Autumn 2022 King's Association Newsletter

King’s Association Newsletter Autumn 2022

CONTENTS

In the spotlight with...

WELCOME

Iam delighted to introduce the latest edition of the King’s Association newsletter, my first as head.

I have immensely enjoyed my first few months at King’s, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for making me so welcome. I have been struck by the warmth and generosity of the King’s community, and it has been a real pleasure to get to know as many members of our community as I can, whether at school or through our external events and activities.

We have all been thrilled to see the school in full swing this term, as we have returned to the fullness of school life after successive autumn terms of COVID-19 disruption. It has been excellent to see the energy and enthusiasm with which pupils meet each day, whether in the classroom, on the stage, on the pitch, or during the many clubs and societies that run each week. I have been so grateful to see this spirit being matched by parents, alumni, and staff, many of whom have involved themselves in various events and activities which bring together and strengthen the King’s community.

Highlights of the term include the King’s Association 2022-23 Sector Networking Series, which saw sixth formers, staff, parents, and alumni come together to share experience and knowledge of their professional lives to inspire and encourage the future careers of our pupils and recent graduates. We were incredibly fortunate to be joined by three exciting speakers, who spoke engagingly about their experiences of the working world. The Friends of King’s continued to

give immensely and generously of their time to organise brilliant community events such as the Fireworks Display and the Christmas Fair and raise vital funds for the school.The Old King’s Club Annual Dinner, with the House of Commons as the backdrop, was a wonderful opportunity to meet alumni who left the school as recent as 2022 and as long ago as 1947. Finally, the Arthur Wellesley Society held a variety of culturally stimulating visits and talks throughout this term.

The school continues at a pace, but for now, I hope you and your family have a wonderful, restful festive period. I want to extend a huge personal thanks to everyone for making King’s such a wonderful place to be. There is much to look forward to in 2023 and I am excited to deepen my association with King’s life and meet many more of you in the months ahead.

The King’s Association is fundamental to maintaining strong relations across the whole school community, from alumni to parents to staff, and I hope you enjoy learning about the wideranging activities at the school in this edition.

NEWS JUNIOR SCHOOL UPDATE

Weidentified an ambitious number of goals to pursue in the junior school this academic year and developments to date have been very pleasing.

Pupils continue to demonstrate our five core values of kindness, inclusivity, honesty, bravery, and patience in all aspects of school life. Year 6 prefects continue to impress us with their levels of responsibility and influence and they have helped this year’s new cohort to settle well. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, mental health ambassadors from the sixth form addressed junior school pupils in November in an inspiring assembly. Third form pupils have begun a course in mindfulness and self-compassion, and they have also been spoken to about personal safety by a representative of Transport for London. We recently held a live workshop on positive parenting and have introduced a regular pastoral newsletter for parents.

Keen to improve pupils’ standards with regards to their appearance in school uniform, we have launched the positively focused ‘look smart, think smart’ initiative, which gives pupils a checklist of three sartorial tasks to address at the beginning of each lesson: ensure the top button is done up, the tie is straight, and the shirt is tucked in. This gentle gamification has put a less punitive spin on an age-old issue!

After the success of the summer term’s collaboration days with Wimbledon High Juniors, which involved every pupil in Years 5 and 6, we have booked in four more such occasions for this academic year, providing an opportunity for every year group to work with girls on a series of carefully designed cooperative tasks. Our relationship with Wimbledon High Juniors continues to grow apace. We continue to support the Obera Schools Project in Kenya and have raised in excess of £8,000 so far this term. We look forward to the visit of Obera’s project manager Johanes Kisaka later in the academic year. We have also held collections for Faith in Action, Merton Homestart, Jeans for Genes and to support flood relief in Pakistan.

The music department currently boasts two clubs and twelve music ensembles, all of which performed to parents in our two autumn concerts that, collectively, featured over half of all our pupils. The football term has seen significant levels of participation across the board, with eight teams in action in every year group. We have revitalised our programme of clubs and activities and achieved a larger co-curricular offer for pupils in all year groups, increased participation and ensured a better spread of opportunities over the course of the week.

We have resurrected the Cavan Taylor Society, a programme of visiting speakers on a range of topics and careers. Pupils have heard from a parent who worked as a lawyer before retraining as a doctor and we look forward to upcoming presentations from diverse members of the school community. 65 pupils have tackled LAMDA examinations this term and anticipation for next term’s Priory production of Shrek is palpable. We held a ceremony in September to formally open the Silverlock Library in honour of my predecessor, Dr Gerard Silverlock, who was in post for fifteen years. The Friends of King’s kindly funded a second awning in Rushmere Garden, and we now have a second outdoor classroom that has been appreciated by the Gardening Club.

It is always a pleasure to be in contact with former members of the junior school community and I warmly encourage anyone interested to come back and see us.

COMMEMORATING HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

The school came together on Friday 16th September for a service to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The service was led by the school chaplain, Reverend Madeleine Miller, and included readings from the head and Contingent Commander Mitchell, along with a wonderful rendition of ‘Praise, my soul, the King of heaven’ by the school choir. A minute’s silence was then observed, followed by the national anthem – a particularly memorable and moving moment.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2022

Throughout October, a programme of activities was delivered by the school community and the school’s studentled African-Caribbean Society to mark and honour Black History Month. The theme this year was ‘Black Health & Wellness’, and it sought to recognise the contributions to the fields of medicine, sport, and physical and mental health by black people throughout history. The programme began with a presentation on Walter Tull.

