The Malvernian 2009

2

PreSiDenT anD viSiTOrThe lOrD BiShOP Of WOrceSTer

cOUncilchairMan:

lOrD MaclaUrin Of KneBWOrTh Dl (OM) *

vice-chairMan:MrS c caMPBell (eOG) *

TreaSUrer:r K BlacK (OM) *

Dr n BaMPOSS P BenneTTP G BrOUGh

P J carTWriGhT (OM)PrOfeSSOr K J Davey, OBe

MrS r DaWeS, JP *G W DavieS

MrS J eDWarDS-clarK, MvO (eOG)f r r franciS

MrS l J GUlliferMS J M haMPSOn (eOG)

J M J havarD (OM)S M hill *

MrS G hylSOn-SMiTh *G e JOneS

The very reverenD r leWiSS r liSTer

K U MaDDenW h MOOre

D G rOBerTSOnJ D rOSeMan (OM) *

a G SilcOcKDr c W O STOecKer (OM)

MrS J ThOMPSTOne *r T h WilSOn (OM)

BUrSar & clerK TO The cOUncil:i BarrOn *

(* MeMBer Of The cOlleGe ManaGeMenT BOarD)

cOUncil

3TaBle Of cOnTenTS & eDiTOrial

TaBle Of cOnTenTS

Council 2Table of Contents & Editorial 3Valete & Salvete 4Chapel Notes 11 Academic review 12CCF 14College Play ‘Les Misérables: School Edition’ 18House Drama Competition 20Junior Play ‘Pride and Prejudice’ 21Debating 24School Council 26Foundation Year Visit to Flanders 28Sixth Form Trip to Paris and Barcelona 29Sixth Form Trip to Vietnam 31Skiing in France 34Biology Field Trip 35Foundation Year Visit to Gloucester Cathedral 37Legal Workshop 38Geography Study Visit to Iceland 39Remove Study Visit to Normandy and Paris 40Sixth Form Classicists’ Trip to Greece 42House Singing Competition 44 House Music Competition 46Informal & Community Concerts 48Choral Music 49Christmas Concert 52Summer Concert 53Summer Serenade & Concerto Concert 54The Boarding Houses 56Rugby 96Lacrosse 102Football 104Netball 110Cross Country 112Rackets 119Girls’ Hockey 122Boys’ Hockey 128Fives 130Cricket 132Boys’ Tennis 136Girls’ Tennis 138Athletics 139Outdoor Pursuits 142Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions 144Chess 146Croquet 147Fencing 148Sports Dinner 149Culture Shock 150Science Photography Competition 151House Reading Competition 153Spotlight 154Words And Images 155National Poetry Day 174Storyteller Day 175Evans Schools’ Short Story Competition 176IB & AS Theatre 177The Morgan Centenary 178Chapel Prefects 179Heads of House 180

heaDMaSTer’S eDiTOrial

The past year has been a momentous one in the life of Malvern College as the development of some major buildings, the Sports Complex and two new boarding houses (No.7 and Ellerslie), moved towards completion. This development has been the product of the bold and imaginative thinking of our Council which has been determined to profile Malvern as “the best co-educational boarding and day school of its size and type in the country”. There is a steel in those words and, on the back of these projects, enrolment has soared despite the difficult global economy, and we are able to approach our future with renewed confidence and vigour.

Such vigour is clearly evident in the activities of the boys and girls on the pages that follow in this publication, and I trust that you will feel that the endeavour of our pupils in all spheres - art, music, drama, sport and other aspects of school life is given additional prominence by the enlarged record of an important year – indeed, it has been a triumph for the College.

We are now looking ahead, as a Malvernian will always do, to further developments and further improvements and, indeed, to a bright and sunny future.

Antony ClarkHeadmaster

Development 182Commemoration 185Leavers 188Index of advertisers 194

Design: Martin ChambersCover photograph: Mathew LloydEdited by: Paul Godsland

The Malvernian 2009

4

valete & Salvete

valeTe

JOhn Knee

It is eloquent testament to John’s contribution to Malvern College over 3 the last 38 years that there are not one but two valete, the first from the Head of Mathematics, the second by the Director of Studies.

I must admit that I have a problem in writing about John. Despite having been here for over a decade myself, that is only scratching the surface of John’s time at the College. Indeed, when John joined in 1972, I was still in nappies! So I write with an awareness that I can only cover the last third of John’s time here – but also with a confidence that my comments will hold true for the previous twenty-odd years too.

I wish to comment upon four broad themes: John’s academic ability, diligence, modesty and willingness to participate.

As my second theme is modesty, I won’t embarrass John by dwelling for too long on my first theme of quite how good a mathematician he is. Suffice to say, he is very good! The Mathematics department is filled with good mathematicians but I don’t think that anyone would object to my saying that John stands out. I, certainly, have had many an occasion where I have gone to him with a problem and have never found him wanting (or even slightly troubled by the problem which had stumped me). I have heard another of my colleagues describe him as an ‘academic heavyweight’. What I think is particularly nice about John, though, is that whilst he clearly is a superb mathematician, this is not the characteristic which defines him. The first things that come into my mind when I think of John are not intellect, but kindness, modesty and honesty.

John has, I feel, been one of the unsung heroes of the College over the last few years. JAG mentioned at Commemoration that it was going to take at least three people to take on his workload: IB Coordinator, timetable, internal examinations – all complex jobs where the potential exists for a small error to have enormous consequences. I guess that it’s a sign of our

respect for John that he was the obvious man for these posts. When John takes a job on, you know that it will be done correctly, on time, and with no fuss. He is generally the first to arrive in the Maths classrooms, the last to leave, and in recent years he has had to dedicate a large part of the holidays to ensuring that the College’s admin works faultlessly.

My third theme: One of the things that I like and admire most about John is his modesty. This has been a recurring theme in various goodbye speeches that people have made for him. He has answered all of my questions – whether mathematical or practical – with patience and without giving me any hint of how stupid some of the questions were in the first place.

My final comment is about John’s marvellous willingness to participate and to set such a good example by enjoying all aspects of College life. He has been an enthusiastic and regular participant in Staff Revues – indeed this year he was honoured by being on the programme’s front cover. This willingness to participate is part of why the pupils feel so affectionately about him – and why he is invited to so many birthday suppers. Another colleague tells me that ‘ I have never seen him duck out of any of the silly games – charades & even a skipping relay’ – and I hope I’m not shattering any delusions when I tell you that she added

5valeTe

BeKi Mace

Beki Mace came to the College initially as full-time carer for her and Jon’s two children, Isobelle and Ben, but expressed a desire to return to the classroom as soon as practicable. The opportunity came, and she seized it not only with enthusiasm but also with great professional dedication. She taught Religious Studies, from Foundation Year to A Level, and IB Theory of Knowledge. Her chief talent was her creativity in the classroom: she was always willing to find, and adept at employing, new techniques to enliven the subject for pupils. She showed a particular skill in getting through to less confident pupils, and her public examination results demonstrated that she unlocked the mysteries of the course to many a confused student. She was always willing to work beyond the minimum requirements: even when she knew that she and Jon would be moving on to Warminster, she was keen to play a leading role in the re-development of the FY Religious Studies curriculum. Beki enjoyed contributing beyond the classroom, at various times being Sunday School co-ordinator, House tutor in No.8 and the instigator of a philosophy-through-film club. Her sparkle, commitment and rapport with students have been an enormous benefit to our community here, and she will no doubt use her talents effectively as teacher and house-parent at Warminster, where we wish her continuing happiness and success.

APL

- ‘despite his being perhaps the least gifted skipper I’ve ever seen’!

In summary, John is held in great esteem by colleagues and pupils alike. He has made an immense contribution to Malvern College over many years. For me, one of the best moments this year was when he agreed to come back – part time – next year. So whilst we congratulate John on his retirement – we all hope that it will be very long and happy – we look forward to seeing him back here in September!

RBW

John has made an enormous contribution to the academic life of Malvern College in his role as Deputy Director of Studies. Amongst a myriad of responsibilities that this post entails, two stand out, both in terms of their importance and their complexity, namely Master i/c the Timetable and IB Co-ordinator. In the latter role, John has, over the past eight years, overseen the growth and development of the IB at Malvern, helping ensure that we have maintained a reputation as one of the leading IB schools in the world. He has brought to his stewardship of the IB an unrivalled eye for detail, a work ethic that one rarely sees even in a dedicated Common Room like ours at Malvern, and a determination to keep looking for new initiatives that would refine our provision further.

There is little doubt that many of John’s colleagues view his legendary timetabling prowess with a mixture of awe and reverence and I count myself chief among their number. What is it that particularly impresses? Firstly, John’s calm and assured grasp of a set of unusually complicated

timetabling parameters, arising from the dual system of the IB and A Level courses in the Sixth Form and, secondly, his ability to impose order on the sea of data and permutations using just pen, paper and grey matter, rather than running everything through a timetabling software package as is the norm for school timetablers.

In my five years as Director of Studies, I have found John an invaluable support, always prepared to help out, whether it’s putting up signs for parents’ meetings or crunching numbers in auditing staff-pupil ratios and always with a minimum of fuss and a desire to just get on with the job in hand. Not only that but another hallmark of John’s work is its quality – John sets himself the highest standards and never does anything without due care. His professionalism, modesty, and commitment to serving the College community are of the highest order. Equally, it has been a real privilege to work with a colleague of such great personal integrity, who never approaches an issue with any sort of ‘agenda’, and who brings a kindliness, generosity of spirit and affability to all his dealings with people.

Over the past year or so, I have anticipated his retirement with some anxiety, wondering how the College, and particularly I, would cope without him; the answer has turned out that we’ve needed to replace him with three members of staff. They are all, I am confident, going to be fine successors, but there is no doubt that they will have the highest standards to live up to, set by John, and we’ve already started researching which timetable software package to invest in…

JAG

The Malvernian 2009

valeTe6

JOnaThan Mace

Jonathan arrived from Warwick School three years ago. And it was clear from the first meeting that he was a young schoolmaster with bags of potential, waiting to thrive in a strong boarding environment. At the core of his work at Malvern was a very positive view of human nature, which he applied to students of all abilities in the classroom, on the games field, and students of all interests in the boarding house or in his sixth form tutor groups.

Jonathan is a first-rate economist and great fun to talk to about current and theoretical economics. This love of his subject, combined with a level of teaching maturity beyond his young years, and understanding of courses developed through examining enabled him to put together a most effective learning experience for all his students. His starting point was always from a delight in and, obvious enjoyment of, pure theory, which many of his pupils found infectious. How could somebody so ‘normal’ be so stimulated by economics? He believed that even those struggling with economics or business studies should not be excluded from a conceptual understanding of the basics, and through this route, many of those who struggled benefitted greatly in both their understanding, enjoyment, and final grades. Of course the most able really enjoyed his academic teaching and were

constantly stretched by the challenges he set them.

As an accomplished sportsman, Jonathan had a lot to offer Malvern. His coaching of rugby, hockey, cricket and golf benefited not just from his own technical ability, but also from his great belief in teach sports as a benefit for individuals, and the same caring approach that he used in the classroom.

Jonathan loved the pastoral side of Malvern, and it was clear, early on, that he and Becki were born to be houseparents one day, and it is a pity that they were not able to fulfil this potential at Malvern. It is definitely Warminster School’s gain that the Maces are able to put into practice many of the lessons they have learned at Malvern, and develop their natural pastoral abilities further.

SCH

rOB JacKSOn

Rob Jackson came to Malvern three years ago, having taught previously in Kenya. He very rapidly established himself in the Biology department both as a fine teacher of his subject and as an excellent colleague who was able to bring fresh ideas from his experience of teaching in Africa into the department. He always prepared and taught his Biology lessons carefully and thoroughly and was equally adept when teaching Lower School Chemistry. In addition to his teaching, Mr Jackson played a full part in the co-curricular life of the College where he devoted much time and expertise to rugby and athletics coaching in particular. He also helped with Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions and was a valued form tutor and house tutor in No.2. Mr Jackson will be missed at Malvern but we wish him every success as he returns to Nairobi.

CH

laUra PUGh

Laura moves onwards and upwards from Malvern after three marvelous years to be Head of Department at QEH, Bristol. It was clear from very early on in her time with us that Laura had bags of potential and a great future in teaching and she took both took to both the academic and pastoral sides of college life with zest and ease. Her classroom teaching was first rate, with an infinitely flexible approach to pupils of all abilities and interests, and her command of all areas of the economics and business courses was both detailed and in depth. Her teaching was also founded on an obvious sense of care and attention to the individual’s needs and a grounding in the key role that a pastoral approach to teaching plays at Malvern. To the department she brought important experiences as an examiner that enabled us to switch boards and cope with the introduction of new examinations as well as valuable contributions to the preparation of Oxbridge candidates. Beyond the everyday teaching and most effective work in the department Laura was great fun to work with, full of new ideas and new angles to approach problems and issues old and new. I shall never forget the joint revision session we did for the department’s most successful A level Economics set on record. This involved icing cup cakes in white icing and then drawing the most complicated diagrams we could with coloured cake-decorating icing. Their results were outstanding that year although I would not recommend a career in catering for any of them. Of course Laura was fully involved in the tutoring side of Malvern. She was deputy housemistress in No.3 and a popular and extremely effective Sixth Form tutor. She worked with the girls’ hockey teams. She was also a forward-thinking and energetic deputy head of Sixth Form focusing on charity work. One of the enduring memories for many of us,

as well as fulfilling a life long ambition for Laura, was her lead role in the staff panto, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ in her first year. This role showed just how far Laura was committed to community life at Malvern. Laura was a truly great colleague and she will make a great head of department and all our best wished go with her and Jason for their life in Bristol. Lucky Bristol!

SCH

7valeTe

Peter Blair and Henry Hardingham joined the Common Room in September 2007. They leave us for pastures new after three energetic years. They will be missed. Their departure will alter the English department in all sorts of ways. I am not exactly saying that they are irreplaceable but their departure next year means that the department will be made up of two men and eleven women. In the face of manifest unwillingness of the female members of the department to take testosterone, Peter Chappell and I are considering our tactics and he has nominated himself to find a source of oestrogen and a fetching A-line skirt.

Peter and Henry have been wonderful members of all sorts of school departments. Whether they have been teaching the more tedious points of grammar and syntax, or a wide range of literary texts, they have never failed to inspire pupils of varying ages and abilities with their knowledge, wit and infectious enthusiasm

One thing we often ask pupils is to write about a hero or someone they admire. It’s not long ago that I asked a group who had been studying The Tempest to complete exactly this task and when I took in the work one pupil (who shall remain nameless) had written in the margin:

‘Admired Sir Henry

Indeed the Top of Admiration – worth what’s dearest to the world.’

Well in addition to all that he has done in the History and English classroom, Henry has been much admired for all he has brought to us here at the College. The organizer of Sunday Forum, including a very powerful talk to the whole school from a former Death Row inmate; a cricket

coach of and a dedicated football coach too – he assures me that 3rd XI, to 2nd XI to most recently the 4th XI is no reflection on his abilities but an appropriate mirror of the fortunes of his beloved Cheltenham Town FC.

Now, in the words of Jack Kerouac, one of his favourite ‘Beat’ writers, Henry is on ‘On the Road’ once more. While it might be rather hyperbolic to call his plans ‘a sudden discovery of the delight of rebellion’ (!) he will be pursuing his love of literature beyond the bounds of the school by taking a Masters Degree in Contemporary Literature at University College, London. In the spirit of liberty I would like to take another liberty with the Tempest:

Henry – to the elements be free and fare thou well!

If we turn back to that creative writing exercise; another hero was to be found in a carefully coded piece. At first I couldn’t work out who it was meant to be but the clues all added up in the end: in this essay our hero had a fondness for kilts, a passionate devotion to the monarchy and a habit of starting all sentences with the phrase ‘Well played, chaps.’…

One of my first encounters with Peter was on the way into chapel and he leaned over to say ‘nice frogging’. It was only after a lengthy explanation that I realised he was referring to the embroidery on my gown and not some obscure ritual of amphibian squashing.

In fact if it might be appropriate to talk about Peter’s Malvern career via a sort of sartorial tour – rugby shirt and shorts are his preference when coaching rugby but, as those who teach in the Main Building will know, Peter loves to teach in his gown,

PeTer Blair & henry harDinGhaMOf course, that isn’t the full extent of his costuming. He spent two years in the camouflage fatigues of the CCF. He has worn the green peaked editorial cap of The Gryphon, our relaunched school paper. He sports boater and blazer as an advocate of a particularly vicious form of croquet. He is also the dapper wearer of top hat and tails in formal debating and he has made a huge impact on debating here, both in the classroom and beyond, taking tours all over the country and launching competitions which attract schools from all over the region: it has been hard to keep up!

Beyond English and Debating, students and colleagues alike are left in no doubt that Peter loves the Classics and the rigour that its study demands with a passion. We shall not forget Julius Caesar murdered before our eyes in Chapel; smash hits like Blake’s Jerusalem and Rhiannon’s Umbrella translated into Latin. Most recently and to return to the clothing theme, he has been a debonaire gentleman abroad, resplendent in panama hat and pink shirt, leaving no stone unturned as he toured the Classical sites of Greece.

Peter: venisti, vidisti, vicisti at Malvern, and we are certain that you will do the same at Haileybury. We shall sorely miss you as a highly professional and energetically industrious colleague. multas gratias agimus, Petre; tibi Philippaeque sit bona fortuna! (Thank you so much, Peter; we wish you and Philippa all the best of fortune.)

DTO

The Malvernian 2009

8 valeTe

alan BanniSTer

Alan joined us in September 2007 at the start of his NQT year. He came with outstanding references from his PGCE course and has lived up to them in every way; he is a superb schoolmaster and an excellent teacher. We shall be very sorry to lose him. It came as no surprise that, despite stiff competition, he was offered the first job that he applied for.

Alan is a gifted communicator in the classroom, with the ability to teach equally effectively across the entire ability range, right from IB Higher to FY bottom set. He has contributed to our Oxbridge preparation and supervised a rare mathematical extended essay. Alan has made a huge contribution to the College’s co-curricular activities; even in his NQT year he supervised sports teams in all three terms. He is liked and respected by the pupils; he is often found, at break time, talking with groups of pupils in the Maths corridor rather than joining the rest of us in the stampede for coffee! It is a measure of the esteem in which he is held by pupils and colleagues alike that he was appointed Deputy Housemaster in only his second year of teaching. Most amazingly, In the two years that he has been with us, I have never heard Alan moan! He has been universally acknowledged as “good news” by his fellow teaching staff. He is modest, positive, hardworking and reliable.

He leaves with our best wishes and, of course, hearty congratulations upon his recent engagement to his long-time partner, Becky.

RBW

cOrnelia WeDelich-nieDzWiecz

Cornelia has been on the teaching staff since 2002. She may not have fond memories of her interview with me back then. I had to conduct the interview in the car racing up to Hillstone – I forget why – but I do remember that it seemed to chime with her own pace of working. How right that proved. She was a blur for most of the time here, rushing to photocopy some text or other or disappearing to find another class. She was an excellent class teacher, well-regarded by her pupils for her wit and intelligence, and slightly zany ways with the younger classes. She will be much missed; but we wish her good luck in her new role to the North of Malvern.

PG

BarBara O’reilly

Barbara leaves us after ten distinguished years as Head of German, overseeing a substantial increase in the numbers of German candidates at IB A2 level and maintaining an excellent academic record for the department. Her first incarnation at Malvern was as a PGCE student in 1996, of course, before I was grey or bald; but then she returned as a worthy successor to David Matthews and has captained the German side to some excellent results over the years. She has, in addition, run the Schools Language Clubs for Community Service and has been a tutor in No. 8, in addition to playing in various Concerto Concerts. Perhaps her most significant role lately has been inducting pre-Sixth pupils into Malvern ways; a job she has assumed with calm dedication and panache. She leaves us to return to Germany. We wish her all the very best for the future.

PG

9SalveTe

Dan eGlin

Dan Eglin joined us from Felsted School in order to take up the post of Housemaster of No.7. His experience with rugby coaching and the CCF are much welcomed. Young, energetic, calm, cheerful and well-organised; I most often hear him described by other colleagues as a ‘can-do kind of man’.

RBW

erin Preece

Erin Preece joined Malvern College in September 2008, to teach girls’ PE, specialising in Sports Science and hockey. She has also taken on responsibility for netball, girls swimming and junior girls’ tennis. Her hockey experience includes being the coach and manager of the Worcester Sixth Form College Hockey Academy and playing at England Hockey Women’s Premier Division level for Olton & West Warwickshire Hockey Club.

CTB

JOhn henDy

John Hendy joined us as a temporary, part-time teacher of Mathematics in September 2008. In addition to having taught Maths in several schools, John also brought his experience of many years as an international businessman, based in Japan, as well as having a degree in Classics and a deep love of cricket.

RBW

JUlia Miller

Miss Julia Miller joined the Biology Department in September 2008 from Pocklington School in Yorkshire. An able Biology teacher, full of new ideas and enthusiasm for her subject, she has experience of helping with several outdoor pursuits activities, including Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, climbing, sailing and canoeing.

CH

SiMOn BraDley

Simon Bradley joined us in September 2008 following his PGCE. An immensely patient teacher with an outstanding academic background but he is also more than ready to throw himself into the wider life of the College. In addition to his normal duties he will help with the CCF and the Chess club.

RBW

naOMi lacey

Naomi Lacey joined us in September 2008 as a part time mathematician. She brings a wealth of experience to the post, having taught in a variety of schools over a long and successful career. The College looks also to benefit from her sharp mind and her good humour!

RBW

The Malvernian 2009

ESCAPE FROM LIFE’S PRESSURESFOR A NIGHT........... OR TWOStroll the Malvern Hills direct from our grounds and enjoy a breathtaking 30 mile vista across the Severn Valley, a comfortable room and delicious food.

Relax, eat, drink, then sleep comfortably whilst basking in “The best view in England” (Daily Mail). Beautiful location high on the Malvern Hills, many awards over 21 years of ownership + AA Three Star and Two AA Red Food Rosettes.

The Cottage in the Wood Hotel and ‘Outlook‘ Restaurant,Malvern WR14 4LG. Tel: 01684 58 88 60

Check our website www.cottageinthewood.co.uk

Escape from life’s pressures for a night…….or two

Take advantage of our special “Not far to travel” break. Stunning 30 mile vista across the Severn Valley, a comfortable room and delicious food.

Stroll the Malvern Hills direct from our grounds – it’s bluebell time – and enjoy breathtaking views.

One night dinner, bed and breakfast special £150 or £180 for two people sharing, Sunday to Thursday to 30th June 09. Quote “Insight”. Stay longer …ask for details.

The Cottage in the Wood Hotel and ‘Outlook’ Restaurant, Malvern WR14 4LG Tel: 01684 58 88 60 Web: www.cottageinthewood.co.uk

Escape from life’s pressures for a night…….or two

Take advantage of our special “Not far to travel” break. Stunning 30 mile vista across the Severn Valley, a comfortable room and delicious food.

Stroll the Malvern Hills direct from our grounds – it’s bluebell time – and enjoy breathtaking views.

One night dinner, bed and breakfast special £150 or £180 for two people sharing, Sunday to Thursday to 30th June 09. Quote “Insight”. Stay longer …ask for details.

The Cottage in the Wood Hotel and ‘Outlook’ Restaurant, Malvern WR14 4LG Tel: 01684 58 88 60 Web: www.cottageinthewood.co.uk

10 SalveTe

JOn herOD

Jonathan Herod joined the History Department in September 2008. An Old Malvernian who can boast a unique record of having been in three Houses (6, 4 and 4H) Jon spent his GAP year teaching in Nepal before studying History at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He particularly enjoyed courses on Wagner and German Nationalism and the Cambridge spies. Having worked for Proctor and Gamble he trained as a lawyer working in Slaughter and May but the pull of teaching proved too strong. He is a keen cricketer and musician.

REA

11chaPel nOTeS

afTer laST year’S “bumper” set of register entries, it may appear that 2008-09 was a quieter year in Chapel. Whilst the occasional offices were not used as frequently as in the previous year, Chapel has certainly lost none of its centrality in our school life, nor its sense of orderly business amongst the many other events which take place in our daily lives. We enjoyed weekday Chapel presentations from a variety of sources and in the usual variety of styles These included a visual and musical feast from the girls of No.3, who demonstrated the art of co-operation in a vivid and technically accomplished display; an amusing and anarchic video presentation by No.7, treading the path from The Lees to Chapel for a final time; a thoughtful celebration of friendship and empathy in a cleverly threaded iMovie from No.8. Teaching colleagues gave us food for thought: PJG again amused and challenged us with mathematical insights; DS gave a moving tribute to Annie Darwin to mark the bi-centenary of her naturalist father; AJG helped us to understand the roots of the credit crunch in the acquisitive greed of the City. We celebrated Advent and Christmas Carols in Great Malvern Priory and in our own Chapel; we sensed the challenge of Lent through the words of former College Chaplain Fr Nicholas Menon; we pondered a powerful and accomplished Passiontide drama, enacted by Rowland Stirling (No.7) and Lottie Rugeroni (No.4) to moving effect. Both the seasons of the liturgical year and the round of College experiences were captured, considered and offered to God in the assemblies and services of the year. Only the advent of the H1N1 virus caused the Chapel, along with the rest of College, to lie sadly silent for a while.

At Commemoration, the Chaplain used the Rule of St Benedict as model of inspiration for our life as a learning and serving community. We welcomed a number of visiting preachers during the year, including Richard Dickson (CORD), The Rev’d Canon Neil Heavisides (Gloucester Cathedral) local clergy The Rev’d John Barr and The Rev’d Melanie Horton; and our new Assistant Chaplain,

BaPTiSMSEdward Theodore Robert DavidsonGeorge Edward Peter Newman

cOnfirMaTiOnMarie FrilingKathryn NolanHugo Williams

hOly MaTriMOnyTim Brackstone and Patricia Deuchar

fUneralS, in MeMOriaTrevor SouthallRon HughesViolet Geraldine LindsayTed Johnston and Stella Johnson

chapel notes

The Rev’d Dr Edward Dowler, joining us from St Stephen’s House in Oxford, where he has served as vice-principal.

The yearly round can be summed up in two Memorial services which took place in Chapel. The College community remembered with fond thanks the lives of former Rackets professional Ron Hughes and former Housemaster of No.4, Trevor Southall, in services attended by ranks of grateful former pupils and colleagues. Ron was the self-effacing, modest worker whose unassuming Northern manner made him a refuge for many a pupil in trouble; Trevor’s dynamism and energy inspired his House, his department and the CCF RM section that he developed and commanded. Quiet labour and effusive energy; service and leadership; commitment and faith: these are the themes of our daily worship, as we offer our lives and the life of the College to the Almighty.

The Malvernian 2009

12

PUBlic exaMinaTiOn reSUlTS 2009

iBThis year’s IB results were very pleasing, on a par with last year’s which were our second best ever. This year our candidates averaged 36.1 points, which is slightly up from our prediction of 35.4 points. In 2008 the average was 36.2 points. 18 candidates scored at least 40 points and all but one of the 80 candidates achieved the diploma.

Particularly impressive results at Higher level were recorded by English (93% 7/6); French A2 (100% 7/6); German A2 (100% 7/6); Spanish B (100% 7/6); Geography (100% 7); History (82% 7/6); and Visual Arts (100% 7/6). At Standard level, outstanding results were recorded in Economics (91% 7/6) and Design Technology (83% 7/6).

a levelThe A Level results were more or less in line with expectations. The proportion of A-B grades, at 58% was down on the previous two years (65%; 70%) but on par with 2004 (59%) and 2006 (59%). This year’s A-E pass rate was 98%. Tom Knowles scored the highest mark nationally on his Archaeology paper. The highest scoring departments (registering at least 75% A-B grades) this year were French, Religious Studies, History, Politics, Art, Mathematics and Biology.

combined iB-a level Combining our IB and A Level grades for 2009 gives us an A Level grade A-B equivalence of 72.3% and an average UCAS point score per candidate of 395.

aS This year’s results, at 49% A&B grades, were very much in line with those of the past three years. The A-E pass rate, at 95%, was our joint highest in the past 7 years. Three departments

acaDeMic revieW

academic review

scored an average of over 75% A-B grades: History, Art and Art History. Meredith Hao achieved 100% (UMS) in every one of her six Mathematics modules.

13acaDeMic revieW

GcSe/iGcSeThis year’s results were our joint best ever with 58% of all grades being awarded at A*&A. The A* pass rate was our highest ever, at 29%, beating our previous best by 4%. The boys and girls performed similarly at A*-A, but the girls’ pass rate at A*-C was higher (97%) than the boys (94%). The overall A*-C pass rate was 2% down on the average for the past decade. A record 41 candidates scored at least 8 A* or A grades.

curriculum & assessment Developments2008-9 saw the introduction of a new system of AS/A2 courses and examinations in all subjects. The A* grade will be awarded at A Level for the first time in 2010. Because of the new AS/A2 arrangements, we will now allow AS resits in January of the Upper Sixth. Previously, we only permitted them in June. This will necessitate moving A2 Trial Examinations to Week 7 in the Lent Term (instead of the first week of the Lent Term).

In most subjects, new GCSE specifications will be taught from September 2009. These will involve, in most cases, new ‘controlled assessment’ to replace traditional coursework.

iB DevelopmentsFrom September 2009, our new IB Co-ordinator, PJG, will be assisted by a deputy, NVW. Mr Gray and Dr Watson have been considering a number of new initiatives, the most important relating to CAS (Creative, Action, Service). An international project is planned, one for which the pupils could raise money and, we hope, one that some of the pupils could visit and support at the end of the year.

Gifted & TalentedAn audit of departments has led to the compilation of a register of ‘Gifted and Talented’ pupils in the Lower School. The revived Aston Society for selected Foundation Year and Remove began its meetings in the Summer term, starting with an introduction to Economics, something that pupils would not normally encounter until the Sixth Form. The Economics Department is also launching the ‘Meade Read’; a journal on Economics and Finance, with gifted lower school pupils collaborating with Sixth Form students.

Cross-curricular events will be a feature of the Gifted and Talented programme, such as the Chemistry CSI/‘whodunnit’ exercise, led by our Foundation Year and Remove, and delivered to Prep School pupils in June. A study day to the Globe and Tate Modern, run by the History, English and Art departments, will take place this coming Autumn.

University linksBoth the Geography and Chemistry departments have increased links with university departments. The Geography department has been visited by Professor John Bryson (TDMCP parent) of Birmingham University. The Chemistry department has furthered links with Nick Baker, the RSC Teaching Fellow at Warwick University.

englishFrom September 2009, we will launch the Malvern College Literature Certificate, dropping the GCSE in English Literature, and thereby enhancing the delivery of literature.

DramaFor the Autumn Term 2009, KRCP has entered some of the Remove for the Shakespeare Schools Festival, which is a unique arts-education charity offering young people the opportunity and support to perform abridged productions of Shakespeare’s plays in their local professional theatre. Our Remove Drama students will be performing ‘As You Like It’ at the Courtyard Theatre, Hereford in October. The cast participates in a workshop with representatives from the National Youth Theatre in September.

Personal Social & health educationIn 2008-09, PSHE was taught for the first time as a discrete subject in the Foundation Year. From September 2009, a similar programme for the Remove will be inaugurated, including modules on Health, Careers and Study Skills.

iB/a level BalanceIn the academic year 2008-09, the Upper Sixth was split almost exactly 50-50 IB/A Level. In the Lower Sixth there was a 53% (A Level)/47% (IB) split. From September 2009, we have a record Lower Sixth intake of 179. The likely breakdown is: 64% IB/36% A Level.

Partnership with hereford academyOver the past two terms, JAG (Director of Studies), RNW (Head of Physics) and MCM (Head of Lower School) have been liaising with senior academic staff at Hereford Academy to further academic collaboration. Malvern staff have visited Hereford twice, discussing GCSE science provision and watching project work and the use of interactive whiteboards. In the Summer Term a team of our AS Physicists delivered a workshop at the Academy’s primary schools’ science festival.

virtual learningDuring 2008-09, SJJ, our IT Network Manager, has been working on a radically new intranet which will incorporate an interface and structures usually seen on social networking sites. This will enable much greater exchange of information and resources between teachers and their sets. The new ‘Redbook’ will be launched in the Autumn of 2009.

The Summer Term gave us an enforced and invaluable trial experience in virtual learning as a result of the school’s temporary and partial closure because of the H1N1 outbreak. The Common Room was able to keep pupils supplied with tasks and resources via distance learning during this period. Most pupils completed assignments successfully using the resources placed on our web browser, returning them via e-mail.

JAG

The Malvernian 2009

14

ccf

ccf

arMy SchOlarShiPHugo de Haan (SH) has picked up the baton left by successive SH boys in winning an Army Scholarship. These are awarded to sixteen year olds who aspire to become officers in the British Army after university. It is a highly competitive scheme which involves candidates having to undergo a series of interviews and a three day test during which they are put under considerable physical and intellectual pressure. Hundreds of young men and women apply each year but only forty scholarships are awarded. This is, therefore, a terrific achievement by Hugo. He now has an unconditional place at The Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where all young officers for the British Army are trained, as well as a financial award.

PNS

flyinGAnother year completed of Air Experience Flying and a good time was had by all; this year’s cadets where a credit to themselves and fully engaged in the challenge of learning to fly. I enjoyed their company and the OC F/L Fowler commented on how mature they were all year! So what do we do at Cosford?

Four senior RAF Cadets had a great day at RAF Cosford and at the Cosford Museum in September 2008. The weather was very good for flying. After an excellent sortie each cadet visited the Cold War exhibit at the Museum which includes the three variants of the ‘V’ force: Victor, Valiant and Vulcan. Devangi Purohit (No.6), Stepan Remezkov (No.7) and Tristan Ingham (No.9) did some high level work whilst Anna Lamport’s (No.4) cold kept her below 1500 feet this time; all claimed to have a good day and actually managed to catch part of the old version of the Italian job whilst waiting to fly.

On Wednesday 29 April two pupils demonstrated the CCF flying experience for the new College DVD. William Law and Victoria Moritz went through the pre-flight procedures and were filmed donning flying suits, helmets and parachutes before being strapped into the Grob Tutor for pre-flight checks and engine warm-up. The opportunity was also taken to meet Old Malvernian Pilot Officer James Weaver, son

of the former No. 1 House parents Mike and Sue. Having completed his initial officer training at RAF Cranwell, James was spending time on a placement at the AEF.

On Wednesday 3 June a further five pupils attended 8AEF, Cosford, for flying experience training. Three of them, Fabian Jungmann (No.1), Emily Lister (No.3) and Sophia Leonard (No.3), had had previous experience on the Grob Tutor but it was a maiden flight for Daisy Powles (No.4) and Nathan King (No.5), and a first Grob experience for Flt Lt Law, accompanying. A cloud ceiling of a little under 3000 feet prevented the pupils from experiencing extreme aerobatic manoeuvres, but all enjoyed their flights into two sectors to the north and south-west of the station.

15ccf

With special permission Carmen Maßbaum (No.4) spent a week in the NACATC Windermere (National Air Cadet Adventurous training centre) trying a range of adventurous training activities; these included canoeing and Topper sailing on Lake Windermere, rock climbing, abseiling and hill-walking. She spent her time with 24 RAF cadets from throughout the UK and was trained by professional RAF instructors. Sgt Mazlanka was one of the staff who provided safety cover on the lake and the highlight of the week was Ghyll scrambling.

RPS

nOrWay WhaT a Place!Norway, what a place! Friendly people, good food, great scenery, lots of snow and sub-zero temperatures. I didn’t have a clue what to expect on this trip as I was the only cadet going from Malvern.

The purpose of the trip was to train us all (12 cadets and 2 CCF officers) in the basics of the art of cross-country skiing; to complete a challenging three-day expedition and to learn how to survive in the mountains of southern Norway.

Days 1-3 were used to teach us the basics of cross-country skiing and mountain survival, such as recognising hypothermia and how to make snow holes. These days got us all used to the techniques we would practice to move and live in the mountains on the planned three day expedition.

Day 4 After fitting our skis and lumbering our bergens on, we began an 18km ski up-hill onto the plateau, where we dug our tent holes in the snow and got our tents up.

Day 5 started with excitement at the anticipation of digging and sleeping in snow holes that night. We set off at a good pace and arrived at the snowhole site at around lunchtime. Little did we know how much hard work and time the construction of snow holes would take. The snow holes, despite being very cold were almost pleasant to sleep in, although being woken up at 3 am by Capt. Danny Daniels to do our hour-long sentry shift outside soon became the worst part of the night.

Day 6 of the expedition began with a heart-(and body-) warming rendition of Father Abraham after which we started our short 7 km (mostly) downhill journey back to

Haugastol and the warmth and comforts of the hostel.

We finished the trip with an enjoyable day of downhill skiing at the Geilo ski resort. Thanks to Capt. Danny Daniels for organising this challenging but enjoyable trip.

Tom Wade (No.5)

ScOTTiSh WinTer MOUnTaineerinG TriPSThe Winter Mountaineering Proficiency Course is one of the most physically and mentally demanding activities that Malvern College CCF organises. This year seven Malvern College cadets took part, staying at Norwegian Lodge, Cairngorm: Tom Wade (No.5), Lawrence Beesley-Peck (No.5), Jo Smith (No.4), Jamie Paterson (SH), Richard Hadamovsky (SH), Simon Eaton (No.9) and Felix Deconinck (No.7).

This year saw the final expedition to the Cairngorms for Roger Smith, who wanted to spend every available moment on the mountains. Therefore, we were on the mountains before most College students were out of bed!

The first few days were spent getting proficient in the use of our new equipment - ice axes for use in ice axe arrests and crampons for use in different types of terrain. Then splitting into three groups we were tested on our new skills and set appropriate challenges.

Two groups spent a night in a bothy after a hard days walking, whilst my group spent a night under a rock in an area called the Shelter Stone. After a fairly sleepless night trying to keep warm, we bagged three Munros (mountains over 3000 ft).

Owing to lack of snow and good weather conditions, we did some summer-style rock climbing, which was exhilarating and a welcome break from the long hike. Our final day was spent digging snowholes, which was great fun and we learnt a valuable survival skill.

Many thanks to Barry Brown, Roger Smith, Will Davidson, Stella Amos, who made the trip possible and enjoyable. Also thanks to Bob Turner and Steve Lunt for sharing their expertise with us. And a huge thanks to Bob Turner’s sister for her wonderful cooking!

Tom Wade (No.5)

At half term February, ten of us, accompanied by members of the Malvern staff and two Royal Marine Mountain Leaders, took on the task of climbing in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland. A tough and taxing expedition it turned out to be too, leading us through near ‘white-out’ conditions and stretching us continually to learn new skills. (Of course we did also have a lot of fun as well!)

The Malvernian 2009

16 ccf

It was an early start for us each day, but with a hearty breakfast inside us we were off. We learned to use ice axes, how to test for avalanche risk, how to construct snow anchors and even how to dig ‘snow holes’ – some bordering on the palatial!

The culmination of the trip was a two-day expedition with the two groups (advanced and even more advanced) heading out to different bothies one going to Glen Feshie and the other to the remote Culra Bothy and Ben Alder.

By the last day we were all pretty exhausted but we had all enjoyed this week of ‘yomping’ and our huge thanks go to Malvern’s staff (Mssrs. Lacey, Major, Davidson, Nichols, Brown and O’Neil), the Royal Marine Mountain Leaders (Sgt Majors Bates and Thompson) and to Sam James.

Robert Nolan and Quentin Spottiswoode (No.2)

• Strategic planning & development

• Local DevelopmentFrameworks

• Retail & leisure assessments• Complex scheme coordination

• Planning applications& appeals

• Expert witness• Environmental

impact assessments• Affordable housing

• Planning obligations &S106 negotiations

• Residential development• Mixed use & regeneration• Compulsory purchase &

compensation

Contact: Mike Beese, Planning Director, The Malt House, Sydney Buildings, Bath, BA2 6BZT: 01225 822400 E: mike_beese@glhearn.com www.glhearn.com

The Planning Team at GL Hearn is delighted to have assisted Malvern College in achieving planning permissionsfor its improved facilities.

We offer a wide range of planning services for both private and public sector clients, including advice inrespect of:

GL Hearn is an independent property consultancy offering an integrated range of services: Retail | Planning & Development | CorporateProperty Strategy | Mixed Use Development & Investment | Valuation | Business Rates | Building Consultancy | Compulsory Purchase

L O N D O N • B A T H • E D I N B U R G H • G L A S G O W • M A N C H E S T E R • S O U T H A M P T O N • S U N D E R L A N D

Regulated by the RICS and members of the RTPI

Mal Mag Ad 060809 11/8/09 3:35 pm Page 1

17ccf

The Three PeaKS challenGe 2009The National Three Peaks walk involves climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales. These are Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon respectively. Different people will take different periods of time to do the three peaks. Those who are brave, noble, or just plain stupid, try to do all three within the space of 24 hours - the Three Peaks Challenge. We tried it, and we did it.

It was decided in December 2008 that the CCF should try an audacious and demanding activity over leave-out in May 2009. If we were able to raise money for a good cause, in this case ‘Help for Heroes’, then even better.

The Three Peaks Challenge was chosen as this would fit in with the time constraints of leave-out and be ideally suited to the capabilities of the cadets, leadership, mountain craft and endurance.

The teams were selected and consisted of two administration groups, who were responsible for the safe delivery of the teams to each drop-off location and the preparation of hot food and drinks. These groups proved to be key to the success of the challenge. The main group which was the walking party consisted of two adult instructors and seven cadets. Their job was to climb each mountain in the time allocated to them and carry out all personal needs to body and equipment whilst on the road between mountains.

At 0730 on Saturday 9 May the teams left Malvern College in two people carriers for the nine-hour road journey to Nevis Bridge in Scotland. The journey was uneventful but weather conditions were dreadful and a foretaste of what was to come.

Ben nevis, Scotland 1630hrs 9 May 2009The car park was full of minibuses as this was the weekend chosen by a number of large organisations to hold their own charity event. As it transpired, out of the main groups representing 45 teams none was able to reach the summit owing to weather conditions (the first time this has happened). With wet gear and stout hearts the walking party set off. Owing to our late start time many of the other groups were returning telling tales of white-outs and treacherous conditions. Undaunted, the group stopped to vent excessive body heat and tramped on. At the 900 m contour, 400 m short of the summit, we realised

what they had meant when we entered the layer of snow and mist: visibility was down to two metres and the temperature had dropped dramatically. We now played our ace in the hole: one of the adult instructors was a Royal Marine Mountain Leader and after assessing the conditions and briefing the group we set off. To claim to be one of the very few groups to make it to the summit that day was a tremendous achievement for all the cadets and should not be under-estimated.

Scafell Pike england 0500hrs 10 May 2009With a few snatched hours sleep on the drive down and a quick breakfast of army rations we set off on what proved to be a beautiful, cool morning. It was a wonderful feeling to have the mountain to ourselves but the climb was steep and the ache in our legs stopped us from really enjoying the views. We reached the summit in good time took the group photo beside the cairn and descended.

Snowdon Wales 1300hrs 10 May 2009Arriving at the car park we were initially dismayed to find the mountain crawling with other walkers and our clock ticking down with only 4 hours remaining in which to complete the challenge. Although the visibility was good at first it soon changed to mist and was soon down to two metres. This now turned into a hard slog to get to the top; navigation was limited owing

to the number of people on the path that hindered our progress. We were all amazed at the clothing that most of these people were wearing, which consisted of shoes, jeans, a jumper and plastic bag with a can of pop. Feeling over-dressed with our full mountain equipment but snug in the feeling of what we had achieved so far we fought our way to the top and firmly planted ourselves and the College flag at the highest point in Wales. We now had less than 2 hrs to get to the bottom, not normally difficult but with the press of people and aching limps we set off. Where possible, we broke into a jog and speed-marched when it was not. Time was getting critical; a wrong path chosen at the bottom added ten minutes to our descent and left us with only thirty minutes left. It was at this point that we saw our admin party and some family members at the bottom waving and shouting encouragement. We crossed the finish with time to spare.

The cadets involved were Sgt Lawrence Beesley-Peck (No.5), Cpl Richard Hadamovsky (SH), Cpl Alex Jupp (No.5), LCpl Robert Nolan (No.2), Cdt Matthew Cramp, Cdt Edward George (No.2), Cdt Josh Wilkes (SH). They walked a distance of 40 km, climbed 3400m and travelled 1044 miles by road. They did all this in 23 hours 30 minutes.

J Nicholls

The Malvernian 2009

18

There Were Many impressive features of the College Play, ‘Les Misérables’ performed in late November in the Rogers Theatre. The most striking achievement was how well over a hundred pupils created a performance in a matter of weeks to such a professional standard. There was not one weak link in this school production and even on the opening night, the audience were moved to tears and the cast were given a standing ovation. One Upper Sixth student who saw the production on its opening night described it as the best school production she had ever seen while at Malvern. For those who were not fortunate enough to see it, I will endeavour to explain why it was so powerful.

A small boy creeps along a barricade, passing essential ammunition from the fallen dead officers around him to the revolutionaries scattered on the towering blocks above him. They are frozen on the blocks, holding their hands out to him as he sings to give himself courage. Several shots ring out and the frightened boy collapses. This description of the scene where the youngest member of the cast, ten-year old Sebastian Thurlow, acts so superbly is a wonderful example of the strengths of the production. There was suddenly a powerful silence and frozen moment on the stage before the stage revolved to the revolutionary fighters. The light was now a deep red and the revolutionary students were shown to be as shocked and moved

les Misérables School edition

by the death scene as the audience. Lights, colours, an ever-changing set, superb acting, heart-wrenching music and singing of the highest quality worked together to make scene after scene crackle with a powerful intensity and atmosphere.

It was above all a production that appealed to the senses of the audience from the opening moments. The director, KRCP, together with the designer, ASLA, created a world where barricades of one sort or another thwarted the desires and dreams of the characters before us. The two most enduring physical images that greeted the audience were the barricade blocks that Eponine, played by Lottie Rugeroni (No.4), died upon after delivering her message for her loved one Marius, played by Andy McDade (No.5). The iron gate that was positioned on the stage at key moments

also played a crucial role in symbolising the broken dreams and fortunes of the characters, particularly the love triangle between Eponine, Marius and the older Cosette, played by Anna Wagner (No.3). Some of the finest moments in this musical were between these outstanding performers and particularly memorable was ‘A Heart Full of Love’, ‘In My Life’ and

‘A Little Fall of Rain’. These three talented performers succeeded in convincing the audience of their passions for each other so that by the time Eponine sang her song ‘On My Own’, an isolated figure on the stage, her expressive face and haunting voice created a stillness in the audience that I have seldom seen in school productions. Equally poignant was Andy McDade’s rendition of ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, performed whilst surrounded by his fallen

‘brothers-in-arms’.

leS MiSeraBleS SchOOl eDiTiOn

19

The most dramatic feature of the set was of course the revolving stage, which was used to symbolise the twisting fortunes of the characters. Built by SD and Oliver Helm, the revolve helped to make this production a real spectacle to watch. Few of the audience were aware of the careful work of the operators hidden from view who moved a heavy stage to make moments impressively dramatic, where for instance Javert, played by Robert Lagudi (No.7), spiralled to his death. Robert played the committed and pitiless Javert with great conviction and his inflexible presence, that coloured the fortune of poor Jean Valjean, was brought out well by his powerful voice and his commanding stage presence. Robert had made Javert into a real villain despised by the audience until the final moment when he took his own life. Here we had yet another example of the lighting, stage effects and music working so well together as he jumped into the River Seine to his death. The revolving stage turned and we felt that at last the fortunes had changed for Valjean.

When discussing powerful figures, I must take this opportunity to pay tribute to George Lacey’s (SH) interpretation and presentation of Valjean. George had probably the most demanding role in the whole production as he was onstage for more than any other character and had to change from a bitter, passionate young convict to a much older man ready to make peace with his maker. Added to this was that he had to relate the main narrative parts of the story with some of the most famous songs to sing, and one begins to have an idea of the demands of this character. Needless to say, he made such a

challenging role look easy and he charmed the audience from his first entrance. We believed in him as a hero and songs such as ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Bring Him Home’ were highly moving. Outstanding too were the solo songs from the two girls, Harriet Sale (No.4) and Rebecca Connell (No.3), who played on alternate nights the part of young Cosette. On the night I saw the performance, Rebecca Connell had to sing without the aid of her microphone and it was to her credit that her voice soared to the rafters of the theatre.

The comic parts are often the hardest to play and need the experience of a seasoned performer to make them really successful. We were very fortunate in having two excellent comic actors who are also accomplished singers. Alex Cornelius (No.2) as Thenardier and Vixie Furse (No.3) as Madame Thenardier were an entertaining double act. Their comic timing was perfect and the sheer vitality of their performances during ‘Master of the House’ was a joy to behold. Every time these two characters came onstage, there was an expectation that we would be entertained by their bickering and false ways and we were never disappointed. There were so many strong roles in this professional production that I am unable to praise them all as I would like, but I do want to draw attention to the singing and acting talents of Verity Bramson (No.8) as Fantine and Rowland Stirling (No.7) as Enjolras. Both sang with great sensitivity and whether it was Verity making us feel for her plight as a mother or Rowland stirring us to man the barricades, both succeeded in making us believe in their respective causes.

I have praised what the audience saw on stage but of course a great deal more goes on backstage and leading up to the performance. While each night made an impact upon the audience, I would like to praise the impressive cast spirit that made this such a positive and rewarding musical for KRCP as director and IDS as musical director to produce. It must have been a tremendous feat for both these directors to rehearse and put on this production but the goodwill of the pupils made it run very smoothly. Mrs Sloan designed and sewed many of the costumes and there was a whole team of lighting and make-up crew who skillfully brought the play to life before our very eyes. As a teacher, perhaps the memories I will be left with will be with how excited and proud the actors were when they returned to the boarding houses after every performance. The experience of being in such a musical had clearly made a deep impression upon them and dare I say it as deep an impression as their performances made each night upon the audience.

