The termly magazine of Queen’s Gate School
Issue 55 · Autumn 2018
Wreath lecture
Meeting Michael Morpurgo at the Poppy Factory
Forever remembered
Our First World War tribute evening
Deeds not words
Helen Pankhurst on votes for women plus
Celebrating ten years at the Junior School
Remember them
Queen’s Gate marks the centenary of the Armistice
AS ALWAYS...I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AND SPIRIT OF OUR QUEEN’S GATE GIRLS
From the Principal’s Study Dear Parents, A very warm welcome to the Autumn 2018 edition of the QG News. Another term comes to an end, as does 2018, but it seems no time at all since we welcomed everyone back to School in September, having enjoyed one of the hottest summers for many years. The term has been packed with activity. Having celebrated excellent GCSE and A Level results in August, we started our educational journey once again, as well as immersing ourselves in a range of extra-curricular activities. At the same time, we reflected on the world around us and joined in the commemoration of the centenary of the ending of the First World War through our Remembrance Services, the Junior School’s visit to the Drumhead Service at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and our own tribute and exhibition. We welcomed
Dr Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, to commemorate the centenary of women’s suffrage. The School itself celebrated its 127th birthday and I invite you to read a poem (see page 40) written for the occasion by the Senior School Poet Laureate, Anna Rafice. And, of course, the Junior School celebrated its 10th anniversary of moving to 125–126 Queen’s Gate. As always during the term, I have been impressed by the energy, enthusiasm and spirit of our Queen’s Gate girls as they rise to challenges new and old. I thank all of them, our staff, our Governors and of course, all of you parents, for your support as another busy and successful term draws to a close. In this unsettled period for our country as Mrs May, our Prime Minister, endeavours to deliver an acceptable Brexit deal, the peace, joy and goodwill of the Christmas season are needed more than ever. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and peaceful 2019. Yours sincerely, Rosalynd Kamaryc Principal
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editor
Miss A. Hinds sub-editors
Miss E. Acton-Edmiston Mr H. Capper Mrs S. Evans Mrs R. Kamaryc design & art direction
ARCH Design Studio
SPRING TERM 2019 term begins Thursday 3 January half-term Monday 18 — Friday 22 February
school closed Friday 11 January for 4+/11+ assessments
term ends Wednesday 3 April
photography
DFPhotography contributors
Ms L. Arthur Mrs E. Burnside Mrs N. Clear Miss L. Coles Miss L. De Bie Mr J. Denchfield Ms C. Hurlbatt Mrs P. Garty Miss C. Lamb-Wilson Dr M. Lee Mme F. Leluan Mr G. Marton Mrs C. Mayne Mrs G. McHenry Miss G. McLister Miss A. Mitropoulos Miss S. Palframan Miss C. Podavitte Mrs E. Scott Miss C. Spencer Miss F. Sutherland Miss B. Ward
Dates for the diary JANUARY Tuesday 8 January DR GUY SUTTON LECTURE · Book online Wednesday 9 January UV PARENTS’ EVENING Friday 11 January · school closed 11+ EXAMINATIONS 4+ ASSESSMENTS Saturday 12 January 4+ ASSESSMENTS Monday 14 January VEGAN COOKING CLASS WITH RIVERFORD ORGANIC · 6.30 PM Friday 18 – Sunday 20 January ST PAUL’S SCHOOL MUN Tuesday 22 January IB CLASS ASSEMBLY Thursday 24 January FORM IV PARENTS’ EVENING Tuesday 29 January IA CLASS ASSEMBLY Thursday 31 January IIA 11+ INFORMATION EVENING
133 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk @queens_gate /133queensgate
Thursday 14 February III FORM 11+ RESULTS & TEA Monday 25 February – Friday 1 March SCIENCE WEEK Tuesday 26 February LIV PARENTS’ EVENING
MARCH Thursday 7 March MS CHUA’S PIANO CONCERT
Senior School Hall PTA QUIZ EVENING
Senior School Hall Friday 8 March REMOVE SCHOWCASE · 2 PM
Senior School Hall Wednesday 13 – Thursday 14 March SENIOR SCHOOL PLAY: GREAT EXPECTATIONS
RADA Studio, WC1E 7EX
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 March HABERDASHERS’ ASKE’S BOYS’ MUN Friday 15 – Thursday 21 March LIV FRENCH EXCHANGE Tuesday 19 March INSPIRING WOMEN · 6 PM
FEBRUARY
Queen’s Gate School
Sunday 10 February MERCHANT TAYLORS’ SCHOOL MUN
Friday 1 February MRS HAYNES’S PIANO CONCERT Tuesday 5 February TRANSITION CLASS ASSEMBLY Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 February LAMDA EXAMS (IB–IIA) Thursday 7 February CHINESE NEW YEAR DINNER 4
Senior School Hall Thursday 21 – Wednesday 27 March FRENCH EXCHANGE PUPILS AT QUEEN’S GATE key senior school junior school whole school QG NEWS
Contents Senior School
Junior School
6 Head Girls’ update
39 Sixth Form expedition to Tanzania
7 New Prefects
40 127th anniversary poem & Literary Society at the Oratory
14 Model United Nations update
41 Hyde Park ecology trip & WW1 tribute at Cadogan Hall
29 Wider World 30 GCSE Drama performances
16 Orianne Lallemand visit & National Poetry Day 17 Living Egg Project 18 British Food Fortnight
42 Charity round-up
31 LIV Play: Peter Pan
REM EM B RANCE
32 Sport Report News and results for Biathlon, Fencing, Rowing, Netball and Cross Country
WHOLE SCHOOL
22 Visiting the Poppy Factory
12 Helen Pankhurst visit
23 Drumhead Service at the RHC
38 Remove trip to Devon
13 Harvest Festival
28 Remembrance Service
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ALU M NAE
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FEATU RES
THE ETERNAL CITY
Pupils get a classical education on their trip to Rome
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FOREVER REMEMBERED
A special exhibition to mark the centenary of the First World War AUTUMN 2018
36 Big 8 Reunion OGs from ’68, ’78, ’88, ’98 & ’08
TEN YEARS ON
The Junior School celebrates ten years at 125–126 Queen’s Gate
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STAFF N EWS
This term’s Inspiring Women are entrepreneurs Gini and Eccie Newton
46 Court circular
GOOD KARMA
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43 New staff 45 Staff farewells
SE N IOR SCHOOL · H EAD GI RLS
School headlines This year’s Head Girls, Angelica Meneely and Freya Buxton, were announced on the very last day of the academic year 2017/18. Since then they have been immersing themselves in activities and events across both the Junior and Senior Schools. Here we find out what they have been doing during the Autumn Term Angelica Looking back on the Autumn Term, it is fair to say that it has been jam-packed for everyone in the School! Memories of the summer holidays feel distant, and the time to bid farewell to 2018 rapidly approaches. The Open Evening and school-searching season is slowly drawing to a close, and I have been especially busy in fulfilling my role as Tours Prefect for the second term. I have been working closely with the Tour Monitors, who have done a marvellous job in showing visitors around the School. Thank you all very much for your willingness, time and dedication! I have also been working with the Drama Department to present the successful GCSE Drama devised performances, and this year’s magical LIV play, Peter Pan (see page 31). From these productions, it is clear that the girls, in their roles as actors and directors, have worked strenuously to reach such levels of professionalism, and that Queen’s Gate has some fantastic future actors. Looking ahead, some of the prefects and I are hoping to carry out a fun and active school Zumba session to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. In March, we can expect Great Expectations (pun intended), the annual School Play, which is sure to be an absolute treat. Ultimately, I look forward to continuing to work with the School and facing new challenges in the Spring Term.
