Abingdonian 2013 2 The Abingdonian 2012 – 2013 Volume XXV No. 2 Issue 317 Contents Editorial 2 Head’s Foreword 3 Michaelmas Term 4 Lent Term 30 Summer Term 54 House Reports 94 Staff Farewells 113 1 Editorial The academic year of 2012/13 was one in which Abingdon School both considered its past and looked ahead to its future and this is reflected in the cover of this issue of The Abingdonian. The front shows a selection of items from the online exhibition A History of Abingdon School in 63 Objects, created to mark the 450th anniversary of John Roysse’s bequest in 1563, while the back shows computerised images of the new Science Centre, announced this year, which is due to open in September 2015. The pages within contain a wide range of articles that give a sense of all that went on in another very busy and suc- cessful year. The design team of Henry Cheung, Matthew Gill and Benedict Zeally have worked extreme- ly hard to bring this magazine to fruition, grappling with the intricacies of design software, choosing the right images to illustrate the text, and sorting out all the layout. Thanks go to them, those boys and colleagues who helped with proofreading, and all those who wrote articles. Adam Jenkins Editor 2 Head’s Foreword I always look forward immensely to opening my brand new copy of The Abingdonian when it lands on my desk some time during the Michaelmas Term. Not, of course, that I am surprised these days by the huge range of events described within its covers, for that won’t surprise anyone who knows Abingdon at all well. What I see here brings a smile to my face and a great sense of pride in our boys and their range of interests and achievements. From the youngest to the most senior boys in the School, every sector of our community is represented in some way. There are exceptional achievements here in many spheres of Abingdon life, and there is also a sense of the initiative, individuality and creativity of our boys. It’s fantastic to read. I am sure you will smile too. Felicity Lusk 3 Michaelmas Term The First Day I wake up twenty minutes early and still manage to leave five minutes late. I run as fast as I can (arguably, not that fast!) and find no one at the bus stop. I think I have missed the bus, but after five minutes of checking my watch the first people start filtering in. I nervously look at my feet until the bus arrives. As soon as I get on, I realise that the second years are really, really nice. Luckily, I know a couple of people, but even then I remember being split into our quarter of an hour late as we I didn’t I know that I’d be fine. classes, and lining up in the didn’t realise Mercer’s Court Houseroom. We met our existed. Oops! Registration. I see many faces, mentors, and then were some look familiar from Open whisked off into the flurry of Since then, the school has Day, but they don’t look scary, daily routine. My first Abingdon become a bank of memories, or mean, or anything like that. lunch was a tasty kind of curry where lots of special moments They look just how I imagine thing, which we ate excitedly have taken place - like the myself; anxious and scared. before rushing from the dining Lower School Public Speaking, I relax and my fears of being hall to explore the school. I which my tutor group won, and different are put to rest. remember meeting my tutor the Kids’ Lit Quiz in Oxford. The and my teachers, talking to the first year trip to Liddington was The school is huge compared other new boys, and just great; the most bizarre moment to my old one. There are generally gazing at everything, was waking up to find that hundreds of people bustling especially my new uniform. my roommate had decided to around, laughing and talking. spend the night in the bath! The We have a map to help us At the beginning, I got lost a classics trip to Caerleon was around; a CLEAR map but I still few times; I even ended up in also fun. manage to get lost on the way the wrong class twice. However to History! Thankfully the the teachers were all very I love the Other Half, the music, teacher understands. understanding, even when the the sports, and the lessons, and entire class arrived at a lesson a being on the School Council. I really enjoyed my first day! Seamus Ramsey 1BJLP I started at Abingdon in Sep- tember 2012, and already I feel like I have been here forever! I remember my first day, when everything was so big and so new. Big school was, in my opinion, appropriately named. 4 Michaelmas Term I had great fun playing Feste in Boarding brings everyone in The first week went very well. the Lower School drama the house closer to each other People were incredibly welcom- production of Twelfth Night, and through a sense of family and ing and willing to take the time the trip to a Propeller community. The life of a board- to help me with any problem I production of the play in, to er really kick-starts at the end had; it took little time for me to show us how it should be done, of the school day - the array fit right in. The school also was inspiring. of activities offered before and offers a great range of after prep provides a dynam- Other Half activities. I’ve I think the community is great; ic balance in our lives, which already joined, and immensely everyone feels like they belong. keeps us going. If going to the enjoy, the Debating Society and There is always a friendly face gym and doing a thousand arm playing rugby for the school. to turn to, and I have made lots curls isn’t your thing, you could of new friends. Bring on the go for a game of badminton or On the first Sunday I was second year! even to the climbing wall and invited along with all of the new work on your ninja skills. sixth formers and some of the Alasdair Czaplewski 1HFCP existing students to take part in During the weekends, where “It’s a knockout”. This was an life here switches to a slow inflatable assault course style lane, we have an array of trips competition that lasted around New Boarders to keep us busy. Whether it’s six hours. It was great fun and a day trip to Thorpe Park or a gave us all a good opportunity It’s a sight most of you readers welcome dinner, these activities to compete against each have to go through every year keep you busy all the time. other and get to know other as you notice the terrified look sixth formers and form more of new boys lost somewhere, Taking on this new life has been friendships. too shy to ask for directions, a big change for some of us as the late arrivals to class and we are given the opportunity to All in all, joining Abingdon has our realisation that the weather try and experience many things been the smoothest transition here is pretty rubbish. Being that we previously have not had to a new school I have ever the “new guy” isn’t the easiest the opportunity to enjoy. had. I have never met students thing to do on earth, but we try Abingdon is not simply a so keen to make new students to fit in as much as we can and school, but a community. feel at home and help them to we couldn’t have done it with- get used to the school. out the positivity and the friend- Michael Chan 6MIL liness of those in the school Jacob Reid 6MIL community, who are more than willing to help, even if it is just There are few things more directions to M117 or how to daunting than starting at a new pass a rugby ball. school, let alone a school with the tradition and heritage of For the average Hong Kong Abingdon. I was worried about kid who suddenly finds himself making friends, getting lost 6000 miles away from home, and the workload. I arrived at boarding life turned out great the school a day before most in the end. Sleep was the first students to take part in an thing noticeable, waking up at induction day. The only other 7:30am for breakfast and not new dayboy and I were shown running out the door with a slice around the school and we met of toast in your mouth late for the boarders who had arrived school made life way easier. the day before. Michael Chan and Jacob Reid 5 Honduras Fifteen boys ranging from fifth year to Upper Sixth gathered in Heathrow airport to travel to Honduras, in order to assist and learn from the scientists of Operation Wallacea. After finally getting through US customs in Miami, flying to San Pedro Sula, and (mostly) surviving a nauseating truck ride up to the mountains on the following day, we arrived to a warm welcome in Base Camp of Cusuco National Park. On our first day we began the course of lectures on ecology, We were also introduced to hammocks, a campfire to eat which continued while at Base the REDD scheme, a process around, and a trench system for Camp, with different scientists by which, after calculating the toilets.