Tull was born in 1888 to a father from Barbados and a mother from Kent. He had a passion and a natural talent for football and was signed by Tottenham Hotspur F.C and then Northampton Town – he was one of England’s first black professional football players.

In 1914, he joined the 17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, where he was quickly promoted for his skill and strategy. He fought in France at the Somme and, in between hospitalisations for shell shock and trench fever, returned to Scotland for officer training. Despite consistent and significant opposition, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, becoming the first black officer to lead white

troops into battle. His soldiers spoke of being some of the luckiest in the regiment, which led to him becoming the first black officer to be recommended for the Military Cross.

Tull died in 1918, aged 29, whilst leading an attack on the Western Front during the Second Battle of the Somme – he is listed on the Arras Memorial along with the names of 35,000 other men whose bodies were never found. Miss Fagan, Teacher of History, said: “The grandson of a slave, the son of a Barbadian immigrant, he was a hero to his community both on the pitch and in the trenches of northern France. He persevered when faced with abuse, he showed bravery and leadership when no one believed he could, and he embodied the character of a soldier truly deserving of our highest military medal.”

ROSE GOTTEMOELLER

In October, the school welcomed Rose Gottemoeller who took part in an engaging Q&A session with pupils, expertly hosted by Giselle (U6L). Gottemoeller was the Deputy Secretary General of NATO from 2016 to 2019, where she helped drive forward NATO’s adaptation to new security challenges in Europe and in the fight against terrorism. Prior to this, she served as the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the U.S. Department of State. While Assistant Secretary

of State for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in 2009 and 2010, she was the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the Russian Federation. She was also a senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and served as the Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center. She is currently a non-resident fellow in Carnegie’s Nuclear Policy Program, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, and a distinguished lecturer at Stanford University.

Giselle (U6L) said: “I was immensely grateful for the opportunity to interview Rose and host a Q&A session with her…she is a role model and truly an embodiment of her values. I felt particularly encouraged by her anecdotes of overcoming the challenges she faced as the first woman in many of her previous positions, including at NATO. As someone who is very interested in international relations and diplomacy, I hope I could one day follow her ethos of ‘adding a human touch to the negotiating table.’”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY (MADD) 2022

In October, the school held Make a Difference Day (MADD). The theme this year centred around food and the question: ‘How does food make a difference to us and how can we make a difference through food?’

Many brilliant and knowledgeable members of the King’s community kindly gave their time to come to school and educate both staff and pupils on topics such as nutrition, the food stock market and food systems, and the reality of farmers’ lives in low-income countries. Several fundraising activities also ran concurrently to the talks, with proceeds going to City Harvest London.

Harry (4M) said: “...forth formers had two talks about food…these were both incredibly informative and gave me valuable insight into how food is made and the lack of food security around the world. During break and lunch, we had buskers performing (who were amazing) and Layton and Major had a bake sale. I am very proud of the amount of baked goods my fellow Majorians brought in to sell – they were delicious!”

LOW ENERGY DAY

Following on from the success of March’s Low Energy Day, the school held a second Low Energy Day in November. Staff and pupils made simple changes, such as implementing “lowscreen” based activities for lessons and reducing the use of appliances such as kettles, that yielded a significant result. Compared to the previous day, electrical consumption reduced by 219

KWh, and CO2 emissions consumption reduced by 51.1 kg – a carbon saving of five trees and the equivalent of boiling 1,921 kettles! Thanks go once more to King’s environmental group, Blue Marble, as well as the Green Ambassadors and the Environment and Sustainability Committee for leading this campaign and raising awareness of energy consumption.

KING’S REMEMBERS

On Friday 11th November, the school came together for the annual Act of Remembrance. The service was conducted by the school chaplain, Reverend Madeleine Miller, whilst Ollie (L5L) beautifully played the ‘Last Post’. Wreaths were laid at the foot of the war memorial by the head, the Old King’s Club, and the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

Those who served have been further honoured by the library team, who have published this booklet that documents letters, statistics, images, and accounts from King’s staff and pupils during 1914-18. The booklet

includes quotes from the front: “Last night they tried a little practical chemistry (gas) on us but did not do anything. However, it was a bit disconcerting.” Capt. T Chapman (killed 1917), and accounts from the school magazine: “School started normally that September, but the first casualty was Dr Koch... they [The School Governors] voted to repay him his own contributions, the retirement fund plus interest.”

King’s contribution to the war was significant: 1008 served, 173 were killed, 169 wounded and 312 were decorated in recognition of their service.

THE HISTORY SOCIETY TALKS

In September, Mr Wheatley, Deputy Head of History, delivered a talk entitled: “Denying the Holocaust – the Search for Historical Truth.” Peter (L6K1) wrote: “The topic of the talk was the defamation trial, held on 11th January 2000, between David Irving, at the time a reputable if controversial historian and author, and Deborah Lipstadt: another historian and president of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council who had recently published a book on the holocaust herself.

The trial was held as, in her recent publication (published in 1993 and released in the UK in 1994 by penguin publishing co.), Lipstadt had described Irving as “one of the most dangerous spokespersons for Holocaust denial” and accused him of bending historical evidence “until it conforms with his ideological leanings and political agenda”. These claims were mostly aimed at David Irving’s book ‘Hitler’s war’ (which remains “the best study we have of the German side of the second world war”).

