Quad The
Lent Term 2014
LANCING COLLEGE REVIEW
A Note from the Head Master
Dominic Oliver to become 19th Head Master of Lancing College
he Lent Term 2014 has been different in two notable respects: firstly the removal of January AS and A2 examinations has allowed the reclaiming of a significant amount of teaching time, a development which I applaud in itself but one with significant consequences for Upper Sixth Formers in the summer; and secondly we have been spared the snow of recent winters, albeit replaced by storms and torrents of rain. Throughout the term, however, the spirit and industry of the school have remained undampened, and we have celebrated a wide range of successes academic, musical, dramatic, sporting, philanthropic – many of which are recorded in this publication. Following a period of significant investment in academic facilities and provision, including of course the introduction of school iPads for all pupils, we have now moved into an exciting phase of house refurbishments, with Manor House relocated to the Sussex Pad for the second half of this term whilst the contractors set to work on their permanent home. Spring sunshine and the start of the Easter break herald the most important stage of the year for examination candidates – we wish our GCSE, AS and A2 candidates all the very best for their revision. And I hope that you will enjoy this latest edition of The Quad which comes with very warm greetings from Lancing.
Following the announcement that Jonathan Gillespie will be leaving Lancing at the end of the Summer Term to become Headmaster of St Albans School, the Governing Body has announced that Mr Dominic Oliver will be his successor. Mr Oliver is currently Deputy Head of the three Bedales Schools. A Shakespeare scholar with a keen interest in the literary and political history of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, he has published in his areas of expertise. He gained a First Class Degree in English Literature from Sheffield University and an M Phil in English from St Peter’s College Oxford, after which he became a member of the University of Oxford English Faculty and Lecturer at St Peter’s College. Mr Oliver subsequently taught at the Royal Grammar School Worcester, after which he became Head of English and Head of Academic Development at Malvern College. He is married with two sons, aged 11 and 8, and his many interests encompass areas in which Lancing excels: choral singing, theatre, hill walking, swimming and football. He is keenly anticipating his headship, and explains: “The warmth of the Lancing community, its rich history, its academic distinction and its focus on all-round education combine to make it a very special place. It will be a privilege to lead Lancing in the years to come.”
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Other Staff News
Warm congratulations to Mr Jeremy McCullough, the Second Master, on his appointment to be Headmaster of Colston’s School, Bristol, from September 2014. At the beginning of next academic year Mrs Hilary Dugdale will become Senior Deputy Head in which role she will be the Head Master’s immediate deputy. Congratulations to Ms Kelly Edwards and her husband Mark on the birth of their second baby, Esmee-Lily, and to Mrs Phillippa Faulkner and her husband, Geoffrey, on the birth of their second baby, Benjamin. At the end of the Lent Term, we say a sad farewell to Ms Barbara Godfrey, who has been Matron of Second’s House for nearly 25 years. Barbara has seen hundreds of boys pass through the House during her time at Lancing. We wish her every happiness for her retirement.
Jonathan Gillespie
Lancing College Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW Tel: 01273 452213 Fax: 01273 464720 email: info@lancing.org.uk
www.lancingcollege.co.uk 2
Ms Barbara Godfrey and Willow
Boarding House Refurbishment
February 2014 marked the start of a two year, multi-million pound refurbishment project, which will see a significant upgrade to the accommodation in all of the school’s Boarding Houses.
The project has, in part, been enabled through the re-acquisition of the Sussex Pad - known until recently as a hotel and restaurant, but originally part of the College’s buildings. The Pad itself has been revamped for use as temporary accommodation for students - bedrooms, study areas and common rooms - as each House is upgraded. The first House on the list was Manor, which is planned to be finished by the end of the Easter holidays. Following their brief decampment to the Pad, the girls are now looking forward to moving back into their ‘new’ pad!
Ski Championships
During the Christmas holidays, 14 students represented Lancing at the Independent Schools’ Ski Championships in Les Deux Alpes, France. The resort has the largest skiable glacier in Europe, and is France’s second oldest ski resort. This is the first time that a team from Lancing has taken part, and the competition (against Canford, Hurst, KCS Wimbledon, Packwood Haugh, Whitgift and Wycombe Abbey) was fierce. Our best results of the competition were in the slalom, with James Rayward achieving 12th place, and Cameron Liddell-Grainger close behind in 13th, in a field of 110 competitors.
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Musical Notes
Island Life
Congratulations to all pupils who were successful in the recent Associated Board and Trinity music examinations. As well as passing Grade 1 Bassoon and Grade 8 Singing, Reuben Hoyte was awarded first place in three of the Under 15 Piano classes at the Worthing Music Festival. At the Springboard Festival in Brighton, violinist Justin Yau won both the solo Bach class and the highly prestigious Corin Long Memorial Award.
In preparation for a Lent Term practical investigation external assessment, 24 Upper Sixth biologists spent five days of their October half term at the Medina Valley Centre on the Isle of Wight. This intensive course aims to strengthen both practical and statistical skills. During their stay they had many exciting opportunities to collect data in a variety of different ecosystems which they later analysed. The field work included Mark-Release-Recapture using crabs; transect sampling on Norton Spit saltmarsh; periwinkle sampling on Bembridge rocky shore and collecting woodland data in Parkhurst Forest. The trip also allowed the group to explore different conservation topics with a falconry display, a bird-watching walk and a trip to an organic farm struggling to survive with the pressures of modern day globalisation. During one of the more relaxing sessions, the students took canoes out into the river estuary for a different view of where they had been working.
Chemists have all the Solutions
Justin Yau Dancin’ for Joe...!, a solo clarinet composition by Lancing’s Director of Music, Dr Ian Morgan-Williams, was premiered on 10 March at St Martinin-the-Fields, London. The piece was performed by Joseph Shiner, for whom it was written, and will be recorded for his new CD which will be released later in the year.
Late last term a number of our Fourth Form pupils took part in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s annual Schools Challenge. Teams of four pupils competed against each other in the regional heat of this competition by answering a range of structured and multiple-choice questions, many of which were not on the GCSE syllabus and which required a great deal of lateral thinking. Congratulations go to Henry Steele, Angus Brown, Guy Bryman and Stephen Laurent (left to right) who finished in the top four places in the South East region. In doing so they were invited to the next round of the competition at Kingston University in April.
On Thursday 16 January, Lancing College hosted the third of four regional heats for the Royal Society of Chemistry’s ‘Top of the Bench’ competition. Philip Hartfield and Olivia Longhurst (pictured), Stepan Alexandrov and James Chan represented Lancing against five other schools, including Roedean, Reigate Grammar and Burgess Hill School for Girls. The Lancing team gave a terrific performance, both in the practical and written element of the competition, finishing a mere single point behind the joint winners (Roedean/Reigate). The afternoon proved to be a great success and was enjoyed by all.