AIS

leS MiSeraBleS SchOOl eDiTiOn

The Malvernian 2009

20

house Drama competition

ThiS year We re-inTrODUceD an element of competition to the House Drama event. With each House selecting, casting, directing and technically managing their entry, the Drama Competition presents an opportunity for a wide number of students to display their theatrical talents on stage at the school’s Rogers Theatre.

At the start of the year, each House was told that the goal of this competitive festival was ‘to create an effective piece of theatre.’ The result was a House Drama Competition packed with energy and colour and no small ration of acting talent.

The award for ‘Best Entertainment‘ went to School House. ‘Best Actor’ was Will Selby (No.9) and ‘Best Actress’ Hebe Dickens (No.3). The ‘Best Director’ prize went to Allister Braithwaite (No.9) The winning production was consistently well cast. It cohered. It made us laugh; it coaxed; it charmed; it interested. In short, it won the audience to its side. The winner of The House Drama award for Best Play went to No.8.

KRCP

hOUSe DraMa cOMPeTiTiOn

21PriDe & PreJUDice

aS a DevOTee Of Jane aUSTen, I was very excited when the Director of Drama announced his intention to stage Pride and Prejudice as the Junior Play. This theatrical adaptation by Anne Hannaford was faithful to Austen’s novel, whilst the production incorporated numerous dramatic touches that expertly served to transport the audience back to the early years of the nineteenth century. Austen’s tale of two characters, who take an initial dislike to each other yet ultimately overcome their negative feelings to fall in love, provided wonderful entertainment for the final evening of the academic year.

Given that the pupils in the production were aged between thirteen and fifteen years old, the cast acted with great maturity, and succeeded in conveying the story in a particularly impressive manner. I watched the show on the last night and was surrounded by a particularly appreciative audience who applauded after every scene and laughed at all the relevant moments. Particularly comic was Abigail Hefferan (No.3) whose voice, facial expressions and gestures brought life to Mrs Bennet as only Alison Steadman has managed to do before, and she was more than ably supported by Sam Goldblatt (No.2), whose real appreciation of timing helped him to make the most of Mr Bennet’s famously cynical comments. Elizabeth and Darcy, played by Georgina Farmer (No.8) and Jamie Nicholls (No.1), were brought to

Pride & Prejudice

life superbly. As the heroine, Georgina had, perhaps, the most to learn, and she carried the role off with aplomb. Jamie used his eyes particularly effectively as the play developed to show his growing love for Elizabeth, his performance going from strength to strength. Excellent casting meant that I could mention virtually everyone who acted in the show, from the picture-perfect and genuinely good Jane Bennet (Eleanor Richardson), to the bouncier Lydia (Emily Maggs (No.3)) and from the jolly and good-humoured Mr Bingley (William Law (SH)) to the fantastically catty Miss Bingley (Hebe Morgan (No.8)). I would like to make special mention of Isabella Petzinka (No.6), though, whose extraordinarily mobile face, deliberately awful singing and period

book, which she held constantly, made Mary Bennet a joy to behold, and the up and coming members of the FY, such as Alistair Brookes (SH), who played a suitably pompous Sir William Lucas, William Fox (No.9) (Colonel Forster), Sofia Storer (No.3) (Anne de Bourgh), Jonathan Bray (No.2) (Colonel Fitzwilliam) and last but not least Philippa Vandome (No.8) who brought true gravitas to the role of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Everyone made the most of their part and the focus and concentration of all the actors was evident in such scenes as those at Netherfield Hall, where such simple things as card playing took place, to the ball scenes, which were ingeniously designed to show the developing relationships between the characters. What was observed by more

The Malvernian 2009

PriDe & PreJUDice22

than one member of the audience was how the performances improved during the course of the play, from something already impressive to something really special.

The Regency feel to the piece was helped along by period music played at intervals by a string quartet, wonderful choreography by Sue Close, and costumes so beautiful, it was difficult to tell which Gwyn Sloane had made and which had been hired. The set, designed by Lee Appleby and constructed by Steve Doidge, was very clever and centred around revolving fireplaces, one serving to suggest the interior of the Bennet household, with garish wallpaper, and the other on the reverse side serving to show the interiors of Netherfield Hall, Pemberley (seat of Mr Darcy), and Rosings Park (seat of Lady Catherine de Bourgh), with suitable additions of family portraits, paintings, shields and the like. In itself this underlined the differences in social class between the characters, which proved an obstacle to some of the developing relationships. A harpsichord sat on one side of the stage, and on the other there was a bed, which was transformed at a suitable juncture into an arbour, where Darcy finally confessed his love to Elizabeth and was rewarded with her hand in marriage.

One final point to be made is that it is testament to the skill of KRCP and the dedication of both him and his cast, that they were able to overcome the two weeks’ rehearsal time lost because of the enforced school closure and still produce a play which can stand memorably alongside previous successes. Well done to all. This Austen fan really enjoyed herself!

LMH

23PriDe & PreJUDice

The Malvernian 2009

DeBaTinG24

The Malvern cOlleGe Debating team gathered on Thirlstane Road on 23 September, to embark on the second annual London Debating Tour. The first debate took place at Dulwich College, so after four tedious hours of motorway boredom (punctuated by an M&S food stop), we finally arrived in time for lunch. We had three debates to compete in at Dulwich, and all of them produced outstanding performances. The junior team’s prepared motion of

‘This House would only allow democracies to host the Olympics’ was opposed and proposed by James Wooten (SH), Georgie Farmer (No.8), Sam Goldblatt (No.2) and William Law (SH). They all debated well against stiff competition from Dulwich.

The seniors were only given their motion fifteen minutes before the debate began. Hannah Campbell (No.8), Laura Joyce (No.3), Henry Bridge (SH) and Alex Jupp (No.5), were given the motion

‘This House would not use taxpayers’ money to bail out private financial institutions.’ It was a challenging motion, but with the help of ‘The Economist’ Hannah and Laura secured second place. The other senior teams of Labhaoisa Cromie (No.4), Caroline Varga (No.4), Oliver Marshall (SH), and Matthieu Fittus (No.1) debated whether education should be compulsory up to the age of eighteen. After an intense quick-fire debate, Ollie and Matt also came a close second to Dulwich.

With three debates out of five completed, it was back onto the minibus to head to Westminster for the final debates about the abolition of NATO. To make things a little more interesting, instead of debating with our normal partners, we had to debate with someone assigned to us from the Westminster team, and there was a small amount of prize money to be won. Two senior debates took place with the same prepared motion: ‘This House would disband NATO.’ It was a very fact-laden debate prompting many interesting and passionate arguments, and Malvern and Westminster debated well together. After the final debate, the

DebatingDebating Matters Area Finalists: Ollie Marshall (SH), Kathy Rogers (No.8), Hannah Campbell (No.8), Josh Wilkes (SH)

teams assembled in the hall for the results. It was a success for Malvern: Laura Joyce and her partner won their debate, whist Labhaoisa Cromie and her partner won the other, with Hannah Campbell being named best speaker.

After a successful day, the debating team returned back to Malvern in the late evening, more experienced and more confident from our day in London.

Labhaoisa Cromie (No.4)

25DeBaTinG

Three cOUnTieS DeBaTinG cOMPeTiTiOnJUniOr hOUSe DeBaTinG finalOn Thursday 15 January, the final of the Junior House Debating Competition was held in No.2 on the motion: “This House would instate mixed-sex boarding houses at Malvern”. The No.2 team of Bar Bartlett and Sam Goldblatt were proposing with the No.4 team of Annabel Crowther and Poppy Donaldson opposing. This was an excellent debate with all speakers showing flair and intelligence, but the eventual winners were No.2.

PAB

In February, Malvern College hosted the Three Counties Debating Competition for schools in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and twelve teams took part in what was a very high quality tournament. The teams debated three motions:

“This House believes that social networking sites are a danger to society,”

“This House would allow soldiers to opt out of conflicts for moral reasons,” and

“This House would make parental consent mandatory for underage abortions.” The motion for the final was “This House would talk to terrorists.”

Competing were: Bowbrook House School, Hereford Cathedral School, Hereford Sixth Form College, Malvern College, Malvern St James, Marling School, RGSAO, St Edward’s School, The Crypt School, The King’s School Gloucester, The King’s School Worcester, and Wycliffe College.

The Malvern team of Laura Joyce (No.3) and Hannah Campbell (No.8) reached the

final, and were placed second and third respectively on the individual points list.

PAB

The Malvernian 2009

SchOOl cOUncil

School council

26

aS The GerMan PrOverB GOeS, “Charity sees the need, not the cause”, and so this year’s School Council decided to donate all money raised to charities close to our hearts. Close House, a Hereford-based organisation for under-privileged young people, fitted the bill to support a local charity. Donating to Hospice Care Kenya and an ME charity allowed us to support both Mrs Sloan and Mrs Schott who have close ties with these associations.

Whilst charity would be at the heart of our efforts, we did not wish to skimp on the fun aspect of raising funds, and the first charitable event of the year, “The Silhouette Ball” saw members of the Sixth Form, dressed in suitably suave and figure-hugging attire, pile into the Rogers Theatre for what proved to be an enjoyable and memorable night. With the DJ booth in the gallery and the bar in a lit outdoor area, the ball had the advantage of both a perfect venue and unseasonably good weather. Coloured lights projected onto large white screens, pyrotechnics and black and white balloons provided the perfect indoor backdrop, while elsewhere a Young Enterprise group attracted customers with a professional photographic service. The School Council acted as hosts, DJs and bar staff, and managed to create an atmosphere that was ideal for Malvernians new and old to get better acquainted with one another at the start of term.

Charities Day on 14 November 2008 was one of the most successful charitable ventures held at Malvern in recent years. As the date coincided with Children in Need Day, all proceeds went to this worthy cause. Inspired by the success of a 2007 Young Enterprise group, Krispy Kreme doughnuts were sold at break beneath St. George, satisfying both appetite and monetary goals. Fancy-dressed Heads of House and members of the School Council sold these while collecting buckets of coins from the more generous on campus. The two groups then competed in a somewhat messy tug-of-war on the Triangle, which resulted in Snow White and a cross-dressing lower-school girl getting covered in mud! For the Sixth Form, the highly productive day ended with one-off sets from MC Maceman and Dizzee Russell spinning the decks in the Longy. All in all, a great time was had by all and a cheque for £825 was presented to Hospice Care Kenya.

On 28 February 2009 in the Rogers Theatre, the juniors were treated to the much-anticipated Spring Ball. The event was another resounding success. As customary, the Council handed out various prizes during the course of the night. Best dressed boy and girl went to Daniel Diaz Cazorla (No.9) and Sofia Birman (No.6), cutest couple went to Georgina Farmer (No.8) and Barnaby Davies (No.2), while best dancer was fiercely contested, eventually culminating in a dance-off with the clear

winner being Tunde Ogundare (No.1). It was an enjoyable and memorable evening for all involved and would not have been possible without the contributions made by various members of staff and we thank them for their support and charity.

The ball raised £2000 in support of F.O.A.G. (Farmers Overseas Action Group), a Worcestershire-based independent charity that supports economic development in Uganda’s rural communities. On Thursday 19 of March, a representative of F.O.A.G., Mr. Rankin, gratefully accepted a cheque for the said amount from the Council in Chapel. He then went on to speak stirringly and passionately about the work he does and its philanthropic importance.

This has been another excellent year for the School Council. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their sterling efforts in a series of worthy causes.

LRP

27SchOOl cOUncil

POPPy anDreWS

ThOMaS Dilley

GreGOry KirchhOff

SeBaSTian cheShire

Maria henShall

QUirin lUBKe

TOMi BelGOre

freDericK GarDner

lanre viGO

herMiOne BeneST

richarD harDy

DaPhne li

GODWin lUi chriSTOPher OGUnDare JacQUeline Sze

SchOOl cOUncil 2009-10

The Malvernian 2009

fy in flanDerS28

a Pair Of WellinGTOn BOOTS. We are going to Flanders under beautiful blue skies in May and I cannot sit on my seat in the bus because some pupil has thought to bring his wellies!

‘Whose are these?’, I bellow.

‘Mine, sir!’ comes the reply, not sheepish enough for my liking.

‘Why have you brought wellies?’

‘The water table is high in Flanders, sir. We did it in Geography.’

The child wants to go to Venice next year; I already have visions of scuba equipment and diving-bells.

We are on time and away we go. We reach Malvern Wells before some wag pipes up:

‘Are we nearly there yet?’

A sense of humour. Good. They may need that before the weekend is out.

The journey to Dover is without incident; or chemical toilet. Cue a mad dash to the facilities at the port, quite the prettiest part of town. If the town of Dover is the first thing people see when they get to Britain, it is a testament to their strength of purpose that they break out into the Kent

countryside beyond. But we were going in the other direction.

Bienvenue en France. Arriving at the Village de Vacances at Ambleteuse close to midnight with me is never going to be on the FY’s list of ‘One Hundred Things To Do Before I Die’. I only raised my voice once: at the start, and kept shouting for twenty minutes. How many times do you have to say ‘each dorm takes five’ before children stop asking ‘Can we go as a six?’ Breakfast. It was the only thought that helped me through the rooming frenzy.

Day Un was spent farming sweets. A local confectioner showed us how to produce all sorts of goodies. He obviously had a sweet tooth. It was the only one he had left, mind you, and it played havoc with his diction. But I was forgetting: we were in Ch’ti land. A brief stormy respite in Le Touquet which

put the sand in ‘sandwiches’, then later in the day we hovered up a chocolate factory.

The following day we went to Belgium. We were very fortunate to have with us Colonel Kidwell who put the battles of Ypres into perspective. We took in the Menin Gate and the In Flanders Fields Museum, as well as the cemeteries at Tyne Cot and Langemarck.

On the final day we managed only a quick trip to the seaside in beautiful sunshine. And soon enough we were on our way home. I would like to thank my colleagues Mrs Cockbill, Mr Jackson, Dr Stafford, Mrs Varley, Mr Major and Mr Dunn for their sterling support.

PG

fy in flanders

29SixTh fOrM TriP TO PariS & BarcelOna

i Will nOT fOrGeT this trip. Indeed, my analyst is encouraging me to talk about it.

Normally, when I leave on school trips, I am late or I forget something. This time would be different. We arrived at St. Pancras in good time for our departure, but the tour company had sent us only 17 tickets, so I had to queue for another. The queue for check-in stretched back to Euston, so we blagged some beleaguered assistant into fast-tracking us. We crammed our way into our carriage to discover that the tour company had put me in another carriage half a mile away. Well, I was livid, let me tell you! I wasn’t standing for that. It was then that the very patient attendant pointed out that my own ticket was in first class. Cue a rush of jibbering embarrassment and looks from the pupils as if to say: ‘You aren’t serious’. These flashes of recrimination were as nothing compared to the look my wife shot at me, which roughly translated said: ‘Go there without me and you die, matey!’. I stayed put. Such a professional. Such a coward.

Paris was upon us in a flash. Our hotel was what I called a short walk from the Gare du Nord. Our hotel was what the pupils called a ridiculously long trek why didn’t we get a taxi from the Gare du Nord. The hotel, offering beautiful views of the Paris skyline with Sacre Coeur shining on the horizon, was run by several similar-looking

Sixth form Trip to Paris & Barcelona

people who took turns on reception every ten minutes, so whenever you asked for something they had no idea who you were. We went out.

Paris shone in the most beautiful late afternoon sunshine as we ambled from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, then down to Notre Dame before heading to the Latin Quarter to sample the world’s finest cuisine from kebab to pizza, from falafel to burgers. Ah the young! How was I going to fare offering culture?

Sunday dawned. We had put our watches forward the day before, and today the clocks went back. Fion clearly did not get this subtlety and was awake at 6.00 am. Off we went to Versailles, once seat of the French monarchy, now a licence to print money: the French may have done away with their king, but they are still paying royally. The gardens are lovely and are this season adorned with hidden loud speakers pumping out 17c French classics; baroque on!

Back in proletarian Paris we visited the Dali museum in Montmartre. Appropriately enough, the cashier was the most surreal character of the day, more gaga than Dada: struggling with her ticket dispenser which was stuck on ‘print’ she smilingly managed to let no-one in for almost twenty minutes.

On Monday we hit the town. The Louvre is the world’s biggest museum. It is also the biggest in France, which matters more to the Parisians. We fought with twenty thousand others to stand and stare at mankind’s finest paintings outside Britain. It was wonderful. Whilst we were musing, someone helped himself to Jamie’s wallet. We discounted Patsy Kensit, who was on her way out, but could not narrow it down much further. The afternoon was spent out of the rain in the Orangerie, a much better bet, incidentally, if you want the quick cultural tan rather than the full immersion. Then it was back to the hotel to collect our bags, dinner at an authentic Auvergnat restaurant (farm-reared lasagne and free-range burgers), and a short walk to the Gare d’Austerlitz, the Balham of Paris, gateway to the south.

Taking the overnight train to Barcelona was something of an adventure. It conjured for me images of James Bond romance or Agatha Christie mysteries. Certainly, by midnight I was ready to murder… anyone of the three men sharing my compartment might have been the victim, but that would still have left two others snoring. A triple murder seemed the only way out. I fell asleep plotting. Daylight. I awoke to an empty cabin, but found my room-mates in the bar. ‘Hola!’, I ventured. ‘You were snoring’, one of them retorted, ‘so we had to leave.’

The Malvernian 2009

SixTh fOrM TriP TO PariS & BarcelOna30

Shortly after daybreak, we trudged to the hotel to be told by the cheery desk clerk – who was actually called Manuel – that our rooms would be ready in four hours. It was raining. We were tired. My Spanish does not extend to insults. So we endured. Leo went off to get something to eat. Again. Others followed. We finally got our rooms, although direct sunlight was at a premium in some of them. The afternoon offered one of the highlights of the trip: a visit to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s extraordinary temple. I think the pupils were under-whelmed by its state of readiness; essentially the inside is a 120-year old building site. I hope they live long enough to return to Barcelona to see it completed.

I tried to negotiate a price for dinner with a restaurant manager. He spoke no Spanish or English, so his assistant translated into Italian. We failed to agree. Indeed, I called him an idiot. He turned out to be French. I apologised. Dinner did not live up to the preliminaries.

It was still raining the next day, as we headed deep into the old town to the Picasso museum, a real jewel; and free. As usual my planned two-hour visit was interrupted after fifteen minutes by someone asking, ‘Sir, what do we do when we’ve finished?’ Despair! Later that same rainy day we went to the Olympic village and dived into a multiplex. ‘Sir, what are we doing here?’ said a voice from the crowd. No, not a philosophical question brought on by concentrated study of man’s artistic achievements, not even an indignant refusal of things other than Spanish, merely someone not realizing that they were standing in the foyer of a cinema.

Our final day dawned bright and beautiful, and Barcelona sparkled as if to invite us back next year.

I know Barcelona reasonably well. I know it has an airport. What I did not know was that RyanAir claims it has two airports. And one of them is very much not in Barcelona…

As our bus pulled up in front of departures, a nice lady asked who we were flying with. ‘RyanAir’, I said. ‘They don’t fly from here; they fly from Girona’, she beamed and left. It was 14:45. Our plane would leave Girona at 16:45. Girona is an hour and a half away. There is no bus between the airports. I race to the exchange bureau (hoping to exchange my life for something less calamitous) and drew out loadsamoney. Not enough. ‘Go

next door’, she volunteered. Next door promptly closed ‘for lunch’. I found a cashpoint and fled the building with most of its contents. I could not remember the Spanish for hackney carriage, so I resorted to ‘Taxi’, and bundled everyone into five of them. ‘Girona airport’, I pleaded. And added ‘Pronto!’, for good measure, hoping to impress on the driver the seriousness of our predicament by using his own language. It did the trick: we were stuck in a traffic jam within five minutes, but he was definitely on our side because he was cursing like a good’un at all the other drivers. My phone rang. It was my bank, wanting reassurance that I was not trying to buy GB out of recession single-handedly. 15:02 I see a sign for Girona; not a good sign, really: another 81 kms. We hit the motorway and picked up speed. Well, four of the taxis did. The fifth picked up a nail in its tyre and had to pull over. I did not know whether to avoid looking at the clock or the meter. The faster we went, the better our chances of making the plane, but the meter was now clicking at a blur. 15:45 We arrive at Girona airport (and not a mention of the word ‘Barcelona’ anywhere, incidentally). I pay the taxi drivers without having to sell a kidney. Fourteen people check in and I wait outside for Tori, Morwenna and Emily in their three-wheeler. And then, ten yards in front of me an articulated lorry jack-knifes on the access road to departures. A queue of traffic quickly builds up back down to the motorway. I pull aside bollards and anti-terrorist defenses to allow the lorry to move and the traffic to flow, but still no taxi. Mrs Godsland runs out to tell me that check-in closes in two minutes. The girls arrive. I could kiss them. I see the driver. I could kiss him. We run through airport vaulting queues of people, and check in. Except that Fion is having to pay €90 because she has brought a wardrobe not a suitcase. Finally we are through and we start to board. But Doris has lost her passport and her boarding card. She finds them in the loos and we board.

We land in Birmingham twenty minutes early. We all say our goodbyes. As we drive away from the airport we take a wrong turn and end up heading towards Stoke. And we have no petrol. I almost break down. We find fuel and head south. There is a traffic jam. It takes us four hours to get back to Malvern.

The pupils were, as ever, excellent ambassadors for the College. I thank them for their company. I would also like to thank my wife for her calm support. She still visits me every day here at the Rest Home and brings me news. You could come too. RyanAir fly here; then, it’s just a two hundred mile bus ride from the airport.

PG

31

afTer lUnch on 9 December 2008, 22 Malvern pupils and staff waited in Thirlstane Road for the coach that would take us to Heathrow at the start of an unforgettable adventure to Vietnam. Until only a few days previously the trip had been in doubt as protestors in Bangkok had closed the airport and all flights had been cancelled but happily normal service had by then resumed so bags had been packed, passports collected, iPods charged and we were off. Some 24 hours later we arrived in Hanoi, tired and dishevelled, to be met by Sam, our guide who would look after us throughout the trip and who straightaway took us to a restaurant for our first taste of an eight course Vietnamese meal with noodle soup and spring rolls before whisking us off to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Next morning we were thrust in to the chaotic streets of Hanoi to begin our tour of the city. The first impression is one of bedlam as many thousands of motor bikes and scooters fill every street, thread past each other at junctions where traffic lights seem to be purely advisory in nature and make crossing the road quite an adventure. It cannot be normal for the first stop on anyone’s holiday itinerary to be to go to see a dead body but we dutifully filed through Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum and past his embalmed remains, looking very like a waxwork model. Out into the sunshine we were able to view Uncle Ho’s house,

vieTnaM TriP

vietnam Trip

the Presidential Palace and the One Pillar Pagoda where we mingled with the crowds of visiting Vietnamese tourists; there were very few westerners.

Our next stop was the Temple of Literature, a quiet haven amidst the bustle of the city. A rare example of traditional Vietnamese architecture, this Confucian temple founded in 1070 is dedicated to scholars whose achievements are honoured in the form of large tablets resting on the backs of stone tortoises. Kissing the tortoises is supposed to bring academic success and several Malvernians hoped to boost their chances in the forthcoming trial examinations in this way. After lunch, another eight courses; we soon learned that all Vietnamese meals have eight or more courses, we briefly visited the Museum of Fine Arts with its mixture of ancient sculptures and paintings together with more modern examples, many documenting the war with the Americans.From the sublime to the ridiculous to the downright scary as we next sat through a traditional and it must be said rather tacky water puppet show before being loaded one at a time onto cyclos (bicycle rickshaws) for a ride through the old town. It was rush hour and the traffic was truly frightening but we all safely negotiated the chaos that was at every intersection, dodging motor bikes, cars, lorries and buses before being returned to our coach.

Another meal (another eight courses) then it was on to the station (Ga Ha Noi) to catch our overnight sleeper train to the far north of the country. We were allocated comfortable, if a little cramped, four berth compartments and settled down for the night as the train rattled slowly through the countryside. That was the theory for most sat in groups chatting while a small group enjoyed karaoke with some lively Australians in the guard’s van. Not much sleep was had that night. The train arrived at Lao Cai on the border with China at 5 in the morning and our bleary eyed party had to negotiate several railway tracks and a very busy car park before locating the bus that was to take us to Sapa.

Sapa is a delightful small town in a beautiful mountain setting where the pace is slow and the air clear. It is famous as the main town in the region populated by several hill tribes. These are ancient indigenous peoples who have kept their traditional dress and languages, grow rice on the terraced hillsides and supplement their income by selling embroidered fabrics, bags and jewellery. These items they bring to sell in Sapa and much fun was had engaging with the locals and haggling for souvenirs. The main tribes represented in Sapa were the Black H’mong and Red Dzao, easily recognised by their elaborate and brightly coloured costumes.

The Malvernian 2009

vieTnaM TriP32

The bustling Saturday market is a big draw for the local population and huge numbers descend on the town to buy, sell and barter their wares. That afternoon we travelled to a local H’mong village called Cat Cat to observe at first hand the harsh living and working conditions of these lovely people.

Another overnight train; alas no karaoke on this one, returned us to Hanoi very early next morning and we were taken to a small hole in the wall where we were assured that for breakfast we would be served the best pho (noodle soup) in Hanoi. The soup was fantastic and the coffee mind blowingly strong but Malvernians are not renowned for being at their best at 6 o’clock in the morning! Thus fortified we then flew south to Hue to visit the 17th Century Citadel and Forbidden Purple City. Hue was once the capital of southern Vietnam but its ancient sites were heavily bombed during the American war and were then deemed to be politically incorrect after reunification in 1975 and the buildings left to decay. Happily these ancient monuments were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are slowly being restored. It was a Sunday when we visited and the whole site was teeming with parties of Vietnamese school children who all wanted to be photographed with the strange westerners; this was a lovely opportunity to interact with some of the locals.

Next stop was Da Nang and the Museum of Cham Sculpture. The Cham are an ancient Hindu people and the sculpture collection

dates from the 7th to 15th Centuries. A brief wet and windy paddle on China Beach, where the Americans were sent for R&R during the war, was enjoyed by some before we headed south to Hoi An Old Town. This picturesque riverside town is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and it provided a really nice interlude where we could stroll the narrow streets, close to the Japanese Covered Bridge, where cars are not allowed so we could browse the varied shops and cafes at our leisure. Made to measure clothes were ordered and completed overnight before we flew south again to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

As we headed south to Saigon the climate steadily got warmer and more humid and the temperature reached 30oC in this large and bustling city. Our first port of call was the War Remnants Museum. This brought us all very firmly down to earth as we strolled amongst captured American planes, tanks and helicopters and viewed the graphic photographs which reminded us that all wars are horrible. The notorious tiger cages used to imprison the Vietcong, complete with working guillotine, made us all feel uncomfortable and reflective, but war is nasty and it does us no harm to recognise this truth, no matter how unpalatable.

The next day we were taken to Tay Ninh, the home of the Cao Dai religious sect. This is a bizarre religion that combines elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taosim, Christianity and Islam. The architecture of the Great Temple in the Holy See of Tay

33vieTnaM TriP

Insurance for your FamilyNow that your child is attending school, it’s a good time to ensure they are adequately protected.

In the event of an accident, our FamilyCover is there to help. Unlike many other similar policies, it has no sports restrictions and it provides the same level of cover for children as their parents.

For further information on how to protect your child for as little as six pence per day:

Visit our website www.hsbc.co.uk/familycover where you can see details of the cover,

get a quote, and buy online.

Call 0800 318 312 Email enquiries.schools@hsbc.com Quote and buy www.hsbc.co.uk/familycover

www.hsbc.co.uk/familycover

HSBC Insurance Brokers

FamilyCoverRest insured

Personal accident cover with worldwide protection, 24 hours a day

HSBC Insurance Brokers Limited is a Lloyd’s broker and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Firm reference number 310240.

Cover

from £1.75

a month

Ninh is both elaborate and architecturally idiosyncratic and everywhere we were under the gaze of the Divine Eye. Men and women have to enter by separate entrances and walk round the temple in opposite directions but we were allowed to observe and photograph prayers from the balcony, a calm, if somewhat odd, oasis amidst the frantic world outside.

That afternoon we visited the Cu Chi Tunnels. In total about 250 km of tunnels were built at Cu Chi and from these the Vietcong could hide from and launch offensives against the Americans. The tunnels were very sophisticated and included underground living areas, stores, factories, hospitals and kitchens. Access was by means of hidden trapdoors and from these the Vietcong were able to control the region and eventually defeat the Americans. Today the site has display of some rather gruesome booby traps and some short sections of tunnels have been opened for tourists and Malvernians to crawl through.

The next day was devoted to a visit to My Tho on the Mekong Delta. From there we climbed aboard a battered looking river boat where the throttle was an old bicycle chain and the wheel connected to the rudder by lengths of plastic thread. A gentle ride across a broad tributary of this vast delta took us to an island where fruits and vegetables are grown, coconut sweets made and snakes farmed. A traditional delta lunch of elephant ear fish cut up and wrapped in delicious rice paper spring rolls was followed by being paddled along narrow canals all wearing the traditional Vietnamese conical hats.

This was our last full day in Vietnam which we celebrated with yet another eight course meal aboard a floating restaurant, accompanied by a pianist of doubtful skill who nevertheless made a good fist of familiar western tunes and Christmas carols. Later that evening we adjourned to the Allez Boo bar to enjoy the music from within and the street theatre outside.

Our last morning gave us an opportunity to catch up with some final shopping in Saigon before travelling to the airport to fly back to the UK.

Vietnam is an extraordinary country. Beautiful and varied in its scenery, it has a fascinating history, frantic traffic, great food and lovely people. We only caught a glimpse of what Vietnam has to offer but we are all much richer for the experience and will take away memories that will last for a very long time.

CH

The Malvernian 2009

SKiinG in france34

SevenTeen PUPilS enjoyed a week of perfect skiing conditions at Les Contamines in the Mont Blanc region of the French Alps during the February Half term. 60 cm of snow had fallen just before we arrived and one day of bad weather in the middle of the week produced another 40 cm. Our use of mountain guides allowed us to take full advantage of these wonderful conditions.

RNW

Skiing in france

35BiOlOGy fielD TriP

early On friDay 5 JUne, 45 Lower Sixth IB Biology and Environmental Systems students set out for South Wales. The mood was somewhat pessimistic given the dreadful weather forecast that promised heavy rain, strong wind and cold temperatures due to last the whole weekend.

We were to be pleasantly surprised as the worst of the weather avoided the Dale area where the field centre is located and the conditions allowed us to explore the ecological wonders of the sea shore and estuary of this far flung corner of South West Wales.

With stiff limbs and tired eyes we came to the end of our four hour coach journey in Dale village overlooking the vast natural harbour of Milford Haven and its giant oil refineries. After a short walk to the field centre we were immediately plunged into action on the rocky shores of Jetty and Castle Beaches. Using quadrats and callipers our first exercises involved counting purple top shells and measuring rough periwinkles. The data collected led to a hard evening of learning new techniques of statistical analysis taught by the centre tutors Julian and John. The hard work of the evening was lightened by their encyclopaedic knowledge of the local wildlife and its variety of reproductive methods. (Did you know that slipper limpets change sex as they mate?).

Biology field Trip

The following morning we awoke to a beautiful day. The statistics continued for a while and then we walked and climbed down to Frenchman’s Steps Beach (the Frenchmen after whom the steps were named must have been very tall as the steps were very large) to study species abundance and distribution using quadrats on a sheltered beach. The exercise was then repeated on Castle Beach which is exposed to the full force of the wind and waves from the Atlantic Ocean. Alas the weather did not hold and the rocks became vary slippery as we scrambled over them in driving rain. That evening we processed all the data, struggling to turn it into huge graphs

of terrible complexity and questionable accuracy. (Did you know that barnacles have (relatively) the longest penises of any animals?).

It rained all Saturday night and was still pouring as Sunday morning broke. The Environmental Systems group were to visit the small island of Skomer but the weather was against them so they visited a nearby headland to examine the chough conservation programme where the reintroduction of grazing by horses was enabling these rare birds to increase in numbers. They then did an exercise measuring limpets as part of an ongoing

The Malvernian 2009

BiOlOGy fielD TriP36

survey to examine the long term effects of pollution following an oil tanker disaster several years ago.

The early morning rain did not help the mood of the Biologists but we listened to a lecture about tides and succession as we waited for the tide to fall before setting out. Dressed head to toe in waterproofs and wellies we set out for the Gann estuary and its salt marsh. The first highlight of the day was to cross the very sticky and muddy ‘trench of doom’ where some had a closer encounter with the mud than they had originally planned! A survey of the salt marsh gave an excellent insight into this harsh environment and the process of ecological succession. (Did you know that glasswort is edible, even if it is a bit salty?)

After another lecture and some data processing both groups were reunited on Castle Beach where they donned fetching bright blue rubber gloves to catch sand

hoppers (small crustaceans that live amongst the smelly rotting seaweed on the strandline). After much terrified squealing, mostly from the girls, as the hoppers kept jumping out of reach and out of the collecting pots, several hundred were captured. Next the hoppers had to be counted and then painted before being let go. (Did you know that dog whelks drill holes through barnacle and limpet shells in order to feed on the soft innards?).

After supper our last evening was spent in some manic packing and Mr Hall’s entertaining slide show of the past few days. On our final morning we woke to warm sunshine. We went back to Castle Beach to collect the sand hoppers again so we could calculate the population density (about 25000 per square metre) and then walked along the coast path across some fields to a lovely tranquil pond where we used nets to collect organisms to look at the diversity. There were lots of newts,

tadpoles and tiny frogs as well as huge numbers of insect larvae. (Did you know that some of these insect larvae are vicious predators and will catch and eat tadpoles and little frogs?).

A brief summing up from our brilliant course tutors who shared with us their knowledge and enjoyment of all thing ecological as well as managing to put up with us for four days brought to an end what had been an excellent and enriching field trip. We would also like to thank our teachers, Mr Wastie, Mr Hall and Miss Miller for giving up their time, energy and enthusiasm too.

Alex Page (No.8), Anna Wagner (No.3) and Stephanie Schöhl (No.8)

37GlOUceSTer caTheDral

On friDay 10 OcTOBer 2008 the Foundation Year visited Gloucester Cathedral in support of their Religious Studies curriculum. The visit included two elements: a tour of the Cathedral as a historic and contemporary place of worship; and the Anne Frank exhibition.

The tour of the Cathedral enabled pupils to compare the Cathedral with their experience of our own College Chapel, to appreciate the art, architecture and symbols found in the building and to consider the many ways in which worship takes place through liturgy, contemplation and simply “being” in a special environment.

The Anne Frank exhibition was at Gloucester Cathedral as part of a national tour organised by the Anne Frank Trust. It enabled visitors to gain a deeper insight into the world of the famous diarist who, between the ages of 13 and 15, chronicled her experiences of life in hiding in Amsterdam before her capture and subsequent death at Bergen-Belsen. Anne wrote with remarkable maturity and insight and the exhibition displayed many of her perceptive thoughts as well as including a life-sized model of her small, shared room at the Secret Annexe on the Prinsengracht. Exhibits allowed pupils to experience not only the horrors of the Holocaust of the 1940s but also to consider how groups and individuals today can become scapegoats, outcasts and victims of others’ attitudes

Gloucester cathedral

and behaviour. A thought-provoking DVD and a series of response activities allowed pupils to consider more deeply their own reactions to what they had seen.

The visit linked with the FY study of religion under the theme “Belief and Experience”, with preparatory and follow-up work happening in class. Our thanks go to Mrs Sarah Law, Education Officer, and the team of volunteers who made us welcome and gave us so much to reflect upon during and beyond our visit.

APL

The Malvernian 2009

leGal WOrKShOP38

in nOveMBer 2008, nearly forty aspiring lawyers in the Sixth Form were given a unique opportunity to experience the life and work of trainee solicitors through a scheme organized by Mrs Cindy Bexfield, Head of Commercial Property and Training Principal at Harrison Clark LLP in Worcester.

A team of young trainee and newly-qualified lawyers gave a series of practical workshops in four key areas: Wills and Probate, Employment, Commercial Law and the Law of Property. Pupils engaged in discussions and practical exercises designed to emulate the everyday working

legal Workshop

demands of life in a busy multi-disciplinary practice.

Pupils were also given an advance briefing for a mock civil trial: they prepared the cases for complainant and defendant in a dispute over alleged faulty goods under the 1979 Sale of Goods Act. The day culminated in the case being heard before a judge, who afterwards complimented the students on the quality of their preparation, submissions and cross-examination.

Feedback from pupils was very positive: for many it confirmed their desire to apply for places at university to read Law or to

practise at some later stage; for some it helped to identify particular areas of the Law in which they aspire to practise; for all of the participants the day was a stimulating, enjoyable and informative experience.

APL

39GeOGraPhy STUDy viSiT TO icelanD

ThiS year’S GeOGraPhy TriP was highly successful, brimming with interesting and inspiring stops, from downtown Reykjavík to desolate wastelands. The party bore witness to erupting geysers, flew on a thrilling light aircraft and even felt hot rocks that had been spewn out of a volcano over thirty years ago! We also saw how the youngest island in the world (Surtsey) was formed in an interesting presentation by a man who had been documenting volcanic eruptions for decades.

The scenery in Iceland is stunning, with vast tracks of empty, barren land stretching for miles in all directions. The mountains and highlands are also beautiful, along with the many glaciers, rivers and a waterfall under

which legend has it that a Viking once hid his treasure! Iceland, in proportion to its population of just over 300,000, has the largest number of wild horses anywhere on earth, some 100,000 of them. They are said to be some of the toughest on earth, as they have to endure the harsh Arctic winters which batter the island.

For many, the naturally heated pools were the highlight of the trip, with temperatures near 50 degrees Celsius. Iceland also has one of only two settlements in the world that is heated entirely by geo-thermal power. Very green! Iceland is also well on its way to becoming the first country in the world that is powered entirely on geo-thermal power, but is lacking the money

to develop it. On top of all of this, Iceland has one of the oldest democracies, dating back over 1000 years.

The trip went smoothly, and I believe that everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did. I sincerely hope to return to Iceland sometime, and encourage all others to do so. Everyone would like to thank Mrs Atkins and her colleagues for a wonderful trip.

Calum Makin (No.9)

Geography Study visit to iceland

The Malvernian 2009

reMOve in nOrManDy & PariS40

remove Study visit to normandy & Paris

a PhOne call aT 7.30 aM on departure day is never good news; and so it proved:

“Mr Godsland? Paragon Coaches here. Your coach was supposed to leave Malvern College an hour ago.”

But I’ve told everyone that we are leaving at 10.00 am”, I countered, indignantly.

“Your ferry leaves Portsmouth at midday. You’ll miss it.”

A pause.

“We’ll be there in an hour.” I said, somewhat less indignantly.

Flinging clothes - randomly as it turned out - into a suitcase, I alerted all the Housems (who were brilliant, incidentally) to send their charges to the coach unfed and unabluted if necessary, before racing to collect packed lunches from the Grub. What else? Money! Locked in the safe. Who has the combination? No-one at work yet. Well could I take the safe and open it later? Clearly I was becoming delusional. The safe is opened. The money is not there. Where’s the accountant? He has the day off! Did I mention that today was Friday the 13th?

The coach speeds to the South coast. Even when we stop, the engine keeps running and no-one is allowed off. I kept looking

round for Dennis Hopper. Leaving Malvern two and a half hours late, we arrive an hour early for the ferry. In two hours I have aged ten years.

But we are back on schedule; we have children, passports and money and its plain sailing to France. Our ship, Le Normandie, is the floating Xanadu of the Channel. Kubla Khan himself could not have dreamt up more ways to have fun: cinemas, amusement arcades, duty-free shops, restaurants, knocking old people over, directing people to the wrong deck; the list is endless and six hours just does not seem long enough. We dock at Ouistreham and try to disembark. We are told to wait. It’s only when I notice passengers starting to get on the boat that I realise that the crew has forgotten us. We tear down the gangplanks. We make footfall in God’s chosen country and make for our first base, le Château du Baffy, erstwhile home of the French nobility and, briefly, the German High Command.

We came to the château courtesy of the driver’s sat-nav, via roads less-travelled. Clearly his software dated from the Allied landings of 1944, and our route was punctuated with commentary such as:

‘Now, there used to be side-road up here on the left…’, which we took regardless of whatever farm machinery encumbered the carriageway.

Our coach driver was from Stoke. He called every bad driver in France ‘Rodney’, which amounted to more or less everyone else on the roads. Ominously he announced that he’d had air-horns fitted ‘specially’, which he used to let Rodney know he had made a mistake.

It was good to be back at the château. The rooms had all been re-decorated, and our expert châtelier, Roland, was still there with a new set of friendly-faced staff. We were the first group of the season, so we were to be used for ‘staff training’. Obligingly, our pupils did their best to test staff procedures. Some of our boys were particularly keen to help with the re-decoration of the rooms, but eventually thought better of jellied ceilings and Pringles-flavoured carpets. Although the dark evenings curtailed outside activities, the pupils played fun, noisy games which involved running down corridors and slamming bedroom doors and whiled away many happy night hours knocking on each others’ doors to borrow phone-chargers or plug-adaptors.

Our first full day in Normandy took us to Pegasus Bridge at Bénouville, scene of still the most awe-inspiring action of D-Day, when British gliders landed within yards of the enemy, to allow the bridge to be taken within minutes. We pushed on to Caen more quickly than our forebears, and engaged the old enemy. My heart swelled to hear our pupils in action, returning

41reMOve in nOrManDy & PariS

proudly with tales of what they had pointed at after saying ‘Je voudrais’. We headed west to Sainte-Mère-Eglise, where Red Buttons had got his parachute caught on the church roof, and on to the goat farm. The kids were great and behaved properly. Ditto our pupils.

Day two took us to Caen again for the early Sunday morning market: giant vats of couscous and paella vied with roast chicken, cheese, shrimp and patisseries. I have always found there’s something so robust about a society which is comfortable drinking beer and eating mussels at 8.00 am; but joining in? Maybe next year.

Arromanches: a pleasant seaside town marked out in 1943 by Churchill as the location for the biggest man-made harbour ever to be built. The same size as Dover, it was to be the lifeline for men, munitions and food until Cherbourg or Le Havre could be taken. Begun on D-Day + 1, it was all but destroyed ten days later by storms. Enough of it survived, however, and the Normandy bridgehead remained viable.

Some 15000 Americans were killed in the D-Day actions. After the war many of the bodies were taken to Colleville cemetery overlooking Omaha beach. Each marked with a cross or a Star of David, the debt we still owe them today is explained - a necessity as time dims the memory - in the excellent museum hewn from the cliffs known on the day as Fox Red and Fox Green.

The work of the Volksbund in creating and maintaining German military cemeteries is equally movingly displayed at La Cambe, the final resting place of most of those defending the coastline in 1944.

From Never Again land to Neverland: day three saw us leave the landing beaches for the jewel in the Ile de France, Disneyland. The Disney empire was founded on the antics of a happy cartoon mouse; I am confident that it will perish at the hands of its human workforce. The chap I met at the desk - ironically named ‘Welcome’ - seemed to have taken on single-handedly the task of keeping people out of Disneyland or at the very least making them want to strangle every Styrofoam duck, mouse or dog within sight. When I arrived, he was explaining to a teacher that she could not have the five extra tickets she had a receipt for, unless she had her passport. She had seemed perfectly lady-like until that moment; she morphed into the evil

queen in Snow White and unleashed a torrent of vitriol which would have made Catherine Tate’s ‘gran’ blush. Her coach had been delayed for four hours overnight by an accident on the M25, they had caught a ferry at dawn, they had wasted half of their full-day pass, and the coach driver had driven off to the hotel - with all the passports - because his hours were up. ‘So you don’t have your passport?’ the chap concluded, rather winsomely but not without a touch of sarcasm. Safe behind his hygienic screen, he could only imagine the detailed vulgarity that she spat at him. She retreated momentarily to phone her tour agent, and I approached the smeared screen to ask for my extra tickets, which he duly handed over. The fact that I would have to pretend to be a driver at the entrance seemed an easier option than pointing out that the ticket allocation was wrong.

In we went. I queued for forty-five minutes to have orthopaedic sadism visited on my body by the metal restraints of a supermarket trolley hurtling around a track devised by Crick and Watson. I needed a drink, but the requirement of taking out a second mortgage was off-putting, so I settled for my complementary ‘Pluto’s Dinner’. If I remind you that Pluto is a dog, you’ll get where I’m going with this. If what I got was someone’s idea of food, then Disney’s canteens are being run by Lucretia Borgia and Mrs Lovett.

After the evanescence and comic brutality of Disney, it was a relief to find myself later that evening overlooking Paris from my favourite vantage point at Sacre Coeur. The next day we visited the Arc, the Tour, the Tuileries, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, the Musée d’Orsay and the Champs Elysées. All majestic. But the next day was our last, and we headed for the coast with the sun on our backs.

Arriving at the ferry terminal in Calais brings with it a sense of relief; it’s all over bar the shouting, really. At least it would have been if the tour operator had not cancelled our ferry reservation. Cue the shouting. With seven coaches stacked up behind us the lady at check-in told me that we had no ticket. When our booking reference was punched in, up came the word ‘annulé’. A frantic phone call to the tour operator led nowhere:

“Sorry, Hattie is not in her office this week. Can I help?”

“Well, yes, you can. Can you send a ferry to Calais for us, please? Shall we say ten minutes?” All very jolly bonhomie.

“Is that Paul?” Dry and professional.

“Yes. What gave it away? The panic in my voice? The Voltairian wit? Or did you know I was coming home today?” Pure sarcasm.

“No. The phone recognises your number.” Too prosaic.

“Well can you help?” Despair with a subtle hint of irony.

“I’ll see. Let me call you back.” Check mate!

She saw, and called me back with another booking reference. The lady typed it in as if it were the Da Vinci code, and the screen flashed green for go.

Time for something to eat. So thought twelve thousand other souls aboard the SS Marie Celeste, a groaning hulk shuttling across the busiest sea in the world. Lunch

- or rather tea by the time we were served - was good: isn’t it amazing that no matter how good the food has been in France we quickly fall back on British ‘classics’, as the menu had it: curry and pizza.

I would like to thank Dr Stafford and Mrs Godsland for their invaluable help on this trip. From what I hear the pupils enjoyed themselves and will, I hope, have learnt something. These sorts of trips are only in part about what you see, what you visit, what you do; they are, more importantly, about what and how you learn about yourself. I am bound to say that I was impressed with the way the pupils matured over the course of the six days, how they had their fun, but took the time to absorb the range of experiences. Long may we continue to offer these opportunities.

PG

The Malvernian 2009

claSSicS TriP TO Greece42

in The early hOUrS of Friday 3 April, 21 Sixth Form Classicists and five teachers met at Terminal Five of Heathrow Airport bound for Greece. Just five hours later we were in Athens, cruising into the city centre on the new Paris-style metro to hunt for a bargain in the shops and stalls of the flea-market of Monastiraki.

We awoke with ‘rosy-fingered dawn’ on Day 2, up early to beat the crowds to the Athenian Acropolis. Although covered in scaffolding, the Parthenon and Erechtheum still impressed the students with their sheer size and ingenuity of design. We then descended to the Agora, the ancient market-place and haunt of the philosopher Socrates, and onto the amazingly well-preserved temple to Hephaistos. After a coffee break we went to the street of tombs in the potters’ quarters, the Keramikos; and then to the Theatre of Dionysos, where we tried to imagine no less than 14,000 people watching the first performance of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata (No.4’s entry in this year’s House Play Competition). Time for lunch at a nearby sandwich bar and off to the Olympic Stadium, used both in Classical times and in the modern Olympic Games. The extraordinary goose-stepping changing of the guard ceremony at the tomb of the unknown warrior in Syntagma Square brought a very busy day to an entertaining end.

classics Trip to Greece

On Day 3 we went to Athens’ National Archaeological Museum to gaze upon its many treasures such as ‘the face of Agamemnon’ (as the romantic archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann called the gold death-mask from Mycenae), the iconic golden frog of Kakovatos, the massive marble kouroi statues, the dramatically-posed bronzes and the intricately-incised vase-paintings. After a lunch and a valedictory ice-cream in Omonia Square, we got onto the coach for the three-hour transfer to Delphi.

High up on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, Delphi is the most impressive site and,

although the warm sunny weather temporarily deserted us on Day 4, the students still got a very tangible sense of the mystery and holiness of Apollo’s sanctuary. Armed with torches, some of the party clambered underneath the remains of Apollo’s temple to try to find the oracular shrine. Alas, earthquake damage over the centuries means that nothing is left of the place where Apollo’s priestess, the Pythia, gave her ambiguous predictions; but the buildings on the site and the sculptures and offerings on display in the museum make it clear that the Greeks believed that this was the centre of the religious world.

By Day 5 we had crossed over the new bridge which connects the mainland and the Peloponnese and reached Olympia, where ancient athletes competed to honour Zeus and glorify their home cities. In keeping with this tradition, we all lined up on the starting-line of the stadium and sprinted as best we could down the 200 metre track, and James Eaton (No.2) and Hermione Benest (No.3) were this year’s Olympian victors. The flowers, bird-song and warm spring sunshine helped to bring this site alive; and the powerful statues from the mighty temple of Zeus, beautifully displayed in the museum, also made a profound impression on the students.

After another lunch on the hoof, we moved further south to Nestor’s Palace near Pylos. Though a small site, it has been very well

43claSSicS TriP TO Greece

preserved by archaeologists, and the students were able to see the Bronze Age bath and imagine Telemachus entertained here by Nestor, as described in Book 3 of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’.

The transfer on Day 6 to our beach-side hotel in Tolo via Mystras and Sparta was a spectacular drive over the Taygetos mountain range. 3000 feet high, their peaks were still covered in snow and on the lower slopes the devastating effects of last summer’s forest fires were still very evident. The Byzantine hill city of Mystras was ablaze with wild flowers and the view from its citadel across the Eurotas Valley was breathtaking. Alas, by contrast, just about all there is worth seeing in modern-day Sparta is the huge statue of heroic King Leonidas, the leader of the famous 300 warriors who fought at Thermopylae. So we paid our respects and moved on across the Peloponnese to Tolo.