However, the trial was not just about Irving defending his reputation. Truth – and historians’ ability to prove that things happened – was on trial…the message of the talk highlighted the dangers of misuse of sources. And highlighted more than ever that, to quote Mr Wheatley, “these are serious times for serious people and history is a serious subject. It teaches you to question, to challenge, to think critically, to delve deeply into the detail, and to build arguments based on facts and evidence,” and that if your inferences and arguments are not based on fact then they can be damaging.”

In November, the school welcomed the Blues and Roots ensemble, who presented an insight into history – in the shape of American civil rights –and music. Dylan (U5MAC) and Emiliano (U5L) said: “…offering insight for both historians and musicians, the talk incorporated a mix of both the appreciation of jazz music and its larger influence on the black civil rights movement, while handling

In October, the school welcomed Sir Hugo Swire for a Q&A session on his career and the world of politics. Sir Hugo served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for East Devon from 2001 to 2019. He has also undertaken several ministerial roles, most recently serving as Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth office. Mya (U6A) said: “…we were so lucky to have Sir Hugo come in and speak to us on his political career as a former member of parliament and government minister…although I am not a conservative, nor did I agree with many of his viewpoints, I found it fascinating being able to pick his brain in a way you don’t often get to…it was amazing being able to gather different perspectives from my own from a true politician…I truly loved what I learnt from this talk.”

serious themes of violence, racism, and cruelty. What we found especially interesting was the idea of jazz being used as a mode of communication for ethnic minorities who were often silenced and oppressed, left without a voice in a country with deep-rooted issues of intolerance. The talk was particularly useful in contextualizing the problems that are faced in present-day American society.”

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

(U6K) was announced as one of the winners of The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2022, and out of one hundred winners, was selected as one of the judges’ top 15 poets. The award was established in 1998 by The Poetry Society and recognises the best young poets from around the world. In accepting the award, Martine talked of her experience in bi-lingual writing saying: “Writing this poem was a fun process because of the challenge that came from the technical aspect of translating a Chinese form into English. I am delighted by the recognition I have received…and feel encouraged to experiment more with form in the future.”

Martine

Jamie (L6L), Ximena (L6L), Sienna (U6MAC), Siya (L6G), Uma (L6MAC) and Martine (U6K) triumphed in the annual Women’s Open Debating Competition, hosted by St Paul’s Girls School. Ximena won fifth best novice speaker in the competition, Sienna won second best overall speaker, and Martine won best overall speaker of the competition. Sienna and Martine also won the grand final, and thus the entire competition!

Luca

(L5K) was crowned the overall winner of the U14 group at The British Chess Championships. He finished undefeated with a score of six out of seven (five wins and two draws)!

The U19 Chess team came second in the U19 National Chess Finals. The two-day tournament saw the team face other notoriously talented teams such as Westminster School and Eton College. Undeterred, the team are setting their sights on winning the first-place trophy at next

ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS

TOURS & TEA

Are you interested in finding out more about the history of King’s? The development team is looking to organise a series of campus tours, giving you the opportunity to visit familiar haunts such as the Great Hall, the science laboratories, and the cricket pavilion. The tours

will be followed by tea and a chance to see some of the documents from the school archive. This inaugural series is scheduled to take place during the first two weeks of April, subject to demand. Please contact development@kcs.org.uk if you would like to register your interest in attending.

YOUR STORIES

The school archivist is looking for members of the King’s community to participate in a living history project entitled ‘Recollections of King’s’. Much of the school’s past is recorded in the paper archives, but there are limited instances of people talking about everyday events. The project seeks to overcome this by collecting written reminiscences and conducting oral history interviews, thus building a picture of daily life at the school from the 1940s to the present day. If you would like to get involved or find out more, please contact archive@kcs.org.uk If you would like to peruse the School Archive, you can do so here.

DRAMA HIGHLIGHTS

DORIAN SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

After acclaimed success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, KCS Theatre Co. returned to school to perform two final performances of their original adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s gothic masterpiece ‘Dorian.’ KCS Theatre Co. are known for their innovative approach to theatrical storytelling, pushing the boundaries at every turn. One audience member said: “Better than any West End production… it was absolutely exceptional.” A professional film of one of the live performances is in production and will be available to watch soon. In the meantime, you can view the trailer.

WOYZECK

17 lower fifth pupils took part in a production of Georg Büchner’s fractured, unfinished 1836 play ‘Woyzeck’, which tells the story of Franz Woyzeck, an ordinary soldier driven mad by jealousy, an unfair society and a world that seems pitted against him. The pupils created a slick, dynamic and physical version of the play, which successfully summoned a strange and nightmarish world.

HISPANIC THEATRE FESTIVAL

Nine pupils took part in the Hispanic Theatre Festival in October and, despite competing against a strong field, won three awards out a possible eight. The awards won were Best Actor for John (U6MAC2), Best Play, and Best-Spoken Spanish.

DUOLOGUE COMPETITION

Fourth form drama pupils selected, rehearsed, and performed scenes from celebrated plays for the Fourth Form Duologue Competition. 24 boys were selected by their teachers to compete in the final, following heats in class. Luke Sumner (OK 2012), fresh from a lengthy West End run as Scorpius Malfoy in ‘Harry Potter and The Cursed Child’, acted as adjudicator. Noah (4A) and George (4A), who performed a very funny performance in a scene from ‘Constellations’, scooped first prize, whilst Nikhil (4K) and Hamish (4L), who performed a subtle, naturalistic scene from ‘Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons’, took second prize.