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Southern Schools Book Award
The tenth annual Southern Schools Book Award Presentation Evening took place on 10 January at Roedean School Theatre. The event was hosted by author and Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman who won the award last year with her book Boys Don’t Cry. She is pictured here with (l-r) Kate Cann, Kevin Brooks and Sally Gardner (Michelle Harrison and Simon Mayo were unable to attend). The five shortlisted books were: Third Form pupils, Sebastian Brooks, Harry Corney, Philip Hartfield, Gus • Kevin Brooks The Bunker Diary Webb, Amaury Salomon and India • Kate Cann Witch Crag Froud. Each judge received a £7 book • Sally Gardner Maggot Moon token, which they were able to spend • Michelle Harrison Unrest on signed copies of the nominees’ • Simon Mayo Itch books later in the evening, at a pop-up shop provided by Brighton and Hove’s The award was attended by nearly 300 award winning independent children’s young judges from 34 Kent and Sussex book shop, The Book Nook. schools. Lancing was represented by six
Shakespeare Unbound
Actor Colin David Reese shared his knowledge and experience of performing Shakespeare in a special workshop for the College’s keen thespians in January. Colin, who has a number of West End and television acting credits to his name, has designed these workshops specifically to help pupils understand how Shakespeare used verse to develop characterisation. He has researched extensively the history of British theatre, Elizabethan actors and Comedia dell’ Arte, and studied the latter under Jacques Lecoq in Paris.
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One always suspects, when meeting marauding jungle animals in the cloisters or spotting an ice cream van on the drive on a cold March day, that it might be Charities Term at the College. The charites supported are chosen by members of each House, some of whom have personal links to the associations and causes. Monies are still flooding in as The Quad goes to press; we hope to be able to make significant donations to:
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Crisis (supported by Sankey’s)
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St Wilfred’s Hospice and Group B Strep Support (Head’s and Second’s)
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Blind Veterans UK and World Bicycle Relief (Handford and School)
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The Smile Train and Snowdrop Trust (Field’s and Gibbs’)
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Chestnut Tree House (Teme and Manor)
Charities Term
As well as dress-up days and Krispy Kreme donut sales, this term has seen a wine tasting event (for staff and parents!), bake-offs and cake sales, discos, a pyjama breakfast, pizza and movie nights, the challenge of ‘Spy Ring’, the House plays, a Dodgeball
tournament, ‘Strictly Come Lancing’... the list could go on. The spirit of giving is always evident at Lancing, and it’s nice to see the pupils enjoying themselves at the same time, whilst raising money for a number of very worthy causes.
Tentpegging
Mr Gerald Nott (left) has been a member of the College ground staff for the last 30 years, however it has only just come to light that his talents lie beyond the fields of Lancing. Tentpegging is the collective name for mounted skill at arms, based on the cavalry sport of removing wooden tent pegs from the ground using swords or lances, whilst seated on a galloping horse. The sport is around 2,500 years old, and was developed by Asian armies who relied on their skill with the lance to defeat their enemies. The disciplines and drills involve the attacking of various targets, and include shooting balloons with a revolver, all executed without breaking canter. Gerald, who was the first ever civilian in history to win the Sword, Lance and Revolver class at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, has represented Great Britain on six occasions, in South Africa, Oman, India (twice), Pakistan, and most recently in Sudan, in January; in these countries, Tentpegging is as popular a sport as football is in the United Kingdom, with competitors regarded as celebrities! His most memorable wins have been in India, where he was awarded both silver and bronze medals, for team and pairs events. At home, he has competed in competitions such as the Forces Equine Games and the Royal Tournament.
Music and Cake
As well as the College’s very popular Lunchtime Concert Series, the Music Department is now offering a teatime treat! The ‘Music and Cake‘ afternoon concerts bring together two of Director of Music Dr Ian Morgan-Williams’ favourite things! The first concert included performances by the College’s flautists and a rarelyheard trombone quartet. Two weeks later, the second concert was opened with acoustic guitar and vocal performances by Sixth Formers Eve de Haan and Piers Ellison. The ‘headline’ act featured visiting mandolin, ukelele and banjo teacher James Smith accompanying folk singer Sharon Lewis, for a delightful and reflective half hour of original songs. Cakes were provided by the girls from Sankey’s and Handford Houses respectively, and were sold in aid of their chosen charities.
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Sticky Situation!
On 18 January, Mrs Webber and a group of intrepid Sixth Form Biologists visited the Natural History Museum, in order to attend the Phasmid Study Group’s winter meeting. It was an excellent opportunity to see some of the weird and wonderful species that make up the stick insect family, species living both wild and in captivity in the British Isles. The group met Ian Abercrombie, a phasmid enthusiast, who has personally discovered and named several species and subspecies of stick insect, as well as several varieties of frogs and snakes. The final talk of the day was given by Nick Wadham, a stage and television animal presenter who is also a keen stick insect owner. He had brought with him one of the most dangerous creatures in his invertebrate collection – a giant venomous centipede, whose deadly toxin contains an incredible list of poisons and chemicals which would reduce a chemist to tears. The venom causes severe pain and almost certain death to anyone who is unable to recite quickly the long list of toxins to a doctor, before passing out! After the talks ended, the students were all signed up as members of the Phasmid Study Group, an international community with the common interest of rearing and studying phasmids. In order to continue the survival of the species in the UK, a number of specially-bred insects had been donated for distribution amongst group members. Mrs Webber picked up some new additions to her collection, along with a few rather lovely leaf-insects. Lancing’s Biologists were privileged to return home with some new six-legged friends, as well as 50 eggs from one of the largest stick insect species currently kept in the UK. Before long, we hope the College will have its own colony!
Year of the Horse
Friday 31 January saw the Lunar New Year, and with it the Chinese New Year of the Horse. A group of our Chinese students invited the College community to celebrate with them, by hosting an afternoon session of Chinese games and activities. Fortunes were told (and cookies consumed!), chopstick skills were honed, cups were speedily stacked and manual dexterity was tested. Pupils and staff learned to write their names in Chinese, and were entertained with traditional instruments.
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Outreach Awards
Congratulations to the following pupils who have shown a huge commitment to serving the local community. They have all received bronze Outreach Awards, having completed 30 sessions (equivalent to 45 hours) of Community Service: • Carmen Addis • Cullum Ball • Charlie Cooper • Maddie Grant • Grace Hanna • Polly Hilton • Felia Inglis • Eddy Ip • Ali Khyat • Lauren Lemke • Matthew Long • Cassandra Neathercoat • Hattie Rawlings • Beth Richardson • Shahnye Saidy • Noah Williams • Amelia Young
Sensing Spaces
The Art Department took a group of Lower Sixth students to the ‘Sensing Spaces: Architecture Re-imagined’ Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Most of the students were part of the Architecture enrichment programme offered on a Wednesday afternoon; others were students who have shown a keen interest in architectural forms within their art coursework. The students loved the exhibition and came away feeling really inspired. It encouraged them to think about how spaces make us feel and how architects design to ‘contain space’ rather than ‘create space’. As pupil Rauri Edwards explains: “It was a really exciting and inspirational trip. It made you think about how space and light can affect your mood. It was also very eyeopening to see an architecture exhibition that was not solely based on sketches, mini models and the exterior design of a building as one might expect.”