After paddling in the sea and playing several games of beach volley-ball, we were ready on Day 7 to visit the Bronze Age palace at Mycenae, with its commanding views and eerie bee-hive tombs; and the impressive open-air Theatre of Epidavros, where some of our Thespian students and a rousing rendition of ‘Jerusalem’ entertained the crowds.

Our final day in Greece had now arrived, and en route to the airport we visited Heracles’ fortress palace at Tiryns, and the largely Roman remains of Corinth. Then it was over the Corinth Canal and off to the airport - and eventually back to Malvern by midnight on Friday 10 April.

It was amazing how quickly the time had gone by. Throughout the week the students were excellent company and obviously got a great deal from exploring the ancient sites – “being there really brings the subject alive”, as one of them put it. My thanks go to them for their enthusiasm, to their parents for supporting the tour and to my colleagues – Mr and Mrs Blair, Mr Harris and Mrs Jackson – for all their support, expert knowledge and unfailing good humour. We’re off to Rome and the Bay of Naples in April 2010 – I can’t wait!

RGT

The Malvernian 2009

hOUSe SinGinG cOMPeTiTiOn44

Once aGain this year’s House Singing Competition took place in the ‘Forum’ at the Malvern Theatres. As in previous years the atmosphere in the hall was electric, with passionate support from the houses for their singers. We were pleased to welcome Mr Colin Walker, who is the Director of Music at Abbots Bromley School, as this year’s guest adjudicator. He was faced with the unenviable task of choosing a winner from some excellent performances.

No.8 got the evening off to a great start with a confident and engaging performance of ‘I Got Rhythm’ by Gershwin, arranged by Verity Bramson. This was followed by a striking performance of the Backstreet Boys’ ‘I Want It That Way’ by No.7, with some brave solo contributions from several of the singers. Andrew McDade produced an interesting arrangement of ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys, which was performed with style and sensitivity by the boys in No.5. No.6 delivered a moving performance of Lily Sanders’ arrangement of ‘Happy Ending’ by Mika, with the assistance of Anita Fan at the piano. No.2 was the next to take to the stage with a determined performance of ‘Five Years Time’ by Noah and the Whale, arranged by Scott Mahoney and Tom Knowles. The classy guitar accompaniment and the use of whistling certainly added an extra dimension to their performance. No.3 delivered a sensitive and accurate

house Singing competition

45hOUSe SinGinG cOMPeTiTiOn

performance of a complex arrangement of ‘For the Longest Time’ by Billy Joel, while School House’s polished performance of ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ by Elton John was one of the highlights of the evening. Ivan So was responsible for arranging ‘Only You’ by the Flying Pickets, which was performed with considerable flair by No.1, while No.4 gave a convincing performance of the classic ‘All That Jazz’ from the musical Chicago, arranged by Joanna Smith and Georgina Price. No.9 rounded off the competition with a stylish performance of ‘Where We Gonna Go from Here’ by Mat Kearney, arranged by Simon Eaton.

In an extremely closely fought competition School House was the winning House with the Tims’ Cup for the runner-up being awarded to No.3.

MALP

The Malvernian 2009

hOUSe MUSic cOMPeTiTiOn46

a GrOWTh in The nUMBer of entries, along with the many substantial pieces offered in the A category resulted in a hectic few days of preliminary auditions. This year also saw a greater variety of musical styles; Spanish pop music, songs from the musicals and world music as well as a good selection of more traditional pieces. By the time we reached the finals over thirteen hours of performances had been listened to and, given the high overall standard, there were many worthy entrants who were unfortunate not to be selected for the final concerts. The adjudicator for the finals on 23 March 2009 was Mr David Evans, Director of Music, Hereford Cathedral School.

In Category C we heard a haunting and highly effective rendition of

‘Autumn leaves’ played by Isabelle von Borcke (No.8) on bass guitar and some fine singing from Hannah Campbell (No.8), Sarah Richardson (No.4) and all three were unlucky not to be placed this year. Harry Rose (No.2) sang Handel’s ‘Where e’re you walk’ with conviction and some very stylish moments and Camilla Penrice (No.6), playing a movement from the Violin Concerto in B minor Op.35 by Rieding, demonstrated good technical control. Just ahead was Philippa Vandome (No.8) who showed that the saxophone, a sometimes unruly

house Music competition

and harsh sounding instrument, can be coaxed to produce mellifluous and expressive melodies. It was similar qualities from Jacob Lee (SH), on clarinet, that impressed in his interpretation of ‘Voi Che Sapete’ by Mozart. The winner of this section was Jonathan Betteridge (No.5) who not only captured the spirit and style of Trevor Hold’s ‘Quajira’ but also made that vital connection between performer and audience more effectively than the rest of this group.

Nathan King (No.5) began the Category B concert with ‘O Mistress Mine’ by Quilter, setting a very high standard for the rest of the field and, in the end, his fine tenor voice and his assured performance were enough to win the day. Anna Ross (No.4) on piano and flautist Tabitha Griffiths (No.8) took the next two places with a Sonatina movement by Clementi and a Disney Song. Special mention was made of Tabitha’s immaculate intonation and ensemble; the adjudicator was unsure if she was miming to a CD! Katya Berger (No.8) sang one of her own compositions to a professionally made CD backing track and the well-known Kern song ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ that Man’ was performed by Lottie Rugeroni (No.4); both were polished, stylish performances. Also placed was Natalie Wander (No.3) for her rich

toned viola playing in ‘Meditation’ by Frank Bridge.

The Category A evening concert, given by seventeen of Malvern’s top musicians, began at 7.30 pm and lasted for the best part of two hours. There was some outstanding quality on display on instruments as diverse as Flugelhorn, Tuba and Double Bass. Three pianists shared the accompanying, IDS, MALP and Mr Levie Moscovici. Their role is often overlooked and I would like to acknowledge their hard work, along with the many instrumental teachers, in preparing the students. Special mention should also be made of Maria Schacker (No.8) who accompanied with great sensitivity in Fauré’s Elegy.

David Evans had the unenviable task of sorting out an order from this very closely contested Category A final. Although the top two places were clear to him, the remainder was of an evenly high standard and everyone contributed to making the evening most memorable. Apart from the five placed students, I particularly enjoyed Anna Wagner’s (No.3), Jenny Simpson’s (No.8) and Claire Fung’s (No.8) songs, Isabella Petzinka’s (No.6) and Stephanie Schöhl’s (No.8) cello playing and the trumpet playing of Scott Mahoney (No.2).

47hOUSe MUSic cOMPeTiTiOn

Adam New (SH) performed two movements from a Marcello trombone Sonata, Beth Lloyd (No.8) played

‘Carnival of Venice’ by Herbert Clarke on flugelhorn and Verity Bramson (No.8) sang two contrasting Fauré songs for their places. The first movement from Hindemith’s flute Sonata was played authoritatively by Sarah Fung (No.3). Notable was the tonal range, rhythmic and dynamic control that she was able to bring to this fine music and her

PLACECATEGORY A

GRADE 7 AND ABOVECATEGORY B

GRADES 5 AND 6CATEGORY C

UP TO GRADE 4

1st Andy McDade (No.5) Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6)

Nathan King (No.5) Jonathan Betteridge (No.5)

2nd Anna Ross (No.4) Jacob Lee (SH)

3rd Sarah Fung (No.3) Tabitha Griffiths (No.8) Philippa Vandome (No.8)

4th Verity Bramson (No.8) Katya Berger (No.8) Camilla Penrice (No.6)

5th Adam New (SH) Beth Lloyd (No.8)

Natalie Wander (No.3) Charlotte Rugeroni (No.4)

Harry Rose (No.2)

Sh 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Total 26 13 17 31 35 28 36 8 43 30

interpretation was worthy of her high position. The first place was shared between Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6) and Andrew McDade (No.5). Sarah, playing from memory, gave a mesmerising, characterful performance of the very challenging ‘Tambourin chinois’ by Kreisler and Andy once more proved to everyone present that the tuba is an instrument capable of lyrical melody and a virtuosity that belies its cumbersome size. He performed Rodney Newton’s ‘Capriccio’.

David Evans listened to over five hours of performances in total, spoke encouragingly and also gave valuable hints and tips for musical improvement. A new scoring system, a calculation to rival Duckworth-Lewis, took into account the number of pupils in each House and ensured that the result was based on musical input alone. The worthy winners were No.8.

SRS

DRIVEN AT HEART

One Hundred Years of a Driving PassionTo see for yourself what makes a Morgan so special

contact adrian.jones@morgan-motor.co.uk for more information visit morgan-motor.co.uk

Morgan 4/4 Sport

The Malvernian 2009

infOrMal & cOMMUniTy cOncerTS48

The reGUlar PaTTern of Sunday evening Informal Concerts have continued to take place this year, with two in the Autumn term and one in both the Lent and the Summer terms. These concerts demonstrate the wealth of musical talent currently at the College ranging from the youngest pupils in the Foundation Year through to the more advanced students in the Sixth Form. Among the more unusual items heard during this year’s Informal Concerts was Andrew McDade’s (No.5) performance of ‘Czardas’ by Monti on the vibraphone and marimba. Among this year’s other highlights was a accomplished performance of a piece called ‘Virtuosity’ by Kenny Baker, performed by new Lower Sixth trumpeter Beth Lloyd (No.8).

Although these concerts mainly offer a platform for solo performances there have also been several opportunities to hear some exciting chamber music played by various ensembles including the ‘Suite for Seven’ by Hanmer performed by the Wind Septet, and Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ performed by the Cello Quartet which features Tony Lo (SH), Chuck Low (No.1), Isabella Petzinka (No.6) and Stephanie Schöhl (No.8).

A new development for the Music Department this year has been the Community Concerts that have taken place in the Lent and Summer terms during the lunch hour on weekdays. These

concerts have taken place in St Edmund’s Hall, and have attracted an audience from the local community as well as from within the College. They have provided an additional showcase for our musicians to shine with a variety of solo and ensemble performances.

The first concert on Thursday 13 November drew a small but appreciative audience of local people and staff, to enjoy half an hour’s music in St Edmund’s Hall after having some refreshments including a

“bring your own” lunch. A variety of music was on offer including a number of vocal solos, a Chopin nocturne, the wind septet and a contrasting lively arrangement of “O when the Saints”.

The second concert in March attracted a large audience. The varied programme included a cello quartet of Chuck Low (No.1), Tony Lo (SH), Isabella Petzinka (No.6) and Stephanie Schöhl (No.8), singers Jennifer Simpson (No.8) and Claire Fung (No.3), solo oboe from Chantelle Hudson (No.3), a piano solo from George Lacey (SH), music for two violins from Lilli Neumann (No.6) and Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6), and finally the barbershop quartet consisting of Simon Eaton (No.9), George Lacey (SH), Andrew McDade (No.5) and Adam New (SH). Congratulations and thank you to them all.

MALP

informal & community concerts

49chOral MUSic

ThiS haS Been another productive year for the Chapel Choir. Over the three terms the choir has averaged some 80 singers and it has been particularly encouraging that even on Sundays when no day pupils are present we have been able to field a four-part choir. It was disappointing not to be able to sing in Tewkesbury Abbey on Advent Sunday, a tradition that goes back many years. Understandably the Abbey authorities have decided that they want the local choir to celebrate this important Sunday in the church’s year. However we were delighted to be able to sing an Advent Carol Service in Malvern Priory, another special building and particularly appropriate since the College is part of the parish. This enabled the Chapel Choir to enjoy two visits to The Priory this year, with the Service of Commemoration in May.

The Chamber Choir has continued to flourish with a particularly well-balanced and sensitive group of singers this year. In the Autumn term we sang in Upton Parish Church as part of he Upton Arts Group programme of recitals for 2008-9.

In addition the choir was invited to sing in Autumn in Malvern Festival when we performed a variety of hymns under the direction of renowned conductor, Nicholas Cleobury in his lecture, Hymnody by Ralph Vaughan Williams. We returned to Christ Church, Malvern, in March to sing at the service for the Women’s World Day of

choral Music

Prayer, as well as travelling to Worcester to give a recital in St John’s Road Methodist Church. The Lent term concluded with a joint concert in Big School with the Hood River Valley High School Chamber Singers from U.S.A. Our pupils hosted the visitors and a very enjoyable time was had by all, both musically and socially.

In the Summer term we were delighted to sing at the home church of one of our singers, Adam New (SH). This involved a long journey to the delightful village of Filkins where, as always, the choir delighted the audience with a mixture of instrumental and choral items. It was also good to make our annual visit to Little Malvern Priory where we sang a service of Evensong on Sunday 17 May. The year concludes for the Chamber Choir with a short visit to Holland. We will be giving recitals in Amsterdam and Hilversum as well as singing at the Morning Service in the English reformed Church in the Begijnhof.

Choral Society had an enjoyable two terms rehearsing Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man. At times rehearsals seemed slightly tedious particularly for the sopranos with so much repetition. However the repeated tunes were memorable ones, and the overall effect with the orchestra at the performance was wonderful. It was particularly pleasing that the soloists for the concert were all pupils. To celebrate ten years of the Choral

Society in its present form, we will be singing Handel’s Messiah in March 2010 and the plan is to use as many former and existing pupils as possible to cover the solo parts.

The Lent term saw a spectacular debut of our barbershop quartet in a Community Concert. Since then the quartet (George Lacey (SH), Andrew McDade (No.5), Adam New (SH) and Simon Eaton (No.9)) have performed on various occasions. This group was formed by the pupils and there has been no staff input: congratulations to them for achieving such a high standard and giving pleasure to so many. So choral singing continues to thrive at Malvern while we all enjoy some energetic singing in Chapel day by day. Well done to all the pupils who show tremendous commitment to the various groups week by week.

IDS

The Malvernian 2009

chOral MUSic50

The chaMBer chOir TOUr TO hOllanD

The Chamber Choir gave three formal performances in Holland as part of a long weekend’s visit. They are pictured during the morning service on Sunday 12 July at The English Reformed Church in Amsterdam. They returned to the church on Monday 13 July to give a recital to a large and appreciative audience. Apart from the choral items which ranged from Tallis to Tavener, seven pupils gave solo performances: Verity Bramson (No.8), George Lacey (SH), Andrew McDade (No.5), Felicity Rogers OM, Harriet Sale (No.4), Jennifer Simpson (No.8) and Anna Wagner (No.3). During the evening of Sunday 13 July the choir gave a performance in St. Vitus Church in Hilversum. The singing was well received at all venues with both recitals gaining standing ovations. Less formal performances were given on a canal trip, in the hotel foyer, on various trains and coaches as well as to the captain of our KLM plane some 32000 feet high!

IDS

UPTOn reciTal

Our musicians were invited to give a recital for the Upton Arts Music Group in Upton Parish Church in October and a variety of solos were performed as well as items sung by the Chamber Choir. The choristers enjoyed the rewarding acoustic of the church, performing a wide-ranging repertoire that included traditional items from South America and South Africa alongside settings by contemporary composers, Bob Chilcott and John Rutter. There were delightful vocal solos from Andrew McDade (No.5), Verity Bramson (No.8) and Jennifer Simpson (No.8) while Harriet Sale (No.4) joined with Jungwoo Seo (SH) in an unusual setting of the Ave Maria for soprano and clarinet. Helen Pratt (No.6) gave a performance of her own composition ‘Infant Joy’, while Isabelle Petzinka (No.6) and Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6) were soloists on the cello and violin respectively with moving accounts of music by van Paradis and Bach. MALP entertained the audience with a lively minuet by Boëllmann to complete the repertoire. This was a very happy occasion with some extremely good performances.

IDS

51MUSic

The Abbey Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3ETt 01684 897 897 f 01684 897 898 e abbey@sarova.co.uk

sarova.com

The Abbey is the perfect location for reunions,family gatherings, private functions and end ofyear balls.

Contact us for more information or a copy of our latest brochure.

The AbbeyGreat Malvern | Worcestershire

PrivateFunctions

The Malvernian 2009

chriSTMaS cOncerT52

christmas concert

The chriSTMaS cOncerT opened to a packed Big School with the Concert Band, conducted by Mr Stephen Spanyol, performing a movement from the wonderful English Folk Song Suite by the great Vaughan-Williams. The march

‘Folk songs from Somerset’ is spirited and vigorous in nature and includes three folk songs, ‘Blow Away the Morning Dew’,

‘High Germany’ and ‘John Barleycorn’. The second piece, ‘Silverwinds’, written by the contemporary Irish composer Fergal Carroll, was composed in 2006 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Rathfarnham Concert Band of Dublin. The Concert Band played with a commitment and rhythmic vitality that really brought the music to life.

Next on stage were the runners up in the House Singing Competition, No.3. They were singing the Billy Joel classic ‘For the Longest Time’, and performed with real musicality and polish.

Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Stephen McDade, gave a spirited and highly enjoyable rendition of two movements from the St Paul’s Suite by another English composer, Gustav Holst. The jig depicting English fiddle dance tunes and ‘The Dargason’, a lively English folk tune, with ‘Greensleeves’ used as a counter melody. This is a complex movement, unusually using two different time signatures at the same time, and the

Chamber Orchestra rose to the challenge with an impressive aplomb.

The winners of the 2008 House Singing Competition, School House, took to the stage to perform ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ by Elton John. The boys showed why they were crowned winners this year with a performance that was both technically and musically assured and sung with passion.

Jazz Band performed two pieces, under the direction of Mr Stephen Spanyol, ‘Blues for the Windy City’ by Christopher Lay and ‘In a Mellow Tone’ by the great bandmaster, Duke Ellington. They played with energy and vitality that belied the fact that we were running up towards the end of term. We felt tired just listening to these enthusiastic youngsters. The mood changed during the Ellington, becoming more relaxed, and featured a beautifully played trumpet solo by Beth Lloyd (No.8).

Vaughan-Williams was on the programme again, this time the Chamber Choir with their director, Mr Iain Sloan performing a carol arrangement of ‘This Is The Truth Sent From Above’. ‘De Virgin Mary’ a spiritual arranged by the conductor Malcolm Sargent was next on the menu and they ended their performance with another Christmas Classic ‘O Holy Night’. Verity Bramson (No.8) sang the solo soprano

line with her usual innate musicality and poise.

The concert was then brought to a close with the School Orchestra, conducted by Mr Stephen McDade. ‘The Big Apple’, arranged by Calvin Custer, is a medley of tunes from Broadway musicals, such as the theme from ‘New York, New York’, ‘42nd Street and Lullaby of Broadway’. This was a huge piece, requiring a large orchestra. The high quality brass section gave us a great deal of power and excitement when needed alongside some astonishingly gentle chordal passages, and the wind and string sections gave us sublimely beautiful romantic melodies, including a violin solo by Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6), before moving into the whirlwind sprint to the finish. An impressive end to a highly enjoyable concert.

IDS

53SUMMer cOncerT

Summer concert

The SUMMer cOncerT opened with a passionate and skilful performance by the Concert band under the direction of Mr Stephen Spanyol, of a tale of doomed romance. Miss Saigon, by Claude-Michel Schönberg, ran for ten years in the West end, a modern adaptation of the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly set at the end of the Vietnam War. The medley included ‘The Heat is on in Saigon’, ‘Sun and Moon’, ‘Morning of the Dragon’, ‘The last Night of the World’, ‘The American Dream’ and ‘I Still Believe’.

The Chamber orchestra, directed by Mr Stephen McDade, then took to the stage with a movement from ‘Palladio’ by Karl Jenkins. A lively piece, played with an impressive precision and clarity. The violin solos from Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6) and Jeffrey Cheuk (No.1) were beautifully balanced, with a sensitive accompaniment from the orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra then dispensed with their bows for a performance of ‘Plink Plank Plunk’, a lively fun piece by Leroy Anderson that has all the players playing pizzicato (plucking) with the occasional snap pizzicato from Helen Pratt (No.6) on the double bass and squeaky sounds in the middle by the players sliding the palm of their hands along the backs of their instruments.

The newly formed Barbershop Quartet ‘The Close Hairmony Singers’ comprising of George Lacey (SH), Adam New (SH),

Andrew McDade (No.5), and Simon Eaton (No.9) performed a selection of numbers, such as In the jungle arranged by Adam New (SH), then ‘Lindy Lou’ and finishing with ‘Yes Sir, That’s My Baby’. A highly musical group of youngsters with an infectious sense of fun. This group was founded and directed by themselves and the waistcoats were designed by the group and made by Kim Tutcher.

Mr Stephen Spanyol brought on the Jazz Band for three numbers, two of which have become classics of the jazz world. ‘The Last Lap’ by Bret Zvacek, a modern piece composed in 2006, had an extended wonderfully played trumpet solo by Scott Mahoney (No.2). ‘Blueberry Hill’ by Vincent Rose, published in 1940 has been a hit for such luminaries as Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Fats Domino. The audience found toe-tapping form in the final piece, Tuxedo Junction, by Erskine Hawkins. The Jazz Band, as we have come to expect, were in fine fettle.

Mr Iain Sloan took the unusual step of having three settings of the same words by different composers. The Chamber Choir performed the familiar versions by Mozart and Elgar, followed by a setting by the Head of School, Amy Chichester (No.8). The Chamber Choir was accompanied in the Mozart by a string quartet, comprising Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6) and Lilli Neumann (No.6), violins, Natalie Wander (No.3),

viola and Isabella Petzinka (No.6), ‘cello. The performances were sung with musical conviction and an absolutely beautiful tenderness. They concluded their part of the concert with an arrangement by Allan Billingsley of the Lennon and McCartney classic, ‘All You Need Is Love’.

The concert ended with the College Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Stephen McDade, performing an arrangement by Ted Ricketts of the Klaus Badelt film score to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The medley included ‘Fog Bound’, ‘The Medallion Calls’, ‘To the Pirate’s Cave’, ‘The Black Pearl’, ‘One Last Shot’ and ‘He’s a Pirate’. There were some delightful solos from individual members of the orchestra, such as Sarah Fung (No.8), flute; Simon Eaton (No.9), oboe; Verity Bramson (No.8), clarinet; Lily Sanders (No.6), French horn; Beth Lloyd (No.8), trumpet and Andy McDade (No.5) on xylophone. The Orchestra played with both finesse and gusto, with the final section being the musical equivalent of a four-minute mile. A wonderful end to a highly enjoyable concert. Now to the obligatory music department glass of wine…

The Malvernian 2009

SUMMer SerenaDe & cOncerTO cOncerT54

iT iS a GreaT PrivileGe to work with our top music pupils in preparation for the annual Concerto Concert, and this year was no exception with thirteen pupils eligible to take part in this prestigious occasion. All the performers rose to the challenge and enjoyed playing with a professional orchestra.

The concert opened with a neat performance from Scott Mahoney (No.2) (trumpet) of Larsson’s Concertino. Scott played all three of the short contrasting movements catching the various moods well. This was followed by the first movement of Dragonetti’s Concerto in A major for Double Bass with Helen Pratt (No.6) as the soloist. There is no doubt that this is one of the most demanding work for solo double bass in what is a comparatively small repertoire for the instrument as soloist. Helen performed with her customary skill admirably covering the full range of her instrument as well as displaying its more expressive character as well.

The third item on the programme was two more movements of another Larsson concertino, this time for solo trombone. The soloist was Adam New (SH) who showed considerable stamina dealing with the long cadenza-like passages in the first movement while the second movement gave him the opportunity to show off the expressive tonal qualities of the trombone to the full. George Lacey (SH) gave the first performance on our new Brodmann grand piano in the opening movement of Mozart’s A major Piano

Summer Serenade & concerto concert

Concerto, K488. He enjoyed the even touch of the piano in this pleasing account.

Fauré was our next composer with the popular Elégie given a passionate performance by Stephanie Schöhl (No.8) (cello): there was much to admire in the more lyrical moments too where Stephanie’s melody alternated with the shapely playing from the woodwind soloists in the orchestra. The next item was a movement from Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C with Simon Eaton (No.9) as soloist. This is a taxing movement that Simon took in his stride as well as including an exciting cadenza.

The first half concluded with a stunning performance from Beth Lloyd (No.8) of Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto. This sustained piece that includes attractive East European folk melodies was given a convincing interpretation by Beth with dazzling passagework as well as musically shaped melodies.

After a much-needed break, the concert continued with the first movement of Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1 with Tony Lo (SH) as the soloist. Tony caught the varying moods well with a particularly well-controlled ending. Anna Wagner (No.3) (soprano) treated us to a recitative and aria from Haydn’s The Seasons, a work not often heard. The joy of Haydn’s music was fully conveyed through Anna’s communicative singing.

Our new piano really came into its own with the rich textures of the second movement of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by Ivan So (No.1). His playing was notable for the great range if dynamics achieved along with a very sensitive ending that held the attention of every member of the audience. Following this we had a dazzling performance of the first movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G major, K216, given by Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6). As one would expect the singers in tonight’s concert did not use music, but Sarah was the only instrumentalist who played from memory. This only added to her ability to communicate in this outstanding performance.

Verity Bramson (No.8) (soprano) impressed with her command of Norwegian in a performance of two of Grieg’s songs, Solveig’s Song and Last Spring. This was convincing singing with a genuine understanding of this romantic style. The evening came to an end with an entertaining performance by Andrew McDade (No.5) (tuba) of his own arrangement of Variations on Carnival of Venice by Arban. This was virtuosic playing at its best with the tuba somewhat uncharacteristically leaping around along with some moments of melancholy that made up this light-hearted but demanding piece.

Congratulations to our pupils for bringing off such a wonderful evening!

IDS

55MUSic

The Malvernian 2009

SchOOl hOUSe56

School house

The year 2008 - 2009 has been memorable for SH. Not only are the shelves groaning with cups but so often success has been the result of a team effort by the boys and not just the consequence of exertions by a few of the ‘gladiators’. For the House staff and parents this is a joy to see.

On the sports field the boys have ranged widely. Twelve SH boys were playing for the 1st and 2nd XV and six members of our eleven-strong FY were regular members of the season’s unbeaten Under 14 A XV including Liam Charlton and Henry Salmon, captain and vice-captain respectively. Much to the frustration of the boys we failed to win either House Rugby Competition but the Juniors made good by winning the Junior House Football and Cricket Competitions and the Seniors won the Senior House Cricket. One for the record books was the presence of three sets of SH brothers in the cricket XI – Ollie and Jack Barnett, Will and Arthur Jones and George and Charlie Lacey. We also managed to retain the Ledder Cup, which made the Cup Supper that evening go with a zing.

Sport of course develops its own momentum amongst any group of boys - as a Housemaster one really does not have to try hard to encourage sport at any level. Happily the same applies to other pursuits in SH. The Arts have continued to draw

on the talents of boys from all years. Six of the nine members of the Chamber Choir were SH boys and Adam New once again showed his worth in putting together a group of fourteen boys strong enough to win the House Singing Competition. A similar standard was evident at our annual Arts’ Evening in the Lent term, in the College production of ‘Les Miserables’ which included a number of SH boys in leading roles, and the Concerto Concert and other ensembles and concerts. SH boys have been evident in all. I do not think that the standard of music in the House has been higher.

We also won ‘The Most Entertaining Play’ award in this year’s House Play Competition thanks in part to another witty script by Bami Afolabi but also to the collective endeavours of the forty boys who took part and the deft directing of Hugo de Haan and Henry Bridge.

Intellectually the House continues to be well represented in the Wheeler-Bennett Society, the Sixth Form scholars’ society, and debating remains a popular activity at Junior and Senior level. We reached the final of the Senior competition and Josh Wilkes and Oli Marshall have both made their mark in national competitions. Academically, all did well by their own lights, some particularly well, with nearly all the leavers getting into their first choice of university.

As far as outdoor pursuits are concerned, the House seems to have a grip on the CCF! We produced seven out of the nine members of the team that came third in the regional March and Shoot competition and all three sections are currently being run by SH boys – Hugo de Haan is in charge of the Royal Marines section, William Morley is in charge of the Army section and Nik Schwede the RAF section. Further, Jamie Paterson is the Senior Cadet of the Contingent. What is so pleasing is that these are some of the same boys one sees directing plays, debating and winning academic accolades. Great stuff.

So, it has been a terrific year for the House in terms of winning but critically it has been achieved by the boys working for each other and at the same time enjoying the individual achievements of their peers.

My thanks of course go to the House staff who have continued to work tirelessly for the boys and our best wishes to Peter Blair (House tutor) and John Harris (chef) both of whom are leaving. Peter has gone off to Haileybury and John to pastures new. Our loss, their gain.

JAOR

57SchOOl hOUSe

The Malvernian 2009

SchOOl hOUSe58

59aDverTiSinG feaTUre

The Malvernian 2009

nO.160

‘iT TaKeS The haMMer of persistence to drive the nail of success.’

This year I have seen much persistence and strength of character in the boys of No.1, resulting in many achievements and a lot of fun along the way.

I would like to thank the outgoing Head of House, Teniola Zaccheaus and his deputies, Chuck Low, Yannick Hecker and Harsh Hiranandani for their thoughtful and inspiring leadership. My congratulations go to the new incumbents, the Head of House, Edward Davenhill, and his deputies, Quirin Lübke and Harry Siviter and I very much look forward to working with them. My thanks also go to the House team, Mrs Harvey and the House tutors Mr William Davidson (Deputy Housemaster), Mr John Knee, Mr Jon Mace, Mr Justin Major and Mr John Cox. It is with sadness that the boys and staff to bid farewell to Mr John Knee who has worked as a House tutor in No.1 for 12 years, but has been at Malvern for the last 35! Now that’s stickability! Farewell too, to Mr Jon Mace who left at the end of the Lent term to take up a post as Housemaster at Warminster. We thank him for his commitment and wish Jon and his family every good wish for the future. We congratulate Mr Justin Major for his promotion to Deputy of No.5, and thank him for the time and energy he has given over the year he has been with us.

no.1

This term No.1 undertook a House Trip to Bath and very much enjoyed seeing a Guinness Cup Rugby Match (Bath v Newport Dragons). For some it was their first exposure to the game – what a cultural experience!

Early in the term the boys began rehearsals for the House Singing Competition. Competition was fierce this year and No.1 held their own as they sang an arrangement of “Only You” by the Flying Pickets. It was good to see Joe Comery, Jeffrey Cheuk, Fabien Jungmann and Eric Ma feature prominently as they took solos; a special thanks to Chuck Low who arranged and conducted.

After Half Term we retained the House Chess Cup against No.7, 2 games to 1 for the second consecutive year! Thank you to Harsh Hiranandani, Jason Chung and Nickolai Verchok. Then came the House Basketball Final in which we lost to a strong No.7, 30 - 23, a narrow defeat and finally, the House Rugby Final. After last year where we were fortunate to have eleven of the first team players, things were more balanced this year. It was a spirited performance from all the guys but in the end we lost, 29 - 17.

61nO.1

lent TermThis term was a busy one for the House. On the first weekend the boys played the, now annual, House Charity Football Event and were delighted to raise £410 which has gone towards supporting two boys, Ashok and Misael, in Nepal and I would like to thank parents, friends and relatives for their generous support.

In the Ledbury Run we fared less well than in previous years, however both Ed Davenhill (3rd) and Harry Siviter (6th) had outstanding performances considering the relatively small amount of training they undertook.

My thanks go to Clement de Montalembert and Edward Davenhill for directing the House play. This year the boys managed to bring the film ‘Shrek’ to the stage. A funny moment for me included the transition of beautiful Queen Fiona (Teniola Zaccheaus) to the large green ogre (Kit Lister). Thirty-one boys took part on or off stage, all pulling together with great unity and a sense of team spirit.

Perhaps the highlight of the term for me was watching a good number of the boys take part in the House Music Evening. I had not anticipated it being such a hit! Mr Sloan told me that No.1 has not staged a

music evening in his memory … that’s quite a few years! I hope the performers won’t mind my naming one or two who, until now, had perhaps hidden their talents from the rest of the House. Eric Ma and Jeffrey Cheuk (violins) played an enchanting duet; Ivan So, a wonderful Chopin Nocturne and Shane Wang (trombone) performed a very complicated Chinese folk song with accuracy and gusto provoking great applause by the boys. We are fortunate to have a good number of musicians coming through the House at the moment and I look forward to another music evening next year.

In the Senior House Football the pool matches drew us against No.9. We began with a win, 4 - 0, followed by a another win against No.5, 3 - 1, in the second round and then the final; a gripping match against No.7 in which the boys won 3 - 1 with goals from Jack Nicholls and Dominic Stanley (2 goals and man of the match).

No less than four boys in No.1 played for the unbeaten 1st XI: Jack Nicholls, Dominic Stanley, Teniola Zaccheaus and Gregory Kirchhoff and all four played in the College

winning team against Loughborough Grammar School in the ISFA Cup making them the Midlands Champions – an impressive achievement.

Summer TermOn the first weekend of the Summer term, eight No.1 boys, led by Mr Major and Mr Davidson, took off to the College’s stone retreat, Cwm Llwch in the Brecon Beacons. The Saturday night and following morning were filled with different elements including a walk in the dark, melting marshmallows over a campfire and hiking up Pen-y-fan, one of the highest mountains in Wales. This was a fine opportunity for some older boys to forge friendships with younger ones and to develop House unity. I quote from a website write up by Max Weinberg about the trip:

‘It is a good opportunity for all boys to get to know each other better and especially for the smaller boys to forge friendships with the older ones. The night and next morning were filled with different activities including a walk through the dark to test our night navigation, melting marshmallows over a campfire and hiking up one of the highest hills in Wales in the morning. If you want one can even take a dip in the little lake up the hills. Do join Mr. Major and Mr. Davidson on the next Cwm Llwch trip, so pack your bags, a flashlight and a lot of humour and get ready for an adventure! I would recommend this to anyone.’

Just before half term, owing to inclement weather, the Sports Day had to be postponed which meant that there was no Upper Sixth or Hundred to compete. Nevertheless, when it did take place later in the term, Jamie Nicholls (Intermediate) and Tom Trotter (Foundation Year) were best athletes in their respective categories, Tom winning the 100 metres, javelin, shot putt and hurdles events and Jamie winning the 100 and 200 metres.

Congratulations must go to Jack Inchmore (aged 15) who represented the College at 1st XI Cricket for three matches; I can testify to his speed and accuracy of bowling – he had no trouble in bowling me out in the nets!

No.1 retained the Croquet Cup for a second successive year; my thanks to Seb Cheshire (Capt), Ed Davenhill, Harry Siviter and Jack Nicholls; the combination of tactics and accuracy were too much for No.8! Ed and Seb tell me they are the national

undefeated champions, is this because no opposition turned up?!

As usual the College was treated to a splendid Summer Serenade with the following No.1 boys taking part: Eric Ma, Julius Simon, Shane Wang, Joe Comery, Tileman Kuhl, Jeffrey Cheuk and Ivan So. Latterly Ivan took part in a concerto concert, playing with a professional orchestra to produce an exquisite rendition of the second movement of Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto.

At the end of the term we were treated to a fabulous version of Pride and Prejudice in which Jamie Nicholls featured as the dashing Mr Darcy, with Jasper Tautorus and Fabian Jungmann in support.

In closing, my congratulations go to Max Schacker (42/45 points) and Yannick Hecker (43/45 points) who did exceptionally well in their IB; Yannick will go up to Hertford College, Oxford in October. I would like to thank all the boys for making the year such an enjoyable experience for me, but of course I could not do any of it without the patience and generosity of my wife, Ruth.

AJW

The Malvernian 2009

nO.162

63nO.1

The Malvernian 2009

nO.264

anOTher year, another terrific intake of new members of the House and a great deal of anticipation as to which aspects of life in Number Two would yield the greatest successes this time around.

Our new FY again promised to continue the House tradition of work hard, play hard, and give everything you can to those around (although possibly not always in that order!). With seven different prep-school represented in their group, with one as far afield as Scotland, it might have been tricky for them to bond, but being a like-minded and positive lot they quickly learnt to work ‘as a unit’ as well as individuals. Our annual Cwm Llwch trip on the third weekend of the year helped, of course, and much fun was had by the team, along with Mssrs Jackson and Harris, including of course the Balloon Game and the customary dunk in the waterfall!

More generally, the House has been impressively involved with a great number and variety of commitments.

In Music we were lucky to have the excellent Scott Mahoney (also deputy Head of House) who not only led a terrific performance of the novel song ‘Five Year’s Time’ for the House Singing Competition (surely we were robbed again this year…?) but he also led the way for the school Jazz Band as well as the House rock band. The latter managed to perform a number of

no.2

times for outside events… it could be that the next McFly will come from No.2!

Expeditions have also proved a very big area within the House, with the usual numerous D of E cohort but with many more who pushed the boundaries; nearly half of the CCF Winter Skills expedition team to Scotland came from here – including Kevin the chef! – and three-quarters of the Three Peaks Challenge team. No.2 boys also made up the majority of the divers who went off to Malta, as well as a big part of the Extreme Skiing trip to the mountains around Chamonix.

As one might imagine, sport featured highly in the list of ‘things to do’ for most of the boys this year; notable successes included the Juniors winning the Junior Ledder and rugby, and the seniors making their presence known on the rugby pitch, with a disproportionate number of the XV, including the captain (and the year’s Head of House) Charles Wakeford. Hockey proved a very successful area, as well, with seven members of the first hockey team and Player of the Season Tom Saxton representing us. Junior cricket went particularly well, and in spite of an excellent effort by all concerned we lost in the dying stages of the House final… at the hands of one Charlie Lacey! Needless to say this was particularly hard to swallow, especially for the Housemaster! Athletics remained strong, and this year, we took the cup that had eluded us last

year, the Senior Athletics. James Eaton – our superstar Athlete of the Year – helped to lead the way and managed to break numerous school records to boot. Joking apart, we really have had to put up another trophy shelf this year, which came in handy when the last competition of the year, the junior croquet, came our way as well. We are clearly looking forward to continuing this strong tradition of excellence and leadership with the next captains of Rugby, Hockey, and Rackets.

It was also very good to see a large involvement in drama over the year. With ten of the House taking part in Les Misérables, including the captivating Monsieur Thenardier (Alex Cornelius), it made the production all the more enjoyable. Aside from this, and the large numbers in the House Play – the Curse of the Claw – the drama scholars have been working in the Junior Play as well as outside productions and LAMDA examinations. Demanding it might be, but clearly very rewarding.

Importantly, too, the boys of No.2 have done a good job of their academic studies, with some truly wonderful A level results from our leavers, outstanding AS scores over all and terrifically strong GCSE results for the Hundred, many of whom had not started their careers here as scholars. Whilst performance indicators such as grades are not the ‘be all and end all’ it is

65nO.2

lovely to see such reward for the continued efforts made. The more cerebral side of life was well supported by the debaters, with Arthur Wakeley making his presence known in many local and national debates, and the Junior team of Sam Goldblatt and Bar Bartlett achieving a good win in the House Debating Competition.

Needless to say, as a House we have also let our hair down at the many events; Birthday Suppers, curry nights, a Burns night, a wok evening and barbecues to name but a few.

Sadly, though, as in every year, we say good-bye to people who have been a part of the House. This year we bade goodbye to Mr Jackson, Rodney Bailey (our wonderful Houseman) and it was au revoir to Kevin the chef, as he moves down to oversee the exciting new venture in the new facilities. They will all be missed, but their replacements will be welcomed shortly, we trust! We have been lucky to have benefitted from their efforts and care and we are lucky to retain a great team in place, continuing to give their all to the boys who live here; my thanks go to all of them.

RGL

The Malvernian 2009

nO.266

67nO.2

The Malvernian 2009

nO.368

The PaST acaDeMic year was most enjoyable for No.3. It was sad to see the Upper Sixth leave but with so many being successful in their public examinations, some even exceeding their predictions, we were very pleased for them and wish them every success in the future.

The Autumn Term began with the arrival of new students, eight FY, one Remove and nine Lower Sixth.

Charlie Lawrence, Head of House and her Deputies, Laura Joyce and Chanty Hudson were keen to ensure that everyone was happy and understood the expectations of girls in No.3! They were very quick to help a couple of the younger girls who were in awe of their new surroundings in the first week and they have offered ongoing support to these young ladies as the term progressed.

The Autumn term is always exceptionally busy and it began in earnest with the Junior House Hockey Competition. We were disappointed to lose the trophy but made a valiant effort with newcomer Kate Wood in goal and some excellent play by Alys Marr and Abi Hefferan on the pitch.

We were extremely successful with our entry into the House Singing Competiton. Chanty Hudson and Vixie Furse chose a Billy Joel song, ‘For The Longest Time’. On the night the girls, a choir of 32, looked

no.3

marvellous and their a cappella rendition was warmly praised and awarded a fabulous second place. Similarly we the No.3 girls performed well in the heats of the House Reading Competition. Laura Homfray and Laura Joyce read poems and Abi Hay and Anna Wagner read prose. They spoke with clear diction and a good pace; following in their footsteps were Daisy Powles, Sophia Leonard, Hebe Dickins, Iona Wilder, Sofia Storer and Maitie Wright. All of the girls performed very well indeed and we were delighted to hear that Abi Hay, Hebe Dickins, Daisy Powles, Sofia Storer had made it into the final in the Lent term. This was a truly marvellous achievement and set the tone for us in this competition.

It was a busy term with regard to sport and the FY were soon busy with the Ferrets’ Race. Alys Marr had a fabulous run and came in third, a really great achievement. Following closely on the heels of this event was the Junior House Lacrosse Competition. We fielded a strong team which contained some novices who have no doubt learned the rule sin preparation for next year!

There were a couple of exciting social events this term including the Autumn Term birthday supper. It was a USA themed evening, in celebration of the recent election. Some of the girls, Miss Pugh and Miss Kay treated the rest of us to a line dancing display, this was most amusing to watch and clearly enormous

fun to demonstrate! It was another lively evening it is always lovely to see so many staff and students interacting in informal surroundings.

We also held our House Longy, alongside No.2. Many of the Sixth Form from both Houses gave up an afternoon to decorate the Longy in different areas, Preppy, Nu-Rave, Emo to name a few, in keeping with their theme ‘Label Me’. The FY and Remove all came to watch Mamma Mia on the Private Side. We were tempted to try out the sing-a-long version but no one felt in good enough voice!

Sadly as the last week of term got underway many girls in the House succumbed to a number of illnesses which decimated our Senior Lacrosse team and with thirty minutes to go before the first inter-House match we did not have a full team. However, pulling out was never an option and we managed to field a full, but rather inexperienced team. This really was House spirit as its best!

The last night of term meant the Christmas supper and skits. It allowed us all to see some of the girls in a whole new light as their new-found confidence shone through. Particular mention should go to Hebe Dickins, Caroline Kruger and Harriet Shuker, whose performances were very memorable.

69nO.3

The major event of the Lent Term was the House Play Competition; rehearsals for ‘Once A Catholic’ were well under way by week three. Romy, the director, was ensuring that all lines were learnt and that everyone had a costume ready. The atmosphere around the House was one of great excitement mixed with trepidation. On the dress rehearsal night it was clear that Hebe Dickins was so amusing in her role that she was causing some of the others to ‘corpse’! At last the final night of the competition arrived; the girls rose to the challenge and gave really superb performances. In assembly on the Monday after the performance the results were given by Mr Oliver. It really was no surprise that Hebe was awarded the Best Actress prize, her characterisation of Mary Mooney will stay in our minds for years to come.

Many girls have been involved in many different areas of activity but particular congratulations must go to Anja Vidmar who won the NADFAS Art competition, Also mention must be made to Hermione Benest whose print ‘Through A Glass Darkly’ was one of three piece put into the competition by the College.

There were an enormous number of other activities during the term ranging from an informal concert (with wonderful performances from Sarah Fung, Claire Fung, Natalie Wander, Anna Wagner and Alice Lau) to kayaking at Upton Warren for the Remove. They came home tired, cold but buzzing with enthusiasm for the day out and clearly wanting more of the same. Alongside all of this there was time for making pizza and chocolate brownies on the Private Side. Another success for us this term was the Lea Smith Reading Competition we had four finalists. All girls read very well indeed but Hebe and Abi both won their sections and we returned with the trophy: a very successful evening indeed. Our major House social event was Mexican-themed birthday supper, where 21 girls celebrated their birthdays. Much fun was had by all and games played were pinata bashing - the IB girls clearly used it a stress-releasing opportunity! All in all a very lively and amusing evening which allowed those who had just handed in large amounts of IB coursework the chance to relax totally.

This term was also the time for the Junior Ledder. We were very proud to see Alys Marr (FY) come home in 4th place, an excellent run for her and she was swiftly

followed by Kate Wood (FY) , Phoebe Unwin (Hundred) Susannah Hunt (Remove), Bryce Birkhead (Hundred) Belle Gallop (FY). Our other runners were Iona Wilder, Sofia Storer, Maitie Wright and Harriet Shuker. All of the girls put in a marvellous effort which allowed us to take the team trophy. The penultimate week of the term was also busy as the girls House Fives Competition took place on Tuesday afternoon. The No.3 team consisted of Alice Lau, Sabrina Timm, Debbie Cheng and was captained by Caroline Kruger. Our congratulations go to all four girls for winning the trophy. Towards the end of term the Senior Ledder took place. Sadly, we were unable to put out a full team of five but four willing runners took to the course. It was super to see Maria Theis come home in second place, a fabulous effort allowing her to win her second Ledder Cap (having won the race last year). She was followed by Caroline Waldschmitt in 8th place, Carmen Maßbaum in 14th and Abi Hay a very commendable 16th.

Alongside all of our sportswomen we are also very proud of our musicians as shown by their performance in the finals of the House Music Competition. Natalie Wander, Alice Lau, Claire Fung, Sarah Fung, and Anna Wagner all performed brilliantly. The whole event was wonderful and it was a real delight to listen to each and every performer; it was thrilling to hear that Sarah was awarded third place for her performance.

Our Leavers’ Supper was a lovely occasion, Charlie gave a super speech, which was warmly received by staff and students alike. Many staff have commented on what a

pleasure it was to be present and the girls should feel very proud of the warm and supportive atmosphere that they, as a year group, have created.

The Summer term was also our turn to take Chapel. We decided on the theme of teamwork, and Heili and Anna wrote a very though provoking piece about the value of teamwork in all its different guises. Twenty girls then proceeded to give an excellent display of teamwork using large painted boards to make a ‘human kaleidoscope’. The effect was superb and well worth the effort. We have received many very positive comments from staff and students.

Commemoration Day was memorable, the weather was on our side and we were able to watch as over a third of the House gained at least one prize and in a number of cases more than one. In the latter part of the Summer term the weather held enough for the school to hold the postponed Sports Day. We were able to enter girls in every event and although the team was small and some were inexperienced they were all very keen to have a go and gain points for the House. There were some really fabulous results, particularly for Alys and Hermione. It was a fabulous afternoon culminating in the excitement of the Junior and Senior 100 metres relays. Our results in these events meant that we were the overall winners. Hermione was named as the best Senior Girl and Alys was a very close second in the Junior Girls’ Competition. Our success in sport continued in late June in blistering heat when the girls played the Senior House tennis Competition. We were very pleased to see two of our Hundred return specially for the occasion and it was a

The Malvernian 2009

nO.370

magnificent afternoon for the Senior team of Mareike and Alia (playing together for the first time) and Phoebe and Hebe (who had not joined forces since the FY). All four played some excellent and very exciting tennis and not one pair lost any of their matches, meaning we were victorious! Although the three pairs in the Remove all tried hard and enjoyed their games their skill level does not yet match those in the Senior competition and they were not as successful. However, Abi, Snoz, Cat, Emily Lister, Emily Maggs and Ellie should all be pleased with their efforts and look forward to trying to improve upon their position next year.

Academic success was seen in the publication of the IB results. We have been most fortunate in No.3 to have some exceptional students this year and they were all justly rewarded. Five of the eleven Upper Sixth who took the IB in No.3 this year gained 40 points or more, a truly fabulous achievement for Romy, Chanty, Charlie, Sarah F and Treesa. We are equally proud of our A Level and GCSE students, with particular mention of Laura Joyce and her string of 5 A grades! This cohort of girls really epitomised the ability to balance work and play to perfection and I hope that their efforts will be an inspiration to the lower years in the future.

The term ended on a real high. The Junior Play, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was a very entertaining and extremely enjoyable show. There are 1nineteen girls in No.3 in Remove and FY and of these fifteen were involved in the play, twelve on stage and three doing hair and make-up. Abi Hefferan’s portrayal of the interfering Mrs Bennett was hilarious

and her characterisation was superb. Equally impressive was Emily Maggs as the giggly and girlish Lydia. At the after show party there were many smiling, proud parents and lots of exhausted but exhilarated pupils.

After school emptied on Friday morning we welcomed back our Leavers for the Ball. It was another fantastic event and with so

many having been so successful in the IB there was much celebration occurring. I would like to thank all the girls for making No.3 such a vibrant and enjoyable place to work and in particular Charlie Lawrence, Laura Joyce and Chanty Hudson for all their hard work this year. They have been wonderfully supportive to me; excellent ambassadors for the House and superb role models for the younger girls. In fact

71nO.3

all of this year’s U6th have made a great impression on me for many diverse, but nonetheless positive, reasons and we wish them well as they end their school careers. We are very lucky to work in such a happy and well balanced House and it has been a pleasure for me to once gain be the Housemistress of such a wonderful group of young ladies and working alongside a team of such dedicated staff.

Our thanks to: Sandra, Michelle, Nicky, Emma and Derek, the Houseman, Lee, Jane, Zoe, Rick, Veronika and Ben. And of course, last but never least, Miss Smith and Caps!