Head Girls Angelica Meneely (far left) and Freya Buxton (far right) with Junior School Head Girl Charlotte-Amicie Capelle (middle left) and Deputy Head Girl Izabela McDaniel (middle right)
Freya As always, the first term back at Queen’s Gate has been packed with events for everyone. For Angelica and me, this term has marked our final set of Open Evenings at Queen’s Gate, which has allowed us to reflect upon what the School means to us – all the more significant as we approach the end of our time here. This term I have been able to continue with an enormous amount that currently is, and indeed has been, very important to me for a good few years. In particular, I have been busy musically, as the Chamber Choir and Barbershop have been preparing for the plethora of events this term holds, from Remembrance to the Kids for Kids concert and the Carol Service. Singing with the choirs has given me great pleasure throughout my time here. The incredibly varied selection of pieces we have been 6
able to perform has marked each of my years here somehow, as there is always one that particularly stands out. So far, for me, singing the Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem in D, has been particularly significant, as a moving reminder of the centenary of the First World War, but also its subtler message of peace, compassion and hope for the future. Singing with the Choir has once again brought about the wonderful opportunity for Junior and Senior Schools to come together, through our duet of Rutter’s The Lord bless you and keep you. I have enjoyed further opportunities to work with girls across the School, as I have been engaged in my role as Debating Prefect with both the Junior and Senior pupils. I have been helping to run weekly sessions for Remove and LIV, exploring motions from ‘This house believes all cars should be yellow’, to ‘This house would reinstate the death penalty’. In the Junior School, I have been introducing the girls to the structure and techniques of debating, and our recent Balloon Debate revealed many budding speakers. I was particularly pleased to see the creativity of the girls when approaching this task, as we had characters as diverse as Poseidon, a phone and one of the three little pigs. This term has indeed been incredibly busy, and I know there is plenty more to come as we approach 2019, which I look forward to immensely.
QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · PRE FECTS
New Prefects A warm welcome to our new Head Girl and Prefect team for the Academic Year 2018–19 JOI NT H EAD GI RLS Freya Buxton Challenge & Enrichment, Debating and Library
DE PUTY H EAD GI RL Ruby O’Keeffe Challenge & Enrichment, Charities and Music
Angelica Meneely Drama and Tours
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he girls have been in their positions since the beginning of Summer Term, and the Head Girl Team announcement took place on the last day of school in July. The girls have already been working hard in their new roles, helping to create and forward new initiatives and having a strong presence at school events.
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SE N IOR PRE FECTS
PRE FECTS Christine Crawford-Brunt Junior School and QG Challenge Olivia Hill Environment, Events and Publicity Leah Lockwood Charities and Tuck Shop
Laura Connies-Laing Model United Nations and Tours
Iona Martyrossian Inspiring Women and Model United Nations
Emma Ferone Junior School and Science
Anya Noik Art, Mentoring and QG Challenge
Ella Meltzer Environment, Sports and Technology
Louise Ridsdale Design Technology and Tuck Shop
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SE N IOR SCHOOL · TRI PS
TH E ETE RNAL CITY Pupils from Form V to LVI travel to Rome during half-term for a first-hand classical education BY CLARA COLE LVI
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The next morning, each room of two or more girls heard a punctual knock at the door from the teachers. Soon after getting ready and having breakfast at the hotel we departed for Trajan’s Column. This day was quite special as it was coincidentally both Mrs Mitropoulos’ and Luna’s birthday and surely enough it was the most eventful and memorable. After seeing Trajan’s Column, which was very ornate, we made our way to the Colosseum. This was one of the most impactful sights due to its large-scale and interesting background stories. Afterwards we walked to the Palatine hill, which was full of monuments to see →
uring the first week of October half-term, 18 girls ranging from Form V to LVI were given the opportunity to travel to Rome, to take part in a trip that concentrated on all classical subjects including Latin and Classical Civilisation. On an early Monday morning the enthused group of travellers departed by coach for Gatwick airport where we received a beginner’s guide to Italian, thoughtfully provided by Mr Mocci. After arriving in Rome, we took another coach to the charming Hotel Navona in the heart of the city to drop off our bags and settle into our allocated rooms.
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SE N IOR SCHOOL ¡ TRI PS
� as it contained the large Roman
Forum. Here, we toured around the Forum and discussed each building. One of the highlights, according to Maria, was the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Next, on this sunny and cloudless day, we had our first taste of authentic Italian pizza for lunch in a restaurant with a view of the Colosseum. After lunch we walked to the grand Capitoline Museum where we saw numerous statues and artefacts, which were relevant to many of our different courses. Later, we visited the Pantheon, which was personally my favourite sight, as its exterior and interior were both equally breathtaking, due to its impressively tall columns on the outside and the multicoloured marble on the inside, as well as the huge domed ceiling which mimics a human eye. After eating birthday cake we had some free time to have gelato by the Trevi Fountain, where the famous tradition
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QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · TRI PS
involves throwing a coin with one’s back to the fountain (which was not an easy task to complete successfully). On the third day, we took a long coach ride (which was needed as a break from all of the walking) to Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. This was truly a unique sight, as it was surrounded by nature, and the extensive ruins were spread out over several hectares. The remains of this Roman Emperor’s villa included a bathhouse, amphitheatre, chariot and racing field. However, perhaps the most engaging part of this sight was the company that we received from a resident cat that we befriended and very fittingly named Hadrian. After our second consecutive delicious pizza lunch and some free time for souvenir shopping in Tivoli, we headed to explore the Villa D’Este. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was an example of a wealthy Roman AUTUMN 2018
family’s house and immense garden. Moreover, its beauty and ‘wow’ factor equalled that of Hadrian’s Villa. On the last day of our trip, we departed by foot for the Ara Pacis. It was in very good condition compared to the remains of Augustus’ Mausoleum, which was only a few metres away. We also got the chance to translate some of the Latin from the Res Gestae, which was sandwiched in between the two sites. After this, we went to the Vatican City, and despite being the most crowded location, it was worth it. After lunch in the Vatican, we visited the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, where we saw three stunning Caravaggio paintings. The trip was also a fun break for half-term with our friends, as well as being educational. On behalf of all the girls on the trip, we would like to thank the teachers for organising such an enlightening and fun experience. 11
WHOLE SCHOOL · EVE NTS
Deeds not words 100 years after women were first granted the vote, we welcome Helen Pankhurst, greatgranddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, to talk about the suffragette movement you feel disillusioned by politics. She also emphasised that, whilst the suffragettes were an extraordinary example of women coming together in solidarity to make change, there is still much work to be done and it is the women of today who can drive that change. A big thank you to Helen for taking the time to come and visit. The colours of the suffragette flag were purple, green and white, each with their own symbol. Purple stood for dignity, green symbolised hope and white indicated purity.
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his year has been monumental for century celebrations and turning points; with one of the most significant being that of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted the first women the right to vote in this country. The suffragette campaign had been fiercely fought for a number of years leading up to 1918, and on Wednesday 12 September, activist and author, Helen Pankhurst, visited both the Junior and Senior Schools to talk about her new book Deeds Not Words. Helen is the granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst and great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, the leaders of the British suffragette movement. Helen’s day began in the Junior School where a Q&A session took place with IIB, IIA and III Form. The girls had some insightful questions at the ready, and everyone definitely went away having learnt something new!