Events for Prep Schools
There have been five very successful events for our feeder prep schools this term. The Prep Schools’ U11 and U13 Midwinter Swimming Gala was attended by pupils from eight schools. Four of the eight race categories were won by strong teams from Holmewood House School, with the remaining four shared by Windlesham and Duke of Kent School. Holmewood House also dominated the highly competitive U11 and U13 Squash Tournament at the end of January, taking both titles. Thursday 6 March saw the College host its best attended Prep Schools’ Netball Tournament to date, with 14 competing schools across two age groups. Ashdown House took the U13 title, and Cottesmore won in the U11 category. Parents and teachers alike were equally impressed by the high standard of netball and the positive competitive spirit shown by all the young ladies who took part. This year’s Cross-Country for Under 11s and Under 13s was, as ever, very well attended. Congratulations to Yardley Court School whose teams won both titles. Eight prep schools attended the Concours d’Art Oratoire French-speaking competition in March, which involved recitals of poetry and prose. The standard from all schools was very impressive. There was also a mini-competition for the bilingual pupils amongst the group. These events are always very popular. Further information is available from admissions@lancing.org.uk or 01273 465805.
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Georgia Watson as Sister Anderson, tends Ken Harrison (Matt Gurtler)
Brian Clark’s moving and hardhitting play Whose Life Is It Anyway? was performed in the Theatre at the end of January. Lower Sixth Former Matt Gurtler gave an extraordinary performance as Ken Harrison, a man confined to a hospital bed after a car accident had left him paralysed from the neck down. His argument for being discharged, to enable him to die, was compelling. A strong supporting cast maintained the pace and tension of the piece throughout. The play was directed by Mr Phil Richardson.
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CCF Charlton Chase
Lower Sixth Former Rory Thornton writes: The beginning of the Lent Term saw the annual Charlton Chase, in which teams of four embark on an eight hour overnight orienteering adventure, finding hidden markers and completing challenges. Lancing sent two teams, ‘Three Fast One Furious’ and ‘Sexy Navigation’, to compete with the 90 or so others. Having only 15 minute breaks between each of the five legs of the journey, it was a challenge, even for the those who’d done it before, and both teams lost their bearings at least once. However, both managed to finish within the time limit and achieved high rankings. ‘Three Fast One Furious’ came fourth overall and ‘Sexy Navigation’ were hot on their tail, only three points behind, and were placed fifth.
Gifts from the Lancing Association
The Lancing Association for parents of former pupils has been particularly generous with its gifts to the College this term. A number of departments have benefitted and the monies will buy two dehumidifiers for the Archives, with a further donation set aside to establish an Archaeology Club and Museum; a timber-pulling harness which will be used by the College Farm’s two working donkeys; a sports trampoline; some tortoise and stick insect boxes for the Biology Department; large format mounted photographs of recent drama productions to be displayed in Cherry Hall; and a substantial contribution to a new lighting desk for the Theatre.
Lancing Association members at a recent supper
The girls from Sankey’s House celebrate their win
Piers Ellison and Zac Hayward share the Christopher Headington Cup for the Open Solo class
Mark Milling presents Will Rowland, Florian Panzieri and Jack Redman The Three Tenors(ish) - with the Liz Astwood Ensemble Cup
Inter-House Music Competition
The internationally-recognised chamber musician and soloist, Nathaniel Boyd, adjudicated the finals of February’s Inter-House Music Competition, which closed a week of outstanding performances in a diverse range of styles. The joy of this particular competition is that everyone is welcome to participate - not just those who study music - and there are often surprising entries, all of which earn points for each pupil’s House. This year’s winners of the Peter Lewis House Music Cup were the girls from Sankey’s; the Susannah Whitty House Music Plate for the runner-up went to Head’s. The prizes were awarded by the Bursar, Mr Mark Milling.
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Squash Champion
Jasmine Taylor-Hutton was crowned English Under 15 Squash Champion at Surrey Sports Park on 23 March. She is currently ranked Number 2 in England, and as The Quad goes to press, will be representing England in the U15 Five Nations Tournament in Dublin at the end of March 2014.
Jasmine was a member of the U15 Squash team (with Will Rowe, Alexander Hinchcliffe, Luke Haddow, Arseniy Arbuzov and Kian Sobhanpanah) that recently travelled to Manchester to compete in the National Schools’ Championship Finals. This is the second year running that Lancing has qualified. The day got off to an excellent start, with Lancing winning all five games against the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. This was followed by a match against Wycliffe, whose team was just a little too strong, and who eventually went on to win the tournament. In the afternoon, Lancing just lost out to Gosforth Academy in the play offs for third and fourth place, finishing fourth out of six schools. This is a truly outstanding effort on a national scale, and continues the proud traditions that Lancing Squash has at this level. It is not only the pupils who have had Squash success this term - Head of PE, Mr David Mann, represented Sussex at the Squash Inter-County Over-35 National Finals at Edgbaston at the beginning of March. There was a strong Lancing connection in the squad with Tim Vail (OL and former world top 20 professional) and Ben Hutton (father of Jasmine) also playing for Sussex. With wins against Surrey in the semi-finals and Norfolk in the finals Sussex took the National title for the first time in their history.
Heroines in Science
On 5 March a group of four students, Valentine Olds, Dulcie Pearson, Elinor Haskew and Tara Slade (l to r), travelled to Reading University to take part in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s ‘Heroines in Science’ event. Following an introductory lecture on nanomaterials by Dr Annela Seddon, the group had to present a short talk to a scientific panel on the work of a female scientist. The team prepared a presentation on Dr James Barry, the first British woman to graduate as a doctor, albeit disguised as a man. This choice of heroine proved to be very different from other schools in the competition with their emphasis being more on ‘science’ and the Lancing team’s on the concept of ‘heroine’. However this did not impede the results and, although narrowly losing out on first place, Lancing came second out of the six schools.
Linguistics Olympiad
Congratulations to James Chan who was one of only 17 pupils nationwide to progress to Round 2 of the Advanced level UK Linguistics Olympiad James’ performance in the National Intermediate Mathematics Challenge was equally impressive. Nearly 90 Lancing pupils took part, and James came top in the school, a whole 25 marks ahead of his rivals, qualifying for the Olympiad paper.
In early February, the Lower Sixth Politics group visited the Houses of Parliament, hosted by our local MP and former parent, Mr Tim Loughton. The group enjoyed seeing a lively debate, and are pictured here with Simon Blackburn OL, Senior Clerk at the House of Lords.
Donation to Oak Grove College
Father Richard was invited to Oak Grove College in Durrington to present a cheque for £886 which was part of the monies collected at Lancing’s Christmas Carol Services. Oak Grove is a specialist school for children with mild to profound and multiple learning difficulties. This donation will be added to their fundraising for Eyegaze, an amazing system which empowers people with disabilities to communicate and interact with the world.
