectural Abstract 1 Oil on canvas Alistair Nicoll V Architectural Abstract 1 Mixed Media Alistair Nicoll W Old Man Oil on cardboard Jack Tinker X Passions 1 Oil on canvas Jack Tinker

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The Arkwright Scholarship

Matthew Landells and Angus Wilson-MacDonald have both been awarded prestigious Arkwright Design and Technology scholarships after having successfully completed a rigorous selection process including a written design task, a team-building engineering project and the interview panel. Only 250 scholarships were awarded this year and both Angus and Matthew should be congratulated on their achievements. They both achieved A* grades via very different practical routes. Matthew Landells designed and manufactured a CNC-machined aluminium camera mount, to allow him to "lm the action when cycling, while Angus Wilson-MacDonald produced a Warhammer Paint Station. The Arkwright Scholarship Trust is an external organisation that supports high achieving scholars who are considering a future in Design Engineering. Matthew and Angus were L to R Matthew Landells and presented with their scholars’ ties by Barry Radcliffe, the Arkwright Trust’s liaison of"cer. Angus Wilson-MacDonald

Dan Hughes

Matthew Landells Angus Wilson-MacDonald Camera Mount Paint Station

94 The Abingdonian GCSE

Abdulaziz Bandar – William Bibby – Jonathan Chung – Paintball Storage Laminated Storage Key Organiser

Max Dooley – Sam Hughes – Calum Smith – Laptop Stand Golf Club Carrier Golf Club Holder

James Jenkins – Jack Ponting – George Bull – Fencing Accessory Box File Storage Putting Aid

www.abingdon.org.uk 95 GCSE

Dan Lloyd – Hal Parke – Felix Russell – Playstation Tidy Playstation Holder Vivarium

Paul Woo – Stuart King – Matthew Landells – File Storage Designer Shoe Rack Bike Camera Mount

Felix Newman – Andrew Reece – Edward Norris – Bedroom Desk Computer Tidy Guitar Stand

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Hector Millar – Garden Table Jack Lindsay – Bedroom Speakers Finn Ryley – Aluminium Stock

Mark Lee – Shoe Storage Nian Patel – Henry Christiansen – School Folder Storage Collapsible Flat Screen Storage

Simon Spafford – Angus Wilson MacDonald – Spray Can Organiser Warhammer Paint Station

Gregor Hearn – Jack Swanborough – Bedroom Storage Model Train Workstation

www.abingdon.org.uk 97 Drama

West Side Story

For three nights in early December 2009, over thirty senior pupils from Abingdon and St Helen’s appeared on stage in Bernstein’s West Side Story, backed by an orchestra and stage crew of similar size, in front of a full Amey Theatre. After three months of rehearsals, vocal coaching and choreography, we were "nally ready to perform.

West Side Story looks at the tensions between immigrant communities in New York in the 1950s. The story is set in an atmosphere of gang warfare, where Jets Tony, a Jet, and Maria, a Shark, fall in love, despite the mutual hatred of their respective gangs. Tony and Maria’s It was fantastic to see the members The song Gee Of!cer Krupke was quiet love scenes contrast sharply with of the cast taking on various complex one of my personal highlights. Robert the highly charged scenes between and subtle characters, and rising to Brooks was totally believable in the role the gangs; by the end, three main the challenge magni"cently. Henry of Action, portraying the character’s characters have been killed and the love Jenkinson as Riff gave a stellar frustration, anger and sarcastic wit between Maria and Tony has not been performance, vividly portraying Riff’s perfectly. Charlie Bateman, Nicholas enough to overcome the gangs’ hatred. con"dence and power as the leader Krol, Sam Hardy, Christopher Young, of the Jets. Jack Trodd was equally Oliver Howard and Will Abell, who For me, it was a real joy to get stuck effective in the role of Bernardo, throughout the show conjured up the into a piece of drama with such an capturing Bernardo’s cheeky personality camaraderie of the Jets, ably assisted intense #avour and social message. as well as his terrifying menace. him in this song. The riotous applause

James Yan Adrian Lo Ali Ibrahim

98 The Abingdonian who travelled from Glasgow to lead a number of voice sessions. Charmian Hart was simply brilliant in the numerous tasks she undertook, including the design and realisation of the costumes and props, and the running of the box of"ce. The set, which transformed the Amey Theatre with its towers and ramps in the auditorium, and its Tetris mesh fencing shapes on stage, was the brainchild of Rory Fraser-Mackenzie, who as theatre manager and technical supremo was a colossus. This show demands the kitchen sink when it comes Sharks to using all the elements of theatre, and cannot be attempted without a gifted after the song was well deserved. sound of the male company. Eli choreographer. OA Matt Hawksworth The members of the Sharks were also Rushbrook was innocence itself in "tted the bill perfectly, crafting the show’s convincing in their personi"cation of the role of Maria, and Kat Telford numerous challenging dances with great menace. Pierre Leveque, Ali Ibrahim, was fantastic as the feisty Anita. The style. We all enjoyed working with him James Yan and Adrian Lo were audience enjoyed some memorable immensely. I am sure I speak for all terrifying during The Rumble, and the vocal solos in the cast’s moving members of the cast in thanking the staff atmosphere they created was fantastic: performance of Somewhere, featuring involved, who made such an enjoyable the audience was drawn right into the Gabrielle Gleeson, Helen Freer and and memorable occasion possible. action. And, of course, we cannot Lucy Taylor. forget the brilliant performances of Joe Mason Vl JJ the non-partisan characters: William The production would not have been Hewstone as the world-weary Doc, so successful without the direction Jeremy Taylor writes: Joe Mason played Finlay Curran as the dim-witted Krupke, of the staff. Jeremy Taylor was truly the role of Tony with a compelling Richard Oastler as the frustrated inspirational in his direction, assisted mixture of tenderness and clean-cut Lieutenant Schrank, and Benjamin by Alison Quick, who sensitively helped charm. We knew he had a fabulous Haveron as the camp Glad Hand. us to empathise with our characters. voice, but the power and honesty of Chris Fletcher-Campbell was "rst- his acting was a revelation, as was his The St Helen’s girls gave some truly rate in his musical direction, and our nimble footwork in the dance numbers. wonderful performances, and their singing improved greatly thanks to voices added to the already strong the vocal coaching of Deidre Trundle,

Maria (Eli Rushbrook) and Tony (Joe Mason)

Anita (Kat Telford) and Bernardo (Jack Trodd)

www.abingdon.org.uk 99 Our Country’s Good

Throughout the Michaelmas term, I was involved in the Senior School production of Our Country’s Good over at the School of St Helen and St Katherine. Written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, the play is set in 1788 and follows the lives of convicts, Royal Marines and members of the Royal Navy sent to Australia as a part of the first penal colony there. The play is dark and depressing, yet also funny and, ultimately, I really enjoyed the whole theatrical experience. came from the Royal Shakespeare the character Second Lieutenant The cast involved a number of officers Company, I was delighted to find I Ralph Clark, an officer desperate for of the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. was wearing the same waistcoat as promotion. Lydia Uden and Olivia Captain Arthur Phillip, the Governor- David Tennant from the production of White played First Lieutenant George in-Chief of the colony, was played by Hamlet. Captain Watkin Tench and Johnston and Second Lieutenant Charlotte Buttar with a commanding Captain Jemmy Campbell were played William Faddy respectively. Lydia presence tempered by a sympathetic by Ellen Robertson and Matthew Uden gave her character a sincere yet and intelligent air. Robert Winearls Copson respectively, the former as pretentious turn and Olivia White played gave a powerful performance as an upstanding and aggressive man her character with a sarcastic charm the fearsome and intimidating Major of the military, the latter as a lonely and quick-wit. Catherine Wallis played Ross, while I played the character of man who long ago turned to drink to the part of First Lieutenant Will Dawes Captain Collins, an ostentatious judge escape his troubles. Richard Meadows – a man obsessed with the stars – with of the colony. Since our costumes gave a convincing performance as an endearing and comical demeanour. Matthew Copson, as Midshipman Harry Brewer, gave a potent dimension to Harry, a troubled man who suffered from severe guilt. Alice Matthews played the Reverend Johnson, who is meant to be of high moral standards and committed to God, as just that.

The play also involved a number of others, including convicts and aborigines. Dylan Robinson took on the part of John Arscott very well, making him out to be both a hostile yet often amusing man. Sophie Waddy demonstrated her fine acting ability with her characterisation of Mary Brenham as a timid and fearful woman. Katie Bartholomew and Catherine Wallis, the latter acting as an understudy on the first night while Katie Bartholomew

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was away, both played the part of Dabby Bryant with her country accent and robust attitude. Robert Winearls also took on the part of James ‘Ketch’ Freeman. He did so with all the character’s apologetic and occasionally pathetic charm. Emily Heath played Liz Morden, making her out to be the tough, bitter yet also vulnerable woman Pope and a Duke. Toby’s appearance she is. Robert Sideway was played Dr Faustus in a basque and feather boa was an by Luke Abbott with all the dramatic eye-wateringly unforgettable moment. flair the character should have, while The snow-delayed and eagerly Kristian Wood called to mind the larger- Catherine Lewis took on the role of anticipated Middle School production than-life presence of Tamburlaine, Duckling Smith and did so with that of Dr Faustus, originally scheduled for another of Marlowe’s anti-heroes as he character’s emotional complexity. Nick February, took to the stage on three crafted some wonderfully thundering Williams played John Wisehammer hot nights at the end of June when it characterisations of the Devil, and made him out be the intelligent sent welcome shivers down the spines Beelzebub and Benvolio. Tom Sishton man he is. Tess Lonergan, Megan of audiences, and brought down the was convincingly put-upon as Faustus’s Foster and Charlotte Bambridge curtain for another year on the Drama servant Wagner; I greatly enjoyed his played the convicts Sarah McCormick, Department’s annual programme. ‘sorcerer’s apprentice’ moment when Nancy Turner and Esther Abrahams he tried some conjuring for himself. respectively. Each girl involved herself Directed with imagination and flair Humphrey Thompson was an engaging in her character’s struggle as a convict. by Graeme May, and featuring an Chorus and a cherubic Good Angel, as Alison Cooke, Sophie King and ingenious box set by Amey Theatre well as an effective Devil, Scholar and Katie Thornton played the Australian supremo Rory Fraser-Mackenzie, the Alexander. Max Robinson also doubled Aborigines with a rightly mysterious and performances starred Abingdon’s first up effectively as Cornelius, a Friar, cautious manner. drama scholar, Joe Westcott, in the Frederick and Wrath, but I particularly title role. Joe delivered a powerful enjoyed his rabid, physical outbursts as The production would have not been and mature account of the infamous the latter. possible had it not been for the Doctor who sells his soul to the devil magnificent crew guided by OA Ash in return for power and knowledge. The girls from St Helen’s were no Verjee, with Oliver Hogben and Kingsley Marlowe’s ‘mighty line’ is notoriously less impressive. Rona McKee’s Hoskins directing. Many thanks testing even for adult actors, but Joe Mephistophiles was a model of icy have to go to all those onstage and summoned lung-busting stamina to do feline charm; Ciara Robinson gave backstage for putting on what I believe the part considerably more than justice. an effectively physical account of was an entertaining and moving staging He was ably supported by a versatile Robin, Helen (‘the face that launched of Our Country’s Good. Abingdon contingent that featured Toby a thousand ships’) and Lechery (see Marlow in delightfully contrasting roles below); Annie Deadman impressed as Charles Beirouti 6 SJG as a Devil Wife, Covetousness, the the Chorus, Vintner, a Bad Angel and

www.abingdon.org.uk 101 a Duchess but perhaps her signature moment came when she donned pig mask and fat suit (made by the tirelessly creative and resourceful Charmian Hart) to burst out of the pantry as Gluttony. Helen Dallas was arguably the most versatile member of the cast as she undertook no fewer than six roles, including the haunting figure of Envy, who appeared at a window in green and sickly light, and as one half, with Ciara, of the terrifying Lechery, whose four hands Sir Oblong Fitz Oblong (Joseph Kelly) burst through what we had hitherto The Thwarting of thinks they should move on to other assumed was a solid wall to enfold areas to assist the needy. Faustus in their predatory grip. Alex Baron Bolligrew Wilkinson was another admirably Advised by Sir Smoothly Smoothe flexible performer whose roles included On a cold, dark February evening, the (Matthew Mugglestone) and the other a Scholar, a Devil, a Friar and Pride, Abingdon Lower School Drama Club members of the court, the duke is the last character again making good transported us to a land of magic persuaded to get Oblong out of the use of the set’s numerous surprising and fable. The Thwarting of Baron way by appointing him a knight errant features, this time in the form of a two- Bolligrew offered the audience a truly and dispatching him on a dangerous way mirror. Caroline Papp hovered delightful version of Robert Bolt’s clever mission to the Bolligrew Islands. above the action on the technical morality fable. This play, half fairytale gallery for her role as a sinister Lucifer and half satire, could have been a The voyage to the island is memorable before coming down to earth, literally, challenge for such a young cast, but as the captain (Joseph McNamara) for her other roles as an Empress and a under the direction of Andrew Loughe, navigated us across the stage Devil. Last but by no means least, Clea the enthusiastic and talented troupe transformed into a turbulent sea. Southall played a Devil, Martina and worked their roles to the delight of the Bolligrew is home to a dragon and Sloth, in which capacity she dominated audience. ruled by the egocentric Baron Bolligrew, the stage as she yawned and snoozed stunningly acted by Louis Hudson her way through her scene. The play is an exciting story involving with his dim-witted sidekick Squire dragons, magic and the fight against Blackheart (Alex James). These two The use of the ‘studio on stage’ format good and bad (and sometimes, characters flawlessly portrayed the bad gave punters the heady sensation of boredom!). It begins with a pompous of Bolligrew. Joseph Kelly was excellent sitting on the Amey Theatre stage, duke (Alex Gatenby) whose country is as Oblong, the knight who talks to bringing them closer to the action with overrun by dragons. When his knights- animals and always tries to do the its pyrotechnics, secret doors and in-shining-armour have killed them all, right thing. This clash of Bolligrew and mirrors, and a host of other theatrical the duke announces they can enjoy Oblong allowed the tale to unfold in an delights. Mr Fraser Mackenzie and a nice, lazy life, but the soft-hearted enjoyable and humorous set of events. Mrs Hart made all these possible through their dedicated and imaginative preparations. The lighting and sound were triggered with unobtrusive skill by James Winters and Max Dooley.

Jeremy Taylor

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There are characters who define the tone of the play such as the Storyteller (Adam Hargreaves), who pulled us into the story and interacted with its characters on the audience’s behalf. Lord May (George England) managed to convey the fear of the peasants as they hoped for a defender in Oblong, while Obidiah Bobblenob (Andrew Convery) illustrated the plight of the trodden peasants under Bolligrew’s self-serving reign. Moloch, the greedy, evil wizard played intelligently by Alex Grantham and his sidekick, Mezeppa, the magpie (Tim Bird) created images of sinister magic meant to beguile poor Oblong and his new friend, Mike Magpie, sweetly played by Joe Russell. Both Joe Russell and Tim Bird captured the shuffling movements and squawking voice of the thieving birds wonderfully. Tim McGovern’s bellowing voice of the dragon (“I’m sooooo bored.”) convinced all that the island had two malevolent forces that needed righting.

In addition to the actors, there was the technical crew who cleverly transformed the Amey Theatre into a world of fantasy and fable. The costumes were well realised, the magic mystical in its unfolding, and the dragon, terrorizing in its dark presence.

Congratulations to all on an excellent evening out.

Maureen O’Neill

www.abingdon.org.uk 103 Lysistrata

The first half of the Michaelmas term saw the Upper 6th Theatre Studies students planning how to make Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata, written in 5th century BC Athens, relevant to a modern audience. Each group had a half-hour slot and was given the run – within reason – of Abingdon School in which to stage its chosen extracts. The first group chose the Drama Studio. They set their extract in a wealthy ‘gated community’ where the wives’ discontent about never seeing ready to be hostesses for the night. their husbands was beginning to reach The audience was then led on to the boiling point. Richard Meadows, Jack technical gallery of the Amey Theatre Rogers and Robert Winearls were the to watch the final scene played out three men, played with cool arrogance below on the Amey Theatre stage – to start with, who finally got their decked out with fairy lights and now comeuppance. The wives, planning representing the public area of the their revenge as they worked-out in club. Waiting for the girls to appear their aerobics class, were played with were the customers (three city gents) exuberance by Emily Barrett, Mollie played in great comic fashion by Tian Hodge, Francesca McLaven, Claudia Ji, Ted Thompson and, in drag, Emily Stott and Kat White. Heath. The banking crisis and political manoeuvring formed the background gang-culture version of the play, where The second group set their extract in conflict in this version. the girls’ gang got into fights with the a night club that is finding it difficult to boys’ gang, against a backdrop of attract custom as the recession begins The final group whisked the audience drug-taking and police sirens wailing; to bite: the Ingham Room served straight down from their places on the the last section of their extract took as the back stage area where the technical gallery out of doors and round place in the Ladies’ toilets in the Amey girls – Sarah Earl, Millie Holdsworth, to the steps outside the Art Department Theatre where the audience squeezed Sophie King, Emma Mackenzie and, in where a group of girls was gathered into the space and watched the drag, Matthew Copson – were getting round a fire in a dustbin; this was a action happening in and just outside the cubicles. Alice Carter, Ellen Harris, Cathy Lewis, Katie Thornton and Sophie Waddy mercilessly mocked the hapless boys, played with bravado by Luke Abbott, Richard Oastler, and Dylan Robinson.

The whole exercise was an exciting and innovative approach to breathing life into a text that many of the students found it difficult to identify with at first.

Alison Quick

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A2 Theatre Studies: Devised Pieces

The A2 Theatre Studies devised work took place in St Helen’s drama studio at the beginning of February. There were five very different pieces on show this year.

Stationary was a hilarious comedy in an ‘absurdist’ vein set in an office where the four co-workers spent their days alternately intimidated by the boss, Defunct was an altogether different Jack Rogers’ powerful portrayal of the who only made contact with them by experience. Three friends have met brother whose unseen presence guides telephone, and exuberantly breaking together to help one of them make the three others in their final decision out of the constraints of their mundane the traumatic decision as to whether had a dignity and directness that was existence by creating ever more bizarre to switch off her brother’s life support very moving. performances to entertain themselves. machine or not. Although the subject Millie Holdsworth was the stylish singer, matter was emotionally intense the Sophie King attempted to convince her actors, Richard Meadows, Kat White fellow workers of her mystical powers, and Sophie Waddy, managed to steer Matthew Copson and Ted Thompson clear of sensationalism with their sincere created clown and ventriloquist routines; and deeply-felt performances. The the culmination of the carnivalesque device of having the brother as the piece was the completely mad fourth actor on stage worked brilliantly: ‘Lithuanian interpretative dance’ routine which had the audience howling with laughter as the actors threw themselves into a parody of ‘free expression’ movement. With Yes, Health Minister there was a return to comedy, but this time razor- sharp political satire. Tian Ji, Emma Mackenzie, Emily Heath and Sarah Earl portrayed political speechwriters attempting to gloss over the fact that the Minister for Health has done a complete U-turn on stated policy since coming to power. The fraught dynamics between the four of them as the pressure mounts to come up with a speech that says one thing, but in fact means the opposite was both comical and thought provoking. Tian Ji’s self-confident, smooth-operating chief writer was hugely entertaining; Emily Heath played the argumentative one with a chip on her shoulder with startling conviction,

www.abingdon.org.uk 105 Sarah Earl gave her coolly intellectual Papa Tango Sierra Delta, the final character a passionate edge and Emma production, returned to a more sombre Mackenzie shone as the impassioned theme with an exploration of the idealist. phenomenon of post-traumatic stress disorder. The effect of fighting in a More comedy was provided in The brutal war is shown through a series of Wellness Centre, a tongue-in- scenes and flashbacks when a soldier cheek look at the cosmetic surgery returns home and tries to resume a industry. This was a fine ensemble normal life. The light and shade that this piece, beautifully orchestrated and group of actors managed to create in choreographed by the group. The what was always going to be disturbing impeccable timing in both speech and and at times distressing performance movement made this a most polished was remarkable. Luke Abbott, Alice production. The actors, Cathy Lewis, Carter, Chessie McLaven, Claudia Stott, Dylan Robinson, Richard Oastler, Emily Katie Thornton and Robbie Winearls all Barrett, Mollie Hodge and Ellen Harris all gave strong and moving performances worked with precision and a splendidly in another excellent ensemble piece. light touch to make this gruesomely, and indeed ghoulishly, entertaining. Jeremy Taylor

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In the face of that challenge, this asked to ‘imagine’ her journey and the AS Theatre production also refused to be specific, things she would experience in this or stick by any one set of theatrical country, ‘once famous’ for its ‘beautiful Studies: Illyria principles. Sometimes objects were green green woods … now famous mimed, sometimes not. Some scenes for War’. Anna gave a tremendously Illyria is a play about war, imagination, used stylized devices; others were assured performance here, as also in and a lot of shoes. Written by Bryony more or less naturalistic. Cast and the role of the mysterious Shoemaker Lavery in 2003 for the National director simply sought ways of making (of which more anon). Theatre’s International Connections the play work for an audience in a more programme, it was performed by one or less empty space. Maria met a rich array of characters of the Lower 6th AS Theatre Studies that invited us to imagine the nature sets in the studio at St Helen’s in March Anna Canlan-Shaw played a young of war and its paper-thin divisions 2010. The script is a wonderfully open journalist, Maria Vargas, who departed between stability and instability, invitation to its performers to make for an assignment to a war-torn boredom and excitement, comedy and of it what they will. The initial stage country, Illyria. As at the start of tragedy … life and death. The first directions say it can be played ‘by any Shakespeare’s Henry V – an older and was Magda, a translator played with number, any gender’ and ‘the place very different play about war – we were delightfully Borat-like gaucheness by names and character names can be changed for appropriate settings … also the date.’ As for the set: ‘Absolute bareness. Little as possible for props. Maximum ingenuity … a psyche of wonderful colour only.’ Even the dialogue maintains this refusal to be specific through its almost complete disregard for punctuation. Performers simply have to take up the challenge that any good theatrical writing poses: ‘What does it mean? What do we make of it? How are we going to bring it to life for our audience?’

www.abingdon.org.uk 107 of inequalities that are at the root of violent conflicts. And of course, in the bloody chaos that followed the Generalissimo’s downfall, Madame lost them all. But a mysterious Shoemaker (‘call me God!’) had already taken her to task about the kind of shoes she wore:

“Don’t suit you. Not comfy. Getting your bones all out of whack! I think you need to change your shoes …”

The play’s final, and unexpectedly joyous conclusion, saw Madame being presented with a new pair of stout, sensible shoes for an uplifting folk dance that united actors and audience as a prelude to what we all Catherine Livesley. She barely had time faced the horrors of war. Madame, hoped would be Illyria’s enlightened, to introduce herself before a sniper’s the Generalissimo’s mistress, strikingly independent, and peaceful future. bullet removed half her head. Next portrayed by Emily Brathwaite, was came two servants, Marie-Therese a swirl of black silk, gold jewellery Jeremy Taylor (Georgia Score) and Theresa (Catherine and big hair when she arrived as the Livesley), both ‘formidable women’ most protected and cosseted creature who literally did the dirty work for the imaginable. But when the balance Oedipus Generalissimo’s mistress. As they of power suddenly changed, she scrubbed at floors that would never became an object to be attacked, Seneca’s Oedipus is grizzly and graphic come clean, they provided many of the removed, disposed of. Lapin, her in its detail: son kills father, unknowingly play’s darkly comic moments alongside middle management assistant, was the marries mother, they procreate, discover gruesome tales of barbaric acts. They crucial pivot in this change of direction the truth, she hangs herself, he blinds were shooed from the stage by the and Madeleine Bahu gave an excellent himself. It’s a far cry from The Wizard of play’s two male figures, Violent (Henry account of this be-suited block of ice. Oz! Ted Hughes’ adaptation captures Dunbar) and Obseno (Jack Trodd), the misery and desperation of a whose macho names revealed their And the shoes? Madame had a plague-ridden Thebes in a stream-of- soldierly outward natures, but failed to collection worthy of Imelda Marcos consciousness, unpunctuated poetic hint at the child-like vulnerabilities that that snaked across the stage in a style. In rehearsal the US1/Lower 6 would become apparent when both memorable image to suggest the kind actors discovered the need for physical expressiveness – as well as vocal energy – to connect with the relentless drive of the piece. One of the greatest challenges, apart from finding the right vocal rhythms, was to find resting places from the intensity of the high drama, so that the audience wasn’t battered from the constant anguish of Oedipus’ quest.

We decided to do the play backwards and to start at the moment when the servants were spreading the news that Oedipus had blinded himself. Oedipus then appeared bloodied, bandaged

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was central to the Sphynx scene as and broken, vowing to find out both his Each one brought a different facet the backbone of a physically powerful heritage and his legacy. Our production of characterisation to each role and and seductive creature, whipping and therefore became an investigation into contributed to the mood of the scene in snapping her ribbon tail as she snarled who knew what about Oedipus’ past, contrasting ways, creating individuality her riddle at Oedipus. She also created and his journey took him back to a within a tightly-knit chorus. Charly a strong connection with her husband time when he was happy, enabling Clive created the dramatic high point in the final scene through gentle hands us to end the play on a positive note. of the play as Oedipus tried to throttle and romantic dancing. Ellen Robertson Three blocks and five long red shafts her with a length of red ribbon. The was chilling as the Lead Doctor in of material hanging from the grid to the moment came out of nowhere and showing no emotional connection floor of USC created the setting. left her shaken and dry-throated as with Oedipus’ plight and chivvying her she searched for the words to tell team of interns through cold, clipped, Nicholas Williams played Oedipus Oedipus of his parentage. She was professional tones. Showing versatility, with towering charisma that made also excellent in shaping the darker she conveyed the purest of reactions him both a rightful king and a worthy and more philosophical speeches of to the tragedy of Jocasta’s death as partner for Jocasta. As Oedipus had the play, showing flair for naturalism. she lit a candle to her memory and been shackled as a baby, Nicholas Ciara Hagan brought energy and berated the less sensitive servants for gave Oedipus a limp, which cleverly clarity to the opening scene through the tactlessness. The teamwork of the undermined his alpha status and bound her sensationalist portrayal of a girls was exceptional in its variety and, him inescapably to his past. This was gossiping servant. As a doctor she through their talent and commitment, most effective in the doctors’ scene in was charming and glamorous, using they were able to make sense of a which Oedipus physically forced one of her skills to deceive Oedipus but, as challenging piece of theatre. the doctors to break the code of silence Jocasta, she was compellingly honest and this resulted in a cathartic explosion as she forced her husband to stop As director, I feared that rehearsals of rage shown by Nicholas pounding being so self-indulgent and re-order would be endlessly and inescapably the walls and doors of the hospital like his priorities. Katie Halfhead created a depressing, given the material. Wrong. a trapped animal trying to escape its memorable opening to the play as she I was amazed at how much fun the cage. His range and passion enabled looked directly into the audience’s eyes cast brought to the process and how the audience to fully perceive the confronting them with the story. She they even managed to squeeze an tragedy of his fate. also brought about an uplifting end. As ‘outstanding’ from the Inspector who the others placed the trail of ribbons ventured into a Sphynx lesson. Charly Clive, Ciara Hagan, Katie into her arms so Jocasta’s first son was Halfhead, Saskia Hill and Ellen brought to life and this was a magical Jo Watt Robertson all played Jocasta, moment in creating the final image of doctors, servants and the Sphynx. a perfectly happy family. Saskia Hill

www.abingdon.org.uk 109 and eventual death of Andri – thought The set of tables, stools and the white Andorra to be a Jew – is told through the eyes backdrop to indicate the whitewashed of certain prominent people in the walls of the houses was functional and The AS Theatre Studies production of village, who in Frisch’s double time representative rather than naturalistic Andorra by Max Frisch was performed, scheme both enact the events leading – something we wanted to echo with unusually, in the Amey Theatre this up to the death and stand in the the plastic chair and table where each year. Rory Fraser-Mackenzie was able witness box to acquit themselves of character sat to give their version of to create a ‘studio on stage’ setting for any wrong-doing. Olivia Beazley gave events during the ‘witness box’ scenes. the production, allowing the audience a chilling performance as the Doctor, The final image of the grieving parents to feel close to the action for this a master of propaganda; Elizabeth cradling the body of their murdered son powerful and shocking play. The text Rushbrook managed the difficult task as the villagers walked past, forgetting had to be cut and adapted to fit a cast of playing both the Mother, which their part in his death almost before the of two boys and four girls and, with the demanded gentleness and sympathy, family had had time to cut him from the exception of the role of Andri, played and the brutal Soldier; Aidan Robertson stake, was a shocking comment on with great sensitivity by Joe Ridley, all revealed the Teacher’s anguish and mankind’s ability to look the other way. the cast had to take on a number of remorse in a powerful performance and The play was adapted and directed by roles. The play is set in the fictional Charlotte Chisholm as his daughter Alison Quick. ‘Andorra’ – a thinly disguised Austria at played the role of Barblin with grace the time of its annexation to Germany and sensitivity. Alice Buys tackled Alison Quick in 1938, although Frisch in fact wrote it the part of the Senora, investing the in 1961. The story of the persecution character with real emotional intensity.