FCP

The Malvernian 2009

nO.472

if nO.4 Were a SenTienT BeinG, I wonder what it would have to say as it faces another new term and another new intake of girls. The old building, dating from 1867, has seen a lot of changes but I would like to think that it looks forward to all the girls arriving back with enthusiasm after the quiet summer months. Certainly, there is a sudden burst of noise and activity that the old House has to put up with. Being nearly one hundred and fifty years old, I am sure that it appreciated the choice of the lively House song that Nina Price and Jo Smith chose for the singing competition. ‘All that Jazz’ was soon echoing throughout the House as the girls rehearsed every evening. Not only did the girls acquit themselves well, performing in front of the whole school in the Malvern Theatres, but the occasion made a great start in helping to develop that all-important House spirit that I am certain the old building would relish and regard highly.

I am sure that the old building would also be able to shine in a variety of subjects if it had to take examinations, as it is not just a place where the girls sleep but a place where much of their education takes place too. Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me as a Housemistress how many events take place in the House itself. Not only was it a home to sixty three girls this past

no.4

year, but it also hosted many debating, acting and social events. One thing that would have certainly raised the IQ level of the House was the mini-quiz that was held by the girls to select a winning team for the final of the Hart General Knowledge Quiz. To the surprise of many of the girls, they had found themselves in the final against No.2 for the second time running in recent years. They were very keen to win as they had lost by just a few points last time. A strong team was put together selected from across the year groups comprising, Nina Price, Bryony Logan, Poppy Donaldson and Henrietta Ross. It turned out to be one of the most nail-biting finals of the competition that I have ever witnessed and until the final picture round the teams were neck and neck. Fortunately for us, we won on the last question, putting us just two points ahead of our rivals. No.4, the old building, was surely very proud of us that night!

The girls in No.4 never seem at a loss for words and the House is always a happy place where conversations occur across the year groups at all times of the day. It is rewarding that the girls can also put this verbal skill to good use and it is perhaps little wonder that in recent years, No.4 has established for itself an excellent reputation in debating. Louisa Cromie

and Caroline Varga started off the debating in grand style in the autumn term by winning the finals of the senior debating competition against School House. The junior team of Annie Crowther and Poppy Donaldson also reached the finals and were narrowly beaten by No.2. Great numbers of girls from No.4 went and supported both events and there were numerous floor questions from the girls that helped to support their team.

Supporting teams and being part of the community is something we always try to foster in No.4. One of the successful signs of creating that all-important House spirit is how they are keen to daub their faces with the number ‘4’ for House competitions. Healthy rivalry exists between the Houses and I know that the girls are very keen in particular to beat No.3 in rounders, No.6 in cross-country and No.8 in lacrosse. In the inter-House lacrosse in the autumn term, the juniors came a very close second to No.8 who beat us by one goal. At least in the junior hockey we were victorious against our arch rivals No.3! Several girls in No.4 have done very well indeed getting into the county team with Portia Velarde, Bryony Logan and Hannah Jefferson being awarded places in the county lacrosse squad. Congratulations are also in order

73nO.4

for Harriet Matthews who has been taken on for county golf. Perhaps the sporting highlight of the autumn term was Rebecca Raby-Smith coming first in the FY Ferrets race, beating all of the boys too! She was closely followed by Becky Connell and Kirsty Imm and we expect wonderful things of these talented runners in the future.

I am continually impressed with how the girls find time to do their extra-curricular activities as well as to devote so many hours to their academic work. Some girls do even more on top of this and I would like to draw attention to the sterling charity work of several girls this year. Danielle Close, dressed as a fairy princess and Nina Price, dressed as a farmer, raised a lot of money for various charities as part of the non-school uniform day. Charlotte Davies presented a cheque for the Samantha Dickenson Brain Tumor Charity. Charlotte together with her sister Sophie, raised money for this trust by selling very popular leavers’ hoodies for the prep school last year. Other notable achievements have been in the university offers that the Upper Sixth achieved after some strong UCAS entries. While a few like Hannah Jefferson have opted for exciting gap year placements, most of the girls have gained the grades necessary for the university of their first choice. Nina Price in particular is to be congratulated on getting the three A grades necessary for reading Modern Languages at Gonville and Cauis, Cambridge.

Perhaps the most important House event of the term is the House play. In February, No.4 performed ‘Lysistrata’ on the opening night of the re-instated House play competition. A cast of over thirty girls had worked hard under the directing expertise of Saskia Hefes and Tori Barley to produce an entertaining and thought provoking version of this classical Greek play. It was an ambitious venture as the play had only been produced at the College as a Sixth Form play in previous years and therefore much thought was put into making it appropriate for the wider school community. From the moment that Danielle Close, playing the lead of Lysistrata walked on stage, there was an intensity and energy to the production that remained throughout. Justine Michel as Myrrline and Caroline

Pike as Calonice supported Danielle in making a fast start to the play and helped to fuel the conflict that later occurred with the men. The visual humour was brought out well with Joann Ezeoba and Caroline Pike mocking the expectations of the men with their synchronized actions onstage. As the men suffered the exile imposed on them by their women, Emma Hicks as Cinesias was extremely successful at bringing out the comedy of the situation. Lottie Rugeroni as the magistrate, Alexandra Asensio as another leader of the men, Hannah Pascoe as the Spartan and Morwenna Scott as the Athenian worked hard to balance the strong stage presence of the women created at the start of the play. It was a rewarding production to watch. With each year that I watch the House plays, I am impressed by the talent of the actors and directors. We have done plays as diverse as ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Wind in the Willows’, ‘Daisy Pulls It Off’ and ‘Mean Girls’; and this foray into Greek Drama was no less impressive.

One of our main aims in No.4 has been to create a homely feel to the boarding house and things like the

birthday suppers have been important in creating a happy atmosphere. We are now legendary for the charades and other party games that we play at the birthday suppers and would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the staff who have loyally supported us at these functions. The girls will maintain that the staff visit because we have the best banoffi pie and brownies in the school but I believe that they enjoy the company of the girls who are good hosts. There is a team of people who help to keep No.4 running so smoothly throughout the year and I would like to extend a big thank you to my house tutors, Mr Hall, Mrs Andrews, Mrs Hallet and Ms Appleby who always have time for the girls under their care during their evening duties in No.4. Tori Barley as my Head of House and Danielle Close as her Deputy also did a great deal in helping to make No.4 a place where the girls felt valued. And finally, I would like to finish by thanking Mrs Close and Miss Coffey for their kindness and concern for the girls and for always going that extra mile for them!

AIS

The Malvernian 2009

nO.474

75nO.4

The Malvernian 2009

nO.576

SePTeMBer 2008 DaWneD with a new addition to the Newman family; George Edward Peter was born just before the start of term and suddenly there were three little monkeys to deal with as well as the 65 boys in the House! The red and black colours were re-introduced and were flying high; indeed No.5 got the academic year off to a great start. The boarding numbers were up significantly and there was a real buzz about the House which was superb to witness. A new tutor team took their place in September: Alan Bannister replaced Steve Doidge as the deputy and Simon Bradley and Darren Stokes signed on the dotted line. The boys were in very good hands.

We fought well in everything we entered and did not need to wait too long before we brought some silverware back to the house. We won the Ferrets’ race for the third time in as many years which was a fine achievement, and at the end of the Lent term the Seniors finally got their collective hands on a silver pot – the inter-House cross country cup which was gratefully received by Max Pohl on behalf of the House. Individually, Alex Betteridge won his Ledbury cap coming 4th in the race in a time of 55 minutes which was an outstanding achievement. Jonty Hylands won the Pritchard Racket for Senior Rackets in December continuing the No.5 tradition. However, in the singing and drama competitions we never got a look in, but

no.5

in the world of music we came into our own winning all three categories – Andy McDade, Nathan King and Jonny Betteridge all out-performed any competition from the other Houses, again showing the wealth of talent that lies in the House. Wulstan Nixon won the Lower School Reading Competition. He read with real passion and understanding, and he thoroughly deserved his success. Tom Wade and Lawrence Beesley-Peck were a key part of the highly successful Pringle squad for the Marines that competed at Lympstone; this is a demanding competition and they covered themselves in glory. We found ourselves in the Junior Football final in which we narrowly lost 1-3, and in the Senior Cricket final we were comfortably beaten in an exciting new format of the tournament.

Once again we made significant contributions to the College sport: Alex Magee and Odge Davey were key players in the huge success of the 1st XI football team who won the West Mercia league. No.5 provided 4 1st XI cricketers in Jonty Hylands, as captain, Stephen Coffey, Odge Davey, and Simon Harwood. Stephen and Jonty also played 1st Pair in rackets, whilst Stephen’s success in the sports arena saw him as captain of hockey, fives and squash, a responsibility that he undertook with the utmost of modesty. He will be sorely missed by both House and College. Kian Gerami and Alex Betteridge both represented the

College at 1st XV rugby in the Autumn term. Rory Jones will be representing Great Britain at Angling this year. He is the youngest member of the team by a long margin, and his talent in this sport is quite exceptional. He will surely be a name for the future – watch this space! Alex Jupp and Lawrence Beesley-Peck were part of the school team that tested themselves to the limit in the Three Peaks Challenge. They completed the monumental task in just under the designated 24 hours of which they should be very proud.

Our out-going prefects will leave with their heads held high: Ben March (Head of House) Alex Betteridge, Jonty Hylands and Jae Lee were all fine ambassadors for the House and deserve our very best wishes for the future. Simon Harwood will lead the new team for the forthcoming year, with the very able Alex Jupp and Thomas Dilley as his deputies.

Friends of Five is flourishing as it enters its 30th session: It is a hugely popular even and this year we have been royally entertained by Antony Clark (Headmaster) who spoke passionately about his native South Africa; Nick Gandon (Head of the Chance to Shine cricket programme) speaking on the tricky subject of integrating State School and Independent School cricket and promoting the game in the State Sector; and finally four tremendously talented singers from the school who gave the Friends something

77nO.5

to savour with their Barber Shop style quartet. What an experience! It will last a long time in the memory.

With our superb chef, Kristina, and her kitchen staff, the boys experienced some superb catering at the many events that took place throughout the year. A Mexican night for the Sixth Form, a Chinese evening in traditional style, an Italian soirée together with the summer barbecues all made for highly entertaining and rich cultural and social events. The Commemoration lunch was a delightful event; the sun shone for the 130 people that came, and they all enjoyed the idyllic surroundings of the No.5 garden once again as well as the delicious food on offer.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my tutor team and our House Assistants for all their hard work in ensuring the smooth running of the boarding house; we have a lot to look forward to in the new academic year.

TPN

The Malvernian 2009

nO.578

79nO.5

The Malvernian 2009

nO.680

The year STarTeD WiTh more girls in No.6 than for many years in its recent past, with 66 girls. A number of new bed spaces had been created and as such we welcomed a whopping 30 new girls in the Autumn term. Such a number of new faces and personalities, was a challenge both to those new to the House and those who had been a part of the House for a number of years. We welcomed a new House Deputy in the shape of Ms Blake (a most popular choice!) and new house tutors, Ms Preece, and Mrs Godsland, each bringing new enthusiasms and interests to the House. The House was being led by a very capable team of Helen Cruden, Elsa Eggens and Carmen Cuadra, all of whom were supported by the remainder of the Upper Sixth girls, and who worked hard to help the new No.6 girls settle into the House and the Malvern College way of doing things.

The Autumn term was busy and with a number of high points including the House Singing Competition, social events such as the now customary No.6 cocktail evening, a House barbecue or two (thanks to Mr. Cage for his excellent barbeque skills here) and sports such as the House Football and Hockey. This term was a challenging one as many girls felt they were missing home, and struggled to get to grips with the changes that life at boarding school brings.

no.6

As the term progressed and the girls got to know each other better, homesickness was resolved and new friendships made, and by December a feeling of calm descended on the House culminating in a fabulous Christmas supper, with some excellent skits (both from staff and pupils) and wonderful food from our new House chef, Mary (Many thanks, Mary!)

As the girls returned in January we all felt that we knew each other better, and things started to move apace. We fought valiantly to retain our hold on the House Cross Country Cup, but due to tenacious competition from a stronger No.8 team this was (sadly) not to be. However, in true No.6 style, the vast majority of girls in the House did run in one or more cross country events and the House spirit was the stronger for it. Our approach has always been that everyone has a go and we do everything together!

House Lacrosse was a triumph and we gained a spectacular second place. Helen Cruden played a solid tournament but it was Becky Tweddell (who joined us this year from MSJ) who was the ‘man of the match’ with a magnificent performance especially with a final two additional goals (when Mrs C promised brownies all round if we won the match!)

Helen Cruden, Ros Harvey and Vivian Tang all ran in the Ledder in the Spring,

Helen completing a run of every possible year in the Ledder in her time here (one year was sadly cancelled due to Foot and Mouth) and Ros Harvey gained the hard earned accolade of ‘first girl home’ winning a Ledder Cap for her efforts; well done, Ros. Vivian Tang was perhaps the most impressive performance, summing up the No.6 ethic. She was not – by her own admission – a natural athlete, but felt strongly that she ought to run the Ledder at least once in her time here. She and Ros trained hard together and finally Vivian crossed the line, towards the end of the field but the cheer that she roused in the supporters (especially the rest of No.6) was deafening!

Throughout the year No.6 has tried its very best to field a team for all the sports possible, we haven’t won much but we’ve had a go at most things and feel proud of the way that we have approached the tasks set us!

In terms of music, No.6 entered an impressive number of competitors and did well in terms of the points gained. Unfortunately we lost out to larger Houses but a good effort all round-yet again! Lily Sanders is to be congratulated on her fantastic efforts in encouraging and motivating just about everyone in the House to take part.

81nO.6

The House Play was a fabulous effort, a play written, cast, staged, rehearsed, and finally performed, totally without outside help (save Mr Packham’s careful ministrations) A very polished performance and one which could easily have been shown to an audience of any age-its wit and style based on something akin to the ‘Desperate Housewives’ school of drama, and humour which relied on word-play and puns rather than obvious sexual references… a clever and stylish effort-again one to be proud of. Lottie Heubach took richly-deserved credit for the overall management and her protégée Theresa von Wangenheim who worked very hard behind the scenes too.

In January the House celebrated its multiculturalism, along with the whole College community at the ‘Culture Shock’ event in St Edmund’s Hall. It was a tremendously successful event, and No.6 took to it with typical zeal, choosing to exhibit via the medium of food! Li Chun Tan made Malay Curry puffs, Valeryia Voshchevska made a traditional Ukrainian drink and pudding (aided by Yulia Eroshina) and Pelin Ural brought a huge selection of Turkish sweets thereby proving that real Turkish delight is a very different product to that familiar chocolate covered Christmas treat. Steffi Püttmann, Katie and Vicki Voß, Theresa von Wangenheim and Anne Geuther all contributed to the (very well-manned) German stall, Ghabbi Cruz stood up for Brazil and Margareta César made toast with Dulche de Lecche (a traditional Argentinian treat)!

None of this could have been achieved without the steadfast efforts of the House staff, Mrs and Mr Cage, Mrs Marshall, Ms Blake, Mrs Atkins, Mrs Angling, Mrs Godsland and Ms Preece, not forgetting the very significant contribution of Miss West too. They all have been integral to the smooth running of the House over the past year and we wish in particular all the very best to Ms Preece and Mrs Godsland who leave Number 6 to new and promoted positions in other Houses.

A House is more than the sum of its individual parts however, and whilst we have competed in the House events, endeavouring always to do our best, it is the way that the girls in No.6 have supported each other that marks them out as different. Over the course of the year we have made pancakes, snowmen, igloos, brownies and music, attended balls, parties, sports events and concerts, and have cheered each other on in everything we have done.

No.6 continues to be a most friendly place to be, and having come through a number of challenges this year we look forward to continuing in our happy approach and even greater success in 2009/10.

NJC

The Malvernian 2009

nO.682

83nO.6

The Malvernian 2009

nO.784

no.7

ThiS WaS TO Be The laST year that the famous No.7 spirit would reverberate through the bricks and mortar of 7, The Lees and the boys were determined to leave their mark. Since the birth of No.7 in 1892, the boys have always enjoyed a passion for success in House Competitions; this year was to be no exception.

Our first success was in the Basketball competition where we prevailed over No.1 in a tense final. The annual exchange programme with The King’s School, Paramatta had delivered us Robert Lagudi. Robert played a vital role in our win and was the difference between two otherwise evenly matched sides.

The performance of “I want it that way” in the House Singing Competition was typically well received by the audience and impressively parodied by the Hundred in a video presented to the parents at a meal and entertainment evening in the Lent term. In these and many other ways the boys of No.7 continued to demonstrate their unique brand of wit and penchant for the bizarre.

Other major successes came in the form of a good win over No.1 in the Senior House Rugby Final with notable performances from Edward Wrigley and Charles Webb and success over No.9 in the Senior House Tennis Final. The team consisted of only one College 1st team player, Frederik Mülke,

but the support along the tramlines from the remainder of the House was probably the deciding factor.

Many boys also contributed very well to the minor sports and past-times of the College. Max Wong won the College Chess Championship while many boys represented the College regularly in Badminton and Fives.

As well as being a House with a clear strong sporting tradition, many boys have continued to show a passion for the Arts and activities of a more cerebral nature: Rowland Stirling’s stunning performance in Les Misérables; many boys are members of the Wheeler-Bennett Society; other boys demonstrated charitable success in the Youth Enterprise Scheme; and many boys figured in the prize-giving ceremony at Commemoration. These are all examples of the strength and depth of talent that is encouraged and enjoyed in No.7.

The last Sunday of the Summer term saw the No.7 charity walk from Bewdley to Malvern. All those in the House who had not left after exams, took part. Thirty-two miles is a very long distance to try and cover in one day. Having to rise before 7.00 am on the last Sunday of term is also asking a lot. It was therefore impressive to see the enthusiasm for the venture from all involved and a collective determination to complete the course. In the end only

three of those who started needed to drop out. The fastest completed it in under eight hours, the final few came in at just over eleven hours. Thanks to the generosity of parents, staff and pupils over £1500 was raised for charity. One of the most memorable parts of the day was to see the Spanish and German boys, who had strolled the first 25 miles without a care, suddenly increase the pace and actually run the final stretch to ensure they were back in time for the European Cup final.

This year has been a most rewarding and enjoyable introduction to life at Malvern for my family and me. I would like to take this opportunity to thank on behalf of the boys the work that Theresa Wheeler has done for them in her time in the House. Her unflappable and caring approach endeared her to all the boys and we wish her well in her new career in nursing. We welcomed Denise Cover as her replacement who has been an instant hit with the boys. I would also like to thank Susan Spencer for her good humour and experience as Resident Assistant and the addition of Mat Lloyd’s relaxed but solid influence as the new Deputy Housemaster. I look forward to working with them all as we take No.7 and all its spirit and camaraderie into the fantastic new facilities on the main campus next year.

DJE

85nO.7

The Malvernian 2009

nO.786

87nO.7

The Malvernian 2009

nO.888

no.8

The aUTUMn TerM was certainly vibrant in Number 8. The first Sunday of term saw no fewer than 40 new girls assembling in the House, together with their families from around the world. What an exciting day that was, and, understandably, very daunting for some! I am delighted to report that the transition to being a full boarding House, with boarders in the Lower School as well as the Sixth Form, went very smoothly.

The girls produced another extremely polished performance in the House Singing Competition with their version of “I’ve got Rhythm”, skilfully arranged by Verity Bramson and directed by Rebecca Hunter and Verity. It was lovely to see so many girls involved in this, including many who had only just joined the school, continuing the fine musical tradition of the House.

On the sporting front, the term kicked off with triumph in the Girls’ House Football competition. The FY did extremely well in the Ferrets’ cross country race, coming in second place, with Amy Cooke the first No.8 girl back. Congratulations to Georgie Farmer, Alice Pinfield and Julia James, who were selected for the County Lacrosse squad and to Claudia Wells for being selected for both County

and Midlands Under-17 hockey teams. Lucy Henshall continued her impressive form in fencing and was chosen to represent Great Britain in the Cadet Epee championships in Germany in November. The first half term ended with a convincing victory for the junior lacrosse team who won the trophy for the first time for No.8. Special mention must be made of Alice Pinfield and Julia James who ran and ran and of Georgie Farmer who kept an almost clean sheet in goal. What was most pleasing, though, was that all the FY and Remove made a contribution, supporting and encouraging each other both on and off the field.

Congratulations to Hannah Campbell, who won the accolade of best individual speaker in a regional debating competition and, as a result, was offered the opportunity to visit the House of Commons in the company of Sir Michael Spicer. Hannah also made her mark in local politics this year.

In the Autumn term the girls enjoyed some social occasions and trips too, with the CVS Ball providing the Sixth Form with an opportunity for a glamorous evening and, thanks to my tutor team and assistant Val, there was a picnic outing to the Cotswold Water Park, a visit to Glazy Days in Ledbury

and a trip to the German Christmas market in Birmingham.

A feature of the second half of term was the magnificent production of the musical ‘Les Misérables’, in which we had nearly twenty girls involved either on stage or behind the scenes. Special mention must be made of Verity Bramson who was particularly impressive as Fantine and the Lovely Ladies who were nearly all from No.8 (of course)!

The Lent term was a fantastic term for No.8 with victory in almost everything available to win! The first half of term saw the House Plays, newly revived as a competition and the House performance of “Husbands Supplied” was awarded the accolade of Best Play. This was well-deserved, thanks to the direction of Clare Hughes and Hannah Campbell, stage management of Verity Bramson and brilliant acting of Jenny, Amy, Imogen, Cindy, Kathy, Tara, Hebe and Katya.

Throughout the winter months our cross-country runners had been turning out Saturday after Saturday, come rain or shine, to run the various courses which made up the inter-House league. After the final race, No.8 were declared clear overall

89nO.8

winners. Congratulations are due to Stephanie Ong (who was also the best of all the girls over the whole league), Imogen Bexfield, Maria Schacker, Anna Kuntz, (our regular runners) and Alex Page and others who turned out occasionally. The girls also retained the cup for the best girls’ House team in the Ledder. We were able to field a strong team of nine runners, the first five of whom counted for the team competition. Well done to Imogen, Stephanie, Maria, Kathy and Alex. Imogen retained her No.8 Ledder tankard, awarded to the first No.8 girl home. The Juniors added victory in the House Netball tournament to their success in the House Lacrosse tournament in the previous term.

In the finals of the House Music competition, with four girls in the final of each category, we were always going to be in contention for the trophy and indeed, after some stunning performances in the Category A final, Verity Bramson was placed fourth, Beth Lloyd fifth and after some totting up of points, No.8 were deemed to be the overall winners for the third year running. We certainly have musical strength in depth, with participants from the FY through to the Upper Sixth.

I have always believed that No.8 girls have enormous talent and this year has proved that. Among many individual achievements were Lucy Henshall fencing for Great Britain, Claudia Wells playing regular first team hockey for Stourport Ladies and Yeng Yeng Shang having one of her paintings displayed in the Tate Modern gallery in London.

The girls benefited once again from the dedication of my team of House tutors and assistants, who organised many extra social activities in the Lent term. These included a bowling trip, quiz, regular cookery sessions, pancake-making, smoothie-making and Easter egg hunt. We were sorry to lose one of our team, Mrs Beki Mace, who was going with her husband to take up a post at Warminster School. Mrs Mace has been a wonderful House tutor and offered friendly advice and company to many of the girls during her two terms with us.

The Easter holidays marked something of a transition in the House, as the Upper Sixth went off to concentrate fully on their revision and hand over their responsibilities to the Lower Sixth. I was delighted to welcome the new House leadership team of Katherine Rogers (Head of House), Maria Henshall (First Deputy) and Katya Berger and Beth Lloyd (Second Deputies). Thank you to the outgoing team of Danielle Moyles, Bam Hutaserani and Vanessa Forstner for their hard work, loyalty and commitment to the House over the past year. Congratulations also to Maria on being elected as our representative on the School Council.

The Summer term was a little disrupted with the break for swine flu, which unfortunately meant the cancellation of our family barbecue and concert. However, the Remove girls enjoyed a day out to “Go Ape”, led by Sarah Kay and the Hundred celebrated the end of their exams with strawberries and ice cream.

There were also Water Sports and Outdoor Pursuits Days and D of E expeditions for many.

Early in the term we enjoyed a splendid Leavers’ Dinner, for our Upper Sixth Leavers and their tutors and celebrated again with parents at the Leavers’ Ball. Special congratulations to Charlotte, Amy and Annabelle who all achieved 40+ points in their IB examinations. This year’s Upper Sixth set a wonderful example of studiousness combined with excellence in many other fields and we wish them all the very best as they move on to gap years or university courses. We also send our very best wishes to the girls leaving from the Hundred: Bethan, Jennifer, Genevieve, Dasha, Dania and Louisanne.

Leaving from our tutor team this term were Barbara O’Reilly and Sarah Kay, our resident sports coach. Mrs O’Reilly was a tutor in No.8 since 2004, when we moved into our present building and helped numerous No.8 girls with advice, care and encouragement and by supporting all our social events. We wish her well as she goes to the Black Forest area of Germany with her family to teach in a German school. Sarah Kay lived in the House with us for two years and enhanced the lives of the No.8 girls hugely with her sense of

The Malvernian 2009

nO.890

fun and her organisation of many trips and activities. She was a ‘big sister’ to many and played a vital part in helping the girls to adapt to boarding and to enjoy their lives here. We wish her the best of luck as she continues her teaching career at Felsted.

In spite of the cancellation of some activities, we had many individual and team successes to celebrate in the summer term. In the field of music, Beth Lloyd won first place in two major Welsh competitions this term with her trumpet, including the Under-19 Welsh Eisteddfod. We had three outstanding performers in the Concerto Concert: Verity Bramson, Beth Lloyd and Stephanie Schöhl and we enjoyed performances by many of our girls in the informal concerts, Summer Concert and Chamber Choir events. In sport, Claudia Wells was selected for the second year running for the Midlands Under-19 hockey squad and Amy Cooke and Tabitha Griffiths both competed for the county in athletics and swimming. Julia James was the top intermediate girl athlete on Sports Day and our FY tennis team beat all the other Houses in the inter-House competition. Our juniors also won the House Rounders to complete a magnificent year for them. Two of our FY, Holly Makin and Philippa Vandome, were selected to represent the College at a debating festival in Oxford and both did extremely well. Georgina Farmer had one of the leading roles in the junior play, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and carried off her part as Elizabeth Bennet with poise and impressive maturity.

The year of 2008-9 has been a hugely enjoyable and successful year for the House. As we look forward to next year, we shall be welcoming about 20 new girls to the House and the overall number will be around 70, which will give everyone a little more breathing space.

PDR

91nO.8

The Malvernian 2009

nO.9

A look back over the past year clearly shows that life in No.9 continues to be a rich and varied experience, with the boys taking full advantage of every opportunity given to them.

Sporting endeavour has been richly rewarded in No.9 this year. We have put up enthusiastic teams, and very vocal supporters, for every inter-House competition from Rugby to Croquet. Not content with just taking part, the boys have given it their all, and No.9 has enjoyed some outstanding successes. We have been triumphant in Fives, Squash, Junior Tennis and Senior Hockey, and romped home to convincing victories in both the Junior & Senior Ledders. This year’s haul of silver will sit comfortably next to the Heavyweight Boxing Cup which we won in 1905! Never has so much celebratory pizza been consumed in No.9. Of course you can’t win everything, but the experience of House competition can be rewarding regardless of the outcome. In the Senior Rugby, we lost an incredibly tight semi-final 15 - 13 against a very strong No.1, and I felt very proud of them for putting up such a valiant fight against such worthy opponents. Similarly, we were only just edged out of the Senior Tennis Final on a tie-break by very good No.7 team. On the football field, No.9 won a hard-fought 4 - 3 victory against a strong and determined Common Room XI - helped, admittedly, by a highly contentious penalty!

Certain individuals have really stood out this year in the sporting arena. Will Vanston and Will Wright have become a formidable Rackets pair, recognised up and down the country, and this year they reached the final at Queens - a tremendous achievement. Also deserving of special mention is Sam Baylis, who won the Ledder for us for the second year running. Our new intake to the Lower Sixth brought us Ferdi Stockmann, Ferdi Boninger and Niko Pohl who, together with Harry Zinopoulos and Stuart Monteith, gave us the basis of an excellent senior hockey team. Indeed, Stuart inherited the shield for most improved player in the 1st XI from Harry!

Our boys have also been very involved in Outdoor Pursuits. Charles Watkins and Alex Engert joined up with their mates in the CCF to compete for the Pringle Trophy at Swynnerton. Numerous pupils have been involved in both the CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme; many obtained their Bronze and Silver Awards, and Alex Engert and Simon Eaton were awarded the Gold. Naturally, however, there should also be a place for just running around and having fun, and with this in mind we organised a paint-balling trip with SH. On arrival, all were issued with very unflattering overalls, the boys listened attentively to the safety briefing and they were off, adrenaline pumping. The only real injury occured as Sonja shot an SH Junior in the hand, not really in Matron’s job

description. The highlight was when Louis d’Origny skillfully planted the bomb under the Landrover, and the bodyguards got General Lanre into the helicopter - mission accomplished! In addition to this, the boys have taken advantage of a range of other activities, including sailing, kayaking, and surfing on the Gower Peninsula. Some of our charges have travelled further afield - we have seen boys travel to Iceland and Vietnam; others went skiing in Chamonix; and the whole of the FY went off to Flanders. Sadly this was during a Leave-out weekend, so we couldn’t appreciate the peace they left behind! Laurence Odlum spent the summer on a Student Exchange Programme at The King’s School, Australia, where he enjoyed the academic lessons and also developed his rugby skills. For those who did not travel to foreign climes the world came to us in the shape of Culture shock. Many of our boys took part, representing France, Germany, Finland, Nigeria and Scotland amongst others. Xaver in his Lederhosen was a sight to behold, and Calum’s tartan trousers were equally shocking.

The Arts have been well represented with enthusiastic performances in the House Singing and House Drama Competitions. The boys gave an enthusiastic and very competent rendition of “Where you gonna go from here?” for the House Singing Competition. We were not amongst the winners but the extensive rehearsals, ably

92

no.9

93nO.9

orchestrated by Simon Eaton, gave the whole House a lot of pleasure as voices rang through the corridors. Many of us were still humming the catchy tune several weeks later.

The House Drama was supported with equal enthusiasm, and there were no shortage of volunteers to make up an able and extensive cast with boys from every year group taking part. It was difficult at times to get everyone together for rehearsal and tensions were quite high on the night, not helped when the prompter admitted that he had forgotten the torch and no prompts would be available! However all the hard work paid off and the No.9 version of ‘The Crickets Sing’ was rewarded with Best Actor for Will Selby and Best Director for Alli Braithwaite. The performance was described by the College newspaper as “clever enough to carry heavyweight drama and comic brevity”. The whole cast, including stage-hands, was rewarded with copious amounts of pizza on the private side in an atmosphere which rivalled any post-Oscars event.

No.9 is also ably represented by many musicians. Jerry Tao, Lok Cheng and Bennett Lee all made it to the finals of the Music Competition on clarinet, as did Michael Cheng on piano, Jeremy Chung on violin, Laurence Odlum on trumpet and Simon Eaton on oboe; of these, Bennett and Jeremy were highly commended. Simon Eaton will be leaving us this year after playing an integral part in the musical life of the school with both his instrumental and vocal talents - one of my personal highlights was being invited to watch him perform Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance at the Student Last Night at the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

In between all this glory on the playing field and the stage, plenty of study has to be done. Academics are always taken very seriously in No.9 and whilst we sometimes wonder how the boys fit it all in, they obviously do. Chris Vos won an Honorary SIxth Form Scholarship, and it was pleasing to see pupils from every year group win awards at Commemoration, twelve No.9 boys collecting a total of nineteen prizes. These included Al Moore, who won a History prize for the fifth consecutive year. This year, eight of the sixteen boys in our Upper Sixth applied to Oxbridge, a record number, and all were called for interview to read subjects as varied as

Philosophy, Economics and Medicine and Engineering.

School life is not just about hard work and competition, and several evenings have been organised where we have just enjoyed sitting down together to enjoy fine food and convivial company. Foremost amongst these was the Christmas Supper, an opportunity to don our finest dinner jackets, appreciate a traditional meal, listen to speeches and perform skits and songs. In the Lent term we also held Junior and Senior Suppers and, since they were held on the evening of the Ledder races, they were particularly jolly affairs. Leavers’ Supper gave us all a chance to reminisce, enjoy the company of old friends, and exchange amusing anecdotes about life in a boarding House! This year also saw our inaugural Cup Supper, a chance to celebrate our achievements both on and off the field. The boys were rewarded with trophies reflecting the eclectic nature of the House, ranging from the major sports, minority sports, academics, music and drama. James Cullen-Loftus

and Alli Braithwaite won the Junior and Senior Housem’s Cups for outstanding overall contribution to the House, and Jerry Tao and Christian Schnittker won the Matrons’ Cups for their unfailing courtesy, cheerfulness and willingness to assist us in any way they can. Another highlight of the year, the Commemoration lunch, was a veritable feast, and a wonderful opportunity to chat with so many parents in the glorious sunshine with a glass of Pimm’s - surely one of the Housem’s less onerous tasks.

No Housem, of course, can run a successful House without the support, enthusiasm and initiative of the boys themselves, and I have been blessed with a very fine set of troops. These are led by a Head of House team which helps organise the many and varied events and competitions, as well as supporting the other members of the House and acting as role models for the younger students. After a year with the towering figure of Charlie Watkins at the helm of No.9, ably assisted by the irrepressible Allister Braithwaite, inevitably their term

The Malvernian 2009

nO.9

came to an end and at the end of the Senior Supper, it was time to find out who would take over. As the dessert was cleared, the tension became palpable. Sonja, Anna and I had interviewed 14 candidates for the Head of House, two Deputy Heads of House and two Senior Prefects, proof if any were needed of the talent available in the Lower Sixth, and their sense of service to the House. The Juniors squeezed in to hear the results, and finally, all the waiting was over: Harry Zinopoulos was proclaimed our new Head of House, and the roof was raised to the rafters with enthusiastic cheers! He will be ably assisted by Deputy Heads of House, Ferdinand and Patrick, and Senior Prefects, Justus and Ferdi - what a team! It has been a year of endeavour and achievement in No.9. The boys have grown and matured, travelling steadfastly on their journey from schoolboys to young men. We have supported each other and celebrated together. Hard work in the classroom, on the playing field and on the stage has been tempered with fun and relaxation. Friendships have been forged and difficulties overcome. 2009-2010 promises to be another exceptional year!

PMW

When you think of someone easy to talk to, you probably are not thinking about your solicitor. The truth is, when people think about solicitors, they often think of archaic language and confusing practices. At Paytons, we appreciate that our job is to help you understand the law so that you can make informed decisions. This is reflected in the way we deliver our legal advice, and our commitment to “plain English” legal drafting. Whether you are buying or selling property, engaging in litigation, or minimizing your tax burden, we work with you to achieve practical solutions for the real world. Our services include:

• residential & commercial property • wills, trusts & probate • divorce, civil & commercial litigation • company & commercial law

Paytons, positively the perfect firm to handle your legal requirements.

www.paytons.co.uk, 01684 563 318, in Malvern

“I used to be a lawyer, but now I am a reformed character.”

Woodrow Wilson

94

95nO.9

The Malvernian 2009

rUGBy96

rugby

1ST xvAt this time of the year it is a very useful exercise to look back and assess how a team and sport have fared during the course of a season. I was under no illusion that we were going to find the change from playing rugby in the Lent Term to the Autumn Term a very difficult transition and this fact was certainly confirmed during the course of the 2008 season. In only our second Autumn Term of rugby, we found that our fixture list had improved and changed considerably from the previous year, mainly due, it must be said, to the reputation and the prowess of our Junior sides which have been growing and which are reflected in their results as well as the momentum gained at this level last year. Monkton Combe from Bath, Dean Close, Cheltenham and RGS Worcester First XVs suddenly appeared on our fixture list - well-known and traditional rugby playing schools - so we knew it was going to be a time of reckoning.

After several wins away from home last season, we were determined to do well in the first home match against Bristol Grammar School and we achieved our aim of our first ever Autumn Term home win with a 27 - 0 victory. A highlight of the game was an extremely well worked try scored by Jamie Nicholls (No.1). After this initial success we were then given some hard lessons especially against a Dean Close side that had just returned from a

rugby tour in New Zealand. In the Daily Mail Cup we were unfortunately drawn away against Old Swinford Hospital and lost by 52 - 17 and in the plate competition to Prince Henry’s High School.

Despite defeats, standards did improve and a 38 - 22 defeat at the hands of RGS, Worcester gave some real signs for hope and encouragement. A win against Old Swinford Second XV by 40 - 0 certainly confirmed this point.

Injuries, I am pleased to say, were much reduced in comparison to the previous season as we became more used to the hard physical demands of this sport. We were also having to learn quickly in terms of the skill levels and commitment which are necessary to step up and compete at this higher level. The team was captained by Charlie Wakeford (No.2), who was also our leading try-scorer. We will miss the physical presence of Charlie Watkins (No.9) in the second row, Kit Lister (No.1) in the front row, Edward Wrigley (No.7) and Harry Dunne (SH) who certainly proved an excellent vice-captain. I also wish the very best of luck to all our leavers in the three-quarters but especially Archie Verlade (SH), Alex Betteridge (No.5), Scott Mahoney (No.2) and Leo Manibandu (No.7). Despite adversity, these players kept going, remaining loyal to the cause and I am sure future rugby success will be built on their efforts and determination.

Quite obviously we have a number of leavers and next year’s team will be quite young but I am happy to report that we will be able to add to the blend a considerable amount of skill and experience. Once again new schools have arrived on our fixture list but I am sure next year’s team will respond positively. In preparation for the new season, we will focus on pre-season training and I am pleased to report that George Davies has accepted the role of First XV captain and Harry Sinclair as his vice-captain.

Despite the trials and tribulations of a difficult 2008 season, I am looking forward to September in a positive and optimistic manner.

I would like to thank all the parents who travelled and supported us and the staff who have helped coach and manage rugby teams – Mr John Cox, Mr Mark Cox, Mr Peter Blair, Mr Adrian Grundy, Mr Rob Jackson, Mr Will Davidson, Mr Dan Eglin, Mr Adam Wharton and especially Mr John Mace, the Second XV coach, and wish him and his family every success in his new role of Housemaster at Warminster School.

MJW

97rUGBy

The Malvernian 2009

rUGBy98

2nD xvThe squad met in the first week of September for three days of pre-season training. Clearly many had spent considerable time on beaches in far-flung parts of the globe so much of the time was spent working towards an acceptable level of fitness.

The first game of the season was always going to be a tricky one against Rendcomb College 1st XV. Both coaches agreed a four-quarter game of 20 minutes per quarter. In warm conditions, this turned out to be an excellent idea and given the stage in the season, both sides produced some physical and skilled rugby. Rendcomb went away winners but the boys won the last quarter convincingly, which highlighted the usefulness of some heavy fitness work the week before.

A week later came a trip down the M5 and a fixture against Dean Close 2nd XV. Unfortunately the Dean Close team was a class above and produced a clinical performance despite some excellent defensive work from the team and some blistering attacking breaks from Blanco Villar. Despite the heavy loss, it was an experience that held them in good stead for the rest of the season and highlighted for them the standard of rugby played by some of our opponent schools.

The first fixture after Leave-out was against Wrekin College, one that in the last couple of year’s at 2nd team level has been very close indeed. Some last minute injuries meant that a slightly depleted squad made the journey. With the Bursar of Wrekin refereeing (a character indeed), the boys hung on in some incredibly blustery conditions. Kicking was extremely difficult and both sides at times were made to look somewhat foolish by the wind. Stand-in fly-half, Martin Salama, adjusted well to the conditions and, downwind in the second half, he exploited space behind the defensive line with some precise kicking. Although we lost, the score certainly did not tell the whole story.

In the last game before the half term break, local rivals RGS, Worcester made the trip to Malvern. As a traditionally strong rugby school, they were always going to be a stern test. The first twenty minutes of the game saw Malvern dominate and produce some quite outstanding rugby, some of the very best of the season, both in defence and attack. They were rewarded with a Will Jones try, against his old school, and a 5 - 0 lead. Towards the end of the first half,

RGS turned the tables and despite some extremely physical defence from the boys, the RGS team crossed the line under the posts. At half time it was another case of the score hiding the reality of the game. In the second half, the floodgates opened and RGS’s class told. Although this was a defeat there were very promising signs.

After the half term break, a potentially tough fixture against Old Swinford Hospital loomed. There had been signs during the first half of the season that this was a side capable of playing some good quality rugby and against OSH, play rugby they did. A devastating 84 - 0 victory (with the game stopped 10 minutes early) resulted and highlighted to the home support the true ability of the side. Given the score, many of the boys made the scoresheet but special mention must be made of Alex Winokurow, the hooker, who secured a hat-trick of tries.

A ten-day break for House rugby meant the momentum of the OSH victory had somewhat diminished when the side fronted up on a bleak Wednesday afternoon to The Chase Technology College. A dogged and scrappy game resulted in a 7 - 0 loss. On another day, the boys would have walked away winners but such is the game of rugby.

Late into November was the penultimate game of the season - Wycliffe away. Injuries and illness by this stage had really taken their toll and a depleted set of players once again headed south on the M5.

On an exposed pitch on the coldest day of the season, Quirin Lübke, one of the outstanding forwards of the season, was lost to injury in the first few minutes and in many ways the side never recovered. A feisty encounter however ended in defeat.

December 6th, the last game of the 2008 season, Monkton Combe away and the boys saved their very best until last. It was a game that had everything: the coach driver got lost; one of the two (they swapped at half time!) referees turned up late: a great game: a stunning finale. After Malvern took an early lead through an outstanding try from Alex Magee, Monkton clawed their way back into the game to take a 15 - 12 lead. With two minutes to go, Teniola Zaccheaus beat three defenders on the 22-yard line and raced over in the corner - a 17 - 15 victory and a brilliant end to the season.

The boys must be commended for a superb all-round effort during the term. At times we faced some stiff opposition but they stuck at it and were duly rewarded. My personal thanks go to James Curran and, during the latter half of the season, Ramon Blanco Villar, both of whom captained the side in a sporting and gentlemanly manner. My thanks go also to all the parents who made the effort to attend games, both at home and away. Last but by no means least, I thank Mr Weaver and Mr Watkins for their support, advice and refereeing during the term. Roll on next September!

JRM

NI C H O L A S PE A R S O N AS S O C I A T E S

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNERS • LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS • ECOLOGISTS

HEAD OFFICE30 Brock Street Bath BA1 2LN 01225 445548

info@npaconsult.co.uk

office also in Tiverton, Devon

www.npaconsult.co.uk

Conservation Area Appraisals• Landscape Assessments• Ecology Surveys• Landscape Designs• Arboricultural Surveys•

Our work has comprised:

We are delighted to have been part of the planning and design teams supporting Malvern College with the recent major development projects, and look forward to future project involvement.

99rUGBy

U16aThe season started inauspiciously with a heavy defeat across the border in Wales, at the hands of Christ’s College, Brecon. A young and confident team took to the field to be met with a front row that weighed in at over 50 stone! This was not the main reason that the Malvern team suffered a loss however. That was due to the opposition’s hunger for the ball and this meant that Malvern were out-contested in the loose and roughed up in the tight. Brecon took the spoils 36 - 0.

A mid-week Sevens tournament was next on the calendar and this was a chance for the team to show their worth against some local rivals. Some free-flowing rugby in the later stages of the tournament eventually ensued but the lack of kicking prowess meant that Malvern could only achieve fourth place, losing 24 - 28 to Dyson Perrins following a flurry of late tries.

Next was a new fixture on the list and the team drove to Dean Close School, Cheltenham with a sense of foreboding. Their Firsts were known to be strong and had just returned from a summer tour to New Zealand where they had done well. However their Under-16s had apparently not won a game in three years! This obviously must have been against top-flight rugby schools. The Dean Close team ran riot and tore through our increasingly battered defence time after time, notching up over 60 points to Malvern’s 10.

Bromsgrove provided little respite for the squad as the school that produced the likes of Andy Goode sneaked into a close lead and, despite strong waves of attack from Malvern, managed to hold on and win by a narrow margin. Our performance however was much improved and the team was starting to feel that it could achieve something.

Wrekin College were the unfortunate team to experience the Malvern side at its best. The long journey provided time for the team to focus. This seemed to do the trick and the Malvern team destroyed Wrekin in every aspect of the match. The final score was a handsome 42 - 5 victory.

The next mid-week fixture was in the North Midlands Cup and Malvern played host to The King’s School, Worcester, who arrived with a well-drilled and fit side who were able to play the game at a high pace and maintain that pace throughout the game.

Defensive errors were frequent in our heavy defeat.

The Saturday fixture followed some “encouragement” during the Thursday training session and, once again, we showed that were capable of producing fantastic results in rugby. Ellesmere attacked from the kick-off and launched several attacks on the Malvern defence. These were soaked up and the discipline displayed by the team was commendable. Ellesmere resorted to some rough-house tactics and tried to antagonise the team in green into giving away penalties and losing their cool, an exercise in futility as it turned out. Ultimately the Malvern team took the lead and held onto it with the same manner of grip that a starving dog would have on a bone!

Malvern’s next fixture against RGS, Worcester was not a pretty affair and the difference in standards gave the team an idea of the divide between a side that sported several Academy players and one that was developing around a changed calendar and different mindset. 52 - 0 left a bad taste in the mouth and served as a lesson not to rest on laurels!

Old Swinford Hospital visited and were beaten by the narrowest margin of the season, 17 - 15, in a gripping match that saw both sides display aggression, flair, quick thinking and determination in

abundance. The Chase Technology College met a side that was insistent that the defeat in the Sevens tournament earlier in the term was not to be repeated. Again the cohesion between the forwards and the back division was the crux of the 29 - 12 victory. Rob Lagudi (No.7) and Carl Prest (No.2) made a nuisance of themselves both in the tight and the loose and the lineout finally came to fruition to provide good opportunities for the centres to attack the midfield channels.

Wycliffe College away was a horrid affair and the freezing conditions took their toll on the backs, who gradually became more dishevelled and sorry looking as the wind and then the opposition full-back tore through them. Monkton Combe was the final game of the term and a two hour trip down to Bath was finished off with a gentle half mile stroll following some reluctance by the coach drivers to try and fit through a narrow tunnel to get to the school! The standard of play was good but we were unlucky to fall foul of some inconsistent decisions by the match official.

The end of the season reflected that of the beginning - poor. However, in between, the team showed that there was potential, a high level of skill and determination. The trick is to have all these components on hand constantly.

RAJ

CHARTERED SURVEYORS &

PROPERTY CONSULTANTS

TO PRIVATE & PUBLIC

SECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

4 Foregate Street Worcester WR1 1DB

01905 611066

info@hallsworcester.com www.hallsgb.com

RESIDENTIAL I AGRICULTURE I COMMERCIAL I PROFESSIONAL I FINE ART

The Malvernian 2009

rUGBy100

U15BThe Under-15 Bs welcomed some new faces to last year’s strong squad and this allowed for an impressive, committed season, ending up with more wins than losses and a strong base from which to build an Under-16 squad in 2009.

Those players who attended pre-season training benefited from the dynamic start this gave them, despite our loss to a strong Bristol Cathedral School ‘A’ team in our first match. The way we rallied towards the end of that match was a sign of the sort of form which helped us to defeat soundly Dean Close School, Cheltenham and Bromsgrove School in quick succession.

Although we had demonstrated some sound handling skills and a marked determination in matches and training sessions, the team lacked fitness so it was in many ways fortunate that the match against Wrekin was cancelled, which allowed the team a chance to sample the delights of House cross-country. This prepared us for a tough match against Ellesmere who took advantage of favourable conditions to beat us narrowly 17 - 10 when, for most of the match, the scores were level. Daniel Diaz Cazorla (No.9) and Martin Aleksandrov (No.7) both scored excellent individual tries. The last match before Half Term was a 39-10 victory over an RGS-AO team who could not match us for strength and ability. The highlight of the match, if not the season, was an exquisitely executed Felix Manibhandu (No.7) try.

After a break for House rugby, we took the journey to Rendcomb College and were 20 - 5 up in the second half, repelling some very strong Rendcomb attacks, when Daniel Diaz Cazorla broke his ankle after scoring an excellent try. Daniel had been a dynamic, powerful force in the team and he was sorely missed for the rest of the season. It is around this time of the

U16BWining only two out of seven matches looks in terms of pure results like a disappointing season. However, it does not reflect the hard work, enjoyment and improvement that took place over a competitive and demanding term.

In their first two matches, the team was up against stiff opposition. Against both Bristol Cathedral School and Dean Close School, Cheltenham, they found the going tough but there was plenty of evidence of spirit and determination, particularly in the forward exchanges where Charles Bridge (SH), Louis Jackson (No.9) Pete Apikasemsunt (No.7) and Herb Sothsiri (No.7) stepped up to the physical demands very well. Although we lost both games, the squad could see that there was plenty of potential and with hard work and a positive approach to training some of the less experienced players would integrate well and so it proved. On our next outing, the squad travelled to Bromsgrove School where an excellent all-round performance meant that, with two minutes left, the score was 19 -19 and everything to play for. Malvern in possession looking for the win were turned over and despite looking suspiciously in touch, the Bromsgrove winger went over in the corner to score a last-ditch try to win 24 -19. What a scalp that would have been!

With Dan Cousins (No.5), our pack-leader and No.8, moving up to the A team squad, we then tackled Wrekin College and ran out comfortable winners. This was a good indicator because we had struggled against them last season and it showed how much we had improved, as indeed did our win against Chase Technology College after half term.

We went into our match v RGS, Worcester with confidence - arguably a bit too confident after two wins on the trot - and we were brought down to earth by a well- drilled and competitive side 30 - 17.

Although we had four matches left, three were cancelled by the opposition and this left us with our final match v Rendcomb College 2nd XV. Played in front of our biggest crowd of the season, the team played some of its best rugby and really showed how far they had come. Although up against bigger, older and fitter boys, they dominated the forward exchanges with some good driving play and ran the opposition close with some brave tackling and the occasional scoring opportunity.