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The Box wins Donald Bancroft Play Competition
Chris Ball (second from right) with Donald Bancroft’s daughter, Ros Rees, and the cast of his play The Box The winner of this year’s Donald Bancroft play writing competition, Chris Ball, writes: When I first attempted to write a play last summer I wasn’t sure where to start – there was no real divine moment of inspiration! After much pondering, I decided to draw upon something I knew a little about – acting and the world of theatre. At first I struggled to get the idea moving, but after the loose plot (or the non-plot as it ended up being) was worked out, the characters seemed to fall into place, all representing caricatures of something that would get in the way of the girl’s dream to put on a play – the consumers, the businessman and the performers of the past, stuck in their ways. When I found out I had won the Bancroft competition I was amazed, if a little bit apprehensive. All I had was a script and a limited number of weeks to get something on the stage. It would be a lie to suggest that the experience was a walk in the park – it was certainly an uphill struggle, and I now realise the importance of line-learning! In many ways my experience had many parallels with that of ‘the girl’, who goes through so much to get her play acted out on stage. Nevertheless, with the strong commitment of a super cast, great costumes and some fantastic lighting, everyone pulled through to create something I was really proud of. Having always been ‘in the spotlight’ during previous Lancing productions, directing this play was a challenging yet rewarding experience.
Travel Awards 2014
Nine applications were received for this year’s travel projects, covering a wide range of countries. The judging panel enjoyed reading the submissions, and with so much originality and enthusiasm, the final decisions were difficult to make. The Patrick Halsey Travel Award was divided between Samantha Brooks (for a cultural visit to Japan), and Felix Haxby (for a medical experience trip to Tanzania); The David Barwell Travel Award went to Beatrice Holland (for a filming visit to the USA); The Guy Jones Travel Award was given to Oliver Baker (to explore the culture of Moscow and St Petersburg); and The Peter Beattie Prize (involving service to the under-privileged) will allow Margaret Chen to spend time with primary school children in rural Hunan.
A group of Upper Sixth chemists recently travelled to the Dark Star Brewery in Partridge Green, where they were shown the workings of the brewery by the Head Brewer. The chemists were impressed by the relatively simple techniques used in order to produce such a large diversity of ales.
Brass-terclass!
Friday 7 March saw the London-based, self-styled ‘Drum and Brass Combo’ Old Dirty Brasstards visit the College. During the afternoon, the band’s brass players ran two workshops (one for trumpets, the other for tuba, trombones and horns) for several of Lancing’s music students, while a third workshop with the drummer and percussionist took care of the rhythm section. The workshops focussed on six songs, culminating in a full band rehearsal with our students and ODB perfecting their performance. At 7.45pm that evening, the doors of Great School were thrown open for a public concert. Old Dirty Brasstards performed an ‘80s-infused first set, and their younger, cleaner Lancing tutees joined them for the last six numbers of a more contemporary second set (featuring music by Pharrell, Robin Thicke and Daft Punk), culminating with some classic Manilow! It was evident that the band members had as much fun as the students and the audience, and it was pleasing to hear their many positive comments about the musical calibre of the pupils involved.
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Scorpions
Head Master’s Lecture Dr William Richardson, the 14th General Secretary of HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference) gave the Lent Term Head Master’s Lecture in Great School on 12 March. The association represents 253 of the UK’s leading independent schools, and has a global network of 62 international members; Dr Richardson, the son of an OL, is responsible for all aspects of its work. His lecture was entitled ‘The Strengthening Relationship between Leading Universities and Independent Schools’.
Brahms’ Requiem: The College Singers 30 years on...
It has been another very successful season for the Scorpions Worthing League Netball team. Girls from all year groups in the school have stepped up to represent Lancing College in a number of ‘open age’ evening matches played at Worthing Sixth Form College. Scorpions are currently sitting in the middle of the table after winning over half of their matches; an excellent feat after being promoted into the league only last season. The Worthing League allows the girls to experience netball from a very competitive perspective, enabling them to bring back valuable skills and knowledge to the Lancing courts. A special mention must be made of the following girls who have represented the College through Scorpions in excellent fashion on a weekly basis: Dasha Mazhaeva, Flo Margaroli, Grace Hanna, Lily Margaroli, Megan Hanna, Lydia Cammiade and Jocelyn Hunter.
Hockey News
The 1st XI Boys’ Hockey team reached the quarter finals of the National Plate this term and also came second in the Under 18 Sixes in Sussex. Tommy Blanden and Alex Gillespie are currently playing in the U14 and U15 County teams respectively; Michael Laurent is a reserve for the U14 squad, and James Gillespie is a reserve for the U17 squad. Lily Margaroli and Jemima Spurr have both been playing Girls’ Hockey in the U15 Sussex County team.
Courmayeur 2014
The College Singers was founded by Mr Neil Cox, and gave its first concert in the Crypt of Lancing Chapel in February 1984. The 60-strong choir comprises parents, members of staff and friends of Lancing; some of those who sang with the original group 30 years ago are still singing with the choir today. They are joined for their annual concert by Student Voices, a choral group which includes all members of the Choir, and which is open to any pupil at Lancing who wishes to sing, however inexperienced they feel they might be. This special anniversary concert featured a magnificent performance of Brahms’ Requiem. The soloists were Camilla Harris OL (soprano) and Philip Tebb (baritone).
Sixteen boys and 19 girls headed off to Courmayeur for February half term skiing. Leaving behind the wind and rain of Sussex, they arrived in Italy after a weatherprolonged journey of 24 hours, to be faced with low cloud and drizzle! However, the next morning the weather had been transformed and the following six days were to be the sunniest they had seen for some time, with clear blue skies on four days, making the Mont Blanc backdrop even more stunning. Snow had been falling steadily for the previous week so conditions were near perfect and the slopes and lifts were surprisingly quiet for half term week. The students were split between five ski groups from complete beginners to expert skiers. Everyone made good progress and there were no injuries, although both Mr Mole and Mr Metcalf took heavy falls during the week. Congratulations to Mark Perekrestov, who was invited to try out for the Interski Instructor Scholarship programme.
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Young Enterprise
This academic year has seen Lancing College set up two Young Enterprise companies, Evoke and Dolce Gifto. A future confectionery giant, Evoke is led by Callum Hunt and saw a roaring trade at February’s Trade Fair in the Holmbush Centre (pictured). They specialise in luxury chocolates and sweets. The company has designed and sourced their chocolates from local suppliers. Our second company Dolce Gifto, under the guidance of Liliya Anisimova, experienced a slightly slower day in the selling of their ‘Pamper Packs’ for Valentine’s Day.
Both Evoke and Dolce Gifto have had a productive year so far and everyone involved is looking forward to the awards evening early in May, from which we hope to bring home some prizes.
