Issuu

Issue 01 EDINBURGH FRINGE

HENRY GOODMAN

Renewal Programme

Journalism Q&A

Exceptional King’s production of A Matter of Life and Death...

Former King’s parent stars in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui...

Phase one is now complete and we look forward to the next stage…

We talk to three OKs to discover how they started their careers…

King’s Association News Record-breaking exam results A Midsummer Night’s Dream Sports update Development news The Arthur Wellesley Society Friends news & events

OK News

Matt Owens OK 2002 Noah and the Whale

Freddy Nordstrom OK 2007 NASCAR

Graduating from King’s in 2002, Matt Owens (pictured far right) has since been enjoying great success as the bass guitarist with indie-folk band, Noah and the Whale. In May last year they released their new album, Heart of Nowhere, following which they graced the Other Stage at Glastonbury, receiving rave reviews. “Their charming set, chock full of melodic pop-rock and hooky choruses, was perfectly suited for an afternoon slot in the scorching sun.” The Daily Telegraph

At just 24 years of age, OK Freddy Nordstrom (pictured below) has taken the racetrack by storm, and has emerged as one to watch in the new generation of saloon and sportscar talents. With ambitions to compete at the highest levels of touring car racing, Freddy made his debut in a T-car at the age of 14. He has since become a race winner and finished in 3rd place in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT4 class in 2011. A change of direction in 2012 saw Freddy take on the NASCAR-endorsed Euro Racecar NASCAR touring series, in which he was awarded the most popular driver award, receiving nearly 58,000 votes. He returned to the series in 2013, following an entry into the 24 Hour Dubai race early last year.

Marcus Mumford Ben Lovett Both OK 2005 Mumford and Sons headline Glastonbury Dan Smith OK 2004 Bastille What an amazing year it’s been for old boy Dan Smith (pictured second from right). Formed in 2010, Dan’s rock band, Bastille, saw their first studio album, Bad Blood, race to the top of the charts, hitting the number one spot in the summer of last year. Not only that, their most recent single, Of the Night, reached number two in the official UK singles chart, ending Bastille’s incredible year on a huge high! This success has continued into 2014 with the band scooping the BRIT award for British Breakthrough Act, after which they took to the stage for a show stopping performance alongside Rudimental.

In the summer of last year, OKs Marcus Mumford and Ben Lovett of folk rock band, Mumford and Sons, hit a career high as they took to the stage to close Glastonbury. Their world tour also came to an end in September, not forgetting the album of the year award they scooped at the Grammys in Los Angeles for their second album, Babel. The band is now taking a well-earned break – let’s hope we see them back on the road soon!

Jon Hopkins OK 1997 Mercury Prize 2013: Nominee As the year drew to a close, Jon Hopkins celebrated his latest album, Immunity, being shortlisted for the Mercury Music prize 2013. Jon is a hugely successful producer and musician who writes and performs his own melodic, electronica and dance music and has produced or contributed to albums by Brian Eno, Coldplay, David Holmes, and others. Jon also composed the soundtrack for the 2010 film Monsters, which was nominated for an Ivor Novello award for best original score.

School News It’s been a great year Exam results and breaking records!

#6 In November of last year, The Sunday Times ranked King’s number six in their list of top 100 independent secondary schools – up three places on the previous year; and with exam results at an all-time record in 2013, it’s easy to see why.

2013

2012

School

A-Level % A*– B

St Paul’s Girls’ School, London

98.3

99.5

North London Collegiate School, Edgware

98.1

97.9

City of London School for Girls

98.3

96.5

Magdalen College School, Oxford

99.1

94.8

Westminster School, London

97.2

97.9

King’s College School, Wimbledon

97.4

96.0

Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe

97.6

95.0

Guildford High School for Girls

98.4

93.5

James Allen’s Girls’ School, London

97.7

94.3

Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls, Elstree

97.8

93.9 94.1

Stephen Perse Foundation Senior School and Sixth Form College, Cambridge

97.5

12=

St Paul’s School, London

96.0

95.9

12=

Brighton College

96.3

95.4

Eton College, Windsor

95.8

94.5

The Royal Grammar School, Guildford

96.3

93.2

The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree

96.0

93.7

14=

The Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton

95.0

95.2

28=

The Godolphin and Latymer School, London

96.0

92.4

14=

Withington Girls’ School, Manchester

93.5

95.7

Sevenoaks School

97.8

85.8

In 2012, King’s boys and girls broke IB records, and in 2013 they did it again! Over 51% of all higher lever grades were 7s – equivalent to the exacting A* at A level. Only 8% of all A level students gain A*, and the same percentage of IB candidates across the world gain higher level 7s. This helped the 182 King’s upper sixth formers break another record by achieving an average total of over

40 points per candidate out of a possible 45. Few, if any, schools in the world have achieved this average across such a large cohort. Fourteen candidates achieved the near-impossible and scored full marks: 45/45. Fewer than a hundred candidates across the whole world per year manage this score. With 87% of all HL grades at 7 or 6, 50 pupils headed off to Oxford and Cambridge in September.

50 PUPILS headed off To Oxford and Cambridge In September.

Nick D’Aloisio Boy genius strikes again! Just when we thought 2013 couldn’t get any better for sixth-former Nick D’Aloisio, he closed the year by claiming Entrepreneur of the Year at the Spear’s wealth management awards. Nick was also named Wall Street Journal Magazine Technology Innovator of 2013 as well as being named one of the 16 most influential teens of 2013 by TIME100. In 2013, Nick became an overnight millionaire when he invented his app, Summly, which is set to revolutionise how we read on the go. Nick’s app was bought by Yahoo! for a staggering $30million. Not only that, he accepted a job with the company and now works in their London-based office, whilst continuing to study for his A levels with support and guidance from his teachers here at King’s. We wish Nick luck in his exams this year. Nick began the New Year by announcing the launch of Yahoo! News Digest, a brand new news summary app.