November

saw a superb school production of ‘Shakespeare in Love.’ Endlessly witty and beautifully romantic, ‘Shakespeare in Love’ reveals the tale behind the creation of the world’s greatest love story. Of the production, the school’s director of drama, Ms Barron, said: “… with more pupils than ever before joining the company as cast, band, crew, and production team, this has been an incredibly collaborative and creative journey. King’s dramatists are a highly intelligent and dextrous bunch and tend to gravitate towards the more serious side of drama, with its searing emotions and poignant beauty: this term we thought stirring a little clownish comedy into the mix might provide a fruitful challenge, and something for the audience to really enjoy.”

If you would like to be added to the Drama mailing list to receive the termly Drama Calendar, contact development@kcs.org.uk

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSES

CHAMBER CHOIR SINGS

CHORAL EVENSONG

At the beginning of term, pupils from the chamber choir visited Chichester Cathedral to sing Evensong. The choir sang superbly in Dyson’s jubilant ‘Magnificat in D’ and Wood’s rousing anthem, ‘Hail, gladdening light’. The final chords were left hanging dramatically in the building’s warm acoustic, whilst the quieter moments of the psalm and Nunc Dimittis contrasted well with their poignancy. The chamber choir also visited St John’s Wimbledon, performing well under the conductorship of the school’s director of music, Mr Phillips.

ORCHESTRAL CONCERT

The talented King’s orchestra took to the Concert Hall floor in November, for the Orchestral Concert. It featured the wind, chamber, and symphony orchestras, with one hundred pupils taking part. Highlights of the eclectic and popular programme included Verdi’s overture ‘La forza del destino’, Bruch’s muchloved ‘Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor’ with Sassan (U6K1) as soloist and music from ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

November also featured this year’s Christmas Concert, which took place at St James’s Church, Piccadilly. The chamber choir provided the singing in carols familiar and unfamiliar, with the chamber orchestra accompanying and performing Mozart and Elgar. The music was festive and joyous, and made for an excellent start to the Christmas season.

Asreported in the summer edition of the King’s Association newsletter, Lucas (U6G2), was selected as one of the five woodwind finalists in this year’s BBC Young Musician competition. He featured in the BBC Young Musician 2022 final highlights, which aired on 3rd October on BBC4. Lucas, who has been playing the clarinet since he was eight years old, did exceptionally well to reach the finals of this prestigious biennial competition – he is also the first King’s pupil ever to do so.

The school Woodwind Prize competition, held in October, was adjudicated this year by Graham Hobbs, Sub-Principal Bassoon with the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields. The standard of performances was incredibly high, with prizes awarded to Lucas (U6G) in the Senior category, Isaac (U5MAC) in the Intermediate category, and Louis (7CVO) in the Lower School category.

The Sixth Form House Music Solo competition also took place in October, and was won by Lucas D (U6G2). Lucas gave an animated and beautifully phrased performance of ‘Peregi Verbunk’ by Leó Weiner.

Seven pupils, Jamie (L5M), William (U5M) and Lucas (U6G2), Neo (8LOS), Charlie (8LOS), Natan (7CPM) and Luke (4M), have gained places in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) of Great Britain and the National Children’s Orchestra (NCO) of Great Britain. These two orchestras are the top ensembles in the country for aspiring young players, and have a tradition of producing some of the finest musicians in the UK – auditions are extremely competitive and gaining a place is a very considerable achievement. Superb accomplishments by all.

If you would like to be added to the Music mailing list to receive the termly Music Calendar, contact development@kcs.org.uk

SPORT HIGHLIGHTS

BASKETBALL CROSS-COUNTRY

The first ever girls’ basketball team formed this year, with fixtures beginning in the new year.

In October, 12 schools took part in the annual King’s Trophy Cross Country fixture on Wimbledon Common. The race covered seven kilometres of hard-fought cross country running and, despite some very wet conditions, was a fantastic race with fast times across the board. The Judd School won both the boys’ and girls’ races with King’s coming eighth and second respectively. Will (L6G1) and Kaitlin (U6MAC) ran well, coming in 17th place and 40th place. Alumni with an interest in cross-country, may be interested to know that the annual Kevin Hawney Cup Race will be taking place on Saturday 28th January 2023.The race is run between alumni, staff, and pupils, and will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with running enthusiasts past and present from the King’s community. Runners of all standards, as well as spectators, are welcome. Please contact development@kcs.org.uk for further information.

Competitive

CYCLING FOOTBALL

road cyclist Mattie (U6Mac2) has recently signed a professional contract with Tirol-KTM, an Austrian U23 team and one of the premier development teams in the world – a fantastic achievement.

The first XI football team made it through to the third round of the Boodles ISFA National Cup, beating St. Clare’s, Oxford in the preliminary round, Abingdon School in the first round, and Dulwich College in the second round. They lost 3-2 to Shrewsbury School in the third round, but a great achievement, nonetheless.

NETBALL

The first VII netballers have moved onto the second round of the Independent Schools’ Netball Competition. Alumnae with an interest in netball may be interested to know that the King’s College School Alumnae Netball Tournament will be taking place on Saturday 7th January 2023. It will be a great chance to catch up with former classmates and friends. Please contact development@kcs.org.uk for further information.