Chairman of Adur District Council, Mr Mike Mendoza, visits the Evoke stand
House Plays
New talent joined forces with the old hands of the Lancing stage this term, as Manor and Gibbs’ came together in a performance of Jason and the Argonauts, and Field’s went overboard on their production of Titanic. It was great to see so many new faces under the spotlights. As Mrs Hilary Dugdale reports: Ebullient, fast-paced, with heroes, monsters, animated rivers and shrubs, a singing ghost, gods, a centaur, Orpheus playing a mean piano, a dragon, killings, love interest and some great choric moments, Jason and the Argonauts had it all! The Field’s House parody of Titanic was written and directed by Upper Sixth Former Anja Samy and almost every member of the House contributed to the play in some way. There was plenty of comedic talent on deck and clearly a great deal of hard work behind the scenes. There can’t be many Lancing plays that can boast a kazoo trio! The enthusiasm and huge sense of fun were evident in both productions and the casts and crews were obviously enjoying the performances as much as the delighted audiences, resulting in generous charity donations on the door.
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Cross Country
Reuben Hoyte has had an outstanding term, winning each week’s League Run, and topping things off with a 17.33 win in the annual Three Mile Race. He was also the first runner home in the Five Mile Race - only the second time in living memory that this race has been won by a Fourth Form pupil. He was however running as a Junior ‘guest’ in this Senior Boys’ race. The medal for first place went to Rory Thornton, with John de Winton second and James Rayward in third place. The winner of the House competition was Second’s, with Teme coming second, and Head’s third. The Intermediate Girls’ Race was won by Ailsa Wates, and the Senior Girls’ Race was won by Melody Cheng. In the Team Race, Field’s came first, Sankey’s second and Handford third.
Theatre Workshop
Actor Simon Cotton OL returned to Lancing in the penultimate week of term to take a workshop with the cast of the College production of Journey’s End. Simon played Captain Stanhope in the last Lancing production exactly 14 years ago and shared the benefit of his experience with the small group of boys preparing for this poignant play which is set in the trenches during the First World War. Simon went on to read History at Bristol University and after working abroad took a one year postgraduate course to train as an actor at The Bridge theatre school, graduating in 2009. Since then he has worked extensively as an actor with the theatre company Action to Word. He has recently seen his first full-length play, The Undone Years, performed in a staged reading at the Theatre Royal Haymarket as part of their Pitch Your Play Masterclass series.
Lent Concert
The Lent Concert is one of the final opportunities to hear performances from, amongst others, the musical stars of the Upper Sixth before they disappear on study leave. This year the music included Holst, Debussy, Chopin, Purcell and Mozart, and the evening came to a sparkling finish with the Symphony Orchestra playing Sibelius’s Karelia-Suite, Op 11. As the finishing touches are being put to The Quad we await the Chamber Music Concert which takes place on the penultimate night of term.
Once again this year, we welcomed a group of Spanish Exchange students from Colegio Dominicas in Oviedo to Lancing. Following email correspondence throughout the year, our friends from Spain enjoyed meeting with their ‘pen pals’ and exploring the College and the local area.
Journey’s End
Set over the course of four days leading up to a massive German attack on the British trenches in March 1918, Journey’s End charts the tension and claustrophobia as the new recruit to the company, 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh, discovers Captain Stanhope, his former childhood friend and hero, has changed almost beyond recognition. First performed in 1928, and based on his own experience, R C Sherriff’s play remains one of the most powerful pieces of modern drama and one of the most acclaimed examples of literature that deals with the tragedy and horror of conflict. Mr Matt Smith’s production, with a superlative lighting design by Mr Martin Chandler, was profoundly moving. There is much Lancing College archive material documenting the lives of its former pupils during the Great War and the direct links between the play’s characters and those OLs contributed to the cast’s perceptive and sensitive performances. Piers Ellison, who played Captain Hardy in this production, also discovered that he is distantly related to R C Sherriff.
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A Note from the Head Master
T
his has in many ways been a ‘term of two halves’. From January to the February half term we were barely able to set foot outdoors - the pitches were waterlogged and even the all-weather surface was flooded! Since that time we have enjoyed spring-like weather and have certainly made the most of the outside opportunities. Our pupils have enjoyed a number of exciting experiences outside of the classroom: Year 8 classes spent a long weekend in Florence, using art to help with their Religious Studies; Year 7 pupils enjoyed a theatre workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe; and Years 4 and 5 spent two nights away at a residential centre in Kent. These off-site visits support the excellent learning opportunities enjoyed by all of our pupils during the course of a normal week. The most exciting development here this term was the opening of our new Nursery, on time (just) and even more spectacular than even I had hoped. Miss Draper and her team worked like Trojans to get things ready for the start of term and I can only stand back and admire their efforts; a splendid facility indeed and the envy of many in Brighton and Hove. The old Nursery space in the main building can now be utilised by older children; with three newly refurbished classrooms we will be able to offer more places in certain year groups in September. Altogether a great term where despite the weather our spirits were never dampened and pupils from across the age range were able to enjoy a very successful and varied time.
The Nursery at Lancing College Prep at Hove was delighted to move into new premises in January, enabling pupils to enjoy the very best of facilities in their important early years at school. By increasing space and staff numbers we are able to offer more places at this over-subscribed setting, preparing children for a move through to the Prep School and possibly right through to 18 at Lancing College. The new facility is in fact a conversion from a residential bungalow and has provided us with a state-of-the-art Nursery. The aims of the school revolve around the need to provide a happy environment in which pupils can reach their potential in all areas of learning. We believe that every child has something to offer and that our task should be to discover, develop and celebrate those strengths. This ethos is kicked off in the Nursery where the doors of opportunity are pushed open for the first time and children are actively encouraged to try new things. The Nursery is a fantastic place to begin a lifetime of education and we are very proud of the many happy pupils that are enjoying the start given to them by a dedicated and talented team of teachers and assistants.
February in Florence
Year 8 pupils experienced a fascinating visit to Florence as part of their Religious Studies course in February. The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate that RS is not just confined to ancient texts, but relates to art history, literature and culture, and also to provide additional material to draw on for their exams. Pupils enjoyed a busy weekend exploring the city. From Michelangelo’s tomb to the top of the Duomo Campanile, they were immersed in the spirit of the Renaissance. They were also given the opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the most iconic pieces of western art such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David, as well as the death mask of the Italian poet, Dante. An exhausting but educating weekend was rounded off with a small group venturing to the Piazza Michelangelo which commands spectacular views of the city.
Congratulations to
Alan Laurent
Lancing College Prep at Hove The Droveway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6LU Tel: 01273 503452 Fax: 01273 503457 email: hove@lancing.org.uk
www.lancingcollege.co.uk 16
▪ our non-academic scholarship candidates, who have once again been hugely successful, gaining 15 awards to date including Sport, Drama, Music and All-Rounder. ▪ Molly Chadwyck-Healey who has been playing hockey for Sussex in the County Championships. ▪ Sarah Gurtler, Daniel Ferrari and Mortimer Steele who have all qualified for the finals of the National Woodard Music Competition to be held in May.
