Newsletter Spring 2017 Follow us on Facebook: OldQueenians 1 President’s There are a number of reunions in the Summer Term; these are listed on Page page 4. If it’s been a while since you last went to an OQ dinner, reunion or event, elcome I can say they are surprisingly good to the fun, and often a fantastic networking Wfirst Old opportunity. They’re also an integral Queenians newsletter part of our objective to retain and renew of 2017 and my first old friendships and to make new ones as President. between old, not so old, and soon to be Old Qs. By attending an event, you might I would like to thank my predecessor, reconnect with an old friend; make Ben Porter (1998 – 2003), for his efforts new friends; open a door to someone over the past two years, and it’s great professionally; or, perhaps, find your that he will remain on the Committee. future husband or wife … stranger things At a well-attended AGM in November, have happened! Alicia Edwards (1998 – 2012), accepted the position of Vice President which is If you have any suggestions for future terrific. I am also pleased to welcome OQ events or if you’re planning your own Mike Gough (1969 – 1976), Amy Alger- ‘unofficial’ OQ meet up/reunion, please Green (2004 – 2010) and Oscar Webb do let Geoff, Kathryn and Ken in the (2009 – 2016) as members of the OQA Development Office know. They love to Committee. It will be great to have new hear your news, and would be pleased to faces and fresh ideas around the table assist you. over the coming years. In the meantime, check out the OQA Since ‘taking office’ in November pages hosted on the school’s new 2016, I’ve attended a number of OQA website to see what Old Queenians have social events including the November been getting up to. It can be accessed Remembrance Dinner and the hockey via www.oldqueenians.com. Also, matches the following day, the Vintage make sure to follow the school’s and Lunch, and the Taunton and London the association’s Twitter and Facebook Christmas dinners. There are details accounts for bang-up-to-date news. about these events in this newsletter. All were a great chance to catch up with old I hope you have a great 2017. friends and meet new faces. Mark Davenport (1997 – 2005) 2 The Development Page ince the Wyvern Wall initiative was summer – not only those in Year 13 announced in the last newsletter but also those who did so last July, Sthere has been considerable interest whatever their cohort. in it. The picture shows you what it looks like, with the name of each contributor This edition of the newsletter will be clearly visible and, for OQs, the dates sent to all OQs for whom we have an when they were at school. The Wyvern email address. It appears that many, Wall occupies a prominent place in the especially those of a young generation, Dining Hall. The names of OQs, teachers would prefer to receive the newsletter and friends of the school can be added to this way. However, if you do receive a the Wyvern Wall for £50. Please contact newsletter electronically but would the Development Office if you would like prefer a paper copy, please let us know to be involved. The proceeds go to the and we will ensure one is posted to you. Queen’s College Taunton Foundation. Only those for whom we do not have an email address have been sent a paper An important change was made last copy. If you are one of these, do please year in defining the membership of let us know what your email address is the OQA. Until recently, former pupils - even if you would prefer the newsletter of the School only became OQs when to be posted in future. Please also keep they reached the age of 18 years even us updated on any changes of address if they had left Queen’s at a younger (email or postal). We are dependent age. This qualification has been on you for news so please let us know abandoned. As such, it is a pleasure of anything of interest, whether of a to offer a belated welcome into the personal or more general nature. OQA to all those who left Queen’s last Ken Bird and Geoff Bisson 3 The Cover entered a Cosplay competition in Manchester last summer and won a Costume prize for their costumes. The picture on the front cover of this newsletter Lucy Robertshaw (2003 - 2013) shows how striking Lucy’s costume is studying Computer Science at was and it is unsurprising that it Cardiff University. In tandem with her was rewarded. Later, she attended academic studies she is developing her Gamescom, Europe’s biggest games interest in computer games. Cosplay convention, when ‘Black Desert - a performance