Mill Hill Magazine

MILL HILL SCHOOL MAGAZINE. SUMMER 2019

Welcome to the Summer Edition of the Mill Hill Magazine

One function of the Mill Hill Magazine is to pause to draw breath, looking back at two busy terms since the last Issue was published and celebrating achievements and landmarks in the School calendar.

In this issue we look back further, reflecting on the centenary of the end of the First World War, which we marked in a special extension to our customary Remembrance Ceremony, which included the placing of 100 poppies, crafted by pupils in the Art Department, on the Chapel lawn. We honour our traditions, but try to do so imaginatively and with a fresh awareness of their meaning.

This issue also celebrates forward thinking, in the form of the Big Idea; a competition which invited pupils to submit their ideas for a project which would enhance School life and for which a prize of £2,000 was on offer. The winning House, Burton Bank, can now begin to make a reality of their Wellbeing Garden, a resurrection of The Buckland Garden beside the swimming pool, which will become a haven for relaxation, meditation, yoga and conversation; a quiet spot which we can all benefit from. The same feature also summarises innovative projects which have flourished across all four Schools in the Foundation since September.

Other recent highlights have included Bugsy Malone, which brought together pupils from all years in a colourful and highly entertaining whirlwind of music, dance and drama of the highest quality. No less uplifting was the Big Sing in the Chapel, an evening of hearty renditions of many of our favourite hymns, compiled by the Chaplain in the beautifully produced new Mill Hill Hymn Book.

With much behind us this academic year, there is also much to look forward to as the days grow longer; enjoy the magazine and watch this space!

ACT OF REMEMBRANCEThe centenary ceremony

SHOOTING STARS Video Production Society

DEVELOPMENTThirteen years on

BIG IDEASThinking outside the box

PUPIL ACHIEVEMENTSA selection of successes

THE NEW HYMN BOOKThe Big Sing

ARTICULATIONAn overview of art

SAILING TO VICTORYA life on the waves

BUGSY MALONEAll singing, all dancing

MILITARY HONOURSCombined Cadet Force

VALETEStaff farewells

MUSIC SCHOLARA day in the life...

SPORT GOES DIGITALThe appliance of science

OLD MILLHILLIANSAn insight into the OM Club

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30Front cover Mill Hill School Gate of Honour

Edited by Mr Tony Binns

Mrs Jane Sanchez Head, Mill Hill School

Mrs Sanchez awards the prizes: Five Mile Cup, Murray and Ten Mile Cup, Atkinson

Mill Hill has long paid solemn homage to the Old Millhillians whose lives have been lost in the service of their country. Indeed, the annual Act of Remembrance, which began in 1920 with the opening of the Gate of Honour, has remained fundamentally the same. The inaugural ceremony was captured on film by Pathé News and can still be seen on the School website.

Centenary Act of Remembrance

The Gate of Honour has two particular layers of poignancy. It was intended to commemorate the dead of the Great War and I have always found it important to point out to pupils that the main walls situated on either side of the gate were designed as a memorial; the rest of the structure was not intended to be an active register. The side walls would later be used to record the names of those lost in the Second World War and an additional name would be added after the Falklands War. It would have been truly shocking to those walking through the Gate in the 1920s and 30s to imagine that some of their names would find their way on to the Gate.

23 years ago the then Chaplain, Reverend Paul Hunt, asked if I would take the Lower School in a separate act of reflection since they missed out on the profound splendour of the Chapel service. This has since become a staple of our Act of Remembrance, with the History Department bearing the responsibility for separate Lower School presentations, doing

much over the years to provide a window into both individual lives cut short by conflict and our School’s narrative.

The past four years have witnessed a succession of centenary commemorations of the Great War and its significant battles. This year it was felt important to add a new dimension to our reflections and the inclusion of soldiers’ photographs in the Chapel together with the planting of poppies designed and made in the Art Department added extra pathos. I chose to share the stories of three OMs whose names practically bookend the Gate of Honour, both in order of appearance and age. Hopefully, the remarkable story of Herbert Ward and the tragic stories of Frederick Stafford and Noel Bishop will have given our current pupils a real sense of the human cost of war.