GCSE % A* / A

King’s tread the boards Edinburgh Fringe August saw King’s head back to Edinburgh to continue the amazing run of successful productions presented at the festival over recent years. 2013’s exceptional production was A Matter of Life and Death, based on the much-loved Powell and Pressburger film. Classic Ealing comedy met quirky physical theatre in this playful production. The company, formed of 23 sixth-formers, was greeted by large audiences and received critical acclaim. “This is a truly original and aesthetically delicious production that enchants with its sweet, romantic premise… Conductor 71, played by Greg Coates, makes the show with his delightfully suave charisma.” Ed Fringe Review * * * * *

King’s boys break all GCSE school records Over 75% of all grades achieved were A* last summer – one of the highest totals in the UK. 96% of all grades were A*s and A. 35 boys gained twelve or more A*s, and half the year gained ten or more straight A*. Four boys gained an extraordinary 14 top grades. Based on the 2013 results, King’s was ranked sixth in The Sunday Times top 100 independent secondary schools.

Newsl etter issue 01

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The senior school production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a triumph and a perfect tonic for colder, darker November evenings as 2013 drew to a close. A company of 40 King’s pupils treated four sold-out houses to a magical evening of theatre. Directed by Adam Cross and supported by James Leach’s stunning set, the young actors blended furious physicality with mellifluous madrigals to enchanting effect. The play has no out-and-out lead part, but rather offers a broad range of large, challenging roles and the opportunity for extensive chorus and dance work. Thus, this was truly an ensemble achievement.

A Wider Stage

Congratulations to two fourth form boys in their recent professional dramatic pursuits outside of the school. Henry Calcutt was part of the recently released blockbuster Thor: The Dark World. He filmed for three days, on location in Surrey, playing the role of one of Vostagg’s children, listening to one of his father’s stories from a previous battle! Slightly closer to home, Hal Henderson has enjoyed success in the National Theatre’s Emil and the Detectives. The future of King’s Drama looks great!

Partnership News

Zac Goldsmith chats to students during his visit to King’s

King’s partnership programme has attracted the attention of the government and politicians. King’s was delighted to welcome Zac Goldsmith MP, whose constituency includes several of the academies and maintained schools we support. We were also delighted to welcome the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Krystal Miller, to see our programme of partnerships with maintained schools and academies in her borough.

SPORTS Update The high-paced, competitive game Was an exciting Way to kick start The season for the present 1st VII, and A great opportunity to reunite the Forces of last Year’s successful 1st netball team.

NETBALL 1st VII vs Old King’s girls It was with great pleasure that we welcomed back our OK Girls at the beginning of the Spring term to take part in a landmark occasion for the school, that was, the first ever Old King’s Girls netball match. The high-paced, competitive game was an exciting way to kick start the season for the present 1st VII, and a great opportunity to reunite the forces of last year’s successful 1st netball team.

close, but with several switches of positions amongst the OK team, the 1st VII extended their lead. Determination from the OK girls was evident throughout, however the 1st VII took it in their stride and were not put off by the close knit cohesion of the OK team. Natasha Rarity captained the team with passion and direction, knowing from experience the strengths of the other team. Ultimately, time away from the court paid its price for the OK girls as the game resulted in a 19–12 defeat for the 1st VII. The 1st VII netball team has started the season showing real potential and it is exciting to think about the term ahead. It was a very enjoyable match for all, and one which we hope will take place annually at the start of the netball season.

Despite not having played together as a team for nearly a year, performance from the OK girls was strong. Excellent defence by Alice Hewitt and Megan O’Shea placed relentless pressure on the opposition throughout the first half, however the talent of the 1st VII shooting duo, Natasha Rarity and Manisha Patel, meant that almost all goal-scoring opportunities were successful. Going into the second half, the score was

Girls’ hockey On 3rd December our invitation hockey tournament was held for the second year running. Six teams took part and the play was of a high standard. Throughout the afternoon, Tiffin Girls’ School stood out to be the main competition. They beat all the teams quite convincingly as they were a close knit team. We had two hockey teams enter the tournament and the girls were determined to get results after a tough season. The 1st team battled hard and in the end they were bronze medallists, after not being able to score against St George’s College. The whole tournament was a great success and the girls thoroughly enjoyed it. Results: Winners, Tiffin Girls’ School 1st XI; Runners-up, St George’s College 2nd XI; Bronze Medallists, King’s 1st XI.

It’s been a great season for rugby at King’s. Two Old Boys gained Blues by playing in the 2013 Varsity Match at Twickenham – Matthew Janney for Oxford and Max Mather for Cambridge. Both had previously played for KCS OB RFC. The 1st XV team beat our old rivals, St Paul’s 15–10, with Fifteenrugby.com commenting, “King’s Wimbledon further proved their credentials as one of the best school teams around”. In September the 1st XV and 2nd XV teams were put through a rigorous scrummage session with premiership rugby club Harlequins’ head coach, John Kingston. Both teams then went on to defeat Wimbledon College at the renowned Allianz arena in November. The 1st XV finished off 2013 in 6th place in the Daily Mail Trophy. King’s were also pleased to host the visiting Australian under 18 schools rugby team as they prepared for their test match against England on 4th December. King’s director of rugby said, “It has been a great opportunity for the pupils at King’s to watch a national team prepare and train for their test match”.

CROSS COUNTRY

A considerable segment of the school community – almost 300 pupils, both boys and girls – have taken part in cross country this year so far, either for house, school or both. As ever, King’s successfully hosted its popular annual invitational race, The King’s Trophy. This fiercely contested fixture featured 23 teams and was won by St Albans. The King’s team could not quite produce its outstanding 3rd place from last year, managing 12th overall. The highest-placed athletes, Nathan Inkester and Matthew Gibbons, are both still in the middle school, so the future looks bright.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS King’s Association Update

During the past few months, much work has been carried out to enlist alumni year reps across 40 years of school leavers. The year rep scheme was launched to ensure each year group of leavers has at least one representative to assist with maintaining contact with the school and to ensure that our alumni are aware of and have access to the many services the development office provides. If you are interested in finding out more about how your year rep can support you or about becoming a year rep, please contact us at development@kcs.org.uk We have also been working with our recent leavers and younger alumni to enlist their help and support with the new university rep scheme. We now have six new reps for universities which were not previously represented as well as new reps for Oxford and Cambridge. We do our best to support our former pupils with settling in to university life and assist them with finding internships and work experience. If you’re a recent leaver, please do take advantage of this service, we have already had great feedback.

Newsl etter issue 01

Events

Law society reception House of Commons On Tuesday 12th November 2013, the House of Commons hosted a wonderfully memorable evening for members of our law society. The reception was held in the Churchill Room at the Houses of Parliament – a unique and beautiful room, home to two of Churchill’s own works of art and boasting a fantastic view of Parliament’s terrace, which sits right on the River Thames.