art - has proved to be Online’ was exhibiting. The CEO of very popular. Using the pen name Kazy the game was extremely welcoming Cosplay, Lucy recently wrote an article and so impressed with her costume about her experiences in Gaiscioch that he invited Lucy to attend a games magazine, an online publication for convention in the Netherlands, at computer gamers. In late October the company’s expense. Lucy is now she went to the Comic Con in London preparing for her finals at Cardiff and with her friend, Rhys. The armour sets hopes to secure a place at the Royal they wore were from a game called Welsh College of Music and Drama ‘Black Desert Online’. A newspaper to study Design for Performance, reporter was so taken with their specialising in costume design. Her costumes that he took a photograph interest in this field stems from her which appeared in The Times on A Level Textiles studies at Queen’s. 31st October. Earlier, Lucy and Rhys Geoff Bisson Reunions 10th June: 1992 Leavers (contact Tim Spoor) with an evening meal at Queen’s 17th June: 1972 Leavers (contact David Crocker) with an evening meal at Queen’s 17th June: 1977 Leavers (contact Andrew Sewell) with an evening meal at the Vivary Arms 24th June: 1967 Leavers (contact Phil Jubb) with an evening meal at Oake Manor Golf Club Each of the above will be preceded with a welcome reception at Queen’s, a tour of the school, time to watch sport or visit Taunton, afternoon tea. 25th June: Annual OQs Summer Sunday (OQs v School Cricket Match; family tennis and swimming, buffet lunch, tours of the school, afternoon tea) 4 News from competition. Our U18 rugby team the Head hosted and competed in a successful West of England 7s tournament winning Boy and two out of five matches against tough Head Girl opposition. They joined the U13 side travelling to the Rosslyn Park National he Taunton and Somerset Sevens tournament. Music Festival was held this Tterm and there were many After winning the West Finals of Indoor pupils from Queen’s involved. Also, Hockey our U18 boys’ team competed there have been many concerts this in the National Finals for the first time term including the informal rock and in Queens’ history. They came fourth unplugged concert which provided in their group, just missing out on the some splendid entertainment. It started semi-finals. They are now enjoying a with the Junior String Quartet which successful season in outdoor hockey; was followed by a range of solo items they are currently unbeaten and are covering all styles of music. advancing strongly through the rounds of the National Cup competition. Tim Ben Brown and Phoebe Webber are Nurse has also been named winner of among 200 pupils selected to take part the ‘Youth, Boys 18 and Under’ category in the Holocaust Education Trust’s as part of the Hockey Writers’ Club Lessons from Auschwitz Project. They Higgins Group youth and junior player of flew to Poland to attend a course and the year awards. to be given a tour of the former Nazi camp. The dance show, ‘Fly’, was performed - inspired by the Ugly Duckling - in In cross country, five pupils from which young actors tackled issues of Queen’s College were selected bullying as good triumphed over evil. It to compete for Somerset at the was a big success and described by the English Schools Championships in County Gazette as being ‘a truly magical Norfolk. Queen’s College swimmers performance’. We now look forward to performed well at the Somerset County the Middle School play, ‘The Lion, the Championships with several of them Witch and the Wardrobe’, which will be gaining county titles and medals. Jacob performed on 18th and 19th May. Greenow went on to represent England Dan Wilde (Head Boy) and in Marseilles at an international Beth Alexander (Head Girl) 5 Volunteering in Sri Lanka ri Lankans are very proud of their motor skills. We taught English at country, culture and religion and schools and orphanages, with lesson Sanyone who has been fortunate plans swiftly adapted when 30 children enough to make that journey across the turned up instead of five! Indian Ocean, will understand why. I spent a month volunteering with SLV, on their Psychology Graduate Mental Health Placement, run in partnership with Samutthana, the King’s College London resource centre for trauma, displacement and mental health in Sri Lanka. We ran therapeutic sessions at clinics and community centres for individuals suffering from an array of mental health issues, who were at varying stages of their recovery, along with people with special needs.