The most improved player was Freddie Mülke (No.7) who made great strides as a strong running and tackling centre but three other boys in their first season of Rugby deserve a mention too. Ben Becker (No.5) as a prop, plus Julius Simon (No.1) and Tanasorn Witthayaraksan (No.5) who both showed potential as wingers. The player of the season was Charles Bridge (SH) who was totally committed throughout in training and matches.

JDC

season that some our weaknesses were exposed; we lost 26 - 36 to an effective Chase Technology College team owing to a lack of discipline and commitment. Despite this, players such as Adam Flattery (No.5) and Henry Lane (No.9) kept up a strong work ethic and a real commitment to tackling.

We were determined to end the season on a high note, although we were most disappointed at losing to a physically challenging Wycliffe side by a single point. However, we could not rue the day for too long, as had to face the new challenge of Monkton Combe in our last match. We triumphed 45 - 27, with a good performance from all members of the squad. This was a very satisfying way to finish the season: more wins than losses.

Congratulations must go to our two captains, Oliver Gardner (No.2) and Adam Flattery (No.5), who both led the team with dedication and commitment. Each member of the squad will take much from a season of both defeats and victories, rich in teamwork, application and skill. All the squad has a bright future in rugby at Malvern.

WRD

101rUGBy

UnDer 14aIt has been a marvellous first season for the new entry of Foundation Year boys at Malvern College. Pre-season training started with a session run by the Worcester Warriors and the squad was enthusiastic and obviously talented - but it takes more than this to realise potential.

The Under-14 A side gelled quickly and fast became a real force to contend with. As the season progressed, they won all of their ten matches and in the process accumulated 447 points with only 49 points against. Of these ten victories, perhaps the most significant was the 12 - 0 triumph away at Bromsgrove School, one of the strongest rugby schools in the area.

Liam Charlton (SH) captained the team as open-side flanker, leading by example in every aspect of the game. He formed part of a back row trio, which included Henry Salmon (SH) and Dan Garnett (No.5). All three played with great teamwork and proved they had a match-winning balance.

The strong front, row together with Tom Trotter’s (No.1) jumping ability in the line-out, enabled the team to win the ball and vice-captain and leading points scorer, Ben Rhodes (No.2), gave the team the advantage time and time again. Throughout the season Ben proved to be a very effective fly-half, demonstrating a confident running and kicking game. The ten tries each scored by Francis Burke (No.2) (centre) and Charlie Buiskool (No.5) (full-back) and nine by James Medcalf (SH) (wing) shows the width of their play.

Above all, the Under-14 A team played with complete determination and their unbeaten season was just reward for their hard work. This strong junior side sets the standard for successful rugby in the future.

MMC

JUniOr hOUSe rUGBy finalThe Junior House Rugby final between No.2 and SH proved a spirited encounter with much high quality play on show. Two first half tries from SH (Jack Barnett & Charlie Lacey) were cancelled out by four tries from No.2, including a hat-trick from Barnaby Davies. The match tightened up in the second half with good defensive work keeping it to just a try apiece, but worthy of mention was Bar Bartlett’s five successful conversions from five attempts, to leave No.2 running out 35 - 15 winners.

MJW

WOrceSTer WarriOrSMalvern College launched its partnership with Worcester Warriors Rugby Club in September 2008 with a pre-season training session for its new intake of Foundation Year pupils. The session involved work on ball handling and decision-making drills and games, led by the Warriors’ Community Development Manager Tom Ryder. The partnership will bring the Warriors coaching expertise to the College throughout the year. The College’s Sports Scholarship programme also offers talented youngsters a pathway to Premiership rugby with the opportunity of using Worcester Rugby Academy training facilities and the benefit of an individual training programme.

MMC

The Malvernian 2009

lacrOSSe102

lacrosse

The first match of the season was against Birmingham Lacrosse Club. Although Birmingham were older and more experienced, the Malvern 1st team were just too strong for them, winning 10 - 1. Hannah Jefferson (No.4), Sarah Jefferson (No.4), Hermione Benest (No.3), Caroline Varga (No.4) and Becky Tweddell (No.6) scored the goals. The second team also played the Birmingham first team and put in a solid performance despite losing 5 -1. The scorer was Fion Lee (No.3) from a great pass by Genevieve Byers (No.8). A very promising start for both senior teams.

The major tournament of the term took place at RGS, Worcester where Malvern 1st and 2nd teams played against other schools in the Midlands. The Malvern first team were in a tough group with Uppingham School, St Helen’s and St Catherine’s School, Bedford School and Moreton Hall but they relished this challenge. An excellent match was played against St Helen’s and St Catherine’s where the team really gelled and it was evident that practice had paid off in spite of our losing 4 - 2. Hermione Benest (No.3), Caroline Varga (No.4), Hannah Jefferson (No.4), Sarah Jefferson (No.4) and Tori Barley (No.4) scored lots of goals throughout the day. Player of the tournament was Daphne Li (No.4).

In the 2nd team tournament and in spite of our being beaten by Stowe School, Moreton Hall and Bedford School, we

displayed excellent team spirit in cold conditions and really improved our game play as the day went on. Against Bedford, we were winning at half time but Bedford fought back and scored two quick goals to win 2 - 1. Special mention must go to Laura Rust (No.8), who made some spectacular saves in goal.

Against Uppingham School, after a delayed start, the first team was able to maintain focus and perform with persistence and determination. They played with strength, finding players in the open on attack and capitalizing with goals by Dani Close (No.4), Hermione Benest (No.3), Alice Makin (No.4), and Daphne Li (No.4). The defence worked hard and came up with some key turnovers. But, in the end, their efforts in defence and attack were not enough to hold off the Uppingham team. The final score was 5 - 7. The players of the match were Hermione Benest (No.3) and Alice Makin (No.4).

Both Malvern teams gained valuable points by scoring more than fifty per cent of the oppositions’ score and at the end, out of all the schools in the Midlands, the firsts finished third and the seconds finished fourth.

While the first team were playing on the adjacent pitch, the second team had what was to be one of their best games of the season. Through teamwork and with

support coming from all over the pitch, the team was able to draw 4 - 4 with the Uppingham seconds. Hard work at practice had paid off for new goalie Laura Rust (No.8) and the team defence was at its best. Through the midfield there was a great deal of effort which resulted in 4 goals. This game was a huge success for the team. Players of the match were captain Nina Price (No.4) and Laura Rust (No.8).

Another great victory followed the two senior matches. This was in the Under-15 game in which the girls scored seven unanswered goals for their first win of the season. The attack worked hard to score the seven goals, gaining possession off the draws and capitalising on finding team-mates in the open. The defence worked hard to keep Uppingham from scoring. Goalie Georgie Farmer (No.8) played magnificently. The players of this match were Julia James (No.8) and Alice Pinfield (No.8).

The biggest challenge of the season was encountered playing the universities of Bristol and Birmingham. The first match for the Malvern first team was against Birmingham University and despite scoring four goals and working hard to keep possession of the ball we lost 4 – 8.

In the final match Malvern rose to the challenge of playing a strong Bristol side who had trounced Birmingham earlier. It

103lacrOSSe

was tough but we did not give up. The defence held off the aggressive Bristol attack for up to five minutes at a time without allowing them to score. In the end, persistence was not enough and Bristol was able to convert eight goals. Zippy Chappell (No.4) and Verity Bramson (No.8) played with excellent defensive skills. The attack was able to finish the game by scoring a goal (Sarah Jefferson). Overall we had played very well.

The Malvern second team in their first match against Birmingham held them to a draw until half time (our goal scorer was Lucy Henshall (No.8)) but the more experienced Birmingham players upped their game to score three quick goals near the end of the match. No shame in that for there was in some cases a 10-year age gap and a wealth of experience between the two teams.

Against Bristol, Malvern started strongly displaying some solid defence. However this was an extremely quick and skilful Bristol side. We lost 9 - 1 but in spite of the score-line it was an impressive performance especially considering that Bristol had beaten Birmingham 10 - 0. Scorer in this match was Genevieve Byers (No.8) and player of the tournament was again Laura Rust (No.8) in goal.

Against Marlborough College, the first team was missing its county players who were playing in the Midlands Tournament but nevertheless the firsts drove their way to success with fantastic team play and great team spirit. The final score was 7 - 4 to Malvern and player of the match was Tori Barley (No.4).

The second team drew 4 - 4 with Marlborough College with goals by Patricia O’Dywer (No.6) and Fion Lee (No.3). The girls displayed a good attack, tight defence and maintained an excellent work rate to achieve this great result. The player of the match was Fiona Lee.

The Under-15s also played Marlborough’s second team as Marlborough were not able to bring an Under-15s team. Camilla Penrice (No.6) played very well in attack and Dami Williams (No.8) in goal made some superb saves. In spite of a wonderful effort, the U15s lost this match 11 – 2 but gained significant experience. Players of the match were Annie Crowther (No.4) and India Cullen-Loftus (No.4).

Malvern has had a good season in Lacrosse with some excellent individual performances from all the age groups. Highlight of the season was Hannah Jefferson’s selection for the Midlands team. Hannah played in the UK’s regional tournament where the Midlands played Wales, the South, North, East and West teams. It was a great honour for her to be selected at this level and Hannah did not disappoint. She scored twice, once against the Welsh team and once against the West, helping the Midlands team to secure victory over these two regions. Well done to Hannah for reaching such a high standard in her sport. Other individual honours go to Sarah Jefferson and Bryony Logan (No.4) who were selected for the Senior County Lacrosse Squad. They represented Worcester in a match against Gloucestershire.

JAD

The Malvernian 2009

fOOTBall104

football

1ST xiWhat a great season for the boys - undefeated Southern League Champions and League Cup Champions.

Game 1: Marlborough College (H). A strong, well-organised performance against a good footballing side. 2 - 1 seemed a fair result and the performance was encouraging, a sign of things to come. Goals from Victor Dhont (No.2) and Greg Kirchhoff (No.1) saw off a spirited Marlborough side.

Game 2: The King’s School, Taunton (H). Another professional performance against a young team from Taunton, (one to watch for next year). Goals from Alex Magee (No.5) and Jack Nicholls (No.1) saw us through to a comfortable victory.

Game 3: Clifton College (H). A tough 2 - 2 draw against an ill-disciplined Clifton team who ended the match with nine players. The game was a tight affair with tackles and challenges flying in from all areas. Once Clifton had been reduced to ten and then nine men, Malvern could not make the advantage count. Malvern were obviously disappointed not to get the result but this performance proved that we could not only play football but we had the aggression and commitment, and I knew then that a title challenge was a possibility. Goals from Alex Magee (No.5) and Scott Mahoney (No.2).

Game 4: Bristol Grammar School (H). Probably the most disjointed game of the season as we looked a little flat and tired. A goal in the last minute by substitute Tobi Ofili (No.7) saved the day as Malvern sneaked over the finishing line 1 - 0 victors.

Game 5: QEH, Bristol (A): A convincing 5-1 win was probably the most encouraging result of the season. After going 1 - 0 down, we then scored five goals in 20 minutes to take the wind out of the QEH sails. They were shocked and the second half proved a formality, one where Malvern could have easily added to their goal tally. Goals from Alex Magee (No.5), Dominic Stanley (No.1) and Victor Dhont (No.2).

Game 6: Monmouth School (A): What looked on paper to be a really tough physical game did not disappoint. With Monmouth playing their usual high tempo, pressing game, Malvern struggled to find any space in midfield and really had their hands full. We stuck to our game plan, which was difficult on a particularly bumpy pitch. A goal in the first half from Alex Magee (No.5) eased the pressure. The second half was another blood and thunder performance which lacked quality from both teams. Few chances were created and unfortunately the only chance that did get converted came from Monmouth. Still 1 - 1 was not a bad result.

Game 7: Wycliffe College (H): A high-pressure game full of pre match tension and hype, we needed to win to claim the championship. Eighty minutes later when Malvern had strolled to a 7 - 0 victory, the job was done. Once the first goal went in we played with flair, vision and a high level of skill. We looked, played and performed like champions.

Defence: What a strong all-round performance from the defence, only letting in five goals all year. The captain, Harry Sinclair (No.7), led the troops with self-confidence and true leadership skills. Ramon Blanco Villiar (No.7) was the rock on which the team was built: he was truly courageous and outstanding all year. Both full-backs,Will Meredith (No.7) and Teniola Zaccheaus (No.1), have really come on and developed into quick, tenacious and tough tackling defenders. Odge Davey (No.5), still only in the Hundred, was on many occasion a match winner: his agility, bravery and good decision-making were crucial in helping the back four to be so miserly.

Midfield: Greg Kirchhoff (No.1) and Dominic Stanley (No.1) bossed the midfield all year. Greg, with his patience, vision and positional awareness helped Dominic whose drive and determination to keep running for eighty minutes proved often to be a match-winner. What an engine he has!

105fOOTBall

final TaBle: MiDlanDS leaGUe SOUThern SecTiOn

Pos Name Pl W D L F A GD Pts

1 Malvern 7 5 2 0 20 5 +15 17

2 Clifton 7 4 2 1 18 7 +11 14

3 Monmouth 7 4 1 2 10 7 +3 13

4 Marlborough 7 3 2 2 14 8 +6 11

5 QEH Bristol 7 3 0 4 13 14 -1 9

6 King’s, Taunton 7 2 1 4 10 12 -2 7

7 Bristol GS 7 1 1 5 6 11 -5 4

8 Wycliffe 7 1 1 5 4 31 -27 4

Victor Dhont (No.2) and Martin Salama (No.7) provided the team with flair and trickery, often tying the opposition full-backs up in knots.

Attack: We scored 20 goals and were the top goal scorers in both leagues. Alex Magee (No.5) provided the team with pace, power, aggression and the ability to be clinical in front of goal; he was as most defenders would say a ‘handful’. Jack Nicholls (No.1) provided the team with close control and precision movement linking up with Alex’s powerful runs, often being in the right place at the right time.

The back up crew, Lanre Vigo (No.9), Scott Mahoney (No.2), Ed Davenhill (No.1) and Tobi Ofili (No.7) all played their part and when called upon never looked out of place and their efforts from the bench were much appreciated. Their time will come!

What a great season, one that can only be beaten by gaining a Champions League Spot next year.

MWC

The Malvernian 2009

fOOTBall106

2nD xiThe 2nd XI opened the season with an encouraging 3 - 1 win in a friendly against RGS, Worcester. All three of Malvern’s goals came early in the first half from Ahmed Soussi (No.7) and Archie Velarde (SH). The following Saturday, the team was brought back down to earth however, with a 5 - 0 thumping at the hands of Marlborough College in their first ISFA Mercian League Southern Division match. Another friendly was a closely fought encounter against The Chase Technology College but after being ahead for most of the game, we lost 3 - 4 with goals from Soussi (No.7), Feese (No.7), and Velarde (SH). A return to ISFA League action versus King’s College, Taunton, enabled the 2nd XI to bounce back in an impressive passing display with a 5 - 0 victory (Velarde (SH), Feese (No.7), Soussi (No.7), Davenhill (No.1)). It was after this point in the season, though, that the wet and snowy weather took its toll on the fixture list. One rearranged fixture that did transpire was against The King’s School, Worcester, and this ended in a 1 - 1 draw on a pitch like a quagmire. The goal came from Freddie Gardner (No.2), his first in a Malvern shirt.

Fixtures commenced again after the half-term break when Malvern hosted an important ISFA League match against Clifton College. After dominating the game and missing numerous chances, Malvern disappointingly lost 1 - 0 and so ended any real chance of winning the Southern Division. Malvern then hosted Bristol Grammar School but two points were given away with a sloppy goal and numerous missed chances (1 - 1, Feese (No.7)). The next match resulted in another 1 - 1 draw (and two more points dropped!) on the pristine pitches of QEH, Bristol. This was a very tight game for most of the match but QEH scored three minutes from the end. Fortunately, Feese (No.7) saved the day with a goal one minute from time.

With just two matches remaining in the League, the Malvern 2nd XI was starting to resemble a very effective line-up. Belgore (No.1) had slotted comfortably into the back four and was making numerous well-timed tackles and matched any forward for speed. Along with Arkallaev (No.7), Harwood (No.5) and von Düring (No.7), the back four was looking a very solid unit. Schmidt (SH) had moved into midfield and was developing a formidable partnership with Gardner (No.2), and up front Velarde

iSfa cUP finalMalvern College v Loughborough Grammar School

Wow, what a game! Where do I start?

After being led out of the stadium onto the pitch by the referee and other ISFA officials, Premiership-style, we unfortunately started the game a little stunned and overawed by the occasion and after only ten minutes we were 1 - 0 down. However the boys then kicked themselves into gear and began to get down to business and to play the way that we know Malvern can play. After then taking control of the game, it was a disappointment to concede another goal and to go into half-time two goals down after being much the better team.

The second half started much like the end of the first half with Malvern on top and before long we clawed our way back to 2 - 1 and then 2 - 2, with goals from Harry Sinclair (No.7) and Alex Magee (No.5). The rest of the second half saw Malvern dominate possession. Malvern did have further chances to finish off Loughborough Grammar School, but failed to capitalize on them and turn those chances into goals. So it remained 2 - 2 at full-time.

Going into extra-time, I think we all believed that the game was there for

the taking and with the work rate, sheer guts and determination of players like Ramon Blanco Villiar (No.7), Dominic Stanley (No.1), Greg Kirchhoff (No.1) and Alex Magee (No.5), to name but a few, I honestly thought it was just a matter of time. To give Loughborough their due, they also defended with aggression and determination. End of the match 2-2. Great… penalties!

The penalty takers had already been chosen earlier in the day: Dhont (No.2), Kirchoff (No.1), Magee (No.5), Stanley (No.1), Sinclair (No.7). Thankfully it did not go down to the last penalty where Harry Sinclair the captain would have had to score to win the cup. Loughborough missed two from four and Malvern coolly slotted home all theirs. We had now won the cup and the league and gone undefeated all term. What a triumphant season!

As you can imagine this was then followed by jubilant scenes of singing, shouting and general mayhem by both players and supporters alike. What a game, what a night and full credit to the boys. They should be extremely proud of their successes this term.

MMC

107fOOTBall

(SH) and Purcell (No.7) were terrorising defences. Oh, the benefit of hindsight!

For the penultimate game of the season, the ‘ridge and furrow’ of Monmouth beckoned. Malvern eventually adapted to the conditions and took the spoils 1 - 0 (Vigo (No.9)) from the second placed team in the League, which ended any hopes they had of winning the division. In the final ISFA League match, the Malvernians entertained Wycliffe. On paper this promised to be a high scoring game but after many chances on goal, the result was a 3 - 0 victory (Davenhill (No.1), Velarde (SH)), although two goals were disallowed, one of which was the wonder goal of the season (that never was) from Purcell. Et in Malvernia ego!

Thus the Malvern 2nd XI finished a creditable third in the Southern Division of the ISFA Mercian League.

DS

5Th xiI knew it had been a mistake not to have a pre-season tour to the footballing heartlands of Northern England when we lined up to defend our first corner in the first minute of our first game against Marlborough College. We opted for the ill-fated Belgian defensive formation, out of favour since the 1978 World Cup: essentially this involved deploying Joachim (No.9) to guard the opposite corner flag whilst the rest of the team zone-marked the edge of the penalty area, leaving – oh, what’s it called? Ah yes, - the ‘goal’ decidedly exposed. 1 – 0.

We kicked off and moved the ball confidently backwards, whence it was shunted forward by our German back four: Jonathan Töpfer (No.5) and Quirin Lübke (No.1) up to our Gallic front-line: Patrick Jackson (No.9), Marius Franc (SH and Joachim (No.9) were unable to capitalise on this sustained period of possession, and fell into animated debate about - so it must have seemed to the untrained ear - parenthood and gender issues. Squandering the opportunity for philosophical debate, the opposition merely went through and scored a goal. Their loss!

It was time to stir things up a little, so Augustin Polge de Combret (No.2) dropped back into defence and learned what I like to call ugly football, and Miguel Indekeu (No.9) took over on the right wing: I had earlier ascertained that he too was a native French-speaker, so we were assured of continuity up front. In midfield, Darryl Liu (No.1) struck some lusty blows for practical football by launching himself forward with

U15aThe season was, to a certain extent, interrupted by bad weather but eventually only one fixture was lost to snow, with two games being rearranged for the penultimate week of the term which was favourable to us as the team had improved with time and practice. Top scorer was John Guilbert (No.9) who enhanced his reputation with a fine hat-trick in the last game away at Monmouth School. Matthew Saxton (No.2), who captained the team, also scored in this match as well as a number of goals from the central midfield position. His positive leadership contributed to real progress being made and, with continued hard, work all team players should do well in the Senior School. In defence, Murat Arkallaev (No.7) and Edward George (No.2) controlled this area with growing confidence and Jeffrey Kaberuka (No.5) showed flair and growing ability in midfield. Well done to all those players who made up a very promising Remove team.

MJW

or without the ball. Third Witthayaraksan (No.5) ran well in support. But we still could not break Marlborough down. Justus Schirmacher (No.9) was proving an able debutant at left-back despite his being a basketball player, but the opposition just kept finding space. At half-time we sensed that we were through the worst of the onslaught: surely the opposition would weary of running and passing. And so it proved: they started shooting from long range. But we came back into the game. Once we had the ball in their six-yard area but were unable to convert: shock, I imagine.

By this time Petr Tikilyaynen (No.1) was anxious to be re-introduced into the fray and began to speak in French to prove how seamlessly he might fit in. We were 7 - 0 down, and it seemed churlish to deny his ambition, linguistic or sporting. 8 - 0. 9 - 0. In goal, Henry Ma was having a tough time of it, but he was brave in all that he did; particularly wearing what looked like a snorkel throughout the game.

And the weather was awful. And it took ages to get there and back. And do you know, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The boys - every man jack of them - was a delight to be with.

PG

The Malvernian 2009

fOOTBall108

U14aIt was a strange season during which two weeks were lost to snow and training and matches were considerably disrupted. The side was well led throughout by Dan Garnett (No.5) although he suffered two niggling injuries, which meant that he missed a couple of games. Liam Charlton (SH) was the player of the season with his energy and commitment on the left hand side of midfield although it was a close run thing with James Medcalf (SH), who scored some important goals and played in a variety of positions for the good of the team.

After an unbeaten rugby season, many of the boys approached the Lent Term very much in the winning habit and in most games we were fitter and stronger than our opposition but although we showed great pace and tireless running up front with

our very own pair of ‘Charlies’, Miller (SH) and Buiskool (No.5), we were a bit short of pace on occasions at the back where Chris Harwood (No.5), Mark Jefferson (No.1) and Francis Burke (No.2) were steady and composed but were occasionally found wanting when up against mobile runners.

The first match away to Wellingborough School provided a disciplined and confident team performance leading to a comfortable 4 - 0 win. However the second game, which was very evenly matched despite the score, saw them lose 3-1 to local rivals Chase TC after being well placed at 1-1 with three minutes to go. This was followed a week later by our second and third defeats to two of our other local rivals Dyson Perrins High School by 5 - 1 and RGS, Worcester by 4 - 0. Suddenly losing was becoming as much

a habit as winning was before Christmas at rugby but one of the signs of a good side is the ability to bounce back and the squad stuck together and trained hard, determined to turn things round.

A battling 3 - 3 draw with Clifton College on their travels restored some belief and this was closely followed by a convincing 5 - 0 home win v QEH, Bristol and a 10 - 2 thrashing of Wycliffe and a hard-earned 3 - 2 win against Monmouth School. These three closing victories revealed great character and epitomised their work ethic and teamwork and bodes well for next season when they will compete in the ISFA Under-15 Mercian League.

JDC

109fOOTBall

GirlS’ fOOTBallIt was only eighteen months ago that some of the girls in the Sixth Form asked whether the school could lay on football and we started holding a recreational session once a week. Come the Autumn Term, I had arranged a couple of fixtures to dip our toes in to the waters of competitive football, but I had no idea how quickly girls’ football at Malvern would take off and how well the team would achieve. The tentative and inexperienced side that took the field back in September were almost unrecognisable by March when we played our last fixture. In that last game, the Malvern girls’ XI comprehensively defeated Wellingborough School, who had been runners up in the independent schools national competition. When the Wellingborough girls filed off the field, shell-shocked and silent, having lost 1 - 4, our girls realised just how far they had come in a few months.

down gallantly to much more experienced opponents in the shape of The Chase Technology College in their first eleven-a-side match. However, it did not take long before the girls began to gain in confidence and play with greater shape; this was amply demonstrated in their 3 - 3 draw against St Clare’s, Oxford. A few weeks later, we met The Cheltenham Ladies’ College in the ISFA National Cup, on a bitterly cold November afternoon. Cheltenham were given quite a fright as our girls led 5 - 4 with just twenty minutes to go, before late goals from Cheltenham saw them squeeze home.

The Lent Term saw the girls despatch St Clare’s 7 - 2, draw 0 - 0 with Redmaids, Bristol and beat Cheltenham Ladies 2 - 1 in an Under-16 fixture. The girls were then muscled aside by an amazonian King’s, Worcester XI, not helped by two ridiculous refereeing decisions (sorry, girls, I won’t be so generous to the away side again…) Then the grand finale, the 4 - 1 win against Wellingborough - it conjured up in my historian’s mind Oliver Cromwell’s remark about the Battle of Worcester, that it was ‘the crowning victory’!

In some ways it would be invidious to single out particular players because the girls played with such commitment and team spirit and all improved markedly, whether Abi Hay (No.3) in goal or Zainab Adewusi (No.6) up front. However, there are a number who I do feel special mention. Kavita Purohit (No.6) impressed with her athleticism and courage and she is an exciting prospect for the future. Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6) played with terrier-like determination and never had a

smile off her face: I won’t forget the look of delight she wore on scoring against Wellingborough. Maria Schacker (No.3) and Caroline Waldschmitt (No.3) were at the heart of the defence and played with typically Germanic discipline and reliability. If I were a real English football manager (and so numerically-challenged) I’d say they gave 110% in every match. Harriet Shuker (No.3) was remarkably composed at right back, completely unfazed by playing against girls three or four years older than her. Katya Berger (No.8) played with growing conviction and displayed impressive ball skills. Finally, our brace of Cardiffians, Beth Lloyd (No.8) and Kathy Rogers (No.8) were lynchpins of the side, with Beth our top goalscorer and Kathy, our captain, emerging as the player of the season, leading the team by example and scoring an outstanding hat-trick against Wellingborough.

All in all, a remarkable first season for girls’ Football and a tremendously enjoyable one: I haven’t coached a more responsive and enthusiastic group of players. They had fun come rain, come shine, whether in training or in matches and I am keenly looking forward to next season. As Abi Hay might say, given the voluminous and fluorescent goal-keeper’s shirt she wore, the future’s bright, the future’s orange.

Congratulations, finally, to No. 8 who won the girls’ football tournament on the first Sunday of the Autumn Term. They beat No.4, No.3 and No.6 by 2 - 0, 4 - 0 and 3 - 1 respectively.

JAG

One of the strengths of the girls’ XI was its mix of ages, ranging from Olivia Barnes from the Prep School, through to Caroline Waldschmitt (No.3) in the Upper Sixth. Another feature which added to the pleasure of coaching such an enthusiastic group of players, was the blend of nationalities, with the Welsh and Germans predominant, but with the odd Italian and Central American adding some real flair to the team.

One of the highlights of the season was the ISFA National Sixes Tournament in Ascot in October. The girls played extremely well in blistering heat and drew with the eventual winners, Wycombe Abbey. At first, understandably, the girls took time to be comfortable with positioning and choosing the right options and they went

The Malvernian 2009

neTBall110

netball

The 1ST TeaM had a very hard season, seeing new players rise from the Hundred and coping with the loss of some seasoned Upper Sixth players. Malvern started with very strong matches against Clifton College, a very experienced side in netball, playing in both Autumn and Lent Terms. Therefore as an introduction to the season Malvern found the challenge very hard, losing 14 - 30 but there were very promising performances from all the team showing maturity and good team-work, with a great start to the senior season by Sarah Jefferson (No.4).

January saw Malvern play Uppingham School, a new fixture for the 2009 season against another exceptional netballing school. With one match under the team’s belt the first team played with vigour, enthusiasm and determination, initially we were not quite on top form but we pulled the score back to a creditable 37 - 41 at full time. The next match against The Chase Technology College saw us win 38 - 16. It was a pleasure to see the girls play with authority, athleticism and a very high shooting success rate, with awarded Danielle Close (No.4) player of the match for her superb movement and shooting. The fixture against Hereford Cathedral School was a tightly fought match, with Hannah

Jefferson (No.4) playing exceptionally well throughout the game. Although there was a negative vibe from this game due to the frustration of trailing which affected their motivation and saw Malvern lose 23 - 32. Against RGS-AO we lost 15 - 39, Zippy Chappell (No.4) being named player of the match. Our next opponents, The King’s School, Worcester were a formidable netball team with many of their players playing for national league clubs. We maintained a positive attitude throughout the game but eventually lost 13 - 48. The final match of the season was against Cheltenham

College. This was another very tough match and sadly although we started with a spirited performance, demonstrating excellent shooting skills, Cheltenham were too strong for us and won 69 - 23.

Overall the girls had a positive attitude but found this season particularly difficult against well-drilled sides, teams with club players and a change in personnel.

CTB

111neTBall

2nD TeaMThe second team shared very similar fortunes to the 1st team. The first matches of the season were against experienced Clifton College & Bromsgrove School sides and we lost 10 - 25 and 10 - 19 respectively. Uppingham School beat us 47 - 10. The addition of Caroline Varga (No.4) strengthened the side to face The Chase Technology College. Malvern took the lead from the first quarter and never looked back running out 31 - 11 winners. Anna Ross was player of the match for her excellent shooting throughout. Next we played Hereford Cathedral School. Hannah Pascoe (No.4) marshaled the defence well and was awarded player of match. But Hereford were a strong side and won 37 - 17. RGS, Worcester were an equally well-drilled side and overwhelmed us 53 -20. At the end of the season, Wycliffe College arranged to pitch their first team against our seconds. They proved to be a strong side for our second team who were determined to prove their netball prowess. Ros Harvey (No.6), a new addition to netball at Malvern, was awarded player of the match for her effort and defensive work. Malvern lost the game 16 - 32. The final game against a strong Cheltenham College saw yet again the courage and determination of the second team dampened by a strong netballing side. The score does not represent the improvement and maturity of these young ladies and it was nice to see that although the season has been hard and unrewarding the girls worked right to the end. A real pleasure to work with and I am looking to seeing them improve throughout next season.

CTB

3rD TeaMThe third team the team was made up of beginners to the sport and I was extremely encouraged to see such commitment and interest to take up netball. With limited preparation for the season and playing schools that were clearly very strong in the sport, it was encouraging to see the girls regularly attend training. Although all four games played this season were lost, all players improved dramatically throughout the season and are very excited about taking up netball next year.

CTB

UnDer 14sThis season was tough for the Under-14 A team. They won only one match, against The Chase Technology College. Although this was a convincing 30 - 14 win it does not make up for the upset of the other matches. Uppingham School was a close fought match but Uppingham were able to finally take the lead and beat Malvern 31-24. By the final match against Cheltenham College, Malvern started to play with maturity, enthusiasm and strength. Cheltenham were a good side but Malvern were in their league and caused Chellteham problems, sadly Malvern could not keep up with the scoring and lost 22 - 27. If the girls have the same belief in themselves that we saw in the last match of the season they will see success next season.

The Under-14 B team was another of the successful teams this season. The team won 50% of their games.

We started with a strong win against Bromsgrove School 10 - 7 and just lost to Clifton College 8 - 12. Uppingham School, The Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School and The King’s School, Worcester also proved to be too tough for our us. This did not keep the girls down and they beat Hereford Cathedral 17 - 9, The Chase Technology College 29 - 1 and Cheltenham College 23 - 14.

The Under-14 C team was a new team for this season with only one fixture arranged. We were able to field a large side as many girls were interested in developing as netballers. Sadly the girls lost their only game but we look forward to developing their knowledge and skills next season.

CTB

The Malvernian 2009

crOSS cOUnTry112

cross country

There iS alWayS quite a bit of tension on Ledder Day. Will I manage to get in front of Rumbourne-Smythe this time around? Will I get a Ledder Cap? Will I make it to the finish? Will I make it to the first check-point? Will the House team all turn up for the medical and give us at least a chance of winning a cup? For the organiser of the event the thoughts are more along the lines of: will the farmer near the start remember to unlock the gates in Frith Wood? Will the water stop team remember to take the plastic cups? Will the coaches turn up to take us to Ledbury? Well, the gates were opened beautifully this year. The plastic cups were all present and filled and ready. But no coaches. Not even so much as a bicycle appeared to take more than 130 runners and helpers to the start near Ledbury Station. Had the vehicles gone to College Road instead? No. Were they on their way? No. Did the company have any record at all of our order? Apparently not. But our transport manager, Mr Wheeler, is not one to dwell on the past. 130 passengers were without transport: let’s get the show on the road nevertheless!

It was like Dunkirk. Well, a little, anyway. Mr Willatt, this being a trivial emergency on his scale of emergencies, and road transport being third-rate in his eyes anyway, was already making moves to haul us over to the railway station. Mr Wheeler, for whom rail does not come into the question, phoned around to unite drivers with

available College transport. Mr Hookham, more pedestrian, was beginning to enjoy the splendid thought that we could all jog to Ledbury, and then run back again. What fun: a sort of Ledder with a bonus! But then Mr Wheeler’s efforts bore fruit: a line of minibuses turned up, cars pulled into sight, people carriers turned the corner. In the end all runners arrived safely, if a little late, in Mr Wilce’s field, ready for the 2009 Ledbury Run. Thank you very much indeed Mr Wheeler: a great job done! (I shall omit the full details of Mr Willatt’s smaller party that did indeed attempt to take the train, with the almost inevitable, sad results of taking a train in the UK: driver stops at Malvern, decides he’s bored, abandons his cab, goes home for a nap: you know the sort of thing).

But nevertheless the 2009 Ledbury Run was a stunning event. The sun shone and there was another excellent turnout as 113 pupil runners and some twenty staff and friends of the College lined up to head immediately uphill and through the narrow gate that takes runners into and through Frith Wood. A little too warm for running, Sam Baylis (No.9) nevertheless looked as cool as ever and quickly emerged as the lead boy. He maintained this lead throughout, finishing in 50.54, over a minute and a half in front of second-placed Jamie Paterson (SH). Other boy Ledder Cap winners were: Ed Davenhill (No.1); Alex Betteridge (No.5); Jannis Fischer (SH); Harry Siviter (No.1);

Harry Dunne (SH); Tom Saxton (No.2) and Hugo de Haan (SH). Cap commiserations go to Ferdi Böninger (No.9) who was the next, sadly capless, boy to cross the line.

For the girls, Ros Harvey (No.6), who had run so well for her House and school over the year, was similarly in the lead from early on in the race and finished in the excellent time of 62.08. The other girls’ Ledder Cap was awarded to Maria Theis,

113crOSS cOUnTry

The Malvernian 2009

crOSS cOUnTry114

last year’s winner who finished in 63.37, just a few seconds slower than her 2008 time. The winning Houses in this year’s race were No.8 and SH, with No.4 and No.9 runners-up.

My thanks, as ever, go to the many teaching staff, ground staff, pupils, and landowners between here and Ledbury who help to put on this event and, indeed, in the case of many of the above, all the other cross-country events throughout the year. Let me mention in particular on this occasion Mr Knee, for Mr Knee takes a crucial role in the Ledder in the position I like to call “The Middle of Nowhere”. He retires from full-time teaching at the end of this academic year and we have here yet another example of the many, many tasks that John has faithfully undertaken during his time at the College. Thanks to him and all the others who did such a good job out on the course; we had a wonderful, colourful afternoon in the country - fresh air for much of the school, with cheering officials, water en route, excited spectators along the way, and exhausted but generally extremely happy runners.

There was another good turnout for this year’s three and a half mile Junior Race, taking some 140 runners up into the Hills, past Holy Well, towards the Wyche Cutting, then steeply down the Old Wyche, across the Common to finish on the Senior. The winner for the boys this year was last year’s third man in, Will Wright (No.9) of the Remove. Will’s time was 25.40 (record 23.42 by Allfrey in 1985). Will has one

more Junior Race left next year, before his age transforms him into a threatening presence in the Ledbury Run. However, on the evening after the competition, in reflective mood, Will wondered whether he might relax and give someone else a chance in the Junior Race next year. Don’t tell his Housemaster! First home for the girls this year, just as she has been first in several school races since she arrived at Malvern, was Vicky Moritz (No.6), finishing in a time of 28.42, only a little outside Katie Sloane’s 2004 record of 28.14. Both winners this year performed excellently. In the House competition, even though the victorious Housemistress refused to believe they had won, No3 finished four points ahead of No4, while No2 left No5 a slightly more comfortable fourteen points behind.

The Ferrets’ Race was, for the first time in my recollection, run in two stages. The untimely opening of a gate meant that the three lead runners in the race found themselves leaving the route and heading back to school along a course that lobbed about one kilometre off the full distance. I could not believe it when, only a few minutes after starting the race, I saw three figures flash across the Senior towards the funnel, looking scarcely more tired than they had been at the start line. The stewards’ inquiry found the cause and it was decided that a time trial for the lost trio would be arranged for the following day. This was done and their performances placed the three of them, Charlie Buiskool (No.5), Charlie Plummer (No.2) and George Bowden (No.2), in that order at the

top of the results sheet. The winning girl was Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) with Amy Cooke (No.8) second. Charlie Buiskool’s time was 12.18, and Rebecca’s was 13.17.

The nine-round Inter-House League was a more popular event than ever this year, with record numbers participating in some rounds, including the gruelling six and a half mile British Camp race that attracted 36 runners (29 in 2008). This figure included four girls, amongst them Vicky Moritz (No.6), who managed to beat a large number of the boys who took part. And it was good to see a real competition from the girls again this time, as No.6 and No.8 battled week after week for the top place. No.6 are blessed with two of the College’s best runners, Vicky and also Ros Harvey. But that House had to try to match the consistent weekly output of No.8 who had amongst their number Stephanie Ong who put in the strongest girls’ performance overall in this year’s League. The deserving No.8 team indeed took the cup, with strong performances, alongside that of Stephanie, from Imogen Bexfield, Maria Schacker, and Anna-Lena Kuntz. For the boys, while Sam Baylis, last year’s best performer in the League, again won every race in which he took part, the honour of the best-performing boy went to Max Pohl (No.5) who earned 497 out of a possible 500 points. With running, as this competition demonstrates so well, it is depth of strength in a team that really counts, and turning out regularly a reliable performance. While an excellent runner, Max is not the fastest in the College. But

115crOSS cOUnTry

week after week he was there, performing consistently well for his House, and this fact and the efforts of his team-mates gave No5 victory in the League. Those who, like Max, did consistently well for No5 were: Alex Betteridge, Lawrence Beesley-Peck, John Flothmann, and Tim Brook, but each week there were various others who joined in and helped the House to a well-deserved final victory. Runners-up in the boys’ competition were School House.

Inter-school matches were less agreeable than usual in their outcome this year. Our annual triangular meet with Cheltenham and Clifton was cancelled by the hosts. (Never mind: it means that we get to keep the cup for another year without breaking sweat). A broken-down minibus resulted in the College missing one round of the West Mercia League and therefore, despite a good start in the competition, we had no chance of ever winning it. The annual Berrow’s Trophy race, hosted by Worcester, became rather a tangle when one team wandered off before the race started and were allowed to set off several minutes after everyone else. The chaos that ensued does not seem to have been untangled even now, and the organisers are steadfastly fighting off my attempts to get hold of a results sheet. But they have my sympathy: it was not an easy day.

But there was more that was positive at national level with Sam Baylis (No.9), Rebecca Raby –Smith (No.4) and Vicky Moritz (No.6) all representing the county at the ESAA English Schools Cross Country

Championships at Stanforth Hall in Leicestershire, where our runners helped the Hereford and Worcestershire team into 16th position out of 44. Despite some bad luck with Vicki Moritz (No.6) falling badly and Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) still not back to full fitness following illness, the intermediate girls’ team performed admirably in the National Schools Cross Country Cup Final at Shepshed in Leicestershire. They were once again the top school in the Midlands region and finished in 10th place nationally in a competition involving 550 schools in all the rounds. The final involved the top 24 schools and 134 runners finished the tough, muddy course. Amy Cooke (No.8) was 31st, Alys Marr (No.3) 34th, Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) 56th, Vicky Moritz (No.6) 57th, Lydia Sharpe (No.6) 89th and Naomi Sharpe (No.6) 121st. Nearly all the team members still qualify for this age group next year and are now really motivated to try and get into the top six in the country in 2009.

The English School Athletics Association events produced some very encouraging results for Malvern College, especially by the U16 girls in the very popular ESAA Cross Country Cup competition, which took place during the Autumn term. The team of Amy Cooke (No.8), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4), Alys Marr (No.3) Vicky Moritz (No.6), Lydia and Naomi Sharpe (No.6) won the Regional Round finishing in 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 29thplaces, with a special mention going to Vicky who kept

going for the team even though she was unwell during the race.

Vicky also managed to finish in the final of the National Schools Cross Country Cup at Shepshed in Leicestershire after being pushed and falling heavily shortly after the start of race. Despite this and Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) still not back to full fitness following illness, the girls performed admirably. They were once again the top school in the Midlands region and finished in 10th place nationally in a competition involving 550 schools in all the rounds. The final involved the top 24 schools and 134 runners finished the tough, muddy course. Amy Cooke (No.8) was 31st, Alys Marr (No.3) 34th, Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) 56th, Vicky Moritz (No.6) 57th, Lydia Sharpe (No.6) 89th and Naomi Sharpe (No.6) 121st. Nearly all the team members still qualify for this age group next year and are now really motivated to try and get into the top six in the country in 2009.

The ESAA Cross Country Championships, held during the Lent term, started really well at the District Championships held on Malvern Common. There was a clean sweep in the Junior Girls race with Vicky Moritz very impressive in 1st place, Rebecca Raby-Smith 2nd and Lydia Sharpe 3rd. In the Intermediate Girls race Amy Cooke was 2nd, Alys Marr 3rd, Kavita Purohit 14th and Zainab Adewusi 18th. In the Boys events Jamie Paterson was an easy winner of the senior race and Jonathan Betteridge was 2nd in the Intermediate race.

The Malvernian 2009

crOSS cOUnTry116

The County Cross Country Championships were unfortunately cancelled due to snow and ice, leaving it to a selection panel to decide who would represent Hereford & Worcestershire in the finals. Sam Baylis (No.9) was selected for the senior boys team and Rebecca Raby–Smith (No.4) and Vicky Moritz (No.6) were chosen to represent the junior girls team at the ESAA English Schools Cross Country Championships at Stanforth Hall in Leicestershire. All found the going very tough and finished outside the top 100 but the junior girls Hereford and Worcestershire team performed very well, finishing in16th position out of 44.

This is my last year as Master in Charge of Cross-Country and may I finish by picking

out the names of four members of staff who have been a particular help to me over the past few years with running. They are Dr Watson, Mr Willatt, Mr Cramp, and Dr Stafford. The latter has now moved on to other things but he would regularly turn out to man the start and finish of many of our races and I have been grateful to him for his good management and reliability. The others have all turned their hand each week to whatever has needed to be done and, as a result, each race has been as smooth and safe in its operation as one would hope. My thanks to each of them.

RAH

117crOSS cOUnTry

The Malvernian 2009

crOSS cOUnTry118

naTiOnal PreP SchOOlS’ crOSS cOUnTry chaMPiOnShiPSOver 500 children from 40 different schools took part in the seventeenth National Prep Schools’ Cross Country Championships on a glorious spring day at Malvern College. A large crowd of parents, friends and teachers cheered runners home in all four races as they completed the course in front of the Cricket Pavilion on the edge of the Senior Turf.

The first race was the Under-11 girls’ race, which created an exciting finish with just three seconds between the first three runners home. The winner was Katja Carleton-Smith from Abberley Hall who just held off Anna Weston from Kent College Junior School. Catherine Longe from Beeston Hall finished in third place. Spratton Hall won the team competition by nearly 30 points and the Small Schools’ Trophy went to Hunter Hall School.

Louis Clarke won a very competitive Under-11 boys’ race (Swanbourne House) with Joshua Cara (Spratton Hall) and Jamil Carse (Millfield) finishing in second place and third place. Maidwell Hall won the Boys’ team prize and also the Small Schools’ Trophy for this race.

In the Under-13 girls’ race Spratton Hall dominated with a clean sweep in the top three places. Sisters Morwenna and Charlotte Underwood finished in first and second place with Tara Patel in third place. Unsurprisingly the Northamptonshire Prep School was the easy winner of the team competition, 43 points ahead of second place Millfield Prep. Hanford won the Small Schools’ Trophy.

James Clarke, Director of Sport at Spratton Hall, a former triathlete said “Cross country has really become a big thing now at the school, We started from nothing six years ago and with continued success, particularly in the girls’ events, cross country is now considered a really ‘cool’ thing for pupils to do. The older girls also act as great role models for the younger ones and we plan our season to peak at this event which creates healthy competition for team places”.

In the longest race of the day Tom Johnson from Eagle House School in Berkshire retained his title in the Under-13 boys’ race. He dominated the challenging 3.6 km course, winning in a time of 12.41 and finishing 47secs ahead of second placed Harry Marsh from Cheam Prep School.

George Lavellin finished in third place and his school, Millfield Prep took the team title. Maidwell Hall won their second Small Schools’ Trophy in this event.

Emily Pidgeon, former winner of the Under-13 girls’ race, presented the prizes. Emily went on to become European Junior Champion at 5,000 metres in 2005 and proved to be very popular with all the young runners, posing for photos and signing programmes throughout the afternoon.

“ I remember really enjoying this race and events like this are so important to

encourage and inspire young children to become involved in running and athletics” said Emily. “ For some it can also provide a stepping stone to greater things, but the most important thing at this age is that it is fun to take part “.

Every runner went home with a commemorative tee-shirt and a shoe bag as well as many happy memories of a really exciting day.

CTB

119racKeTS

Play! Serve UP! aceS! MaKe SUre!

These are all phrases heard shouted at varying decibels in a Rackets court gallery when a match is in full flow. These were all heard regularly this year as the Malvern squad played sixteen fixtures, travelling all around the country, and the results were extremely promising for the future of the game at Malvern College.

1st pair won 2 lost 92nd pair won 3 lost 1Colts won 7 lost 5J Colts won 11 lost 8FY won 7 lost 10

Our Seniors worked remarkably hard. Jonty Hylands (No.5) showed his passion for the sport and must be praised for his effort over the last three years both on and off the court. Stephen Coffey (No.5), Felix Black (No.7), Archie Velarde (SH) and Fred Gardner (No.2) must all be praised as squad players and they did well to juggle all their work and sporting commitments to compete so admirably for the College. There were various combinations of first and second pair players and this year was always going to be a tough one especially after last

year’s 1st pair had done so well. Top results must include the 1st pair wins v Eton and Clifton. Second pair results include beating Wellington, Clifton and Marlborough, all on away turf!

Junior results were where we showed the way and our Colts Arthur Wakeley (No.2), Ben Wehling (No.9) and Odge Davey (No.5) all proved that they will be able to compete at senior level next year. The results included great wins against Winchester, Rugby, Eton, Clifton and Haileybury.

Our Junior Colts were excellent and show strength in depth and real talent with Will Vanston (No.9), Will Wright (No.9), Matt Saxton (No.2), Charlie Lacey (SH) and Giles Gregory (No.2) all showing an aptitude for the sport, though some need more court time than others. Our Junior Colts A pair were unbeaten apart from a disappointing Cheltenham result. Will Vanston and Will Wright should be singled out for praise and will both go on to become top players for the school.

Our Yearlings were full of enthusiasm and determination and tried extremely hard all year achieving some great results v Eton, Clifton, Cheltenham, Winchester, Rugby and St Pauls. Mark Jefferson (No.1), Chris Harwood (No.5), Tom Trotter (No.1), N Dent

(No.9), Jeremy Mallard (No.1) and Dan Garnett (No.5) all did well and should improve for the coming season. A great bunch of lads!

We had an extremely successful singles Queen’s tournament with three boys making the third round and Arthur Wakeley reaching the last sixteen of the Incledon-Weber competition. Will Vanston has also proved the theory that Squash players are best equipped to transfer their racket handling skills to the quicker game. He reached the final of the Jim Dear trophy by beating a host of top players and the 2nd seed 15 - 0, 15 - 5 in the semi-final. He lost to a Tonbridge boy in the final but gave a good account of himself. If he carries on improving he will become a Foster Cup player (even winner!) of the future.

In the doubles at Easter we were the 3rd seeds in the tournament and reached the semi-finals only to lose to a decent Eton pair (2nd seeds) 3 - 1. Will Vanston and Will Wright did amazingly well to get this far and capped off a great year for this talented pair.

The captain of Rackets Jonty Hylands won the Prichard Racket and No 5 took the Senior House doubles. Junior doubles was won by that No 9 pairing of the two Wills, V and W, tough

rackets

The Malvernian 2009

racKeTS

opponents for anyone, as the other junior boys found out!! Mark Jefferson won the Ferrets Cup and should grow into a player to watch out for.

Another tour to Hayling Island was a success with the annual Real Tennis and Rackets trophy going to Stephen Coffey and Jonty Hylands. All the tourists enjoyed the trip, Jonty, Stephen, Fred, Arthur, Will and Will. It was capped off with a fixture against Haileybury and Mr Hardingham came as honorary Master i/c. He showed himself to be a fiend on the Real Tennis court, especially when he started to realise that top-spin was never used by Henry VIII, nor has it been by any other Real Tennis player since!

A special mention must be made of Ron Hughes and his family. Sadly, Ron passed away this Rackets season and a Memorial Service and Rackets Dinner with matches were held in his honour. I was lucky to have met Ron a number of times and was privileged to have him coach me on court telling me that I was a games player, not truly a Rackets player (this was praise in itself), and that I must move my feet more and keep my racket head up! I was also lucky to mark some OM matches with the players that Ron coached. In one

match the average age was well above 50 but the standard of Rackets was so spectacular that it could have been four top-quality youngsters on court. This is a nod in the direction of Ron’s supreme coaching abilities and his memorial service, with his and Vera’s “boys” in attendance, was one that I will not forget.