After lunch, it was the Senior School’s turn to meet Helen, as part of our Wider World programme (see page 29). The fact that the suffragettes’ story is still so well remembered today, 100 years on, made all the girls realise how difficult it was to get the vote for women. Helen stressed the importance of using your vote, even if
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Helen’s grandmother, Sylvia Pankhurst, was an artist as well as a campaigner and there is currently an exhibition of her work on show in Scarborough. A memorial to Emmeline Pankhurst is being unveiled on 14 December this year in Manchester, the birthplace of the British suffragette movement.
QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL ¡ CHARITY
Harvest Festival
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uring the Harvest Festival assemblies we expressed our gratitude for all the food we are able to eat daily, through songs, poems and readings. The doorways of the Junior School looked beautifully autumnal, and pupils in both Schools brought generous amounts of provisions to donate to The Passage.
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SE N IOR SCHOOL · M U N
Model United Nations update
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nother term, and another successful run of Model United Nations Conferences! From Friday 14 to Sunday 16 September, 11 Queen’s Gate delegates participated at the Cambridge University International Model United Nations – High School (CUIMUN-HS) conference. They debated pressing issues in the world today, such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the rights of women in conflict zones. The girls worked exceptionally hard, with powerful collaborations and shifting alliances contributing to an outstanding five out of 12 awards won by Queen’s Gate delegates. With over 150 delegates from 20 schools across the UK and around the world attending the conference, the awards truly epitomise the contributions made by Queen’s Gate girls. Following CUIMUN-HS, the Royal Russell School’s International Model United Nations Conference, (RRSiMUN), took place from Saturday 20 to Tuesday 23 October. Ten Queen’s Gate girls once again demonstrated their ability to negotiate, build consensus, understand alternative viewpoints and learn independently. Particular congratulations to Laura Connies-Laing and Emma Ferone who were excellent as co-Chair of the Disarmament and International Security and the Environment committees respectively. From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 November, Queen’s Gate was invited to
BY FAR THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE TOOK AWAY FROM OGMUN, WAS THE FORMATION OF NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH DELEGATES FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE LAURA CONNIES-LAING
attend the esteemed Oxford Global Model United Nations (OGMUN) conference, for the first time, at the University of Oxford. The event was comprised of 730 delegates, from 18 different nationalities. Two of our girls won highly-coveted individual awards – all the more impressive considering the high number of delegates attending the conference. Everyone worked tirelessly at the three conferences, and they all deserve praise. The experience they have gained this term will put them in good stead for the conferences at St Paul’s School, Merchant Taylor School and Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys’ in the Spring Term.
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Many congratulations to the following girls for their awards: TH E B EST DE LEGATE AWARD (CU I M U N - HS) Laura Connies-Laing
TH E OUTSTAN DI NG PE RFORMANCE AWARD (CU I M U N - HS) Iona Martyrossian
TH E HONOU RAB LE M E NTION AWARDS (CU I M U N - HS) Diane-Sophie Capelle, Reem Thakur and Kiana Mottahedan
TH E HONOU RAB LE M E NTION AWARDS (OGM U N) Amy Gillyon and Maria Posada
QG NEWS
Junior School 16
POETS’ CORNER
Our budding poets take part in National Poetry Day
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
British Food Fortnight ponders the old question about chickens and eggs
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REMEMBRANCE
Marking 100 years since the end of the First World War
J U N IOR SCHOOL · ACADE M IC
Orianne Lallemand visit
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n Tuesday 2 October, Madame Leluan arranged for Orianne Lallemand, the famous French children’s author, to present a workshop on her Le Loup book series to IA and IIB. Le Loup is now a very well-known character for French children, and the QG Juniors were treated to a reading by the author of his 13th adventure before it has even hit the bookshop shelves! Their workshop also included a short introduction to storytelling, and a reading of her story in French, Le Loup
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autour du monde. This was followed by a Q&A session, where girls asked very pertinent questions about being an author and creating characters. At the
end, the girls received a copy of one of Le Loup’s adventures. A great time was had by all!
National Poetry Day
his term our major focus has been on poetry and the beauty of carefully choosing and arranging words for their meaning, sound and rhythm. On Thursday 4 October, we celebrated National Poetry Day with a range of activities and a competition devised by Library Prefect, Lauren Mooney, and run by our fantastic crew of Library Officers and Pupil Librarians. The theme of this year’s celebration was ‘change’, and the girls volunteered
to recite some beautiful poems on this topic in its multitude of interpretations. The launch of our Queen’s Gate Poetry Competition marked the end of a day full of excitement and creativity. Congratulations to all who took part!
Queen’s Gate Poetry Competition BY LAU RE N MOON EY III FORM LIBRARY PREFECT
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hen I saw all of the wonderful entries for the Poetry Competition, I was a little overwhelmed. The IIB class submitted the most entries, and we commend them on their hard work. Since we received so many, we decided to have two main categories, based on the authors’ interpretation of the main theme of ‘change’. Miss Podavitte, Mrs Scott, the Library Officers and I decided on the winning, runner-up, and highly commended pieces. I had a lot of fun doing this, and I think everyone else did too! 16
First category Change and Nature winner MALIKA PIPLAPURE IIB Winter to Summer in Africa runner-up ALLEGRA AMICUCCI IIB Spot Life Cycle highly commended MARIANNA NAPOLI IIB Poem of the Season SOPHIE JONES · SOFIIA KERNES IIB Seasons
Second category Change and Life winner VICTORIA CIAMPOLINI MANLEY IIB Change, Change, Change runner-up MELISSA ETTEDGUI IIB Change is Part of Life highly commended MARIANNA NAPOLI IIB School Years QG NEWS
J U N IOR SCHOOL ¡ ACADE M IC
Living Egg Project
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he Living Egg project has been running at Queen’s Gate Junior School since 2011. It is with excitement that delivery of an incubator and ten eggs is taken on the first Monday after half-term. Then we wait, not too patiently, for the hatching to begin. A camera with live feed to all the classrooms lets us know when this starts, and everyone jostles for the best view. There is something quite magical about watching new life beginning. This year the eggs hatched all day during Wednesday 7 November. The first chick is named after the Head Girl, but this year his name had to become Charlie, instead of Charlotte! Science Club turned into chick patrol and a
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timetable was set up to feed and water the chicks, as well as changing their bedding. The chicks grow and develop quickly, and by day five they have wing feathers and have doubled their mass. Only ten days after hatching they really are too big for their brooder box and they return to the farm.