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Nesbitt (who, as well as telling us Of course, the evening belonged to the Drama Dinner about her life as an actress was also Sixth-form Theatre Studies’ students able to share fascinating stories about who made the most of the opportunity Although unreported in previous the first ascent of Everest in 1953, to grill the professionals about what editions of The Abingdonian, the Drama which was led by her father, Lord they did and how they got into it. Departments at Abingdon and St Hunt.) Also in attendance were the Entertainment between the courses Helen’s have been organizing an annual writer and performer Triona Adams, the was provided by a bevy of St Helen’s Drama Dinner for Sixth-formers since actress and producer Lucy Barnett, songbirds – Millie Hoskins, Emily the summer of 2008. The idea was and directors Richard Howard and Barrett, Claudia Stott and the peerless originally proposed by OA Julius Green Joe Harmston. It was also a delight Mollie Hodge. After speeches and a who, as one of Abingdon’s illustrious to welcome back recent OAs Max slideshow reminding us of the theatrical former thespians and now a West End Hutchinson and Huw Parmenter who, highs and lows of the departing U6th’s Theatre producer, had regularly been together with Alex Mugnaioni, were part school drama careers, the guests called upon to offer careers advice of a ‘golden generation’ of Abingdon departed into the night in a manner at School careers’ conventions. As actors who left in 2007 to train at the recalling Propsero’s words from he tells it, the number of punters prestigious Rose Bruford College. The Tempest: beating a path to his door on those They were joined by two talented Our revels now are ended. These our occasions was often underwhelming, former pupils from St Helen’s, Martha actors, and he soon realized that most aspiring Bennett (who is appearing with the As I foretold you, were all spirits, and actors were far too cool to turn up to Natonal Youth Theatre and Theatre de Are melted into air, into thin air: a draughty classroom in February to Complicite) and Kate Shlugmann (who And, like the baseless fabric of this discuss ways into ‘the business’. Far is currently studying drama at Exeter vision, better, he reasoned, to invite them to University and acting in / directing The cloud-capp’d tow’rs, the gorgeous a dinner where they could sit next to numerous productions there). palaces, professional actors, directors, writers or The solemn temples, the great globe producers and do what theatre people Julius himself, in a parody of the hard- itself, do best: eat, drink and talk about pressed showbiz impresario, made the Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve themselves. introductions before piling into a waiting And, like this insubstantial pageant cab to race back to London to arrive in faded, Thus, on a balmy May evening in 2010, time for the final curtain of a show he’d Leave not a rack behind. 70 people gathered in the CMR for directed at the King’s Head in Islington. pre-prandial drinks ahead of the third Impressive commitment indeed, further Jeremy Taylor Abingdon-St Helen’s Drama Dinner. underlined by a phone call Julius made Among the guests were actors Sir later in the evening to check that things Jeremy Child, Peter Temple and Sally were still going with a swing!

www.abingdon.org.uk 111 Abingdon Film Unit

the enthusiastic backing of the As the year progressed, some ideas Review of Headmaster, Mark Turner, to whom this flourished while others fell by the year’s collection of films was dedicated. wayside. Larry Sider, a good friend the Year The screening in May provided an of the AFU and tutor at the National opportunity to thank Mark publicly for Film and Television School, delivered The Abingdon Film Unit’s seventh his support, and wish Elizabeth and a brilliant workshop on the complex year saw the ambition and scope of Mark well as they prepared for their structure of a film soundtrack that the students’ films continue to grow. new roles at Shrewsbury. revealed just how much goes into Back in 2003, at the Unit’s first annual the crafting of the sounds we hear screening, the documentaries had been The year began for new students in a film. As always, the levels of shot in Abingdon, Oxford and Reading. with a programme of screenings and commitment, effort and determination In 2009/10, AFU filmmakers found workshops designed to introduce a required to complete a film surprised subjects in London, Bristol, Geneva, range of approaches to storytelling. those beguiled by the ease with Beijing and Moldova. Animations The aim was to deepen students’ which we consume films made by were not part of the 2003 screening, thinking about the film ideas they’d others. Perhaps in comparison with but after they arrived in 2005, we pitched on entry to the Unit. The some years, the final tally of five discovered that their creators regularly induction period included two trips to documentaries, one training film and took audiences to far-flung worlds. the Oxford Natural History Museum five animations may have seemed Even so, this year’s crop showed a to capture aspects of this remarkable lightweight, but considering the length special thirst for adventure as their building and its collections. Meanwhile, and complexity of the Moldova and characters plunged us into black holes for some of the experienced members, China films, which between them or lead us to the gates of heaven. editing work was already well accounted for nearly forty minutes of underway. James Yan had travelled to screen time, the overall output of the 2009/10 was another very successful China in the summer holidays to make Unit was on a par with previous years. year for the Unit. Highlights included a film about a man who was fighting two major awards at the BFI’s not only the AIDS virus, but also official Another new element this year was a Future Film Festival in January (best attitudes to it in that vast and powerful Film Unit Reunion Dinner in May that documentary for Tian Ji’s A Soldier and country. Matthew Copson, Tom brought together around 60 people for best animation for Pierre Leveque’s Oh Bateman and William McDowell were a formal dinner to mark seven years of No My Dog! and the premiere of One sifting through the 14 hours of footage the AFU and the production in that time Foot on the Ground at the National they had recorded on their first trip to of very nearly 100 films. As well as Film Theatre in March. That prompted Moldova in July, and preparing for their parents, current and former members features about the Unit on BBC local second trip in October. of the AFU, also present were many radio and television, and invitations of the professionals from the worlds of to present the film to an All Party October also saw another visit to film and television that have made such Parliamentary Group at Westminster, Wheatley Park School to participate a decisive contribution to the success and at the UK’s Embassy in Chisinau. in the fifth annual New Shoots festival of the Unit, including the Cannes Palme from which the AFU emerged with d’Or winner, Geoff Dunbar; Head of Sky These exciting outcomes were a tribute awards for best sound in The Sacrifice News, John Ryley; Managing Director to the creativity and dedication of the (by Matthew Choi, Simon Lam & Will of Lion Television, Richard Bradley; students, and all those who supported Abell) and best animation for Solitude comedy writer Paul Mayhew-Archer them. But they were also products of (by Henry Dunbar). The Sacrifice and of course our lead tutors, Michael the AFU tutors’ endeavours to promote picked up more awards later in the year Grigsby and Joanna Harrison. The students’ curiosity, exploration and at the THiNK Series festival in Hong Headmaster received a 1970s Bolex deeper understanding of the world Kong. This time it won the best editing film camera from the Unit’s members around them. Their vision could not and, rather intriguingly, the best script as a memento of his time at Abingdon have developed without awards. and in recognition of his key role as supporter and patron of the AFU.

112 The Abingdonian Abingdon Film Unit

The defining feature of the AFU The Abingdon Film Unit, 2009/10 experience is the chance for students Will Abell Charly Clive Pierre Leveque to develop their work with the guidance Aislinn Baird Matthew Copson Will McDowell of a very special team of film industry Freddie Barber Henrik Cox Christopher Mears professionals that this year included Tom Bateman Charles Day Jack Oliver Michael Grigsby, Jonas Mortensen, Michael Bicarregui Henry Dunbar Joe Ridley Mikkel Eriksen, Nikolaj Larsen, Larry Joe Brown Charlie Floyd Aidan Robertson Sider, Rebekah Tolley and Joanna Harry Browning Emily Heath Ted Thompson Harrison. To them, we offer our Gabriel Burrow Christopher Hyde Evan Westenbrink warmest thanks. Johnny Burrow Jibran Huq James Yan Fred Clamp-Gray Tian Ji Christopher Young Jeremy Taylor

Guests at the AFU dinner – Will McDowell, Matthew Copson, Mike Grigsby back centre Tom Bateman – makers of One Foot on the Ground

Mark Turner at the AFU Annual Screening

Andreii Zelenetchii, the basketball player in One Foot on the Ground

www.abingdon.org.uk 113 AFU Programme, 2010

1. The Natural History 5. A Man of Letters 9. Seminal Paint and the Black Museum by Jack Oliver, Joe Brown, Hole Frenzy by Pierre Leveque Will Abell by Freddie Barber

Oxford University’s Natural History A documentary about the well-known An ironic twist of events from a Museum displays life in nearly all its graffiti artist EINE whose signature style character who promised so much. forms. But when we peer into the of large, colourfully designed letters glass jars and display cases, who’s has long been brightening up his native 10. Living It looking at whom? east London. by James Yan

A man living with AIDS in China tells his 2. A Dice with Death 6. Waiting for Godot extraordinary story. by Christopher Young, Michael by Henry Dunbar Bicarregui & Christopher Mears Fans of Beckett’s seminal play were 11. One Foot on the Ground A fight over a die leads to a either amused or outraged at this by Matthew Copson, cliff-hanging finale in front of the humorous twist on a classic of the Tom Bateman, Will McDowell pearly gates. Theatre of the Absurd genre. Andreii Zelenetchii is a promising young basketball player trying to secure his 3. Urban Symphony 7. And / Or future in Moldova, Europe’s poorest by Evan Westenbrink and by Tian Ji country. Intelligent and driven, he Christopher Hyde A man at work in a small space, balances his time between working Documentary abstracted to its simplest translating UN clauses. long hours on a construction site and form, capturing life and the hustle of a playing basketball with his friends on city environment. a local court. Like so many his age, 8. The Helper Andreii is torn between pursuing his 4. Chase by Fred Clamp-Gray passion abroad or staying in Moldova by Henrik Cox Ever wondered how the average to build a life alongside family Audiences were warned to expect the schoolboy survives? Here was your and friends. unexpected in this claymation about answer as this short claymation Jeremy Taylor one man and his dog. revealed all.

Tom Bateman and Will McDowell James Yan filming in Moldova

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Dance

The Abingdon Dance Project: Stepping Out

January 2010 year saw the birth of a new joint Other Half activity in the aesthetically pleasing form of the Abingdon Dance Project. Established in the wake of the senior production of West Side Story in December 2009, in which OA Matthew Hawksworth’s choreography had been a particular highlight, the ADP offered students the chance to work with professional dancers and choreographers.

A group of 27 students from Abingdon and St Helen’s met once a week in the new dance studio in the Sports and Stepping Out was the result Dip Doritos in Jazz and a film called My Centre to work with Matthew and his – a Sunday afternoon programme Name Is, which was made by young colleague, Spencer James. From of original choreography that saw Moldovan children in 2008. The event the outset, both these London-based Abingdon and St Helen’s students raised nearly £500 in support of the professionals demanded commitment share the Amey Theatre stage with a AFU’s recent documentary on Moldova. and the highest standards whilst also troupe of professional dancers from ensuring that sessions were enjoyable London assembled by Matt, as well as The Abingdon Dance Project will and fun. Each ‘class’ included warm- three brave couples from the Abingdon continue in 2010/11, and extend to ups and exercises designed to increase Common Room who performed in the cater for students in Years 9 & 10 as fitness and flexibility, a teaching section School’s first ‘Common Room Come well as those in Years11-13. to develop knowledge and skills, and Dancing Competition’ under the judicial The Abingdon Dance Project work on choreography using a variety eyes of David Dawswell, Adam Jenkins, Will Abell, Charlie Bateman, Robert of styles and contemporary music. Matthew Hawksworth and Jyothi Brooks, Jyothi Giles, Gabrielle Gleeson, Once an initial framework for a piece Giles. The staff contestants included Victoria Gleeson, Sam Hardy, Ben had been established, the students Megan Bowdrey (dancing with her Haveron, Will Hewstone, were always encouraged to create their husband Mark), Andrew Loughe and Kitty Hutchison, Miranda Jackson, own choreography for a section of the Su McRae, and Robert Jeffreys with Henry Jenkinson, Amelia Juster, song. partner Tamsin Howells. After a keenly Nicholas Krol, Pierre Leveque, Kia

fought competition in which all three Little, Adrian Lo, Catherine Livesley, Work continued throughout the couples achieved a very high standard, Joe Ridley, Amy Robinson, Elizabeth Lent term, weathering the inevitable Robert and his partner Tamsin emerged Rushbrook, Lucy Taylor, Kat Telford, depredations of illness and coursework, victorious. The programme was Jack Trodd, Jess Watts, Yexuan Yang, until by the end of March, the ADP completed by screenings of three short Chris Young boasted five numbers in its repertoire. films by members of the Abingdon A decision was taken to present Film Unit – James Yan’s Dance with Jeremy Taylor the work early in the Summer term, Stacey, OA Oliver Zeldin’s You Can’t

www.abingdon.org.uk 115 Music

Piano Masterclass with Professor Nador

On Wednesday 14 October, it was a rare privilege to welcome Professor Gyorgy Nador to Abingdon School a visit that we hope will be repeated. Throughout the day he gave inspiring lessons to several of Abingdon’s most advanced pianists, concluding with an evening masterclass to which parents and pupils were invited.

Gyorgy Nador is one of the senior piano professors at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. He has given countless masterclasses to distinguished pianists around the world. I played Schubert’s Impromptu No.3 Prelude in G sharp minor) and Gerald He inspires many with his lectures on and a Chopin Etude in my masterclass. Chan (Chopin’s Nocturne in C minor) the principles of teaching, advanced I believe that Professor Nador’s how to capture the full extent of the piano technique and various musical advice helped me to win the Chandos raw emotional passion of their pieces styles – for example, he gave lectures Young Musician Competition soon for the audience. Players in the final on the works of Bartok in Japan, the afterwards, as well as being able to concert received a masterclass in front US, Australia, Stockholm and Berlin. play the Schubert with more mature of a full audience. They were Timothy He has twice been given the Award understanding in Remembrance Li, Tom Chan, Joe Mason, Adrian of Excellence in Teaching by the Assembly the next month. Although Lo, Gerald Chan, Caspian Mitchard, Hungarian President. all the participating pianists were at Osman Tack, Joseph Ereaut, Alex similarly advanced standards, Gyorgy Ereaut and Jack Swanborough. Thanks to my teacher, Lynette Stulting, Nador seemed to be able to give I have several times had the opportunity unique advice to each of the players The reactions of the pianists and of participating in masterclasses as he quickly understood how their audience suggested that the event was given by Professor Nador, once in minds worked, something that can a complete success and that so much Hungary, so I knew in advance that only come from years of experience. was learned. We all hope this can be this experience for the School would For example, Joe Ereaut, who played repeated. I must thank the School and be beyond exceptional. Even after half Liszt’s demanding Hungarian Rhapsody Lynette Stulting for arranging this visit, an hour of being taught, he reveals No.2, received tips not only on the The Music Society for financing it and new perspectives on musicality and virtuosic nature of the piece but on how Professor Nador for a memorable day performing, so when he gave hour-long to show the subtler moods and colours of music and guidance. masterclasses to many of our pianists, through which the piece moves. He they went away as inspired, better showed Adrian Lo (Rachmaninov’s Osman Tack 6 SJG musicians.

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patience ensured that all of the notes gave an excellent vitality to the opening African Sanctus were mastered by the time we came movement. Jack Tinker meanwhile to the concert – even if she did have had the particularly difficult job of African Sanctus by David Fanshawe is to demonstrate the top soprano line playing the recordings of the African a fusion of the traditional Latin mass more times than she would have music throughout, having to cue things and authentic African music recorded liked! Olivia Newbold expertly provided accurately and quickly and respond to by the composer during travels through the piano accompaniment both at demands from the conductor over the Africa between 1969 and 1973. rehearsals and at the concert. On radio mic for more or less volume. Fanshawe’s Sanctus Journey, from the the day of the performance the 110 Mediterranean to Lake Victoria and strong chorus, consisting of students, The more contemplative Kyrie was sung from the mountains of West Sudan to staff, and parents from both schools, in tandem with a recording of a Muslim the Red Sea, became the framework gathered in the afternoon for a final Call to Prayer made in Cairo – it was of the piece – a symbolic cross-shaped rehearsal on stage complete with all here perhaps more than in any other pilgrimage. The aim of the work is to of the instrumentalists and the African section of the work that the audience show through a blending of musical recordings. It was only perhaps at this could really appreciate the blending of styles that there should be no barriers point when everything was put together musical ideas emphasising the blending between people from different nations. that the performers could see quite of religious ideas. The Gloria began The result is a truly original and inspiring how exciting African Sanctus could be. with a recording made at an Egyptian work: to quote Sir David Willcocks, wedding followed by the chorus “the music is as fresh today as when The concert began with a very shouting the opening words led by tenor first heard in 1972 and its message energetic and fast-moving version of and basses with sopranos and altos of peace, goodwill and understanding the traditional Sanctus with the chorus replying – a certain competitiveness between nations just as relevant”. singing against the driving rhythms was in evidence at this point as the two The Joint Choral Society of St Helen’s beaten out by three of the School’s halves of the chorus tried to outdo each and Abingdon School chose this senior percussionists, Veeral Manek, other in volume. The Gloria also saw unique piece for their concert this year. Alistair Duff, and Rory Marsh who the first appearance of the main soloist, were joined by Second and Third-year Christina Shand, a graduate of Trinity Rehearsals began in September members of the African Drum Circle College of Music – her beautifully clear under the dynamic direction of Jenni – they all coped extremely well with intonation saw her soar over the chorus Matthews whose seemingly endless the ever-changing time signatures and with some stunning top notes.

www.abingdon.org.uk 117 Fanshawe’s setting of the Crucifixus In 1969 Fanshawe recorded a funeral all instrumentalists and singers in the started in truly menacing fashion with a lament for a fisherman who had died final cry of “Sanctus Dominus!” recording of a Ugandan dance taking during the night. As he watched the place in a heavy rainstorm – the tenors grief of the man’s wife and mother, the Congratulations must go to Jenni for and basses then came crashing in words of the Lord’s Prayer came into leading the practices and conducting with their snarling cry of “Crucifixus!” his mind and he went on to compose the final concert so expertly. Her Fanshawe notes that the war in Sudan a setting of the words which he obvious enthusiasm for the piece was was something that for him paralleled intended to be a reflective and soothing infectious, while her energy drove all the suffering of Christ on the cross and response to the lament – the quieter the performers on to give a truly thrilling there was certainly a strong martial feel tone that this offered after all the performance. The Amey Theatre to the movement as the singing of the excitement of the previous movements audience will surely not hear anything chorus (now in eight parts) became was highly effective and the beautiful else quite like it for some time! more and more forceful with Tom Earl solo by Rosie Miller, a Sixth-Former and Mike Summers (on electric guitar from St Helen’s, was performed to Adam Jenkins and bass guitar respectively) making perfection. their first entry and adding to the frenetic drive of the piece as it moved The concert ended with a final relentlessly onwards until resolving with movement in which the opening the hope offered at the end by the idea Sanctus and Gloria were repeated of the resurrection. leading to an exciting climax involving

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Christmas Concerts

The 2009 Christmas Concerts gave the School an opportunity to showcase the busy activity that characterises the Michaelmas Term, and for the Upper Sixth to demonstrate their considerable talents. It has been a privilege for the music staff to work with this group of young musicians, many of whom had been at the School since they were played with panache and exuberance Blue, played by piano legend, Osman First-formers. by a band, which, with some real stars Tack. This was a performance to in all sections, will take some beating remember… Ozy was totally on top As ever, the entire Lower School, in a in the years to come. Mr Townsend, of the demanding piano part and massed choir, provided the ‘introit’ with resplendent in white tuxedo, certainly played with real style and virtuosity in Dodi Li, an Israeli love song, which was made a strong bid to outdress the a performance made possible by a followed by Hark, a seasonal song by other musical participants in this particularly strong orchestra including Bill Readdy. In both songs, the choir thoroughly professional performance. David Mears (clarinet in that fiendish responded with customary enthusiasm opening glissando), Jack Tinker to Miss Matthews’ dynamic direction, After the interval a small drum circle of (trumpet), Euan Campbell (trombone) and many proud mums and dads were four Second-formers, playing a piece and Veeral Manek (percussion). able to reflect on the musical/vocal called Kuku, provided a sort of musical progress, and loss of inhibition, of their fanfare for the Big Band’s first serious The final work, perhaps bizarrely, was sons since they had joined the School, outing since their highly successful tour an overture – Shostakovich’s Festive a reflection of the School’s philosophy to Tuscany in the summer. The Big Overture is a real orchestral bonanza, that all can and should sing! Band set included three real favourites with a triumphant opening brass fanfare – A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie), Tuxedo and a breakneck allegro which is more Chamber Orchestra, led by Adrian Lo, Junction (Miller) and Spain (Chick the province of county youth orchestra played a contrasting trio of pieces – Corea). The latter, in particular, is at repertoire than of a school. We all Bach’s A minor Violin Concerto (finale) the professional end of the Big Band had great fun rehearsing it and it was with Charlie Hall, a short piece, Song, repertoire, with its exotic Hispanic and wonderful to perform it before the snow by Adam Carse, and a piece, very Latin rhythms of great complexity and descended and made the rehearsal popular with the boys and suitably it was a real tribute to the band that process particularly challenging. festive, Duelling Jingle Strings, by Adam they pulled it off with such apparent Carse. The exciting playing reminded ease. Certainly, Mr Currie, who led The audience joined the orchestra to us all of the strength and dynamism of the band again in inimitable fashion, sing us out with God Rest Ye Merry Abingdon’s string department under its seemed delighted by the performance Gentlemen, before tumbling into the distinguished Head of Strings, Mariette that the boys gave, spearheaded by night after contributing most generously Pringle. the likes of Jack Tinker and George to a retiring collection amounting to First Wind Band, conducted by Rossiter (trumpets), Euan Campbell and some £883 for Nightingales, a small bandmaster, Andy Townsend, ushered Andrew Dart (trombones), Joe Mason independent charity working with HIV in the interval with their own trio of (keyboard), Mike Summers (guitar) and affected young people in Cernavoda, pieces – Troika (Prokofiev’s memorable Veeral Manek (drums). Romania, which is run by Ben Wells masterpiece from Lieutenant Kije), OA and former Head of School. It was Coldplay on Stage (a popular choice And so to the Grand Finale – much certainly a concert to remember. with the boys) and the main theme anticipated by the boys – First from Superman, (even more popular Orchestra in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Michael Stinton with the boys). All three pieces were

www.abingdon.org.uk 119 The New Year Charity Concert

The annual New Year Charity Concert on 21 January saw over 160 of the School’s musicians, both senior and junior, involved in music making of all kinds. The items included three bands (Second Wind Band, Brass Band and Big Band Jazz), Junior Strings, First Orchestra, Second Orchestra and Cello Orchestra.

Despite the severe weather in early January, with the consequent loss of rehearsal time, the ensembles were in fine form. Lighter music and jazz were particularly well represented with Harry Potter music, Raindrops Keep Fallin’, First Orchestra concluded the concert Michael Stinton, the Director of Music, Fly Me to the Moon and Pink Panther, with Ippolitov-Ivanov’s Caucasian said, “I am delighted by the way that together with Bandstand Boogie and the Sketch, Procession of the Sardar and Abingdon Boys continue to rise to James Bond collection. the title track to the Western, The the occasion and turn in beautiful Magnificent Seven. A surprise encore performances. I think the subject of Particularly notable was a fantastic was provided with Elgar’s beautiful the appeal this year gave an added performance of Klengel’s Hymnus for Nimrod from his Enigma Variations. poignancy to their efforts, of which they fourteen cellos directed by the School’s The ticket sales and retiring collection should be very proud”. cello teacher, Valerie Findlay, which raised a total of over £1,300 for the provided a rich sound and a great Oxfam Haiti Earthquake Disaster Appeal. Jenni Matthews spectacle.

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fast broken octaves and arppegiated Needless to say, these also worked Strings figures. Mr Chilingirian’s advice about wonders. Masterclass with using a lighter and more flexible bow- hold transformed the piece from an The audience, consisting largely of Levon Chilingirian already virtuosic performance into a very musical individuals, enjoyed three delight to listen to. more solo performances in which Mr OBE Chilingirian explored compositional With Adrian Lo, leader of the 1st techniques like octaves on the violin Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, (which he suggested was a pointless On the 26 of February, five of the Mr Chilingirian noticed Adrian had a technique since if a violinist wanted to finest violin and viola players in School, tendency to hold the violin quite low, play louder he could simply play louder, together with a rapt audience, enjoyed instead of keeping the neck upright. without the boost of octaves) and the musical insight and technical tuition This was not only a suggestion to discussed left-hand finger positions with of Levon Chilingirian. Mr Chilingirian improve Adrian’s slightly jazzy sonatas Wellington Hsu and Andrew Doll, who is an internationally renowned violinist but it was advice to improve all his also received beneficial bowing advice. as well as the founder of the much- playing, and watching Adrian over the acclaimed Chilingirian Quartet. next few days, that is what happened. All in all the evening was a treat and Other pointers included focusing the everyone present learned a great Osman Tack began the evening with pressure of the bow to improve the tone deal. Special thanks should go to Mrs Brahms’ Violin Sonata in G major. Here of the sound, and very useful shifting Pringle, Head of Strings, for her fantastic Mr Chilingirian picked up on some of tricks that allowed Adrian to more accompaniment. his bowing styles, for instance when the easily navigate to the higher regions of violin quite often has to negotiate around the violin range in the Ravel Sonata. Humphrey Thompson 4 RSS

www.abingdon.org.uk 121 sang with character and excitement, Adam Hargreaves, a First-former at Choral Concert and dealt well with Miss Matthews’ Abingdon, confidently performed the first suggestion that the piece should get verse of She Moved Through the Fair, an for Moldova faster and faster – and when you’re Irish folk tune. singing in Romanian, that’s more than This was a momentous occasion: a little challenging! The programme The well-known confidence and polish not only was it the first opportunity to continued, using different combinations of the Abingdon Academicals was very celebrate Abingdon’s ten-year link with of choir members. Freddie Stott gave much in evidence in their programme. the charity AGAPE, working with under- a haunting unaccompanied verse to All of their items from the British Isles privileged children in Moldova, but it open the English folk song, Black Is the were arranged by Abingdon School was also the chance to hear Abingdon’s Colour, before being joined by the rest members: Joe Mason set Scarborough three vocal ensembles together in one of the choir, and he showed real skill in Fair and Waters of Tyne, which were concert. bringing the piece down to a controlled immaculately performed and with such whisper at the end. A quartet of soloists, sensitivity, and the Welsh melody, Suo After pre-concert drinks, the audience Henry Jenkinson, Joe Mason, Alistair Gan, arranged by Simon Whalley, settled down to a varied programme Nicoll and Caspian Mitchard, performed seemed to be perfectly suited to the of music spanning songs from the a slushy love song, Vino, Vino. Miss eight voices of the Academicals. Their British Isles and Eastern Europe. The Matthews was disappointed to learn that foreign explorations were particularly Chapel Choir set an impressive tone, the translation was not ‘Wine, Wine!’, wide ranging and finished with the starting the concert with a beautiful although there was a wine-related song, rhythmic feat that is the Geographical arrangement of an English folk song, Tai, Diri, Diri, performed by the tenors Fugue, impressively performed and The Water Is Wide, arranged by Simon and basses later in the programme; unusual especially in that it is spoken not Whalley. Their programme also included strangely, the boys had no difficulty sung. a Czech carol and a very sensitive imagining they were portly Moldovan setting of a Moldovan folk tune for the wine-drinkers – the character required There was a surprise. Little tends to choir, arranged by Humphrey Thompson. to give the song the necessary rugged be known about Moldovan music in Perhaps their most dazzling performance spirit ... Certain individuals deserve this country, but one Eurovision-esque was that of the Three Hungarian Folk special mention for taking on solos phenomenon – well known to so many Songs, which had been learned from within the School Choir programme: - just had to close the programme. memory and involved some very fast Henry Jenkinson performed the solo in Sometimes referred to as the ‘nu ma rhythmic singing, which was performed La Umbra with total commitment and nu ma iei’ song, Dragostea Din Tei, with seeming ease! expression, supported by a strong vocal was performed in full costume by Toby trio of Ben Haveron, William Hewstone Marlow and Charlie Bateman, our The School Choir’s contribution began and Robert Brooks. Kelvin Poon, Robert lookalikes of the Moldovan band Ozone, with a tricky Moldovan song arranged Noyes and Will Abell were another with choir accompaniment, rhythm for treble voices. The twenty-strong First triumphant trio. And it was not just section and smoke machine. The and Second Year members of the choir the senior singers who took solo roles: singers gave it their all and the audience seemed to find the spectacular (or is that spectacularly cheesy?) choreography entertaining, and happy strains of ‘miya hee, miya hoo’ could be heard as the audience left the auditorium. Just one worrying question remains: did Charlie and Toby really own those outfits?