RUGBY

The U15A rugby team are unbeaten in their block fixtures with dominant performances against Reed’s School, London Oratory School, RGS, Guildford, Wimbledon College, Cranleigh School, and Harrow School. Alongside this they have progressed into the fourth round of the U15s Schools’ Cup where they will face Epsom College.

ROWING

I t was a busy summer for the King’s senior rowing squad! George Pearson (OK 2022) competed in the Home International Rowing Regatta – an annual completion which see the four “Home Nations” of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland compete – finishing second in the junior men’s eight and first in the sprint. Making school history, King’s had the largest representation of athletes from one school/ club representing Great Britain at this year’s U19 World Championships. Alex Forbes (OK 2022) became a world champion, winning the final of the men’s coxless four, Zac Day (OK 2022) and Ben Lundie (OK 2022) finished with a silver medal in the men’s eight, and Tom (U6MAC1) finished second in the B final with the quickest time a Great Britain U19

men’s coxless pair has posted in international competition.

Tom Monaghan (OK 2022), Sam (U6A1), and Fleur (U6A) represented Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse – a two-day international rowing regatta – racing in both the coxed four and the eight. They won both categories on the first day, and on the second day, placed second in the coxed four and first in the eight.

Nine King’s rowers raced at the Scullers Head of the River Race, facing some of the best scullers in the country. It was a momentous day for the club, with three upper sixth rowers finishing inside the top 11. The crowning achievement was from Sam (U6A1), who made King’s history by winning the trophy with his 22 minute and eight second performance!

DEVELOPMENT AT KING’S

THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

The development team has been delighted to connect with, and get to know, so many members of the King’s community over the past months. As the school heads into 2023, there will be many more opportunities for you to connect with the school and with the King’s community – ensure that you keep your contact details up to date with the team so that they can continue to share news, events, and activities with you.

FORMER STAFF LUNCH

In early September, former staff members were invited back to school to celebrate their contribution to the success of King’s. Guests were given a campus tour by the school archivist, Dr Lucy Inglis, where they visited some of the newer buildings such as the Sports Centre, the

Quad, and The Andrew Halls Music School. The tour was followed by a talk from Mr Ted Lougher, Head of King’s College Junior School, and a buffet lunch.The rain held off (!) and one guest, Mr John Hazel, was also celebrating his 90th birthday, providing two further reasons to celebrate.

ONE YEAR ON BBQ

Reunions were the theme for September as later on in the month, 75 alumni from the Class of 2021 came back to school, to mark one year since they left King’s.The leavers were welcomed by Mrs Jody Lawton-Cook, Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form) who gave a touching speech comprising fond anecdotes and memories of the leavers time at school. This was followed by a group photo to the rousing words of “Say King’s!” and a BBQ. It was wonderful to see everyone catching up and reminiscing on their time spent at school.

2022-23 SECTOR NETWORKING SERIES

This year the 2022-23 Sector Networking Series was launched, which provides opportunities for members of the King’s community to hear from experts within five key sectors: the Engineering sector, the Medical, Veterinary & Healthcare sector, the Business sector, the Law sector, and the Arts & Media sector. It also offers the chance for members to connect with others studying and working within these sectors to share and obtain career advice and insights, develop, and expand their professional network, and cultivate their networking and conversational skills.

The series began with the Engineering Sector Networking Reception, which took place at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in October. The evening comprised two impactful and engaging talks from inspirational guest speakers Rachel Skinner CBE and Micheala Chan, who shared their experiences of working within the sector, and an enthusiastic networking session – it was fantastic to see new connections being made and career insights and advice being shared freely between alumni, parents, and pupils.

This series continued with the Business Sector Networking Reception, which took place at The Goldsmiths’ Centre in November. The evening comprised networking over drinks and canapés, and a talk from inspirational business leader Joe Garner (OK 1987). Joe, former Chief Executive Officer at Nationwide Building Society, gave a thoughtprovoking and engaging talk on his experiences of making critical decisions under pressure, of reshaping organisations to be purpose-led, and his practical thoughts on personal well-being during a time when everyone is expected to be ‘always on.’

Engineering Sector Networking Reception

50 pupils 24 alumni 37 current and former parents 10 current and former staff 2 other

Business Sector Networking Reception

49 pupils 46 alumni 57 current and former parents 9 current and former staff (Some may fall into more than one category)

Invitations were sent out last week to our Medical,Veterinary & Healthcare Sector Networking Reception, taking place on 26th January at school – if you are studying, working or have a keen interest in this sector, then please make sure to RSVP. Further networking receptions will take place across the spring and summer terms and will be advertised in the new year.

CAN YOU HELP?

The development team is on the look-out for guest speakers to deliver engaging talks, organisations to host events, and volunteers to get involved with careers fairs. And the school’s chaplain, Reverend Madeleine Miller, is looking for a

skilled calligrapher to help update the King’s Book of Remembrance.The book is a beautiful memorial of those who have been part of the King’s community and have passed away. If you can help, then please contact development@kcs.org.uk

THE ARTHUR WELLESLEY SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTS

The Arthur Wellesley Society is a cultural society that organises a series of events each year. It is open to all members of the King’s community so if you would like to join, please contact AWSociety@kcs.org.uk. Below is a selection of recent events; upcoming events can be found here

THE WALTER SICKERT EXHIBITION AT TATE BRITAIN

Atthe beginning of the autumn term, the Society arranged a trip to the Sickert exhibition at Tate Britain – the first retrospective of Walter Sickert’s work for over 60 years. Sickert, educated at the school from the age of 11 until 18, helped shape modern British art and the exhibition documented the evolution of his

style as an artist. Guests were first treated to a private talk by Sarah Stopford, one of the gallery curators, followed by a guided tour through the exhibition, where characteristics of Sickert’s work were pointed out. Guests commented that Stopford’s detailed commentary really brought Sickert’s work to life.

