THE BRADFIELDIAN The May 2017 Spring Concert MAY 2017 MAY Pupils end the term on a high note Also in this issue: WWW.BRADFIELDCOLLEGE.ORG.UK • Meet the Caterers • Greek Play Preview • Driving Force: Charlotte Phelps • Richard Adams Photograph by WILL OATES WILL Published by: Bradfield College, Bradfield, Berkshire, RG7 6AU • www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk Edited by: Stephen Wallace • Photographs: Will Oates, Julia Smith, Stephen Wallace Contact: Editor: [email protected] Bradfield Society: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradfieldCollege Twitter: twitter.com/BradfieldCol The May 2017 Contents Features Athena Lectures 4 p14 Extended Skillset 10 Dear reader, ‘I can only repeat. I have been more Meet the Caterers 14 consistently happy in Greeker than anywhere else at all.’ Greek Play Preview 20 Thus writes Richard Adams (H 33-38) in his autobiography, The Day Gone By. Alongside the obituary of this Mythamorphosis 24 celebrated OB, this Bradfieldian includes a preview of the next opportunity to enjoy an experience which Adams EDCLUB Movement 26 described as ‘the privilege and heritage p20 of Bradfieldians’. Further testimony to Charlotte Phelps 36 the lifelong impact of Bradfield’s unique tradition comes through the words and careers of the cast of the 1982 Persae 1982 40 performance of the Persae who are profiled in these pages. Richard Adams 48 Elsewhere, articles about the Athena lecture series and the research projects of our Sixth Formers reflect ways in Letters to the Editor 52 which we continue to focus on the development of skills and interests which p26 reach beyond the confines of the formal curriculum and last beyond results day. As ever, this edition also includes news of last term, including golf and football triumphs and a vibrant spring concert. Regulars Just as Watership Down has been College News 6 interpreted as political allegory (not always to its author’s pleasure), so is Greek drama variously interpreted Performing Arts 18 by new audiences. As the tectonic p36 plates of world politics feel increasingly Outreach 25 uneasy beneath our feet, it is fascinating to revisit a play which asks questions about nationhood and leadership, whilst Sports 30 revealing the bitter harvest of pride. I very much hope to meet many of our OB Affiliated Clubs 39 readers in Greeker this summer. Bradfield Society 43 Dr Christopher Stevens, p48 Obits and Weddings 50 Headmaster 3 Roger Keeley talks Athena Lectures Charlie Walker he academic Charlie Walker (H 99-04) whetted encompasses elements of the whole the audience’s appetite for future gamut of Sixth Form subjects, from week reaches a travels with the captivating story of his Philosophy to Physics. conclusion for epic four and a half year, 45,000-mile Mike Hurst, who made his name as cycle ride to the furthest extremities the Sixth Form a performer in the 1960s pop scene of the Eurasian and African continents. T (with The Springfields) and later pupils with the Athena The lecture was so well received as a record producer, is an annual lecture, an opportunity that Charlie was invited back to tell fixture in the Athena line-up. With us more about the country in which to meet together as a the help of his singing voice and he received the warmest hospitality guitar, he brought the venue to life year group in the Music during his journey. School on Saturday with his lecture The Musicmakers in In this second talk, he put the current which he unravelled the history of morning to listen to a geopolitical and cultural status of Iran, popular music. Mike explained that a talk by someone from a much misunderstood country, into combination of the African slave trade, outside the immediate a complex historical context. This religious music from Britain, forced was also the first in a series of special migration from Eastern Europe, Bradfield community. events to mark this year’s Greek Play the proliferation of American radio at Bradfield – Persae (‘The Persians’) stations and the emergence of the There is no set agenda for this cycle by Aeschylus. Andy MacKay’s ‘teen-ager’ all fuelled the dominance of visiting speakers, so the topics are lecture Shock of the New traced of the USA as the global centre diverse and often cross the the development of Modernism of popular music culture, until the curricular boundaries between from 1760 to 1960 and, with the emergence of The Beatles and the academic subjects, as illustrated by help of some arresting images: he Rolling Stones caused a transatlantic the 2016/17 programme. reminded us that a study of art history shift in power in the early Sixties. A key feature of the Athena was informative and very entertaining, programme is the opportunity it as well as eliciting many questions provides