The Edwardian The News Magazine of FOSEC and St Edward's College, Liverpool Issue 13 Summer 1994 Friends of St Edward's College Vice Presidents 1994 Colonel J.G. Bryson Mr W. E. Hughes HH Judge J. Morgan Dr D.O. Hughes Mr S.E. Mann Mr C. McDermott Sir Brian Pearse Mr J. Granby The Maxwell Davies Festival INSIDE ......... 8chool PageS ' .........Ik Page 6 ...... II8d1. Page' 7 ......rvIceS to.. "e CGnImunltv Pag~7 The origins of the festival go back many prefects. I am more than grateful to them for years to the time when, after the Chamber their support for they helped create the most Choir and Orchestra had performed Sir Peter's important musical event in the history of the "0 Magnum Mysterium" for him, he agreed school. to write something for the school. As he is one There were some outstanding performances of the world's' most celebrated and busiest and none were less than good. Inevitably the composers we had to wait. In the interim I most exciting were the premieres: 'A Hoy began to plan a small festival which would act Calendar' by the St Edward's Consort and as an envelope, as it were, to our new work. 'Chat Moss' by the Chamber Orchestra. Both When it eventually appeared 'it' turned out to are wonderful pieces and the latter has formed be two pieces not one: "Chat Moss" and "A the basis of Sir Peter's new symphony which is Hoy Calender". We were delighted, though being premiered at the Proms this summer. also apprehensive, because we' had very little Both are dedicated to the school and both will time to learn the new works and because Sir take their place among a most distinguished Peter was flying in from Germany to attend the body of work. premieres. By this time we were already At the end of this concert, as well as meeting . rehearsing two operas and numerous concerts the distinguished guests, Sir Peter spoke with with some 150 pupils as well as supervising the performers, had his photograph taken with performances at the Cathedral, for we were them and signed many autographs. He must fortunate to have the collaboration of the have been very tired, but he did not show it, Cantata Choir and Cathedral Orchestra and of responding with interest to the myriad of musicians from the Liverpool Institute of questions thrown at him. I thought of this next Higher Education, one of whom, Robin morning when a small group of us got up at 5 Hartwell, wrote a work for Francis Davies, one a.m. to see him off on his journey to Scotland. ~~"O;. of our sixth formers. This led me to compose He is 60 this year, yet has the energy and PagitS . .' a piece for another senior musician, Benjamin stamina of a much younger man. More than Sills. this, he has a formidable intellect and the .. ;k:••• > ............ The two weeks of the festival were extremely capacity to adapt, seemingly instantly, to the busy, involving not only musicians but shifting demands of his life as conductor, ~ ••e1.· members of the Junior School, particularly Mr committee-man, speaker, artistic-director and Y, \1 ,'" d',(~tc ~:/: }!~:;,," Paul Booth, the Art, Design and Technology pre-eminently composer. We can go through departments, Drama, Sound and Lighting, the whole of our lives and never meet such a ....W~. notably Miss Anne Fitzgerald and Mr Charles person. P.... 11-20 Hitchen, Office and Catering staff and John Moseley Extracts from: Headmaster's Report Prize Day - Sunday 20th March 1994 Shortly after the death of his wife, Edmund leadership and, in particular, leadership by importance on kindness and good manners, and Rice subscribed to a new edition of the Douai example - example in their attitude to work, I was especially delighted to learn that the Bible. On the flyleaf of his Bible, he added a their self discipline, their behaviour, their dress Merseyside Society of Rugby referees recently series of references and I wish to begin with but, most important of all, in the way in which voted St Edward's, as not only having the most one of the two from the New Testament, it is they treat other people. A Sixth form which is efficient organisation, but was also the top from St Luke's Gospel, Chapter 6, Verse 35. strong and dynamic is absolutely crucial, both school for hospitality. "But love your enemies, do good to them, and for the College, but also for those sixth formers At the same time, it is extremely lend to them anything without expecting to get who are given the opportunity to develop their disappointing to see some pupils who fail to anything back. Then your reward will be great own leadership potential. take advantage of the opportunities that are and you will be sons of the Most High, because Given that pupils coming to St Edward's have open to them. There are those who say that He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. " been selected primarily on their academic they don't like music, or sport, or whatever. I In the year of 1994, 150 years after the death ability, it is not surprising that our examination think this is an awful indictment of the of Edmund Rice, we have been celebrating his results were again very good, though I repeat individual: many of the activities we have on life and works through our own life and works my caveat of last year, that I consider that a offer are new and exciting but an individual and I recall the marvellous celebration at our school should be judged by the manner its will never begin to appreciate just how exciting Cathedral with the other Christian Brother pupils go out into the world, the lives they lead, until they begin to take part in them. I would Schools and communities. I can think of no and the contribution they make to society, urge all parents to expect, indeed to demand, better way of beginning my report this year rather than in one narrow area of achievement. from their children that they should be involved than with this particular passage. The 'A' Level results were the best ever in extra-curricular activities. But these extra During the course of last year, the College achieved by a group of pupils from St curricular activities do not only develop talents, produced a new Prospectus and I should like to Edward's College and placed St Edward's as they develop the other attitudes which are read the first two paragraphs of the one of the top Catholic Schools in England and important for life. These activities prepare us introduction: Wales, with eleven pupils gaining places at the to be members of a community where "St Edward's College is a Christian universities of Oxford or Cambridge and an appreciating the skills and the needs of others community which strives to guide each of its outstanding UCCA score of 23.1 which gained are so important: they help us to see that every pupils so that they may realise their potential St Edward's recognition in the national press. single individual, no matter who or what they and live their lives to the full, both during their At GCSE, 90% of pupils gained 5 or more are, has a valuable part to play in our society. school days and afterwards. We seek to subjects at Grades 'A' to 'C', slightly down on During the past year, there have been two promote an atmosphere in which all members the 91 % of 1992 but this compares well with ways in particular that our faith has been of the community feel comfortable and free to the national average of 38%. The average transformed into action. follow their own interests, where boys and girls number of 'A' to 'c' grades per pupil was 8.4, Firstly, by the introduction of our programme can appreciate the values of kindness and again an improvement on 1992. of Education for Personal Relationships. Ours honesty. St Edward's is a school where high These excellent results are achieved through a is a difficult world in which to bring up young standards are required, where the academic partnership between pupils, parents and people and in this important area of personal rigour is demanding but still allows the teachers. I wish to record my considerable relationships it is vital that we protect our opportunity to try different things, whether it be gratitude to the teaching staff for their young people from their own ignorance. I say climbing mountains or playing a musical professionalism, their commitment and their this not in any condescending way, but if we instrument. In partnership with parents St sheer efficiency in helping these talented young care about our young people, it seems Edward's strives to develop independence of people to fulfil their potential and to help them inappropriate to send them out into the world mind, self discipline and self respect." gain their ambitions. with good examination results and being able Hence, I am quite clear that the essential Our Prospectus states that St Edward's is a to play particular games or sing in tune, if, at nature of what we are trying to achieve at St School where high standards are required and the same time, we do not prepare them for their Edward's is based on our Christian beliefs and where the academic rigour is demanding. But relationships with other people. Our EPR values. These are values which transcend our Prospectus also challenges us to try other programme which began last September and generations.