A Note from the Head Master
W
e are fast approaching the end of our first term as Lancing College Preparatory School at Worthing. It is now three months since the College acquired what was Broadwater Manor School and a great deal has happened in that short time. Over the Christmas season the school was given a lick of paint and work began on upgrading the IT provision for pupils and staff. Eileen and I were propelled out of retirement to oversee the transition for two terms until a permanent Head could be found to succeed Mrs Kim Woodley, whose family owned and ran the school for over half a century. After a mere three weeks we received notice that we were to have a full ISI inspection, but this proved to be a very positive experience. The visit of four outsiders has given us an accurate audit of the whole school and been an enormous help in our planning for the future. We have also received much encouragement from Alan Laurent and his team at Hove and a great deal of practical help and work from Jonathan Gillespie and all at the Senior School. There is already a real sense that the school is part of a prestigious and glorious tradition and family of schools. The Mayor has visited and the children have made a genuine impression on the local community, both in their participation in the Holocaust Day commemoration and the Arts Festival. It is both exciting and a privilege to be part of this regeneration and lead such a committed team.
The sun shone on Lancing College Prep at Worthing for our World Book Day Parade on Thursday 6 March. The children, and most of the staff, were dressed in some of their favourite book characters such as The Mad Hatter, Rupert Bear, Bellatrix Lestrange, Snow White and many others. Mr Marsh judged the three categories for Best Dressed Character – Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep. One child was chosen from each category to receive a jam tart from the Queen of Hearts (Mrs Marsh). Mrs Lloyd, who dressed as a Minion, won Best Dressed Teacher. In the afternoon the older pupils chose books that were special to them when they were younger to read to the children. This included Year 8 reading to Reception, Year 7 reading to Year 4 and Year 6 reading to Nursery. We were also pleased to welcome a good number of our parents, who were invited to read a favourite book from their childhood to the children.
Roger Marsh
Lancing College Prep at Worthing Broadwater Road, Worthing West Sussex BN14 8HU Tel: 01903 201123 Fax: 01903 821777 email: worthing@lancing.org.uk
www.lancingcollege.co.uk 17
A Note from the Development Director
Hong Kong Reunion 2014
I
hope this edition of The Quad will give you a real feel for the work of the Development Office over the last three months and a glimpse of what life after Lancing means. I have just returned from an inspiring trip to Hong Kong where I met with so many OLs, some in the middle of glittering careers and some just starting out in life, but all with a genuine affection for the College. It is heart warming to see such success being achieved by so many modest, understated and delightful OLs. The positive impact that can be made by donations will become very clear when pupils return for the start of the Summer Term. The Lancing Foundation has provided £50,000 to fund the refurbishment of the old stone squash court into a new gym. This will provide a much needed facility right at the heart of the school. Each year brings new challenges and opportunities which make this period an exciting time to be involved with development at Lancing. Although rich and varied in many ways, the College’s general reserves are minimal and school fees do not generate a surplus for bursaries or building new facilities. Today, Lancing still needs your support and I am, as always, so grateful for your help with our endeavours. My warmest regards,
Keith Goodman, James Marsh, Jacquie Brünjes, Matthew Venning It is always a great joy to visit our Lancing community in Hong Kong and to be able to thank personally our many supporters in the Far East. This trip was particularly memorable as it was an opportunity for the Head Master to say a fond farewell to OLs and parents after his eight year tenure. We have 214 OLs and 60 parents and former parents in Hong Kong and it is a privilege to meet so many interesting and gifted people who are so loyal to the College. We had over 70 people at the drinks reception and dinner held at the Hong Kong Football Club and it was marvellous to see the different generations coming together and to feel the warmth and support for Lancing so many miles from home. We are extremely grateful to the Lancing Club for supporting the dinner on behalf of their members who really appreciate the contact and news from their old school. Special thanks go to James Barrington, Gibbs’ 1973-1978, a member of the Development Council and a key figure amongst OLs in Hong Kong, who spoke with so much passion and humour at the end of the evening. It was also a pleasure to have Dr Harry Brünjes and his wife, Jacquie, with us on this occasion and we are all looking forward to a return trip in 2015.
Ann Wong and Jonathan Yeung
Victor Chui and Victoria Chui
Catherine Reeve
Development Office Lancing College, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW
Catherine Reeve, Development Director Tel: +44 (0) 1273 465786 email: clr@lancing.org.uk Heidi Hennessy, Fundraising Manager Tel: +44 (0) 1273 465708 email: hhennessy@lancing.org.uk Emily Guy, Development Assistant Tel: +44 (0) 1273 465709 email: eguy@lancing.org.uk
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Chris Davies, Jill Cameron, James Barrington and Greg Norton-Kidd
Cindy Chiu, Francis Yau and Benny Wong
Johno Cobbold, Second’s 2006-2011 (centre), was chosen for the Cambridge Blues squad in the Hockey Varsity match on 9 March. His team was victorious, with a 2-1 win over Oxford in what was a very exciting match. Johno is reading Engineering at Gonville & Caius, Cambridge.
The Head Master socialises with OLs and parents
James Barrington and Hugh Garway-Templeman
Mrs Susan Marshall recently visited the College to donate to the Chapel a silver chalice which had belonged to her late husband, the Revd William Marshall, Gibbs’ 1944-1949. As an Old St Michaelite, she was keen to deliver the chalice in person, and travelled by train from Ely in Cambridgeshire. Fr Richard Harrison and Jeremy Tomlinson (pictured above) gratefully received the gift and showed her the St Michael window in the Chapel crypt and other artefacts from the former Woodard School, St Michael’s, Petworth. The picture below, from the College archives, was taken at the College Centenary on 24 April 1948, and shows William Marshall (second right) carrying the cross and leading the procession into Chapel.