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QG NEWS
J U N IOR SCHOOL · ACADE M IC
Which came first: the chicken or the egg? A question as old as time itself, asked by one of our girls at this year’s British Food Fortnight. Of course, the jury is out on that one, but what we do know is that celebrating our national food and drink, of which chickens (and eggs!) are part, is very important
British Food Fortnight
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What is British Food Fortnight?
ritish Food Fortnight is the biggest annual, national celebration of British food and drink. Established in the wake of the Foot and Mouth crisis in 2002, it is a chance to come together and promote the benefits of buying and eating from our home produced British larder. We marked this important two-week dedication to British food and drink with our own harvest festival celebration and a variety of food-themed assemblies. The varied programme of assemblies
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included a visit from some hens – aptly named Victoria and Elizabeth, after our Junior School Houses! From the humble honey bee to sustainable packaging, the wide-ranging topics covered were fascinating, and served as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to keep nature and our country’s food production thriving. With thanks to the London Bee Keepers’ Association, Riverford Organic, Royal Holloway University, Rookery Farm, Dr Cobb and Chelsea Physic Garden. 19
WHOLE SCHOOL · EVE NTS
Starter for ten
The Junior School celebrates the tenth anniversary of moving to 125–126 Queen’s Gate with an exhibition evening
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n 2007, 125–126 Queen’s Gate Junior School opened its doors for the first time, having spent the majority of its life housed with the Seniors at 131 Queen’s Gate. Ten academic years later, on Friday 21 September, the School celebrated this milestone with a special event. Guests from the whole QG Community attended,
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including current and former parents, governors, staff and Old Girls. A special exhibition, written and designed for the event, told the story of the Junior School, the buildings and the people who have passed through the doors, since its inception in 1919. Old photographs, recipes and poetry were but a few of the fascinating elements on show. Current Junior School pupils also entertained with musical pieces on violin, cello and piano. Speeches were made by Principal Mrs Kamaryc, Former Director of the Junior School Mrs Neale and current Director Mr Denchfield. Former Junior School pupils Angelica Meneely, Christine CrawfordBrunt and Emma Ferone regaled guests with their favourite memories and stories from their time at the School. QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
When you go home, tell them of us and say For your tomorrow, we gave our today
1918
2018
FI RST WO R LD WAR CE NTE NARY The centenary of the end of the First World War in 1918 has inspired countrywide events of commemoration this year, celebrating the incredible efforts of men and women during the tumultuous period of 1914–18. At Queen’s Gate, girls were keen to learn more about the Great War through assemblies, the Remembrance Day service and a special commemorative evening at the School.
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WREATH LECTU RE Meeting Michael Morpurgo at the Poppy Factory
FOR TH E FALLE N Joining the Chelsea Pensioners for their Drumhead Service
LEST WE FORGET An exhibition marking the centenary of the Armistice
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD The School’s moving Remembrance Day service
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WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
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ach year pupils in III Form visit the Poppy Factory in Richmond, to learn more about the process of poppy and wreath making for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, and the veteran soldiers who work there. This year was a little different. With television cameras and national press in attendance, the girls were lucky to be part of an event with author Michael Morpurgo. Morpurgo’s new book, Poppy Field, is a joint venture with the Royal British Legion, telling the story of the symbolism of the poppy and the importance of remembering the war. Junior School Head Girl, Charlotte-Amicie Capelle, tells us about their exciting day:
Wreath lecture
Meeting Michael Morpurgo at the Poppy Factory
We entered the Poppy Factory full of excitement. Sitting down in the chairs, we waited for the special arrival of wellknown writer, Michael Morpurgo. Geoff, our guide told us about the fascinating history of their foundation and many other interesting facts, one of them was that they were first founded to give jobs to the disabled men from war. The day began with Michael Morpurgo and Michael Forman, who came because they have written a new book about World War One and poppies, which was a great book that some of us read and enjoyed. Michael Morpurgo was very funny and knew a lot of jokes. The press came to take videos and pictures that were to appear in the news. They gave facts about how they structured the story and how the idea came up. We left them to go on a tour of the factory. We were shown the shapemaking machines, where you slotted your silk, plastic or paper roll and it would come out with the outlines of leaves and poppy petals. The tour was historical and we were also able to make our own poppies. That was a great opportunity to learn different jobs. We created a whole pile and kept three each. The rest of the poppies were to be sold. It was time to go, and a few of us had brought the new book with us and we had it signed!’ 22
QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL ¡ RE M E M B RANCE
For the fallen Pupils take part in the annual Drumhead Service of Remembrance at the Royal Hospital Chelsea
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irls from IA, IIB, IIA and III Form received a special invitation to visit the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for their Drumhead Service on Friday 9 November. The service harks back to the First World War when soldiers were often unable to attend church services. They would pile their drums up into a makeshift altar and gather around for a service, conducted by the Regimental Chaplain or Padre. Poppy wreaths made by some of the pupils were carried down and laid in front of the statue of King Charles II before a short outdoor service. It was a privilege to be present and we thank them for their kind invitation.
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WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
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QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL ¡ RE M E M B RANCE
Lest we forget We mark the centenary of the Armistice and explore the role women played in the Great War with an exhibition and tribute evening called Forever Remembered
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WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
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QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
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he Queen’s Gate commemoration events in honour of 100 years since the end of the First World War included a fitting tribute to women at war in the form of a specially-commissioned exhibition and tribute evening: Forever Remembered. The event took place across the Senior School on Thursday 7 November, with the Black Dining Room playing host to profiles of Great War Heroines, the Library exhibiting the Queen’s Gate Roll of Honour, further exhibition boards and artefacts, and the Hall providing the backdrop to an evening of poetry, prose and song. The exhibition explored the
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crucial part that women and technology played during 1914–18, and how those four years changed societal roles significantly. In the Hall, girls from throughout the Senior School performed poems including My Boy Jack by Rudyard Kipling and Song to Amiens by T. P. Cameron Wilson, Douglas Haig’s speech To all ranks 1918, and the Declaration of War. Music included Roses of Picardy by the Oh What a Lovely War cast members, and Mozart’s Lacrimosa by the Chamber Choir Ensemble.
queensgate.org.uk/news/ww1
WHOLE SCHOOL · RE M E M B RANCE
They shall grow not old 100 years has passed since the end of the First World War adding an extra poignancy to the Remembrance Day Service
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That marks our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
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JOHN McCRAE
he first reading at this year’s Remembrance Day Service, of John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields, delivered by Head Girl, Angelica Meneely, reiterated the message that Mrs Kamaryc delivered at the beginning of the service about the importance of the poppy we wear during this period of the year. The importance of 2018 – marking 100 years since the end of World War One – was reinforced throughout the service in readings from the Book of Joshua, an address by the Reverend Liz Russell,
hymns including The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended and the Chamber Choir’s performance of the Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor. This year’s Last Post and Reveille by London Military Band member, Adam Stockbridge, bookended the significant period of reflection that Remembrance Day brings, reminding us all of the loss suffered worldwide during times of war. A beautiful service to round off the Queen’s Gate Great War commemoration events. 28
QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · ACADE M IC
Wider World
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ur popular Wider World series takes place weekly during term time, for the older pupils in the Senior School. Invited speakers come from a range of different disciplines and sectors, to help expand the pupils’ horizons beyond the curriculum. Speakers focus on specific events during their careers and what it takes to succeed in their particular line of work. Each talk ends with a Q&A session, giving girls the opportunity to find out more about the areas in which they are particularly interested. One of the most memorable speakers during the Autumn Term was film director and writer, Deborah Haywood, who gave an amusing, yet honest and emotional talk about her experience of bullying and how it shaped her life. Delving into the realm of nature, Dr Simon Loader, Principal Curator in Charge of Vertebrates at the Natural History Museum (NHM) delivered
an engrossing talk about the planet’s changing landscape. Only 12.5% of the world’s biodiversity is known to us and, sadly, many species come in and out of existence without us ever knowing. Reference collections such as those at the NHM are critical when it comes to discovering and protecting new life. Other speakers included: Major Christopher Yapp of the Royal Lancers Regiment, American comedian, writer and musician Rich Hall, Helen Pankhurst, granddaughter of Sylvia and greatgranddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst (see page 12 for more details of her visit), and President of Trinity College Oxford, Dame Hilary Boulding. From Rich insightfully maintaining that in life, ‘comedy will get you out of a lot of difficult situations’ to Dame Hilary’s emphasis on the importance of following your gut, it is safe to say we have all taken new lessons away with us from this term’s Wider World series!