MALVERN RACKETS PROFESSIONALS

Johnny Laker 1895-1925 30 years

Stewart Green 1925-1957 32 years

Ron Hughes 1956-1986 30 years

Roger Tolchard 1984-2006 22 years

These are the names of the professionals who have worked for long periods at Malvern since the first court was opened in January 1881. All of them coached with different styles and all had varying levels of success over their years of service. Above all, they each had a passion for the game and for coaching Malvern College pupils, teaching them not only about the

sport itself but also about themselves. An intimidating legacy for me to try and emulate! A mention must go here to Robbie Baldry, last year’s winner of the Prichard Racket and 1st pair player. He has been on his Gap Year and has been Assistant Rackets Professional at the Montreal and Detroit Rackets Clubs during this time. Robbie has had a great experience of playing Rackets over the Atlantic and would recommend it to any pupil who is keen to have an amazing experience of living and playing abroad.

Malvern College is lucky to have two Rackets courts and is also lucky in the fact that there are plans in place for a refurbishment in preparation for the Public Schools Professionals Competition being held here in January 2010. This will coincide with all the major developments of the College including the new sports hall. Rackets has an attraction like no other sport and will continue to hold a special place in the school’s traditional games structure.

PLAY! The old exhortation will continue to reverberate out of the grilles as loudly as ever.

TWR

120

121aDverTiSinG feaTUre

Malvern College Conference & Eventst: +44(0)1684 581 601 e: enterprises@malcol.org

www.enterprises.malcol.org

A superb setting for the perfect event...

72 en-suite bedrooms

30 meeting and syndicate rooms

25-metre pool and Fitness Suite

Purpose-built Function Suite

The Malvernian 2009

GirlS’ hOcKey122

Girls’ hockey

1ST xiThe season saw numerous changes for girls’ Hockey, with the emphasis placed on ‘club hockey’ values and attitudes. Newly appointed Mark Moss, a centrally-contracted England Hockey Coach, joined Miss Kay, a former National League player, to ignite this new perspective to girls’ hockey and filter through England Hockey’s techniques and tactics.

A fantastic turn-out at the pre-season trials highlighted the calibre of girls fighting for a position within the squad. In recent years, long-term athletic development has been instilled. The girls highlighted this in a professional and determined manner to Miss Kay and Miss Preece, a newly appointed PE teacher and former Premier National League player. In addition an influx in overseas talents also provided an abundance of players from which to select a strong winning 1st XI squad.

At the first squad meeting the girls learned about the style of hockey expected and their individual roles and responsibilities both on pitch and off pitch. During the meeting three performance goals were set by the squad themselves to achieve throughout the season:

score 35 goals or more• win more matches than the year before• win and Draw more matches than lose•

Dani Molyes (No.8) was appointed captain, and vice-captains, Vixie Furse (No.3) and Charlie Lawrence (No.3), were announced.

Our first fixture against Wrekin College gave the team a fantastic start: a 2 - 2 draw, the girls in the Hundred proving their worth with Bryce Birkhead (No.3) and Claudia Wells (No.8) as opening scorers. Strong performances came from Anne Geuther (No.6) and Hebe Nicholson (No.3) in midfield and defence.

Only a matter of days into term the semi-final of the County Schools Under-18 tournament took place, against local rivals MSJ, The Chase and Evesham High School. We made it through to the final regional round.

In the second fixture of the season, against Hereford Cathedral School, Beth Lloyd (No.8) showed a natural ability to transfer her previous experience on grass to astro-turf scoring Malvern College’s only goal against, a rather poor start to the season, meaning greater focus during training and increased fitness levels were required.

A week before leave-out the girls were at their peak of fitness to face a new opponent, Cheltenham College. The game highlighted the need for a change in formation to a 5-3-2 to strengthen the

defence. It was a similar story against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College but there were impressive displays of form from Sophie Von Nathusius (No.4) and a new talent, Mareika Weise (No.3), strengthening the right half position.

Great motivation from Vixie Furse (No.3) encouraged the team in a local derby match against The Chase Technology College. The work rate from Hebe Dickins (No.3) kept the tempo high and there was good linking play from Bryce Birkhead (No.3), but it was not enough.

Against Malvern St James, Ella Cripwell (No.4) shone,showing off her drag flicking ability on a penalty corner. MSJ, a weaker but determined side prove no match for us. Claudia Wells (No.8) made her mark on the score sheet yet again as did Charlie Lawrence (No.3), a senior forward who has played in the 1st XI for a number of seasons. The score, 2 - 0, was not reflective of the high standard of play the girls provide the spectators with, a game that showed the squad were beginning to think like hockey players.

In the final round of the County School Regional Under-18 tournament, we faced The Chase Technology College, The King’s School, Worcester and Bromsgrove School. As the squad warmed up under Laura Joyce’s (No.3) instruction, nerves were raw.

123GirlS’ hOcKey

We played King’s first and lost 0 - 4. After a serious ‘talking to’ we scored the first goal against Bromsgrove. Could we really still be in with a chance? If Abi Hay had any thing to do with it, yes! Her strength on the ball and commitment drove the team forward. Sadly, Bromsgrove capitalised on small errors made in attack and created quick breaks over-running us and allowing their England hopeful to score a hat-trick. However, these goal did not come as easily as she thought they would with Poppy Andrews (No.4) making her greatest save of the season, effortlessly brushing Bromsgrove’s reserve stick hit towards top the top right corner away for the goal. The crowd went wild.

We next came up against Rugby School and emerged with a respectable 5 - 2 victory. The return of Dani Molyes (No.8) was rewarded with two goals from open play, and Claudia Wells (No.8) scored another two goals. The fifth goal came from a player who manages to make goal scoring look elegant and graceful: Charlie Friedrichs (No.8).

The match against The King’s Worcester was a fast-paced game with a number of goal-scoring opportunities. During the first half Abi Hay (No.3) converted her first goal of the season from the right hand side beating a static defender with composure and pace. Captain Dani Molyes (No.8)

followed suit closely followed by Claudia Wells (No.8), now a Junior Regional Performance player, scoring yet again. King’s scrapped back two goals and kept the pressure on. Bryce Birkhead (No.3) responded well, posting up to receive the ball as inside right, attacking the space and perfectly timing a strike from the top of the attacking circle to make the final score 4 - 2.

With positions opening up within the 1st XI squad a handful of exceptional Remove players were select throughout the season includes; Isabella Petzinka (No.6), Jaala Kenchington (No.6), Flora Patterson (No.4), Ella Cripwell (No.4), Eleanor Richardson (No.6) and Susannah Hunt (No.3). Against Wycliffe College, Susannah Hunt (No.3) peaked, creating many set-play routines by attacking the spaces high and wide behind the defence, pressuring the goalkeeper and force errors, which lead to a goal. Kirstie Wombwell (No.4) and Eleanor Richardson (No.6) joined the more experienced players in defence and looked right at home, but disappointingly to no avail, Wycliffe managed to break through twice and score. Despite the final 0 - 2 score the game was evenly matched with both schools producing high quality hockey.

The tenth fixture saw another new school come to Malvern, St Edward’s, Cheltenham, a side with many club level players. They proved to be well-drilled, clever hockey players with speed and strength, denying us the tempo and speed of game best suited to the squad available due to injury, with the loss of Jo Smith (No.4) in defence. Sophie Von Nathusius (No.4) dropped deeper to support Morwenna Scott (No.4) and Laura Joyce (No.4). Despite good organisation and communication from the back four, St Edwards put five goals past Malvern. The battle continued to the very last minute seeing Charlie Lawrence (No.3) and Bryce Birkhead (No.3) keep St Edward’s working hard for the win.

The squad travelled to Christ College, Brecon; a tough fixture with a lower level of skill but a strong and physical opposition. The conditions were horrible: gale force winds and freezing temperatures. Despite gloves, tights and hand-warmers the girls were unable to perform to their high standards. A frustrating game of hitting from end to end resulted in a 2 - 2 draw. Vixie Furse (No.3) left the pitch frozen to the bone and in pain, definitely the lowest

point of the season both standard and enjoyment wise.

Continued poor weather conditions saw the Prince Henry’s School, Evesham fixture cancelled leaving one final match before the end of term, the regular final fixture against The King’s School, Gloucester. We entered this last game with high hopes, bringing up Hebe Nicholson (No.3) and Emily King (No.4) to the team to ensure Malvern went out on a high note. We turned on the talent showing King’s how to make the pitch as big as possible, loading the bases in attack, transferring the ball through the centre half and a penalty corner master class. Having only scored at the start of the season Beth Lloyd (No.8) found form and converted two goals from open play. It was only fitting for Charlie Lawrence (No.3) and Dani Moyles (No.8), two long standing 1st XI players, to score in their last ever representative hockey match for Malvern College, a great way to finish the season leaving Miss. Kay and Mark Moss proud and exuberant.

Returning to the performance goals set at the start of the season Malvern College Girls’ 1st XI Hockey squad should be very proud to know they:

scored 31 goals in competitive fixtures • (only 4 off target)won more games then last season• won and Drew 9 matches and lost 9 • matches

thus successfully completing two of their performance goals during the season, a jolly good effort by everyone.

I personally would like to thank all those in involved in working with the 1st XI squad through out the season and congratulate Mark Moss for receiving a prestigious award from England Hockey as Young Performance Coach of The Year 2009.

SJK

The Malvernian 2009

GirlS’ hOcKey124

2nD xiIn a team made up of girls from across all year groups the Autumn term saw many successes for the 2nd XI, not only in terms of results but also in terms of both individual and team performances, even if some of these successes were not evident in the scorelines. The girls put in a great deal of effort throughout the season, coming down to training sessions week in week out, despite the bitter cold at times and worked hard. Looking at the statistics in terms of matches won/drawn/lost gives a glimpse into how well the team performed throughout the term.

The season started with a series of losses as we worked towards finding a formation and style of play that suited individuals and the team as a whole. Training was hard, and despite losing our second game 3 - 1 to Hereford Cathedral School the illusive goal we had been looking for finally arrived along with a commanding recovery in the second half of the game.

Despite heavy defeats to both Cheltenham College and The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, we never stopped working hard with the team showing fantastic team spirit, supporting each other throughout every game and pushing each other to work hard in training.

We found a formation that worked in the fourth game of the season, which finally saw us win a match. Our first win against Bishop of Hereford’s Blue Coat School saw some brilliant play.

The girls’ determination could not be faulted and this was shown within the match against The King’s School, Worcester where we came back from a 4 - 2 deficit to draw the match in the final four minutes. This match was followed by a superb performance with a 2 - 1 win against St Edward’s, Cheltenham. A long trip to Christ College, Brecon saw an end to what seemed to be the beginning of winning ways, where we lost 3 - 0. Although

disappointed with the defeat as a team the girls did not let this affect their team spirit or put a damper on their season of anything it made them work harder.

The final game of the term gave us a commanding victory over The King’s School, Gloucester. This game was the last for many of the team: our vice-captain Chanty Hudson (No.3), as well as Romy Welch (No.3), Elsa Eggen (No.6), Jana Wehling (No.6) and Emily King (No.4). Winning the final game and doing so with a wonderful of team play was a brilliant end to the season.

A special thank you must go to ARB whose enthusiasm and support of the team meant that I was able to coach the girls whilst he umpired which made a world of difference to both me (as a coach) and the girls.

CW

125GirlS’ hOcKey

cOUnTy hOnOUrSEleven girls from Malvern College were selected to represent Worcestershire County in Netball, Hockey and Lacrosse. Daisy Powles (No.3), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4), Alys Marr (No.3) and Kirsty Imm (No.4) were chosen to represent the Under-15 Hockey side. Claudia Wells (No.8) was chosen for the Under-17 side. Sarah Jefferson (No.4), Hannah Jefferson (No.4), Alice Pinfield (No.8), Portia Velarde (No.4) Julia James (No.8) and Bryony Logan (No.4) were selected for the County Lacrosse team. Hannah was also selected for the Midlands squad.Sarah Jefferson was selected to represent Worcester in both Lacrosse and Netball.

CTB

SeniOr hOUSe cOMPeTiTiOnThe level of performance during this competition was very high. There were outstanding performances from many non-hockey players and it was very encouraging to see so many girls involved. The support for the teams was wonderful to see. The competition was close until the final game where three houses were battling it out for first place. The final results were as follows: No.4 in first place on goal difference; No.3 in second and No.8, after an impressive start and only one point behind the leaders, third.

JUniOr hOUSe cOMPeTiTiOnNo.4 were crowned junior House Hockey champions. This was a very spirited tournament and all players and teams supported each other. The quality of hockey was very good and some great individual and team performances.

EFEP

UnDer-18 inDOOr TOUrnaMenTThe senior indoor hockey team played in the Worcester county tournament. From the word go the team, lead by captain Laura Joyce (No.3), came out strong with a tough game against The Chase. As the squad had never played as a team before that match, they did well in securing a 0 - 0 draw, with Poppy Andrews (No.4) making several excellent saves from very challenging flicks. Charlie Lawrence (No.3) played excellently, sweeping and clearing the ball out wide, saving several goal opportunities. The short corner drill proved unbeatable against both The Chase and Bromsgrove as neither team scored off them. The match against Bromsgrove was intense and aggressive, with Malvern scoring the first goal within minutes. However, although they played excellently, they were defeated 3 - 1. The attack played excellently in that game, with Dani Moyles (No.8) scoring the goal. Together Sophie von Nathusius (No.4), Dani Moyles (No.8) and Tori Barley (No.4) played incredible attacking combinations, opening up the D. The final game against Kingsley College brought us a 4 - 0 win. Both newcomers Sanne Veugelers (No.8) and Hebe Nicholson (No.3) played well pressing the ball high and using the wall well. It was their first indoor game and they helped the team achieve a 4 - 0 score. Laura Joyce (No.3) also excelled in this game, pushing the defence higher up the field to have maximum goal success. The team played excellently and were placed 3rd in the tournament. The player of the tournament was Poppy Andrews (No.4). That was a great success for the girls, considering that there are many differences between indoor and outdoor and limited practice.

EFEP

UnDer-16 inDOOr TOUrnaMenTThe Under-16 team was made up of two Remove and five FY (Isabella Petzinka (No.6), Naomi Sharpe (No.6), Kirsty Imm (No.4), Sarah Richardson (No.4), Harriet Matthews (No.4), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Kate Wood (No.3). All the girls played exceptionally well under the circumstances. Sadly they placed a respectable third.

EFEP

The Malvernian 2009

GirlS’ hOcKey126

U14sThis season saw the girls improve dramatically in maturity, strength and core skills. Although we lost some games this season the girls picked their heads up and played some exceptional hockey. Their performance during the county tournament was impressive and just missed out on second place on goal difference.

There have been some key performances from all the members of the squad. To mention but a few, Kate Wood (No.3) as goalkeeper for the 2nd XI and the Under-15s, Alys Marr (No.3), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Kirsty Imm (No.4) were all selected for Worcestershire County.

The first fixture against Wrekin College allowed the team to develop their structure and throughout the game they showed great potential. Wrekin were a physical side who managed to capitalise on their one open chance in the circle. After Wrekin’s goal Malvern pushed even harder to score, but, although they had the majority of the possession, we were unable to score.

In the match against Hereford Cathedral School the sides were evenly matched and both teams had a number of goal

scoring opportunities. Hereford were able to capitalise on a penalty corner ending the score at 1 - 0.

Preparation time was limited for the Cheltenham College fixture. The opponents took the game to us early and at a frantic pace, and we never recovered. However, I was very proud of the girls’ attitude throughout the game, they never gave up, worked as a team and listened to feedback.

Confidence was soon restored by a splendid display at the preliminary round of the County tournament.

Hayaka Amada (No.8) was player of the tournament and assisted Kirsty Imm (No.4) in leading Malvern to a 2 - 0 win over Dyson Perrins High School, a 1 - 0 win over The Chase Technology College and a very close 0 - 0 draw against Malvern St James. This put Malvern through as winners.

The game against Wycliffe College began with at explosive rate, the loss of Kirsty Imm (No.4) in centre midlfield and Vicky James (No.8) at right wing meant there were a number of structural changes.

U15sThe start to the season was very positive in terms of performance but was not reflected on the score sheets. A series of early losses sent the squad back to the drawing board and the training pitch. With determination and urgency to see results fast, the team trained and prepared hard for the difficult fixture against Cheltenham College, a very competent team and not the ideal team to play when trying to end a losing streak. Initially the first half was tough with Cheltenham piling on the pressure, a situation of which goalkeeper Kate Wood (No.3) had had little experience. Unfortunately the pressure became too much for the defence and we were 2 - 0 down in the first half. However, the girls did not give up and came back during the second half with all guns blazing. Although Cheltenham scored a third goal, we piled on the pressure and brought the game back to 3 - 3 with ten minutes to go. The girls displayed a brilliant team spirit and worked hard to the final whistle and should be proud of their performance. This was an important match and helped to shape up the rest of the season for the team. Reassured by the Cheltenham College performance, we dominated the Wycliffe game with confidence and superiority scoring six goals and conceding only one: a real triumph. The atmosphere within the squad was electric and this gave them confidence going into an extremely tough match against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Although we played with the same intensity, maturity and vigour as our previous games, Cheltenham Ladies won 4 - 0. This was the final loss of the season and the squad persevered throughout the season and finished with very convincing performances such as an astonishing 6 - 1 against The Chase and completely outplaying Bishop Hereford Bluecoat School for the entire duration of the game winning 8 - 0. This was an exceptional end to the season and I hope the girls take pride in how their determination and desire to perform was rewarded. A great side and I look forward to many of the team putting on a first team jersey next season.

EFEP

127GirlS’ hOcKey

After ten minutes Malvern settled into the game playing some very good hockey, passing the ball wide and using the lightening pace of Alys Marr (No.3) and Amy Cooke (No.8) to put their defence on the back foot. Unfortunately we could not capitalize on our high possession rate and due to a fast break we found ourselves 1 - 0 down. However, all players worked hard and eventually broke through the Wycliffe defence with a good short corner and Hayaka Amada (No.8) finding the backboard. The second goal came a lovely strike by Harriet Matthews (No.4) to make it 2 - 2. Unfortunately with just five minutes to go Wycliffe College scored a third from the back post to clinch the lead. The team showed good structure in the first half of the game against The Cheltenham Ladies’ College, using the width and transferring the ball well. Unfortunately Malvern conceded a well-worked short corner to make it 0 - 1. Alys Marr (No.3) with her pace got hold of the ball from midfield and shot up the wing into the D. With support from Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Katie Tunstall (No.4), Alys played the ball across the goal for Katie to place it in the goal. Unfortunately, we conceded two goals in close succession to lose the game 3 - 1 although we had large amounts of possession and opportunities at the other end they just could not convert.

Against The Chase Technology College we began at an explosive pace, scoring in open play in the first minute of the game. We consolidated the lead just before half time with a goal from Alys Marr (No.3). We had long periods of possession and were showing phases of mature hockey, transferring the ball around the back and in midfield and using the lightening pace of Alys Marr (No.3) and Rebecca Raby Smith (No.4) to penetrate the defence. A few chances missed at the post kept the score 2 - 0 but we were thirsty for more. At the beginning of the second half The Chase came out a more determined side and put pressure on our defence although goalkeeper Kate Wood (No.3) only touched the ball once. We used a practiced set piece to score our third goal by Hayaka and then a great piece of individual skill from Alys Marr (No.3) who ended up with the ball on the opposite side of D, took a shot right from the edge to place the fourth goal passed a well beaten Chase side.

The squad was missing key players for the Malvern St James fixture, and we looked nervous and unsure during the initial stages of the match. However, the depth of squad shone through, with excellent patterns of play from every member of the squad. Holly Makin (No.8) added a new dimension to the team, playing a more attacking role and this supported the attack immensely. Eventually Malvern’s

persistence and determination led to two fabulous goals from Vicky James (No.8) and the from Chloe Williams (No.4).

The match against Christ College, Brecon began at a fierce pace. Possession of the ball for the first ten minutes was 50-50 and both teams showed strength and depth. Throughout the half Malvern began to dominate possession, with a number of attempts at goal skimming the post or flying past the face of the goal, Malvern could not convert. This constant possession left us vulnerable at the back and Christ College scored a fast breakaway goal. The second half saw Malvern College come out with new vigour. Passing and movement in attack was good and excellent play by Hayaka Amada (No.8), Vicky James (No.8), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4), Kirsty Imm (No.4) and Alys Marr (No.3) saw Malvern dominate possession once again. Sadly in a similar situation Malvern could not score from their opportunities and Christ College hit back with a break to make the score 2 - 0. Alys Marr’s work and commitment were outstanding in her new midfield role.A disappointing score from a good performance; although the girls must take heart as they have come on a long journey this season and I very much look forward to working with them in 2009.

EFEP

The Malvernian 2009

BOyS’ hOcKey

Boys’ hockey

128

1ST xiWe kicked the season off with an entry into the Midlands Indoor Tournament for the first time. We missed a place in the play-offs at our first attempt down to the slimmest of goal differences caused by a loss in our first match and Malvern’s first-ever indoor match. Excellent performances from Ferdinand Stockmann (No.9), Stuart Monteith (No.9) and Nicky Börner (SH) (probably the best player in the tournament) pointed the way forward for Malvern Hockey. This coming year our new indoor facility will be a major part of our development plan for hockey and points to an exciting future with many schools tournaments in the offing.

This season was also a first in that Mark Moss became our professional coach with a view to becoming head hockey coach for the next season. The impact Mark has had on our style of play and plans for the future has been dramatic and we look forward to his coaching impact for some time to come. This season we did play the most fluid and attractive hockey seen at Malvern, however, we struggled with that most important of skills – the scoring of goals. In general our defence was secure and Stuart Monteith (No.9) had a superb season in goal. A confident and commanding presence on the line helps the players in front feel confident and able to relax into their natural game but keeping a clean sheet at this level is a tough task and whilst it is

easy to state the obvious “it is also a truth universally acknowledged…” (the opening line of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen) that you have to score more goals than you concede to win! A narrow loss to Cheltenham College, a very careless loss to Hereford Cathedral School and uninspiring draws with Wycliffe College and The King’s School, Gloucester put our start to the season under something of a cloud. We had to wait until coming back from 1 - 3, at half time, to draw with Warwick School

to really find our feet and look as good as we knew we could really be. Another five minutes and the match would have been won? Tom Saxton (No.2), who was to prove to be the player of the season, was inspired and virtually unplayable. In this match Nicky Börner (SH) played the play makers role from deep and Freddie Brandis (SH) worried the opposition defense both giving Tom free reign to weave his magic. The consistency was lacking though and for anyone watching our match against

129BOyS’ hOcKey

RGS-AO it must have seemed as if we had won comfortable yet to lose by a single and the only goal of the game. We shunned so many chances but… In the excellent KES, Bath Hockey Festival we again struggled for consistency. We were mismatched in our first match on the Sunday, played well in two other matches with goals just going against us yet also able to play some sublime hockey in a win against Ratcliffe College with Tom Saxton (No.2) scoring a hat-trick for the second time in the season.

So, all in all a frustrating season again! The patches wining matches saw us play some great hockey but we were careless, patchy and over complicated in enough of our play to not press home any advantage we had consistently enough to win when we had the chance – and we did have plenty of chances. So some clear tasks fore the season to come. Whilst we do retain many of our key players, the likes of Nicky Börner (SH), Patrick Henderson (No.2), Stephen Coffey (No.5) and Charles Wakeford (No.2) leave us after important contributions to Malvern hockey and I hope that they keep playing in the future.

Mark Moss made an important contribution to moving Malvern Hockey in the right direction and we are extremely pleased that his coaching role will be enhanced for the coming season. Thanks must also go to Sarah Jane Kay who umpired a lot of our matches and coached tirelessly for all players of all levels. At then end of the season player of the season was awarded to Tom Saxton (No.2), the most improved player award was jointly awarded to George Davies (No.2) and Stuart Monteith (No.2). George will be our captain for the 2009-10 season.

SCH

U15sThe season got off to a flying start with an excellent 9 - 0 victory over Wycliffe College. Early superiority told with Malvern going 4 - 0 up at half-time.The rotation of all five replacements did not hinder our momentum, and another five goals came in the second half. Highlights of the game were a hat-trick of goals for Barnaby Davies (No.2) and a brace apiece for Charles Lacey (SH) and Matthew Saxton (No.2), but underpinning all the goals was good approach play and some unselfish assists. Goalkeeper, James Wootton (SH), although going through long periods without seeing much of the ball, kept

goals from Oliver Gardner (No.2), Giles Gregory (No.2), James Medcalf (No.2) and a brace for Charles Lacey (SH)

Matthew Saxton matured into a good captain and he, along with a number of others, are sure to be knocking on the door for 1st XI team places as they move up into Senior Hockey. As an example of what hard work and dedication to training can do, Sam Goldblatt (No.2) is also worthy of mention, and he stood out as the most improved player of the season. This season’s FY players will provide the backbone of next year’s Junior team, and apart from those already mentioned, Tobin Bishop’s drag flicking at penalty corners will sure to be a potent weapon for us.

I have enjoyed working with this talented bunch of Junior Hockey players from the Remove and FY age groups, and my thanks to Mark Moss and Sarah Kay for their considerable support on the coaching front.

Squad from: M. Saxton(Capt)*, J. Wootton(GK), C. Lacey*, O. Gardner*, M. Ramsey*, T. Riddell-Webster, Giles Gregory*, T. Trotter, T. Bishop, J. Medcalf, G. Dale, B. Bartlett*, S. Goldblatt*, B. Davies*, D. Chow, T. Hurdle, C. Buiskool.* = donates Junior Colours

MMC

his concentration well to pull off two outstanding saves to deny the opposition any consolation goals.

The boys’ next challenge was against a very physical Christ College, Brecon side, but another assured performance saw Malvern record a 6 - 0 victory. A marvellous first half performance saw us attacking with great purpose, and they stretched the opposition defence with their good movement off the ball, typified by Charles Lacey’s (SH) unselfish running into the channels from centre forward which created space for the midfield to advance into. Oliver Gardner (No.2), Matthew Saxton (No.2) and Barr Bartlett (No.2) worked well together to control the midfield, and Barnaby Davies (No.2) used his pace on the right wing to good effect to get in behind the opposition defence. Matthew Ramsey (SH) put in a man of the match performance in scoring a well taken hat-trick of goals, and another highlight included a brace of goals from Giles Gregory (No.2), who timed his runs into the area from left wing to perfection. Thomas Trotter (No.1) and Thomas Riddell-Webster (No.2) both had solid games defensively, and struck up a good understanding, and Tobias Hurdle (No.2) and George Dale (No.2) both made their debuts from the bench.

My only disappointment this season was that I was not able to see the boys more often in match action, with a couple of fixtures falling foul of the February snow, and a couple being cancelled by the opposition at the last minute. My thanks to Sarah Kay for arranging for a mixed Junior and Senior girls’ team to play the Junior Boys in the last week of term. Again the boys rose to the challenge to record a 5 - 1 victory with

The Malvernian 2009

fiveS

The 2008-2009 SeaSOn was always likely to be both successful and enjoyable, with strong IVs at both senior and U16 level, and so it proved to be.

We began in October with the traditional visit to the Rossall tournament, which combines players from both the Eton and Rugby Fives codes. Hopes were high that we could repeat the success of last year when we won both the doubles and singles competitions. At first all went according to plan. Stephen Coffey (No.5) and Will Bishop (No.5) won the doubles without seriously being challenged but, unaccountably, Stephen, the favourite for the event, went out of the singles to a player ranked fourth in his own school’s team. Will nearly made up for this defeat. He reached the semi-finals in comfortable fashion but, unfortunately, then lost a close game to strong player from St Olave’s.

The next stop for this pair was the Winchester Fives Nationals Championships. The strongest pairs from all the Winchester and Rugby Fives schools were taking part. The Malvern pair beat the Winchester second pair but lost in the next round to the St Paul’s first pair. In the plate competition they had more success beating Bradfield, Marlborough, Winchester III and, in the final, Winchester II, to win the plate once again.

The highlight of the year was the 1st IV and Under-16 IV tour. Matches were played in Edinburgh against Fettes College and Merchiston Castle School and against Rossall School and Sedbergh School on the way back. Honours were evenly split. The Under-16s, Jamie Killick (No.5), Will Ward (No.5), Max Baylis (No.5), Jack Metherell (No.2) and James Smith (No.5), beat Fettes and Sedbergh but lost to the other two schools. The 1st IV beat Fettes and Rossall and lost to Merchiston Castle. In the game of the tour they took on a very strong Sedbergh team. They were seven points down after the doubles but an 11 - 1 victory for Will Bishop (No.5) brought the team to just two points behind with one singles to play. Stephen Coffey (No.5) did well to beat a very strong opponent but unfortunately it was only by the narrowest of margins, 12 - 11 and so the match was lost by one point.

Between these events there were the usual school fixtures, though several of these were interrupted by poor weather. The Under-14s proved to be a strong combination, winning three of their four matches. The Under-15s played just two, winning one and losing one and the Under-16s won four out of seven.

The 1st IV won six of their matches. The most memorable of these was the victory at home against Winchester, the first time

a Malvern senior IV have beaten Winchester in over 15 years.

My thanks go, as always, to those players who have given up so much time to ensure that Malvern Fives continues to enjoy the success it does.

PJG

1ST IV

v Marlborough won 105-78

v RFAC won 97-77

v Bradfield lost 67-113

v Jesters lost 82-104

v Blundells won 135-39

v Merchiston Castle lost 73-93

v Fettes won 120-22

v Sedbergh lost 104-105

v Rossall won 100-50

v Winchester won 111-91

130

fives

131cricKeT

The Malvernian 2009

cricKeT

cricket

132

1ST xiThe more I watch TWENTY20 cricket the more I believe in the longer version of the game; indeed to watch so many declaration games on the Senior this term has fuelled my belief. The ebb and flow of the long game makes for fascinating viewing, and indeed, one only has to turn one’s attention to the matches against Cheltenham and Repton in the early part of the season when up until the penultimate over (and in the case of Cheltenham – the very last over), all three results were possible. It is supremely exciting and demands the utmost cricketing awareness from all players to ensure a game of the highest quality is pursued. It is therefore, to the enormous credit of the team that, throughout the season, they were prepared to risk losing the match in pursuit of a win.

2009 was not a vintage season by any stretch of the imagination, but nonetheless there were some superb highlights to savour. The XI was lead by the pugnacious and competitive Jonty Hylands (No.5) playing in his fourth season in the side and whose battle cry in the pavilion at 11.25 am sent shivers down the spines of the players. They knew that they were representing Malvern College, and they knew that it was a huge honour to walk out onto the hallowed turf of the Senior. Whether his army followed his strict orders was not always clear but at least they had given the skipper time to talk…

The batting was spearheaded by Jonty Hylands who, for the second season in succession, scored over 650 runs. He averaged 39 in 17 innings, which unfortunately does not truly reflect his worth in the team. Indeed his innings against Harrow of 122* out of 206-6 was quite superb. He took their bowling apart from ball one and never looked like getting out. A hundred on the Senior is always special, but when it comes against the likes of Harrow, it is even sweeter! He was backed up all the way by some daring batting from Odge Davey (No.5) who finished the season with over 550 runs

including a magnificent century against Blundell’s in the last week of term. He is a hugely exciting and destructive player with enormous potential, and with 2 seasons still to go, we look forward to him securing some big innings in the future. Simon Harwood (No.5) contributed well with both bat and ball and should be a huge asset to the team next year as he hopes to better his 491 runs and 17 wickets. He is an all rounder of true potential and if he can stay fit he will be worth watching wherever he plays. Charlie Lacey (SH) playing in his first season in the XI as a Remove opened the batting and played very well at times;

133cricKeT

he has a good temperament and a real desire to succeed. He will certainly be an exciting prospect in the years to come. Unfortunately for us, Harry Sinclair (No.7) struggled for form all season with both bat and ball, but still looks the part and he will be acutely aware of the classic saying, ‘form is temporary, class in permanent’…! He will be back next season for one last go and I suspect that he will flourish.

Many games were fiercely contested and this side rarely gave up on the field which was all made possible by the skilful bowling of Will Meredith (No.7) who wove his deadly web of spin from the southern end of the Senior for many an hour on a Saturday afternoon. It was in the latter half of the season, however, that he came into his own as the sun shone and the pitches hardened. His wicket count of 53 @ 14 runs apiece was a magnificent return. With an economy rate of 3 runs per over, he demonstrated what a genuinely talented left arm orthodox spinner he is, and one who has great control of flight and length. Next season should see him pass his hundred wicket target and enter the record books. Watch this space! Ollie Barnett (SH) proved to possess the golden arm with the ball in his hand, and with wickets at crucial times, he was invaluable. His direction wavered from time to time, but as the pro constantly told me, “There’s just something about him…”

After victories against Hereford Cathedral School and King’s Gloucester we duly arrived at our 2nd successive Chesterton Cup final against Cheltenham. For the second time running, however, they proved too strong and their strength in depth led them to a comfortable seven wicket win. It is encouraging however, that we are a regular fixture in the final, and with many old colours returning next year there is a lot to look forward to. It was our lack of depth and consistency in the middle order for much of the season that lost us the closely contested games. But with more experience next year we will, I hope, win the tight ones. With wins against the Free Forresters, RGS Worcester, Blundell’s and the OMs as well as the two games in the Chesterton Cup, we dipped our toes in what were the chilly waters of success, however in many games we were undone too often by some inexperienced bowling displays, which was disappointing. That said, the fielding improved hugely over the course of the season. To see the Senior on a Wednesday afternoon covered in more

cones than on the M25 was a true tribute to the hard work of the pro, Tim Roberts. The boys are exceptionally lucky to have such a dedicated and hard working pro. Nothing is too much for him and it was his cries of “don’t drop it!” and “get it in!” that spurred on the fielding practices even when the rain clouds were looming. He is a passionate coach who demands the very highest standards at all times; I simply cannot think of a school that is more fortunate. It is quite simply a pleasure to work alongside him.

A new two-day game against Rugby, which was eventually abandoned to rain on day two, was a lovely affair and saw us dominate from the start. A score of 296-7 was always going to put us in the driving seat and it was disappointing when the rain came with Rugby wavering on 183-8. Still, one thing that cannot be predicted is the weather, no matter what odds the bookies are offering. It was a pleasure to host Durham School in the closing days of term; this was a new fixture and one that I hope we can keep, especially as a tie was the result in what was an extraordinary game of cricket. We bowled Durham out for 110

with Meredith bowling beautifully for his 6 wickets. We then lost regular wickets as no one was able to take responsibility and anchor the innings. The tension mounted and Arthur Jones (SH) and Jack Barnett (SH) were just not able to hold out for just one more run. Ties in cricket are few and far between, so to have two in three years is remarkable and again makes playing on the Senior that much more special!

It just remains for me to say how grateful we are to Martin Evans and his team for consistently producing some of the best playing surfaces in schoolboy cricket. It will not be until they leave Malvern College, that the boys will realise how spoilt they have been. Our sincerest thanks must go to the groundsmen that work so hard for twelve months a year on this beautiful ground.

And so to February when we will swap the dark and the cold of Malvern for the sun and warmth of Cape Town. The 2010 cricket tour will provide the perfect start to the new season. We await it with mouth-watering anticipation.

The Malvernian 2009

cricKeT134

1ST xi: BaTTinG averaGeS

NAME INNINGS RUNS NOT OUTS HIGHEST SCORE AVERAGE

J Hylands 17 669 0 122* 39.35

S Harwood 16 491 2 94 35.07

O Davey 17 574 1 121 35.88

H Sinclair 17 294 2 42 19.60

C Lacey 15 300 1 50 21.43

S Coffey 9 214 1 89 26.75

A Velarde 12 103 5 27 14.71

G Lacey 16 172 3 36 13.23

W Meredith 9 113 2 25* 16.14

W Jones 7 22 0 9 3.14

O Barnett 8 66 1 43 9.43

1ST xi: caTcheS, rUn-OUTS & STUMPinGS

NAME CATCHES RUN OUTS STUMPINGS

O Davey 5 1 2

W Meredith 1 2

S Harwood 8 2

G Lacey 13 **** 5

S Coffey 1 1

J Hylands 7

H Sinclair 3 2

O Barnett 3 1

C F Davies 1 1

A Velarde 4 1

W Jones 5 1

C Lacey 1

A Jones

1ST xi: BOWlinG averaGeS

NAME OVERS MAIDENS RUNS WICKETS AVERAGE S/R ECONOMY

W Meredith 239.0 48 775 53 14.62 27 3.24

H Sinclair 71.0 11 310 16 19.38 27 4.37

S Harwood 125.0 20 551 17 32.41 44 4.41

O Barnett 113.0 19 456 19 24.00 36 4.04

S Coffey 76.0 15 211 14 15.07 33 2.78

W Jones 63.0 9 303 11 27.55 34 4.81

A Jones 60.0 10 288 8 36.00 45 4.80

135

2nD xiThe season started in positive fashion, with the team recording a close win over Wrekin College. The quality of the fielding and bowling, and the confidence of Kit Lister’s (No.1) captaincy belied that fact that the team had enjoyed only one brief practice before the match. Henry Holdsworth (No.1) (6-0-30-2) and Will Bishop (No.5) (6-0-41-3) both bowled probing, accurate spells and Wrekin’s score of 182 looked within reach on an immaculate Senior wicket. After George Lacey (SH) and Archie Velarde (SH) had both played themselves in with no alarm, four wickets suddenly fell cheaply. The target immediately appeared much more challenging. Andrew Mullins (No.1) steadied the ship with a lusty 23, before George Lacey offered an easy catching chance to depart on 94, just six runs short of a deserved century. This left 15 needed off the last three overs, and a modest tail with which to capture the runs. Cool as a cucumber, Johnny Lee (No.7) strode to the middle and nicked the vital boundary to win the match with two balls to spare.

Repton away was always going to be a tougher proposition. Batting first, the home side posted a formidable 212-2, a total which started, and remained, out of reach for a rather depleted XXII. Charles Fox-Davies (SH) stemmed the tumble of wickets with a defiant 26, but once his wicket fell, the game was all but lost. The final score of 90 all out was a disappointment.

Next came a home match against Old Swinford Hospital, in the sun, on the

Senior Turf; Kit Lister (No.1) would have been very disappointed to post his third successive failure, having been run out to a dubious call from his batting partner, Charles Fox-Davies (SH). Luckily, the latter made amends in some style by notching up an unbeaten 103 – a fine achievement. He led the XXII to a respectable 208-4, ably assisted by Andrew Mullins (No.1) (20), Charles Webb (No.7) (21) and Will Bishop (34*). Old Swinford Hospital were behind the curve from the outset, and never looked like chasing down the target. Spells of accurate and penetrating bowling from Johnny Lee (No.7) (2-26), Scott Mahoney (No.2) (2-13) and Oli Barnett (SH) (2-9) restricted the visitors to 140-9.The final wicket was just out of reach, but nonetheless this was a decent victory.

After winning the toss, Cheltenham College opted to bat, and it soon became clear that this was the correct decision. Helped by two batsmen dropping down from their 1st XI, a score of 275 appeared enormous; indeed the only bright spots were the fact that six of the seven catching chances offered by the hosts were smartly snapped up by the Malvern fielders, the other wicket coming from a fine delivery from Freddie Gardner (No.2) to bowl their opening batsmen. Nevertheless, the team were lively in the field and stuck to the task admirably. The target of 276 to win was always out of reach, although it was a delight to see Kit Lister (No.1) make some meaningful runs, while Charles Fox-Davies (SH) recorded a second successive fifty. The match was irrelevant as a contest as the

required run rate approached 15 an over, but the batsmen applied themselves well and, even in losing, learnt something from the experience.

The match against Hanley castle High School felt like the first match of the season. A bitter northerly breeze, heavy clouds scudding over the Junior turf. And some of the XXII batsmen played as if they had not picked up their bats for a year. Only some solid hitting from Kit Lister (No.1), Charles Webb (No.7) and Will Bishop (No.5) prevented a good Hanley Castle bowling attack from dominating the first innings. But a total of 126 was never going to be competitive. Nevertheless, the bowlers stuck to the task well, and helped by some sharp fielding and a couple of smart catches, the opposition went into the last over needing seven runs to win. Sadly, nerves got the better of the bowler, and the winning runs were smacked away with two balls to spare. It was of course disappointing to lose the match, but to be still in the match going into the last over was an unexpected bonus.

It was extraordinary that the match against Hereford Cathedral School was the team’s first match since the third week of term. Coming more than six weeks after the previous game against Hanley Castle, this too felt like the first fixture of the season, with a much-changed line-up due to examination absences. Nevertheless, the team gelled well and produced a strong bowling performance, backed up by some excellent fielding, to restrict Hereford to 98 all out. With some reinforcements from the XI and the Under 15s, the team would have felt that victory was firmly within their grasp, and indeed it was – until the customary clatter of wickets. Alex Betteridge (No.5) and Charlie Lacey (SH) made a solid start, but the batsmen after them were unable to put together a solid score and secure the game. Luckily, Hereford’s bowlers were tiring on a sweltering day, and Harry Siviter (No.1) and Will Wright (No.9) saved the day. A narrow win, but a win nonetheless, and it ensured that the season ended with equal numbers of wins and losses.

The team was led with equal amounts of passion and common sense, first by Kit Lister (No.1) and then by Freddie Gardner (No.2). Despite some challenging matches, the boys were positive and cheerful throughout what turned out to be a rather truncated season.

WRD

cricKeT

The Malvernian 2009

BOyS’ TenniS136

Boys’ Tennis

SeniOr BOyS’ TenniSWe were buffeted by ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ this season, with heavy rain, the H1N1 virus and the demands of public examinations more than decimating our fixture list. Nevertheless, the squad were able to play quite a lot of tennis in the matches which did go ahead, and in the various practices and internal competitions, such as the keenly contested House Competition in which No.7 only just managed to hold off a very strong challenge from the up-and-coming No.9. Players like Ben Wehling (No.9), Frederik Mülke (No.7), Miguel Indekeu (No.9) and Harry Zinopoulos (no.9) play with considerable style, power and accuracy these days; and Arthur Wakeley (No.2), Jeffrey Cheuk (No.1), Alec Godsland (No.5) and Andreas Lamby (No.5) are already very competitive and workmanlike in matches, and promise much for the future. Indeed, in preparation for next season, we are keen to nurture their, and others’, talents by practising throughout the year, and the opening in October of our new sports hall with its two indoor courts will be able to facilitate this.

My thanks go to our coach, Neil Devereux, for his help, enthusiasm and energetic training sessions, and to all the members of the squad.

Squad:Brandis (SH), Cheuk (No.1), Crumpton (No.9), Davenhill (No.1), Dilley (No.5), Gardner (No.2), Gerami (No.5), Godsland (No.5), Ihler (No.2), Indekeu (No.9), Lamby (No.5), Lenzi (No.9), Mackenzie-Smith (No.1), Magee (No.5), Morley (SH), Mülke (No.7), Nicholls (No.1), Pohl (No.9), Prest (No.2), Reich (No.1), Saxton (No.2), von During (No.7), Wakeley (No.2), Wehling (No.9), Weinberg (No.1) and Zinopoulos (No.9).

Results (1st VI; 2nd VI):vs Wycliffe: lost 6:3; won 4:0vs King’s School Worcester lost 2:4 (Glanvill Cup)vs Shrewsbury: rained off vs Hereford Cathedral (mixed): won 13:5vs King’s School Worcester (mixed): won 7:2vs Dean Close: rained offvs Cheltenham: cancelledvs KES Birmingham: lost 4:8Lawn Tennis Cup: No.7 beat No.9 in the final 2:1 (2-6, 6-1, 10-8; 4-6, 7-5, 7-5; 1-6, 6-3, 14-12)

Willis-Dixon Singles Trophy: N.C. Börner (SH)

RGT

JUniOr BOyS’ TenniSThe Junior Boys Tennis squad played a mixture of Hereford & Worcester League games and friendly fixtures. Although a number of fixtures were lost to the swine flu, including the Hereford & Worcester County Doubles Tournament, it was encouraging to see so many boys out playing tennis. Although the squad led by Paloch Krisanaracha (No.2) lacked super star quality, what it did have was a team of grafters who worked hard for every point, and I could not have asked for any more.

TEAM P W L

U15 As 7 4 3

U15 Bs 6 3 3

U15 Cs 2 1 1

U15 Ds 1 1 0

Squad:P. Krisanaracha (No.2) (capt)*, W. Wright (No.9)*, P. Chantrasmi (No.7)*, W. Vanston (No.9)*, G. Azcoiti (No.1)*, M. Saxton (No.2)*, S. Shirokiy (No.1)*, J. Nicholls (No.1)*, O. Gardner (No.2), T. Matsuura (SH), M. Alexandrov (No.7), D. Diaz (No.9), T. Brook (No.5), M. Wong (No.7), M. Jefferson (No.1), N. Dent (No.9)

* = denotes Junior Colours.

JDC

137BOyS’ TenniS

Junior inter-House Doubles TournamentThis was played in a round-robin format between three pairings from the FY and Remove from each House. The final round of matches saw the two unbeaten Houses playing each other in the final, with No.9 beating No.2 by a 3 - 0 scoreline. Congratulations to W. Wright, W. Vanston, D. Diaz, N. Dent, B. Vos and W. Fox. As well as seeing some keenly contested tennis, one of the highlights of this final round of games was actually provided by the supporters who lent a Davis Cup feel to the proceedings.

FY & Remove Singles CompetitionsBoth singles’ finals took place in the last week of term. In the final of the FY competition Mark Jefferson’s (No.1) sound game saw him overcome Nick Dent (No.9) 6 - 2, 6 - 1. In the Remove final, Will Vanston’s (No.9) strong defensive game and steely determination saw him beat Will Wright (No.9) in the semi-finals and Paloch Krisanaracha (No.2) in the final 6 - 4, 6 - 1.

Innovation + Excellence in ConstructionA chartered building company specialising in:

Design & Build General, Industrial & Commercial Works

Education, Restoration & Refurbishment ProjectsSmall Works Projects

A5 Landscape 210 x148.5mm

SPELLER METCALFE MALVERN LIMITEDMAPLE ROAD, ENIGMA BUSINESS PARK, MALVERN, WORCESTERSHIRE, WR14 1GQTELEPHONE: 01684 571200 WWW.SPELLERMETCALFE.COM SPELLER METCALFE GLOUCESTER LIMITED1145 REGENT COURT, THE SQUARE, GLOUCESTER BUSINESS PARK, BROCKWORTH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL3 4AD TELEPHONE: 01452 618318 WWW.SPELLERMETCALFE.COM

The Malvernian 2009

GirlS’ TenniS138

Girls’ Tennis

The GirlS’ SeniOr TenniS squad had a rather disjointed season in 2009. Captain of girls’ tennis this year was Jackie Sze (No.6) The girls displayed a positive attitude during their matches, were always impeccably turned out and showed an admirable determination to win against all opposition. All the girls showed commendable self-motivation and strength of character in representing Malvern.

Fixtures went to plan in the first half of term and the weather did not pose any problems. This year there was significant strength and ability coming from the girls’ in the Hundred, particularly from No.3. Consequently the squad as a whole was able to develop steadily, most notably in terms of match tactics, strategy and shot selection. Unfortunately, the College’s temporary closure due to the H1Ni virus meant missing several matches in the latter half of term. There were also a number of occasions when our opposition fielded depleted teams and in some cases no team at all. The fixture list this term included a number of mixed doubles matches which were especially enjoyable for Malvern’s girls and boys.

The performance of the season was undoubtedly that of Bryce Birkhead and Mareike Weiss (both No.3) in the match against Malvern St James. Bryce and Mareike displayed exceptional confidence, motivation and ability playing together against girls who regularly compete at county level.

I would like to thank all the girls who represented Malvern during the course of the season for their excellent company, commitment to their tennis and unfailing cheerfulness. The whole squad can be proud of their performances. t

MGL

OPPOSITION RESULTS

Aberdare Cup v MSJ (H) Lost 1 – 6

Westonbirt (H) Won 11 – 3

Malvern St James (A) Ist VI lost 1 – 8\

2nd VI won / 9 – 0

Hereford Cathedral Sch. (H / M) 1st VI won 8 – 1

2nd VI won 9 – 0

Dean Close (A) 1st VI lost 2 – 7

2nd VI lost 0 – 9

The King’s School, Worcester (H / M) Won 7 – 2

Wycliffe College (H) Cancelled

OMs (H / M) Cancelled

The King’s School, Worcester (H) Cancelled

Cheltenham Coll. (A / M) Cancelled

Overall Won 5 (48 sets)

Lost 4 (36 sets)

Tennis Cup winner Jackie Sze (No.6)

Most improved player Bryce Birkhead (No.3)

Senior House Competition Winners No.3 (6 – 0)

139aThleTicS

athletics

in 2009 There Were some excellent individual and team athletics performances despite the challenges thrown up by some unseasonable weather and the H1N1 virus. The track season started really promisingly with six new school records and numerous personal bests set during important schools competitions but unfortunately the H1N1 outbreak resulted in pupils missing out on the County Championships and the prestigious Mason’s Trophy midway through the season. The Under-16 girls team were also unable to compete in the regional final of the English Schools’ Cup competition, having qualified easily in the first round. Fortunately Vicky Moritz (No.6) was given the thumbs up by the Hereford & Worcestershire County Athletics selectors and was picked to represent the county in English Schools Track & Field Final.

In the first of two major school fixtures in May against Bromsgrove School, Oundle School, Repton School, RGS-AO and Uppingham School, James Eaton (No.2) (senior boys 110 m hurdles) and Vicky Moritz (No.6) (junior girls 800 m) were impressive winners and set new school records of 14.8 and 2.21.1.