Mark and Jane Southall with Marietta Wilkinson
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Medical Miracles
Sarah Leiter, Handford 2006-2008, talks about her participation in goalball and her life at Lancing and Cambridge: I came to Lancing in September 2006 from Germany to take my A Levels. The two years I spent in Handford were, without doubt, the best two years of my school career. I studied Sciences, Maths and Chinese as I already knew that I wanted to go on to study Medicine. I was encouraged to consider applying to Oxbridge, and while I thought that my chances were slim I did apply to Cambridge and got in. Getting the required grades was not too difficult for me so I spent a lot of time over those two years exploring all the other things Lancing had on offer: I took my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, did Outreach, served in Chapel, was a school prefect and took up sports. My tutors and Housemistress always had a hard time knowing where I was! At Lancing everyone was encouraged to take part in sports. I wasn’t great at anything but I did go and try out new things - sailing and cross-country running in particular - and competed to earn house points, usually ranking close to the bottom; but that didn’t matter to me. When I came to Cambridge I continued playing sports. I first took up rugby and enjoyed it but after a year I didn’t feel like I had done well enough to keep playing. Team sports have always been difficult for me as I was born with a significant visual impairment – catching a ball is tricky but that never stopped me from trying! So after leaving the rugby team I went running and swimming with friends. With less sport on my mind I decided to concentrate on my studies a bit more during my second year. Medicine at Cambridge is a challenging course but I love the very scientific
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approach and really enjoyed the eight week lab placement in my third year. Thus, when I entered my clinical training I decided to apply for the MB/ PhD programme. This programme allows medical students to intercalate a science PhD into their clinical training. I was accepted into the programme and am now in the second year of my PhD researching infantile hypoglycaemia. Despite all its frustrations I enjoy the bench work and hope to combine research with clinical medicine in the future, possibly in the field of paediatric endocrinology. I started my PhD just before the London 2012 Olympic Games and was inspired to go back to try team sports again. But one thing was different this time – I made the decision to take up goalball, a disabled team sport specifically designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. I joined the Cambridge team in September 2012 and loved it immediately; goalball requires a combination of strength, endurance, agility, skill and concentration. I took part in a Novice Level competition in December 2012 and was asked to attend a Talent ID day in April 2013. And then, to my surprise, I got selected into the GB women’s squad in May 2013. My life really has changed a lot since then; I have daily gym and skill training, regular GB training camps and have been to a couple of international friendly competitions. Our big aim is to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and hopefully get a medal. Without the encouragement I received at Lancing to apply to Cambridge and to participate in sports I would not have achieved what I did. Thank you!
Having seen Professor Sir Roy Calne’s name mentioned in the February OL e-newsletter, Grant Vicat, Teme 19721977, was inspired to write: I owe my new lease of life to this great man, who pioneered kidney transplants in this country and developed what is now a world leader in transplant surgery, namely Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where I have been an out and inpatient since 2000. After six admissions for an aborted attempt, I finally received a donor pancreas and kidney last August. My indebtedness to Sir Roy Calne, Second’s 1944-1947, is incalculable. Having had diabetes since July 1959, I can now boast that I have not had an insulin injection since 14 August 2013. I am also on two types of immunosuppressants, an area of development in which Sir Roy has played a major role. I am still at the stage of making adjustments to medication, and have had complications with my feet, but my left foot has now healed and my right has been in a cast for three weeks. This is a mere inconvenience in comparison with what life used to be like. I returned to work, at Moreton Hall Prep School, Bury St Edmunds on 7 January 2014, and get about in a wheelchair! Needless to say the children are keen to assist and often do. I have described what life was like in a book which I have at last finished writing, titled Fifty Years of Malfunction. Strictly speaking it should be fifty-four! Although the principal aim of the book is to get through to the families of young people with diabetes who may well be experiencing similar problems to those which I encountered, it is highly anecdotal, being a selective biography of my life so far. Needless to say, there are several pages covering my time at Lancing, which, unsurprisingly, compare favourably alongside Evelyn Waugh! Pending medical approval, the book will be available via Just Giving at a minimum donation of £5. Any profits will go to the Transplant Department of Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge. £5 will cover production and postage exactly.
Camilla Harris, Field’s 2006-2011 (far right), is in her final year at Durham University studying Music. Camilla says it was during her time at Lancing that she was given the grounding and inspiration that encouraged her to pursue a career in singing. In 2011-2012 she worked with Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan in the inaugural year of The Sixteen’s apprenticeship programme, Genesis Sixteen, and subsequently performed with The Sixteen, including The Messiah at the Barbican Centre and in the Carols at Quadrant Chambers. As a soloist Camilla was delighted to be accepted into the Samling Academy (inspiring musical excellence in young people) and The Hilliard Ensemble’s training programme, which have resulted in performances on BBC Radio 3 as well as in renowned concert halls, such as The Roundhouse and The Sage, Gateshead. Recent solo highlights include Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Semele in Handel’s Semele and the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, and Bach’s Mass in B minor, St Matthew Passion and St John Passion.
Most recently Camilla has enjoyed performing the soprano solos in Brahms’ Requiem at Lancing in the College Singers’ concert, under the direction of Neil Cox. Camilla has recently signed an international recording contract with DECCA (part of the Universal group) as part of Celeste. This is a classical group of five former cathedral girl choristers. They have recorded an album due to be released in the summer of 2014 after the release of their EP in May/June.
They will be touring with Katherine Jenkins in May, June and July and will be performing on BBC Songs of Praise and BBC Radio 4 as well as making other TV appearances. Camilla is really excited about this wonderful opportunity as she has always dreamt of making a career out of something she loves. For further information on Celeste like them on Facebook at ‘Celeste Sing’, follow them on Twitter @weareCeleste, or visit at their website: www.celeste.org.uk
link up play in the attacking third between Esther Cobbold, Jess Lumbard and Kimberly Horseman. Kimberly deserves particular praise, scoring nearly all of the OL goals. The Old Girls would like to say how impressed they were with the talent of the Lancing 1st Team and wish them all the best for the season. Our woman of the match goes to the school Goal Attack, Megan Hanna. The final score was 25-19 to the Lancing 1st VII. Match Two Having lost the first match to the school side the Old Girls took on the Lancing staff. This saw the likes of Hannah Williamson battling with Matt Wilkes in WD/WA. It also saw the hugely talented Becky Watkins rival Esther Cobbold in the Centre third -
a sight to be seen as Esther attempted to keep up with the sharp, slick movements of the current Acting Head of Girls’ Games. This game was much more dynamic than the first, yet not quite as consistent from both sides. The experienced players on the staff side were always going to determine the outcome of the game - and they certainly lived up to expectations. It was another Lancing win, with a final score of 16-10. My huge thanks must go to Kelly Edwards and Becky Watkins for organising such a wonderful day. It was fabulous to meet up with the OL Hockey boys and staff in the Red Lion for food and drinks afterwards. We are already looking forward to the event next year!
OL Netball
Hannah Cobbold, Field’s 2004-2009, reports on the fixture: Match One It was Saturday 18 January and ten Old Girls, in their new bright red kit, arrived back at Lancing ready for a competitive game against the current 1st Team. The Old Girls put out what was believed to be a relatively strong squad with some experienced Old Lancing players including last year’s 1st Team captain Livi Thomas and the 2004 captain Lucy Bell. However it was the school that was the most consistent and fluid throughout the game - the major difference between the sides - and this was seriously reflected in the score line. It was quite clear the Old Girls were out of touch despite occasional moments of flair demonstrated in the
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Lancing Authors continued...
Since the last edition of The Quad, we have heard from a number of additional OLs who have recently had their work published: Michael Allingham, Head’s 1957-1960, has recently finished his ninth book, Distributive Justice. It is published by Routledge, and available on Amazon.
Sir Christopher Meyer, Teme 19571961 has just published an Amazon Kindle Single called Only Child. It is part childhood memoir and part the story of Christopher’s father, an RAF Beaufighter pilot, who was shot down and killed just before Christopher was born in 1944. In 2011 Christopher visited the Greek island of Ikaria to talk to witnesses who saw the crash and were at his father’s burial. The book has been in the non-fiction top ten for four months and is unusual in having been directly commissioned by Amazon for reading on a Kindle.