Rich Hall
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Dame Hilary Boulding
Deborah Haywood
SE N IOR SCHOOL · DRAMA
GCSE Examination Performances
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n Tuesday 16 October, staff, parents and friends of this year’s GCSE Drama candidates were enthralled by energetic, powerful and mature performances. This year’s storylines and themes were inspired by Kneehigh Theatre’s production of Brief Encounter. Girls not only set their pieces in the 1930s, but also stimulated effective drama techniques. Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken led to the variety of thematic interpretations on the dilemmas and consequences of decisions. Connected, by Oki Morrissey, Camille Ho and Ella Connies-Laing, explored the agony of a mother who had to give up her child to an orphanage, whereas Jack’s War by Alice Lord, Beatriz Castan and Rachael Moore, grappled with the torment of a man who lost his fiancée in the Crystal Palace fire while fate seems to control his destiny. The Starling, performed by Avalon De Santis, Amy Wiseman, Mia Beechey and Camilla Impronta, presented the dilemma of an actress torn between her fiancé and the lure of Hollywood. The Consequence by Charlotte Green, Inna Simonova and Sofia
Mafi, showed family loyalty torn apart when a child dies, and a stranger comes to visit. The final story, Forgotten Journey by Asal Chalak, Alina Rashidmanesh and Sienna Zaitshek, was told by a granddaughter, who traces the experiences of her immigrant ancestors’ perilous journey to England, after fleeing war in their own country.
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QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · DRAMA
CAST LIST Peter Pan Zoe Weiler Wendy Millie Vorbach John Gabriella Murphy Michael Kitty Searle Mr Darling Victoria Liaudet Mrs Darling Melinda Aznar Nana Carlotta Shahata Tinkerbell Chloe Bartholomew The Shadow Maya Bostandjieva
Peter Pan
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his year’s LIV took on one of the most famous children’s stories of all time, Peter Pan. Directed by LVI’s Amandine Bodet Lefevre, Lara Brewer, Lara Garvie and Bonnie-Jane Goudie, this small, but perfectly-formed, cast injected the fun and energy that the story of Neverland requires. Taking place on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 November, the cast, ably led by Zoe Weiler as Peter, and Millie Vorbach as Wendy, told a whimsical version of the tale of the boy who never grows up. From pirates dressed in leather jackets to a progymnast Tinkerbell, these girls were out to impress their audience, and they most certainly succeeded. Well done to all the cast and crew involved in making the show such a magical success.
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THE PIRATES Captain Hook Miya Amrouni Mr Smee Sophia Catino Sam Melinda Aznar Starkey Maya Bostandjieva Mullins Carlotta Shahata
THE LOST BOYS Tootles Xanthe Cormack Nibs Ines Bartter Slightly Rada Kovatcheva Twin 1 India Middleton-Roy Twin 2 Rose Wolstenholme Tiger Lily Victoria Liaudet 31
SE N IOR SCHOOL · SPORT
SPORT REPORT
BIATHLON
FENCING
Abingdon Vale Biathlon
The qg fencers continue their success in regional, national and international competitions this term. Patrycja Krzyzaniak continues her success, most recently competing on the Eurofencing Circuit (EFC) with the GBR Cadet team in Grenoble, France and Heidenheim, Germany. She achieved a very impressive 13th place out of the 95 competitors in the U20 age group in Germany. Claudia Crawford-Brunt travelled to Czechoslovakia in November to compete in the EFC U14 Babylon Cup, coming a remarkable 3rd place in a very competitive field. Queen’s Gate pupils also triumphed at the Leon Paul Junior Series U13 Epée Competition in Newcastle during October, with Vanessa Lemer receiving bronze, Erika Bustness silver and Harriet Hillier winning the gold medal.
On sunday 14 october, the Queen’s Gate Biathletes travelled to Abingdon in Oxfordshire to compete in the Abingdon Vale Biathlon. This meet was a qualifying competition for the British Modern Biathlon in November and the National Schools’ Modern Biathlon in March 2019. The girls training in Spain during September helped the U13, U14 and U16 teams to take home 1st place. BIATH LON 1ST PLACE TEAMS U13 Melinda Aznar, Hannah Rekrut, Zoë Weiler U14 Tess McGill, Lara Mannes de Cerio, Fabiola Waldron U16 Isla Wallrock, Sabrina Mannes Diaz De Cerio, Zoë Auld
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ROWING Home International Regatta During summer, UVI pupil, Ruby O’Keeffe, had the opportunity to race for England as part of a double at the Home International Regatta in Cork. Ruby and her partner were required to trial for the country to qualify and, once successful, were sent to Ireland to train and compete. Their hard work was rewarded with the pair winning the U18’s women’s race.
London Borough of Hounslow Schools’ Autumn Term Regatta Despite the cold weather, 25 girls travelled to Chiswick to compete in the London Borough of Hounslow Schools’ Autumn Term Regatta on Saturday 17 November. Four QG crews successfully qualified for the finals in the Year 7/8 Girls Tub Quads, Year 9/10 Girls Tub doubles and Year 10 single categories. In the Year 9/10 Girls Tub category, it was a QG-QG final between Aria Singh-Bernath & Isabella Levi and Srira Rose Amrolia & Eleanor Raniolo, with Srira and Eleanor taking home the gold medal ahead of their peers. Showing their strengths on the rowing machines, the girls took the gold medals in the Year 7/8 Girls Tub Quads, Year 9/10 Girls Tub double, Year 9/10 Girls Tub Quad, Year 10/11 Girls Fine Double and the Year 13 girls single categories. QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · SPORT
NETBALL Netball Roundup The netball teams have had a very successful Autumn Term, playing each week at Battersea Park and in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea League, held at Holland Park School. To date, our U13 and U14 teams are unbeaten in the RBKC league, and are top of the table, with two games left to play before the finals. The U12 and U15 teams still have three games to play after the
Christmas break. The teams have also been competing in a series of friendlies against Queen’s College, More House and Francis Holland. The U12 and U13 teams secured wins against both More House and Queen’s College. The U18 team also won their friendly game against Queen’s College and will be facing More House in the Spring Term.
Girls Go Gold In september, 15 pupils were given the opportunity to attend this year’s Girls Go Gold conference, organised by the Girls’ Schools’ Association, and celebrating women across all sporting disciplines. The girls were chosen for their dedication to sport at school. They had the opportunity to attend a Strength and Conditioning session followed by a talk from Gail Emms, Olympic silver medallist in badminton, who spoke candidly about her route to the top of her game. She told the girls that they could achieve their dreams and not to let anyone or anything get in the way.