Attendees included some of the UK’s most influential solicitors, lawyers and barristers, of which most were OKs and Friends of the school. We were also joined by six of our current pupils aspiring to study law. The guests were privileged to be in the company of Oliver Heald, Solicitor General, and Nicky Morgan, Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

This term the development office resumed their programme of networking events with a Medics and Medicine reception at the beginning of February. Here are a few more dates to remember: Arts and Media: 5th March 2014 Former staff dinner party: 24th April 2014 Over 60s lunch: 1st May 2014 City & Business: 7th May 2014

As part of the King’s Association programme, we will soon be launching our long-awaited mentoring scheme. We hope to provide an online network of mentors from a wide range of professions and organisations who will offer advice, networking opportunities and in some cases, work experience to our young alumni who need a helping hand to get started on their chosen career path. If you are interested in becoming a year or university rep, or a mentor, please email development@kcs.org.uk

Dates For Your Diary

Law Society Q&A for partnership schools and Drinks Reception for Law Society members: Tuesday 13th May Leadership & Entrepreneur workshop for U6th leavers: 5th June 2014 A drinks reception for former parents is also on the agenda, with date to be confirmed. The evening was a huge success and enjoyed by all who attended. Special thanks to Nadhim Zahawi MP who was kind enough to make the arrangements for room hire at the Houses of Parliament.

Future of King’s On 8th October 2013, the head master and the development office hosted a Future of King’s evening in Great Hall. The head master invited all our new parents to join him for drinks and canapés and to hear all about the wonderful plans for the future of the school – in particular, the renewal programme that is now well underway.

‘One year on’ In September 2013 the development office hosted a ‘one year on’ BBQ for 2012 leavers. We were delighted to see 80 of our 2012 leavers attend. It was a really enjoyable evening and an absolute pleasure to see them settling in to university life so well.

Medics

networking reception Despite the tube strikes, over 130 guests from the King’s community attended the Medics networking reception at the Gordon Museum on 5th February 2014. Bill Edwards, Curator and Professor Sebastian Lucas (OK 1965) from KCL School of Medicine, gave very interesting and insightful talks. The evening proved to be hugely beneficial for our current pupils wishing to pursue a career in medicine.

OKC ANNUAL DINNER

Some 150 members of the Old King’s Club and specially invited guests enjoyed a three course meal in the Great Hall on 15th November. The John Burnet-Hall jazz ensemble provided musical entertainment with a Great Gatsby theme both before and after dinner. Speeches were given by the president of the club, the head master and the chairman of the governing body of King’s. The school song was sung, accompanied by organist Carl Jackson.

The Arthur Wellesley SOCIETY Arthur Wellesley is perhaps better known as the Duke of Wellington or ‘The Iron Duke’ who, as Prime Minister, helped found King’s College School in 1829. The Arthur Wellesley Society arranges talks at school, visits to the theatre, exhibition trips, and from time to time, celebratory dinners for the parent body of both the junior and senior schools in addition to those held for former pupils and their parents. Here’s a selection of last season’s events...

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

In September, ninety members of the King’s community enjoyed a memorable evening in the West End at a performance of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. The production stars former King’s parent Henry Goodman in the title role, whose performance was described by Charles Spencer of the Daily Telegraph as ‘electrifying’. The play is a parable set in 1930s gangster-controlled Chicago and demonstrates how Hitler’s rise to power could and should have been prevented by transposing this onto a gangster’s attempts, with the help of a protection racket, to take over the cauliflower trade in the American cities of Chicago and nearby Cicero. The performance was preceded by an illuminating talk by Henry Goodman, given especially for the Arthur Wellesley Society, and a private reception.

Henry gave an excellent summary of his thoughts surrounding the interpretation of the play, its genesis and the difficulties in maintaining momentum whilst playing such a demanding role.

Endless Fertility: The Comic Genius of Charles Dickens

Professor Michael Slater, Emeritus Professor of Victorian Literature at Birkbeck College, University of London, gave a commentary on a series of dramatised readings performed by current and former pupils.

Newsl etter issue 01

Forthcoming events Tuesday 29th April at 7.30pm: Great Hall Dr Rowan Williams – Does Religion need Defending? Thursday 12th June at 6.30pm: The Peers’ Dining Room, Palace of Westminster Black tie dinner at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Baker of Dorking Members of the society are entitled to priority booking for all events. Currently, those who would like to join are invited to make a voluntary family donation of £10 each year. If you would like to suggest a future event, and for further details on becoming a member of the Society, please contact the Vice-Chairman Eleanor Sturge at AWSociety@kcs.org.uk

An evening at the Royal Ballet

This featured a reception and pre-performance talk at the Ballet School given by Nicki Katrak, a teacher of ballet at the Royal Ballet School and former King’s parent, followed by a mixed bill performance at the Royal Opera House.

Arthur Wellesley Society evening at the Dennis Severs House

Arthur Wellesley Society and the History Society

In December a group of fifty members of the King’s community took part in a private visit to the Dennis Severs House in Spitalfields. The late Dennis Severs called his art form ‘Domestic Still Life Drama’ and the whole evening lived up to this description. The 18th century house, which Dennis bought in 1978 for less than £20,000, was decorated sumptuously for Christmas. The sounds, smells and visual impact of carefully placed furniture painted a vivid

picture of family life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Roaring fires in every grate, freshly baked cakes and candlelight added greatly to the poetic experience. We were led on a chronological journey following the fortunes and misfortunes of the Jervis family, who were around us but always just out of sight. Following the tour, guests enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies in the lavish surroundings of the ten period rooms.

Professor Gary Sheffield – Douglas Haig and the First World War: A reassessment On the 17th October Professor Gary Sheffield spoke at a combined meeting of the History and Arthur Wellesley societies. To a packed Collyer Hall Professor Sheffield addressed the issue of Douglas Haig’s controversial reputation. He gave a convincing defence of Haig as the man best suited to command the British armies on the Western Front, pointing out that there was nobody who could replace him. He defended Haig on the grounds of being strategically sound and important in maintaining morale, thus helping to ensure that the British Army was not

afflicted by the serious mutinies which befell the French army in 1917. Professor Sheffield argued strongly that under Haig’s command the British army grew in confidence and expertise, so that by 1918 the British military was superior to the German army in all key areas. As was to be expected, Professor Sheffield’s talk gave rise to a number of questions which ensured a lively fifteen minute question and answer session, reflecting how emotive and controversial this subject still is as we prepare to commemorate the hundred year anniversary of the outbreak of the war.