for Old Bradfieldians to from the pupils. The big screen and return to their alma mater to speak sound system in the Music School Hall on areas of interest or to reflect shimmered and throbbed respectively back on their career path since as we witnessed short films, music leaving school. Tim Maltin’s (A 86-91) videos and commercials created by beautifully illustrated and thoroughly this very talented individual who is researched talk set out to dispel the certainly a name to watch. myths surrounding the 1912 sinking of In Jeremy Felwick’s (B 88-93) talk A the Titanic, in the course of which he Story of Accidental Entrepreneurship his revealed the importance of the science key life message was ‘meaning over behind the visibility of icebergs under money’ as he recounted his decision certain meteorological conditions. to launch a business based around In his lecture The Cinema as Time Machine a street food van specialising in Tim Maltin Paul Cuff (E 98-03) enthusiastically meatballs – we hope that he will bring shared his many years of research into the van itself on a future visit! by summarising his time in the Royal the 1927 silent film Napoléon directed by Marines whilst at the same time The year’s programme was book- Abel Gance. The one-hour time slot only reminding us of the vital but hazardous ended by two very different talks. Dave allowed limited, albeit stunning, clips role performed by the military in Griffiths (H 82-86) reprised his solo from this 332-minute epic that was maintaining the security of the country. Edinburgh Fringe Festival comedy show decades ahead of its time in terms of in which he relates his real-life story of Each week the senior pupils leave the cinematic techniques. a legal battle with a major international lecture with plenty to think about and An on-stage interview with OB corporation. Dom Rogers (D 96-01) discuss as they move on to their next filmmaker Taichi Kimura (A 00-06) finished the Lent Term programme weekend commitment. Jez Felwick 5 College News The World of Design The Design Department welcomed three guest speakers teachers advising against pursuing a career in the discipline. in January to give current pupils an insight into the He subsequently set up Studio Octopi with a friend from various aspects of the industry and to share their career university, working on domestic and commercial properties experiences. Old Bradfieldians Olly Murphy (F 03-08), a in and around the London area. freelance graphic designer, and Chris Romer-Lee (A 86- They have received an RIBA award for their work and Chris 90), co-founder of Studio Octopi, were joined by Imran was the architect involved in the restoration of the Greek Chouglay, Director of Engaging Education. Theatre here at Bradfield. His passion for swimming has led All three started studying design in some form both before to further expanding into a side company Thames Bath who and at university but have since developed careers in very are developing a naturally filtering, floating lido for the River different directions. A Design degree can lead to hugely Thames in central London. successful careers in a vast range of areas of the industry. Imran studied Industrial Design at Loughborough. He learnt The talks were very widely received and not only by the a lot about the industry whilst on placement in Singapore Sixth Form who hosted our guests for dinner and drinks on with OSIM and gained an interest in designing products for the evening. children with companies in Hong Kong and Lake Como, Italy. Since leaving Bradfield, Olly has worked on many product and Imran talked to the pupils about his final piece at university; graphic design projects where he could put skills learnt from a children’s night light that ran on kinetic energy that charged Design and Technology A Level to good use. After graduating as the child played with the product during the day. Olly worked for a small design company gathering insight into In his second year he was approached by a friend to do how a business works. He explained that this was where he some freelance branding work for a start-up company, which realised he wanted to remain hands-on in the design process later developed into the company Engaging Education, of whilst not having to be concerned with the manufacturing which he is now Director. The company runs workshops in of designing such products. This is what led him to start schools to transform their work into products and resources freelance work and he has consequently completed projects including school magazines, comic books, mobile apps and for Deliciously Ella, Disney and black + blum. promotional videos and Imran is involved in the graphics and Chris encouraged the pupils to follow their dreams. He branding of these products.