Brothers Alex and Johnie Betteridge (No.5) set personal best performances when winning the senior boys’ 200 m and intermediate boys’ 800 m and Tobi Offili (No.7) was a convincing winner in the triple jump. Tabitha Griffiths (No.8) won

the senior girls’ 100 m in a new College record of 13.1 seconds and the junior girls 4 x 100 m relay team of Kirsty Imm (No.4), Vicky Moritz (No.6), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Alys Marr (No.3) were also victorious in a school record time of 55.0 seconds.

The next big test for our top Under-16 pupils was in the first round of the English Schools Athletics Association (ESAA) Track Cup competition at Nunnery Wood Stadium in Worcester. This competition is calculated by points acquired based on the ESAA performance tables. The girls team did particularly well in difficult windy conditions, finishing second behind RGS-AO, which qualified them for the regional finals. Top point scorers were Vicky Moritz (No.6) (26 points) in the 800 m and Alys

Marr (No.3) (21 points) in the 200 m and they were also members of the 4 x 100mts junior girls relay team maintained their winning streak in a time that gained 20 points. The boys’ team finished fourth with top individual performances going to Tobi Ofili (No.7) (26points) in the 80 m Hurdles and Johnie Betteridge (No.5) (21 points in the 800 m).

On 16 May, the College returned to Nunnery Wood for a prestigious match against RGS-AO, Dean Close School, Eton College, Nunnery Wood High School, Solihull School and Uppingham School. The girls’ teams performed particularly well, especially the Intermediates who won their match, accumulating an impressive 225 points, with victories in the 300 m (Naomi Sharpe, 6), Javelin (Suzanna Hunt, No.3),

The Malvernian 2009

aThleTicS140

Triple & High Jump (Julia James, No.8) and the 4 x 100 m relay. There were also victories by Alys Marr (No.3) (junior 200m), Hermione Benest (No.3) (senior 100 m & long jump), Imogen Bexfield (No.8) (1500 m) and Tabitha Griffiths (No.8) (senior 200 m) in a new school record of 28.6. The senior girls’ 4 x 100 m team of Schacker (No.8), Griffiths (No.8), Bexfield (No.8) and Benest (No.3) also won in 56.2, breaking the school record that was set back in 1981. The Junior 4 x 100 relay team of Kirsty Imm (No.4), Vicky Moritz (No.6), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Alys Marr (No.3) were victorious again and went on to remain unbeaten all season.

In the intermediate boys’ competition Malvern excelled in the field events with victories by Tobi Ofili (No.7) in both the long and triple jump and Bolaji Odojukan (No.7) in the high jump. There were also good performances by Barnaby Davies (No.2) in the discus and Tobias Hurdle (No.2) in the javelin. In contrast it was on the track where the best senior boys’ results were achieved. James Eaton (No.2) was victorious again in the 110 m hurdles and was part of the most exciting race of

the afternoon. In the very last event, the 4 x 100m relay, the quartet of James Eaton (No.2), Alex Magee (No.5), Lanre Vigo (No.9) and Alex Betteridge (No.5) stormed to victory finishing just three tenths of a second ahead of Eton College who in turn were just four tenths ahead of RGS-AO.

Unfortunately a combination of bad weather and the H1N1 virus interrupted the excellent momentum, impacting on the District and County Athletics Championships, the Mason’s trophy and Sports Day. The re-scheduled District Athletics went ahead without Dyson Perrins School being able to take part and Malvern College dominated many of the events with no fewer than 25 victories.

In the senior boys’ events there were District wins in the 100 and 200 m by Lanre Vigo (No.9), in the 1500 m by Sam Baylis (No.9) and in the 100 m hurdles by James Eaton (No.2). In the senior girls’ events Imogen Bexfield (No.8) won the 1500 m, Kathy Rogers (No.8) the 800 m and Hermione Benest (No.3) the 100 m hurdles. In the intermediate boys’ events Jamie Nicholls

(No.1) won the 100 m, Johnnie Betteridge (No.5) the 200 m, Will Wright (No.9) the 1500 m, John Guilbert (No.9) the 100 m hurdles and Miles Burke (No.2) triumphed in the 400 m finishing over 8 seconds ahead of the next runner. There were also convincing victories by Tobias Hurdle (No.2) in the javelin and Mobolaji Odojukan (No.7) in the high jump. In the Intermediate girls’ events there were wins in the high jump by Julia James (No.8), the javelin by Susannah Hunt (No.3), the shot putt by Abi Hefferan (No.3), the 200 m by Alex Perry (No.4) and the 300 m by Naomi Sharpe (No.6). In the junior boys’ events there were victories by Godfrey Lui (No.7) in the both the 100 m and triple jump and by George Dale (No.2) in the 80 m hurdles. In the junior girls ‘ events there were wins by Alys Marr (No.3) in the 200 m, Amy Cooke (No.8) in the 1500 m and by Kirsty Imm (No.4), Hayaka Amada (No.8), Rebecca Raby-Smith (No.4) and Alys Marr (No.3) in the 4 x 100m.

CTB

141aThleTicS

GIRLS 2009 HOUSE POINTS 3 4 6 8

Junior 30 33 29 37

Intermediate 27 12 25 23

Senior 43 17 31 30

Total 100 62 85 90

All ages 1st 4th 3rd 2nd

JUNIOR GIRL ATHLETE OF THE EVENT INTERMEDIATE GIRL ATHLETE OF THE EVENT SENIOR GIRL ATHLETE OF THE EVENT

Vicky Moritz (No.6) Julia James (No.8) Hermione Benest (No.3)

SPOrTS DayThe season ended on a high with the postponed Sports Day held on June 26th, during which 10 new records and 2 equal records were set. Some of the intermediate and senior events were combined in order to make the House competition fair, as many of the Hundred and Upper Sixth pupils had returned home after their exams. No.5 were winners of the overall boys’ competition with age group victories by No.5, No.1 and No.2 (see table 1). No.3, lead by Female Athlete of the Year, Hermione Benest, dominated the girls’ competition, winning the overall, senior and intermediate categories. No.8 won the junior girls’ category (see table 2).

JUNIOR BOY ATHLETE OF THE EVENT INTERMEDIATE BOY ATHLETE OF THE EVENT SENIOR BOY ATHLETE OF THE EVENT

Thomas Trotter (No.1) Jamie Nicholls (No.1) James Eaton (No.2)

BOYS 2009 HOUSE POINTS SH 1 2 5 7 9

Junior 41 42 48 52 43 33

Intermediate 21 31 27 29 16 25

Senior 36 34 70 66 45 45

Total 98 107 145 147 104 106

All ages 6th 3rd 2nd 1st 5th 4th

SPOrTS Day recOrD BreaKerSIn the senior events James Eaton (No.2) broke the 110 m hurdles record by over a second running 15.72, and Hermione Benest (No.3) did the same in both the girls’ 100 m hurdles and the 100 m, recording 17.40 and 13.20 and also set a new senior girls’ triple jump record of exactly 10 m. Hermione now holds and amazing eight school records in the different age groups and still has one more year at the school. In the shot putt Isabelle Eichwede (No.4) equalled the sports day record with a throw of 7.11 m.

In the intermediates Tobias Hurdle (No.2) set a new boys’ javelin record of 40.23 m, Julia James (No.8) broke the girls’ triple jump record, leaping to 10.23 m, which

is further than the senior record and also equalled the high jump record of 1.45 m. Kavita Purohit (No.6) set a new javelin record, throwing 22.2 m.

In the juniors there were records by Vicky Moritz (No.6) in the girls 800 m, in 2.30.50, which smashed the existing record by over eight seconds, Alys Marr (No.3) broke the 200 m record by nearly two seconds, recording 28.49 which is faster than the intermediate and senior records and Holly Makin (No.8) who threw the javelin 21 m.

CTB

The Malvernian 2009

OUTDOOr PUrSUiTS

Outdoor Pursuits

142

every WeeK of the Autumn term saw pupils paddling canoes, walking the hills, climbing, mountain-biking or sailing. The Outdoor Pursuits Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays provided opportunities for groups of up to ten pupils to go kayaking and canoeing, at first on the lake at Gullet Quarry and latterly on the River Severn. For many, the Severn in flood provided a first experience of moving water. The most memorable day of all perhaps was not in boats but the afternoon spent shifting enormous quantities of soggy mud from the slipway following a flood. Needless to say, people became increasingly creative in the manner in which they chose to get rid of the stuff, and nobody left unscathed.

As the term went on and the days became shorter, we moved to the drier activity of the climbing walls at Worcester and Gloucester. Many pupils made significant progress during these weeks and we looked forward to taking these skills onto some local outdoor crags when things became less wet.

Mountain-biking on Saturdays allowed a few keen students to conquer the hills at speed, in addition to the well-deserved flapjacks at St Anne’s Well on the way down.

There were a few larger events during the Autumn term which saw, firstly, the FY walking a large section of the Malvern Hills

and then climbing, balancing, paddling and swimming in the lakes and ropes courses at Upton Warren Outdoor Centre. These were really enjoyable days in which all the students should be congratulated for their smiling enthusiasm in what were at times very cold and challenging conditions.

In the Summer term, there was a Canoe and Climbing trip on the river Wye for anyone keen enough to join us, and a surfing trip to the Gower Peninsula. We had several days out for the newest recruits, in the Foundation Year at the Outdoor Centre at Upton Warren. Here the students took part in a variety of rope courses and watersports. All of those involved showed great enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new and challenging.

At the Gower a group of fifteen daring pupils took to the chilly waters for an initiation in surfing. The Gower Surf School was in charge of the instruction and provided us with the equipment; we just needed to find the motivation to brave the waters on what proved to be a rather windswept and rainy start. However, nobody shirked the challenge and, thanks to the warming powers of our neoprene suits and the hot chocolate at lunch, we were all back in the waves for a second session in the afternoon. This time, our endeavours were rewarded by clean waves and glorious sunshine. Well almost! This will certainly become a regular

activity in the Outdoor Pursuits calendar for Malvern from now on.

Our river trip on the Wye took us paddling from Hereford to Symond’s Yat. The idea was to do some rock climbing when we got there. In our canoes we had tents, food and clothing in sealed barrels, all lashed tightly. Our campsite for the night was a certain Mr Jones’s field. Simple but perfect! The next day’s journey involved 40 kilometres of paddling and on the day following we would be climbing. Passing Goodrich Castle, many of the paddlers were now on familiar water; we had been here before on a previous trip. We finished in day light this time and arrived to enjoy the last of the sunshine from the bank. It had been a really great day.

At Symonds Yat some of our pupils had their first experience of climbing outdoors on rock. As with all good days out, there was not enough time to do everything we would have liked to, but what we didn’t manage to do, we will certainly return to do.

The trip was a real success thanks to the enthusiasm and good humour of all involved, and similar adventures will be planned in the future.

JJWEM

143OUTDOOr PUrSUiTS

cliMBinG in The PeaK DiSTricTDuring the second leave out of the Summer term a small but select band of climbers headed to the Peak District with Mr Major and Mr Willatt. The intention of the group, albeit reduced in number by the ravages of Swine Flu, was to climb gritstone with a view to learning to lead climb in the outdoors. For this purpose we were assisted by a mountaineering instructor by the name of John Allen.

Arriving in the mid afternoon on Friday, we headed straight for Stanage, one of the most well-known of all the Peak District’s crags. Surprisingly quiet and dry, we lost no time in dusting off the cobwebs and climbing a few classic and reasonably simple routes. Castle Crack, Heather Buttress, Gargoyle Buttress and Ellis’ Eliminate were just some of our warmers. We quickly had the bug and were reluctant to stop but conscious of the two days ahead of us, we headed down and back to the comforts of Mr Willatt’s Sheffield pad.

The following morning, we met up with John, who proved himself to everything we had been told. Enthusiastic, dynamic and not short of humour he soon had

Lawrence Beesley-Peck (No.5) and Quentin Spottiswoode (No.2) leading up routes on Stanage. His two students were more than wiling to put into practice all they were being taught, and were totally undeterred by that rain which followed. Swapping lead each time, they soon began their progression through the grades. Once the skies had cleared in the afternoon we decided to head for an hour’s blast bouldering on the way home. Tired, hungry, hands cut to ribbons by the rough nature of the rock, but more enthused by climbing than ever before, the boys headed back for a Willatt pasta special!

Refuelled and rested, we ventured to a different crag at Bamford for the final day of our climbing. The boys decided that they wanted to learn a few multi-pitch techniques as well doing some more single pitch leads. Although the venue was not perfect for this purpose, John made the best of it and the experience was certainly worthwhile. (Writing this now, several months later, I know that Quentin lead a multi-pitch climb with a friend this summer.) The Sunday was to prove more successful than the boys could

have hoped for with Lawrence leading a VS Oracle and then an HVS called Neb Buttress. Quentin was similarly successful on Bamford Buttress.

The weekend would not have been complete without one of the boys taking some sort of a lead fall, for nothing other than to make sure that the acquired techniques were indeed effective, and Quentin duly obliged, taking several wingers on Curved Crack (VS). Undeterred by this experience, he has assured us that he is still hungry for more.

It was time to head South and back home. It had been an inspiring weekend of climbing for all involved and certainly one to be repeated.

Thanks to Mr Willatt for his cooking, and climbers’ bunkhouse and also to John Allen for his exceptional enthusiasm and skills as an instructor.

And of course, well done boys!

JJWEM

The Malvernian 2009

DUKe Of eDinBUrGh exPeDiTiOnS

Duke of edinburgh expeditions

144

yeT anOTher BUSy year goes by for those involved in the Award at Malvern, a year that has seen the number of Gold Award participants rise to over fifty. It is certainly an exciting time to be part of a continually-evolving process where standards remain high and opportunities continue to increase. Many changes are happening within the College and at a national level which will help to maintain the quality that the Award Scheme has given every year.

A very positive step was taken at the start of the year with the employment of Mr Major as Head of Outdoor Pursuits. In addition to providing expertise on the hills with Mr Scurfield, he has also undertaken various canoe expeditions throughout the year and these have been a great success with the students. There have already been twice the number interested in the canoe expedition for next year, compared with last year. I look forward to helping out with the Canadians next year!

Bronze AwardA large percentage of the Remove started the year enrolled on the Scheme in order to help encourage them to take responsibility in serving others and to be more aware of the outdoor environment and the joy it can offer. The expeditions took place in the Cotswolds, the Long Mynd, Shropshire, and in the local area around the hills of Malvern. Although the weather was kind

on both occasions not all the pupils were up to the challenge. It does take a determined individual with the will to succeed to complete the trek and then to take care in getting the award book signed by the relevant supervisors. If any of the Remove want to register for Gold then this is a prerequisite!

Silver AwardThere were only two groups involved in the Silver award this year. First, there was the group who paddled the Wye. Following a three day practice expedition in May, during which the group canoed from Glasbury to Hereford, the Qualifying expedition was set for June 23rd. Anna Lamport (No.4), Charlotte Davies (No.4), Beckie Purnell (No.4) and Kirstie Wombwell (No.3) teamed up to canoe on the River Wye from Fownhope, just south of Hereford, to Tintern some 100 kilometres downstream. The trip was to take three days and, fortunately for all involved, the weather was fabulous. After a very successful first day on the river, the team, carrying all their kit in barrels lashed into the boats, camped in a small site in Ross before heading off once more to Symonds Yat. During this stage the river sees more canoeing groups. However this group always seemed to be heading off into the distance overtaking all in sight. Having successfully negotiated the rapids of Symonds Yat, (fortunately getting through before the ensuing carnage of a different group!) the girls reached their

final campsite at Biblins with hours to spare. Both the breeze and the current had been favourable and they were able to enjoy a late afternoon relaxing in the shade of the forest in on of the most beautiful camping spots on the river. This final night of haute cuisine camping was followed by one more day’s paddling during which the group paddled through Monmouth and into the lower reaches of the river where it begins to become tidal. As a result of its tidal nature at this stage, a muddy take out is unavoidable. After much carrying, slipping, sliding and muck, the boats were finally off the water and the group could rest their weary shoulders.

100 kilometres of river and not one drop of rain. What a fabulous way to achieve the Silver Award expedition challenge. Well done!

With enthusiasm in abundance the second group, comprising five intrepid German pupils, Sarah Kriegbaum (No.6), Amélie von Kuhlberg (No.8), Louisanne von Galen (No.8), Lilli Neumann (No.6) and Friedrich Roth (No.2) set off for the impressive hills of Shropshire. With rucksacks larger than they, Sarah and Amélie lead the way up Wenlock Edge to start the three-day trek. The path took them to the top but not content with following their route card they decided to add an extra 5 kilometres and therefore discovered more of the beautiful English countryside than planned! Despite

145DUKe Of eDinBUrGh exPeDiTiOnS

this and a few other variations and places of interest they stuck to their timings and enjoyed every minute of the expedition. Sarah put together a delightful photobook and here are some extracts:

“ It was a great experience for all of us! To walk in this beautiful nature and to make all the choices together! AND to find the right paths…: Sometimes we reached the limit, where we just couldn’t or didn’t want to keep walking. But still we kept almost always our good mood! AND WE MADE IT TO THE END! We were great friends.”

It is precisely this experience that engenders the spirit of the Award.

Gold AwardMarch saw the largest Gold expedition Malvern has organized to date. 47 students set off for Ambleside in the Lake District and arrived after a short brisk walk in Grizedale forest. The following three days were taken up with groups being introduced to the Old Man of Coniston as well as completing the Horeshoe above Rydall Hall. High routes were limited due to snow but there were plenty of lower level routes to challenge the majority of the participants. There was a great difference in the students’ ability but it was down to the skill and experience of the accompanying staff that made the expedition a great success.

In addition to the trek, of course, was the canoe expedition organized and run by Mr Major.

Canoeing the ThamesWith a group of 4 keen canoeists in Quentin Spottiswoode (No.2), Robert Nolan (No.2), Richard Hardy (No.2) and Richard Hadomovsky (SH), intent on doing their Gold D of E expedition in a canoe, there was a need to have a practice journey on a river other than the Wye. The Thames was a late decision given the problems which had been encountered when trying to find campsites on the Severn, but it proved a very enjoyable and interesting journey. From Cricklade, where the Thames is still referred to by some as the River Isis, the trip began under a grotty bridge in little more than a ditch. Was this the mighty river of our capital? Steep banks, heavily overgrown and sweltering heat! Perfect! The boys had set themselves a mighty first day in which they hoped to paddle their loaded canoes as far as Shifford Lock some 25 miles downstream. Over the course of that first afternoon, the river

meandered through agricultural land, offering little in the way of views owing to the steep banks. The boys powered on and gradually the landscape opened up as the river widened. Through Lechlade and on to the first lock, St.John’s. From here the nature of the river would change as motorized boats and barges would begin to appear. Progress had been slow, partly due to the heat but also the almost total lack of current once the group were on waters managed by locks. As a result, the first night was spent in the back garden of a very obliging publican at Radcot Bridge. The second day provided a huge challenge for the team as they endeavoured to canoe some 30 miles downstream to Sandford Lock. Negotiating a dozen locks, as well as the urban surroundings of Oxford, they achieved their goal and were still smiling at the end if it all. The following day was to be the last as the journey continued down through more locks and villages, and onwards towards Goring where they had planned to finish the trip. On auto pilot by this stage, and paddling with great rhythm, the miles were eaten up quickly.

As were the remaining supplies which were still secreted in their barrels. Racing to the finish, and a sleepy minibus ride home, the boys had proved that they would be more than up to the task of a 4 day expedition on the Wye in September. Well done!

Looking aheadAnother exciting year awaits those involved in the Award as October will witness the assessment expeditions for both canoeists and those trekking. Venues this time include the Severn and Dartmoor. All future participants will register online and there promises to be about 20% more students taking the challenge and going for Gold. The new dofe office will also come online and with the help of Mrs Ehlers and Mrs Atkins a gentle persuasion to complete the other sections will ensue! It is all very well completing the expedition section but do our students have what it takes to achieve the other sections and become invited to attend the Palace? Only time will tell.

CPJW & JJWEM

The Malvernian 2009

cheSS146

chess

The Main TeaM PlayerS were Max Wong (No.7), Justus Schirmacher (No.9), Jacky Sha (No.2), Eason Yeung (No.5), and Nathan Chan (No.5), together with Jason Chung (No.1), who unfortunately had to leave at Christmas. The match programme did not work out well as all four school matches had to be cancelled for various reasons, none the fault of Malvern. The Worcestershire Junior Chess Academy provided opposition for four matches on Saturdays, but only two of these were well contested. We were pleased to host the Midlands Junior League Finals on Sunday 22 March, although our own team was considerably weakened by other commitments and finished last.

There were a significant number of fringe players in the Sixth Form and this ensured that the Open Individual and House Competitions, as well as the Thursday practices, were well supported. The Junior House Competition (Hundred and below) also saw several close matches.

I am very pleased that Simon Bradley has supported chess this season and will be able to take over from me as Master i/c. If the Sixth Form entry in September is reasonably strong, he will be able to assemble a good school team.

JPK

MaTch reSUlTS:v Worcestershire Chess AcademyLost 1.5 - 6.5Lost 2 - 3Lost 2 - 3 Won 5 - 0

v Old MalverniansLost 6.5 - 11.5

cOMPeTiTiOn reSUlTS:Open HouseWinners, No.1Runners-up, No.7

Junior HouseWinners, No.1. Runners-up, No.7

Open IndividualWinner, M. Wong (No.7). Runner-up, J. Schirmacher (No.9)

147crOQUeT

croquet

ThiS haS Been another enjoyable year for the Malvern College Croquet Club (the other MCCC). The rules were tightened in order to keep up with the improved standard of play from all Houses and each player rose to the challenge. Croquet complements those other two great Malvern activities, debating and polo, in that it allows boys and girls to play and compete together. For the first time ever we had girls’ Houses in both finals.

The season kicked off with the defending champions, No.1, playing a No.4 side with experience and drive. No.1 won, with newcomer Jack Nicholls showing himself to be an exciting prospect. This was Ben Oviosu’s last match and he should be proud of his contribution. This match saw No.1 break the course record, going round (twice) in 23 turns. More excitement came when No.6 Juniors went round (once) in 23 turns, with Jaala Kenchinton a real star turn.

Mid-season came on apace, with some very brave first attempts at the last minute, such as Kate Wood (No.3), Mark Jefferson (No.1) and Jérémy Arnoux-Mallard (No.1). In fact, the No.1 Juniors almost matched their Senior brethren by reaching the final, only to be pipped by No.2 and No.4. Since No.4 and No.6 Juniors had the same scores, they had to play-off immediately after the Swine Flu break, with No.6 running out the victors.

The finals were both exciting events, with the Junior match between No.6 and No.2 coming down to the last turn. Both teams had one ball pegged out and No.2 just managed to squeeze it in. The No.2 team of Edward George, Geoffrey Lee, Peter Prest and Thomas Riddell-Webster were a quality outfit and I am sure they will do very well next year. The Senior Final saw the favourites, No.1, playing a strong No.8 team which had destroyed No.7 in their first round match. Despite a balanced first round, with good work from Alex Page and Aisha Bond, No.1 strode away after the sixth hoop to win convincingly. The No.1 team of Sebastian Cheshire, Edward Davenhill, Jack Nicholls and Harry Siviter were worthy victors and I am sure that they will be going for three-in-a-row next year.

Sadly, the national schools’ competition was not organised in time, so Malvern can claim a moral victory, being the only school to enter.

The Senior House Champions even went to far as to defeat the Common Room team of Mr Chappell, Mr Blair, Mr Hardingham and Mr Herod!

I have thoroughly enjoyed running croquet at Malvern; we have some outstanding players and I am sure that croquet will go from strength to strength.

PAB

Senior House Champions: No.1

Junior House Champions: No.2

Senior Player of the Year: S.A.Cheshire (No.1)

Junior Player of the Year: T.S.Riddell-Webster (No.2)

Best Dressed (Boys): No.5 Juniors

Best Dressed (Girls): No.3 Seniors

Captain of Croquet: S.A.Cheshire (No.1)

The Malvernian 2009

fencinG

lUcy henShall (nO.8) was the highest placed British competitor in an international series-fencing tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden at the end of January this year.

She is currently ranked 10th in the women’s cadet Epée and has had a very successful year. In July she won a Bronze medal at the England Youth Championships Girls’ Under-16 Epée fencing and in September she was ranked 22nd out of119 entries in the Bristol Open, a major ranking event and in Gothenburg, she was placed 22 out of 130 competitors from around the world.

At the Public Schools Fencing Championships at the University of Nottingham in March, the following pupils represented the College: Henry Ma (SH), Jack Wong (No.1), Wilfred Chung (No.1), Wulstan Nixon (No.5), Lucy Henshall (No.8), Eric Ng (No.5), Yulia Eroshina (No.6) and Naomi Sharpe (No.6).

Lucy and Jack fenced exceptionally well and were both knocked out in the latter stages by the eventual winners of their events, Lucy finishing 3rd and Jack 5th.

RWY

148

fencing

149SPOrTS Dinner

Sports Dinner

The annUal SPOrTS Dinner held at the Grub this year, allowed us to pay tribute to those members of the Upper Sixth who have made significant contributions to their sports. After an excellent meal, awards were made and prizes presented by our guest Leon Lloyd former Rugby player with Leicester Tigers, Gloucester and England.

Amongst the winners was Hannah Jefferson (No.4) who was awarded ‘Player of the Year’ not just one sport but in three, for Tennis, Lacrosse and Netball; and James Eaton (No.2) who won the prestigious top athlete award for the second year in succession.

JDC

The Malvernian 2009

cUlTUre ShOcK150

culture Shock

On a cOlD niGhT in January 2009, St Edmund’s Hall came alive to the sights, sounds and smells of Africa, Asia, Europe and South and Central America as Malvern College students gathered to celebrate the many different cultures and nationalities represented in our community. Pupils from around 30 nations participated, with stunning displays of photographs and artefacts, music and food from their homelands. Many wore their national dress - the Nigerians forming a particularly vibrant and colourful group and the girls from Asia showing us their truly beautiful saris and dresses. There was origami from Japan, henna painting from India, a coffee shop from Italy, vodka from Russia, a mouth-watering selection of sweets from Turkey…. just a few among many fascinating examples of traditions from around the world.

Performances of music and dance punctuated the evening: Pipe Major Iain Willox and his daughter, Fiona Nevada, demonstrated Highland and Lowland bagpipes and the Scottish harp, and Wales was ably represented by the beautiful harp playing of Bethan Gauci (No.8) and voices of Beth Lloyd (No.8) and Jenny Simpson (No.8). Louisa Cromie (No.4) gave an awe-inspiring demonstration of Irish dance and the evening culminated in a rousing dance by the Nigerian group and a Salsa led by the South American and Spanish contingent which had nearly 50 people dancing on

the stage. The hall was packed all evening as pupils, staff and parents came to share in the celebration of our vibrant and diverse College community.

PDR

151Science PhOTOGraPhy cOMPeTiTiOn

Science Photography competition

ThiS year SaW The laUnch of the Malvern College Science Photography Competition. Pupils were invited to submit photographs that related in any way to the theme of Science. Over eighty entries were submitted and the overall standard was very high.

As well as simply taking photographs pupils were encouraged to think carefully about their subject matter and the composition of their images. They were also invited to use modern digital processing and editing techniques such as picture cropping and altering colours and shades and thus pupils were able to develop and improve their own ICT skills. All entries had to be submitted by email.

2008 Winning entry – ‘A Drop in Time’ by Robert Nolan (No.2)

Second place and Junior Winner – ‘Self Reflection’ by Maria-Michaela Junkov (No.3)

Highly Commended – ‘Perception’ by Anna Lamport (No.4)Highly Commended – ‘Web’ by Jake Cripwell (SH)Highly Commended – ‘Electro Rainbow’ by Daisy Powles (No.3)Highly Commended – ‘Fish Anatomy’ by Thomas Dilley (No.5)Highly Commended – ‘Sunflower’ by Lydia Sharpe (No.6)Highly Commended – ‘Mating Damselflies’ by Anna Wagner (No.3)Highly Commended – ‘Rotation’ by Natalia Mladentseva (no.8)Highly Commended – ‘Daisy’ by Caroline Pike (No.4)

CH

The Malvernian 2009

Science PhOTOGraPhy cOMPeTiTiOn152

153

On SUnDay 8 March 2009 in Big School, the final of the newly-revamped Lea-Smith House Reading Competition was held. The judge for the evening was Mrs Karen Gregor, a producer from Radio 4 who has had much experience with the spoken word and who presented a digital radio to the Upper Sixth winner.

Although nervous beforehand, the FY certainly got the competition off to a passionate, dynamic and amusing start. Alastair Brookes’ (SH) extract from Alex Shearer’s Bootleg had the audience laughing as he recounted the banning of chocolate; Zoï Sevastopulo (No.6) took on the mantle of Queen Elizabeth I, inspiring her troops at Tilbury; Sofia Storer (No.3) also performed an Elizabethan piece, reading the scene where Juliet takes poison from Romeo and Juliet; finally, Philippa Vandome (No.8) rounded off an impressively confident set of FY readers with a speech from George Bernard Shaw’s St. Joan.

The Remove gave us a mature and multi-faceted range of works, starting with Georgina Farmer’s (No.8) understated and smooth performance of Stephen Foster’s ‘Beautiful Dreamer’; Charles Lacey (SH) took a different tack with his vivid description of the Vatican from Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons; yet another royal performance followed, with Wulstan Nixon (No.5) giving us a stately and measured reading of King George VI’s speech to the nation

hOUSe reaDinG cOMPeTiTiOn

WinnerSYEAR NAME

Foundation Year Alastair Brookes (SH)

Remove Wulstan Nixon (No.5)

Hundred Hebe Dickins (No.3)

Lower Sixth Abi Hay (No.3)

Upper Sixth Georgina Price (No.4)

OVERALL HOUSE COMPETITION

Runners Up SH

Winners No.3

and empire on the declaration of war with Germany from 1939; lastly, Daisy Powles (No.3) gave us a splendid invocation of rural life with an extract from the Rev. Francis Kilvert’s diaires.

From the Hundred we were treated to an amusing and multi-accented turn from Hebe Dickins (No.3), reading from Cold Comfort Farm; Alastair Higgins (No.7) gave full voice to his acting talents with an amusing speech by Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing; Alan Homeri (No.2) took us into the twentieth century with the opening from The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks; Caroline Varga (No.4) took us back to the centuries BC with her evocative rendition of the murder of Peleus from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Each Lower Sixth performer brought something unique to the competition: Henry Bridge took on the challenging role of Satan with aplomb, with his reading from Milton’s Paradise Lost; Abi Hay (No.3) read a deeply moving extract from David Pelzer’s The Lost Boy; Alex Jupp (No.5) moved into humorous waters, with the opening chapter of P.G.Wodehouse’s Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen; Lottie Rugeroni then delighted the audience with a dialogue between Elizabeth Bennet and Lady Catherine de Burgh from Pride and Prejudice.

The evening reached its climax with readings of the very highest quality from

our Upper Sixth: Verity Bramson (No.8) performed ‘Mrs Midas’ by Carol Ann Duffy, with both the tragedy and comedy of the piece ringing in her voice; Johnny Chapman (No.2) selected the ideal piece for himself, with his extract from Brett Easton Ellis’ American Psycho; Nina Price (No.4) gave an outstanding performance of Creusa’s soliloquy from Eurypides’ Ion, full of depth and drama; Rowland Stirling closed the evening with an emotive and considered reading of part of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S.Thompson.

The adjudicator thanked all the readers and commented on the confidence and maturity of all our speakers, giving the following decisions:

PAB

house reading competition

The Malvernian 2009

SPOTliGhT

SPOTliGhT iS Malvern College’s Christian forum. Although it has been running for quite a few years, it has really taken off this last year; the average attendance has gone from five to twenty-five. Pupils and teachers all are welcome and gather in the No.1 private side on Wednesday evenings. There is a great atmosphere as everyone crams into the kitchen for hot chocolate and Mrs Wharton’s famously delicious chocolate brownies. Each week a guest speaker gives a talk. These short talks have been based on a whole variety of issues such as ‘If you’re there, God, why don’t you prove it?’ to ‘Christianity: boring, irrelevant and untrue?’

The great thing about Spotlight is that it’s not just for Christians; it’s for everyone. Anyone is welcome to attend whatever their belief. It’s a nice time to relax with friends over an evening break from busy school life and to discover more about what the Bible says about who Christ really claims to be.

Although chiefly run by the Whartons, Sam Ashton, a graduate from Oxford who currently works for the Christian holiday organisation, Iwerne, leads many of the talks and introduces the guest speaker each week. Sam’s enthusiasm and passion about God is clearly evident and reflects what Paul Bolton said in his talk about Christianity not being a boring list of rules and regulations but a free gift of life for anyone who will receive it.

There have been many highlights over the past year, in particular the meals hosted by Mrs Wharton in the Autumn Term and more recently the hugely popular Spotlight Summer Barbecue when about fifty pupils squeezed into the No.1 garden to enjoy, as Mr Wharton rightly put it, the “social event of the year!” As always, good food was followed by a thought-provoking talk, this one led by Sam Ashton. The theme quite fittingly for a barbecue was that just as we need food to live, we cannot live without God.

BUILDING SERVICES CONSULTING ENGINEERS

Preston Lee ChambersAshley Court Cannon Street

Hollingworth Hyde Cheshire SK14 8LR tel 01457 766177 fax 01457 766115

email plc.consult@btinternet.com

Preston Lee Chambers

are proud to have been

commissioned by Malvern College

to provide mechanical & electrical

engineering design input

for the new boarding house

and sports complex projects.

MalvernAd_98x69 24/11/09 19:03 Page 1

All who have attended Spotlight over the last year are really grateful to Mr and Mrs Wharton for their generous hospitality and the time and effort they put into making Spotlight the huge success it is.

Zipporah Chappell (No.4)

154

Spotlight

155WOrDS & iMaGeS

Words & images

reflecTiOnI have a thing for sky.I don’t know why it isBut the thought of it is beautifulAnd endless, ever-changing like the sea.

And stars – they make me smileAnd tingle on my neck like kissesIn the velvet blackness of the night.Yet in their far-off, crystal purityThey seem to wink in mockingAt my mere mortal life and frame;And though I strain my ears I cannot hearThe heavens sing, the far-off music of the spheres.I only see them twinkle, distant, silent,Set like frosty jewels into the cape of nightIn ever-shifting constant patterns, constellationsPlaying out the fates, some say,Above, of us below.

Perhaps it is infinity that draws me;Perhaps it is the beauty of the nightAnd day and light that dances on the wavesReflecting endless sky – or maybeIt is none and all these things in part,Just my immortal soul in mortal bodyQuivering in joy to be aliveWith wordless whisperTo the steady tickingOf my softly beating heart.

Georgina Price (No.4) (Upper Sixth)

SOnneTThe stars are not yet out; the sun has setYet shines on now within my watchful eyeLike softly lighted candles as I lieContent beside the wooden crib; and yetAlthough I see he sleeps, his eyes shut tight,His tiny features calm; his cheek, his hand,I can but watch, awake, and understandAnd wonder at the beauty of this night.His breathing soft and slow, like chimes of peaceWhich sigh away the blissful moments, hoursOf drowsy watchfulness until dawn flowers;Yet making time stand still, and never cease.A night like any other on this earth,Yet perfect in our peace, of priceless worth.

Georgina Price (No.4) (Upper Sixth)

cOrinna’S cOMPlainT (afTer OviD’S ‘aMOreS’)Do not mock me with a tender kiss;You say you love me now, but this I knowCannot be so (how can it be?); your showOf poet’s ‘love’ is proof – don’t take the p**s.‘Tu mihi sola places’ – what a joke!(For those of you not Roman I’ll translate:‘You are my only love’.) Oh, how I hateYour play at love, your word-play, how you chokeMy mouth with honey kisses and my throatWith silent sobs…I say ‘I can’t today’:You curse the world, not getting your own way.I wonder what sweet love that might denote?You only want my body, baby, just admitIt’s only lust – and maybe then I will submit.

Georgina Price (No.4) (Upper Sixth)

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS156

OWlThe sun sinks behind the hill,And patterns burnished gold between bare branches.High above, a dome of cornflower blueArches stubbled fields andSun-stained copses,Fading to lilac and aquamarine.

An old stone barn standsEmpty, two hundred yards away,Etched on the landscape like nature;The soft-edged pewter-charcoal slatesGlow in the ever-fading twilight,The rough-cut limestone faintly tinged with gold.

And then I saw him,Ghosting softly from thePaneless grey sill,Pale in the light of theKindling stars.

He swooped so low,He swept so closeI felt the air that bore himThrough the skiesUpon my cheek –The breeze thatCombed his downy plumage.

So silent, but for the softestSwish of ruffled feathers;He made no sound as he alightedOn the wall.

He gazed at his kingdom of silver and starlightLike an Elizabethan courtierOut of the heart-shaped ruff thatFramed his face.Soulful sable eyes reflected aSickle moon as curved asHis cruel crescent beak,And so mournful…

I wondered at his solitary existence.

Then I heard a soft hoot float fromSome distant copse,Drawn out, and seeminglyAs mournful as moon-mirrorsHad seemed.

But I knew better.

I watched them reuniteAnd soar awayLike silent spirits, pale by moonlight;Flying weightless, free and graceful,Wingtips almost touching.

Georgina Price (No.4) (Upper Sixth, written in her FY year)

157WOrDS & iMaGeS

fOUnDaTiOnSLike a hooker to her heroin,I turn to youMy comfort, my secret, my rock.Spent emotion melted by photoflashAnd mopped with calculated efficiency,Can only be replaced by you.

Numbness, nonchalance, drowsy acquiescenceAs the stone replaces the diamond.This density, this depravity can only be found in you.

A splintered emptiness consumes,Emboldened by my weakness and lust.Powerless to defend, my towers are brokenAnd yetI have controlAs there is nothing left to save.

Flint edged originality, eroded by coarse acidityInto a cavernous haze of memory and mundanity.

As the cliff slides into the seaI discover there is no life jacketNeeded in your tepid watersWhere effervescent shame Keeps my consciousness afloat.Saturated with your stenchI drift from day to dayOn a makeshift raftRiding your waves of rubble.What would I be without you?Will I ever know?Can I even remember?

Like blood from a stone. The heat of a thousand searing sunsAnd the weight of this mountainCould press endlesslyWithout effect on this rock, uncompromised in its obstinacy.Nature will not quench the need that you refuse to satisfy.

The diamond, Stolen by your gilt smitten fingers,Will find me again,Aching and crying on a cold marble floorIn the barren ballroom of my dreams.

Alasdair Moore (No.9) (Upper Sixth)

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS158

DeaTh’S reQUieM“Never sleeping, never cease,To sever the soul, to grant release.Forever eternal, this haunting curse,I’ll leave the shell to the curtsey hearse.”

Where scavengers seek, I shall draw near,Through bloodied bodies, darkness, fear,Through scarlet skies and infants’ cries,Through war of man and smothered sighs.

So many names I have come to be,So long in darkness, I long to see,To taste, to touch, to love, to feel,To hate, to take, to kill, to steal.

So when you feel the numbing pain,The bitter knife’s untimely score,When all your efforts fall in vain,And your trumpets sound another war;

I shall walk the sands once more,To endure this endless sting,A silent song upon my lips,Forever shall I sing.”

Alexander Cornelius (No.2) (Upper Sixth) Second Place in 16-19 Poetry Section of the Malvern Young Writers’ Competition 2009

riDDleI am there.I see all that goes on in this room.I take notice of every little detail.No one notices I am there.Except in the back of their minds where I cannot reach.

They only realize when my skinBecomes scaly, I pale away or I start to have dandruff.Then I am noticed!I am talked about and I shed with pride.All this attention.

The owner comes and treats me.Rubs my body with colour so I shine like a dove.I am beautiful, and she tells me so.The days that follow are horrible,As blood is red.

Everyone stays away from me.Children aren’t allowed in my room.My mistress ignores me like she ignores the air.After this, I am treated like I was in the beginning:I am there.And no one notices that I am there.

Dami Williams (No.8) (FY)

159WOrDS & iMaGeS

MOMenTour eyes meet, and fora fractionof a secondwe are transfixed andall is still andwords and thoughts and actions,all unsaid, undone,hang in the air between usin the briefest breathing-space of decency,convention,that divides us,separating gazefrom graze of our lipstouching.

time stands still as seconds passand i am trapped andit is so deliciously forbidden andi knowi’ve gone too farto turn backnow.

Georgina Price (No.4) (Upper Sixth)

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS160

WinTerWhen frost clings to the withered, crumpled leaves,And clouds and rain block out the golden sun,Forgotten names are whispered through the trees,And gusts of wind around the houses hum.Yet through the mist pale dancing sunbeams shine,Which brings about a newfound sense of hope.But branches bare an unforgiving sign,That winter now has come and we must cope.Soon spring will come and drive away the gloom,But coldness lingers on, and makes hearts freeze.And then, one day, all changes, flowers bloomOutside, and in my heart, and tensions easeAnd spring has come to this tired land at last;Crisp air and sparse land, now all in the past.

Poppy Donaldson (No.4) and Sophia Leonard (No.3) (Remove)

The SeaSiDeWhen I do watch the waves that splash the shore,My mind it clears itself of all its woes;I run my fingers through the sands once more,I never think of where my thoughts will go.As if the calm itself had washed my mind,My eyelids gently start to droop and fall,Now I have left my troubles far behind,I hear persistent seagulls start to call.I wander silently along the bay,The beach is glistening like the summer sun,So much to raise the spirits this fine day,The wondrous sunset has now just begun.What number of delights can one place hold?The joys of the seaside are not often told.

Georgina Farmer (No.8) and Flora Paterson (No.4) (Remove)

161WOrDS & iMaGeS

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS162

The PicTUreThe picture that this work is based upon is Tiger in a Tropical Storm by Henri Rousseau.

Randolph Blount had been waiting for three weeks. He was the archetypal Victorian. Educated at a spartan public school, he joined the army in 1877. Three years later he was posted as a captain to India. Now, sporting a handlebar moustache and khakis, he was in pursuit of the best game India had to offer. He had spent the previous three weeks enduring an endless barrage of mosquito attacks and heat so strong, perspiration ran down his face like a river and dropped like a waterfall. Now, finally, the guides had caught the track of a tiger, and the chase was on.

Randolph, or Ralph as his London gentlemen friends called him, woke early. The sky was a deep crimson, with flecks of orange and the odd streak of pink, while the sun rose like a great red orb. The camp was a hive of activity, with rifles being cleaned and guides talking of the dangers of the jungle. Ralph walked over to the rim of the cliff. Diaphanous dewdrops hung from intricate spiders’ webs and somewhere in the valley below, his prey, every bit as majestic as the sky above, waited.

A gentle breeze blew down the valley. The tiger slowly and gracefully rose from the hollow it had rested in for the night. He too was intensely focused on hunting but instead of sport, he was after a meal. He trekked off into the jungle with a wearisome yawn, which suggested a hint of exhaustion. At every tree he came to, he would sniff attentively in the hope that he would pick up a scent but so far his search had proven fruitless.

As he walked deeper into the jungle less light penetrated through the canopy and the jungle grew louder. A cacophony of noise followed him as he picked his way along rarely trodden tracks. Howler monkeys gave the odd holler adding to the general racket, yet in spite of this there was no sign of any animal life. It was as though the jungle was a vast claustrophobic emptiness. The tiger shivered. He was fast losing hope. He had not eaten for three days and was slowly starving, and then he smelt it. An Indian deer was in the vicinity and the hunt was on.

As Ralph tiptoed trough the forest adrenalin pumped through his body. Above the sun reached its blistering pinnacle as Ralph scrambled up the side of another vast precipice. When he reached the top, however, he saw a sight he would never forget. On the horizon hovered great obsidian black mountains of cloud. Like vast towers reaching up to the heavens, they presented the illusion of a great, distorted city, floating up into the sky. Along with the great beauty came great danger, for these black clouds were only the start of great storm, blown off the Bay of Bengal, with a wind so fierce man would be as much use as an ant in its path. In the face of this impending disaster an instant hysteria broke out, as between them and the nearest city lay five hundred miles of impenetrable jungle. Then he saw it. A flash of orange amongst the green and the hunt was on.

Ralph was not the only one who had noticed the impending crisis. The tiger was only too aware of how badly awry the proceedings of his hunt were going. As he passed through the deep ravines of the jungle the long shadows of the clouds spread across the forest floor. Fan like ferns and vines embracing trees like veins obscured his view. The forest was dank and smelt humid. With every step the tiger took his wish to rest increased. The smell of

the deer was fading and the rumbling in his stomach grew ever more intense. If only he could just sit down. Over by the side of the cliff was an overhang. Yes, that would offer shelter. He sat down, then lay down. Now, as long as he did not close his eyes he’d be fine. He closed his eyes.

The hunters fled into the woods with vigour that only comes to those whose lives are in jeopardy. As they ran it started to rain. This however was not your average shower, but a pelting by great bullets of water incessantly pounding the ground. Ralph, on the other hand, was more concerned with the tiger he had seen through the luscious screen the jungle presented. The ferns bowed down to Ralph as he dashed through the jungle. As he ran he loaded his rifle. Now after these three weeks of waiting he had to rely on one shot. Suddenly there was a prodigious roar. The guides trembled. The gods were displeased. To them this was a clear sign that the hunt was doomed. They fled down the valley, all pretences of knowledge of the jungle lost in the fear of their gods. Ralph was alarmed by his comrades’ absence but at the same time was determined. If his brutal school experiences had taught him one thing it was this; failure is not an option. Slowly he slunk through the jungle.

The tiger saw him coming from five hundred yards away. He had been roused from his sleep by the thunder. He was too tired to run or attack. Instead he lay prostrate. Ralph kept coming closer and closer. Right now he was more concerned about keeping his footing than spotting tigers. When he reached the distance of ten yards Ralph finally saw the tiger in its full regal glory. In a great royal coat of golden orange and jet-black like a king in his full regalia, he crouched. Ralph looked into the tiger’s eyes. They were infinitely deep but at the same time, utterly impenetrable. They were blank, but in the way of someone who had given up on thoughts rather than never having had them. Then came an illuminating flash of lightning. The tiger looked shocked. Ralph raised the gun and fired.

Jack Metherell (No.2) (100)

163WOrDS & iMaGeS

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS164

165WOrDS & iMaGeS

The GaTeKeePer‘Better start running,’ he said with an evil grin, putting the shrouded cage beside him. ‘You’ve got a thirty second head start and then I let it out.’Lottie grabbed my arm, turning to run, her voice tremulous with panic. ‘C’mon Jess, let’s get out of here!’ I pulled away from her grasp and turned on the gatekeeper. ‘I’m not running anywhere,’ I said, trying to sound both confident and defiant. ‘I’m going to stand and fight whatever you have in there.’ I’m not sure who looked more surprised, the gatekeeper or Lottie. Her jaw had dropped, but in an instant she gathered her wits and hissed at me, ’Are you mad?’ I ignored her. A dozen questions were buzzing like angry wasps inside my head. For a start I half recognised the man with the cage, but I couldn’t quite place him. I couldn’t help thinking that he was one of the ground staff. I could have walked past him every day and never really paid him any heed until now. Nasty cold sore though.‘No,’ I said absently to Jess, ‘…if you run from an animal it will always chase you. I learned that lesson in Africa. If you stand your ground then at least you have a chance.’ I shivered as I remembered the occasion I had seen a lioness run down a zebra. We had no idea what was in the cage, but whatever it was, if we ran we wouldn’t get past the gatekeeper.It’s not that I thought that we wouldn’t be able to get away from the beast… we were both pretty quick on our feet, both forwards in our hockey team and quite swift around the lacrosse pitch. No, it wasn’t that I doubted either of our running abilities in the least, but I certainly didn’t want us to end up looking like that poor zebra. Lottie looked really agitated now. ‘Jess, for goodness sake, if you don’t run you still get ripped to shreds, and we’ve only got 15 seconds!’ ‘No Lottie,’ I said, ‘we’ve got to face this thing… whatever it is. We don’t actually know what he’s got in there.’ Lottie glanced nervously at the cage, then at the scruffy, red-faced gatekeeper. He looked ordinary enough, harmless even. The shock of being confronted by him was wearing off now. ‘I reckon all he’s got in there is a little fluffy guinea pig,’ I suggested. We both giggled. It was ill judged. The gatekeeper snarled at us, ‘Ladies, I am serious.’ As if to add emphasis to whatever he had in the cage, he gave what I can only describe as a snickering giggle, and to my horror a black claw hitched up the bottom of the curtain to reveal a large rheumy eye staring straight at me. ‘I think it fancies you,’ commented Lottie, jumping behind me. Glutinous drool dripped from the cage and splashed on the concrete. The cage shook, but it was still difficult to judge what, or even how large, the creature was. The humour of the moment had certainly vanished, and I concentrated on trying to make sense of the situation. ‘Whatever you’ve got in there we’re still not running,’ I told the gatekeeper and he seemed momentarily taken aback, but quickly composed himself, maintaining his aura of menace. An idea was coming to me. ‘Lottie, what is it they say about music?’ ‘Umm… it’s the food of love?’ she offered. ‘No woman! Savage beasts…’ I clicked my fingers in frustration. ‘Music soothes the savage beast doesn’t it? Do you listen at all in Latin?’