Renewal programme Update

On Tuesday 19th November, our brand new reception had its big reveal! As part of our renewal programme, building began on the new reception in the summer of last year (phase one of our grand masterplan) and completion came as our boys and girls returned for the autumn term.

Making an entrance

We were delighted to be joined by many supporters of the school, who joined head master, Andrew Halls, to toast the new reception and hear all about the next steps in the schoolâ€™s development.

Newsl etter issue 01

Work to begin on the new classroom block

We are delighted that Merton Council has granted planning approval for the new classroom block. A design team led by architects Allies & Morrison has started a detailed design for a planned start on site of July 2014 with an end date of November 2015. The building will include a multi-purpose hall for 150 people plus six classrooms, a conference room, lift, and circulation space to resolve the access issues in the old science building (see CGI below).

Proposed view of the new classroom block from the 1st XV rugby field.

Hard play and quad A design team led by Landscape Perspective is working on the detailed design for this project, which has a planned start date of July this year and will be completed by January 2015. The project includes a grand quad at the back of Great Hall (instead of the old hard play area) and the construction of three netball courts/a hard play area on the old junior rugby pitch. It also aims to unify all the central landscaping and pathways.

Music school

Hopkins Architects have been selected to lead this project. Previously designers of the Olympic Velodrome and Glyndebourne Opera House, Hopkins are currently working on the brief and layout. The aim is to produce a concert hall that holds 180 â€“200 people, 17 music practice rooms, 4 music classrooms and associated offices.

The reception was unveiled and officially opened by Clive Aslet (OK 1972)

King’s Obituaries

FAREWELL TO OLD FRIENDS Colin Evans (former staff member)

Frank Miles (former staff member)

Peter Kirman (former staff member)

1934 –2013 Senior Master, King’s College School

1921–2013 Head of English, King’s College School

1931–2012 Second Master, King’s College School

olin Evans retired from King’s in 1992 and was an extremely important influence over his 30+ years at the school. In 1973, Colin was appointed Head of Geography and Economics and served as Senior Master from 1976 to 1988. After his first three years at King’s, Colin left the school and headed off to Jamaica, where he taught at Cornwall College, Montego Bay for three years. He loved travelling, warm climates and a touch of adventure! On his return he settled down to his teaching career at King’s, and, eventually, to his own writing and editing, understandably making the West Indies the first focus of his efforts. Colin moved on to launch, and co-edit, a Cambridge University Press series for sixth form and university students. As a geographer Colin was a determined missionary, as was entirely in character with so many who had read the subject at Cambridge in the 1950s. Anyone who still clung to old fashioned prejudice about Geography was in for a rude awakening when they encountered Colin’s professionalism and his belief in a geographical education.

His teaching employed all the modern approaches of the time but was equally directed at individuals – he could relish eccentricity and ability as much as he hated laziness, or, worse, sloppiness. His teaching employed all the modern approaches of the time but was equally directed at individuals – he could relish eccentricity and ability as much as he hated laziness, or, worse, sloppiness. In 1976 Colin took over the Senior Master’s job from Peter Kirman, which was, essentially a responsibility for discipline. That sometimes thankless task Colin undertook with characteristic firmness and good humour. Colin’s interests were always wider than his subject and he never ceased to extend them. When Colin made the decision to retire, he did indeed make the very best of these retirement years, travelling, acquiring and reading books insatiably and continuing his research into the history of social housing in London. Faced in 2012 with the diagnosis of a cruel illness, he reacted throughout with extraordinary courage and patience, unfailingly supported by his wife, Yolande, and daughter, Claire. Those whom he taught and worked with will always remember his warmth, intellect and humour.

ith great sadness we report that distinguished, former member of staff, Frank Miles passed away on 5th June, aged 92. Frank was a former English teacher at King’s during the 60s, 70s and 80s and touched the lives of so many of his students and colleagues. I was taught rather briefly by Frank Miles – for just four terms. Though one of these was his unforgettable preparation for the Oxbridge scholarship exams, I did not see enough of his classroom practice to be a rich source of anecdote about him. But, as someone said to me after the funeral, ‘It was enough’. I was inspired and profoundly influenced by his teaching. Recently, however, I have begun to value him for a different reason. Yes, one learnt an immense amount from Frank: acquired a richer and more subtle vocabulary, discovered new ways of thinking and arguing, found out both how and why to value literature. But there was something more than that, and the only word which seems to do it justice is that difficult term ‘genius’. I have been helped to bring this feeling into focus by the remarkable letter which Tim Vaughan shared with us, in which Frank declared that teaching ‘had been a waste of my life’. Shocking at first sight, the phrase reminds one that people with exceptional gifts often find them burdensome or distressing. Frank Miles could have been a very capable lawyer, or civil servant, or academic, or diplomat, or publisher, and might have led a happier life as such. But he would not, in any of those fields, have operated at the level of genius. His genius was for teaching, and only as a schoolmaster could he give it full rein.

Frank’s classroom was something rather different – something stranger, more exhilarating, more profound. Genius is disturbing and intensely rare, though it can occur in a wide range of activities. There is, very occasionally, a cook or a gardener of genius, while there will always be painters and poets and philosophers and composers who lack it, never rising above the level of high competence. One can encounter genius at second hand in the published work of artists and writers (Frank taught us a lot about how to do that), and one sometimes encounters men and women of genius in their off-duty moments. But the direct, first-hand encounter with genius in action is something which many people go through their entire lives without experiencing. I think we experienced it when being taught by Frank Miles. We were all lucky enough, at school and university, to receive a good deal of fine teaching. What we witnessed in Frank’s classroom was something rather different – something stranger, more exhilarating, more profound. I don’t expect to encounter it again. So I am grateful to be able to say that I did, at least once in my life, see what that strange stuff, genius, looks and sounds like. Dr Nick Shrimpton (OK 1966)

eter Kirman retired in the summer of 1992 after 37 years of service to the school, his only employer. He was no less enthusiastic and energetic a schoolmaster at the end of that time than he must have been at the beginning, coming in 1955 to Wimbledon from Cambridge where, as an exhibitioner at Clare, he had achieved a first in Part I of the Maths Tripos and been a Senior Optime in Part II. Although born a Yorkshireman, he had completed his schooling at the notable Manchester Grammar School. Despite many years since spent in the effete south, there remained a trace of the north in Peter’s vowels, and more than a trace in his straightforward nature. Early responsibilities at King’s were as master-in-charge of cross-country and athletics, and assistant Housemaster of Layton. Brilliance at his subject, and irresistibly infectious love for it, meant inevitably that he was soon in 1965 to become Head of Mathematics. He also became Housemaster of Alverstone and for twelve years held a commission in the CCF, where he introduced vehicle maintenance and arduous training in such places as Cumbria and Snowdonia.