Over £700 was raised for AGAPE and will go towards funding a summer camp for Moldovan children to the Carpathian Mountains in Romania.

Jenni Matthews

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Whilst all the performances were truly choristers and the two current Head Singers’ Platform impressive, there were some that really Choristers have been awarded music stood out. Fifteen-year-old Humphrey scholarships to Abingdon next year. The Singers’ Platform gave the senior Thompson’s baritone/tenor was Equally, Abingdon is very fortunate boys – among a small army of boys remarkable in Bach’s Grosser Herr from in having a superb singing teacher in who take singing lessons – a chance the Christmas Oratorio for the quality Andrew Yeats, who works his magic to show their mettle in a solo context. and projection of the voice, as was with the boys as they navigate the voice Andrew Yeats, the boys’ singing Robert Brooks in Handel’s Why do the change, often soon after arriving with teacher, magnificently supported them Nations for its professional maturity and us. Many of the pupils then go on to at the piano through a feast of solo sheer performance instinct. The second a choral scholarship at the next stage, and ensemble singing throughout the half of the concert included a tranche some, like Guy Cutting, returning to evening. of arias and duets from the Messiah their alma mater – in his case as a tenor including Adrian Lo in The Trumpet Shall Academical Clerk at New College. The items in the programme covered Sound. The concert concluded with the the full range of voices from bass (Otta bass duet, The Lord is a Man of War The audience at the Singers’ Platform Jones in Sarastro’s aria, O Isis and Osiris from Handel’s Israel in Egypt where two was left in no doubt that singing is from The Magic Flute), through baritone evenly matched voices made a huge thriving at Abingdon. The next project (Caspian Mitchard in Vaughan Williams’ impact. will be a return visit of the internationally Songs of Travel), to tenor (John Carter famous, Sir Robert Tear, to take a in Vaughan Williams’ Blake Songs) and A number of our singers have come to Singing Masterclass in the Michaelmas countertenor (Lewis Spring in Handel’s us from chorister backgrounds such Term 2010. O Death, Where is thy Sting?). The as Magdalen College Oxford, King’s repertoire ranged from Handel and College Cambridge and St George’s Michael Stinton Bach, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms Chapel, Windsor. But there is no doubt through Quilter and Britten to musical that Abingdon benefits hugely from its theatre (Henry Jenkinson in Lowdermilk’s special relationship with New College, Run Away with Me). Oxford – we currently have ten former

www.abingdon.org.uk 123 Poulenc, Liszt, Debussy and Chopin. stylistic understanding. The last three Junior Scholars’ All five demonstrated the tremendous items were for solo violins, Humphrey Concert technical and music advances that they Thompson in Bach, George Ruck in have made over the last nine months Borowski and Lewis Spring in Potstock, or so. all three showing an exciting potential With boys in the upper three years for future stardom. away on revision leave, the second half Jack May played some impressive cello of the Summer term affords musicians in Saint-Saens’ Allegro Appassionato The concert started, for the first time in the First, Second, Third and Fourth and Oscar Talbot some promising work ever, with a solo item for bagpipes – Forms, an opportunity to show how on the same instrument in Cesar Cui’s Skye Boat Song and another traditional they are developing. This year the Orientale. Sam Gibb made a pleasing tune, played by Finlay Garland. With a concert took place on the day that we debut as an oboist in Geminiani’s E generation of particularly distinguished returned from half term. Minor Sonata. musicians among our Upper Sixth leavers this year, it was heart- The audience was not to be After the interval we were treated warming to be reassured of the very disappointed. We heard six solo to some impressive ensemble work considerable musical potential that pianists, Sebastian Johns, Lewis – a Rondo for piano quartet and exists among our younger pupils. Spring, George Ruck, Joseph Ereaut, a movement for string quartet by George Burrage and Leon Wu in a wide Mozart, both played with poise and Michael Stinton variety of repertoire: Fuchs, Arnold,

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illustrious Tom Richards (OA 1999) Balliol, and Simon to Shiplake College Big Colours & playing. Tom, a gifted professional sax as Head of ICT. player, has his own Jazz orchestra and Big Band Jazz is currently taking a rest from Jamie The Big Colours set was outstanding. Evening Cullum’s world tour. Tom has gone Comprising many past and present on to great things and is currently members of NYJO (National Youth orchestrating some music for a BBC Jazz Orchestra), their repertoire was In a spirit of trying something new Promenade Concert in August this year. very varied from 1930s to the present with a creative and educational spin, a day. I was struck by the amazing casual conversation with Abingdon Big So, what of the music? The variety of colours and textures that they Band leader and sax teacher, Simon combination pieces included Funk One, produced. The solos were stunning Currie, led to an exciting concert and which started the concert. This was from all the players, but we were an innovative project in the Amey an ideal piece (by Simon Currie) for the particularly excited to hear those from Theatre on Friday 18 June. youngsters to play with the Abingdon Tom Richards OA, and Simon Currie. It boys. Chick Corea’s Spain with its was excellent, also, to hear the musical There is no doubt that the chance to wonderfully infectious rhythms was the strains of penny whistle in a quirky but hear a top professional band is an perfect chart to finish with – a popular highly successful solo, and the soprano unmissable prospect for an Abingdon number with the boys and at the limit sax of Simon Currie in Masquerade by Big Band of gifted young players. of their technical ability, but brought to Leon Russell. Simon Currie suggested that his own an outstanding level of polish with the Big Colours Band from Oxford could professionals alongside. And wow – what a finale! A paen of visit to share a concert platform with sound recalling the famous melody of the Abingdon band – they could each Many of the Abingdon band’s favourites Rodrigo’s guitar Concierto d’Aranjuez perform their own set and play together were on display – highlights included from the massed Big Band created at the end. Mercy, Mercy with its native American such an exciting opening. Telling, Indian section, Big Band Jive, Night in too, was that Latin rhythm and those Equally, the young musicians of local Tunisia and Lil Darlin, featuring Jack outstanding solos, starting with our prep schools, The Manor and Abingdon Tinker (trumpet). The showstopper, own Tom Earl (sax), holding his own Prep could participate at the same however, was first, Fly me to the Moon, alongside the professionals. concert at the start, combining with the a Sinatra number performed stylishly Abingdon boys and staying to hear and by Euan Campbell (vocals), our Head Thanks to Simon Currie for an be inspired by both bands. of School. The following number, Me outstanding evening, which was and my Shadow, featured Euan in so valuable, both creatively and So it was that a somewhat different a duet with Simon Balderson (of the educationally. This was a night to Jazz on a Summer’s Evening came ICT Department) in almost their final remember! into being. And what a night it proved performance before both leaving at the to be! There was a real ‘buzz’ about end of term, Euan to read Classics, at Michael Stinton the place – and, of course, the Amey Theatre was full of lots of proud mums and dads, as well as youngsters, despite the England – Algeria World Cup first round match, the same night.

There were a number of extra connections too. The Big Colours Band boasts three Abingdon visiting teachers – Simon Currie, Mike Wilkins (saxes), and Andy Townsend (trumpet), who is better known to the boys as their bandmaster and trumpet teacher. It was also wonderful to have the

www.abingdon.org.uk 125 the soloists placed high up on each Reinicke’s Ballade for flute (Alex Black), Farewell side of the Great Organ. After this, the audience settled to the main event, Concert at The Caspian Mitchard, under the direction Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with of Mariette Pringle Abingdon’s Head soloist Adrian Lo. This proved to be Sheldonian of Strings, played Poulenc’s Organ the highlight – Adrian played with great Concerto. technical flair and musical artistry and the performance was powerful and A beautiful day in Oxford provided a School Choir with Miss Matthews gave moving. wonderful setting at the Sheldonian an exciting rendition of O-re-mi, an Theatre for the end of year concert on arrangement of Nigerian highlife music We rounded off with Rossini’s Friday 25 June. The concert provided with unusual polychoral effects and William Tell overture followed by a a platform for Abingdon’s Senior tremendous energy. Big Band followed close harmony performance of Cole ensembles and some of it’s musical with Big Band Jive, A Night in Tunisia Porter’s Everytime we Say Goodbye. stars, many of whom were leaving at and Me and My Shadow featuring It was a rousing and moving finale the end of term. Euan Campbell and Simon Balderson to the year and a fitting way to say as soloists (Frank Sinatra and Sammy farewell to many leavers, not least The concert began with Chamber Davis Jnr.) our Headmaster, Mark Turner, who Orchestra, highlighting soloists Jack addressed the large audience at the Tinker and George Rossiter, in Vivaldi’s Orchestral music followed with Mozart’s end of the concert. Double Trumpet Concerto. An Horn Concerto Rondo Finale (soloist exciting performance exploited the Joe Mason) in a special ensemble led The Reverend Henry Kirk spatial possibilities of the theatre with from the violin by Adrian Lo. After

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Recording the Big Band

In the year when the Big Band has been unquestionably at its finest, it seemed only fitting to record the sound on CD, especially as we had the benefit of one of the most remarkably musically gifted Upper Sixths in recent years.

On the 5 July, the Big Band congregated in the Charles Maude Room to be met with a very professional, if not slightly intimidating, set-up of recording equipment. But the relaxed atmosphere combined with the sheer enthusiasm of Simon Currie and Andy Bush, soon led to a buzz of excitement in the room, with everyone The second day commenced promptly to Abingdon especially for the CD. eager to get the recording underway. at 9 am, with everybody fresh and Consisting primarily of leavers, this revived for the day ahead. This was addition featured some of the best After a quick tune up, we launched going to be the day that the more Upper Sixth musicians at Abingdon in head on into the first piece. The challenging pieces would be recorded, years. The group added a virtuosic Band sounded incredible, with every including Chick Corea’s Spain and The edge to the recording, and captivated individual applying that extra bit of Chicken. These featured some of the the essence of the music with fine effort to really make the CD worthwhile. Big Band’s most talented soloists who maturity. However, it soon became apparent that flourished on these demanding pieces making a CD wasn’t just like playing in which they were able to demonstrate Overall, the recording was a a concert. It required a great amount their musical flair. Mike Summers phenomenal success and a perfect of focus to play the pieces four or and Thomas Earl took the spotlight in way to end an era of the Big Band. even five times in order to make each Spain, with Will Davey in The Chicken. But it was also very reassuring to see piece as good as it could be. But Joe Mason was in a class of his own in the resounding talent and potential in encouragement came when the sheer Autumn Leaves, as was Jack Tinker in the lower years, which will ensure that class of the Band really began to shine the Dizzy Gillespie composition A Night the high standards of the Band are through. In Tunisia, which was seemingly made continued for years to come. for him. The Big Band blitzed through the A final thank you should be made to first couple of ‘banker’ pieces, A highlight for some was the vocal Michael Stinton, Simon Currie and including Peter Gunn, which created a numbers, sung with pure eloquence by Andy Bush for all their time, effort tremendously positive outlook towards Euan Campbell and Simon Balderson. and invaluable enthusiasm without the rest of the day. The Pink Panther The duo performed the duet Me which the CD would not have been followed, Jamie Copus playing the well- and My Shadow in an extraordinary, possible. Thanks must also go to known solo, which emphasised the Sinatra-esque fashion. Simon Balderson whose support as band’s rich and colourful harmonies. a sax player and singer in the Band The first day of the two-day recording Finally the jazz sextet made their throughout his time at Abingdon has session proved very successful, despite addition to the recording, consisting been hugely appreciated. some minor recording problems, which of Mike Summers, Veeral Manek, tested the band’s temperament. Joe Mason, Jack Tinker, Thomas Thomas Earl 5 CS Earl and Aiden Thorne, who returned

www.abingdon.org.uk 127 of the Tchaikovsky with its famous Leon Wu (piano) in Debussy’s Clair de Lower School theme, as well as the trombone section Lune. Other pianists included Anthony blasting the same tune with great élan Bracey in Grieg, Edward Reynolds Gala Concert in the great tutti at the end. in Villa-Lobos and Alex Davies in Cornick’s jazzy In the Groove. A host Abingdon’s Lower School musical Other impressive ensembles included of impressive violinists included Joe showcase of 2010 was certainly one Junior Strings under Mrs Pringle, First Barber, David Chung, Joseph Kelly and to remember! In a year that saw the Year Choir under Miss Matthews and Leon Wu. Calum Farwell was splendid passing of one of the most remarkably the Second Year African Drum Circle on bassoon, Henry Papworth on musically gifted Upper Sixths of recent with an exciting devised piece at the double bass, Jack Walsh on trombone history, it was immensely reassuring end of the concert. In between these (The Acrobat), Tommy Nicholson on to be made aware of the outstanding musical pillars of the concert there trumpet and James Anderson-Besant talent and potential of some of our were a mixture of smaller ensembles on cornet. younger musicians. and solos, including a fabulous brass quartet (Tommy Nicholson, James Perhaps the prize for courage should The Lower School Orchestra got Law, Jack Walsh, Sam Kashti) in a go to our two solo singers, Joseph proceedings underway with three most effective arrangement of What McNamara who sang Walking in the Air orchestral pieces, Verdi’s March from Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor. and Bruno Rogers with his one man Aida, Tchaikovsky’s overture from Swan Next came a Second Year String band of voice, ukulele and mouth organ Lake and Rustic Dance by Charles Quintet (Joe Barber, George England, who brought the house down with Woodhouse. Here the young orchestra Matthew Prior, Edward Reynolds and Sun, Sun, Sun by Noah and the Whale! – many had started their instruments Henry Papworth on bass) with a March There is no doubt at all that our Lower barely nine months earlier – showed from Handel and a cello duet (Edward School is bursting with talent so as one that they had begun to master the Reynolds and Anthony Bracey) in a duo musical crop is harvested another new discipline and routines necessary for sonata by Paxton. season presents its strong little shoots! excellent orchestral ensemble playing. In particular, it was good to hear a very There were some remarkable solo Michael Stinton promising oboe section at the start items to savour too; they included

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Abingdon Academicals

Abingdon Academicals is a group of around 10 experienced singers who rehearse once a week and sing at services, concerts and other events. Although we sing some sacred music, we also explore a wide range of secular music, including jazz, songs from musicals and popular music.

This year the Academicals performed at the premiere of Christus, a series of four cantatas by Simon Whalley, which were performed in the Lent concert series at the chapel of Queen’s College, Oxford. The Academicals formed part of the choir for Christus and it was a tremendous privilege to be involved in such a prestigious project and to sing such wonderful music. Musicians from Abingdon also played in the accompanying chamber ensemble for Christus.

and more resonant space. The Choir The Academicals also enjoyed a tour Chapel Choir rose to these occasions, singing with to Paris this year. Having arrived by great ensemble and expression; we Eurostar on the Friday evening, we The Chapel Choir has enjoyed a very also enjoyed some organ voluntaries performed a concert of French sacred successful year with several services from choir members and Mr Fletcher- and secular music, and American and concerts. We rehearse two Campbell. easy-listening music, to an appreciative lunchtimes a week as a full choir and audience before enjoying a delicious the trebles also rehearse one day after The Chapel Choir also sang three fondue meal. We were fortunate school; Chapel Choir members also Czech folksongs in the Moldova enough to enjoy some sight-seeing have the opportunity to sing evensong, concert in March. It was a great while in Paris, including a trip to the at School and on cathedral visits, as opportunity for the choir to sing some Louvre, Notre Dame, a boat trip on the well as to sing at eucharists, school secular music and, unusually for them, Seine and hot chocolate in Paris’ finest services and compline. Generally, to sing from memory; the audience café. We salute our leader Mr Whalley the Choir sings sacred music, this seemed very impressed with the for his unfailing good humour, patience year ranging from music by Byrd and standard of the singing. Our thanks go and musical expertise: many thanks! Praetorius to music by Stanford, Ireland to our excellent conductor Mr Whalley and Howells. and to our reliable accompanist Mr Joe Mason VI JJ Fletcher-Cambell for their hard work Our cathedral visits this year were to and enthusiasm this year. Gloucester Cathedral and Romsey Abbey. These were fantastic Joe Mason VI JJ experiences for the Choir, as we could enjoy singing in a much larger

www.abingdon.org.uk 129 Sport – Rugby

1st XV Rugby Our first competitive fixture was against Magdalen College School, played Clifton College on Waste Court Field, under floodlights at Iffley Road. The The pre-season began with a trip where the team put on a fine display boys made it a memorable occasion to the University of Bath’s excellent showing some of the old boys who had by winning the game 15-5. It was sporting facilities, the ones that come to watch that the team had every definitely a learning curve for both Bath RFC use during their Guinness intention of continuing the previous the players and the supporters and I Premiership campaign. Having got season’s development. We won 13-7 do hope that this bi-annual event will acquainted with our surroundings we and played some enterprising rugby continue to develop over the years as took our opportunity to use the indoor throughout. it was a well-spectated event and both track (sharing it with the British Men’s sets of supporters appreciated the Bobsleigh Squad). Next day we made Having being given a ‘bye’ in the first rugby that was on display. an early start in the Judo Dojo where round of the Daily Mail Cup, our next the squad were put through their paces game was against a well-drilled and Our next fixture was back in the Daily by one of the current British female physical Eton XV. Their back row Mail Cup competition, but St Birinus competitors. It was a joy to see her proved to be one of the best that we were unable to put out a team and demonstrate just how uncomfortable would come up against throughout this left us with some additional time our players were with close-contact the season. Despite being defeated to prepare for Bedford. We knew drills and it was a great experience for by 0-31, it was great to see us playing it would be a tough fixture and that all the players, most particularly Ben to the final whistle and managing to any mistakes on our part would be Read. The tour ended with a good create several scoring opportunities capitalised on by the opposition. match against Sherborne’s 1st XV, who throughout the game. Unfortunately, despite pushing them were also training at Bath. All in all, at various points throughout the game it was a fantastic trip and I was very We had little time to prepare for our we succumbed to the very mistakes grateful to both Mr Middleton and Mr next well-publicised game against that we knew would prove costly and Perriss for their help.

130 The Abingdonian were defeated by 52-3. We could take some comfort from the comments made by their coaching staff that we were the only team to test their weakness to date.

A late arrival at Warwick meant that the game was delayed by fifteen minutes. We started the better side and went into a deserved lead. However, this led to a collapse in concentration and our good start capitulated into one of our worst performances of the season. A disappointing result as, on reflection, Warwick were a vulnerable side and we should have taken advantage of this. look deep within ourselves and count We were able to use this momentum Next was our first game in the Daily our blessings as it took a nervous last to overcome a physical Northampton Mail Cup, our opposition was Lord minute penalty by James Plumb to School for Boys by 29-5, despite being William’s School, Thame and we account for our victory and passage without two of our most influential enjoyed a comprehensive victory and into the 5th Round. We won the game forwards. Freddie Humfrey and Tom a score line of 40-12. Our final game 6-3. Hughes deserve particular credit for before the half term break was against their contributions. Radley, there was no need to motivate The Oratory travelled to Waste Court the players in the build up to this game Field and we hoped to repeat the These two away wins gave us the and again we were well supported with successful outcome of last season’s confidence that we had been lacking in many OAs returning to shout out their match but we repeated the lost the early weeks and were a real boost support. It turned out to be a very chances of our earlier performances for our match against St Edward’s on competitive game, in which we took and we lost the game by 0-24. the following Saturday. We put this the lead and looked like we could hold weaker opposition to the sword and onto to it. Unfortunately, Radley got Bromsgrove were the next to travel to came out comfortable winners in a their noses in front and won the game Abingdon and we turned out a very competitive game, 28-0. 11-20, as we tried too hard in the good performance, one of the best latter stages of the game to gain the since the half term. Unfortunately, it Our progression to Round 6 in the Daily advantage. wasn’t enough as they had a reserve of Mail Cup would give us the opportunity some every good forward players and to go further in this competition On our return from the half term break, this gave them the advantage, winning than any other Abingdon team had we travelled to London to take on St the game 3-17. done in the past. We had to travel Paul’s. We again expected a difficult to The Gryphon School, Dorset and encounter and began by giving the Round 5 of the Daily Mail Cup pitted face a team that we knew very little opposition far too much respect and far us against Magdalen College School; about. Fortunately, we kept enough too much time on the ball. In a game again both schools highlighted this composure in the first twenty minutes that changed lead on at least four game as an important point in the to dominate the proceedings and also occasions we finally ran out of steam calendar. I am glad to say that a took good advantage of their reckless and were beaten by 38-20, learning superb display allowed us to win tackling and ill discipline to secure a some valuable lessons on the way. it in comfortable fashion, 26-12. comprehensive victory, 0-20. This We had a midweek game against Special mention must go to a heroic victory meant that the 1st XV would be Bloxham in the 4th Round of the Daily performance by the team captain, playing a competitive fixture for the first Mail Cup in which we hoped to put Richard Parkin-Mason. time in the Lent term. some of the more positive aspects of our game to the test. Again, we had to

www.abingdon.org.uk 131 Our final block fixture was away to developments in my two seasons as 2nd XV Rugby Marlborough. Having played in the Director of Rugby. The 2nd XV enjoyed an up and down Daily Mail Cup three days earlier; it was season, which featured a number difficult to get the team prepared – we Owen Cobbe of excellent results against fancied even managed to turn up without the opposition but also failed to capitalise 1st or 2nd team jerseys; we lost 12-5. 1st XV Squad: Richard Parkin- upon games that might have fallen their

Mason (Captain), Hugo Morrison way had chances been taken and Lady Our final fixture came against Stowe (Vice-Captain), Sam Newman, Luck smiled more frequently. and was played on the 19 January. Robert Winearls, Beno Edwards, This proved to be one of the most Bobby Aigbogun, Edward Howe, The highlight of the season was surely memorable games of the season. Harry Copson, Patrick Stinson, the result against Bedford. Having Everyone involved gave more then one James Plumb, Alexander Ward, made an Odyssey-sized journey to hundred per cent to try and push the Ben McGuire, Callum Keown, Mark the East Midlands, the newly formed game in our favour. The lead changed Francis, Joshua Smith, Nathaniel 2nd XV won a classic encounter hands several times and the Stowe Watkins, Richard Milford, Frederick between a flair-packed Bedford back supporters were kept quiet as our Humfrey, Joe McDonagh, James line and a powerful and competitive defence held out, but we eventually lost Edwards, Liam Smith, Thomas defensive Abingdon that played tight by the narrowest of margins, 15-12. Hughes and controlled rugby. A narrow win However, we were left with a sense of was secured during an epic last five pride and pleasure in knowing that we minutes that seemed to go on forever had given it our best possible shot. Clifton W 13-7 as the brave Band of Brothers repulsed Eton L 0-31 assault after assault on their line. A I would like to conclude this report MCS W 15-5 Bedford L 3-52 fine win against a good opposition. by thanking all the players, staff and Warwick L 16-28 Less pleasing results were recorded parents for the support and passion Radley L 11-20 versus Radley, Marlborough and that is put into Abingdon rugby. I am St Paul’s L 20-38 Warwick where poor decision making moving on at the end of this year but Oratory L 0-24 Bromsgrove L 3-17 and tackling made the opposition look have no doubt that I will look back Northampton W 29-5 good, a point for improvement next on my short spell at Abingdon with St Edward’s W 28-0 season. On the flip side, however, great fondness and with the memory Marlborough L 5-14 great wins against Oratory, King that I had witnessed some great Edward’s and Bromsgrove showed what the team were capable of in this much augmented fixture list. Next season, with the return of many of the current team expected, should see us in a strong position and able to learn from this season’s experiences, both good and bad.

The side was dominated by a powerful pack in which the front row of Tommy Pritchard, Freddie Howe, Ben McGuire and Xilin Song were outstanding all year and never bested; the locks, Matthew Boyd, Andrew Elliott, Ben Stockwell and Marcus Seller were all exemplary, and the back row combinations of Harry Copson, Robin Veale, Harry Aitken, Euan Campbell, Robert Henley and Dami Etomi were mobile and

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effective at the breakdown. The set the Bromsgrove match in which 2nd XV Squad: Tommy Pritchard, piece developed nicely and defensively, the Abingdon pack demolished the Freddie Howe, Ben McGuire, Xilin the unit was tight but more ball-carrying opposition forwards. Bromsgrove Song, Matthew Boyd, Andrew options will be needed next year to may have several international players Elliott, Ben Stockwell, Marcus Seller, make the most of this talented unit. in their 1st XV, but Abingdon clearly Harry Copson, Robin Veale, Harry showed more strength-in-depth within Aitken, Euan Campbell, Robert In the backs, Jamie Hall at fly half was the senior teams. Henley, Dami Etomi, David Snead, the class act throughout the season, John Bartlett, Callum Keown, ably abetted by David Snead and John Marc Woolley particularly enjoyed Christopher Wilkinson, Joshua Bull, Bartlett at scrum half. The centres the Oratory match as he scored 20 Chris Green, Jamie Hall were massively augmented by the of Abingdon’s 42 points (four tries), arrival of Callum Keown who gave and special mentions must go to the go-forward that was needed and Clifton L 3-27 Will Sensecall, who controlled the thoroughly impressed all who witnessed Eton L 0-31 backs well, and to Jack Rogers who his punishing runs. Christopher MCS L 7-17 constantly worked hard around the Bedford W 20-17 Wilkinson too showed great talent as field. Warwick L 0-38 did Joshua Bull, Freddie Howe and Radley L 0-67 Chris Green who all ran well. If this St Paul’s L 17-28 Thank you also to our coach Mr side is to really fulfil its potential then Oratory W 10-3 Watkins for his support and advice; we the combinations from 9 to 15 will need Bromsgrove W 13-10 all hope he enjoyed his last season at Oundle L 5-21 to link more effectively and to get over Abingdon and wish him the best of luck St Edward’s W 36-26 the gain line more frequently, I am sure Marlborough L 12-22 at his new school. that this will be the case. Henry Mills VI IM This was in many ways an ‘almost’ 3rd XV Rugby year. With a tad more momentum I felt When a 3rd team can boast seven that the team could have dominated first team representatives, the physical 3rd XV Squad: Henry Mills, Jonny most opposition and grown massively, presence of Dami Etomi and Max Barrow, Edward Otty, Tommy confidence will come and the value of Makarov, and the height of Euan Pritchard, Max Makarov, Matt this year will be felt next season. The Campbell and Matt Boyd (aka the Boyd, Sam Murrell, Ben Hogan, team’s mainstays are already hard at ‘Lighthouses’), you know you will Euan Campbell, John Bartlett, work in the gym and we all eagerly have a good season. Unfortunately Will Sensecall, Tim Gladstone, anticipate putting a few records straight for the 3rd XV, outstanding individual Robert Henley, Marc Woolley, Jack next year. performances led to players being lost Perry, Ali Ibrahim, Jack Rogers, to call up, and this meant that the team Dami Etomi, Andrew Russell, Amir Matthew Perris rarely stayed the same from one week Garmroudi, Henry Wood, Richard to the next. Despite this, a winning Meadows season was secured, with the highlights being a 42-5 win against Oratory, and the 61-0 demolition of Magdalen Clifton W 17-0 Eton D 15-15 College School. MCS W 56-0 Bedford W 15-3 There were some equally impressive Warwick L 3-24 results against strong opposition. Radley L 0-33 St Paul’s L 3-47 Notably the 15-15 draw with Eton, Oratory W 42-5 and the victories over Bedford and St Bromsgrove W 27-7 Edward’s, 17-3 and 15-10 respectively. Oundle L 22-30 These were all hard fought results, and St Edward’s W 15-10 were (possibly) more rewarding than Marlborough L 0-25 the matches won by big margins. Other special moments included

www.abingdon.org.uk 133 4th XV Rugby Bromsgrove, 36-5, in which we played deliver. Those members of the squad ‘champagne rugby’, when everything who will still be here next season can It’s fair to say the 4th XV had a mixed seemed to just work and we felt well hope for better things. season this year from the very start. set up for the rest of the season. Sadly We lost the first game incredibly it wasn’t to be: we lost to Oundle, Jasper Marlow VI EOD narrowly (28-29) to Clifton College, 5-38, but even when we were up and then the second game by a rather against it, everyone still gave their all, bigger margin, 0-36, to a very well 4th XV Squad: Alex Black, Andrew right up to the final whistle. Our last drilled Eton side. It was then that Dart, Ben Brazel, Chris Edwards, win of the season came against St our coach’s revolutionary coaching Chris Jones, David Grant, Edd Edward’s, 29-10, a good performance methods, of getting in as many game Arnold, Geoff Penington, Gleb and one where we felt we could have situations as possible during training, Valitov, Henry Beggin, Hugh Brash, done even better. After this, it was started to pay off and we then had Jack Trodd, James Francis-Barrie, a bitter disappointment to lose to two very good, strong wins over Jasper Marlow, Lewis Swain, Marlborough, 0-53. both Bedford School, 22-0, and then Luke Parker, Marc Woolley, Matt Warwick, 10-0. Roberts, Mihai Clapaniuc, Nam Certain individuals deserve mention for Hweu Jo, Nick Acutt, Ollie Read, their efforts this season: cool-headed Of the Radley match the phrase ‘the Rajan Sehmi, Robert Hussey, Sam Chris Edwards who led from the front less said the better’ comes to mind. Bowers, Sam Clarke-Warry, Tom as ever; David Grant, a star in the To their credit, Radley were a very well Finch, Will Durrands, Will Sensecall lineouts; Andy Dart who was able to drilled, large and quick side, and it change the way a game was going; clearly showed. The final result, 7-36, Jack Trodd and Sam Bowers who probably didn’t do justice to the game Clifton L 28-29 showed their versatility by being able to as Abingdon did fight very hard in Eton L 0-36 play anywhere from 4 to 8, and backs some places. Bedford W 22-0 Edd Arnold, Sam Clarke-Warry and Warwick W 10-0