‘Oh yeah,’ said Lottie, ‘give me a moment, I’ll just whip out a cello from my backpack and play him a piece from ‘Swan Lake’, that should do the trick.’ ‘This is no time for your sarcasm!’ I scolded her. ‘Where’s your iPod?’ ‘My iPod… it’s – here.’ She rummaged around in her blazer pocket producing a Mars Bar, two pencils and a hairbrush before pulling out her most prized possession, or her ‘life support machine’ as it had been referred to in a strict telling-off from Mrs McDougal last week. ‘Great.’ I took it from her. ‘And the earphones?’ Lottie untangled them from around her collar, where they had been carefully hidden during lessons. There was no time to waste. I pressed play and, making sure the volume was at its maximum, dangled it nervously in front of the cage. Neither of us had noticed that the gatekeeper had been counting. Not only that, but he was almost at zero. ‘Three, two, one…’ The word ‘zero’ had barely left his chapped lips before I heard the cage door fly up beneath the shroud with a loud metal clang. The gatekeeper’s face transformed to a broken-toothed grin. At first, nothing happened. I realised that Lottie had her eyes tightly shut and I couldn’t help thinking that it might be wiser to keep them open. After a little while, it became clear to all three of us that the drooling animal had no intention of coming out. The gatekeeper’s nasty grin had disappeared and he now looked rather disgruntled. Jess nudged me with her elbow, pointing to the dark cloth that still covered the cage. The creature inside was apparently rocking from side to side in time with Pink and distinctly humming, just like a young child lulling itself to sleep in a cot. We looked at each other for a moment. I spotted a long branch by the wall, walked deliberately over and picked it up. Then, standing back, I lifted the cloth, revealing the ugly beast inside the cage. It was the size of a large dog, black and furry; somewhat simian in appearance, powerfully muscled with a flat gorilla-like face but hooked claws at the ends of its arms and legs. Whatever it was though, it was enjoying the song so much that it had rolled onto its back and started purring. ‘Well done,’ hissed the gatekeeper, ‘you have passed the first test.’ He turned a large iron key in the green door and swung it open on its hinges to allow us through the wall into the corridor beyond. ‘Come on Jess,’ said Lottie, nipping quickly through the doorway. ‘If we don’t hurry we’ll get another punishment for being late.’ ‘Blimey!’ I whispered to myself as we watched our flustered classmates hurrying in from different directions, some with scratched faces and tousled hair, some boys with their uniforms caked in mud. They had obviously met with tests of their own. ‘I really don’t know about this school. It’s becoming harder to get to English lessons every day!’ Poppy Donaldson (No.4) (Remove) – World Book Day Competition winner

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS166

The laST chaPTerA fly lands on the bed-sheets, its wings flickering in the harsh

glare of hospital lighting. I suddenly wish I’d paid more attention in biology. It’s silly, I want to be able to know so much with so little time left.

I remember when Keira and I got all giggly during our first lesson. This was mainly because we thought our teacher was gorgeous. Keira fainted that lesson. She’s always been freaked out by blood— she can barely sit through a transfusion with me without tensing and screwing up her face, as if it’s her who’s having the treatment. While we were talking platelets and haemoglobin, she just slumped forward in her chair, and had to be carried out by Mr. Jenson! She winked at me on the way out. I love her for that: how she doesn’t seem to care about the rules. She’s the only friend I have left from school, the only one not to freak out and run a mile from ‘the girl who has cancer’. I don’t mind though, I don’t need the others, people who are looking for sympathy at my funeral as ‘one of Liz’s friends’.

There’s a painting of a shell on the wall. I look at it during my transfusions. It reminds me of a holiday that we went on. It was the summer I found out I was sick. Rubin dropped his ice cream on the beach and wouldn’t stop crying, so I picked up a conch and pressed it right to his ear.“Can you hear that Ru? It’s the sea!” “But the sea’s over there, you can’t hear it through the shell, silly!” I remember feeling quite miffed, so I kept the conch and gave it to him again back at the hotel, just to prove it really was true. He held it close, listening to the calm swash of the distant sea.

He blurted out what he and I had both been thinking, “Will we be able to go away on holiday now you’re ill?” I didn’t answer him, just told him to keep listening to the conch.

I suddenly want to see him more than anything. I heave myself out of bed, disconnect the I.V. and pull on my clothes. The nurses barely give me a second glance as my feeble frame glides through reception.

I’m not meant to leave the hospital, not now my peripheral blood’s infected. My immune system is shutting down and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.

I get a taxi home, drinking in everyone else’s normal Friday morning rituals. I see two girls about my age, out on the high street—bunking off school. How I wish I could go back to school. All those times I skipped lessons and I never knew. I never knew that I was missing a last Geography lesson, a last English lesson. I suppose school seems boring to the average ‘healthy’ student. Maybe it feels like a form of punishment, a prison.

It’s the noise I miss, the babble of hundreds of voices drowning out my thoughts, the chatter of classmates to take me away from my worries. But now there is no noise. No laughter. Just silence: the ever present, all consuming silence.

I pay the cabbie and let myself in to the house. Dad’s out at work, but he’s left the car. I grab the keys off the mantelpiece and start the ignition. Dad had taught me how to drive, but I was never very good, so I take it for a quick test-drive round the block first, and I manage it. I manage it to Rubin’s school. It’s the school I went to. The school sign needs repainting, it’s pealing and chipped. Suddenly all I can see is the image of a headstone. Will they keep it tidy? With fresh flowers like we do for mum’s?

I lean against the car, jangling the keys. When Ru gets to the car he asks me why I’m there. I tell him we’re going to the seaside and I tell him to get in the car. He looks a little scared, but gets in anyway. I barely make it round the corner when the headache begins. My vision blurs and I can hear Ru yelling at me to stop. The

car moans as I manage to pull over. Do I really want to go this way? Wrapped around a lamppost and take my brother with me?

We just manage it back home, Ru mainly giving me directions, occasionally grabbing the steering wheel. He carries me out of the car. ‘Liz! Lizzie honey hold on for a minute ok? Can you stay with us?’

Now dad’s holding me, but I’m falling: I can’t see anything, I can’t hear anything. I try to speak, try to tell them I would stay. But my body won’t let me.

It’s as if I’m drowning and I can’t swim to the surface.

Sophia Leonard (No.3) (Remove)

167WOrDS & iMaGeS

STUcK

Yeah, just don’t ask. It’s a rather awkward subject… Well if you do keep pestering me to tell you I suppose I’ll have to; after all, you are the one in charge of the ladder.

So, I woke up this morning bright and early as per usual. Had a lick and started my usual wait for you, my darling owner, to deign to come downstairs and let me out. I mean really, you do nothing all day except sit and pre-read my litter tray linings, which you call newspapers, (boring as hell they are too) and then trundle effortlessly off inside that roaring car to what you like to call work, where all you do is sit around in your comfy chairs looking at the exact same newspapers you have just read, only this time on what you call the web ( I always thought webs were things that puny helpless animals with no brains got caught in and couldn’t get out of, but now I come to think of it, that description does seem to fit the bill quite well). Then you come home, sit in front of that TV thing watching another, now moving, version of my future toilet linings and scramble into bed complaining how incredibly tired you are (poor diddums). And then expect at least ten hours sleep before you finally amble downstairs, inevitably kicking me in the process, and begrudgingly let me out of your prison into the real world.

Anyway this morning was even worse than usual. Before I’d even had breakfast I had to perform my customary duty of collecting my morning offering for my divine owners (that’s you). Prowling through the hedge by the compost bin at the back of the garden shed I saw the perfect one – a nice plump mouse provocatively nibbling on one of the pumpkin seeds you had so carefully set aside ready for me to dig up just as soon as you got round to planting them. I slowly, carefully sneaked up behind it, every inch of my body poised for the kill. I held my breath. I sprang. The world blurred into slow motion. The mouse turned. Its eyes widened to the size of milk saucers. The half bitten remains of its breakfast bounced to the ground from out of its frozen paws. I could see the ripple down its flank as every one of its puny muscles flexed into action. I felt my claws pierce its soft flesh. Another offering bit the dust. I trotted proudly back to my front door, my tail aloft, my trophy writhing angrily between my clenched jaws filling my mouth with an unmistakeable taste of success. Having made sure it was well and truly deceased I carefully laid it at the foot of your still-sleeping mate’s bed. For that I got a, this time deliberate, kick in the backside and a shove through the door.

Unperturbed by your customary, even if not grateful, response to my offering I returned to make my peace with you through a foolishly opened window. But it was then that I discovered just how angry you were – Henry had been brought out! Henry, that hideous beast whose nose has been cruelly stretched to over six times my length by you pulling it around by it. Henry, that hideous beast which is only allowed out from its cage under the stairs in order to be fed with my offerings. Henry, that hideous beast which scares me rigid. I turned and fled, faster than ever, from that ferocious, bellowing monster.

But luck was really not with me today; I ran straight underneath a flock of screamer birds. They flew over low, screaming viciously as they went. You humans call them planes, but I can tell you they’re anything but that, oh yes, they are the tyrants of the sky, tearing round, roaring and screeching as they rip through the sky, hunting in twos or threes, searching for an unknown prey. I leapt into the air in terror and dashed for the safest place I knew of – my hollow dug-out beneath the wheelbarrow. I needed somewhere to go and calm down.

Only, no sooner had I escaped one peril, than I ran into another, almost literally. The neighbour’s dog, also spooked by the screamer birds had broken into my garden. My garden. Now one thing to know about dogs is that they are incredibly stupid, I mean come on, any animal that has to be physically attached to a human being in order to find its way to the playing fields has to have a brain almost as small as its owner’s – and that’s saying something. This dog also just happened not to be just stupid, but also one of the most vicious of its kind in the entire neighbourhood. It therefore dived straight for my wheelbarrow and proceeded to snuffle noisily around its base. Hearing this, I almost wet myself with terror and sprang for the nearest tree, dodging round the slobbering mouth and springing up the smooth bark with the dexterity that a clumsy dog like my pursuer could only dream of.

After half an hour, with me calmed down and the dog safely behind fencing panels, I decided that the coast was finally clear. That just left one minor difficulty – getting down! I tried thinking of everything, I was so desperate; at one point I even considered using up one of those nine lives you say I have and jumping, but I decided to save them in case of greater emergencies at a later date. In any case, it is only you who says I have them anyway, and who’d trust you? It’s twelve hours now I’ve been stuck up here before you’ve finally condescended to notice me, twelve hours. And then when you do notice me you have to hear the whole story from beginning to end, most of which you would already know if you only had a memory span longer than that of a goldfish and eyes which focused on anything except your all absorbing newspaper.

Well anyway, now you’ve heard my story, is there any way you could just come and fetch me down? Please? You know I’ve always loved you, respected you and would never so much as say a rude word about you. Come on, it’s not that difficult just to climb up and fetch me down, or at least hold a sheet underneath me for when I jump. Oh fine, be a human then, walk off and leave me here in the cold and wet. See if I care!

Wulstan Nixon (No.5) (Remove)

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS168

“i BeT” Again the flags quivered as the sodden hooves stamped round the corner of the racetrack, churning up the mud and grass with them as they raced past in a blur. The anticipation and expectation in the crowd was increasing and as the rain lashed down on this Yorkshire racetrack, the feelings of those who had betted on a losing horse were slowly being dampened. One by one, the horses slipped out of the race; silently at the back, each owner’s hopes and dreams drowned by this tempest of bad luck. They trotted off, quietly, embarrassed, to be trained again for another race, another race where the trainer’s reputation would hang in the balance. The race track was becoming worn with the engravings made by these artists of the sport. Each lap around this course, each jump, each water barrier was an obstacle to be overcome and at each, the horses moved further apart, separating the winners from those who just didn’t quite reach the mark. The Maggs family was always present at these events and ninety-nine percent of the time, they managed to bet on the winning horse. The majestic beasts once again turned the corner, racing towards the crowd stand, turning away at the last moment round the bend. It looked as if Richard Maggs’ luck was in again. The sweaty announcer was working himself up into a frenzy. The atmosphere was not one of excitement amongst the wet, miserable crowd. The leading horse, ‘Lightning’ was winning...again, much to the disappointment of the Stick family. The Sticks were a poor family who stood outside to watch, come rain or shine, because they couldn’t afford seats. Frank Stick stood on his own as his wife and two daughters went to buy a hot-dog. “Lucky is eleventh,” Mr. Stick, the builder, announced as his family returned. “Really?” exclaimed his scruffy wife. “Out of eleven,” her husband replied. Mrs. Stick’s countenance fell again. The beasts were nearing their last lap. Suddenly, something unexpected happened. Lightning bolted right into a hedge which served as a jump. The next four horses fell as they charged into Lightning and his owner. Lucky was lucky. At the back he never got caught up in these collisions. As more horses fell, gasps of amazement could be heard from the crowd. The Maggs family stared in disbelief and horror at the events which they were witnessing just one hundred metres from them. For the Stick family, it brought new hope and optimism. Frank had bet £150 on Lucky - his pay for the month. Now, it looked as if they could walk out of the stadium with cash in bagfuls. The announcer was now beside himself with excitement, screaming through the tannoy system. It was now a four horse race, for the final lap-and-a-half, between Maestro, Ringo, Captain and, of course, Lucky. For the first time in this race, the crowd were on the edge of their seats. In the sky, the clouds were slowly parting to reveal a celestial light, dim though it was. The white, drenched fence-posts were being jostled once again as the horses’ hooves hit the ground next to them. Thumpety-thump-thump was the rhythm of the race which everybody was concentrating on. The horses were now neck and neck as they approached the toughest water jump of the day. Sixteen legs jumped. Twelve landed on the soggy Yorkshire pasture on the other side. The four horses were all a chestnut-brown colour, so it was very difficult to distinguish between the three remaining competitors. “Maestro definitely o’er,” the commentator announced proudly, as if he was the only one who had recognised this horse’s white streak on his hind leg. Captain had also cleared

‘The Water hole’. There was an almighty splash as one of the horses landed straight in the water pool! “Lucky is...” The crowd was tense and breathless. “Lucky is out!” the commentator exclaimed. “That’s it,” Mrs. Stick said quietly. “Lucky’s out of the race now. That money’s just not ours today.” “Lucky is out...in front!” the commentator wailed over the intercom. Mr. Stick, Mrs. Stick and their two dishevelled daughters looked in disbelief as Lucky sped away in front! Ringo’s owner climbed out of the water trough. Ringo clambered out of the water trough and both crept quietly through the gate and off the track, dripping. Lucky was ahead of the others now and as he crossed the finish line, a great cheer of happiness emerged from the crowd.An even greater clamour of mirth was released from Mr. Stick’s unshaven visage as he ran to claim his prize money. “I’m an expert on this now,” he told the man in charge of betting. “For the next race, I bet...”

William Law (SH) (Remove)

169

blue sky blue sky brilliant blue sky shines our wonderful Malvern school site blue sky blue sky

blue sky blue sky brilliant blue sky shines our wonderful Malvern school site blue sky blue sky

blue sky blue sky rocky wonderful blue sky beauty blue sky blue sky won rocky derful blue sky

lovely blue sky chimney shine our lovely Malvern school site blue sky chimney blue sky amaz

ing school site grey browny blue sky blue blue sky blue sky blue browny grey sky blue sk

blue sky blue top grey great blue sky blue sky blue sky great grey top blue sky bl

blue sky top grey top wall great green hill green hill wall grey top grey blue sky

blue grey windows grey top wall green hill green hill wall top windows grey sky

grey top sky blue grey top wall green hill green hill wall top sky blue grey top

browny great main building wall grey top grey top browny great main building

windows great wall windows rocky main building windows gives out windows

windows places for windows the Malvern ians to le window arn and st windows

udy Malvern College opened since 1860s main building teaches thousands and

thousands students they are all going to b e the doctors lawyer and businessman

blue sky blue sky brilliant blue sky shines our wonderful Malvern school site blue sky blue sky

blue sky blue sky brilliant blue sky shines our wonderful Malvern school site blue sky blue sky

blue sky blue sky rocky wonderful blue sky beauty blue sky blue sky won rocky derful blue sky

lovely blue sky chimney shine our lovely Malvern school site blue sky chimney blue sky amaz

ing school site grey browny blue sky blue blue sky blue sky blue browny grey sky blue sk

blue sky blue top grey great blue sky blue sky blue sky great grey top blue sky bl

blue sky top grey top wall great green hill green hill wall grey top grey blue sky

blue grey windows grey top wall green hill green hill wall top windows grey sky

grey top sky blue grey top wall green hill green hill wall top sky blue grey top

browny great main building wall grey top grey top browny great main building

windows great wall windows rocky main building windows gives out windows

windows places for windows the Malvern ians to le window arn and st windows

udy Malvern College opened since 1860s main building teaches thousands and

thousands students they are all going to b e the doctors lawyer and businessman

bro

wny ro

cky m

ainbuild

ing

big

round w

hite clo

ck te

ll us an

d rem

ind u

s the ti

me an

d tell u

s not to

be l

ate wonderfu

l main

build

ing

bro

wny ro

cky m

ainbuild

ing

big

round w

hite clo

ck te

ll us an

d rem

ind u

s the ti

me an

d tell u

s not to

be l

ate wonderfu

l main

build

ing

WOrDS & iMaGeS

cOncreTe POeTry

Godfrey Lui

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS170

fiSherS Of Men“Once again, The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:47-50 NIV)“10 o’clock at Ballyshannon!” I hear the night guard shout. In the silence that follows I hear the thud of his swaggering stride as he walks across the pier. The sea is restless tonight and I pray that the perilous waters carry rich salmon into my net. Next to me, my six fellow fishermen throw their slimy nets back into the inky waves. I watch as the nets are tossed in the air and then sink slowly down into the waters unfathomable depths. It is a black, cold night and I long to sleep, but we men are accustomed to bearing with trying circumstances, and hail, thunder or snow could not tear me from my duties. Tom, next to me, runs a hand through his red, Irish curls, and takes a gulp of the beer beside him, his adam’s apple bobbing up and down. My eyes catch sight of a gleaming gold cross slung proudly around his neck and my hand unconsciously reaches for my own cross tucked under my shirt. A whipping wind briefly ruffles my net and casts it further out to sea, and, in panic of losing the fish, I yank the net back towards me, and I stand and strain the net so that it comes closer still, hoping that the weight I feel tugging against the net is of good, quality salmon. In my mind’s eye I see the salmon, their pure and perfect scales glistening in the moonlight as they are pulled up onto the pier. I look towards the stars and thank God for the life he has given me, and the blessings he has bestowed upon me, impossibly many, for I am only from the ranks of the fishermen. The net is drifting closer now and I lay two baskets beside me in preparation. One for the good fish and another for the bad, for the ones who will not be wanted.“11 o’clock!” The bellow echoes, bouncing off the darkness. Dipping my hand into the water I wince at its icy clutch, grasp a salmon from my net, and toss it into the basket of good fish. Again and again I repeat the process, the salmon swimming into my hand as if guided towards me by some inner need and with each one I carefully assess it, depositing it into one of the baskets. I thrust my hand once again into the water.I feel something solid and lumpy, like a chip of ice, and my blood curdles within me, immediately telling me the object is no salmon. My heart shudders as I lift up the frozen object into the light.I gasp. The other fishermen turn towards me with startled eyes and I feel my hands smart. Quickly, I yank off my shirt and cradle the little body in it, lighter and bluer than the salmon, its eyes wide open and dazed, as if in neither heaven or hell. I quiver with mixed emotions and rub the littlle infant as if to bring it back to life – unable to admit it is too late. In the eyes of society it would no doubt be seen as a scrawny, worthless thing, a minnow. My heart, however, is punctured by the sight of the child. Tears prick my eyelids as I uncurl the blankets and look upon the creature’s frozen, contorted body. Its legs are curled up against its naked stomach, its tiny feet folded together. Nails like tiny pink shells are chipped and crusted. A cord hangs dripping and sodden from the childs belly and its arms reach out, grasping at the air as if trying to cling to life. I cringe outwardly and hear the other men murmur their prayers. I recognise my daughter in the infant’s sea blue eyes and familiar expression, but I push the thought to the back of my mind. It is a common fact that babies are often drowned in these

waters, illegitimate spawnings mostly, small ones thrown back to the waters, but never have I caught one so tender and young. I feel as if I want to throttle the mother who did this to her child. A thousand questions surge into my mind.Tom beside me grunts and indicates for the little one and I realise instantly what he is about to do. Gently, tenderly, he ducks the infant’s head into the water and baptises it in the name of Christ. As I watch him do so I have the strange feeling that this has been done before. In my mind I see a young girl, a similar age to my daughter, baptise her whimpering child and I hear her whimper too, more animal than human. Envisaging this I am sure that she cared for her little minnow. I see her, standing in the shallows, whispering prayers and lullabies as she drowns him, the frozen knobs of her wrists dead as gravel as she struggles to let him go, pinning him to her chest and crying like a school girl. In anguish she blindly wrenches the infant from her and his hands, like hooks, try to grasp at her clothes. A low sob bursts from her throat, ripping her open and she tries to gulp in water, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Eventually, she wades deeper into the water, till it swirls around her waist, mingling with her blood, tears and pain. Gently, she prises the little fingers away and watches in silence as the body gradually stops struggling and begins to sink. She strains to hold back her tears, half praying, half singing her child one final lullaby. I see her hands finger the cross around her neck as if it is the only thing that can save her. The baby’s head disappears under the water. Suddenly she screams, the piercing sound tearing her to pieces, and I see her throw her cross far out into the sea, further than any man ever could throw. Agonizingly she begins to panic, reaching into the water as if searching for her child, as further into the sea she goes...Tom shakes me from my vision. I sigh, as if I, too, have lost someone, and reach for the infant. In my mind I still see the searching girl and feel her pain. It occurs to me that she suffered like Christ under her cross and I wonder whether she, too, did so in the hope of resurrection and a place in heaven, and if that place in heaven is worth what she did to her child. For the first time I question my faith as I look upon the child, one of many of a cold glitter of souls. To me the world has in this moment dimmed; even the stars have lost their brightness. A sob builds up in my throat as I look out to sea and wonder if God is ashamed of the way his teachings have led, so in conflict with his desire for love and forgiveness. I wonder what to do with the infant, for it belongs in neither the good basket nor the bad. The sea stretches before me, a salty, briny zone and I feel that back to the water is the proper way for the baby to go. Water, a symbol for birth and baptism but also, I realise now, for death. Unhesitatingly I pull the cross from my neck and gently clasp it to the baby, in the hope that he will find his way back to his mother. Cautiously, I lower this son of God back into the water and watch as he drifts under the waves. I turn slightly, unable to bear this new pain within me, and through the corner of my eye I see a ghostly flicker of a girl, a mother, besides me, more spirit than human. Gratefully, she turns towards me and it is then that I see her face, the face of my daughter. For some reason I cannot name I am not surprised, but it saddens me that this is what religion has come to, that young girls are too scared of religion even to confide their sins to their parents. My cheeks wet, I choke on my own tears and watch as the baby’s head is swallowed by the waves. I choke in defeat. Now limbo will be.“12 o’clock!” The call seems far and distant from me now. The seven of us fishermen stand in respect and do not speak. Then, together, we pack up our things and leave. Not one of us will ever

171WOrDS & iMaGeS

cOncreTe POeM

Demilade Onabowale

They

Say

A h and is ju

St w hat you

Use to wri te but

It can be used for so

Much more, like

Spo rts,ea ting typing,

Pick- ing up things, Scatc

hing point ing And

so muc h mo re,I,w

ould say it is the most important pa

rt of your body, hands can be different

colours like black,white,yellow, e.t.c.. there

are young hands , old hands ,skinny h and,fat

hands.A hand could be used as a sign of commun

ication.In some parts of the world if u sti ck your

second and third figure up it could mean ‘peace be

with you’ but in other countries people could see that

as an insult. There are also some myths about about

hands being able to tell the future for example if

you one of the lines of your palm is short that

could mean that you are going to live a short

life..Could be true, could be a lie..they also

say that if you are a mean and heartless

person that your hand are cold for

most of the time but if your kind,

warm-hearted and care for others

you have warm hand. My hand is

is warm and my lines are long, I

love my hand, what does yours do?

fish here at Ballyshannon again. No. Even Christ’s palms, unhealed, smart and cannot fish here. At “10 o’clock” this evening I was a fisher of fish. Now, I am a fisher of men.

Felicity Blackburn (Remove)

The Malvernian 2009

WOrDS & iMaGeS172

liMBO: fall Or flyThe sun dipped down beyond the sea, the waves lapping and washing against it. One day ending, another soon to begin. A life started, soon to end.

I roused to the sound of wailing. So it wasn’t a nightmare, I thought bitterly. I rolled over and saw him. Wrapped in my shawl, he was on his back with his fists balled up in frustration at my lack of care. Why should I care? I never wanted this; if only I had said no. I looked over at him. He had his father’s thick mass of dark curls, already speckled with flecks of sand. The reminder of that man made my stomach lurch. I had never planned for this to happen. It was going to be perfect, until he ruined it. I shivered but not from the cold.

I remember the summer sun beating down on the fields, the lush green so beautiful. Tom and I would spend hours running through them; he would keep pace with me when I slowed and stop to tuck a flower behind my ear and he would do it again, once it had fallen out. They were blissful afternoons—the kind you wish could carry on forever. I wish they had now.Then one afternoon something was wrong: Tom wasn’t there. I spent hours calling for him and skipping through the long grass, hoping he was playing some daft trick on me and would leap out. Which is how he found me. Malachi Coyle. Ma had warned me about him, said he was trouble, to keep away from him. Oh, if only I’d listened to her! He crept up from behind me and put his disgusting, dirty palm over my mouth, the other already fumbling with my dress. It was like my whole body wouldn’t do as I commanded, Get up! I told myself. But I couldn’t. So I just lay there and did nothing, the shame already creeping through me, pulsating through my very core. We heard Tom’s shouts from the next field over. How I wish I had said something, called out!When it was over, he leered at me and winked before turning back around and loped off down the hill. I sat there trembling, not knowing what to do. Eventually, when my tears dried, I gathered myself together and stumbled back home, wrapping my arms tight across my body until I reached home.I stopped seeing Tom after that. It was too hard to look him in the eye. How could he ever want to marry me now? No man would ever have me after that. I avoided his gaze in the street as best I could but sometimes I would find myself stealing glimpses of his face and feel an ache deep inside. His face reflected something, perhaps the memories of flowers, fields and long summer days. He stopped calling in at home and after a while stopped trying to smile when I didn’t. I had thought about telling him, maybe he’d even understand, but I was just being fanciful. Not that I had to worry about him knowing now. Everyone did. After Ma and Pa found out they turned me onto the streets. I’d hidden this thing growing inside me for months with dresses much too big for me. Now I was a wave of town gossip. Malachi wasn’t blamed. Oh no. The son of the wealthiest man in the town? Of course he wouldn’t do a thing like that. Yet I still looked over my shoulder in the street, still wrapped my arms around myself tight. Which is how I found myself down here by the sea, the only thing that wouldn’t think or judge or stare. I was alone. Until it came along, like a black cloud on a perfect afternoon’s sky.

His cries reminded me of the blackbirds that lived in our garden; every spring brought new chicks, crying out to their mothers… I crawled over to him on my hands and knees and peered over him. How should I know what he wants? I curled my knees up

under my chest and rocked back and forth, back and forth to the sound of the sea. No one could see us from here, of that much I was certain, for we were covered by a line of trees, like guards watching over a secret deed. Why won’t he stop crying? Crying doesn’t solve anything. I should know. I had cried to Malachi when I had found out about his, his child growing inside me, but he hadn’t so much as batted an eyelash. I had cried to my parents to help me but I had sinned against them and they wouldn’t help me. I had cried when the baby came, alone and afraid but still, no one had helped me. So crying wouldn’t help him now. I picked him up finally and we rocked against the elements, the world. I wanted him to sleep. I wasn’t a heartless murderer. This way he would already be asleep and would only need to carry on. He will go to purgatory. They taught us that in Church. I hope its better there than here. I looked at him properly. His little cheeks pink and dimpled, his heart-shaped mouth pursed against the cold, his eyes dark and staring. I looked away quickly, tears stinging my eyes. It was as if he knew. When I turned back minutes later, his eyes were shut. It was time. I heaved myself up for the first time in a while and my legs buckled under me. I thought he would wake up but thankfully his eyes remained firmly closed. I waded through the water until it met my waist. The water should have been freezing but I couldn’t feel it. I was numb. It’s for the best, I told myself. ‘Goodnight, baby. May God have mercy on my soul,’ was all I could think to say and taking one last look at his delicate state, still wrapped in my shawl, ducked him under the icy depths. Then I felt it, a tiny finger curled around mine. It clung on. Let go, please. A wave hit and the pressure was gone. He’s gone, I thought densely. And in that moment I realised that I wasn’t angry with this child, but at what Malachi had done to me. It wasn’t the baby’s fault. My baby. Please, please, please God. Have mercy on his soul, not mine. It was too late to do anything now. He would be safe. Wouldn’t he?The guilt… I waded back to the shore and finally felt something. My legs ached from the cold. I sat back down and looked over to where he’d been just moments before, a tiny imprint of his body in the sand. I pounded the sand with my fists as anger raged through me and I imagined Malachi’s face under my fists. Somewhere in the distance I could hear wailing. I realised I was sobbing uncontrollably, my body convulsing and shuddering. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ I kept repeating it like a mantra as if by doing this it would somehow justify my evil doings. ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so-‘ Suddenly I didn’t feel the angry grate and sting of the sand in my bruised and bloody knuckles. Tom. His soft features filled me with a hope I had not felt for what seemed an eternity. But his eyes betrayed this. He’d seen everything. I scrambled backwards, wanting to get away from him. I could not bear for him to see me this way. I would rather everyone in Ballyshannon know of my past than Tom. He was the only person I ever really cared for and now I was going to lose him. However, I suppose sometimes people can surprise you: he sat down beside me and said in a calm voice, ‘Tell me everything. I won’t judge.’ I took a deep breath. This was the moment I had dreamed about: the chance to tell Tom I wasn’t just another whore, that I’d been helpless. It was as though I was teetering on the edge of a cliff. I had two choices: to jump off the cliff of despair and longing

173WOrDS & iMaGeS

and risk losing everything to the rocks below, or leap high and let the winds carry me up, up into a place far from here and shed my guilt. As I opened my mouth, I knew exactly what I would do: I leapt high.

Sophia Leonard (No.3) (Remove)

The Malvernian 2009

naTiOnal POeTry Day174

national Poetry Day

On a ThUrSDay in early October, National Poetry Day, the College was ringing with the sound of verse of all kinds. Normal lessons were suspended for many of the Sixth Form as they had the opportunity to nourish their bodies and their brains in a specially arranged poetry café. Lunch in the boarding houses began with poems rather than with Grace and at Break, a megaphone broadcast verse across the campus. Every pupil had the chance to write, read and enjoy a range of exciting poetry. Poetry was everywhere, hanging from washing lines in the corridors, draped in the trees and even chalked on the ground.

The theme for the day was the poetry of work and the words of poet and playwright Christopher Marlowe, which provided us with the motto of the day:

‘O what a world of profit and delight is promised to the studious artisan!’

DTO

175STOryTeller Day

Storyteller Day

TO KicK-STarT The acTiviTieS for National Poetry Day on 9 October 2008, Malvern College held a series of workshops given by storyteller Alec Williams. A hundred of the school’s pupils worked with him in the morning, and in the afternoon ninety visitors from local Preparatory Schools were entertained by his lively storytelling.

He is an enthusiastic advocate of children’s fiction and poetry and is a great supporter of reading for pleasure; he believes in creating ‘readers for life’ by reading with children as they grow. He says that creating a ‘reading culture’ requires reading aloud, sharing stories, reading with parents and teachers, ‘book talking’ and a lively school library.

His talks are rich in humour and practical anecdotes and on his visit to Malvern he certainly charged the reading batteries! The children were entertained by a mixture of poetry and stories, illustrated with paper boats and chickens conjured from cloth, stories which were already destined to be re-told by the children listening to him.

One young listener had already begun to practise the folding of the paper boat from the first story as the second story began – what more could the storyteller have hoped to achieve than to inspire in them the wish to tell his story again to others?

The ninety or so young children had a further surprise in store. Not for the first time, the resemblance of Big School to the dining room in the Harry Potter novels having been noted, at lunch the teaching staff donned black academic gowns and wigs and witches’ hats, broomsticks festooned the room, and the Sorting Hat had pride of place on the stage. Professors Snape and McGonagall patrolled the aisles keeping order and, amongst other culinary delights, special witch biscuits were

consumed (greedily). JK Rowling would have been pleased at the potential boost to her sales; those of us who just love books would have been buoyed up by the next generation of readers displaying a genuine zeal for the written word.

LCM

The Malvernian 2009

evanS SchOOlS’ ShOrT STOry cOMPeTiTiOn176

evans Schools’ Short Story competition

POPPy DOnalDSOn (nO.4) had her short story published after winning a prestigious competition organised to coincide with World Book Day. Poppy’s story ‘The Gatekeeper’ was one of just 22 selected for publication from more than 2,700 entries into the 2009 Evans Schools Short Story Competition. More than 500 schools took part in the competition and each school was given a unique first line for its pupils to use as the starting point for their stories. Poppy used a first line provided by leading author Mark Walden to create a tale described as a “thrilling horror story with an entertaining twist”.

Poppy was presented with a copy of the anthology, ‘The Cry of the Wolf and Other Short Stories’, containing her story, at Malvern College on 5 March 2009.

“I was quite surprised when I found out that I had won the competition,” she said. “I really enjoy writing and it is quite hard to imagine what it would be like seeing my story in print.”

She was interviewed on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester on World Book Day to celebrate her success and was broadcast to the county the next day. She also got the chance to see the editing process in action as the interviewer instantly replayed the tape and cut out any hesitations and deviations to produce a seamless interview.

On 6 March, Poppy finally saw the fruits of her creative labours rewarded when she was presented with a copy of the book, containing her prize-winning story. Ann Hart, local representative for Evans Books, who held the competition, also awarded her a certificate and praised Poppy’s achievement of being one of eleven senior entries chosen out of a total of nearly 3000 entries overall.

LMH

177iB & aS TheaTre

iB & aS Theatre

The Malvernian 2009

MOrGan

Malvern cOlleGe WaS the birthplace of the first Morgan motorcar, a fact not generally well known, and to celebrate the centenary of the building of the first prototype, the school was chosen as the final pit stop for a special Centenary Scenic Run for the Morgan Three Wheelers on Sunday 19 April 2009.

More than 150 Morgan cars of all descriptions drove into Malvern College; there were models ranging from the new AeroMax to 17 classic three-wheelers dating from the 1930s. For those who know and love the British hand-built sports car, the reason for the destination was obvious; Morgan was established in Malvern in 1909 and is where the family business still thrives today.

Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan assembled the first prototype with the assistance of the Engineering Master at Malvern College, William Stephenson-Peach, grandson of George Stephenson of locomotive and

‘Rocket’ fame.

Charles Morgan explained that his grandfather, HFS Morgan, met William J. Stephenson-Peach, when he was the Engineering Master at Malvern College. The pair used the facilities in the workshops to create the prototype Morgan car, powered by a Peugeot V-twin engine that HFS had acquired.

Sir Henry Every, High Sheriff of Derbyshire, a governor of Repton School and an Old Malvernian (OM 1961-1965), unveiled a commemorative plaque at the site of the old engineering workshops. It reads:

In this building, formally the Engineering Workshops, William Stephenson-Peach (teacher of engineering at Malvern College 1901 – 1918) offered advice and assisted Henry Fredrick Stanley Morgan in the construction of the first Morgan motorcar.

In front of the plaque stood a replica prototype Three Wheeler Morgan, lovingly created by Chris Booth, a member of the Three Wheeler Club and owner of twenty Morgans. He took three years to make the replica, a testament to modern-day precision engineering and craftsmanship.

LCM

178

Morgan

179chaPel PrefecTS 2009

chapel Prefects 2009

henry BriDGe

JOann ezeOBa

laBhaOiSa crOMie

charlOTTe rUGerOni

hUGO De haan

harry Sinclair

The Malvernian 2009

heaDS Of hOUSe 2009180

heads of house 2009

aManDa BUDGe (eh)

eMMa hicKS (nO.4)

KaTherine rOGerS (nO.8)

eDWarD Davenhill (nO.1)

SiMOn harWOOD (nO.5)

harry zinOPOUlOS (nO.9)

GeOrGe DavieS (nO.2)

anTOnia GOlD (nO.6)

JaMie PaTerSOn (Sh) heBe nichOlSOn (nO.3)

WilliaM MereDiTh (nO.7)

181

The Malvernian 2009

DevelOPMenT182

Development

183DevelOPMenT

The Malvernian 2009

DevelOPMenT184

WOrceSTer ccc TO Train aT MalvernWorcestershire County Cricket Club is to use Malvern College’s state-of-the-art sports complex for its 1st XI, 2nd XI and Academy training from the autumn.

The indoor cricket facility in the new sports centre has unique features, which will allow training from school to county level. The county cricket club will make use of this indoor venue for match preparation during the winter months and for pre-match training during bad weather in the summer. The new Sports Hall will incorporate a sound system to simulate crowd noise, high levels of artificial light and heaters to simulate warm climates making Malvern one of the best-resourced schools for cricket in the country.

TPN

MarK neWTOn anD lOrD MaclaUrin SiGninG The cOllaBOraTive aGreeMenT BeTWeen Wccc anD Malvern cOlleGe.

185cOMMeMOraTiOn

commemoration

Foundation Year Hayaka Amada Latin Prize, Spanish PrizeJonathan Bray History PrizeAlastair Brookes Lea-Smith English Reading PrizeEmily Gray English Prize, Physics Prize, Religious Studies PrizeVictoria James English Prize, French PrizeSun Pyo (Geoffrey) Lee Mathematics PrizeAlys Marr Debating PrizeNatalia Mladentseva Chemistry Prize, English Verse Prize, History PrizeMatthew Ramsay Biology PrizeJerry Tao German PrizeLydia Thurlow Spanish PrizePhilippa Vandome Debating Prize, Geography PrizeOluwadamilola Williams English Verse Prize

Remove Georgina Farmer Simpson Drama PrizeAbigail Hefferan Simpson Drama PrizeEleanor Hobson Physics PrizeFabian Jungmann Spanish PrizeNathan King Biology PrizeWilliam Law French Prize, History Prize, Religious Studies PrizeSophia Leonard English PrizeHebe Morgan German PrizeVictoria Moritz Chemistry Prize, French Prize, Mathematics PrizeWulstan Nixon Chemistry Prize, Geography Prize, Lea-Smith English Reading PrizeCamilla Penrice Spanish PrizeIsabella Petzinka Strings PrizeNaomi Sharpe Latin PrizeWilliam Vanston Physical Education PrizeHugo Williams English Prize

Hundred Agathe Adriaenssen Painting PrizePete Apikasemsunt Design and Technology PrizeCharles Bridge History Prize

Prize WinnerS

The Malvernian 2009

cOMMeMOraTiOn Prize WinnerS186

Hundred Sze Wing (Debbie) Cheng Painting PrizeHo Heng (Wesley) Chow Woodwind PrizeHebe Dickins Lea-Smith English Reading Prize, Painting Prize, Simpson Drama PrizeLucy Henshall Painting PrizeTristan Ingham Martin Rogers Technology PrizeSarah Jefferson Sculpture PrizeSarah Kriegbaum Strings PrizeAnna Lamport Baldwin Geography Prize, E.C. Kennedy Memorial Latin Prize Matteo Lenzi Gale Biology PrizeEmily Madsen NADFAS Art PrizeAlice Makin NADFAS Art PrizeHarriet Munro Turner Printmaking PrizeChun Kin (Eric) Ng Keyboard PrizeTobenna Ofili Physical Education PrizeOliver Pantelides R.W.A. Manly Technical Theatre PrizeAlasdair Riley History Prize, Kessler German Prize, Physics PrizeHarriet Sale Singing PrizeJacky Sha Cobb Mathematical Prize, Design and Technology PrizeJulius Simon Chemistry PrizeJennifer Simpson Singing PrizeAmélie von Kuhlberg Yates Verse PrizeCaroline Varga Debating Prize, English Prize, Hansell French PrizeArthur Wakeley Chance Spanish Prize, Chemistry Prize, Debating Prize,

English Prize, Gale Biology Prize, Hansell French Prize, History PrizeLower Sixth Olaoluwa Akin-Oteniya Shaw Political Economy Prize

Poppy Andrews Sculpture PrizeLawrence Beesley-Peck The Edward Henman Outdoor Activities PrizeHermione Benest Moore-Bayley Classics PrizeKatya Berger Hansell French PrizeHenry Bridge History PrizeCindy Cheng Farrar Mathematical Prize, Shaw Political Economy PrizeTing Hin (Eric) Chu Shaw Political Economy PrizeJulius von Düring Shaw Political Economy PrizeLuke Elsden History PrizeJoann Ezeoba Religious Studies PrizeAonda-Kume Feese Shaw Political Economy PrizeMatthieu Fittus Shaw Political Economy PrizeRebecca Flynn Goringe Award for Community or Voluntary Service, H.W. Smith

Memorial Exhibition (English) Prize, History PrizeTabitha Griffiths Physical Education PrizeRebecca Hagen Chance Spanish PrizeWenlu (Meredith) Hao Abbott Mathematical Prize, Aston Physics PrizeSimon Harwood History PrizeAbigail Hay Lea-Smith English Reading PrizeEmma Hicks Lloyd Prize, Simpson Drama PrizeNazran Johari Shaw Political Economy PrizeGeorge Lacey Jazz PrizeBeth Lloyd Brass PrizeBryony Logan H.W. Smith Memorial Exhibition (English) PrizeHebe Nicholson Baldwin Geography PrizeKathryn Nolan Goringe Award for Community or Voluntary ServiceYasmin Oniyangi Shaw Political Economy PrizeAlexandria Page Marshall Medical Prize, Nicholls PrizeCaroline Pike Chance Spanish PrizeKatherine Rogers Shaw Political Economy PrizeJustus Schirmacher Shaw Political Economy PrizeChristian Schnittker Shaw Political Economy PrizeStephanie Schöhl Hansell German Prize, History PrizeYeng Yeng Shang Abbott Mathematical Prize, History PrizeHarry Siviter Lloyd Prize, Moore-Bayley Classics PrizeCharlotte Speller Lloyd PrizeFerdinand Stockmann Morgan Engineering Prize, Potter Classical Prize PrizeAnna Wagner Boldero Natural History Prize, Shaw Political Economy Prize, Singing Prize

187cOMMeMOraTiOn Prize WinnerS

Upper Sixth Ayobami Afolabi OM Lodge Charity PrizeOlga Avramenko Avon Art AwardVictoria Barley Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Martin Rogers Technology PrizeSamuel Baylis Institute of Physics Prize, Milward Mathematical Prize,

R.N. Moritz International Baccalaureate PrizeImogen Bexfield Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Rowe Science PrizeVerity Bramson Director of Music’s PrizeHannah Campbell Debating Prize, RAF PrizeZipporah Chappell History of Art Prize, Moore-Bayley Classics Prize, Printmaking Prize,

Shaw Political Economy Prize,Amy Chichester Short Prize for IB Extended EssayAlexander Cornelius English Verse Prize, Simpson Drama PrizeJames Eaton Hunter Design and Technology Prize, Rooke Naval PrizeSimon Eaton Director of Music’s Prize, Lea Shakespeare PrizeAlexander Engert Shaw Political Economy Prize, Short Prize for IB Extended EssayCharlotte Friedrichs Wheeler-Bennett History PrizeSarah Fung Malvernian Society Biology Prize, Pat Courage Chemistry Prize,

Shaw Political Economy Prize, Woodwind PrizeYannick Hecker Abbott Mathematical Prize, Richard Smith Physics Prize,

Shaw Political Economy PrizeHenry Holdsworth Duke of Edinburgh Gold AwardChantelle Hudson Baldwin Geography Prize, Woodman Comparative Literature PrizeRebecca Hunter Lucy Shepherd-Welch Memorial PrizeHannah Jefferson Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Ellerslie Old Girls’ Association Prize,

Physical Education PrizeLaura Joyce Berridge Chemistry Prize, Debating Prize, Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award,

Shaw Political Economy PrizeTom Knowles Moore-Bayley Classics Prize, Religious Studies Prize, Shaw Art PrizeTiffany Lam Painting PrizeCharlotte Lawrence Sayer Literature Prize, Short Prize for IB Extended EssayTreesa Leung Shaw Political Economy PrizeTony Lo Strings PrizeScott Mahoney David Clarke Memorial Sports Prize, Jazz PrizeBenjamin March Woodman Comparative Literature PrizeAndrew McDade Dunton Music PrizeAlasdair Moore Martin History PrizeDanielle Moyles Shaw Political Economy Prize, Sitzler Classical PrizeSophie von Nathusius Greek Prose PrizeAdam New Director of Music’s Prize, Shaw Political Economy PrizeStephanie Ong Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Hansell French Prize, Hansell German PrizeHelen Pratt Director of Music’s PrizeGeorgina Price Chapel Prize, English Verse Prize, Hansell French Prize,

Heyes-Robertson Prize, Latin Prose Prize, Lea-Smith English Reading PrizeHamish Rowe Burke Military Prize, Duke of Edinburgh Gold AwardLily Sanders Director of Music’s Prize, Short Prize for IB Extended Essay,

Wheeler-Bennett History PrizeMax Schacker Chance Spanish Prize, Shaw Political Economy PrizeMorwenna Scott Duke of Edinburgh Gold AwardJoanna Smith Chance Spanish Prize, Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Lea Shakespeare PrizeIvan So Abbott Mathematical Prize, Berridge Chemistry Prize, Keyboard PrizeSebastian Sohn Rowe Science Prize, Short Prize for IB Extended Essay, History PrizeRowland Stirling Painting Prize, Simpson Drama PrizeMarcus Suen Nichols Prize for Concert BandMaria Theis Toovey Painting PrizePelin Ural Duke of Edinburgh Gold AwardThomas Wade Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, Rooke Naval PrizeRomy Welch Woodman Comparative Literature PrizeEdward Wrigley Hansell German Prize

Ramón Blanco Villar Headmaster’s PrizeSimon Eaton Headmaster’s Prize

Amy Chichester Headmaster’s Prize

The Malvernian 2009

UPPer SixTh leaverS188

Ayobami AfolabiGeorgy AgasandyanAlexandra Asensio MathewsOlga AvramenkoVictoria BarleyOliver BarnettSamuel BaylisMansur BelloAlexander BetteridgeImogen BexfieldWilliam BishopFelix BlackRamen Blanco VillarNikolaus BörnerAllister BraithwaiteVerity BramsonHannah CampbellHou Yin ChanShiv ChandariaJohnny ChapmanZipporah ChappellAlexander CheadleSze Hin ChengAmy ChichesterYvonne ChickJustin ChiuAlexander ChristieJun ChuDanielle CloseStephen CoffeyAlexander CorneliusHelen CrudenMatthew CrumptonCarmen CuadraJames CurranLouis d’OrignyArturo De LucchiFelix DeconinckHarry DunneSimon EatonJames EatonTomos EdwardsElsa EggensAlexander EngertChenchen FanAlina FaruqueJannis FischerAnnabelle ForsterVanessa ForstnerCharlotte FriedrichsSau-Kiu FungVictoria FurseOliver GoldwaitAlexander GregoryFelix HartzYannick HeckerSaskia HefesPatrick HendersonCarlotta HeubachJulius HeyneHarsh HiranandaniHenry HoldsworthLaura Homfray

Chantelle HudsonClare HughesRebecca HunterThanwarat HutaseraniJonathan HylandsHannah JeffersonKi Jeremy ChungMiles JonesLaura JoyceDaniel KaarbøFatema KayedEmily KingTom KnowlesFriederike KogelhideLok KwokHo Yuen KwongAndrew LakeTiffany LamSui Lam WongNicholas LandYoussef LaouitiAlice LauCharlotte LawrenceKun Hee LeeJae Hoon LeeTreesa LeungAnna ListerKit ListerHin Kai LoChuck LowAndy LuoWilliam MadsenScott MahoneyAlexander MairLeo ManibhanduBenjamin MarchHin Marcus SuenFifi MbabaziAndrew McDadeAlasdair MooreDanielle MoylesAndrew MullinsDaniel MurrayAdam NewYashar NovruzovStephanie OngBenjamin OviosuStephanie PüttmannLucille PerryMaximilian PohlHelen PrattGeorgina PriceAleksandra ProcyszynJames PurcellAlex RobertsHamish RoweMartín SalamaLily SandersMaximilian SchackerNiklas SchmidtMorwenna ScottEllis Shale

Ross SmithJoanna SmithHin Lung SoSebastian SohnAshleigh StaffordArabella StanforthRowland StirlingRobert StirlingOlivia SturrockNicky TamMaria TheisThanakorn TisuthiwongseLydia TittertonMitchell ToPui Yan TongPelin UralLivia van StrydonckArchie VelardeAnja VidmarKatharina VoßSophie von NathusiusAndriy VoshchevskyyThomas WadeCharles WakefordCaroline WaldschmittCharles WatkinsJana WehlingRomy WelchAlexander WinokurowYan Chi WongEdward WrigleySarah YaseenYi Yam YeungTeniola ZaccheausMaria Zvereva

189

The Malvernian 2009

190

191

The Malvernian 2009

192

193

The Malvernian 2009

194

inDex Of aDverTiSerS

Cottage in the Wood 10GL Hearm 16HSBC Insurance Brokers 33Morgan Motors 47Abbey Hotel 51Duncan Fearnley 59Paytons Solicitors 94Nicholas Pearson Associates 98Halls of Worcester 99Isis 103Malvern College Enterprises 121Speller Metcalfe 137Preston Lee Chambers 154Elior 158Hadland Manning Bullock 194Lloyds TSB 195

195

Supporting UK businessesyear after year.We’ve now been voted ‘Bank of the Year’five years running, in recognition of thesupport we give our business customers.

For financial solutions that suit your needs and a relationship you can depend on, call:

07921 548436Mark Smith, Relationship Director

First Floor, The Avenue, The Cross,Worcester WR1 3PX

lloydstsb.com/businessBank of the Year 2005-2009

FDs’ Excellence Awards, supported by the CBI

We accept calls made through RNID Typetalk. Calls may be monitored or recorded. Lloyds TSBCommercial is a trading name of Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc and servescustomers with an annual turnover of up to £15m. Authorised and regulated by the FinancialServices Authority under numbers 119278 and 191240 respectively.

aDverTiSinG feaTUre

Malvern College College Road Malvern Worcestershire WR14 3DFt: +44 (0)1684 581 500 f: +44 (0)1684 581 615 e: enquiry@malcol.org

www.malcol.org

Registered Charity No 527578