Peter had all the minutiae at his fingertips and understood the school’s workings in a way no-one else remotely rivalled. Peter was then an obvious choice as Senior Master when Frank Shaw created the post in 1971. This, at the time, mainly entailed charge of the school’s discipline, which Peter maintained with firm good humour. Few were the transgressors who came anywhere near to outwitting him. In 1976, Peter came into the position of Second Master at King’s, for which he could not have been more perfectly suited. Relishing the intricacies of the time-table, the complexities of the option schemes, the crucial implications of any new proposal, Peter had all the minutiae at his fingertips and understood the school’s workings in a way no-one else remotely rivalled. The framework of organisation within which the school long operated bore Peter’s imprint in countless details. With all this expertise went a limitless patience, understanding and friendliness towards colleagues and boys alike, which made him the most popular and trusted of men. Retirement for Peter became clouded in its later stages by the deaths of his wife, Judy, in 2001 and his younger son, Roger, in 2008. He was also beset by a number of health problems. A fine teacher and an unparalleled administrator, he inspired huge admiration and affection in colleagues and pupils alike.

Newsl etter issue 01

It was with such elegant simplicity that Anthony Lawrence became one of the most highly regarded and influential of BBC foreign correspondents The Guardian

Anthony John Lawrence (OK 1930)

Brian Chater (OK 1957)

1912–2013 Journalist

1940 –2013 Music executive

“Funny thing, colonialism. One lot of people ruling another lot without asking their permission.” For two decades from the mid-1950s, old boy Anthony Lawrence, OBE, was the ‘voice of the BBC’ in the Far East. An expert on the region, he was part of the golden generation of BBC correspondents, playing an integral part in building the corporation’s high reputation around the world. Anthony was born and raised in Wimbledon and won a scholarship to King’s, following which he began his career in journalism at the Wimbledon Advertiser in 1930. On 24th September, 2013, Anthony sadly passed away at the age of 101. Throughout his career, Anthony wrote a number of books, including China: The Long March (1986), about the epic journey that led to the birth of the communist state under Chairman Mao, and The Fragrant Chinese (1993), about the residents of Hong Kong. He was appointed OBE in 2013 for his services to the community of Hong Kong.

Sutton-born old boy, Brian Chater passed away on 6th September 2013 at the age of 73 after a long illness. Brian left King’s in 1957 and became the copyright manager of Mills Music in London at the age of 21. In the late sixties, Brian moved to Canada where he would become a pillar of the music industry, signing many artists including Bryan Adams. Among the many acknowledgements for his commitment to Canadian musicians, Brian was honoured with a Canadian music industry hall of fame award in 2000; in 2003 a special achievement award from SOCAN; and an industry builder award from Canadian music week in 2005. Brian Chater was one of a kind and a once in a lifetime presence in the Canadian music business. Above all else Brian Chater loved “the song” and he was the best friend a song ever had! Cashbox Magazine, Canada.

Martin Fielding (OK 1973) 1956–2013 Entrepreneur A staunch supporter of AFC Wimbledon football club, and a founder member of the Blue and Yellow Club, established in the summer of 2012 to help raise extra money for the playing budget

Martin Fielding was an entrepreneur, patron of the arts and sports fan who touched many lives in the various fields in which he operated Martin was one of the founders, and the chief executive, of the Card & Payments Awards, which, now in its ninth year, attracts a full house in the Great Room of The Grosvenor House Hotel each year. More recently he was instrumental in the launch of the Loyalty Awards, and at the time he was taken ill, was enthusiastically planning his next event, the Mobile Innovations Awards. Martin was a staunch supporter of AFC Wimbledon football club, having started supporting the Dons in the Southern League when at school in the seventies. He was a Tempest End season ticket holder, attended games with his son Michael and was a founder member of the Blue and Yellow Club, founded in the summer of 2012 to help raise extra money for the playing budget. An equal passion was anything to do with film and the theatre, which resulted in an encyclopaedic knowledge of any event that had taken place on the screen, as well as an active knowledge of popular music of the seventies and eighties. Martin’s interest in stage musicals, imparted by both his father and his aunt, Edith ‘Phyl’ Kelly, led to him writing a book, The Golden Age of Stage Musicals, published in France in 2011. His first memory of being taken to a musical was in 1960, at the age of five, to one of the first ever performances of Oliver! He also encouraged young emerging dramatic talent, was a member of the development board of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and actively supported a number of other charitable organisations. As well as working on awards events, Martin was chairman of the Brabazon Group, and previously he was CEO of Icon Partners, a subsidiary of Aegon Direct Marketing Services, financial services of Sitel, CEO of Card Protection Plan, chief executive of Family Equity Plan Ltd, and a principal at Deloitte Haskins and Sells UK (now PwC). Martin is survived by his wife Gill and children Emma, Claudia and Michael.

We regret to also report the passing of the following Friends: Richard George Angas (OK 1959) Christopher Bishop (OK 1955) John Blair-Fish (OK 1968) James Bottomley (OK 1938) Russell Cradick (OK 1951) Richard Diacon (OK 1938) Noel Dickinson Drake (OK 1949) Geoffrey Good (OK 1939) PR Grey (OK 1933) John David Hastings (OK 1944) Leo Haynes (OK 1945) Roy Heyworth (Former staff member) Martin Hole (OK 1971) Patrick Kelly (OK 1956) Gordon H Everitt (OK 1934) D Angus W Newman (OK 1947) David Leslie Priston (OK 1947) Trevor Anthony James Scovell (OK 1949) Anthony Lewing (OK 1950) David Laurence Salter Shinn (OK 1950) Christopher Charles Smart (OK 1963) William Geoffrey Kennedy Smiley (OK 1996) Ian Paul Dollard Smith (OK 1960) Alan Hew Smouha (OK 1971) Roger Keith Wadsworth (OK 1964) Brian Peter James White (OK 1954)

Feature Journalism

Q&A With OKs Peter Horrocks, Nicholas Watt and Mark Lowen

Peter Horrocks (OK 1977)

Director, Global News, BBC Age: 54

At what point did you first consider a career in journalism? When I was 14 when I started taking photos at school as an extra-curricular activity. Could you briefly tell us what you did after leaving King’s? I went to Cambridge. Then joined the BBC, where I have had much fun. I’m still there.