Luke Parker who have been fantastic Radley L 7-36 Coming back after half term we then St Paul’s L 0-24 both in open play and in defence. lost, 0-24, to St Paul’s, however, we all The Oratory W 48-7 felt this had been one of our strongest Bromsgrove W 36-5 Against the weaker sides this season Oundle L 5-38 performances of the season so far, and we have shown our potential, but St Edward’s W 29-10 Mr Litchfield was particularly happy with whenever we came up against stronger Marlborough L 0-53 our defence. An emphatic pair of wins sides we were never quite able to followed against Oratory, 48-7, and

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Senior Colts A XV Rugby Undoubtedly, the boys would place the Senior Colts A Squad: Chad victory at Radley as the highpoint of the “Success is the sum of small efforts Hutchinson, Gregor Hearn, Ben season. Having lost to the opposition repeated day in, day out,” said Robert Bryant, Dan Lloyd, Jack Ponting, in the previous two seasons, the stakes Collier. This was never more in Andrew Halls, Samuel Hughes, were high. The touchline at Radley evidence than with this group of boys. Felix Newman, AJ Hatzis, Joe was packed as supporters anticipated Their collective efforts from January Hogan, Patrick Stinson, Tom a titanic struggle. In the end, a through to December were pleasingly Kynge, Jamie Galyer, George Read- superlative performance saw Abingdon rewarded with the tremendous Smith, Hamish Grant, Peter Allan, powerfully overcome their hosts. achievement of an unbeaten season. Jack Wilson, Charlie Manasseh, Ed In all areas of the game, the boys Considering that Abingdon has worked Hughes, Charlie Studdy, Toby Ogg, outmatched their opponents; the desire hard to increase the competitiveness Pearce Taylor (Captain) and determination, power and passion of the fixture list in recent years, this was evident for all to see, as was the achievement is even more noteworthy. elation at the final whistle. For me, Clifton W 33-0 the best rugby the boys played came Each week the boys dedicated Eton W 18-8 earlier in the season against Bedford. themselves to a regime of weight MCS W 76-7 They moved the ball from touchline to Bedford W 20-12 training, agility work, skills sessions and touchline with a high degree of skill. Warwick W 50-0 team play. The result was a powerful Perhaps the fact that they did not take Radley W 31-7 group of players with strong cohesion. St Paul’s W 24-10 their opportunities in the first half of this This proved more than a match for Oratory W 48-3 game discouraged them from playing most sides that we played, and in other Bromsgrove W 17-8 with such expanse later in the season. St Edward’s W 65-0 matches was just enough to see the This was a shame, as the boys really Marlborough W 33-0 team emerge triumphant. Amongst are capable of playing tremendous the highlights of the season was the rugby. opening game against Clifton, which Senior Colts B XV Rugby saw an excellent all-round performance The season started well on an As the final whistle was blown in the resulting in a number of scintillating unusually hot September afternoon match against Marlborough, the boys tries. Clifton kicked the ball away and when we came up against a strong were rightly delighted with what they it was run back with great purpose Clifton team who had been undefeated had achieved. Unbeaten seasons are on the counterattack, boding well for the previous season. With good rare occurrences. All their hard work the season. There were incredibly strength from the forwards, and pace had paid off. I hope, though, that the tough matches to come, including two from the backs, we managed to win boys see this as a beginning rather notable away victories against Eton 7-5, Freddie Caulder’s late conversion than an end. There are still mountains and Bromsgrove. In the former the making the difference between the left to climb! boys had to come back from a poor two teams. The following weekend start which saw them 10 points down we played away at Eton on another David Wickes in as many minutes. Through sheer very hot afternoon. After a long wait doggedness they were eventually able for a pitch the game finally began to surpass a competitive opposition. late against a very strong opposition. Against Bromsgrove the situation was This time we came away with an reversed; after a powerful start which unfortunate 14-17 loss. We were not saw the boys go ahead early in the helped by the loss of Mark Shuttleworth game, the opposition fought back to a recurring injury, leaving us with only to ensure a nail-biting finish. Once 14 men for most of the second half. A again, the boys’ determination and particularly notable performance from collective desire saw them surmount Charlie Buchan helped to keep the the challenge. A try in the last minute team in touch with the opposition. sealed the win. Eager to return to winning ways, the team prepared for the match against

www.abingdon.org.uk 135 Magdalen College School, walking pace and strength, overcoming Oundle Senior Colts C XV Rugby away 36-0 victors. The following to walk away 24-7 victors. After The team had a very good season with Saturday we were defeated by a very Oundle we played St Edward’s in what some tough matches and great wins. strong and fast Bedford team, 5-50. proved to be a walkover match. After Bedford, St Paul’s and particularly Our forwards couldn’t cope with their only 10 minutes of the second half the Radley were the toughest opposition strength up front, and the backs referee stopped the game as we had we met. The pack in particular had a couldn’t cope with their pace and already scored 50 unanswered points. good season, regularly securing the hands, only a moment of magic from ball in rucks and mauls (something winger James Edwards saved us from The final game of the season came Stuart King achieved unconventionally) no points at all. against Marlborough. The effects of a whilst the big men, Thomas Pagel and hard season showed on our severely Howard Winfield, often managed to Again the team bounced back well, in weakened team. After an excellent smash through the lines. Rob Noyes part due to a morale boosting game try allowing us to go 7-0 up early on, and Freddie Stott made a number of of water polo in the Monday training we suffered at the hands of the better last ditch tackles to save multiple tries. session! We walked away victors team, losing 7-44, a disappointing end In the back line, George Bull delivered against an inferior Warwick, scoring to an otherwise strong season. some excellent passes enabling 36 points and conceding only 12. We Michael Shortis either to run on at played extremely well in the first half A big thanks to Mr Dean Evans who pace with the ball or kick it. In the scoring 29 unanswered points. coached us this season, and well done centre, James Beer and Daniel Leach to all the players who have represented often broke through the lines and On the Monday the team realised the Senior Colts Bs, we have trained threatened the opposition back line. they would have to train extremely hard and played well together. Peter Barnshaw and Henry ‘Benson’ hard for what would be two highly House provided pace on the wings, challenging fixtures against Radley and Calum Smith 5 VEH often dominating their opponents. St Paul’s. We lost disappointingly to At fullback George Apps was a safe a very strong Radley side, 3-50, the pair of hands, always making the last Abingdon side riddled with injury. The Senior Colts B Squad: Jamie ditch effort. The season finished with following weekend we suffered again at Ward, George Read-Smith, Will a tremendous performance against the hands of St Paul’s, this time losing Bibby, Calum Smith (Captain), Marlborough, showing all the dynamic 7-36. Alex Sunderland, Harry Williams, running (particularly from Danny Charlie Buchan, Jamie Galyer, Sam Leyland) and support-play that we had After two disappointing results the team Hardy, Jack Wilson, Dan Leach, worked on during the season. began a winning run when we played Freddie Caulder, Mike Shortis, Toby Oratory. In the first half, playing into Blong, Will Hollier, James Edwards, Chris Hall 5 CS gale force winds, we did well to only Joe Foxon, Henry House, Mark be 0-14 down at half time. However, Shuttleworth in the second half we started to show our dominance scoring 38 unanswered Clifton W 7-5 points. The team then travelled Eton L 14-17 away to Bromsgrove on the exeat MCS W 36-0 weekend to walk away 48-0 victors, Bedford L 5-50 with a strong performance from Harry (Friendly) Warick W 32-12 Williams, recently moved up from the Radley L 3-50 C team. The following weekend we St Paul’s L 7-36 went on to play a very strong Oundle Oratory W 38-14 side, with support from Joe Hogan, AJ Bromsgrove W 48-0 Oundle W 24-7 Hatzis and Toby Ogg from the A team. St Edward’s W 50-0 In the first half Toby showed his pace Marlborough L 7-44 only to suffer an injury just before half time. He was replaced by AJ for the second half and the team played with

136 The Abingdonian Sport

unable to sustain a consistent effort enough. Man-of-the-match was James Senior Colts C Squad: James due to a lack of fitness in the front row. Boddie (hooker), who was injured in Richards, Stuart King, Freddie As the match progressed, the pack’s the first half but returned to the field in Stott, Chris Hall, Asin Zahir, Howard reduced mobility meant that good the second when our numbers were Winfield, Ronan Baird, Robert balls were rarely gained and we were reduced as a result of injuries in the C Brough, William Huck, Rob Noyes, regularly on the defensive. This also side, who were playing nearby. The George Bull, James Campbell, compromised the scope of the back Marlborough match was a bit of a rout, Michael Shortis, Peter Barnshaw, line, despite being ably organised by but again, Nian Patel restored some Henry House, James Beer, George regular captain Jamie Campbell at fly dignity with another try. Apps, Thomas McDonald, Daniel half. Leyland, James Chitty, Daniel The overriding memory of the season Leach, Thomas Pagel The reality was often that the was the spirit and sense of enjoyment opposition were better drilled, better displayed by the team. Even when

Clifton W 24-14 organised, fitter – and even better kitted odds were stacked against them they Eton L 12-34 out! The first fixture against Radley never succumbed to despair, which Cokethorpe L 0-20 demonstrated that the team was says much about the character of the Bedford W 15-12 likely to face some strong challenges. boys – but they also needed to learn Radley L 10-33 Radley arrived with a D XV plus five that match success comes only with St Paul’s L 0-14 Oratory W 62-0 reserves, together with two members of discipline and serious commitment in Oundle L 7-29 staff, and had already played and won training sessions. St Edward’s W 57-0 three matches. Abingdon defended Marlborough W 34-10 valiantly but succumbed to several Michael Stinton breakaway tries. Some pride was preserved with an excellent forwards’ Senior Colts D Squad: Nian Patel, Senior Colts D XV Rugby try put down by Harry Gibbs (flanker) Harry Gibbs, James Boddie, Ollie In a disjointed season, the players and converted by the excellent boot of Bailey, Alex Sunderland, Sebastian found it a challenge to find the focus Sebastian Black. Black, Jamie Campbell, Hector Millar and determination to make consistent progress in their skills, and it is perhaps St Paul’s also proved to be worthy not surprising that our indifferent results victors, though Nian Patel scored the Radley L 7-34 reflected this. That is not to say that first of his several tries over the season. St Paul’s L 7-43 there were not some individuals who We did better against Oundle but Oundle L 15-22 Marlborough L 5-41 impressed with their commitment and even our three tries (Alex Sunderland, hard work, notably Hector Millar at Nian Patel, Ollie Bailey) were not quite scrum half, who had an outstanding season.

In fairness to the players, the irregularity of the fixtures made it difficult to muster momentum from week to week, especially when early matches had to be cancelled at the last moment when opposition sides could not raise a team. Generally, our players turned out to train willingly and enjoyed the sessions working regularly with the Cs in a squad led by Mr Price and Mr Stinton.

In the five matches played, Abingdon would typically start well but were

www.abingdon.org.uk 137 Junior Colts A XV Rugby Radley once again was a tricky game. ended the season with a disappointing However we played well and took defeat. We began playing together on our pre- an early lead. Unfortunately we had season rugby tour at King’s Bruton, a poor spell, which allowed them to I would like to thank the coaches, Mr where we spent a week with the aim score four tries. We rallied strongly at Callan and Mr Forth, for a successful of learning new skills and bonding as the end and narrowed the gap with a season. I wish them all the best for a team. The training went well and we second try from Peter Moore. Richard the next year. We enjoyed an end-of- ended the week playing our hosts. We Knight, having his first game at centre, season social at which Tom Kynge was convincingly beat them. Mr Forth and was a powerful runner and a very named player of the season and James Mr Callan selected a playing squad useful attacking force. Dewar the most improved player. from this week and we returned to the school circuit with confidence. St Paul’s was probably our best game Peter Moore 4 JAW in the whole season. Peter Moore We started the season with a win scored a try early on and this gave us against Clifton College. Our plan in this Junior Colts A Squad: Peter Moore a huge boost of confidence. Kristian game was to put what we had learnt (Captain), Henry Sensecall, Angus Wood, doing what he does best, in our pre-season training into a real Weir, Mensun Yellowlees-Bound, scored a try, which was another key match. On the whole we did this and Chris Garratt, Tom Kynge, Joel part of the victory. The defensive showed it by scoring 3 tries. Our next Cooper, James Dewar, Luke Carter, play in this game was the best of the match was a very tough one; playing Charlie Fitchett, Kristian Wood, Elliott season. Big tackles came from Joel Eton is never an easy game. We had Mills, Matthew Kitchen, Will Barnes, Cooper, Paddy Sardeson and Henry improved our game considerably in Paddy Sardeson, Richard Knight, Sensecall. The key to us playing well comparison with last year. Niall Keown Niall Keown, James Smith, Charlie is to get to score first, which gives gave a great performance, using his Stenton-Putt, Toby Brown, Kieran confidence. We changed a 0-50 defeat pace to break through and score and Boddington. last year to a 12-5 victory this year. starting a second-half come back. Angus Weir also had a good game, Clifton W 15-7 Bromsgrove was a very physical scoring a try by burrowing over from Eton L 15-26 game played in heavy rain. This was close range. MCS W 36-0 another match that looked as though Bedford L 12-17

it might be easy, but wasn’t. More Warwick L 7-17 You must never underestimate teams Radley L 10-27 great performances were given by Tom that you think you will beat easily. St Paul’s W 12-5 Kynge, Elliott Mills, James Dewar, and That’s what I had to keep saying to Oratory L 7-25 these helped us to a close victory by a Bromsgrove W 22-12 the team when we played Magdalen margin of two tries. Northampton W 26-12 College School. Winning 36-0 is St Edward’s W 36-0 always a great feeling, but we knew Marlborough L 0-10 The last two games were against we had continue to improve given St Edward’s and Marlborough. St that our next four inter-school games Edwards’s brought out our best were against ‘the big four’. Bedford, attacking play of the whole season. A Warwick, Radley and St Paul’s. slick move, involving Charlie Stenton- Putt running a hard line back against Bedford was a very strong side and the upcoming defence, allowed Paddy we knew we had to overcome our Sardeson a try in the corner. However, 40-point defeat last year. We played the Marlborough game didn’t go to very competitive rugby and Luke Carter plan. We missed an opportunity at the scored two tries in the defeat, 12-17. start of the game to take an early lead. This could possibly be one of the Then a lack of concentration led to a best games he has played. Warwick try for Marlborough. We changed our was also a tough game; they severely approach, became more physical and tested our defence, which struggled competed much more efficiently but throughout, and we went down three in spite of this we could not score and tries to one.

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Junior Colts C XV Rugby Juniors A XV Rugby Irwin, Laurence Lilley and Jonathan Lord were tireless and didn’t give up All in all we had a very successful The Juniors A VX had a more even when the game moved away from season with more wins than losses successful season than the results us. Warwick were also very powerful and an improvement on last season’s would indicate. We were thwarted and, despite our best efforts, we were results. Most of our losses were by by many ‘close misses’ in terms of unable to break their defence. close margins and most of our wins final results, showing that we certainly were at the opposite end of the scale. had potential but need to be more This was not the build-up we wanted Training sessions went well overall consistent in finishing games, and for the Radley game but it gave us and we managed to combine a good we need to take the opportunities we an incentive to prove a point and, in work-rate with having fun as well. The create. the event, it was our best game of backs had a good relationship with the season. It was as physical as each other, coming up with moves Our first two matches of the season expected and Jamie Aspinall showed to be used in matches and working were prime examples of these faults. his character as he tackled constantly on handling. The forwards practised Against Clifton the teams were evenly in defence, as well as trying to exploit their line-outs, scrums and rucking matched and it was obvious that this in attack. Every member of the team which improved throughout the was not to be a high scoring game. combined well to threaten the Radley season and was a crucial factor in our Will Sharp scored our first try of the try line. A great kicking display by Rory match success. I’d like to thank Mr. season, putting us into the lead by 7 Garrett also helped us to build the Drummond Hay whose personality points to 5. Clifton pushed hard and points. and attitude towards the team made eventually our discipline let us down the season enjoyable for every player and they were awarded a penalty try The team arrived at St Paul’s in including myself. Arvin Wong was in the last play of the game, which horrendous weather. However, we our top try scorer; his pace left the they converted to win 12-7. This was soon felt better as Nick Boreham tore opposition for dead every time he followed by another frustrating game down the wing in one of his trademark got the ball, which made him a very against Eton. They had a big and powerful runs to score in the first valuable member of our team who well-drilled pack, but our forwards, in few minutes. This was a frustrating made a great contribution to our particular the front row, including Keiran game though, as we were denied the wins. The back of the season was Routledge and Leo Wood, competed ball through a mixture of errors and David Wheatley, and the forward of the manfully. Matt Hart also increased penalties. If nothing else, it taught us season Tom Farrant. the pace of the game at scrum half. that when it feels as though decisions Unfortunately we lost by a single try 0-7. are going against you, you just have to David Wheatley 4 NPS try harder and keep focused. A draw Magdalen College School followed was a disappointing finish to a game with a particularly physical game. It Junior Colts C Squad: David that we should have won. Wheatley (Captain), Henry Otty was a superb display of commitment and huge effort in defence as we kept (Vice-Captain), Connor Taylor, Paddy Another frustrating game followed a clean sheet for the first time this Lawson-Statham, George Stoneham, at Oratory where we played well but season. James Hearne adapted well Henry Binning, Toby Marlow, Tom were denied the win by a conversion to playing out of position as he moved Farrant, Arvin Wong, Peter Honey, in the last seconds. Sam Hogan was from wing to lock! Joe Berret, Lachlan McGregor, Jamie dominant in this game and unfortunate Steele, Chris Cooke, Harry Blackwell, to have a try disallowed. Joe Heade, Ben Thompson The next two games were disappointing because we suffered Bromsgrove were not the strongest two of our biggest defeats. Bedford team we played and this gave us an Clifton W 32-7 were extremely quick and efficient, Eton L 14-36 opportunity for the backs to practise particularly at the breakdown. We Bedford L 7-17 their attacking abilities. Some flowing Warwick W 38-28 turned the ball over too many times, tries followed with wingers Luke Radley Abd 14-22 and thus, it made us pay. The back Wiggins, Jamie Aspinall and full back St Paul’s L 0-28 row, however, continued to compete Bromsgrove W 61-0 Sam Harris combining well with the and worked extremely hard. Jamie Oratory W 22-10 centres to finish moves. Oundle L 7-15 St Edward’s W 59-0 Marlborough W 19-12

www.abingdon.org.uk 139 Northampton were a different story. Juniors B XV Rugby from Ben Yaxley who ran half the pitch Their pace and organisation took us by dodging tackles. Bromsgrove were Understandably the first few weeks surprise. Sam Harris was superb at full next and we won comfortably 44-7. of rugby proved to be a challenge, back and worked hard in defence. Northampton came with a massive side with lots of changes within the teams and presented us with a very physical and everyone having to familiarise Our highest scoring game came at game, which we lost 52-0. Next were themselves with their coach and with St Edward’s as they were unable to St Edward’s, who we beat comfortably their team mates. The beginning of the live with our pace and strength. Sam 38-14. Our last match of the season season was tough, very tough. But Adamson and Matt Cammack showed was against Marlborough College who each match we played helped us to gel what they could do at line out, and were a very skilful team; we lost to as a team and we began to play better, forwards and backs combined well to them 19-0. relying on each other more and more. create and finish several opportunities.

Also Joe Tollet added a considerable Overall it was a good season where we The first match against Clifton College amount of bulk and power to the won half of our matches against fairly came as a relief after all the hard fowards as a new flanker. tough opposition. The team improved training. The team played well and significantly throughout the season and we were rewarded with a 29-7 win. We knew Marlborough would be a I would like to thank all the players for To win the first match with new team tough end to the season and we were their commitment, and Mr Brenchley for mates and coaches definitely put us in forced to defend for much of the game. his coaching and his dedication. good stead for the rest of the season. This eventually took its toll and we However, the next fixture proved to conceded. We were not satisfied as Thomas Webster 3 NMR be one of the hardest matches we we only managed one consolation try. played. Eton College beat us 36-7, We need to say thank you to Mr Davies this made all the players realise that the Juniors B Squad: Adam Ashman, for his support during a frustrating season was not going to be a walk in Mike Woolley, Stephen Moran, Tom season and look forward to developing the park, which made us focus on our Purkhardt, Francois Macé, Tom further next year. next fixture against Magdalen College Webster (Captain), Aman Patel, School. This proved to be a game for Henry Lambe (Vice-Captain), Sam Will Sharp 3 LM our backs to run through and challenge Alexander, Jamie Pearson, Jacob their defence, with Tim Grant scoring Miron, Felix Frank, Tim Grant, Oscar Juniors A Squad: Will Sharp a couple of tries via great lines. We Jenkins, Angus Parker, Ned Roberts, (Captain), Nick Boreham (Vice- won 52-0. The team’s morale was Ben Yaxley Captain), Leo Wood, Kieran boosted and we went into the next Routledge, Sam Adamson, Jamie match positively. However, Bedford’s Clifton W 29-7 Irwin, Matt Cammack, Joe Tollet, size and power in the pack gave them Eton L 7-36 Laurence Lilley, Jonathan Lord, the advantage and we lost 59-5. The MCS W 52-0 Matthew Hart, Rory Garrett, Sam team bounced back and beat Warwick Bedford L 7-59 Warwick W 12-0 Hogan, Jamie Aspinall, Luke 12-0, with Steve Moran powering over Radley L 0-12 Wiggins, Sam Harris, James Hearn the line. The next match was against St Paul’s L 5-20 Radley, a good rugby school. We went Oratory W 42-0 Bromsgrove W 44-7 Clifton L 7-12 out ambitiously, wanting to beat our Northampton L 5-44 Eton L 0-7 rivals, but we lost 12-0 in a very tight St Edward’s W 38-14 MCS W 12-0 game. After half term we went over Marlborough L 0-19 Bedford L 5-22 to St Paul’s expecting a tough match. Warwick L 0-30 Radley W 26-7 They scored the first couple of tries and St Paul’s D 15-15 we appeared to give up, losing 5-20. Juniors C XV Rugby Oratory L 19-21 The next game was against Oratory The season got off to a very strong Bromsgrove W 24-0 and with many ex-Oratory players in Northampton L 3-15 start with a 58-0 victory over Clifton, our team we badly wanted to win. Our St Edward’s W 36-7 Aman Patel scoring 4 tries! This Marlborough L 7-22 determination overwhelmed them and boosted everyone’s confidence, we won 52-0 with a memorable try especially as it was one of the first

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times we had ever played together. The most improved player award went performances saw victories over In the next match, against Eton, to Jack Squizzoni who moved up from Reading School and Bromsgrove. The everyone put in a good performance the Ds. The players’ player of the run of victories finally came to an end but unfortunately the score line, 5-45, season was Ed Antonian who saved us in a very tight and keenly contested wasn’t so good. However we still from defeat in many matches. Other encounter against Northampton knew we could play well when we notable performances came from Dan School for Boys. This was followed by remembered how we’d played in the Scott-Ker, who did some excellent another defeat against a well organised first match. kicking, James Pearce and Andy Stony Warwick side who taught the team a who both had a great season at flanker lesson in the importance of retaining Next we played Cokethorpe As and, as and Paddy Boyde-Gaust who put in possession. we were missing a few players to CCF, some great tries and tackles at centre. we had some players from the Bs as Overall it had proved to be a strong To their credit, the boys bounced back well as an A player. We won a solid season and we would all like to thank well from these defeats, adopting a victory, 19-14, regaining confidence Mr Southwell-Sander for coaching us. greater level of intensity and purpose to after the Eton thrashing. Bedford was their training. Abingdon Prep were our one of the closest matches of the Dan Scott-Kerr 3 SWB and Harry Stott next opponents who bore the backlash season but we just missed out on a big 3 NMR of a devastating opening ten minutes win by conceding a try in the closing where four tries, scored through simple minutes and losing 7-12. Juniors C Squad: Jack Squizzoni, direct running and quick recycling of Ed Bryant, Edward Antonian, Jamie the ball, simply blew them away. To After the long journey to Warwick, Sandall, Max Chaitow, James Abingdon Prep’s credit, they tackled everyone played really well with the Peirce, Andrew Stoney, Rian Bahia, well and stuck to the task admirably, final score being 36-5, it was a worthy Harry Stott, Daniel Scott-Kerr, Toby but couldn’t withstand the continuing victory, which definitely lifted our spirits. Butterworth, Patrick Boyd-Gorst, barrage. Against Radley, both sides were evenly Tom Padfield, David Chadder, Sean matched but we managed to hold Maclachlan, Will Terry, Gavin Elliott The Lent term started slowly with on until the end of the match when the early snow disrupting matters Jack Fountain scored a final try from a and leading to the cancellation of Clifton W 58-0 penalty, leaving the final score 17-14, the Summer Fields fixture. The Eton L 0-69 probably the highlight of the season. Cokethorpe W 17-11 matches finally got under way Next came St Paul’s when most of Bedford L 12-22 with an anticipated tough match the game was pretty even, although Warwick W 33-5 against Berkhamsted. However, our Radley W 17-14 towards the end it was clear that our physical and direct approach blitzed St Paul’s L 5-15 team was very tired and St Paul’s won Bromsgrove W 29-12 Berkhamstead in an opening fifteen- 15-5. St Edward’s W 24-12 minute spell that brought four tries and Marlborough L 12-19 led to a comprehensive demolition. Our eighth match was against Next up were Moulsford; always one of Bromsgrove, another long bus journey the toughest opponents on the fixture but this time it was worth it. Though Minors A XV Rugby card and this was no exception. They the first half was a slight test, in the The side enjoyed an excellent season, started well, turning us around with a second half Abingdon dominated finishing with a record of 10 wins from kicking game and taking an early lead, and sealed a good victory winning 12 matches and a point’s tally of 395 but the team responded positively 29-12. The penultimate match was points for and only 131 conceded. getting stuck in and putting them under St Edward’s. As soon as it started it The season started in very positive pressure so that Abingdon had a nine- was clear that Abingdon had the upper fashion with four comfortable victories point lead at half time. The second half hand. We played really strongly for before half term against: Akeley Wood, was a hard-fought and rather scrappy the whole match and won 26-12. In Magdalen College School, Cokethorpe affair on an energy sapping mud bath, our final game we were very evenly and Salvatorian College. but no further scores came and a very matched against Marlborough, but we satisfying victory was achieved. The made a few small mistakes, which cost After half term, the opposition started final game was away at Cothill. In us the match and we lost 12-19. to get stronger but two very good between the snow flurries, and having

www.abingdon.org.uk 141 to shuffle personnel around following Minors B XV Rugby assured whilst the pacey wing trio a spate of unfortunate injuries in the of Oliver Carpenter, Will Clamp-Gray The 2009/10 rugby season will be final training session, the team were and Alex Gatenby always gave us an remembered as a very positive one for sluggish in the first half, turning around attacking outlet no matter what our the Minors B team. Nicknamed The with only a three-point lead. However, field position was. Oliver Carpenter Bisons, this team fielded many players normal service was resumed in the in particular must be singled out for who would normally be considered A second half and a comprehensive his outstanding improvement as the team standard because there are so victory was achieved in the end. season went on, which can be clearly many good players in the year. Highly attributed to his excellent work rate in competitive and self-motivated, the Much of the success of the team practice. In the latter games the first team’s rugby evolved as the season can be attributed to the strength-in- year quartet of Conor Graney, Jamie wore on, from a tight, compact style at depth within this year group, and the Cox, James Robinson Ranger, and the beginning to dynamic, total rugby consequent competition for places Dominic MacLachlan added even more towards the end. Among the victories that this brings. Success breeds firepower to the group and perhaps were Akeley Wood, Cokethorpe, Cothill, confidence and this is a squad who can even gave us a more attacking threat. Abingdon Prep, Moulsford, St John’s be proud of their success this season. Harrow and Berkhamstead, whilst It’s important that they continue to work With the season over and the boys defeats to a pacey Warwick side and a hard at their skills and keep developing moving on into senior rugby I would physically imposing Bromsgrove were their game next year as competition for personally like to thank them for their nothing to be ashamed of. places will only intensify with the new excellent attitude and focus throughout prep school intake. the year. They truly were a team of They were an impressive squad. In the friends who played in a manner that front three, Henry Bambridge proved Andrew Broadbent demonstrated this obvious cohesion. to be a quite exceptional ball winner

and set-piece organiser. Angus Black Damian Shirazi U13 A Squad: Theo Brophy Clews and Charles Normanton added power (Captain), Leo Bethell, Jamie to the scrums and lineout, whilst the Blackwell, Josh Burdass, Marcello versatile Max Townley and James U13 B Squad: Charlie Normanton, Cau-Tait, Ross Cook, Michael Dewar, Wooding were comfortable with both Angus Black, Henry Bambridge, Declan Field, John Francis, Colin ball-in-hand and in support. The Max Townley, James Wooding, Nuttall, Jamie Pearson, Freddie mobility of these second rows was Thomas Allen, Henry Papworth, Pinkerton, Matthew Prior, Benjamin a real advantage for the side. The Jamie Cox, James Robinson Ranger, Seares, Alastair Smith, Alex Turner, flanker positions were covered by the Callum Russell, Alex Davies, Tommy Jack Walsh, James Wooding. tenacious Henry Papworth and Thomas Nicholson, Will Clamp-Gray, Alex Allen who would literally run through a Gatenby, Conor Graney, Dominic brick wall for their team mates. MacLachlan, Oliver Carpenter, Alex Akeley Wood W 22-7 Grantham MCS W 31-0 Callum Russell proved to be an Cokethorpe W 41-5 excellent reader of the game at 9 Salvatorian W 62-0 Akeley Wood W 14-0 and his vision and ability to organise Reading W 31-12 MCS W 24-5 Bromsgrove W 40-14 the forwards often lead to quick Cokethorpe W 67-0 Northampton L 10-33 use of the ball. At 10 Rhodri Lewis Salvatorian W 48-0 Warwick L 0-36 showed promise with ball-in-hand Bromsgrove L 7-35 Abingdon Prep W 57-0 and with his accurate and powerful Northampton W 17-12 Summer Fields Canc Dragon W 25-0 boot. The centres were covered by Berkhamsted W 48-7 Warwick L 0-35 Moulsford W 19-10 the rangy pair of Alex Davies and Abingdon Prep W 50-0 Cothill W 34-7 Tommy Nicholson. Both comfortable in tight spaces, the regularity with which they broke the game line often put us in the ascendancy. At full back Alex Grantham was athletic and