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Mr Mark DickinsonHead of History

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The new Hymn Book

The event was led by the Chapel Choir as many former and new members of Mill Hill gathered to sing a selection of their favourite hymns; it was our own version of the popular BBC series Songs of Praise!

Thanks to the wonderful generosity of almost one hundred donors, including current members of the school community as well as many Old Millhillians, the School has been able to produce its own unique hymn book with the school Coat of Arms and Motto embossed in gold on the front. Moving personal dedications written in beautiful calligraphy will also be found inside the front covers of almost 200 hymn books.

The Big Sing in Chapel in March marked the launch of the much-anticipated bespoke Mill Hill School Hymn Book, a publication which will enable us to develop our long tradition of being a school which invests in the power of singing to build our community.

Our hymn book not only contains 100 of the best-loved hymns, but also includes a history of the Chapel, as well as a large selection of motivational readings, reflections and prayers which will help to ‘instil values and inspire minds’. It is a hymn book of which we can be rightly proud. Some of the world’s most distinguished musicians have composed many of the hymn tunes. These include Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Haydn, Holst, Howells, Mendelssohn, Parry, Purcell, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams and Wesley, as well as several of the best modern composers of sacred music such as Rutter and Willcocks. Different hymn styles are incorporated, with tunes originating in

America, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Scotland and Wales as well as England. The collection contains four-part harmonies for all the hymns to enable greater musical appreciation and participation, as well as several rousing descants to be sung by Mill Hill’s Chapel Choir. The hymn book will also be available for sale to all those who leave the School in the coming years, to remind them of the many poignant experiences in Chapel, as well as being a personal resource for ongoing spiritual and moral formation.

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Revd Dr Richard Warden Foundation Chaplain

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I feel totally comfortable in the Music School where I started as a nervous Fourth Former who looked up to and was inspired by the older music students. Now, as a Sixth Former, it feels a real privilege to be asked to help inspire the younger musicians, not only with playing but also with coaching, conducting, and giving advice.

I love the inclusive approach that Mill Hill takes to music making. There are so many opportunities for everyone at every level, including the Annual Instrumental Music Competition with different categories for beginners to advanced players, the Farrow Singing Competition, the Composition Prize, and Masterclasses – all with external adjudicators. The twice-weekly, informal Coffee Concerts which I have the pleasure of running this year offer an ideal opportunity to practice a recital or audition programme or help prepare for grade exams in a friendly environment.

Being a Music Scholar has enabled me to balance the best of both worlds – a ‘regular education’ at Mill Hill and a specialist music education at Junior Guildhall every Saturday, where I have my first cello lessons with my teacher and uncle, Oliver Gledhill, who has inspired, encouraged and supported me since I started learning the cello at the age of five. At Junior Guildhall I also have piano

I think of the Mill Hill Music School as my second home. Every morning I dump my bags on the bench in the foyer and head to a practice room before registration. Sometimes, on a cold winter’s day, Mrs Mills has been known to make me a sneaky tea.

lessons with Zoë Mather, as well as playing in different ensembles including the Junior Guildhall String Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble, as well as a weekly Musical Awareness class. I also have the opportunity to give regular solo performances in Open House Concerts.

Mill Hill is a school that sings. I have always enjoyed singing and am proud to be one of the longest serving members of the Chapel Choir, which I have been part of since Year 6 in Belmont. Heather Kyle, my singing teacher at school, has helped me to develop as a singer.