Last year some of our bravest journalists ventured into rebel areas. This year it is so dangerous we may not be able to report from those areas.

What does a typical day consist of at the BBC as the Director of Global News? My typical day involves reviewing yesterday’s news, making judgements about the likely news of the day ahead, attending many meetings and dealing with at least one crisis. The crisis could be caused by factors as diverse as misbehaving advertisers in India, a complaint from a Somali tribesman, an attack on a BBC team by rebels somewhere in Africa, or a nasty article in a UK newspaper. That all keeps me on my toes. What are some of the most challenging situations you’ve faced in your current position? The most challenging moment was when I had to announce the loss of 650 jobs in the BBC World Service when the government cut our money. What do you think determines the reputation of the BBC World Service? Our reputation depends on getting it right and being fair. Luckily, audiences round the world think we do a pretty good job. In fact, they think we do the best job in the world at that. How has the financial savings the BBC has had to make over recent years impacted on its International News Service relative to its mainstream 24 hour news services? All of the BBC has had to cut back. In the UK and around the world. I’d prefer that wasn’t so, but it is my job to deal with the reality of our funding. However we now have plans to grow through commercial self-help, to top up public money.

How do you balance the safety of your front line journalists with getting to the heart of, say, the Syrian civil war? Safety always comes first. Staff who go to war zones are always volunteers. Last year some of our bravest journalists ventured into rebel areas. This year it is so dangerous we may not be able to report from those areas. What would you describe yourself as, a manager or a journalist? I am a leader of journalists. You started your career with the BBC as a trainee; what advice would you give a trainee starting a career with the BBC now? Unfortunately there are many fewer training schemes across the media so you need to survive on your own wits. To succeed as a journalist you need enthusiasm, curiosity, determination. Rat-like cunning, a sense of humour and the ability to survive poor pay also come in useful. What are your future goals? My goal is to balance the effort that my determination to make the world a better place entails with my desire to walk my dog and enjoy my life. n

Newsl etter issue 01

Nicholas Watt (OK 1985)

Chief Political Correspondent, The Guardian (2008–present) Panellist, BBC1 Sunday Politics (2012–present) Age: 46 The Times: 1990–98 Graduate trainee 1990–91; Reporter 1991–93; Ireland Correspondent 1993–97; Political Correspondent 1997–98 The Guardian: 1998 –2007 Political Correspondent 1998–2004; European Editor in Brussels 2004–06 The Observer: 2007–08 Political Editor

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your job as Chief Political Correspondent of the Guardian? I am a member of the Guardian’s team of political journalists working at the House of Commons in a room close to Big Ben. When we turn on the 6 O’Clock News on Radio 4 we hear the chimes of Big Ben a fraction ahead of listeners to the BBC. As a member of the parliamentary lobby, I attend the twice daily lobby briefings with the prime minister’s spokesman. We are also entitled to talk to MPs in the members’ lobby outside the Commons chamber which features statues of Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Clement Attlee. I frequently travel with the prime minister. In 2013 I visited China, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India. When a story breaks I immediately write it up for the Guardian website. I then speak to my contacts to see what new lines I can find for the newspaper. All journalists really want to produce their own scoops. These can be ‘left field’ stories or an interesting line on a running story. The way to break stories is to develop good working relationships with politicians across the political spectrum. But a journalist should never be afraid of writing stories which upset contacts. What did you do after leaving King’s? I studied history at the University of York where I worked on the student newspaper, Nouse. I then did a postgraduate diploma in journalism studies at Cardiff University before joining The Times as a graduate trainee in 1990. How did you get into your field of work? The most important thing I did after university was to do work experience at newspapers. I worked on the Yorkshire Evening Press in York after my finals. I also worked on the Western Mail in Cardiff before the start of my journalism course in the city. I also did work experience on the Yorkshire Post in Leeds and on The Times. This gave me the experience I needed to apply for The Times graduate trainee scheme. How do you retain your impartiality if you have strong views about something? I am neither a member, nor a supporter, of any political party. This means that I can see the strengths – and weaknesses – of all the parties. But during my time in Northern Ireland I felt very strongly that there was absolutely no justification for terrorism on either side, republican or loyalist. This meant that I had strained relations with Sinn Fein. I was working in Belfast towards the end of the Troubles, by which time the impetus behind the Troubles – blatant discrimination against Catholics and the horrific events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 – had been largely addressed and the peace process was under way.

Do you have in mind the political leanings of your newspaper when questioning a politician? The Guardian is a centre left newspaper which feels very strongly about civil liberties, social justice and climate change to name but a few subjects dear to our hearts. When I interview politicians they know that these are the issues the Guardian cares about. But I have always thought that it is important to hear – and then explore and challenge – the views of politicians from all sides.

...a good journalist needs a plausible manner, a reasonable grasp of the English language and a rat-like cunning... If a politician advised you of something “off the record” would you always honour that no matter what or how significant the comment was? A conversation on an “off the record” basis means that you do not divulge the identity of your source. I always respect that. But there is no obligation not to report what you are told.

What is the single most important attribute or skill you have which makes you a good political correspondent? The late foreign correspondent Nicholas Tomalin said that a good journalist needs a plausible manner, a reasonable grasp of the English language and a rat-like cunning. I think I have at least one of those qualities.

What is more important, extracting a sound bite or a logical rational argument? Sound bites are often welcome because they help with headlines. But sound bites are meaningless unless they illustrate a well thought out argument.

If it is not talking out of school, which politician, past or present, do you most admire and why? Neil Kinnock for his bravery in starting the modernisation of the Labour party and John Major for his courage in helping to start the Northern Ireland peace process.