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Minors A / U12A and U13C excellent and although we tackled gave positive encouragement from bravely (as usual), tries were inevitable. the touchlines. Your support was very From the very beginning the squad We won a small amount of possession much appreciated. showed tremendous enthusiasm for the but their tackling was also rock solid. game as well as plenty of talent, skill Even James Bourdon, who usually Player of the Season: James Bourdon – and pace. They bought into the idea of found a way of getting through most a well-deserved award: James could trying to play open rugby with forwards defences, was kept quiet in that game. slice through the opposition with a linking with backs, trying to keep the blistering pace in attack – and then ball available at all times. They had a It was good to be able to take the scythe them down in defence. He had very successful season, playing some winning habit into the New Year and a huge influence on every match. really good rugby and, in their first six produce a successful performance matches, only conceding one try. This against Berkhamsted. Players’ Player: Dominic MacLachlan – included an excellent away win against Dominic put in a number of really good Bromsgrove, where the boys played During the season the U12A squad performances throughout the season, some very attractive attacking rugby. provided a number of players for including 5 tries against Bromsgrove

four U13C XV fixtures. Three were School. Going into the key match against won convincingly – but Moulsford Magdalen College School without provided a much tougher challenge Most Improved Player: Joseph Bassett – Jamie Cox (suffering from illness) was and the boys did well to emerge with Joseph showed great improvement and always going to be a challenge. We a narrow victory (thanks to a storming application – although all members of then lost Douglas Ward with a head try from Sam Kashti), having defended the squad were keen to develop their injury after ten minutes and the task stoutly for most of the game. The skills and become better rugby players. become even harder. We found it final fixture against Cothill showed this difficult to win our own scrum ball combined First/Second year team Stuart Evans against a strong MCS pack – and had playing some really attractive rugby in no set-piece platform upon which to snowy conditions! The strength of the build. But the boys fought back really U12 A Squad: Will Sharp (Captain), Second-year boys blended well with well, scrapped for everything, and Nick Boreham (Vice-Captain), the skills of the lightweight First Years almost did enough to turn the game Leo Wood, Kieran Routledge, to produce an effective well-balanced round. The MCS defence proved hard Sam Adamson, Jamie Irwin, Matt team. It was great to see the players to breach and they scored a second try Cammack, Joe Tollet, Laurence Lilley, putting into practice things we had right at the end of the match. Jonathan Lord, Matthew Hart, Rory worked on in training, and showing Garrett, Sam Hogan, Jamie Aspinall, real confidence in their ability and their We took the lessons learnt from that Luke Wiggins, Sam Harris, James understanding of the game. match to the next fixture against Hearn

Northampton School for Boys. We Conor Graney, at fly half, led the gave away a try early on then worked U12A XV very effectively throughout Akeley Wood W 22-0 our way back into the game, showing the season, setting a superb example Cokethorpe W 36-0 great character and courage and Salvatorian College W 50-0 in training and giving high quality sustaining a number of injuries along Reading W 38-0 performances in all the matches. He the way. The team showed very Bromsgrove W 68-0 was ably supported by Jamie Cox brave defence, epitomised by Harry CCCS W 17-5 (prop) as Vice-Captain and pack leader. MCS L 0-12 Anderson. To emerge from this tough These two talented young men set the Northampton Boys W 18-5 match with a solid win did a good deal Warwick School L 3-15 tone for the squad and encouraged the for the team’s confidence. Berkhamsted W 20-0 high standards, which the team set out

to achieve. The second defeat of the season came against a very impressive team Finally, very many thanks to all the from Warwick School who outplayed parents who supported the team in all us in every aspect of the game. Their weathers, both home and away, and rucking, handling and continuity were

www.abingdon.org.uk 143 Hockey

1st XI Hockey The inaugural Charlie Baker Trophy cancelling out the opposition’s was a huge incentive for the team, attacking threats and having the ability After a tough season last time around, played in a league format with Radley, to thread the pass when in possession. there was plenty more expected in Marlborough, Cheltenham, Bradfield, Mark Francis and Josh Smith worked terms of results, with the majority of last St Edward’s and Wellington taking part. tirelessly in midfield and were usually season’s team returning. Josh Smith This was an excellent way to gauge the difference in tight games. Callum again captained the side and was the our ability as a team against some Keown played out of position all motivating force behind a team that good hockey-playing schools, and is a season, but brought calm reassurance was expecting to hold its own in what concept that will be run with all our A to the defence and bailed us out of has become a very strong fixture card. teams next season. trouble on a number of occasions. Looking back on the season’s results, Nathaniel Watkins organized a young the 1st XI pulled off some fine wins and Of last season’s key players, Chris front line, constantly directing attacking probably achieved more than we had Green and Freddie Howe were in a runs and implementing the defensive anticipated. different class in the centre of defence, structure.

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Among the talented new players concentration at times and allowed last two games of the season and the was Jack Perry in goal who made a Dean Close too many opportunities, wins against Magdalen College School number of fine saves. Fresh from their going down 1-4. This was followed and the OAs was as great a reflection unbeaten season as Junior Colts last by a tight affair in the league against of the teams’ character as it was of year, plenty was expected of Gregor Cheltenham, in which we eventually their hockey. Hearn and Toby Blong. A huge amount came through as 4-2 winners. was asked of Gregor who had to slot I am delighted that such a hard working into the centre of midfield and allow The next match, against Stowe, was set of players gained the results they Josh and Mark more freedom, but he another game where we saw a good deserved, even if it was disappointing put in some fine displays and has the deal of possession and played some to be pipped to the league title. Every ability to control games over the next attractive hockey to win 4-0. The player contributed massively to the two years. Toby was always a threat in following match, a league match team and in addition to those already attack and adjusted well to what was against Wellington, was another tight mentioned, James Carter and Edward being asked of him, scoring some vital game but in the last ten minutes we ran Howe did everything that was asked goals. away with it to win 6-2. off the them, and James Francis-Barrie and Sam Clarke-Warry scored some The snow at the start of the season The Rugby game was possibly the important goals – much will be asked prevented a pre-season trip to Holland most entertaining of the season, it of these two next season as players and the fixtures against Marlborough had everything. Both teams were fully such as Josh Smith and Freddie Howe and Repton. It was a frustrating time committed and there were moments will leave a huge void behind them. as the boys were desperate to turn of brilliance from both sides. Chris around many of last season’s results, Green had his hands full in defence and Steve Brenchley and begin adjusting to the new rules again proved his worth with a couple that had been introduced. The inability of set-piece goals. Josh Smith worked 1st XI Squad: Jack Perry, Chris to train and organize meant that we tirelessly and controlled play, even Green, Gregor Hearn, Callum Keown, had a slow start and lost out to St when we went down to ten men, but James Carter, Fred Howe, Josh Edward’s before we really knew what it was the Abingdon team that clawed Smith (Captain), Mark Francis, Toby was happening. out the win in a thrilling 4-3 victory. Blong (Vice-Captain), Nat Watkins, Another big game followed, against Toby Ogg, Sam Clarke-Warry, The next game, against Eton, was a Radley, where a win would put us in James Barrie strange match with Abingdon going contention for the league. This too was 3-0 up at half time. Josh Smith a tight game, where the aggressive controlled the play well and although defence of both sides prevented either Eton D 3-3 3-0 was probably not a fair score team from attacking. With the scores Pangbourne W 5-0 St Edward’s L 1-5 line, we finished well from set plays. at 1-1 it was left to Toby Blong to Dean Close L 1-4 However, the 1st XI was guilty of sitting deflect home the winner late in the Cheltenham W 4-2 on the lead and this played into Eton’s day. This win meant the that league Stow W 4-0 attacking strengths with the game would go down to the last match, with Wellington W 6-2 finishing 3-3. St Edward’s playing Wellington and Rugby W 4-3 Bloxham L 0-2 Abingdon taking on Bradfield. Radley W 2-1 In the Pangbourne game we were able Bradfield D 2-2 to control possession for long periods, The game against Bradfield was a MCS W 4-0 which allowed us to appreciate each scrappy one and Bradfield’s quality in OAs W 3-2 other’s movements and, with Josh the middle on the pitch made it difficult. Smith and Mark Francis interchanging Although there was a good deal of fluently, we created some excellent fight from the Abingdon boys the game chances. ended 2-2, which wasn’t enough to take the title. Dean Close provided far tougher opposition and although I thought After the league disappointment, the we played well in patches, we lost boys’ character shone through in the

www.abingdon.org.uk 145 4th XI Hockey The first game of the season saw the team taking on Shiplake 3rd XI at Reading Hockey Club where a bit of a mix up at the beginning saw Abingdon training on one of the best hockey pitches in the country, but we were quickly escorted to a more modest pitch. Abingdon dominated the entire match with Henry Gibson and Mark Kardos coming close to the goal several times. However, breakaway Shiplake goals from their lone goal hanger meant that Abingdon lost the game 1-2, Henry Kibble getting 3rd XI Hockey a consolation goal with ten minutes This season matches the most remaining. The 3rd XI enjoyed a successful season successful season that the 3rd XI have under the coaching of Mr Evans with achieved over the 15 years that I have The 4th XI was short of a striker in a plethora of goals, and victories to been involved with this group: they the Cheltenham game so Matt Boyd match, a total of 41 goals scored played 9 games, won 8 and only lost was drafted in. He dominated the with only 12 conceded. We started 1. The level of skill and discipline was Cheltenham defence with spectacular well with a 6-3 win over Pangbourne of a very impressive standard and I was reach and finesse, Henry Beggin College and this seemed to set the proud to take them to other schools assisted both his goals and the two standard for the rest of the season. and to work with them over the Lent of them combined to dominate the We recorded wins over every team we term. They proved to be a credit to opposition defence, with the final score played, with the exception of Radley their school and to themselves in all being 2-1. who, though not necessarily a better aspects of their play and behaviour. team, went into the match with more Very well done. The 4th XI then took on Rendcomb, a energy so that we found ourselves two weak side who were unable to break goals down after only seven minutes. Dean Evans James Bater’s control of the game. Despite pulling a goal back, our Sam Bowers also had a great match, constant attacking failed to produce clearing the ball the length of the field further breakthroughs. On a more 3rd XI Squad: Jonathan Ient, Bhavik time after time. Rugby were next, positive note, we recorded a huge 9-1 Patel, John Mulvey, Chris Moore, they also put up little opposition as win over Stowe with Daniel Bayley Tom Fishpool, William Summers, Abingdon scored 5, Matt Boyd taking claiming five of the goals. We went into Matthew Haywood, Edward Kempell, an early hat-trick, Henry Beggin scoring the match against Bradfield suitably Ben André, Rajan Sehmi, Samuel another goal and Hugh Brash finishing inspired by Mr Evans, who wanted Bowers, Benjamin Brazel, Jasper them off with a smooth reverse stick to get home to support his national Marlow (Captain), Jonty Cook (Vice- strike into the bottom corner. However, side. Sadly, his national side could Captain), Henry Beggin, Hugh Brash, after some slack defence, Rugby ran a not emulate Abingdon’s performance Daniel Bayley consolation goal in. and went down to Ireland. The finale of our season was a 3-0 win against Pangbourne W 6-3 The 4th XI then played their great Magdalen College School, which was Dean Close W 2-1 rivals, Radley, unquestionably the most a fitting end for the captaincy of Jasper Cheltenham W 3-2 intense match the 4ths undertook this Marlow. We would like to say a big Stowe W 9-1 season. Radley dominated with some thank you to Mr Evans whose coaching Rugby W 6-1 Bloxham W 8-0 skilful midfielders; however, new goal led us to a great season. Radley L 1-3 keeper Robert Brooks made some Bradfield W 3-1 stupendous saves to keep Radley out. Jonty Cook 6 RSS MCS W 3-0

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Junior Colts A Xl Hockey This year’s U15 As had a very successful season as shown by the statistics; in addition, they managed to improve on last year’s performance against other schools. Their success owes a lot to the support and work of Mr Brenchley, with lunchtime coaching sessions in the autumn and much input during the season. Soma Singh’s two coaching sessions further helped to develop their skills.

The term started with an excellent win over St Edward’s – James Weaver’s superb reverse stick strike in the first 5 minutes setting the tone. The downside of the match was an injury to Michael Clarke-Warry who damaged his wrist badly and didn’t Abingdon had few breaks in the first another from Henry Gibson. Abingdon return to the side until the Bloxham half, but managed to score on every eventually lost 3-6, however the game match. Captain James Rogers was single attempt at goal making the half reflected the season, a gutsy and brave top scorer in this game with 4 goals, time score 3-0. After the break Radley effort against strong opposition where and his total of 13 over the season was came back much stronger, after an Abingdon did better than expected. impressive from a midfield position. obvious grilling from their coach, and Our most disappointing match was quickly pulled one back. However, Overall, the 4ths had the second against Radley where poor distribution, Matt Haywood then stepped up and highest win-rate in the School and failure to work hard enough for each dominated the defence, nullifying all of there are high hopes for next year with other, particularly in midfield, and the Radley attacks. The game ended such a young squad this year. Our disappointing defence left us exposed. 3-1 to Abingdon. thanks go to Mr Drummond-Hay for making it such an enjoyable season! Throughout the season, although Then the 4ths were surprised to learn we conceded 19 goals we scored that they had been chosen to represent Matt Roberts 6 MWF 37. The backs improved week on the School against Cokethorpe first XI. week, growing in confidence and skill, The 4ths took an early lead through a Mensun Yellowlees-Bound and Chris breakaway goal from Stephen Horlock. 4th XI Squad: Rob Brooks (GK), Tayler in particular. Patrick Sardeson The opposition quickly scored; then, Sam Bowers, Matt Haywood, Nigel is a natural sportsman, showing much to the surprise of the audience, Emodi, Hugh Brash, Tom Fishpool, the necessary speed and defensive Abingdon scored again, Daniel Bayley Matt Roberts (Captain), Stephen qualities at centre back. Michael scoring from the top of the D with a Horlock, James Bater, Mark Kardos, Clarke-Warry was a huge influence powerful strike. In the second half, Henry Gibson, Henry Kibble, Matt down the right when he returned from Cokethorpe were awarded a string Boyd, Henry Beggin injury, providing excellent overlapping of short corners but Robert Brooks, options on the wing. Goalkeeper Luke Carter gave those around him a sense in his first season of goalkeeping, Shiplake L 1-2 of confidence; his agility and quick managed to save 3 top corner drag Cheltenham W 2-1 flicks earning him man of the match for Rendcomb W 3-0 reactions producing many a good a second game running. After this, the Rugby W 5-1 save. If anything – the team’s defensive Radley W 3-1 opposition slotted in four more goals, errors occurred in midfield, where we Cokethorpe 1st XI L 3-6 but not before Abingdon snuck in sometimes got caught in possession or

www.abingdon.org.uk 147 didn’t get back quickly enough when shown pace together with the ability to Junior Colts A Squad: Luke Carter, our attacks broke down. strike a moving ball, at last had his calls George Stoneham, Michael Clarke- to play up front heard. He had space Warry, Mensun Yellowlees-Bound, Of the forwards, Julius Coventry – who three times and he duly dispatched Chris Tayler, Patrick Sardeson, even played in goal for one game – all three chances in the same fashion: Matthew Kitchen, James Rogers was fast and exciting, matching James casually and with great power. (Captain), Kieran Boddington, Weaver in speed. Greater defensive In defence, Nick Bradfield was ever- Sasha Barras, James Weaver, awareness would help his game. present, working well with James Julius Coventry, Zack Berg, Charlie James Weaver was our second top Smith; Howard Ching grew in Stenton-Putt scorer on 11 goals, and with the ball confidence and awareness throughout seemingly glued to his stick he could the season; Charlie Fitchett played a speedily move through an opposition St Edward’s W 7-1 crucial role tracking back and making defence, but found tight marking Dean Close D 1-1 countless last-ditch challenges. David against Radley difficult to deal with. He Cheltenham W 4-3 Wheatley should be mentioned for his arguably needs to judge when to move Stowe W 5-3 calm and sometimes creative finishes, Rugby W 4-2 the ball on rather than play it. Sasha and Oscar Newman for his intelligent Bloxham W 4-1 Barras and Zack Berg played a range Radley L 1-4 play, which saw them both moved up of positions from midfield and attack, Pangbourne W 5-0 to the Bs. Christian Huck took on the providing good positioning and support Bradfield W 4-1 mantle of main striker and finished the King Edward VI L 2-3 for the midfield; both need to develop season as top scorer. His clever stick MCS D 0-0 their fitness levels so that they can stay work and quick reactions frequently with faster opposition. caused the opposition trouble. Junior Colts C Xl Hockey Matthew Fitchett had the most assists, Matthew Kitchen, Kieran Boddington The U15C team had a very successful his endless running, deadly pace and and James Rogers were the creative season, losing only to a strong obvious determination creating many powerhouse of the team. Matthew Rendcombe 1st team and to Stowe, chances. moved from the back four into the both defeats coming on astro-turf midfield as the season developed and when we had been training on grass. provided a secure base from which The lasting memory of the season will James Rogers could weave his runs; be of a great team atmosphere and he enjoyed running at the opposition togetherness, which was best summed himself as well. Kieran Boddington up by a fantastic and hard fought 1-0 took a while to settle into his stride win over a strong Radley side. but in the second half of the season – Joe Berrett had a fantastic season perhaps because he was fitter – began and time and again made significant to stop being caught in possession and and stunning saves, none more distributed the ball with precision and memorable than one at head height attacked the opposition with greater from a short corner in the Radley success. match. Rowan Hall, who was very influential throughout the season, got James Rogers was our best player; his the Radley goal with a strong shot confidence on the ball, his skills and his right in the corner. He will be delighted vision helped the team enormously and to have scored the goal, but his he will be missed next season as he main contribution to the team was in surely moves up to the 1st XI. developing the play both with passing and finding shape. James Nairne The 4-1 win against Rugby will be remembered for James Smith’s remarkable second half hat trick. This strong defender, who had always

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The big strength of the team was our must have been their thrilling county Later in the season the squad visited width. David Jorgensen, man of the championship win, the first time a Culford Prep in Ipswich, to take part in match in our first game, offered options Lower School team has ever managed a tournament. This gave the boys the out wide and often tried creative skills this. chance to prepare as professionally as and reverse stick turns. He was later possible and the victory over Culford on joined by Nick Leah, breaking into the The team notched up victories over the final day was a great way to go out. team on the other wing, who did the Magdalen College School and Bloxham The team had a great season and simple things well and created space – in the county cup – Winchester whilst the older boys will no doubt go for the team. House, Dean Close, Ashfold, Abingdon on to make a substantial impact in the Prep and New College, and held The Senior School teams, the season also This much-travelled team had to wait Dragon, and Caldicott to draws. brought out U12 talents like Conor for their final game of the season to Graney, Harry Anderson, and Alec play at home and Captain Leo Calnan All the players had an excellent year. Curtis, Adam Lilley, Jamie Cox and was delighted to finally be able to score With the reliable Alex Grantham in Samuel Foster, who will make up the a goal in front of his watching family. A between the posts, the back four of core of next year’s team. late draw was salvaged by a goal from Theo Brophy Clews, Declan Field, guest star Ian Middleton in the final play Samuel Foster, and Adam Lilley often I would like to thank Mr Brenchley, of the match. kept our opponents at bay. Theo Mrs O’Doherty and Mr Hall for their Brophy Clews in particular grew with excellent technical support throughout Daniel Freyhan each game in his first season in the sport. the season, and all the parents for their commitment to the team. In the midfield, Alex Davies and Leo Junior Colts C Squad: Joe Berrett, Bethell complemented each other Damian Shirazi Nick Bradfield, Howard Ching, James perfectly. With Leo the primary ball Smith, Charlie Fitchett Leo Calnan, winner and Alex the team’s pivot, the Rowan Hall, Matthew Fitchett, David Minors A Squad: Alex Grantham, centre of the pitch was often an all- Jorgensen, Christian Huck, Oscar Theo Brophy Clews, Alex Davies, Abingdon affair. Newman, David Wheatley, Nick Leah, Declan Field, George England, Adam

Ian Middleton, Tom Bibby, Richard Lilley, Samuel Foster, John Francis, John Francis, who has represented Matthews, Robert Fishpool Dominic MacLachlan, Gus Mills, the county at U12 level, often gave Callum Russell, William Juffkins, us invaluable craft on the right of Conor Graney, Harry Anderson, Leo the field, whilst also proving to be St Edward’s W 3-0 Bethell, Alec Curtis, Jamie Cox Rendcomb L 0-3 an excellent captain, leading from Cheltenham W 3-0 the front. On the left of the field was Stowe L 0-3 probably the real find of the season, Caldicott D 2-2 Rugby W 4-1 Dominic MacLachlan, playing in the Ashfold W 2-1 Radley W 1-0 age group above his own. Comfortable Abingdon Prep W 3-0 Bradfield D 3-3 Bloxham W 2-0 in possession and able to beat a man MCS W 3-2 at will, his match-winning last minute Dean Close U14 B W 4-1 Minors A Xl Hockey strike against MCS will never be Radley U14 B L 0-1 forgotten. Winchester House W 2-1 The U13A hockey squad prepared The Dragon D 0-0 for the season with a vigour never Rugby L 1-2 The strikers also made a great before seen at this level, and with New College School W 3-0 contribution to the side with chief Ipswich Hockey Club L 1-2 a great deal of excitement due to a poacher Callum Russell notching 15 Culford School W 2-1 dramatically increased fixture list. They goals and Gus Mills a creditable 7. had a successful season, losing only Gus Mills often did a lot of the running one game in their own age group, and for the side and his stamina was a real sometimes filling in at the Juniors B asset to the group. level thus gaining great experience for future years. The highlight of the year

www.abingdon.org.uk 149 Cricket

1st XI Cricket new and improved HMC National in the National Twenty20 last 16 saw Schools Twenty20 Tournament. These us through to a regional final played at After a winter of preparation, we matches, played using the new pink Dulwich College. In this regional final took part for the first time ever in the MCC ball, would become a major the boys took part in a round-robin Emirates Schools’ Trophy in Dubai. excitement in our season. format with St Bede’s School and Out of six teams from all over the Dulwich College. world we finished second, although we Wins over Oratory, Shiplake, Reading, had beaten the eventual winners, St and Magdalen College School were In the first game we saw off a talented Kentigern School, New Zealand. The quickly racked up until a very poor St Bede’s side by 20 runs, before tournament enabled the boys to get performance against our Oxford watching Dulwich achieve the same some valuable match practice before neighbours St Edward’s signalled the result in the next game. This then led the start of the season here. first defeat of the season. Whilst losing to an unofficial final between the South our unbeaten run was a particularly London side and us. With Dulwich The 2009 season had been a good one low point, with hindsight it was a great unbeaten in their 15 previous games, and, as a high percentage of the 2009 wake-up call for the team. After much and having beaten Eton the day before, team were still here, we had high hopes soul searching the group changed the to say we were underdogs was an for 2010. We played King’s Bruton dynamic of the side and from then on understatement. Even so, a fantastic on the first day of the new season played a brand of cricket much more in fielding performance by the boys and won a record-breaking victory, line with their obvious talent. restricted the hosts to 162-4 from their and soon afterwards we edged out a allocation of overs. The Abingdon boys talented Stowe side. More wins followed with Haberdashers’ then batted with a maturity beyond

Aske’s and Bradfield defeated before a their years and saw themselves through After this, we progressed through a win over Portsmouth Grammar School to the national finals, which were to series of Twenty20 matches in the

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be held at the famous Lord’s Cricket in London to take part in the annual the introduction of Fourth-form twirler Ground. In my two years at the School festival. Here we notched up three very Sasha Barras. Having made an this was without doubt my proudest creditable victories to win the festival immediate impact in Dubai, he bowled moment as the boys’ coach who, and end the year on a high note. with skill and intelligence throughout under severe pressure, had been able We played over twenty-one games the season. A major factor in our cup to execute their skills and plans at will. in 2010, losing a mere three to other runs, he had an excellent first year. In school sides. Couple this with our the ‘seam department’, Joshua Bull In the lead up to the finals day the placing among the final four schools was the pick of the bunch in his first 1st XI produced a poor performance in the country in the National Schools’ full season with us, whilst the reliable away to Shrewsbury, going down by 7 Twenty20 Tournament and it can only John Bartlett and capable Andy Russell wickets. The talented Shrewsbury side be described as a wonderful season. and Tom Price often gave us some real were a fantastic insight into what can With the bat, skipper Nathaniel Watkins variety. be achieved in schools’ cricket but the led from the front, scoring 950 runs game came at the wrong time for us whilst wicketkeeper turned off-spinner, Fourth-former Henry Sensecall took the with many of the boys’ minds on the Joshua Smith, notched an incredible gloves with real success for the second Lord’s final. 974. James Edwards made valuable half of the season, whilst Third-formers contributions throughout the season Daniel Matthews, Matthew Hart, and Two days later, and after an incredible in his new middle-order role, whilst Dan Newton all made their debuts rush, with three of our Upper Sixth the emergence of Fifth-former Hamish towards the end of the season. boys arriving late for the start because Grant, and Lower Sixth pupil William of a Chemistry exam, we took part in Sensecall, were both very encouraging With so much young talent on show our finals day semi-final against Bedford signs for next season’s batting. Robert I’m sure the side will continue to be School. Despite a poor batting display Winearls, Jonathan Bourchier and competitive despite the loss of such where perhaps the tension got the Charlie Manasseh showed talent in the key figures as Nathaniel Watkins, better of us, the boys fought tooth and all-rounders slots and often enabled the Joshua Smith, Robert Winearls, James nail to eventually go down with 3 balls side to have a balance unheard of in Edwards, and John Bartlett, who to spare. Although a disappointing end most school sides. must all be thanked for their amazing to a wonderful cup run, the boys clearly contribution to Abingdon cricket over relished playing on the hallowed turf The ‘spin department’ was a major the last seven years, and the incredible at possibly the world’s most famous plus point of the season with Nathaniel attitude they have showed to the cricket ground. Watkins consistent as ever whilst younger players. Joshua Smith produced some After Lord’s, a younger 1st XI side went excellent off-spin spells. One of the I would like to thank the team’s scorer- down to University College School real finds of the summer though was come-analyst, Tommy Pritchard. He

www.abingdon.org.uk 151 has been an exceptionally positive King’s Bruton Won by 291 runs figure around the group and the Stowe Won by 15 runs Oratory Won by 6 Wickets amount of time and effort he has given Lord Wandsworth to the Club shows the admiration he (National Cup) Won by 5 Wickets has both for his schoolmates and for Portsmouth Grammar the School itself: a real Abingdonian, he (National cup) Won by 7 Wickets will be sorely missed. St Edward’s Lost by 90 runs MCS Won by 21 runs Portsmouth Grammar 2010 saw Abingdon yet again take (Regional final) Won by 6 Wickets strides towards establishing itself on Haberdashers’ Aske’s Won by 7 Wickets the schools’ cricket map and, whilst Bradfield Won by 151 runs Reading Grammar Won by 9 wickets there is still a way to go before our all Shiplake Win by 8 Wickets our goals can be achieved, the boys SOA Match Drawn are very excited about the challenges Marlborough Match Abandoned that lie ahead. Abingdon Vale Won by 130 runs MCC Lost by 35 runs