The Mill Hill Music Department is like an extension of my family and they have supported and encouraged me in all my musical endeavours. Mr Kyle has been a guide, advisor and mentor to me and I am so grateful for his encouragement, and that of Mr Chakravarty and Miss Thurtell. The School has supported me through challenges and celebrated with me in my musical successes. At Mill Hill there is much collaboration between students in different year groups. For me this sums up the essence of the Music School. I feel the School has recognised the demands and pressures on me as a musician who aspires to become a professional cellist, and they have accommodated practice time for me

The life of a Music Scholar

within the school day and supported my occasional absences for concerts, auditions, music courses and rehearsals.

Some of the musical highlights from my time so far at Mill Hill have been playing the first movement of the Haydn Cello Concerto in C, with the school orchestra (2018); forming a piano trio with two extremely talented musicians when I was in the Remove, and having the opportunity to play in a lunchtime recital together; solo cello performances in the termly Scholars’ Concerts; a lunchtime cello recital in Fifth Form, accompanied by a fellow student; and my successes in the Mill Hill Instrumental Competition and the Farrow Singing Prize.

Life as a Music Scholar is very busy, with rehearsals before school several times a week, Chamber Group rehearsals and orchestra after school, practicing several hours each evening, Junior Guildhall all day on a Saturday and Chamber Group rehearsals on a Sunday evening... and somewhere in between all this I have three A Levels to complete! But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Ellen Baumring-GledhillLower Sixth

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Bugsy Malone A team effort

For me, Drama was a selling point of Mill Hill. It was one of the reasons I picked the school. From the moment I joined, I knew I wanted to be part of a big production and Bugsy Malone was my chance!

I got cast as O Dreary, the daft policeman, and that involved some challenges. It meant accepting that certain scenes would need to be cut, and some would even need to be rewritten so that they could actually be funny (no offence to Alan Parker). So, a joint effort between Mr Proudlock, my castmate Will and myself ensued, resulting in two scenes that to us, as well as being funny, signified that people had come together over drama. After all, physical comedy involves trust. It took a lot of my own trust to allow a six-foot teenager to jump into my arms in front of 200 people, and what a rewarding experience it was!

The most striking thing to me about Bugsy was the camaraderie of the people involved. We had a band! A real life band that played along to some scenes on cues we had written ourselves. It was a dream come true for me. Everyone felt part of a team, whether it was the meals we shared in the Dining Hall after spending hours

On three wintry nights in February, The Large was transformed into Fat Sam’s Speakeasy for a night out that everybody would remember fondly for a long time.

rehearsing, the pep talks that invigorated us all before our final show and even the cry afterwards that we shared when it was over. School drama is fun, but it can also be beautiful because it brings people together from all areas of the School. We had music, drama, dancers and even DT students involved with the lighting. This was a team effort, and that was evident in the final curtain call as I bowed next to my two new Fourth Form pals that I bonded with because of Bugsy.

Some things we do in life that involve other people are only temporary. We say hi to them once or twice but we then go back to awkwardly staring at the floor instead of greeting them or giving them a dreadful half smile that signifies that you know they exist, but that you didn’t remain friends. I do not get that impression from my castmates; I imagine that the love and the support that we all gave each other will manifest itself as truly wonderful relationships. Everyone involved, no matter how big or small the role or job, should be patting themselves on the back, because the play was made so great by all of us. As Alan Parker said, ‘Let friendship double up our powers!’

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Oscar IsaacsLower Sixth

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At the heart of this readiness is the concept of innovative thinking – being able to look at a problem and develop creative solutions that improve the status quo. This draws upon creativity, collaboration, interdisciplinary thinking, curiosity, and real-world problem solving – all traits we are keen to support our pupils in developing.

Our drive to foster innovative thinking has been responded to across the Foundation, resulting in numerous projects that have taken the pupils outside their classroom applying what they learnt to different challenges and opportunities.