What do you do when the House of Commons is in recess? Go on holiday with my wife! The recesses are a good time to do in depth reporting in the hope of producing a scoop. During the recent recess my colleague Patrick Wintour and I wrote lengthy pieces on the fallout from David Cameron’s parliamentary defeat on Syria in August.

Is coalition government a good thing? Coalition government is only a good thing if voters decline to express full confidence in one party. The current coalition is working surprisingly well, though both parties are differentiating themselves as the general election approaches.

How manic are election campaigns? In purely logistical terms general election campaigns have become less demanding because the leaders no longer take a pack of journalists on a three week tour of Britain. Instead they tend to take a smaller number of journalists – each paper basically has a day with the leader. But there is still intense pressure to cover the rolling news stories from Westminster and – more importantly – to produce scoops.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in politics and/or journalism? Go to university, get a decent degree and develop a wide range of interests. Try and travel in your gap year and holidays and notch up plenty of work experience. A final and obvious point – read a wide range of UK and overseas newspapers and periodicals. n

Feature Journalism

Mark Lowen (OK 2001)

BBC Athens correspondent Age: 30

Mark covers TV, radio and online broadcasts for the BBC. Here he tells us how he entered the world of journalism…

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your job as the Athens Correspondent for the BBC? I feel like it’s the best job in the world! Greece has been one of the main stories of the past few years and I’ve had the privilege to be here to witness events first hand. I’m the one BBC correspondent in Greece and Cyprus, so I cover television, radio and online. When it’s busy news-wise, I’m on air for that day’s story. And when it calms down, I’m working on features for the following few days. It’s been tough – far more so for Greeks suffering from the crisis than for me reporting on it – but the intense focus on the Greek story has meant the post of Athens correspondent has been pretty high profile and it’s been a big responsibility to take on. The first year I was here was relentless: protests, parliamentary votes, crisis talks in Brussels, speculation about Euro exit…the list went on. When I arrived, a typical day would be twenty live broadcasts and then rushing out to choose a sofa for my apartment before hurrying back for another few on-air hits. But slowly I got into the rhythm of it: making contacts, finding the human impact stories behind the economic figures and travelling out of Athens to see what was happening elsewhere.

technical set-up etc. But it taught me how to make TV and radio. After two years in Paris, I went back for a year in the BBC World Service newsroom and then a year at BBC World News television. In 2009, I applied for the job of Belgrade correspondent and got it. So I spent two-and-a-half years in the Balkans (a wonderful time) and started backing up in Athens before moving down here permanently.

What did you do after leaving King’s? I studied History and French at Balliol College, Oxford. In my third year abroad, I taught English in Paris so got to know the city, which proved invaluable for my way in to the BBC. And while I really enjoyed the experience, it made me realise that I didn’t have the patience to go into teaching full-time. So I went back to my final year at Oxford and mulled over what to do: the foreign office, acting or perhaps journalism…

What’s the first thing you think about after being assigned a story? I suppose there are two things: what do I want to say with this story and how do I bring it alive for broadcast media? Choosing a piece that will get a commission is tough until you realise what floats the boats of editors in London. There are plenty of stories that local media here will cover but which are just that: too local. As a foreign correspondent, you need to pick ideas that ‘travel’: that would interest a reader or a listener in Seoul or Accra or Manchester. So the story has to have layers: beyond the top line, what does it reveal about the country or what questions does it pose or how is the problem you’re reporting on relevant in other parts of the world? I sit down with a story idea and work out the issues I want to raise, the points I want to make and then how to ‘treat it’ for TV, radio and online: where to film, who to interview, what sound I can capture for radio, what pictures will make the piece watchable? Every story has to have balance: points of view from both

How did you get into your field of work? It was a bit of luck. I knew I liked writing and since I spoke French, I wondered whether the BBC office in Paris offered any work experience. So I fired off an email to Caroline Wyatt, the then BBC Paris correspondent, making a cheesy joke about French food and asking if there were any job opportunities. She suggested a few days’ shadowing in the bureau, which turned into a three-month internship and then employment as a producer there. So I did the behind-thescenes stuff: story research, interviews, liaising with London,

What are the toughest challenges facing aspiring journalists? Getting in to the profession is one of the hardest. If I had a euro for the number of times I’ve been asked how to become a journalist, I’d be able to bail out Greece single-handedly. There is no one way: some people knock on doors, make tea for editors, work in local press/radio and others just simply go to a spot, start writing and pitch stories to publications. It’s a sink-or-swim game. Other than that, I think working out where your strengths lie is a challenge: are you a feature person or do you want news? Could you be good on camera or are magazines more your thing? Do you want to go into ‘traditional media’ or start blogging and follow the ‘new media’ route? There are plenty of questions.

Newsl etter issue 01

If I had a euro for the number of times I’ve been asked how to become a journalist, I’d be able to bail out Greece single-handedly. sides. There’s a lot of preparation for a BBC story – more so, in ways, than for print media – but that’s part of the fun and what makes it an imaginative process. How does the BBC hear about stories as they’re breaking? In a mix of ways: we use the news agencies (Reuters, AP, AFP etc) which have correspondents in places that even the BBC doesn’t. They flash up urgent newswires that we in the field and our newsrooms in London see. We also have our own contacts on the ground who tell us what’s happening (primed over many cups of coffee over the years!). And now we use social media. That’s been the revolution – even since I started at the BBC in 2005. Twitter has become an invaluable tool for news lines, real-time information and alerts. Of course, you have to choose who you follow and trust but now it plays a vital newsgathering role. What is the most exciting part of your job? The big news days are exhilarating: when you’re sitting on the lead story of the day, with all the main outlets wanting a chunk of the action. That’s very exciting, because you’re serving so many programmes with live reports, edited material and interviews that you get deep into a story and feel the excitement of explaining it to millions of people – and the adrenaline of being on air non-stop. But the everyday can be exciting too: this is a job that gives you the licence to ask anybody pretty much anything (within reason). So it feeds my curiosity about people and the world. And the access we get from the BBC is unparalleled: from heads of state to factory workers, we manage to speak to such a range of people. That is one of the most exciting things of all.