AUTUMN 2018
Apollo Awards
The girls then took part in coaching by top international players from the fields of hockey, rugby and lacrosse - a fantastic opportunity for the girls to learn new skills in a fun and engaging way. The day finished with a Q&A with Clare Balding OBE, and the GB team athletes in tennis, netball, lacrosse, hockey and rugby. The audience were allowed to ask any questions of the athletes about their experiences and advice for them to following a life in sport. Overall, it was an immensely inspiring day for the girls, who thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
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Form v pupil Isla Wallrock won the Sports Achievement Award at this year’s EPIC CIC Apollo Awards in November. These awards celebrate young people and their achievements from all across Kensington and Chelsea, and due to her commitment and dedication to the London Youth Games this year, Isla is well deserved of the award. She was also nominated for Outstanding Sports Person of the Year – a great achievement. Form V also had another award nominee in Lweji Lopes Padres, who was nominated in the Spirit of the Games category. Huge congratulations to both girls, who have done the School proud.
SE N IOR SCHOOL · SPORT
Cross Country Queen’s Gate Cross Country Event
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n a chilly Thursday 22 November, girls from both the Junior and Senior Schools took part in the annual Queen’s Gate Cross Country Event in Hyde Park. Despite the temperature, there were smiles all round as they completed their given distance of either 2km or 2.5km, against Francis Holland Sloane Square, Harrodian, More House, Queen’s College and St James. Congratulations to all of the runners for their impressive performances and good spirit!
ESAA Cross Country Cup – Regional Finals
London Youth Games Cross Country
Kensington & Chelsea Mini Marathon Trials
On saturday 10 november, two teams of Senior School runners (Junior and Intermediate) took part in the English Schools’ Athletic Association’s (ESSA) Regional Cross Country Cup, in St Albans. The difficult conditions over a tough, hilly and complicated course did not dissuade the QG girls, with Form IV’s Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio taking the Intermediate Girls Individual Champion title, and her team placing in 7th. The Junior Girls team came 13th – well done all.
Congratulations to all of the girls who represented Kensington and Chelsea and Queen’s Gate on Saturday 17 November at the 2018 London Youth Games Cross Country Event run on Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath. It was a tough, hilly course, but the girls coped well and raced confidently. In the U15 category, Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio won the Individual Silver Medal and, along with Isla Wallrock, won the Team Bronze. Well done to both.
On tuesday 9 october, the Queen’s Gate Cross Country Squad attended the Kensington and Chelsea Mini Marathon Trials in Holland Park. All of the girls involved raced with confidence, and the School finished with excellent results, with Lara Mannes Diaz De Cerio winning the U15 Girls category and older sister Sabrina winning the U17 Girls. LIV pupil Chloe Bartholomew, also came 3rd in the U13 age group. In addition, Queen’s Gate won the overall team event for the 12th year in a row!
U15 RESU LTS Individual Silver Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio Team Bronze Lara Mannes Diaz de Cerio and Isla Wallrock
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QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · SPORT
Biathlon Trip
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n Friday 21 September, Senior School pupils departed for the Crol Centre in Calella, a Spanish seaside town an hour north of Barcelona, for a long weekend of training in the sun. The training camp included beach runs, pool and ocean swims, hiking in the hills above Calella (‘Les Torretes’) and, of course, some study time! The Crol Centre boasts an Olympicsized swimming pool, in which the girls had the chance to swim daily, as well as completing a time trial for their required Biathlon swimming distance (50m, 100m, or 200m). The group also did a track training session, working on their speed and stamina for their upcoming track distances of 800m and 1600m. As respite from their training, an afternoon was spent at the beach, cooling off in the sea, visiting the Calella Festival and finishing with a pizza night! Congratulations to all of the girls, for their efforts and excellent training ethic on the trip. AUTUMN 2018
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ALU M NAE · EVE NTS
Reactive-8 Alumnae from 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 gather for an evening of shared memories at the Big 8 Reunion
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n the eighth evening of an unusually warm October, we welcomed Old Girls back for a reunion to celebrate their leaving anniversaries. Alumnae from the Class of 2008 were the largest year group in attendance, as they revisited Queen’s Gate to celebrate ten years since leaving. They enjoyed catching up with former teachers, including Mr Crundwell, Ms Yates and Mrs Clear, and sharing news of engagements and career achievements among other things. We also had the pleasure of being joined by former staff member Mr King, alongside the OGs from 1968 and 1998. School Archivist, Sig.na Podavitte, laid out yearbooks, historical versions of The Log and school photos, through which everyone enjoyed browsing. Sixth Form volunteers led tours throughout the evening around the Senior School, and the OGs recalled funny stories of their school days. Also during the Autumn term, Old Girls met for mini-reunions over on the USA’s East Coast, with the first on
Tuesday 18 September at the Roger Smith Hotel in Mid-Town, New York City, organised by Old Girls Sophie Lucy (OG 2013) and Danika Druttman (OG 2000). Danika works at the Roger Smith running their Arts and Cultural Programme, and enjoyed being able to introduce other OGs to the hotel. Alumnae in Boston also caught up over a cosy dinner at La Voile on Friday 19 October, organised by sisters Christiana (OG 2018) and Sabrina Didizian (OG 2016).
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QG NEWS
EVE NTS · I NSPI RI NG WOM E N
Good Karma
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Entrepreneurial sisters Gini and Eccie Newton tell us about their successful corporate catering start-up, Karma Cans
t was with professionalism and warmth that Queen’s Gate Old Girls, sisters and entrepreneurs, Gini and Eccie Newton, opened our 2018/19 Inspiring Women series on Monday 12 November. Gini (OG 2011) and Eccie (OG 2008) founded their first business, Karma Cans, in 2014 from their basement kitchen. Starting with £5, one customer and an idea, they have grown their company into a corporate catering service, which delivers hundreds of meals a day across London. Their second venture, which launched this year, is a community of co-working kitchens and office spaces for people in food and drink called Karma Kitchen. Guests gathered in the Black Dining Room for champagne and canapés to meet AUTUMN 2018
their speakers, before making their way up to the Library. After being introduced by Inspiring Women Prefect, Iona Martyrossian, the sisters took us through their journey starting up their businesses. It was fascinating to hear about the challenges they have faced and overcome, (including pitching to predominantly male investors and overcoming sibling disagreements!). Despite many setbacks, they believe adaptability has been key to their success. Thinking outside the box and not being too fixed in their approach has allowed them to scale up, listening to the needs of their customers. From the origin of the name ‘Karma Cans’, rooted in Eccie’s time spent in Mumbai, to the skills that Queen’s Gate 37
taught them, such as public speaking, Gini and Eccie certainly delivered a talk rich with inspiring, relatable content. There’s no doubt the audience left feeling that the impossible can be achieved! A huge thank you to Gini and Eccie for coming to speak to us, it was a pleasure to welcome them back! We look forward to seeing their businesses grow from strength to strength.
An interview with Gini and Eccie can be found in The Log 2018 (page 18)
SE N IOR SCHOOL · TRI PS
Devon knows how they do it Removes get to know each other better
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uring their first weeks as Queen’s Gate girls, pupils in Remove (Year 7) all take a week-long trip together, providing an opportunity to get to know each other better and form friendships that will last beyond their school careers. This year, five girls have given us their favourite memories of their time in Devon…
Natalia The most memorable part of Devon was on the Jacobs Ladder when Nylah flipped backwards from the top, it was so funny. The best thing was it happened twice, and it was not on purpose but we all laughed so much and we all had so much fun. This is my favourite school trip so far, thanks to the bonding between us all! Long live Devon!