MILL HILL SCHOOL

When considering problems that matter, Mill Hill School has started by exploring those closest to home. Mrs Sanchez went on the hunt for the next Big Idea, launching a whole-School, inter-house competition for ideas to improve School life. In March, a mixed year team from each House pitched to a Dragons’ Den to showcase their idea in the hope of winning £2,000 to turn their plan into reality. With the support of Ms Bahoshy, pupils were encouraged to follow a design thinking cycle to develop the skills that will allow them to look at the School with an eye for innovation. They learned how to look at a problem in an interdisciplinary way, collaborating as a diverse team to apply their intellect, creativity and passion to devise a cost-effective and impactful way of strengthening the values of the School.

The winning House was Burton Bank, whose Wellbeing Garden will provide a space for contemplation and yoga, offering an escape from the busy school day.

MILL HILL INTERNATIONAL

Year 11 pupils at Mill Hill International have been applying their innovative thinking skills to develop a creative way of capturing and sharing stories from the elderly in the community. They first explored the topic of healthy ageing from different angles, including dietary needs, biomechanics and music for memory. The pupils then chose to apply the elements of food and cooking to explore the lives of those who grew up in a world very different from their own. They interviewed the elderly at the NW7 hub, hearing about rations, rabbits and air raids from those who survived the war. They are using the stories and memories captured to develop a community-based cook book that looks at how food can tell a life story.

BELMONT

This term, ten Year 5s took on the challenge of designing a solution to a problem that mattered to them in the first design thinking carousel. The pupils were taken through a design cycle where they learned to dive deeper into problems to choose an issue close to their hearts (stopping students making a mess of the school bathrooms). They then practiced empathy by trying to

understand the problem from the perspective of a range of individuals, before drawing upon their creative thinking to come up with their innovative solution. Collaboration was seen when each team worked together to build their prototype, before practicing their communication skills in pitching their solution to their teacher and fellow pupils.

GRIMSDELL

Invention was the name of the game at Grimsdell this Spring. At Early Years, children drew upon their imagination to transform an empty space into their own play area with the use of some boxes. They worked together to figure out how to stack and join boxes to create a space that evolved from a boat to a house and even a bed. Year 1 pupils applied their learning of axles and wheels to build their own vehicle, iterating their design until they successfully raised the body of the vehicle above the chassis by placing a wooden block, allowing the vehicle to accurately cruise through the School. Year 2 were challenged to create a container that would protect an egg, when dropped from a height of two metres. Using recycled materials found in the home and applying knowledge from DT and Science, the children designed and tested their inventions. Resilience and determination was key when a few eggs unfortunately did not survive. The children quickly set about modifying their inventions, in order to create a new and improved version!

Big ideas

Innovation (noun): creatively solving problems that matter… across the Foundation.

As we race through the 21st Century, we are keen to ensure that our pupils develop the skills, mindsets and values that enable them to thrive in the rapidly changing and uncertain world.

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Ms Maya Bahoshy

1. Mill Hill School and Mill Hill International

2. Belmont

3. Belmont

4. Mill Hill International

5. Grimsdell

6. Mill Hill International

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Every Thursday after school students gather in the Winterstoke Library either to write, shoot, direct or edit a film of their collective choice.

The School’s Video Production Society is equipped with recently acquired professional film-making gear, from 4K cameras, to full RGB lighting, allowing the pupils to bring their ideas to life with extreme clarity and also to give them valuable experience on a film set.

In the first term of the club being open, we experimented with Horror by creating an energetic short film; learnt about camera technology, eg aperture, ISO and shutter speed and produced cinematic shots to be used in future school videos. Our next project is to create a fully scripted and story-boarded short film, that will be shot and planned over several weeks. Roles will be allocated to each individual, so pupils can start specialising in the aspect of film-making they really love, whether it be directing, camera-work or sound. From this we will create a highly skilled crew, capable of making videos to a high standard in any style or genre.

Aside from our Thursday afternoon sessions, the School’s video production and broadcasting efforts have continued to go from strength to strength. Most School

The Video Production Society is one of the newest additions to the extensive co-curricular programme, opening up a host of exciting possibilities, from live-streaming to pop videos.

concerts are now live-streamed to members of the community who are unable to attend in person, allowing them to watch from their homes or offices, while in transit and even from abroad. Recent examples include the House Music Competition in October, which now has over 3,600 views, and the festive Nine Lessons and Carols service in December.