You’re serving so many programmes with live reports, edited material and interviews that you get deep into a story and feel the excitement of explaining it to millions of people – and the adrenaline of being on air non-stop

Could you explain the format of a typical day as a BBC correspondent? There is no typical day! Sometimes, when it’s busy, I’m up at dawn to hit the Today Programme and then do live reports all through the morning, rushing between my camera live position and radio satellite, then zoom out to film and edit a piece for the One O’Clock News, sometimes getting tear gassed in demonstrations along the way, rush back to be on air for the World Service, bash out an analysis piece for the website, drive across the city to gather an extra sequence for the Six O’Clock News while doing lives on my mobile from the car…etc etc… (and when I finally have a moment to breathe in the evening, I realise that I haven’t eaten all day). But other days are far quieter. After a morning paper review with my assistant, I’ll maybe offer a short radio piece for the day or pop out to a press conference or start working on a feature idea for the following week, speaking to commissioning editors and setting up interviews. And I’ll spend other days in an edit suite, putting together a TV piece, choosing interview clips and shots, finessing a script – it all takes a lot of work, far more than people realise when they watch a two minute piece on the news or listen to a feature on Radio 4! What aspect of international affairs interests

you most, particularly in Athens? I suppose here it’s been seeing how one small economy (just 3% of the whole Eurozone economic output) has had such a huge impact around the world. It’s been incredible to watch how leaders from the White House to the Elysée have hung on a parliamentary vote on austerity in Athens or how the markets in Hong Kong or Frankfurt respond to what’s happened here. So it’s that inter-connectedness of international news that is so fascinating. I’m as interested in the big geopolitical developments as the individual stories I hear while out and about and want to tell on air. Do you aspire to report from other places across the world? Yes: it’s a big place out there with some amazing stories to tell. We usually move every three or four years, which can be hard because that’s just when you’re feeling settled and at home in a place. I’ve got a lovely life in Athens, with great local friends and I’m more and more comfortable with the language. But it’s also good to move on and refresh our coverage in places with a new pair of eyes and ears. I’d like to report from outside Europe – Asia and Africa – but then perhaps come back to a lovely European capital later on in my career when I lose energy for the rough and dirty! What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in travel/journalism? If you really want it, just go and do it. Start writing pieces – whether in your hometown in the UK or on your travels – and see what people think of them and whether they get printed. All writing experience is good experience. Read, watch and listen to a lot of news so you get a sense of the best journalism and the worst (there’s plenty of both). Because you need a yardstick from which to measure your own reports and a goal to which to aspire. And be persistent: it’s a career in which you have to learn to take knockbacks, both personal and professional, but then pick yourself up and carry on. Following your report on your grandfather’s involvement in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, how did you feel about your family’s connection to such a radical part of history? South Africa has always run deep in my family, from my grandfather, through my father (who was born there) and into my brother and me. I’ve travelled there and feel proud of the stories of my grandfather’s anti-apartheid work. It’s made me feel close to political developments in the country and want to delve deeper into that period of history. On the other side of my family, my grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, which gave me a connection to that era too. I’ve written about both but would like to do more. And maybe that’s what fed my initial interest in world affairs: it was the stories I heard as a kid that gave me the bug for travel and seeing these places. Perhaps one day I’ll write a book about both sides of the family – though there are too many Christmas releases by tired old hacks that go unread! And in the meantime, there’s the small matter of the Greek story to occupy my time. n

FRIENDS As always, the King’s Fireworks night was the display to see in South West London.

Tickets sold out at their fastest pace ever in just under three weeks.

Spectacular fireworks display! The wind and rain cooperated! Titanium Fireworks, the team responsible, led by Toby Alloway (OK 1999), outdid themselves with a spectacular fireworks and laser show timed perfectly to music. Toby Alloway was also involved in the 2012 Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics and Titanium organised the New Year’s Eve spectacles in both London and Edinburgh in 2013. In addition to the fireworks display, there was children’s entertainment including a clown workshop and fire show. Mr Phillips organised a fierce Battle of the Bands before half term and we were entertained on the night by the King’s Big Band as well as the Funkberries, Monkey’s Third, Pupfish, Edge Hill and Whiteout. Thanks go to our major sponsor Savills as well as our new sponsor World of Golf. The event simply could not take place without the assistance of school staff and more than 150 parent volunteers.

jUNIOR School UPDATE A fabulous festive fair!

With the help of our celebrity guest, Neil ‘Doctor’ Fox, our boys, girls, parents, teachers and our event sponsor Robert Holmes, King’s was transformed into a feast of festive fun and shopping. Over 100 stalls selling everything from decorations to dolcelatte and fur gilets to burritos joined us. Our hugely talented craft group of current and past parents raised over £3,000 selling their stunning range of hand-crafted jewellery and gifts. A new addition this year, the inflatables, sponsored by Coombe Residential, kept children of all ages amused all day. Visitors from school and beyond shopped, ate, browsed and bounced, helping to make it our most successful Christmas fair yet.

The event raised around £50,000, which will be put to good use across a variety of projects to support the school community.

Kids’ Lit Quiz National Final

The Kids’ Lit Quiz is a worldwide competition for children aged 11–14 in the English-speaking world, which seeks to promote and celebrate reading for its own sake. This year we were delighted to host the national final. Teams of four from sixteen schools drawn from across Great Britain converged on Great Hall where they were joined by many distinguished authors including Gillian Cross, Sophia Bennett and Sarwat Chadda. The teams and their supporters were welcomed by Dr Gerard Silverlock, headmaster of King’s College Junior School, and the opening speech was given by the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Krystal Miller. The mastermind behind the Kids’ Lit Quiz, Wayne Mills, who teaches English at Auckland University in New Zealand, asked the questions and teams had to hit their buzzers rapidly if they were to have a chance of answering. In a very tense and exciting competition City of London Girls emerged victorious and now go forward to the world final, which will be held next year in Falmouth, Cornwall. The King’s College Junior School team performed most impressively coming fourth. We are delighted that we shall be hosting next year’s national final, too.

Priory concert success Over a hundred and fifty boys played magnificently in the recent Priory Instrumental Concert. The programme had a variety of Christmas pieces but also included a definite ‘Bond’ theme. Perhaps the highlight of the concert was Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto (first movement) performed by the talented Jonathon Hingston (Music Gap Year Student) who returned to Australia at the end of the Autumn term. The concert was a great success and it was obvious that the boys thoroughly enjoyed performing as they remained calm throughout and were never ‘shaken’ nor ‘stirred’!