St Bede’s Damian Shirazi (National cup last 16) Won by 30 runs Dulwich (National Quarter-final) Won by 7 Wickets 1st XI squad: Nathaniel Watkins Shrewsbury Lost by 7 Wickets (Captain), James Edwards, Robert Bedford Winearls, John Bartlett, Tom (National Semi-final) Lost by 3 Wickets Price, William Sensecall, Jonathan Birkenhead Won by 9 Wickets KEQS Lytham Won by 9 Wickets Bourchier, Andy Russell, Jack UCS London Won by 6 Wickets Channon, Joshua Bull, Charlie Mannaseh, William Bibby, Hamish Grant, Sasha Barras, Henry Sensecall

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2nd XI Cricket and the only real positive to come out World Cup. At 16-3 in the fourth over, of this one-sided encounter was time one could have been excused for The excellent dry weather in the early at the crease for Sensecall before his believing we were trying to get back for part of the season meant that a lot return to the 1st XI after injury. kick-off. Wicket-keeper Oliver Read more runs were scored than in previous was due a good knock and dealt with seasons, with the team averaging St Edward’s are the only school on our the bowling with disdain on his way to 200 in the first four games and four fixture list to insist on a timed game 34. A tenth-wicket stand of 23 put the batsmen weighing in with fifties. The and they took their agreed maximum top order to shame and allowed what bowling attack appeared to lack variety, 38 overs to post 191-6. Skipper Read initially seemed an unlikely total of 137 but if Henry Gibson’s left-arm seam would play his last game for the School to be posted. Andy Russell took three had been available more often, further after re-dislocating a shoulder in the wickets in a hostile spell but a classy in-roads could have been made into second innings. His three wickets and fifty from Haberdashers’ number 5 some mediocre opposition batting an excellent, albeit wicketless, spell secured a three-wicket win with seven line-ups. As it turned out, all-rounder from Gibson were highlights of a St overs to spare. Callum Keown’s occasional left-arm Edward’s innings that set us 6 runs an spin took the most wickets. over to win. Jack Channon’s third fifty The final two matches were made in four games almost won the match. non-events because the losing teams At Stowe a phenomenal 461 runs were Tom Price and William Bibby offered were so weakened by unavailability that scored on the opening afternoon of the good support until 16 were required they couldn’t even field eleven men. season. Abingdon allowed Stowe’s from the last over. Despite Gregor I’m afraid that this is a disappointing pinch-hitting opener to get a century Hearn smashing yorkers around the situation for 2nd XI teams from schools by dropping catches and bowling in ground we fell five short of the win. A like Bradfield and Abingdon. his slot too often. Debutant Michael draw left both teams feeling like they Shortis appeared more experienced had lost! I would like to thank the Read brothers than older seamers, bowling with for captaining the team well and relative control. With 7 runs an over Having restricted Magdalen College wish the leavers, many of whom had required it was incredible that Stowe School to 147-6 in 35 overs, we should played for three years, success in their were getting worried within ten overs have wrapped up another victory cricketing future. of the finish. A superb second-wicket but, for once, our batting form totally partnership between Jack Channon deserted us. Woeful shots on a decent Nick O’Doherty and Tom Price laid the way for pitch resulted in a collapse and at 47-8 aggressive hitting from William Bibby the MCS attack was being made to and Samuel Clarke-Warry. The asking 2nd XI squad: William Bibby, Michael look unplayable. Gregor Hearn’s 39 rate was just too much in the end but Shortis, Gregor Hearn, George proved otherwise but was one of only the batsmen took confidence into the Bull, George Read-Smith, Michel two scores in double figures on a day next games. Baumgart, Harry Copson, Callum best forgotten. Keown, Jack Channon, Tom Price, We felt as though we owed The Oratory Mark Francis, Samuel Clarke-Warry, Eight of the eleven selected to travel one after a bitter defeat last year and Ben Read, Oliver Read, Stephen to Shiplake were from the U15s and a good opening partnership between Poland, Henry Gibson, Henry Beggin, they dispatched a poor opposition Channon and Baumgart got us going Matthew Roberts, Luke Carter, comfortably. Matthew Roberts and well. Keown kept the rate up and Christopher Cooke Christopher Cooke were the pick of the captain Ben Read smashed 43 to help bowlers who finished off Shiplake for set a tough 188 for The Oratory to win. Stowe Lost by 21 runs 98. Luke Carter showed impressive A strong team performance in the field Oratory Won by 50 runs maturity in his unbeaten 52, securing a and accurate bowling all round created Reading Won by 125 runs seven-wicket win. St Edward’s Match drawn pressure which turned into wickets. MCS Lost by 60 runs Revenge was sealed by 50 runs. Shiplake Won by 8 wkts The new fixture at Haberdashers’Aske’s Haberdashers’ Lost by 3 wkts looked a good one eventually, although Unfortunately, Reading School were Bradfield Won by 113 runs the main game on the minds of many Shrewsbury Lost by 99 runs not able to send a team capable of was England’s opening game in the testing a 2nd XI growing in confidence,

www.abingdon.org.uk 153 Juniors A XI Cricket We then came up against a weak Dan Matthews at the beginning of the Shiplake side, beating them season, and Matt Hart who took over Having only done some light winter nets convincingly (Angus Parker and Aman the reins for the second half, received and very little training prior to our first Patel picking up 3 wickets a piece), some querying looks and strong words match we were definitely somewhat before travelling to Merchant Taylors’ from the coach over the course of the rusty, but optimistic that we had the School where our good run continued. season, but they did the job to the best players to challenge any opposition. As Batting first, Dan Matthews (62) and of their abilities and have learnt from it turned out we lost our first game and Rob O’Kelly (78*) started cautiously the experience they gained. Thanks we probably should have won it; Stowe before breaking loose to take us to also to all the parents who invested a scored 176-6 from their 35 overs. In 171-1 from our 30 overs. The bowlers large amount of their time in supporting reply we lost an early wicket, then then did the rest, eventually securing a the team week in and week out. We Matt Hart (48) and Dan Scott-Kerr (33) 33 run victory. look forward to next season with put together what should have been optimism, hoping that we can use a match-winning partnership, but we After this we beat Haberdashers’ the invaluable experience gained to suffered a middle order collapse and Aske’s and Gosford Hill (Rory Garrett improve us as individuals and more ended up 22 runs short. 5-11) before losing a tight game at importantly as a team!

home against Bradfield. Heading into We then came up against The Oratory our last two games of the season we Matt Hart 3 SWB & Dan Matthews 3 CDB and, batting first, we set them 164 for came up against Burford in the cup victory with Dan Matthews (52) batting semi-final. They put on 182-4, a target well in tough conditions. The rest of the Juniors A Squad: Matthew Hart we were going to have to play well to middle order backed him up superbly, (Captain), Dan Matthews, Robert match, and we almost got there thanks all making contributions. With runs on O’Kelly, Daniel Scott-Kerr, Rory to a brilliant partnership between the board it was up to the bowlers to Garrett, Felix Frank, Jack Fountain, Felix Frank (65) and Aman Patel (31). get stuck in; and they did. Dan Scott- Sam Alexander, Aman Patel, Angus However, they had been left with just Kerr and Matt Hart both picked up three Parker, Daniel Newton, Laurence Lilley too much to do by the top 6 who only wickets and we gained a convincing win. scored 34 between them, and we were subsequently all out for 170, just 12 Stowe Lost by 22 runs However, we were not able to carry our runs short. Oratory Won by 92 runs momentum forward, losing the next three Marlborough Lost by 6 wickets games on the trot against Marlborough Portsmouth GS Lost by 86 runs Our final outing of the season was (Matt Hart 3-19), Portsmouth Grammar St Edward’s Lost by 10 wickets against a strong Shrewsbury side and, School (Jack Fountain 4-14) and St MCS Won by 3 wickets having won the toss, we decided to bat Shiplake: Won by 8 wickets Edward’s, the latter a particularly heavy first. We amassed 150-9 from our 30, Merchant Taylors’ Won by 33 runs loss, losing by ten wickets having been Habberdashers’ Won by 7 wickets with Dan Scott-Kerr (29), Felix Frank bowled out for 29. Gosford Hill Won by 10 wickets (28) and Jack Fountain (36) all making Bradfield Lost by 18 runs telling contributions, meaning we had a Burford Lost by 12 runs After this harsh lesson we moved on to defendable score for our bowlers. We Shrewsbury Lost by 3 wickets face our local rivals Magdalen College looked to be in control of the game but School in the hope that we could only some loose bowling at the death, and get better. They batted first, putting sloppy fielding, meant the game slipped on a decent 142-6 from their 30 overs, away, Shrewsbury eventually reaching with Sam Alexander (5-33) and Dan their target with 3 wickets in hand. Scott-Kerr (0-7 from 6 overs) bowling This was a disappointing end to what particularly well. We then looked to had been a season of mixed fortunes. be heading for our fourth loss on the bounce at 64 for 6, but Rory Garrett This leaves us only to say thank you to (46*) played a sublime innings scoring Mr Broadbent for coaching us through 53 from the final 5 overs to secure a some magnificent highs, in particular memorable win and, as we would later the win against MCS, and also our fair realise, turn our season around. share of lows. The leadership of both

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Juniors B XI Cricket and Aman, we reduced the opposition opening partnership of 85 between to 85 for 8 wickets. However in a Steve Moran (25) and Adam Scholey The team enjoyed a variety of cricket tense finish with 9 balls remaining, (99 not out with 15 fours) and an this season with notable successes, St Edward’s won, with the help of 36 undefeated fifth wicket partnership of particularly when some Lower School extras, including 18 wides! Spot-fixing 54 between Adam and Ben Mitchell stars played. is suspected. (21 not out) helped the total over 200. Adam alternated between swotting Stowe were limited to 107 largely due Unfortunately for the Bs, Angus, who the bowlers and bashing the umpires’ to the off-spin of Max Mannering (4 was developing into an excellent leader, ears with, “What’s my score?” and wickets for 11 runs) and the medium and Aman, were justifiably promoted to “How many balls are left in the over?”. pace of Skipper, Angus Parker, whose the A team. Against Magdalen College Microscopic analysis of the scorebook 3 for 16 included two wickets with his School a 4th wicket partnership of 94 during the tea interval failed, alas, to first two balls. An opening partnership between Laurence Lilley (37) and Sam find him an extra run. Three wickets, all of 54 between Tim Grant (33) and Harris (44 not out), both from the As, bowled, by Steve led the destruction of Callum Russell (19) set up a strong helped the team reach a decent total. the opposition, whose total included 26 victory. However an opening partnership of 114 wides! The suspicion of spot-fixing has enabled MCS to win by 5 wickets. now developed into the involvement of Against The Oratory there was another a Southern England betting syndicate. excellent opening partnership: 84 The match against Shiplake was one- Although Captain Sam Harris and between Tim Grant (40, with a season’s sided. Tim Grant (3/5), Steve Moran Gavin Elliott captured 6 wickets in aggregate of 155) and Aman Patel (2/0), Will Sharp (2/3) and Will Terry the last 3 overs, Bradfield reached (90 not out with 15 fours in 25 overs). (2/12) helped bowl them out for 29. a challenging total. We lost only 5 Aman continued to entertain with his We won after 3 overs of batting. wickets but scored only 4 runs per over leg-spin. In only 4.2 overs he captured From the easiest victory to the worst instead of the required 6. 5 wickets for 34 runs. He was well defeat: we only scored 98 against supported by Gavin Elliott, whose 3 Merchant Taylors’; 2 of the 3 wickets The benefits of a season’s coaching wickets for 18 included bowling both we captured were run outs. were displayed in the destruction of openers. Shrewsbury in the final match. A 2nd We rallied well to win a high-scoring wicket partnership of 121 between We travelled away for our first fixture match at Haberdashers’ Aske’s. An Adam (42 with a season’s aggregate of ever against Marlborough, which has a good reputation for cricket. Three run outs included Aman turning around mid-pitch and running together with his partner to the same end. Leo Bethell’s 28, with 5 fours, batting at Number 7, and an undefeated last-wicket partnership of 19 between Angus and Max, were invaluable. At 48 for 1, Marlborough required only 76 runs for victory. However, due especially to the bowling of Leo (4 for 14), Max and Aman, 9 wickets (6 bowled) were taken for 33 runs to give us a grand win. After three victories, confidence was high until at St Edward’s we were 58 for 9 wickets. Only a spirited last-wicket partnership of 51 between Gavin Elliott (34 not out with 6 fours) and Captain Parker raised the score over 100. Led by Matthew Butcher (3 for 16), Angus

www.abingdon.org.uk 155 194) and Sam (65 with an aggregate of 155) led the way to 265 for 8 wickets. After capturing 3 wickets – all bowled – in 3 overs, Skipper Sam unselfishly handed the ball to other bowlers who completed a victory by 209 runs.

The last Shrewsbury batsman, after a (guess what?) wide was bowled to him, turned and smashed his wicket, then walked off the field. The betting syndicate is now believed to L to R Front Row: William Fearnehough, Adam Lilley, Harry Anderson, Alec Curtis (Captain), be national. We leave it for the new Conor Graney, Jasper Gooder, Dominic MacLachlan Shrewsbury Headmaster to investigate. Back Row: Mr Southwell-Sander, Jamie Cox, Sam Foster, Jack Holford, Freddie Ashcroft, Joe Kelly, John Francis This sensational end to an enjoyable season was fittingly accompanied over the runs (43), and wickets being shared the Cox’s hedge by a music band Minors A / U12A Cricket equally. We then had a cracking fixture that stayed on to enable Prep School This has been a hugely successful against a talented Haberdashers’ parents to join in the celebration with season for a very talented bunch Aske’s side that posted a decent total a disco. of guys and their results speak for of 126 for 3 in their allocated overs. themselves (played 10, won 8). The Despite an excellent half-century from The Reverend Henry Kirk success of the team sprang out of a Harry Anderson we fell short by 7 very productive pre-season focused runs. That was to be our last loss of on fielding and some net practice. Juniors B Squad: (Regulars) Tim the season. A good victory against The benefits of this programme were Grant, Will Sharp, Gavin Elliott, Moulsford, with Samuel Foster (34) and evident as soon as the season got William Terry, Angus Parker, Aman Alec Curtis (22), saw us home after under way with a convincing 61 run Patel, Ben Mitchell, Adam Scholey, Freddie Ashcroft (4 for 8) had restricted victory against Thorngrove, the bulk Stephen Moran, Sam Harris, Daniel them to 101. of the runs coming from our reliable Torrance (Also played) Callum openers Conor Graney (37) and Harry Russell , Theo Brophy Clews, We then faced our bitter rivals again, Anderson (29 n.o.) while wickets were Sam Adamson, Max Mannering, MCS, in the cup semi-final and gained spread evenly with Samuel Foster Oscar Jackson, Andrew Stoney, sweet revenge for our earlier loss. picking up 3 for 4 runs. Alex Grantham, Alex Davies, Leo Runs from the ever reliable Conor Bethell, Nicholas Schneider, Matthew Graney (41 n.o) and Harry Anderson The next two fixtures saw equally Butcher, Lawrence Lilley, Thomas (56) allowed us to reach 123, and then convincing wins against King Alfred’s Ling, Daniel Torrance, Patrick Boyd- tight fielding and 3 wickets from Harry and Winchester House respectively. Gorst, Jack Fountain, Alec Curtis Anderson meant a win by 5 precious Again, the batting was dominated by runs. This took us to our second Conor Graney who got 76 and 116, country cup final in two years where Stowe Won by 5 wickets while Samuel Foster, Harry Anderson, we faced Cokethorpe at Cumnor CC. Oratory Won by 54 runs Jack Holford and Alec Curtis shared Marlborough Won by 39 runs Winning the toss and batting first, the wickets. St Edward’s Lost by 2 wickets Conor Graney and Harry Anderson yet MCS Lost by 5 wickets again pulled it out of the bag when it Shiplake Won by 10 wickets Our one abomination came against counted, putting on over 100 for the Merchant Taylors’ Lost by 7 wickets Magdalen College School where a first wicket. Conor Graney ended up Haberdashers’ Aske’s Won by 27 runs dreadful pitch reduced us to a low total Bradfield Lost by 47 runs with an excellent 91, Harry Anderson which they knocked off without losing a Shrewsbury Won by 209 runs supporting him with 27, and we ended wicket: a bitter pill to swallow. up with 163 for 4 off 25 overs. Some wayward bowling meant Cokethorpe Two good wins against Wheatley and kept up with the run rate, but excellent Reading saw Harry Anderson getting in

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fielding, including 3 run-outs and a great spell of 3 for 12 from JJ Gooder, supported by Alec Curtis and Freddie Ashcroft (2 wkts each), meant we were always on top. In the end we won by 42 runs and reclaimed the cup. It was a great effort and excellent season as a whole.

The side was captained well by Alec Curtis, with Conor Graney being the pick of the batsman, Harry Anderson was the players’ player, Freddie Ashcroft had the best bowling average, while Dom MacLachlan got the fielding award and Adam Lilley, our keeper, until the Shiplake bowlers struggled to Haberdashers’ Aske’s was the most improved player. Before bowl out two of our batsmen, Joseph 12 June 2010 I finish I’d just like to say that I have McNamara and Daniel Katzer, and we We won the toss and we chose to thoroughly enjoyed coaching this great finished on a score of 101 runs for 8 field first. Haberdashers’ came in with bunch of lads. wickets. Our bowlers got off to a flying two excellent opening batsmen that it start as we got two people out in the would take some doing to get out. We Robin Southwell-Sander first over. We got them all out for 75 felt that the fast bowlers were going and so finished with a win! to be the bowlers getting the wickets today because when we brought on Minors A / U12 A Squad: William Magdalen College School our spinner he seemed to be getting Fearnehough, Adam Lilley, Harry 22 May 2010 smashed every ball. We finally cracked Anderson, Alec Curtis (Captain), In the second game of the season we their opening batsman in the 5th Conor Graney, Jasper Gooder, lost the toss and MCS decided to bat over. They finished their innings with a Dominic MacLachlan, Jamie Cox, first. They put out a very good team batting total of 100 for 8. We went out Sam Foster, Jack Holford, Freddie of batsmen and it took some effort to to bat and then everything went badly Ashcroft, Joe Kelly, John Francis break their opening batsman’s streak, for us. They seemed to have got a lot but we bowled him out in the fourth of wickets against us quickly. We got Thorngrove Won by 61 runs over. After that wicket we started to a total score of 77 all out. This wasn’t King Alfred’s Won by 126 runs get more and more batsmen out. They our best batting performance. Winchester House Won by 128 runs finished their innings at a score of 115 MCS Lost by 10 wkts runs for 8 wickets. Our batsmen went Wheatley Won by 10 wkts Overall I think we had a good season, Reading Won by 3 wkts out with a defensive tactic in mind. but of course I think we have some Haberdashers’ Lost by 7 runs They then played too defensively when things to work at. We will definitely Moulsford Won by 7 wkts we needed the runs. Our first batsmen take on board what we did wrong and MCS Won by 5 runs got out in the 10th over. Now our third Cokethorpe (Cup final) Won by 42 runs improve for next season. batsman went in to play, attackingly. Once we changed our game we got Arman Garmroudi 1M Minors B Xl Cricket lots of runs, but while we were at it we lost a lot of wickets. The final score Shiplake Minors B Squad: Arman Garmroudi, after the innings was 106 runs for 7 12 May 2010 Joseph McNamara, Daniel Katzer wickets. We lost! Adam Hargreaves, Joe Blanch This was the first game of the season Joseph Bassett, Harry Evans and we batted first. We didn’t get off Sam Mitchell, Dominic MacLachlan to a flying start as our opening batsman Andrew Convery, Tom Dill Russell was out for a duck. We then got James Robinson Ranger, runs, but one by one our wickets fell Freddie Stenton-Putt

www.abingdon.org.uk 157 Rowing

1st Vlll – Schools’ Head of the River Cox: Hugo Mendus, George Rossiter, John Carter, Vassilis Ragoussis, James Cook, Jakob Schleu, Dan Boddington, Jamie Copus, Will Davey

Senior Rowing with the weather so were able to their time trial by thirteen seconds, get some valuable training done on the team faced SACS (South African With four returners from the previous the racecourse. Saturday saw us in College Schools) in the final. SACS season, a strong 2nd VIII, and some competition with many American crews made a good start but Abingdon eager new Lower Sixth members, the – and winning gold! The J16 crew also held their nerve and went on to win senior rowing squad was in a good raced well, achieving a solid position in by twenty-five seconds. The winning position at the beginning of the season a field of strong 2nd VIIIs. The winning crew: Hugo Mendus, George Rossiter, and everyone was determined to make crew: Neil McKenzie, Jamie Copus, Timothy Richards, Julius Gerstmeyer, it a year to remember. Will Sadler, Andrew Nagi, Charlie Uden, James Cook, Vassilis Ragoussis, Daniel

Edward Griffiths, Alexander Hatzis, Boddington, Jakob Schleu and James The first big race was in America – Angus Innes and William Davey. Carter. the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta At the end of term, for the first time – an event for the 2nd VIII and a ever, the 1st VIII ventured to South On 6 February, the squad competed J16 VIII. We were kindly hosted by Africa for the Old Mutual Schools’ at Peterborough Head – a demanding St Joseph’s Prep, a school in the Boat Race, in Port Alfred. Winning 5km canal course. Six pairs competed centre of Philadelphia, and were lucky

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in the morning: the famous Rossiter- During the Easter holiday, members French National VIII on the Saturday. Cook combination winning the event. of the Boat Club flew to Temple-sur- They were quick off the start gaining a Jakob Schleu and William Davey came Lot in Southern France, for our annual length on us, however we focused on second with Will Sadler and Jamie camp where we have a chance to get our own race plan and slowly moved Copus not far behind, giving Abingdon to know each other, sort out positions back so that at the finish there was a 1 2 3 finish. Two of these pairs had within the boat, and have a change only 3ft in it. Even though the French fast enough times to have won the elite of scene from the River Thames at won, we were very proud of our efforts category. In the afternoon these three Abingdon! and felt that we could win the National pairs, together with Hugo Mendus, Schools’. Edward Griffiths and Charlie Uden, At Wallingford Regatta, two weeks into When it came to the National Schools’ went on to win the J18 VIII event. the Summer term, the 1st VIII raced Regatta, everyone was ready and On 11 March both the 1st VIII and in the IM1 division against Radley and prepared for a great race. The 2nd the 2nd VIII competed at the Schools’ a number of strong university boats. VIII raced their heat well to secure a Head of the River, the 6.5km race Once we hit our rhythm 500m in, we great place in the final. They knew from Chiswick to Putney. The 1st began to move away from the field and that Shrewsbury were fast, however VIII overtook St Paul’s early on and had a length lead by 1000m, which we they had comfortably beaten all the almost caught Shrewsbury by the end held to the line, giving us a convincing other 2nd VIII crews on time, and had of the course. The 2nd VIII also gave win. The 2nd VIII won their heat but won their heat. The 1st VIII raced their a strong performance and overtook were not able to race out the final. heat well and came 2nd, losing to Eton other crews in their division to finish On times, the Abingdon 2nd VIII was by one and a half lengths. The 2nd 3rd, beating many other schools’ 1st narrowly behind Shrewsbury but beat VIII final was a fast race; Abingdon VIIIs. The 1st VIII came 2nd out of 257 all other 2nd VIII boats. led from the start but Shrewsbury crews, losing only to Eton. The 1st VIII rowed through to win. Abingdon were crew: Hugo Mendus, George Rossiter, The week after Wallingford, the 1st VIII very close behind and were never in James Carter, Vassilis Ragoussis, raced at Ghent International Regatta in any danger from the crew that came James Cook, Jakob Schleu, Daniel Belgium. This two-day event attracts 3rd. However, in the final the other Boddington, Jamie Copus and William competitors from many different crews were faster and we took a very Davey. countries. We raced against the disappointing fourth position, a position

Schuykill Regatta gold-medal crew L to R – Charlie Uden, Will Davey, Ed Griffiths (behind) Andrew Nagi, Neil McKenzie, Will Sadler, Jamie Copus, Angus Innes, AJ Hatzis, Athol Hundermark

www.abingdon.org.uk 159 Port Alfred L to R – Athol Hundermark, Felix Wood OA, John Carter, Jakib Schleu, Dan Boddington, Vassilis Ragoussis, James Cook, Julius Gerstmeyer, Tim Richards, George Rossiter, Huo Mendus, Jacob Fries we hoped to turn round for Henley in knockout round with the top two going Pumped with adrenalin, we had a five weeks time. into the final. The VIII made a powerful flying start and were a length ahead debut and cruised to a convincing win. by the end of Temple Island and won On the Sunday of the National They won the semi-final with a great convincingly. The next day we faced Schools’, two IVs and a pair were race and went straight into the final, Dulwich College who went out hard entered: the Rossiter-Cook pair Despite the fact that they didn’t win, but we soon took control of the race raced well into the final but were then they did gain valuable race experience and were able to win whilst holding unfortunate with the lanes and narrowly for Henley. something back for Friday’s race, missed out on medals. The coxed which, as predicted, was against Eton. IV were given lane 1 in the final and, The Henley qualifiers take place on the We were dropped off the start, but although missing out on a medal, did Friday before the start of the Regatta when we hit our rhythm we began to the best out of all the other crews in and the coxed IV – Neil McKenzie, hold them but they went on to win the lane 1 on the day, coming fourth. This Julius Gerstmeyer, Daniel Boddington, race by one and a quarter lengths. crew consisted of Neil McKenzie, Alexander Hatzis and Timothy Richards We were all proud of our performance Vassilis Ragoussis, Daniel Boddington, – went first. They were the fastest and happy that we had got closer Julius Gerstmeyer and James Carter. schoolboy coxed IV at the qualifiers but than anyone else to the eventual The coxless IV – Jamie Copus, Will missed out on making the Prince Albert winners. The Henley 1st VIII crew: Sadler, Jakob Schleu and William Cup by two seconds. The 2nd/J16 Hugo Mendus, George Rossiter, James Davey – won their semi-final, beating VIII composite raced next, attempting Carter, Jakob Schleu, James Cook, Chester’s top IV and taking a bronze to qualify for the Temple Challenge Vassilis Ragoussis, Will Sadler, Jamie medal in the final, narrowly losing to a Cup. They put out an inspiring Copus and William Davey. strong Eton IV. performance but missed qualifying by just six seconds – a great achievement I speak on behalf of all the senior A coxed IV and an VIII raced at considering the increasing competition squad when I thank Mr Hundermark, Marlow in preparation for the Henley in the event. The 2nd/J16 VIII: James Peter Haining and Mr MacDonald for qualifiers. The coxed IV had very Chitty, Dominic Graham, Charlie Uden, all the effort and time they have put in. tough competition in a strong division. Andrew Halls, Felix Newman, Edward We all wish Mr MacDonald the best of Despite missing out on the final, they Griffiths, Thomas Pagel, James Tracey luck back in South Africa and also luck raced well, gaining valuable race and Alexander Fisher. to all the leavers this year. experience for upcoming Henley. The J16/2nd VIII composite was entered On the Wednesday, the first day of William Davey 6 SAE in IM3 class. Their first race was a Henley, the 1st VIII raced Norwich.