Last term also saw us mark the centenary Remembrance Day with a poignant highlights video, along with the launch of the Inter-House General Knowledge series, broadcast live at lunchtime on Fridays, and the release of a popular video featuring members of staff singing Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas! Other highlights include the Farrow Singing Prize, the Five and Ten Mile Cup and plenty more exciting projects besides. You can watch all our videos on the School’s YouTube channel.

Shooting stars

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Cameron RobbinsLower Sixth

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The Art Department has been extremely busy this year, preparing pupils for examinations and events.

PerspectivesARTICULATION

ARTiculation 2019 is a national Art History competition where Sixth Form pupils are invited to deliver a speech about an artwork of their choice. We had internal heats in the Theatre at Mill Hill School, where the following pupils spoke about artworks dating from the 15th century to the present day: Max Joseph (McClure), Mariia Dryhval (Murray), Dylan Rodwell (Cedars), Jay Jacobs (Priestley), Paris Quashie (Murray), Chess Graville (Atkinson) and Ruby Atkins (Atkinson). All took part confidently and enthusiastically, delivering their talks with passion and showing they were highly knowledgeable about their artworks. They analysed the works with perceptive and clear points and some presented intriguing arguments.

We were joined by Phillip King PRA, OM (class of 1953) and Isabel Gilchrist, OM (class of 2016) in judging what became a very close competition. We were especially honoured to have Phillip King’s participation in this event and his insightful contribution was highly valued. Phillip shared memories of his time in the Mill Hill Art Department in the 1950s, which offered a great comparison with life in 2019. After much deliberation, the judges awarded Chess 3rd Prize, Jay was awarded 2nd prize and Ruby walked away with 1st prize – she is our winner of ARTiculation 2019. Ruby then went on to speak at the next stage of the competition, at the regional heat at the Light Box Gallery in Woking. We are incredibly proud of Ruby and all the speakers for their participation and achievements.

POPPIES

To mark this centenary year of Remembrance, artists in the Fourth Form, Remove and Lower Sixth created 100 individual poppies from ink, wire and paper which were planted in the Chapel’s Memorial Garden during the ceremony.

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on their own uniqueness – and crucially, to appreciate more fully their own individual characteristics.

At Mill Hill International, Fourth Form pupils each painted a part of their face and amalgamated all 12 pieces into one giant, colourful self-portrait which was hung above the altar. This collaborative work also represented the fact that although we are individuals, we are linked together as members of one Foundation and one community.

The Art Department is thrilled with pupils’ enthusiasm in taking personal and exciting photo shoots in the lead up to this exhibition. The Chaplain is also delighted that the Chapel is being fully used as a creative space where art can be displayed as a means of both artistic and spiritual reflection..

FOURTH FORM SELF-PORTRAITS

Fourth Form artists in both Mill Hill School and Mill Hill International displayed their self-portraits in an exhibition in the Chapel, and the artwork became the main focus of our Chapel services that week. A main feature of the exhibition was a large collection of ceramic heads which were created by Mill Hill School pupils, inspired by Antony Gormley’s Field for the British Isles (1989-2003). Sixth Form artists also spoke about the importance of self-portraiture as a means of discovering more about our own unique personalities and the influences that have shaped our lives.

Pupils’ self-portrait drawings were displayed on all the panels around the Chapel and included a mixture of the traditional portrait style, funny faces and expressions of other artists’ self-portraiture. In so doing, these portraits enabled every pupil in the School who attended our Chapel services to reflect

GCSE MOCKS

Fifth Form artists took their GCSE Mock exams in March. They have produced some beautiful and original pieces and have worked so hard – we are very proud!