Don’t forget! The Lancing Foundation benefits from the purchase of any books made via the Amazon link on the Lancing College website: www.lancingcollege.co.uk
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James Dixon, Olds 1961-1966, has written Out of Birmingham: George Dixon (1820-98), Father of Free Education (with an introduction by Asa Briggs), which was published last August. After a career as a VAT specialist with an international firm of accountants, James spent a number of years studying History at Royal Holloway, University of London. Here he writes dispassionately about the life of his great-great-grandfather. In 1869 the radical Birmingham MP, George Dixon, established the National Education League, a pressure group which was instrumental in persuading William Gladstone, the recently elected Liberal Prime Minister, of the need for action. Forster’s Elementary Education Act of 1870 was the outcome. It was the most important social legislation of the era. The book is available on Amazon. All royalties will be passed on to the Prisoners’ Education Trust.
Peter Scales, Teme 1948-1952, is a descendant of Maria Elizabeth Scales, known to all as Lillie. Born in London in 1868, Lillie lived through and documented the First World War in detailed diaries. These diaries were passed down to Peter from his great Uncle George, who married Lillie in 1890. A Home Front Diary was published this year, after Peter and his daughter Kate painstakingly collated and deciphered Lillie’s entries. This book provides a fascinating insight into the four years of turmoil Britain endured and is now available in book shops and on Amazon.
...and finally, congratulations to
writer and journalist Philip Womack, Sanderson’s 1995-2000, on his engagement to Tatiana von Preussen. Tatiana is the niece of another OL, Rupert von Preussen, Teme 1968-1972.
Photo : Darren Gerrish
Joshua Phillips, Gibbs’ 2003-2008, tells us about the world of Nuclear Engineering: How did I end up in this profession? Well that is a good question! My friends still wonder how I came to take a post working at a Nuclear Power station. After Lancing I was always going to pursue an Engineering degree of some sort. It was during Sixth Form that I decided on the mechanical side of things as it is probably the most general of them all. I never really knew what I wanted to do before going to university, so a general degree with a varying number of job opportunities suited me fine. We all have that same feeling of trepidation when we get our results. Have I got my grades? Have I got in? Then, if you’re in my boat, have I got into my second choice? Thankfully I had and it was probably the best thing that happened. So, I ended up going to Bristol University, not a bad second choice in anyone’s book. You would think that during university a certain area of mechanical engineering would take my
fancy, but I wasn’t making this easy for myself at all. By the start of the fourth year, all my friends knew roughly what they wanted to do, such as finance in the city, civil or renewable energy, to name a few. Not having any idea what you want to do doesn’t lend itself to job hunting either! Throughout my time at Bristol I was never the most technically gifted, but always willing to get stuck in and try most things out, which is definitely a trait I picked up at Lancing! Having graduated with a Masters in Engineering, I put my CV on some graduate websites to see what would happen. I was fortunate enough to get an interview, and then a job, with Cavendish Nuclear. I was lucky I guess, but then you look at it more closely; I got a good degree, but companies these days look for more than that. This is where Lancing excels - there are so many opportunities for personal development if you’re willing to take them. I’ve been based at Sizewell B for a year and a half now and I have loved every minute of it. My current highlight
is a project I’m working on, to replace three old compressors. It’s a fairly big project, requiring the replacement of alarms, pipework, valves, electrical circuits and management of the entire project. What’s more, my name will be forever linked to this work, which is a nice thought for the future. The best part of my job? I work at a nuclear power plant, and not many people can say that!
The archive image on the last issue of The Quad showed Sanderson’s House in the first half of 1971. A big thank you to those of you who got in touch to try to identify the faces, including invaluable assistance from Ken Shearwood. There are still a handful of unidetified faces; if you recognise them, please get in touch! Back row: Timothy Hancock, Stuart Tulley, Peter Howgego, Donald Simpkinson, Michael Weir, Richard (Andrew) Johnston, William Handley, Hugh Buckeridge, Clive Randall, ? Topen. Second row: Jeremy Simpson, ?, ?, John Pounds, Mark Worssam, Robert Bowen, Christopher Radford, John Pexton, ?, Henry (Harry) Pounds, Mohomed Desai, James Wood, Paul Dettmer, ?, David Furze. Third Row: Wilson Kwok, Thomas Kwok, Raymond Kwok, Patrick Kwok, Mark Bedini, Richard Cowley, Peter Best, Nigel Lloyd-Jones, Kevin Hacket, Julian Langridge, Ashley Mills, Simon Hickman, Simon Moll. Fourth Row: Sherard Kingston, Timothy Monckton, Dougie Arnold, ?, Martyn Thom, Biddie Shearwood, Ken Shearwood, Miss Barbara Ford, Jeremy McLachlan, Anthony Brooking, Robin Miskin, Peter Stovold, Alastair Goolden, ? Front Row: Simon Sandford, Nigel Pitcher, Brian Weatherly, ?, David Young, Geoffrey Gibson, Adrian Darrington, ? Topen, Richard Monnington, Simon Prior, Andreas Friis-Lund.
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Battle of Britain Plaque
We reported in the last edition of The Quad about a very special day we are planning on 14 June to honour five former OLs who flew in the Battle of Britain: • • • • •
ST NICOLAS ASSOCIATION
Flying Officer Jeffery Quill OBE AFC Squadron Leader John Sample DFC Air Vice Marshal Stanley Vincent, CB, DFC AFC Squadron Leader Jefferson Wedgewood DFC Squadron Leader Robert Woodward DFC
We are still keen to hear from their families or acquaintances as we would like them to join us at a Chapel service and the unveiling of a plaque in the Sanderson Room. Jeffery Quill test-flew every mark of Spitfire and we are delighted that this will be acknowledged with a Spitfire flypast. If you can help with contact details or would like to attend the dedication please contact Emily Guy at eguy@lancing.org or 01273 465709.
TICKETS £45 CONTACT
eguy@lancing.org.uk Photo : Tony Hisgett CC2.0
FOR DETAILS
Images from the College Archive Anyone for tennis? If you recognise any of the faces above, please email eguy@lancing.org.uk
Event
Forthcoming Events for OLs and Parents
Over 60s Spring Lunch: Guest Speaker - Sir Tim Rice OBE Evelyn Waugh Lecture: Guest Speaker - Sir Peter Bazalgette Lancing Club Summer Reception St Nicolas Association Murder Mystery Evening Battle of Britain Dedication Day Leavers’ Ball Over 60s Autumn Lunch: Guest Speaker - Robin Reeve Lancing Club Annual Dinner The Head Master’s Lecture: Steuart Bedford OL
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Venue
Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge Lancing College HQS Wellington, London Lancing College Lancing College Lancing College National Liberal Club, London Strangers’ Bar, House of Commons, London Lancing College
Date 24 April 1 May 8 May 10 May 14 June 27 June 24 September 31 October 18 November