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J16 Rowing For eight boys in the squad, J16 rowing started with a trip to America to race at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia during the October half term. For all of us who went it was a fantastic experience. The skills we gained there, and the training we did, proved to be vital when we came to the proper season after the Christmas The four Abingdon break. members of the GB VIII in the GB On a wet and cold day in January, the France match: J16 rowers assembled themselves in L to R Felix Newman, Alexander Hatzis, the boathouse to be greeted by our Neil McKenzie (front), coach for the season, Mr MacDonald, James Tracey, who promised us nothing but hard Andy Halls work and pain if we wanted to win this season. Due to the snow and the Abingdon’s GB Rowers boys returned with gold medals from mock exams, our schedule was a little the event. curtailed to start with. However, full Over the past decade, Abingdon has training quickly got under way. In a produced more GB junior oarsmen James Tracey, Andrew Halls, Felix blur of weights, ergos, and sessions on than any other school. This year was Newman, Alexander Hatzis and Neil the water, we got to grips with rowing no exception with ten boys securing McKenzie won the coxed IV trials and again, and blew away the cobwebs seats in various crews in the summer were selected to go as part of the VIII that had accumulated over the internationals. George Rossiter to the annual GB France match held in Christmas break, and for some of us and Jamie Cook were selected for Nantes, France. The boys combined over the whole Michaelmas term. the VIII to race at the Junior World with four Radley boys to make up the Championships, which was held in VIII, and raced exceptionally well to Our first race was due to be Wallingford Racice, Czech Republic. After posting hold off the French in the 1500m race Head, but unfortunately it was fast times in the heat, the crew looked and win the event. cancelled due to the poor weather, to be in contention for a minor medal so our first competitive racing came in the final. Having started well, they Three Old Abingdonians were in action at Peterborough Head on a cold and came through the 500m mark in at the U23 World Championships held misty day in the first week of February. second place but struggled to maintain in Belarus. Matthew Rossiter picked After a hard race in the J16 VIII we the exceptionally fast pace and the up a silver medal in the coxless four came third to King’s Chester and Eton, leading crews drew away. The USA event to add to his gold from 2007 and realised that if we were to be came in first and GB finished fifth. Two (JWC) and bronze in 2009 (U23). Max successful in the rest of the season we of the boys in the USA crew came Gander coxed his crew to a bronze would need to up our game. from St Joseph’s Prep School. We medal in the coxed fours event, and share excellent links with St Joseph’s Nicolai Jurgens, representing Germany, By far the most important race of the who host our crews when we compete narrowly missed out on the medals Lent term was the Schools’ Head in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta. coming fourth in the coxless pairs of the River, held in London on the Well done to Lou Lombardi and Pat event. Matthew and Max then went Tideway. All the school crews would McGlone on their success. on to seize gold medals in the British be there, so we knew it would be the VIII at the World University Rowing first real test of how good we were, and Jamie Copus, John Carter and Vassilis Championships in Szeged, Hungary where we lined up against the other Ragoussis were selected to represent crews, as well as being a prestigious GB crews at the Coupe de la Jeunesse Athol Hundermark event to do well in. Unfortunately, held in Hazewinkel, Belgium. All three

www.abingdon.org.uk 161 the crew of Alexander Hatzis, However, two weeks before the main out hard and do some damage. When Felix Newman, Andrew Halls, Alex event we had our last chance to race we got to the start that was exactly Sunderland, Thomas Pagel, Alex Fisher, competitively at Bedford Regatta, a what we did. Our start had been good James Tracey, and Robbie Brough, mere sprint at just 1250 metres. We all season and this one was one of the coxed by James Chitty, only managed entered two boats. The first was an best. We were in lane 2 and held off to take sixth place, even though we VIII consisting of James Richards, an early push from Hampton, in lane were not that far behind many of the Alexander Hatzis, Andrew Halls, Felix 4, to be ahead of Radley, in lane 3, by other schools. Newman, Thomas Pagel, Robbie just under a length with 750 metres Brough, James Tracey, and Alex Fisher, gone. We held them there until about Training continued until the end of term, coxed by James Chitty. After a close 750 metres from the end when they and then in the last week of the Easter race against Eton in our heat, we beat started to pull us back. Despite us holidays we headed off to Temple- St Paul’s in the semi-final to come up giving everything, we could not hold sur-Lot, in the south of France, for against another Eton crew who we beat them off. At last they overtook us with our annual rowing camp. We trained in style to take the J16 VIII. James about 400 metres to go, leaving us for a week and despite the blisters, Tracey, Alexander Hatzis, Andrew Halls, to take second ahead of Eton. While the sweat and the hard work, I think and Felix Newman, coxed by James we were disappointed with losing, we it is safe to say that we all enjoyed Chitty, also entered the J16 IV. After had a fantastic race and had improved the week as it came with the added a relatively easy first race against a massively since the Schools’ Head. bonuses of go-karting and watching Bedford Modern School crew, we came On Sunday, James Tracey, Alexander classic action films. After an elongated up against Radley in what was our Hatzis, Andrew Halls and Felix Newman departure due to the volcanic eruption closest race of the day. Having beaten raced in the coxless IV. They did well in Iceland, we headed home in time for them by half a length, we raced St to get to the final despite very poor the Summer term, by far the busiest Edward’s in the final. Although unsure conditions and very little time training in terms of rowing, with the most as to how strong they would be, we in the IV. regattas, and the most intense training took that race, winning the coxed IVs. in preparation. It was a great confidence boost, and The National Schools’ Regatta marked between us we had fourteen tankards the end of the real J16 season as we There was no let up to our schedule to take home, a good haul for one day. would not race again as a J16 VIII. A and two weeks into term we raced The big weekend finally arrived. On week after half term, the coxed lV had at Wallingford Regatta, with a revised a Friday afternoon we drove up an easy victory at Reading Amateur crew following seat racing on camp. In to Nottingham where the National Regatta, but the crew split up after the J16 VIII we came third to St Paul’s Schools’ would be held over the half term. Alexander Hatzis went to and a strong Radley crew, who looked weekend. The J14s had already won row with the 1st IV+, while Andrew like they could be our main competitors a gold medal when we arrived so we Halls, Felix Newman, Thomas Pagel, for the rest of the season. This was a knew that we would have to race James Tracey and Alex Fisher joined good result, and it was clear that we hard in order to live up to everyone’s the remaining senior squad to form a had improved a lot since the Schools’ expectations. After a short training 2nd VIII in order to attempt qualification Head back in March. However, the day session on Friday evening, and a for Henley Regatta. As a school got better when we won the Novice carbohydrate-packed meal, we settled crew, it was a disadvantage to enter a VIIIs, holding off the St Paul’s crew down that night and tried to prepare university competition. This was shown, who had beaten us earlier in the day. ourselves mentally for the biggest race although we did come a respectable six We came home with our first tankards of the season. seconds behind the slowest qualifier. of the season, and one of the largest trophies we had ever seen. Saturday came; we headed down Arguably the last J16 rowing was to the lake and waited in the late from the coxed lV of James Tracey, Training continued even though we afternoon as we only had one race. Alexander Hatzis, Andrew Halls, and were now on study leave and, working After hours of waiting and watching Felix Newman now coxed by Neil around our revision schedule, we the other Abingdon crews, we finally McKenzie, trying to qualify for the GB continued our preparation for the warmed up, had the team talk from Mr vs France J16 match. In a tight race in National Schools’ Regatta, the most MacDonald, and from former head of the qualifiers at Nottingham, we beat a important race of the year for us. rowing Mr Martin, who told us to go strong BMS crew, overtaking them from

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Winning J14 Quad Reading Town Regatta L to R – Cox Luke Wiggins, Jamie Pearson, Joe Tollet, Henry Lambe a length down with 300 metres to go. J14 Rowing from the lower boats, but repeated We joined up with a strong Radley four, catastrophe for the A crew, breaking As usual, a large number of Third- putting aside our differences to make blades rather than records. Still formers signed up for sculling in a up the Vlll. On a sunny day in Nantes, further disappointment lay in wait at cold, wet January, with the summer we beat the French national champions the National Schools’ Regatta when seeming a long way off. Early season by one and a half lengths, ending our gusting wind played havoc with the was spent watching the river in spate season on a high note. time-trial and the A crew failed to make while learning the techniques in a boat it through; they were not a particularly up on trestles on land, but already Many thanks must go to our coach, big crew this year and lacked the the coaches were impressed with the Rod or more correctly Mr MacDonald. power to complement their technique. focus and understanding shown by the Although he has now had to go back The B and C crews on the other hand boys. The first term of the season was to South Africa, he was a great coach produced a massive surprise, the B rounded off with the customary match and a true inspiration for all of us. crew winning the 2nd boats’ event, against St Edward’s and the Bedford While we all had potential, it was him rowing through Radley with 50m to Quads Match, with several crews who unleashed it in the early mornings go. On the other side, the C crew beat winning and a good atmosphere in the and trained us to be the rowers we several B crews to qualify for the semi- group. The holidays saw the first group are now by the long sessions on finals, and produced a time that ranked of J14s (five of them) attend the training camp. Further thanks to all the other them the fastest C crew in the country. camp in France, usually open only coaches who helped us at other times, to the older year groups, where they in particular Peter Haining, and the The rest of the Summer term was gained a glimpse of what real training boatman, Austin. spent in sunshine, getting experience was like. Meanwhile there was a less of smaller boats, with many showing continental, but equally beneficial, Felix Newman 5 MB how far they had come this season by camp back in Abingdon for the rest. whizzing around in a single scull.

J16 squad: Robbie Brough, Alex The Summer term saw the squad The A crew produced a much more Fisher, Andrew Halls, Alexander quickly settled into crews, but with encouraging performance at Marlow Hatzis, Felix Newman, Thomas little to split the top three VIIIs, such Regatta over the longer 2K course, Pagel, James Richards, Alex was the depth of talent. Early races at putting them in a good position for next Sunderland, and James Tracey. BASHER (Bedford, Abingdon, St Paul’s, year against the big names. The squad Coxes: James Chitty, Neil McKenzie Hampton, Eton, Radley) Regatta and turned out almost in full for Reading and Toby Ross. Bedford saw promising performances

www.abingdon.org.uk 163 Town Regatta with over forty boys Crews: taking part. All raced in their various National Schools’ Regatta Reading Town Regatta events with great skill, and with many A crew: Harry Stott, Leo Wood, Quad (gold medal): Harry Stott, victories over the local rivals Radley. James Hearn, Jonathan Lord, Edward James Hearn, Jonathan Lord, Edward Antonian, Joseph Tollet, Henry Lambe, Antonian, Henry Lambe Two trophies were won, in the B quads Jamie Pearson, Ben Yaxley and in the VIII, which made the season Octuple (gold medal): George Burrage, one of the most successful of recent B crew (winners of the Dulwich Cup): Ben Yaxley, Matthew Cammack, years. All through the season the Edward Bryant, Thomas Padfield, Adam Ashman, Kieran Routledge, boys showed great commitment and Francois Macé, Adam Ashman, Alex Fanshawe, Jacob Miron, Thomas enthusiasm; often, long outings in team Kieran Routledge, Jamie Aspinall, Padfield, Francois Macé boats ended with requests to go out Jack Squizzoni, Jacob Miron, Toby again in a single scull. Butterworth

Many thanks in particular to Cherry J14 A crew L to R - Leo Wood, James Hearn, Briggs who has endured with good Edward Antonian, Jonathan Lord, cheer several years of launch engines Henry Lambe, Luke Wiggins, Joe Tollet, cutting out, broken footplates and Jamie Pearson, Harry Stott hyperactive boys (though it hasn’t put her off wanting to get out sculling herself in Colombo); also to Peter Brombley, who as an injured Sixth- former volunteered to help coach and has been acting like another staff- member, so great his manner and respect among the Third-formers. One of the defining moments of the season was seeing him route-marching the boys around Dorney Lake, having been asked by me to ‘get the boys warmed up’ – and all the boys obeyed him without hesitation!

Hugh Price

J14 B crew Reading Town Regatta L to R – Francois Macé, Ben Yaxley, George Burrage, Thomas Padfield, Jacob Miron, Matthew Cammack, Kieran Routledge, Alex Fanshawe, Adam Ashman

164 The Abingdonian Sport

Inter-House Quads team, also struggled. But the surprise vied against each other on their Competition exit was that of Franklin’s, last year’s respective banks, with Crescent trailing champions, still with two of that crew, in the centre. O’Doherty’s eventually The competition was raced in beautiful who had looked promising until they prevailed, a crew consisting of two conditions this year between some fast caught a crab. Third-formers from the A VIII and crews. The seeded crews: Boyd’s, Fourth-formers from the A VIII and B O’Doherty’s and Southwell-Sander’s This left six impressive crews for three VIII, coxed by Max Brittan. were looking strong, while Phelps’ and one-on-one semi-finals. In the first, Crescent were showing good crew O’Doherty’s held off Boyd’s, who had unity. Most of the faster crews had two lost by only a bow-ball to Crescent Third-formers and two Fourth-formers Gold: O’Doherty’s: Max Brittan, in the first round, while the second in the crew, a good combination of Henry Lambe, Kristian Wood, featured a boarding house derby power and technique. Jonathan Moloney, Edward Antonian between School and Crescent, won by Crescent. Finally Phelps’, looking The first round featured three races Silver: Phelps’: Ian Middleton, Will technically the best of the crews, won between three Houses, with the Horlock, Ben Yaxley, Alex Fanshawe, a close-fought race against Southwell- slowest being eliminated. In the end Milan Banerjee Sander’s, who were missing their the third place was often trailing, captain. particularly after Christodoulou’s Bronze: Crescent: Edward Bryant, indulged in some strange crew Edward McLaughlin, Jonathan Lord, The final was a contest of style versus selection, leaving out their captain. Luke Derrick, Jamie Irwin power as Phelps’ and O’Doherty’s Webb’s, featuring an all Third-former

House Quads – O’Doherty’s lead School House and Christodoulou’s

www.abingdon.org.uk 165 Sailing

A team consisting of Guy Stephens, The Sailing Club has done a lot of very successful family sailing day. The Tom Pugh, Sam Delo, Richard yachting this year. A new venture and FASSC raised a large amount of money Matthews, Finley Curran and George a highlight, was James Boreham, Sam which contributed to the purchase of a Rothwell competed in the National Delo, Jonty Cook, Ben Haveron and second RS500 and 29er. In the future Schools’ Team Racing Championship Will Summers’ practice expedition we hope to buy another Laser. and made it to the final where they sailing along the coast of Devon and narrowly lost out. Cornwall. Unfortunately this year we are losing our captain, Guy Stephens. As reigning champions, the Sailing Six pupils and three teachers went on Guy’s knowledge of tactics and his Club was looking forward to this a one-week trip, sailing on a 49 ft yacht experience in team racing, fleet racing year’s National Schools’ Match Racing in the Aegean Sea. The party enjoyed and match racing has been invaluable. Championship but unfortunately, due to hot weather and fantastic scenery. We wish him the best of luck for the a lack of wind, no races were possible Next year we hope to sail around the future. so we kept the trophy by default. islands north of Kos just off the coast Two Abingdon boats entered the of Turkey. Next year we are looking forward to National Schools’ Championships: an taking our small fleet of RS500s to the RS500, helmed by Will Summers and The Friends of Abingdon School Sailing World Championships to be sailed on crewed by Jonty Cook, and a Laser Club have been busy this year, firstly the Olympic course at Weymouth. helmed by Tom Pugh. Both came in arranging a sailing dinner, then later respectable positions, even in winds in the year a barbeque down by the Richard Matthews 4 RKJ gusting up to 20 mph. reservoir. In June, they organised a

166 The Abingdonian Sport Badminton

As part of the effort to keep in touch of a link with King’s School, Bruton, Two participants take up the story: with our history we have held two more which is currently very strong. We had ‘On Wednesday 10 February 2010 ‘playing reunions’ of current, recent and also arranged to renew contact with the U16s competed in the Oxfordshire not-so-recent badminton players. Bromsgrove in the new year but were round of the Center Parcs Schools’ In September 2009 we entertained thwarted by the snow. Hm: snow, snow, Championships. We met fierce Alexander Smith OA (Captain 2008/9), thick, thick snow! A joke is a joke but opposition from the other members Tim Middleton OA, whose play has been – as they might say in the West Riding of our group of three (St Birinus and far from spoiled by a year at college, and – ‘that can go s’far’. The first three Bartholomew) and unfortunately lost Ken Ma OA, Yin Yao Dong OA (Captain fixtures in January went west because to them 1-4 and 2-3 respectively. The 2000/01) and Andrew Lui OA who all roads in Somerset were impassable, level of play from the other schools was three left Abingdon in 2001 and are now Bromsgrove’s hall was declared unsafe very high – Johnny Chung (our number doctors of various sorts! Among the to use and the return match against one) was against the number ten in entertainment was a captains’ game Bradfield yielded to the ‘mock’ exams the country in his first singles match, where David Choy, Julian Martin, Yin Yao that perforce continued to occupy our although he did manage to get 12 points. Dong and Alexander Smith fought it out, sports hall. Boarders and some hardy Having come last in our group, we and a ‘youngest with oldest’ game where local souls got a little practice at the Vale competed in the fifth place playoff against Ken Ma and Andrew Lui took Adam of the White Horse centre while we were Cheney. This time, on the other hand, Uberoi and Jonathan Chung as partners. waiting for normality to be resumed, but we did manage to win by four games January’s games programme was never to three so at least we won back some After all the end-of-term brouhaha, in danger of being described as ‘slick’. respect!’ players from the 1970s and 1980s were particularly invited to another reunion National sports organisers seem to Ed O’Brien 5 DJB but the hostile weather and proximity focus mostly on maintained schools of Christmas made December 21 an at the expense of independent. For Four U14 boys, Daniel Chen, Adam ill-advised choice. Nonetheless we us the effect is that compared with Uberoi, Gem Vongseenin and John managed to assemble Alex Smith, Jun the palmy days of the Oxford Schools’ Wiejak, went to play in the Oxfordshire Tao and Tim Middleton, who the current Badminton Association, when each Schools’ round of the Center Parcs players know of old, and Patrick Gale, season Abingdon could get matches Schools’ Championships. After a shaky who none of them had ever heard of as for six-man teams of U14s, U16s and start they barely beat Henry Box School he sat his A levels in 1978, long before U19s with half a dozen state schools, 3-2 in games but had a much more they were born and six or seven years the current system yields but one day in convincing victory against Cheney School before we had a sports hall to our name! the year when our U14s and U16s get to winning 4-1. This meant that they (‘Ah yes, I remember it well … Gigi). play local schools in teams of four only. progressed to the final where they faced Patrick’s play prompted more than a To progress to this ‘county’ round of the Faringdon, a very strong team made little respect among the striplings and he Center Parcs Schools’ Championships, up completely of county players. After seemed to get some entertainment out Abingdon’s U14s and U16s played some very close games they lost 3-2 but, of his visit: he has now returned to live in Magdalen College School on December for instance, Daniel Chen had a narrow Milton, so we hope that he will be willing 9. The score line (5-0, 4-1) looks like a defeat 21-18 to their number 1, and to visit again. We also have expressions heavy defeat for MCS but many of the Adam Uberoi lost 21-19 to their number of interest from Mr David Taylor, Richard game scores ran to 17 or 18/21 and 2. But the whole team had a great Haynes and Ian Sargeant. some tired Abingdon players had to dig performance with some great games deep to get the winning couple of points. from Gem Vongseenin and John Wiejak. Arguably historic was the revival of an old fixture with Bradfield College, while Adam Uberoi 3 DMH a fresh departure was the establishment

www.abingdon.org.uk 167 Other than in school matches, boys The U19 singles final was also an was between Phelps’ and Crescent. from Abingdon had some badminton Abingdon monopoly, this time Edward Both members of the School’s regular fun and success on Sunday 21 February Callow beat Richard Moon: medals first pair, David Choy and Gary Ling, 2010 in the Oxfordshire Schools’ to both. happened to be in Phelps’ so it wasn’t Badminton Championships (still a complete surprise when they won, technically during the half term holiday). More medals were to be had in the U19 21-18, 21-5. Our entry was at least as numerous as mixed doubles, which were dominated last year and seventeen U13s – Lower by Abingdon, now combined with St Back to our historical theme and School boys – had a happy morning Helen’s. Winners were Julian Martin Abingdon’s restoration to the Wellington competing against old and new friends. and Louisa Green, runners-up Ramon Quadrangular. On 6 March we took Leon Wu looked slightly surprised to Bonfield and Aislinn Baird. In all, 28 several supporters and a reasonably survive five rounds and reach the semi from Abingdon entered, they gained strong team to Wellington College to finals of the singles competition; then in nothing but credit for the way they play Harrow, Wellington and Eton in this an ad hoc partnership with Alex Turner presented themselves and participated, year’s quadrangular tournament. We he won an all-Abingdon U13 doubles winning or losing. benefited from having strength in depth final and a medal. and won the event overall by taking 22 Early March in the School Calendar out of a possible 24 games. Our two Abingdon’s representation in the U15s brings the Inter-House Badminton ‘missing’ games went to Eton (which was limited to three. Gem Vongseenin Competition. Each year we see one or came second with 18 games) but the and John Wiejak caused not a little two tyros cheerfully learning the hard team could hardly have done a difficulty to the announcer with their way in public, and when established better job. apparently intractable names and, badminton pairings don’t come from although U14s, did well in the U15 the same House even practiced players Such was the enjoyment had even doubles: they emerged as runners-up. have to establish a modus vivendi with by Harrow and Wellington that it is James Zhou got a medal for winning an unfamiliar or inexperienced partner. proposed to hold the competition twice the singles competition against locally In the days before the competition next year. fancied opposition; his technique and Nick Topping was seen trying out understanding of the game were noted talented sportsmen from O’Doherty’s There is now a trophy for the by an observer from the Oxfordshire as possible partners and on the day quadrangular and at the presentation Badminton Association. Richard Brown did his best to follow Julian Martin and David Choy, as captain Julian Martin’s sage advice. co-captains, shared the applause. Charlie Leslau and Rupert Waterson formed a good enough doubles pair Webb’s, Christodoulou’s, School, 2010 was the hundredth year of the to win two out of four U17 matches Boyd’s and Phelps’ were eliminated All England Badminton Championships despite being a year young for in the first round of the Middle School and 10 March found players from the group. part of the competition, but Duncan Abingdon School in Birmingham Chow had found a powerful partner in assisting as spectators on day two. Peter Zeng entered the U17 singles Bernard Ng and can anticipate greater Hot news in the badminton world is – his natural age group – and won success next year. Southwell-Sander’s that a smash of 421kmph has been outright. He also partnered Gary and O’Doherty’s went out in the second struck with the latest Yonex racket. Ling in the U19 doubles against round, so the final was between (That’s 261mph in old money, and opposition from St Edward’s School Franklin’s and Crescent with Franklin’s, pundits tend to deem tennis serves and elsewhere, as well as the ‘old firm’ in the shape of established pair Daniel ballistic if they exceed 130mph.) from Abingdon’s Upper Sixth. The Chen and Adam Uberoi, prevailing Yonex’s display at the All England final of the U19 boys’ doubles was a 21-11, 21-9. Badminton Championships in the NIA competitive but good-humoured all- featured the wonder weapon and a Abingdon affair between Peter with The first round of Upper School games radar speed gun: in emulation of Top Gary and the eventual winners Julian eliminated School House, Southwell- Gear’s ‘star in a reasonably priced Martin with Richard Moon, who had Sander’s, O’Doherty’s and Franklin’s. car’, members of the public were discovered fluent and imposing form Boyd’s and Webb’s fell out next (Boyd’s invited to have a go. England player during the day. after a very close game,) so the final Andrew Smith had topped the table

168 The Abingdonian Sport

with 184kmph and various Abingdon who left Abingdon in 1999. David has aspirants kept rejoining the queue! also begun to respond to the social Results:

Several got over the hundred barrier, possibilities of the game: it’s taken a Michaelmas Term, 2009 Jonathan Chung scored 135kmph and while, but having been seen playing 9 Sep: A and B teams v Bloxham David Choy’s best effort was 146kmph. left-handed for fun he evidently has These went with quite a bang so the gained enough confidence and trust (9-0, 8-1) 421kmph smash may have been to risk a little cheerful ‘arfing about!’ In 6 Oct: v Bradfield (away) (5-0, 5-1) audible in a nearby star system. a fine partnership with Gary Ling he 10 Oct: v Cheltenham College has set a standard of skilful play and (6-3, 9-0) This, and more, serves to remind us modest dignity which opposing schools 20 Oct: v Rugby School (9-0, 9-0) of why we go to watch world class have been quick to appreciate. 4 Nov: v Millfield/ King’s Bruton badminton: we see no displays of (doubles 5-4, 8-1 Singles peevishness, we note the players’ Ramon Bonfield probably under- 4-8, 10-2) respect for officials, we gasp at the estimates his own talent: he’s quite 11 Nov: A and B teams v Bloxham apparent nonchalance with which a versatile sportsman and the quick (9-0, 7-2) they cover the court and create reactions and balance that make him 14 Nov: v Radley (8-4) opportunities against volleys of capable on the football field are just as 18 Nov: v Cokethorpe seemingly sure fire winners. After half productive on the badminton court. In 19 Nov: v Wellington (2-2, 4-0) a day we come away with a renewed view of this it’s hard to say quite why awareness of just what can be done, a he is so accident-prone! On match 28 Nov: 3 way v Cheltenham + clearer appreciation of our own modest days no-one is more nattily turned out Malvern (6-3, 9-0) place in the sport’s food chain and the than Ramon. 2 Dec: U19 v MCS (6-1) determination to try harder. 5 Dec: A & B v King’s Bruton Edward Callow hits the shuttle as hard (4-5, 5-4) Ian Macdonald as any player we’ve had for a while 9 Dec: U14 and U16 v MCS and is particularly good at boosting (5-0, 4-1) Personalia: the ‘old firm’, the confidence of a junior partner. But Abingdon’s Upper Sixth Leavers among the explosions and broken Lent Term, 2010 Julian Martin’s captaincy has been strings there are more dainty shots than 21 Jan: U9s v Cherwell School brisk, purposeful and effective – rather the opposition expects. Edward also OSBA (7-0) like his play on court. His particular brings the transparent enjoyment and 30 Jan: v Millfield / King’s Bruton take on the job has been to reinforce good humour that make Abingdon’s (8-1, 9-0) loyalty and ownership of the Club badminton teams so easy to spend among former players as well as the time with. 5 Feb: U19 mixed v Bartholomew’s regular team players. In seven years he (1-8) has cultivated a good deal of skill and Richard Moon usually shows a classic 6 Feb: v Wellington College come to relish the innovative aspects of technique: he strives for variety (4-0, 4-0) Badminton. He has readily stood aside and nicely produced shots but his 23 Feb: v Rugby School (9-0, 9-0) and given the top spot to the player sharp reflexes make him a doughty 27 Feb: v Cheltenham (6-3, 9-0) competitor even if pressed into his ‘B’ most likely to win, but when his turn 3 Mar: Inter-House Competition game. Like his peers he finds fun in a has come he has seized it and played 6 Mar: Wellington ‘quadrangular’ sport that for some people becomes a some storming games. More than v Harrow, Wellington and one spectator has noted that Julian’s mite precious. Eton (won 22/24 games) feet often leave the ground when he is 10 Mar: v Cokethorpe (6-0) going for a full smash! We shall miss all these when the 2010-11 season starts but they know 12 Mar: U19 mixed v Henry Box School (1-9) David Choy – co-captain with Julian that they will be welcome at playing- – is a formidable and fluent player. It reunions and there can be no doubt 20 Mar: v King’s School Bruton took about ten seconds for him to that they have set the bar high for (11-4, 8-7) show the deftness and explosive future generations. speed reminiscent of Winnoc Lui OA

www.abingdon.org.uk 169 Tennis

Joel Morris

The Tennis Club continues to grow, As with previous years, the Tennis Club pairing in the team. Even though Giles with more teams representing the commenced the season before term is still an U14, he and Josh won all but School in inter-school fixtures and the started with a pre-season camp run by three of the sets they played this season, win percentage throughout the School Alex Harvey, coach at the LTA centre, allowing the 1st VI to coast to some improving. The 1st VI set the tone for the Roehampton. This provided a great comfortable wins. success throughout the Club, winning 11 opportunity for all players, throughout of their 15 matches this season, whilst the age groups, to get the feel back, The inter-school matches began on the this year saw a first competitive outing of feet moving and some quality coaching. grass at Magdalen College School and a 5th and 6th VI. Tennis is certainly on There was a huge turnout over the four saw the 1st VI get off to an impressive the rise and with five of the 1st VI players days and real excitement about the start. Euan Campbell and Sam Murrell returning next season, things are indeed upcoming season. won all three of their matches and the looking bright for the future. new pairing of Giles Waterson and Josh 1st VI Ridley saw us home for the win. They Our resident tennis professional Martin played very solidly all day and worked The 1st VI was captained by Euan Butler has made a huge difference, well together with Giles Waterson looking Campbell, who brought three-years altering the way the players train and solid from the back of the court and Josh experience at 1st VI level. He was demanding high standards, which has Ridley showing some good movements partnered by vice-captain Sam Murrell led to improvements across all abilities. and touches at the net. and together they formed an irresistible There is a great deal of focus in training partnership with the left hand right hand and he has generated a real buzz on The match against Stowe was another combination. At second pair was a court this summer. There have also convincing win, with Joel Morris finding Fifth-year pairing of Joel Morris and Jack been huge sacrifices made by all the some outrageous angles and hitting Wilson, who came from an unbeaten staff that have looked after tennis in the some of the flattest forehands ever season together at U15 level. The third various age groups and their enthusiastic seen. Sam Murrell and Euan Campbell pair was Josh Ridley and Giles Waterson, approach to tennis has provided again proved too strong and the latter who turned out to be the most consistent excellent motivation. was in commanding form at the net,