PROFESSOR MICHAEL SCOTT TALK

In October, Professor Michael Scott (OK 1999) returned to school to talk about the origins of the world phenomenon that is Machu Picchu, in his talk entitled: “The Lost City that wasn’t lost and wasn’t a city: behind the scenes of one of the greatest discovery stories of the 20th century.” In his talk, Professor Scott discussed the discovery of Machu Picchu in a story full of twists and turns, coincidence, and wonder.

MR ANDREW HALLS OBE TALK

In December, Mr Andrew Halls OBE also returned to school to give a talk entitled: “Dickens: The Empathetic Psychopath.” Mr Halls’s talk explored the darker side of Dickens’s mind and behaviour, as reflected in his work, his actions, and the views of those who knew him. The talk, interspersed with performances of Dickens extracts by pupils, was fascinating.

THE FRIENDS OF KING’S HIGHLIGHTS

Established in 1978, the Friends of King’s is the school’s parents’ association. The Friends organise social and fundraising events throughout the year, with the aims of enriching the education of pupils, and fostering a strong sense of community. Below is a snapshot of recent events, held over a remarkably busy November and December!

FIREWORKS CAREERS FAIR

Once again, the skies of Wimbledon were lit up for the Friends Fireworks display. It is one of the Friends main fundraising events and continues to be hugely popular – over 3,500 spectators came along to school (!), and enjoyed a spectacular visual display provided by Toby Alloway (OK 1999) and Titanium Fireworks. The evening unfolded with circus performers, hot food and drink offerings and performances from school bands Good Question, Big Band, and Regent.

Set

to the theme ‘your future starts here’, upper fifth and lower sixth pupils were invited to the Friends Careers Fair in November. Pupils met with professionals from over 30 sectors who kindly gave their time to offer career advice and insights. For the first time, there was also a programme of talks from professionals from various vocations, such as journalism and finance, giving pupils an in-depth overview of popular careers. If you are interested in volunteering at a future careers fair, then please contact development@kcs.org.uk

CHRISTMAS FAIR COMMUNITY TEA

On Saturday 26th November, the head officially opened the Friends Christmas Fair, welcoming over 2,500 guests to the school. The Christmas Fair is one of the most popular community events, bringing together the broader King’s community, which includes pupils, parents, staff, the local community and businesses, and Partnership Schools. The Fair featured superb musical performances by Harris Academy Wimbledon choir, the junior school choir, and King’s bands Thump and Regent, and there was delicious food and drinks offerings provided by over 80 stallholders! The pupil-led Pupil Outreach Programme (POP!) was also successful in their fundraising efforts for their selected charities.

In early December, the school chaplain, Reverend Madeleine Miller, invited local care homes to school, for the Friends Community Tea. Parent volunteers kindly signed up to help at the event, which featured an afternoon tea and carols from the school choir.

KING’S LGBTQ+ ALUMNI NETWORK UPDATE

King’s College School LGBTQ+ Alumni Network is run by a group of volunteers and works with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion mentor for LGBTQ+ in the school.The group aims to provide a social and support network for LGBTQ+ alumni and their allies, and to help maintain an inclusive culture at King’s so that current pupils feel they belong. King’s is committed to encouraging allyship with minority groups in the community, so membership is open to all alumni who wish to support the group aims. If you are interested in joining, or would like further information, please contact kcslgbt@gmail.com.

LAW SOCIETY UPDATE

Established in 2012, the Law Society aims to provide support and mentoring for King’s pupils interested in pursuing a career in the law, and facilitate links between members of the King’s community working in the law. The Society is returning to a more regular cycle of events and will

be hosting a Q&A Panel Session and Networking Reception in the spring term - invitations for this event will be sent out in the new year - and a dinner in the autumn term. The society is also looking for new committee members – if this is of interest, please contact development@kcs.org.uk

THE OLD KING’S CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

KING’S COLLEGE SCHOOL LODGE CENTENARY CELEBRATION

King’s College School Lodge, formed on 3rd May 1921, celebrated its Centenary on 24th June, a year late due to the pandemic. 180 members and guests were welcomed by Lieutenant Commander Paul Engeham, Royal Navy (OK 1968). The guest of honour was Colonel Simon Duckworth, OBE DL (OK 1982),

ANNUAL DINNER

The Old King’s Club’s Annual Dinner was held at the House of Commons, courtesy of the Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP (OK 1985). Stephen Pix (OK 1961) said Grace. The head, Dr Anne Cotton, was guest of honour and was joined by the head of the junior school, Ted Lougher, the Bursar, Dr Ghazwa Alwani-Starr, and former head Robin Reeve. Every decade of King’s leavers since the 1940s was represented, with a narrow majority having left in the past ten years. Alexander Malmaeus (Chairman, OK 1984) proposed the toast to the school, and the head proposed the toast to the Old King’s Club.

and the Director of Ceremonies was Tom Milner (OK 2004) The lodge archivist Robert Yonge (OK 1961) gave a presentation on the lodge’s history. The Lodge meets four times a year in Covent Garden, followed by dinner at a London club. For further information, please contact secretary@kcslodge.org.uk.