Lila Devon was a really good bonding experience. I have made loads of new friends now and the activities were amazing. I’m sure many of the girls would
agree, bodyboarding was the best! We had to put on wetsuits and have a bodyboard that attached to our arms. That day, the waves were huge! As we rode on the crashing waves, my friends and I were screaming. Sometimes, we would miss the wave and it would engulf us! I could have stayed in the water body boarding forever, but of course, we had to get out. We also went on a short hike and for some ice cream, (I chose honeycomb). It was the best day ever! I loved Devon!
Jena Devon was the best time of my life. It was super fun! The activities were amazing and the best activity that we did was bodyboarding, it was so cool. The waves were really strong so it pushed us so far. I also loved Jacobs Ladder because I nearly made it to the top, it was very hard. I was in Group 3 with Mrs Leluan. She is very funny and made me laugh all the time. I made many new friends in Devon and it was super cool. The activities there were so fun and inspiring. Devon was amazing!
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Ellie and Joosje It was a very early start, we travelled to school and got on the coach where we then said goodbye to our parents. When we got there we were introduced to the staff and went on an excellent house tour. They showed the luxury gardens and heated swimming pool (where we swam every evening). We were given lunch and then we were shown to our dorms. After that, we went to the natural swimming pool (it was so cold!). We were the first two to go in. We were so eager to go until we got hypothermia (not really – but it felt like it). We finished the day with a nice, hot supper. The next day, every group had a different activity like kayaking, gorge walking, hiking, high ropes, mountain biking and survival skills. After most of us had done these activities we spent a day at the beach and went bodyboarding! (This, for us, was the best activity). The waves were so high and we were zooming back to shore. At Moorland Hall they have it all! QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL · TRI PS
African Queens
SOMALIA UGANDA
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AUTUMN 2018
Babati
THE CONGO
TANZANIA
Dar es Salaam
A very constructive Sixth Form expedition to Tanzania ver the summer, 11 Sixth Form girls, Miss Palframan and Dr Lee travelled to Tanzania for a 12-day expedition. Their plans were to build two menstrual hygiene toilets in two different schools – Managha Primary School and Sumaye Federick Secondary School – both located in the rural village of Babati, and also to paint two classrooms in their host school. The conditions in the host primary school were extremely basic – no running water and electricity – so adapting from the outset, the girls had ‘safari’ bucket showers and used long-drop toilets. The daily chores of water collection, cooking, cleaning of communal areas and washing up tested stamina and patience at times but, as a team, they dealt with
KENYA
ZAMBIA MOZAMBIQUE
these trials and tribulations with bravery, humour and good spirit. The group gained many new skills, including bricklaying, mixing and carrying mortar, creating efficient water and brick lines, sanding and then painting classrooms. They also attempted to speak some Swahili, played football with the local children and pretended to dance like local Tanzanians (very often in front of hundreds of people!), and even witnessed the birth of a calf. The practical and social skills that we developed were both eyeopening and life-changing.
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SE N IOR SCHOOL · ACADE M IC
Literary society A Level English students spend the day discussing poetry at the London Oratory School
Celebrating Queen’s Gate School’s 127-year anniversary
BY ANOUSH KA MONZON LADAS LVI
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n Thursday 18 October, a group of 15 English A Level students went to the London Oratory School for our regular Literary Society meeting to discuss poetry. It was fascinating to see such a different school and work in groups with new people, both boys and girls, from the Oratory. We started looking at poems by Emily Dickinson such as the poem Hope is the thing with feathers. After that, we looked at some passages from Max Porter’s prose poem Grief is the Thing with Feathers. The book explores a fictional experience of two young boys facing the sadness of their mother passing away. Their father, a Ted Hughes scholar, imagines a future of well-meaning visitors and emptiness. The family are visited by Crow who is described as an ‘antagonist, trickster, healer, babysitter.’ This savage bird is attracted to the grieving family and threatens to stay until they no longer need him. We looked at a few passages all from the perspective of the two boys (who are combined into one speaker), father and Crow. These passages gave huge insight into how grief is portrayed in literature and required us to draw on our knowledge of Dickinson, Hughes and tropes of the portrayal of death. We had vigorous discussions on our table, and annotated the work till there was no more blank space on which to write. Overall, it was very interesting to hear a range of opinions and see different approaches to understanding literature. We very much look forward to the next opportunity for the Literary Society to convene.
BY AN NA RAFICE UVI QUEEN’S GATE POET LAUREATE
One-hundred-and-twenty-seven-years Spent in the shadow of imperial bones Little girls holding on to all their hopes and fears Every year a wave of eager-eyed, polished little dears Pacing parents waiting in their own white homes One-hundred-and-twenty-seven-years The sound of scuffed shoes is so seared In the memory of an ageless drone Little girls holding on to all their hopes and fears Freshly pinched cheeks turn into pricked ears The little girls grow too big for their glass thrones One-hundred-and-twenty-seven-years After so long in one place, something always appears A change in one’s stance, foundations of stones Little girls holding on to all their hopes and fears Whether they become doctors, or artists or cashiers They find themselves humming in singular tones One-hundred-and-twenty-seven-years Little girls singing the hymn of all their hopes and fears
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QG NEWS
SE N IOR SCHOOL ¡ ACADE M IC
Honouring the memory of all who died in silence far away
Hyde Park ecology
BY MARIA POSADA LVI
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n a bright, sunny afternoon in early November, the UVI Biologists headed off to Hyde Park to collect data for their ecological core practical investigations. The staff at the Look Out Education Centre were very welcoming and knowledgeable. They set out to use quadrats and transects to investigate the populations and distribution of wild plants. A great deal of data was collected ready to be analysed using statistical tests on our return to school.
AUTUMN 2018
Girls take part in a First World War tribute evening at Cadogan Hall
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O
n Friday 9 November, a group of Queen’s Gate pupils participated in a World War One tribute event for schools, organised by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The event was held in the prestigious setting of the Cadogan Hall, and the Mayor was in attendance. I recited Last Post by Carol Ann Duffy, Luna Middleton-Roy recited an extract from Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, and Ellie Kenneth recited Of All Who Died in Silence Far Away by Iris Tree. Our performance concluded with a medley of First World War songs, sung by Lweji Lopes-Padre, Jessica Ballard, Catherine Walmsley and myself. It was a moving occasion, and I felt honoured and privileged to have been chosen to take part.
SE N IOR SCHOOL · CHARITY
Charity round-up
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BY RU BY O’KE E FFE CHARITY PREFECT
his term Queen’s Gate has been involved in many fundraising efforts, with girls from across all years acting to support a range of charities. The Junior School supported the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), hosting a cake sale on ‘Number Day’, as well as Jeans for Genes Day later in the term. In the Senior School, girls supported Water Aid, League Against Cruel Sports, Zimbabwe, Oxfam, and Movember. Hosting a range of bake-sales and jeans days, the girls were successful in raising more than £4,300 – a fantastic achievement! Most recently, pupils in Remove supported Children in Need, raising the most money for an individual charity so far this year. With an outstanding fundraising effort (which included some teachers in animal costumes…) the School raised £1,260 in
total for the charity. In other news, girls across the School fundraised for Macmillan Cancer Support, hosting our annual coffee morning and Jeans Day. The Black Dining Room was dressed up in green and purple decorations for the occasion, and the Prefect team helped to support the day – organising the abundance of baked goods and selling mass amounts of treats to the girls. It was a fantastic occasion, and the team raised over £1,000 through their efforts. The Junior School also hosted a coffee morning for Macmillan, which was an equally busy occasion filled with baked treats and decorations. Everyone pitched in to make a success of the morning – enthusiastic to continue Queen’s Gate longstanding support for Macmillan’s work. Special thanks to all the teachers who supported the day. 42
QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL · STAFF N EWS
NEW STAFF MRS ANDELA
Mrs Andela joins Queen’s Gate as InHouse Counsel. She previously worked in private practice for 22 years at Glovers Solicitors LLP, specialising in Employment Law. She grew up in Kenya before sitting her A Levels in London, and obtained a degree in Law from the University of Cambridge. She is very much looking forward to joining Queen’s Gate in this new and exciting position.