170 The Abingdonian Sport

flying across the court to slam some of Henry Mills and Henry Kibble at 1st 2nd Vl interception volleys away. This was VI level; both players have been great Henry Mills captained the 2nd VI and followed by another good win against St servants of the Club and fully deserved led his team by example throughout the Edward’s on the AstroTurf courts. The their call up. season. It was a very strong 2nd VI that boys adjusted very well, having played took to the court every week and all of their first three matches all on different After half term, the 1st VI took part in those who played could have slotted into surfaces. the Oxfordshire Independent Schools the 1st VI at any stage. Henry Kibble’s Tournament at MCS. With Edward enthusiastic approach meant that the In the Glanville Cup, we were drawn Howe and Xilin Song bolstering the team, Mills-Kibble pairing were a fine example against Radley B team in the first we started off with sound wins against St to the rest of the team. Xilin Song’s round, with the winner progressing Edward’s and MCS, before losing to the hard-hitting, aggressive tennis saw him to play Radley A team. The team of old enemy Radley. play a few matches for the 1st VI and 4 would play a singles match against he will certainly be a threat next year. their opposite number and a doubles Towards the back end of term, there was Dan Bayley worked hard throughout the match. The seeding had to be based a loss on the indoor courts at Bradfield season and also stepped in well to play on rankings, meaning that we sent our and a good win against St Edward’s a few 1st VI matches. Hugh Brash and U14 Giles Waterson in at number 1, before the big one against the staff. Edward Howe made up a fine 2nd VI and with Joel Morris at 2, Sam Murrell at 3 The staff team were supplemented by their results reflected their ability. and Euan Campbell at 4. The match a couple of coaches and OAs in Oliver against Radley B was a competitive one, Raban and Cody Yellowlees-Bound, but 3rd Vl but all the singles matches ended in an the core of the team was still very much Abingdon win, meaning the tie was over Common Room based. The match was Alexander Black captained the 3rd VI after the singles rubbers. played in searing heat and the superior and never let his side down. He was the fitness levels of the staff team, was evenly motivational force behind his young team The match against Radley A was a balanced against the youthful exuberance as he guided them through the season. different story and although many of of the 1st VI. The match was finely Alex Veale and Harrison Gray teamed up the matches were tight, Radley came balanced at 4 matches all, with the staff well to gain some vital wins, whilst a team through to win and eventually progress pairing of Mr Forth and Martin Butler still including Chris Wilkinson, Josh Bradlow, through to the quarterfinals. Giles to play the 1st VI’s number one pairing Hadrien Combe Orsoni and Daniel Choi Waterson fought well to make it difficult of Euan Campbell and Sam Murrell. was always going to be a strong unit. for Radley’s number 1 seed. Against The game was on a knife-edge with the an U18, with a ranking of 5.2, Giles was bumper crowd enjoying the clash, until U16 Tennis always going to be up against it, but the staff team was broken at the back Taking out the U16s two strongest he put in a hugely impressive display, end of the set, to send the 1st VI into players was always going to affect the losing 2 – 6, 2 – 6. Joel Morris’ match euphoria. results, but the Revill/Fishpool coaching could have gone either way with the two partnership brought out the best in them. players adopting different tactics. Joel Edward O’Brien and Charlie Leslau were 1st VI Results: Morris was the more aggressive but solid to say the least, and Tom Jeffery MCS W 6-3 the consistency of the Radley player Stowe W 8-1 and James Edwards added some flair eventually saw him come through to win St Edward’s W 7-2 to the performances. Alex Jeffreys, Nick on a deciding tiebreaker. Shiplake W 7-2 Earl and Jake Ampleford looked good Bloxham W 5-4 bets to feature at the top end of the Oratory W 7-2 Wins against Shiplake, Bloxham, Oratory senior teams next year and competition Radley B W 4-0 and Pangbourne were backed up with Radley A L 0-4 for places will again be high. a win against an Eton 2nd VI. This was Eton W 8-1 a convincing display, with Abingdon Pangbourne W 7-2 blowing away the opponents with some OXIST 2nd Bradfield L 1-8 aggressive hitting, in particular from Wellington W 6-3 Sam Murrell and Joel Morris, who were Staff W 5-4 competing for the biggest forehand of Harrow (ISTA) W 2-0 the team. The match also saw the debut Eton (ISTA) L 0-2

www.abingdon.org.uk 171 U15 Tennis U13 Tennis The U15s had a hugely successful Will Clamp-Gray captained the junior season under the guidance of Mr Forth tennis team this year and they performed who managed to get some good results well against Dragon, MCS, Moulsford from the talented players. There were and Cothill. Gus Mills, Marcello Cau-Tait wins against Stowe, Eton, Marlborough and Jack Walsh all look to be decent and St Edward’s to name a few and bets for the future, as they made up a the only losses came against Radley, strong A team. In the First Year, James Bradfield and, in the deciding set, against Bourdon showed great athleticism an unbeaten Wellington team. around the court and together with Freddie Stretch, Harry Anderson, Leon Peter Honey and Freddie Locock- Wu and Joseph Kelly, will form an Harrison played at first pair all season exceptionally strong U13 team next year. and were one of the most successful The Lower School doubles tournament pairings in the School. They played was won by Alex Turner and Alex alongside Matthew Kitchen and Elliott Gatenby, and the singles tournament Mills at second pair. There was massive by Marcello Cau-Tait who beat James Freddie Locock-Harrison competition for places at third pair with Bourdon in the final. Sanjay Bhattacharya and Toby Brown eventually securing the role. This team Steve Brenchley put in a massive amount of effort, training five days a week and being pushed to their limits by the coaching staff.

James Zhou, Nick Leah, Patrick Lawson- Statham, Mensun Yellowlees-Bound and Richard Matthews were all potential A team players and will undoubtedly continue to develop.

U14 Tennis Throughout a difficult season, there were big improvements in almost every player. There was a real determination to improve their games and lunchtime squad sessions were always well attended. In the absence of Giles Waterson, George Ruck and John Wiejak were the big players in this age group. They both have a good deal of potential and were ably supported by the likes of Thomas Kelly, Sam Hogan, Gem Vongseenin and Robert de la Harpe. The hard work of both the players and the coaching staff, Dr Wiejak and Mrs McRae, will pay dividends next year as the group step up to a strong inter- school fixture list.

Sam Murrell

172 The Abingdonian Sport Athletics

Achilles Relays 6 May Vale Athletics Team Trials 11 May Radley, St Edward’s, Wellington, It was a strong team with great hopes On a cool Tuesday, Abingdon School Abingdon Competition 13 May of success that travelled to this year’s Athletics Club took a small group It was an optimistic Athletics Club, with Achilles Relays. Our best chances were of athletes to the Vale Team trials at the Inters being particularly confident in the Inter 4x100m hurdles and the Radley. To their delight, and the interest despite being weakened by injury and Senior 4x800m. Both teams gave very of a local reporter, Abingdon swept the illness, which travelled to Radley for strong performances but were sadly board in two events, picking up the first this four-way competition. In the event outrun on the day by the teams from three places in the Senior 1500m with the Inters confidence was spot on and Harrow and Southend. In years gone Kempton, Muir and Watkins following they cruised ahead of the opposition to by we might reasonably have expected each other in in quick order. Not to be register their second win of the season, to win both races, but every year the outdone, the Inters’ sprinters managed thus maintaining their unbeaten record in competition gets hotter, so this result, to go one better, taking all four top full school matches. which equals our best in recent years, slots in the 100m. Sadly the reporter must be seen as outstanding. As a seemed to have left by then. Had he Highlights of the day included Stuart consolation, the Inters’ 4x100m team remained to would have seen Barnshaw, Jones cruising to a nearly 80m victory broke its own record with 46.9s, but Keown and Nott cross the line practically in the 1500m (nearly 30s ahead of were just out of the final. simultaneously with Boddington only a the nearest opposition runner). Other few steps behind. victories were Will Nott (100m 11.7s),

www.abingdon.org.uk 173 Peter Barnshaw (400m and hurdles), Will over-competition, a Chemistry exam and relay), Tom Fabes and Patrick Sardeson Barnes (shot 10.88m), Patrick Sardeson the FA Cup final, were conspiring against (in the javelin), Zander Cornish-Moore (javelin) (A-string), David Jorgensen us. In the end, even the Inters’ team (400m) and Alex Muir (800m) – the (400m), Matthew Hartshorne (800m), were beaten by Harrow, and not only most dramatic victory of the day in any Luke Terry (1500m), Patrick Sardeson by Harrow but also by a much-drilled event, by any competitor, went for the (high jump), and Ben Bryant (shot). Brighton College, so they had to settle second year running to Tom Watkins. He In the Juniors, Nick Boreham won the for third place. On full strength we might seemed to effortlessly ease to victory in shot (10.80m), and in spite of times of well have caught them, but it was still our the 2k steeplechase, more than half a lap 11.9s and 25.0s was just pipped at the best Harrow result so far. ahead of the competition, smashing his post in the 100m and 200m. Jonathan own School record in the process and Rothwell, Jamie Aspinall and Tom Fabes The hot competition led to some fine setting a new mark 6:28.1. also deserve mention for competing performances. In the 100m Niall Keown against the odds, with Tom being (11.3s – a School record) and Nick ESAA Track and Field Regional Final rewarded with a personal best time of Boreham (11.9s) seemed to be on fire, After a strong performance at the county 5.02.8 in the 1500m. with Nick also winning the shot (11.55m). English Schools’ Athletic Association The most dramatic of senior 800m races Track & Field Cup, Abingdon U16 team The Seniors team of Tom Foxon, Olly saw the first four through in under 2 travelled to Tipton with a clear target: Mallett, James Humberstone, David minutes, with Joe Kempton slashing the to do their best. Two weeks careful Snead and Nick Williams seemed happy School 800m record by over 5 seconds preparation, with the support of outside to fill any gaps they could, and were to 1:57.5. Our Inters’ 4x100m team coaches Kevin O’Hara and Alan Lerwill, rewarded with some pretty creditable finally got together the four Vale winners meant the team had done all they could performances. to lower the School record for the third to be ready. Some fine sprinting by Niall time this term to 46.7s. Keown and Patrick Sardeson set us Inter-Schools at Harrow 15 May up for a good final, though our most The Club knew they were in for a tough While there were many other successful track event was the 80m time at Harrow this year, not only were performances of note – not least from hurdles with Kieran Boddington (11.6s) Harrow stronger than ever but injury, Peter Barnshaw (in the 400m and 400m and Charlie Stenton-Putt (12.6s) getting

174 The Abingdonian Sport

us 49 points. In the field, Nick Boreham which led to some fast times, including Well done to O’Doherty’s for achieving topped the points with the shot (12.60m, 11.6s for Nick Boreham, which broke the overall victory, helped by victory in the 24 points), with Charlie Stenton-Putt Michael Summers’ five-year-old record. Sixth Year, second in the Fourth Year and (1.65m high jump), Niall Keown (5.78m The conditions also suited the javelin and fourth in the Third Year. Christodoulou’s long jump) and Patrick Sardeson helped the talented Patrick Sardeson to did well to come second with a victory in (39.56m javelin) not far behind. The 43.83m, breaking his own record by a the Third Year, with Franklin’s coming a discus throwers kept the team’s chances good 3 metres. It was, however, no help very respectable third overall. Southwell- up with Azarel Adebanjo and Christopher to the discus throwers at the other end Sander’s won the Fourth Year but were Tayler both scoring well (27.46m and of the field, but did not stop some fine let down by a largely absent Sixth-form 25.86m respectively). The other members performances with Christopher Tayler team. of the team all did their bit with Charles just missing the U17 record, and Sam Kruczko-Cousins, Jamie Aspinall, David Adamson adding more than a metre to It was a hugely demanding day for all Jorgensen, Mathew Hartshorne, Jacob the U15 mark with a throw of 26.00m. and many thanks must go to all the staff Templeman, Thomas Fabes and George On the day there was little chance of any and boys who made it such a fine event. Stoneham all getting valuable points. great middle-distance times, but it did not In the end we added 41 points to our stop some fine performances, not least George Moody previous total, achieving as much as from Tom Foxon who was way ahead in anyone could ask, but it was not enough the 1500m, and Laurence Lilley whose to catch the teams in front and the fine finish forced Thomas Fabes into winners, Northampton School, were well second place, but most dramatically from ahead on 476 points. Still, it all bodes Michael Fabes, who not only soundly Peter Barnshaw competed for the well for next year’s U17 team and for the beat all the Second Years but came over Oxfordshire Schools’ Intermediate future of athletics at Abingdon School. a minute ahead of the next First Year. Boys’ team in the ESAA Combined The inaugural Golden Mile proved a two- Events National Final at Stoke-on-Trent Inter-House Athletics horse – Watkins and Muir – race, with the on the 18/19 September, coming Abingdon’s annual Inter-House Athletics very tough conditions making it extremely 11th with a score of 4458, setting a Competition occurred on a brilliantly hard for all the competitors. In the personal best in the 100m hurdles bright and hot day with a strong wind end, Watkins and Muir crossed the line (14.29s) and helping the Oxfordshire running straight down the 100m track. together, the time unimportant compared team to second place, Peter’s Such conditions were ideal for the 100m, with the symbolic end to two outstanding teammates coming 4th and 15th. Abingdon running careers.

www.abingdon.org.uk 175 Cross Country

St Alban’s School Relays second spot by about 10 seconds; they Senior Squad – 25 November would have been second overall had the undefeated! We competed against ten or so other faster B team runners been included in schools over the 3km, undulating the team! The B team therefore scored a Possibly the most successful year to farmland terrain, which gave us the very impressive second place, just behind date… here’s how it unfolded: opportunity of surveying the opposition The Judd. Notable performances came who were the usual suspects: The Judd from three B team runners, David Wills, Longworth Village 10k School, St Alban’s School, RGS Guildford Alistair Duff and Luke Terry. 20 September – teams that have traditionally stood on Nineteen runners attended the the podium at the Knole Run – together Bicester Village 10k Longworth Village 10k race. The weather with many other hopefuls including 13 December was gloriously warm and sunny, perfect Tiffin School, Highgate, Haberdashers’ The Cross-Country Club travelled to the conditions for our runners, including Aske’s, Loughborough Grammar etc. outskirts of Bicester Village to compete three members of staff. Out of a field Interestingly, the mean times for both A alongside 430 or so senior runners in of around eighty recreational and club and B teams were reassuringly close, an open 10k road race, which annually runners, Thomas Watkins, Alexander suggesting a strength-in-depth that attracts some of the best club runners Muir and Joshua Ridley scored 3rd, 4th would prove very valuable later on in across the country since the course is and 5th places overall, with comfortable the season. Newly appointed captain completely flat. It was a crisp and sunny sub-40 minute times. Other notable Alexander Muir did an outstanding job day, the best conditions possible for performances included Alistair Duff, as last-leg runner for the A-team, and in racing in an event that serves as a time Stuart Jones, Luke Terry and Christian organizing the athletes on the day. The A trial and part of a selection process for Reedman scoring times comfortably team came third in their division, missing some of next term’s important races. under the 43 minute mark.

176 The Abingdonian Sport

Alexander Muir was the first Abingdon Terry placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall and the finish line 1st overall with a broad runner with a time of 35:21, he was hence winning their category easily. The smile and a one-last-time victory salute swiftly followed by another five boys, Seniors placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, alongside Thomas Watkins (2nd); they which saw six Abingdon boys in the top 7th, 8th and 9th overall with Thomas qualify for the All England race too along twenty – and two of them were Middle Watkins, Alexander Muir and Joe with Joshua Ridley (5th), Joe Kempton School boys – all placing sub-37 minute Kempton crossing the finish line at almost (6th), Michel Baumgart (8th), Robin Veale times. Special mention should go to identical times – easily ahead the field. (9th) and Alexander Veale (10th). Stuart Jones, Alistair Duff and Luke Terry who scored 36:04, 36:06 and County Championships Wellington College Relays 37:33 respectively, also to David Wills 2 February 6 February and Christian Reedman who clocked The U15s continued to gain race The day seemed as though it would be 38:06 and 38:17 and were the fastest experience while scoring some top a success from the very outset: we were improving athletes so far this term. What 20 individual positions. The U17s the first school to arrive, which gave was most encouraging was not just that dominated their race as a team, scoring us a good opportunity to do a careful six of our runners posted sub-37 minutes first position overall with Alistair Duff reconnaissance of the course. Although for 10k, but that a large cluster of Lower crossing the finish line triumphantly, familiar, the course is short enough to Sixth and Middle School boys came very closely followed by Stuart Jones – the allow individual tactical errors to turn into close behind them. two of them, along with Luke Terry mistakes, which the whole team could (6th), qualified to represent Oxfordshire pay for later on. Vale of White Horse Championships in the All England race in March. Most 28 January improved and impressive runner was Joe Kempton ran the fastest lap of the The U13s won their event with Michael Mathew Hartshorne who is on the day, and indeed since 2001, at 06:50 Fabes and James Bourdon coming 2nd reserve list for the All England race after – he was the first to set off from the and 3rd overall in their category. The scoring 10th position overall. U19s along with all the other runners U15s scored a disappointing 2nd place The U19s treated the crowds to a brilliant and, spectacularly, he returned first to but continued to gain experience. The display of teamwork, and a devastatingly the hand-over chute to the disbelief of U17s provided an excellent spectacle quick pace, to win their age category the onlookers. Tom Foxon, Josh Ridley, with Alistair Duff, Stuart Jones and Luke convincingly. Alexander Muir crossed Tom Watkins and last-leg Alex Muir then

Senior squad L to R – Chris Burgess, Alex Muir, Tom Watkins, Alex Veale, Robin Veale, Joe Kempton, Michel Baumgart, Josh Ridley

www.abingdon.org.uk 177 The U15A team improved from 3rd place in the Wellington College Relays to a fantastic 2nd place with Jack Walsh, Luke Teh, Robert O’Kelly and Thomas Fabes exhibiting remarkable courage under adverse weather conditions and a great deal of pressure – they ran a very impressive race. The B team unearthed some huge talent in the form of Michael Fabes who was easily the ‘man of the match’. His time was excellent and meant that his team of Jonathan Rothwell, Angus Parker and Yegor Pomazounov scored 6th place.

Marlborough College Races 25 February Our opponents here were Marlborough, Harrow, Cheltenham, Radley, Kingswood, MCS, Winchester, and St Edward’s. The course provided a classic cross-country treated everyone to a masterclass of Radley, Winchester, Magdalen College running challenge and the weather made exciting and how-to-win-in-style running. School, The Piggott School, Mill Hill, sure that it was as difficult as possible They were over a minute ahead of the Wellington, Westminster, Marlborough too. Conditions underfoot were muddy, second team and collected their gold and St Edward’s. The U19A team won slippery and at times simply impossible medals shortly afterwards – and again in in emphatic style with Joe Kempton, to get any speed going. However, our School assembly on Monday. Josh Ridley, Thomas Watkins and runners relished the course, and the Alexander Muir bringing their very own conditions, using both as an opportunity The U17s won but not by the margins perfection to the race for the others to to prepare for the forthcoming South they are used to, or by the U19 margins. compete against, with the result that East Schools’ Championships, but While their talent remains irrefutable Abingdon dominated again. The B team also enjoying a tough course for what there is still experience and wisdom to beat another five A teams and all other it was. The Juniors were really starting be gained. Nonetheless, Stuart Jones, B and C teams to score 4th place – to show a wonderful team spirit with Rory Marsh, Christian Reedman, Luke another 17 seconds would have seen Angus Parker and Jack Walsh working Terry and Alistair Duff ran a successful them in 3rd place. Michel Baumgart, very well together on the harsh hills of race worthy of gold medals too. Special Nicholas Williams, Clym Buxton and Wiltshire. Luke Teh, Michael and Thomas mention should go to Luke Terry who Robin Veale ran superbly and next year, Fabes and especially Robert O’Kelly were ran what the coaches thought was sadly without Michel, they will have the really quite impressive to watch as they the ‘gutsiest’ leg. In the U15s, special opportunity to improve hugely on those quickly picked up the tricks of pacing, mention should go to Luke Teh who times. The U17s were clearly more attacking on the inclines and shadowing stepped into the team at the very last serious and supremely concentrated on the opposition. The Intermediates simply moment when needed – he, Jack Walsh, this occasion; they are gradually finding dominated with seven runners in the top Angus Parker, Rob O’Kelly and Tom the chance to be unbeaten all season 8 – Alistair Duff won the age category. Fabes ran a great race, which saw them a rather tantalizing one: Stuart Jones, Special mention should go to Fourth- being awarded bronze medals – well Christian Reedman, Luke Terry and former Mathew Hartshorne who came deserved indeed. Alistair Duff were no match for anyone 4th after an excellent race – very well or any team. The B team came 4th, done to him. The Seniors enjoyed Radley College Relays beating four other A teams and as many themselves, is the best way to put it: 11 February B teams: Edward Wigmore, Mathew Thomas Watkins won the race, closely Hartshorne, Edward Firth and Rory Six four-man teams attended the followed by his trusted lieutenants Radley Relays to race against Eton, Marsh showed our strength-in-depth.

178 The Abingdonian Sport

Alex Muir and Joe Kempton. Most for our success, rather we train hard a fantastic leg with brilliant athleticism impressive though were Robin Veale and and smartly. Suffice it to say that after and total dedication. So they won Nicholas Williams who demonstrated Saturday’s race, many raced on Sunday comfortably. The Seniors were next and huge maturity and good pacing – very in the Oxford Mail league, and then the their nervousness was palpable. Josh promising indeed. Naturally, the post- next day completed the usual brutal Ridley, Robin Veale, Michel Baumgart, match supper was an excuse for some Monday speed session... ‘nough said... Thomas Watkins, Alex Muir and Joe to eat as much as possible, and the Kempton knew that they absolutely had journey back was, as usual, highly Birmingham Lucton Trophy Relays to win – there was no other option. entertaining. 17 March We were up against some very strong This was the trophy that got away from opposition and after the third leg things South East Schools’ Championships the senior team last year by a margin of began to look very tight indeed and the – Harrow School 10 seconds over 2km with a six-man coaches started to get nervous too. 6 March relay team! The pressure was mounting However, when I see Tom, Alex and This race saw us crowned the fastest for the runners, partly because if the Joe about to race, I always have a little school for cross-country running, seniors won it would mean they’d had an saying that goes through my head: ‘... something that for the senior runners undefeated season, but more importantly bombs away...’ and indeed it was just was the culmination of three years of for both the Seniors and Intermediates, that. The first three legs held the enemy waiting and, especially for this season, it was the final opportunity to test the at bay; the last three did the damage. I seven months of very hard training. All opposition in a different part of the guess you had to be there to enjoy the of a sudden the weekly two-hour runs country. We were very nervous day as spectacle for what it was: running at it its on the Ridgeway, and coach Ashton’s we had never raced against some of best, teamwork at its best and sacrifice speed sessions in the cold November the schools taking part and hence their at its best. Even when they knew they afternoons, in faint light and when potential prowess was unfamiliar to us. were comfortably ahead they still pushed everyone else had gone home, were well The Intermediates took off first with hard, crossing the hand-over chute on worth it. The seniors won, beating all Alistair Duff, Christian Reedman, Luke their knees gasping for oxygen in serious their main rivals convincingly. There was Terry, Mathew Hartshorne, Rory Marsh lactic-acid induced pain, fully extended. no strong independent school missing and Stuart Jones. Essentially each Why push so hard? … Abingdon School from the fixture list, the course was very runner gained us about 8 seconds on Senior Cross-Country Running Squad hard, and all the other teams looked the opposition and by the end of the race 2009-2010 … UNDEFEATED! very strong indeed so this was no easy Abingdon had a margin of 50 seconds. I success. Interestingly, the fact that our am still struggling to find the runner who Alexis Christodoulou six scoring senior runners were so very impressed Mr O’Doherty, Mr Middleton close to each other suggests that we and me the most. I think that all six ran do not rely on the luxury of talent alone

J16s L to R – Luke Terry, Christian Reedman, Mathew Hartshorne, Stuart Jones, Alistair Duff, Rory Marsh, Edward Firth, Joe Greenman

www.abingdon.org.uk 179 University Places taken up by Abingdon boys in 2010

Aberdeen Cardiff Leeds Royal Holloway UL Computing Science with Industrial Ancient & Medieval History Economics & Philosophy English & Classical Studies Placement Architectural Studies Product Design German & Italian Aberystwyth Medicine Geography St George’s UL International Politics with French English Literature International Business Biomedical Sciences Bath Architectural Studies Liverpool Medicine Chemistry (4 years with study year City Veterinary Science Shef!eld abroad) Management Architecture Aerospace Engineering Biochemistry Durham Latin American & Hispanic Studies Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Classics Loughborough School of Oriental & African Birmingham Philosophy, Politics & Economics Chemistry & Sports Science Studies, UL Modern Languages with Business Modern Languages Chinese (Modern & Classical) Management London School of Economics Economics French Studies Economics Southampton Business Economics Geography Manchester Geography Chemistry Business Management Chemical Engineering Ship Science/Yacht & Small Craft Chemistry (International) Geography Medicine History Natural Sciences Geography and History Modern Languages & Mechanical Engineering Mechanical & Materials Exeter Business and Management (Italian) Geography Engineering Geography Economics St Andrew’s Geography Geography Newcastle Ancient History Brighton Geography Biomedical Sciences Medicine Geography History & Ancient History Medicine Classical Studies Business Economics Bristol Medicine Sussex Economics & Finance Spanish & Portuguese Nottingham English Engineering Geography with Study in Economics Swansea Continental Europe Economics Oxford Geography Ancient History Arabic & Middle East Studies Engineering Business Economics Economics & Management Harper Adams St Hilda’s University College London Medicine Agriculture with Farm Business Biochemistry Classics English & Classical Studies Management St Catherine’s Economics Chemistry Imperial College London Classics Biochemistry Civil Engineering Biochemistry Queen’s Law with German Law Medicine Cambridge Physics with Theoretical Physics Balliol Chemistry Politics, Psychology & Sociology Biomedical Science Music Statistics, Economics & Finance Clare Electrical & Electronic Engineering Lincoln Mechanical Engineering Natural Sciences Medicine Classics & French Peterhouse Geology Brasenose Biochemistry Politics, Psychology & Sociology Information Systems Engineering Economics & Management History Trinity Medicine St Hilda’s Geography Philosophy Medicine Medicine History of Art with Material Studies Peterhouse Brasenose Warwick Medicine King’s College London Oxford Brookes Queens’ French & Hispanic Studies Mechanical Engineering Architecture Natural Sciences Classics Economics Jesus War Studies Peninsula Medical School History Classics: Greek & Latin History Medicine Sociology Robinson Business Management Queen Mary UL Mechanical Engineering Classics: Greek & Latin Engineering Business Management Trinity Hall Physiotherapy Information & Communications History Economics French & History Technology in the Business Environment Christ’s Classics Westminster Medicine Lancaster Commercial Music Royal Agricultural College Marketing Rural Land Management York Chemistry

180 The Abingdonian Upper Sixth Leavers 2010

Luke Abbott James Carter Rob Fife James Hutchings Jasper Marlow James Pickard Liam Smith Bobby Aigbogun Alexander Carver Thomas Finch Will Hutton Julian Martin James Plumb Joshua Stedman Alexander Daniel Choi Charlie Floyd Ali Ibrahim Joe Mason Stephen Poland Guy Stephens Anderson Matthew Choi William Fotherby Jonathan Ient Joe McDonagh Mark Power Smith Barry Stephens Ben André Kenneth Chow Jacob Fries Thomas Richard Meadows Jonathan Michael Summers James Baldwin Jenkinson Prest-Smith David Choy Eric Gartz Richard Milford Lewis Swain Freddie Barber Tian Ji Sam Prior Mihai Clapaniuc Julius Gerstmeyer Henry Mills Ted Thompson Jonathan Barrow Nam Hweu Jo Tommy Pritchard Freddie Cleworth Harrison Gray Caspian Mitchard Jack Tinker John Bartlett Joe Kempton Zahi Qamhawi George Constable Anthony Richard Moon Oliver Todd Tom Bateman Grieveson Callum Keown Stuart Rankin James Cook Hugo Morrison Alexander Veale Ulrich Bauer Robert Henley Henry Kibble Ben Read Matthew Copson Alex Muir Alexander Ward Michel Baumgart Matthew Hinkins Laurence Krall Oliver Read Andrew Dart Andrew Nagi Thomas Watkins Alexander Beech Ben Hogan Leon Lai Tim Richards Alexander Davis Sam Newman Nathaniel Watkins Henry Beggin James Holland Simon Lam Charlie Robertson Andrew Doll Sanford Ngai Aidan Watts Alexander Black Freddie Howe Gabriel Ling Dylan Robinson Jasper Done Alistair Nicoll James Wilson Daniel Boddington Edward Howe Anthony Lloyd Jack Rogers Henry Dunbar Richard Oastler Thomas Wilson Ramon Bon"eld Thomas Hughes Robert Lloyd George Rossiter James Edwards William Otterburn Robert Winearls Charles Brampton James Adrian Lo Jakob Schleu Christopher Alex Park Jonathan Wong Humberstone Peter Brombley Edwards Stuart Lonergan Alexander Luke Parker Henry Wood Fred Humfrey Shukhobodskiy Richard Brown Beno Edwards Tom Lowenthal Richard John Yoo Edward Richard Slade Chris Burgess Nigel Emodi Max Makarov Parkin-Mason Humphries Andrei Smirnov Edward Callow Alex Ereaut Olly Mallett Bhavik Patel Robert Hussey Joshua Smith Euan Campbell Dami Etomi Veeral Manek Geoff Penington