ANNUAL CAREERS EVENING

The Old King’s Club, in conjunction with the Careers and Higher Education department, will be holding a careers evening in 2023. The evening aims to provide lower sixth pupils with an invaluable opportunity to hear from members of the King’s community who

work within the sectors they aspire to enter. The advice and insights shared makes a real difference to pupils as they prepare for university and the workplace. If you would like to be involved, please get in touch by contacting info@oldkingsclub.org.uk

IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH...

... JACK STEPHENSON (OK 2011 AND CAPTAIN OF THE KCS OLD BOYS FOOTBALL CLUB)

What is your favourite memory from your time at King’s?

King’s is, of course, a school which prides itself on academic excellence and I have many fond memories from within the classroom, but with the passing of time I find it hard not to reflect first and foremost on the memories I have from being heavily involved in sport and music. I was lucky enough to be involved in rugby and cricket tours to South Africa, as well as a football tour to Madrid and a Chamber Orchestra tour to Tuscany. If I had to pick one memory, however, it would have to be scoring the winning penalty in the semi-final of the Trinity School’s Cup away at Dulwich to send us to the final at the New Den. I am still reminded today about how I managed to bypass the rest of the team as they came to celebrate with me and continued running off in completely the opposite direction! Winning the London ISFA Cup as captain in my final year at Dulwich Hamlets was also a fitting way to sign off.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a 29-year-old Londoner, the middle son of three – all of whom came through King’s. I left in 2011 having completed my International Baccalaureate (which was mandatory back then) to study History and Spanish at Durham University. As part of my degree, I was lucky enough to be able to spend an entire year in South America, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I worked for an insurance broker, thereby gaining some valuable work experience whilst improving my Spanish. Upon graduation from Durham in 2015, I started my career in asset management, based in the City, where I have worked for the past seven years. I am also getting married next year, so plenty going on “on and off the pitch,” to borrow a footballing term!

When did your interest in sport begin?

I do not remember a time when sport was not a central part of my life. At an early age I was taken to watch Wimbledon play at Selhurst Park before they moved to Milton Keynes (although somehow ended up a Chelsea fan!) and cricket at Lord’s in the summer. I played rugby, football, and cricket on rotation for all my formative years through to the age of 18. Football was always my favourite of the three and where I invested most of my energy. I played Little League in Motspur Park at a very young age, then joined Barnes Eagles, which become increasingly difficult to play on Sunday mornings throughout the first term at King’s after bruising encounters on the rugby pitch on Saturdays. Imagine trying to play

football the morning after coming through a school rugby game where Billy Vunipola was my opposite man (true story)!

Was there anyone at King’s or a moment during your time at King’s that inspired you to get involved with sport?

I am not sure I needed much encouragement to get stuck into the sports programme at King’s, but certainly Liam Kane, who was Director of Sport and 1st XI Football Coach throughout my time, was a big influence on me and backed me to play in the 1st XI when I was in the upper fifth. I can remember endless coach journeys where he would play the Al Pacino speech from ‘Any Given Sunday’ on repeat (“life is just a game of inches…so is football”). Most of us could repeat it verbatim by the end of that season.

When did you join the KCS Old Boys Football Club?

I joined straight after graduating in 2015. I was fortunate that I walked into a dressing room led at the time by two club legends: 1st XI Captain Nick Perry (OK 2003) and Club Captain Mike Tilles (OK 2002), who immediately impressed on me the high standards and dedication expected of anyone with ambitions to play for the 1st XI, which I now try to pass on to young players with varying degrees of success!

Why do you enjoy playing for the club?

There is something incredibly unique about bringing people together through sport who all have in common the fact that they went to King’s. No matter if you left the school last year or 20 years ago, that bond ties us all together and creates a natural comradery that would not be the case elsewhere. This is an essential requirement for all the teams who play in the Arthurian League pyramid, meaning that the same school rivalries that I remember so vividly remain still very much alive today, emphasised

during a recent lively encounter against Old Alleynians! These sorts of fixtures really keep my competitive spirit alive. There is another angle to it too in the sense that, as life has got busier and more complex as I have grown older, there is a real sense of escapism and nostalgia to be found in dipping back into those school ties every week, which is completely detached from the noise and distractions of everyday life. Finally, there is also a strong social aspect to the club, whether it be at tea after matches or organised club socials, which means that it plays a role in all our lives beyond purely football.

Can you tell us a little about the history of the club and its achievements?

KCS Old Boys Football Club started as a conversation in a pub between a group of 1999 leavers back in 2005 and the journey has seen the club grow and improve every year since. After a season of playing Sunday league football the team, then made up predominantly of leavers from three different year groups, embarked on their first season in the Arthurian League – a league made up exclusively of alumni clubs from independent schools – in 200607. The team was placed in Division 1 and a period of success followed – the first X1was promoted to the Premier Division in 200708 and had secured a third-place finish and a runners-up spot in the Arthur Dunn Cup Final by 2009-10. Over the next few seasons, the club found themselves as a “yo-yo” side with two relegations and two promotions, but in 201314, Nick Perry (OK 2003) took over as skipper and set about changing the team’s fortunes – an unbeaten promotion season followed.