A very warm welcome to the teachers who joined Queen’s Gate this term
DR BENNETT
MISS COLES
MISS DAVIES
Dr Bennett joins the School as Deputy Principal. He spent three years after university building his own internet business, before finding his passion in teaching. Having taught at Broomwood Hall, Francis Holland, SW1, St Paul’s Girls’ and Badminton, where he was Deputy Head, he is delighted to be joining the team at Queen’s Gate. He promises to try to limit talking about his sporting endeavours in swimming and yoga!
Miss Coles joins Queen’s Gate as Director of Studies of the Junior School and III Form Tutor. After completing her PGCE in Primary Education at Roehampton University, she went on to teach at both Notting Hill Prep and Portland Place School. She is very much looking forward to working closely with pupils, parents and colleagues.
Miss Davies joins Queen’s Gate as a Teacher of English. Following her time at Newcastle University where she gained a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and Psychology, Miss Davies gained her PGCE whilst working at Framlingham College before teaching at Cranbrook School in Kent. She is very much looking forward to being part of the Queen’s Gate community.
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WHOLE SCHOOL · STAFF N EWS
MISS JOHNSON
MISS LAMB-WILSON
MISS McLISTER
Miss Johnson joins Queen’s Gate as Teacher of PE. She previously worked in the fitness industry for nine years and gained a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning from Middlesex University. As well as being a qualified tennis coach she has a number of years’ experience coaching triathlon. Miss Johnson previously worked at South Hampstead High School in North West London, and she is very much looking forward to working with everyone at Queen’s Gate.
Miss Lamb-Wilson has joined the PE Department to support their administration. If you ever call the PE office or send through an email it will more than likely be Miss Lamb-Wilson who will get back in touch! Despite not being a PE teacher, Miss Lamb-Wilson has worked in a range of active job roles, having completed ski seasons and worked in London for the Ski Club of Great Britain. She is also very keen on keeping fit and taking part in sport, and is in training for the London Marathon 2019.
Miss McLister joins Queen’s Gate as Teacher of PE. She is originally from West London and has worked in the borough for the last two years as Head of Netball at Holland Park School. She currently coaches and umpires netball at both a novice and intermediate level. Miss McLister has also competed at county level for Gaelic football, and previously won the Etihad World Games with her club. She looks forward to working with the girls and joining the Queen’s Gate community.
MISS DE BIE
MISS PHILLIPS
MRS GARTY
Miss de Bie joins Queen’s Gate as Alumnae Relations and Events Officer. She previously worked in the Development Office at University College School, having joined the world of Development and Alumni after graduating. Her first role allowed her to work with many Universities and Schools throughout the UK and New Zealand as a Fundraising Consultant. If you are ever looking to organise an event at Queen’s Gate or have an Old Girl contact, Miss de Bie is the contact for you!
Miss Phillips joins Queen’s Gate Junior School as the Transition Teacher. She grew up in Bath, before attending Roehampton University to complete her teacher training. Following this, Miss Phillips taught at The Village School and Pembridge Hall. She is very excited to join the Queen’s Gate community, and begin working with the staff and pupils.
Mrs Garty joins Queen’s Gate as Head of Biology. After graduating from Bristol University with a Joint BSc (Hons) in Botany and Zoology and a PGCE in Secondary Science, she taught at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham. She subsequently taught at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset and worked as an examiner of A Level Biology. She is now looking forward to being part of the Queen’s Gate community.
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QG NEWS
WHOLE SCHOOL · STAFF N EWS
Staff Farewells MRS ROBERTS-BERESFORD
Mrs Roberts-Beresford joins Queen’s Gate as Registrar. After receiving her BA in Near Eastern Archaeology from the University of Sydney, Mrs Roberts-Beresford worked in student administration and recruitment at her Alma Mater before moving to London in 2014, where she joined UCL Faculty of Laws as Undergraduate Admissions Administrator. She is very excited to be a part of the vibrant Queen’s Gate community.
MR SWAN
So, finally, after 33 years it is time to say my goodbyes. I was originally only going to stay for a couple of years or so, until I had finished my Chemistry degree at Birkbeck (grappling with quantum mechanics after a day’s work was ‘interesting’). Over the years my remit expanded from being ‘just’ a Science Technician to being the School’s photographer (through many trips, sports days etc.), videographer, (filming, and later editing many School Plays, Carol Services, concerts and other events) to learning how to light Drama Productions (the technical standard of which has been raised enormously since I started). It says something about Queen’s Gate, and the Queen’s Gate atmosphere, that 33 years later I’m retiring with some conflicting emotions as I move to a dark-sky location in Dorset to further pursue my astronomy, leaving behind many friends, but taking with me many happy memories.
MR WILLIAMS
MR SMITH
I have very much enjoyed my just over three years teaching Economics to the Sixth Form at Queen’s Gate. The School has such a positive, purposeful atmosphere. After teaching all boys for many years it has been a relatively new experience teaching all girls, one which I have enjoyed and from which I have learned a lot. As I head towards retirement I shall miss the warmth of colleagues and the friendliness of the Queen’s Gate girls.
Mr Williams joins Queen’s Gate School as Head of Mathematics. He read Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford University, and his first job was with an American firm of Management Consultants. He has since had teaching jobs at Winchester College, Francis Holland Sloane Square, and Eaton Square Upper School. He is delighted to be starting work at Queen’s Gate, and is looking forward to becoming part of the Queen’s Gate community.
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WHOLE SCHOOL · STAFF N EWS
QG Weddings Congratulations to Miss Smith and Miss McCann who both got married this year
Miss McCann married Sam Levin on Saturday 14 July. The celebration took place on the Cornish coast near Padstow on a beautiful sunny day!
Miss Smith married Benjamin Russell at Holy Trinity Church, South Kensington on Saturday 6 October. It was a horribly rainy day – but that didn’t stop it from being great fun and a good time was had by all.
Queen’s Gate Baby Congratulations to the newest member of the Queen’s Gate community!
Mr Lechmere-Smith and his wife Louise
were overjoyed to introduce the newest member of the Lechmere-Smith family. Jessica Louise arrived on Sunday 9 September 2018 at 8.18pm, weighing 3lbs 15oz (1.8kg). She is doing well and keeps on growing. 46
QG NEWS
FUN DS RA I SED BY T H E PTA AT THE CHR I ST M AS FA I R 2 01 7 W ER E S PE N T ON PA systems for the Hall
UV Principal’s Outing
New String Instruments
Bursaries
LVI Activities days
Indoor Rowing machines
UVI leavers’ party, gifts and dinner
New Preliminary Equipment
Music Storage Racks
III Form’s Trip to 42nd Street
TH A N K YOU EVERYO N E!
Queen’s Gate School 133 Queen’s Gate London SW7 5LE 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk @queens_gate /133queensgate