Alex Angel (OK 2010) and Ollie Hewitt (OK 2011) have taken the reigns since, and continual improvements have been evidenced by a run to the 1/4 finals of the AFA Cup in 2017-18 and a second-place finish in 2018-19. This provided a steppingstone for a title challenge in 2019-20,

during the first full season of my leadership. The team went on a wonderful 14-month unbeaten run in the league and was one point off the top with three games left to play but the league was cancelled due to the pandemic. A heavily disrupted 2020-21 season followed, resulting in a midtable finish in 2021-22. The current 2022-23 season has started in excellent fashion, with the team unbeaten, top of the league, and safely through the first round of the Arthur Dunn Cup. The second XI has also been a real strength of the club. It formed in 2009-10 and had a low-key start, finishing second last in Division 5. However, as the player-base grew so did the levels of success. Under the stewardship of Alex Moir (OK 2003), Chris Tolley (OK 2007), and Ramon Selvakumaran (OK 2007), promotions in three of the next seven years, meant that in 2016-17 the side found themselves in Division 2 – this is the highest level a non-1st XI can reach in the AL structure. The side competed admirably for three seasons at this level but, sadly, suffered their first ever relegation in 2018-19. With a new look squad and new captain in Cameron Wilkinson (2014) the team set about to achieve a solid midtable finish in 2019-20. In the 202021 season, an impressive cup run culminated in a first JLC final appearance for the team. The team came close to promotion in 2021-22 and is looking to kick on now under the stewardship of Olli Garner (OK 2011).

Between 2016-18 the club also ran a third XI. Today, the third XI exists as our Vets team competing in the Vets Cup and league. The club is supported generously by the Old King’s Club who host a range of events for old boys throughout the year.”

How can fellow members of the King’s community get involved with, or support, the club?

The biggest form of support from alumni is to get involved with the club! We train on Monday nights at Battersea Park; matches can be anywhere

in London but many take place in the southwest area. Pre-season training takes place on Mondays on Clapham Common. League tables and fixture information can be found here for the 1st XI Arthurian League and here for the 2nd XI Arthurian League. You can also follow along through our Instagram and Facebook pages – we are always looking to improve our online presence so would welcome support from anyone with expertise here!

Other events worth mentioning include the annual visit to Kingsway, started as a solitary Old Boys vs School midweek fixture which has now evolved to a Saturday contest, with the 1st, 2nd and Vets teams lining up against the current 1st, 2nd, and 3rd school teams. The 1st teams compete for the Kane Cup, with the Old Boys winning the cup three times out of four years since its inception! Over 80 past and present pupils, parents and teachers come along, making for a great club day with a social event afterwards. This season the fixture will take place on Saturday 7th January 2023, and we would love to see you there!

There is also an annual 6-a-side tournament, which typically sees 10-14 teams competing in a ‘Battle of the Years’ format. Information should be available our social media pages later this season if you want to get involved in that.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Marcus Mumford (OK 2005)

In September, Marcus Mumford (OK 2005) released his first ever album ‘(self-titled)’, which he wrote during the pandemic. Deeply personal, it is described as the most soul-baring record of his career. Further information about Mumford and the album, can be found here

Luke Sumner (OK 2012)

Luke Sumner (OK 2012) has just finished a lengthy run in the West End, playing Scorpius Malfoy in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’. The play received a record-breaking eleven nominations and won another record-breaking nine awards, including Best New Play at the 2017 Laurence Olivier Awards (for the London production).

Christopher Beesley (OK 1969)

Christopher Beesley (OK 1969) and John Bagshaw (OK 1969) both achieved notable running feats earlier this year, in aid of charity. Beesley completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, taking on the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in just over five hours! He ran 20 miles, including 4000ft of climbing, to raise money for the Settle Ukraine Support Group. Bagshaw took part in the London Marathon, running the 26.2-mile course to raise money for Riding for the Disabled. In Beesley’s words, both feats were “proof that the hours spent running on Wimbledon Common were not wasted!”

Lauren Pereira-Greene (OK 2020)

Lauren Pereira-Greene (OK 2020) was recognised by the Independent School Parent Magazine for her achievements since leaving King’s. Pereira-Greene, a medical student at UCL and Co-Founder of Diversity in Medical Academia (DIMA), was named as one of their 2022 Movers and Makers.

Khalid Abdalla (OK 1999)

Khalid Abdalla (OK 1999) has been cast in season five of ‘The Crown’ in the role of Dodi Al-Fayed.Theatre notwithstanding, Abdalla has numerous screen roles under his belt, including ‘United 93’ (2006), ‘The Kite Runner’ (2007), ‘Assassin’s Creed’ (2016), ‘Hanna’ (2019-20), ‘Undergods’ (2020), and ‘Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight’ (2022).

Henry Putt (OK 2012)

Henry Putt (OK 2012), and Louis Cruysmans (OK 2012), together with two friends, are taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge this month in aid of the Oli Hilsdon Foundation and Mind. For 3000 miles, the team will be rowing unassisted for two hours on and two hours off continuously, in a journey expected to take them 40 days. The team will be starting in La Gomera and rowing across to Antigua. More information can be found here: atlanticendeavoar.com.

King’s College School Southside Wimbledon Common London SW19 4TT The Development Office +44 (20) 8255 5390 development@kcs.org.uk