LOWER SIXTH ART EXHIBITION

Lower Sixth artists held a private viewing of their artwork one evening in March having worked hard all year on unique and ambitious projects, and the exhibition was an opportunity to see their final pieces on display. The evening attracted many art enthusiasts, teachers, parents and supportive friends who were all amazed by the work.

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Ms Lucinda RandallHead of Art

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The Sports Department has been pushing the envelope of performance in recent years, from increased expert strength and conditioning staff to redeveloped facilities and high tech equipment.

Hudl allows us to reflect on success in relation to individual and team match objectives, whilst giving players the opportunity to develop leadership and communication by presenting their own clips and ideas in front of their peers. MR JAMES BEDFORD, HEAD OF FOOTBALL

Often the match tends to be a blur once it’s played. The ability to watch it back has allowed us to learn from key moments. CHANTELLE DURU, 1ST VII NETBALL TEAM

Sport goes digital

This academic year we have been exploiting new technology and in particular video analysis methods with our Rugby, Netball and Football teams, taking advantage of the world’s largest analysis platform, Hudl. Hudl is market-leading and is revolutionising the way both coaches and athletes prepare for, and stay ahead of, the competition.

Hudl enables coaches and pupils to take footage filmed during training and matches from fixed cameras, smartphones or tablets and allows them to share and review performance and techniques, providing valuable insights into how performance and strategies can be improved.

Pupils are sent team plays, themes and detailed reviews from the weekend games, which are being highlighted in tailored review sessions at the start of the week in either the classroom or via the app on the pupils’ smartphones. The feedback to pupils has been vital in helping them take their sport to the next level and in enabling our teams to win more games than ever.

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Mr Aaron LiffchakAssistant Director of Sport

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Military honours

Cadets enjoyed an exciting NCO camp at Longmoor’s Urban Training Complex, power boat training with the Sea Cadets at the Welsh Harp and the RAF Area Trophy Competition.

This year’s Annual General Inspection was spectacular, packed with activity and even a thanksgiving Chapel service at the end of the day involving 150 cadets. Many hours of preparation were invested for the Newcastle Competition, Corps of Drums and Guard of Honour, creating a memorable day which impressed the Inspecting Officer, Col Ian Denison. Congratulations to Andrei Lejonvarn for winning the Nihat Trophy for Best Team Leader, to Cedars House for winning the Brett-James Trophy for March and Shoot and to Katie-Sai Ellis for achieving best shot of the day with a five-round group of only 18mm at 25 yards.

The Combined Cadet Force has earned much praise in recent months, with an action-packed programme of activities.

The Contingent’s most recent event was the Easter camp to Longmoor training area. This field training exercise is specifically for Year 10 cadets and is supported by NCOs. The level of self-discipline displayed by the cadets was impressive; this was their first time on a military training area and the programme involved section attacks, night ambushes and remaining on the training area overnight, where at one point, the temperature dropped to minus 4 degrees! The Removes who attended should be proud of themselves for this significant achievement, keenly supported by a number of NCOs who assisted them throughout.

The work the cadets do to promote Mill Hill’s reputation, either by their musical performance for others, or their exemplary behaviour and attitude at

PROMOTIONS

As a result of recent events the following promotions have been made:Corporal Oliver Clements, Keon Kalani, Conor Johnstone, Amelie Kuet, Kit Nyman McKnight, Liv Arshad, Hugo Reed, Sam Tackaberry, Omre Urmani and Cameron FoxSergeant James Minkoff, Amelia Barzilay, Dylan RodwellWarrant Officer 2nd Class (WO2) Imogen Prior, Alfie GriverChief Petty Officer (CPO) Maria StalmanisPetty Officer Isobel Nash, Ruby Atkins, William Sayles

In recognition of his exceptional hard work and dedication to the Mill Hill School CCF, Major Anthony Norrington has been named CCF Contingent Commander of the Year by the Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association for Greater London.

competitions such as the RAF Area Squadron Trophy or Guthrie Cup competitions, is immeasurable and I know they are always proud to introduce themselves as Millhillians.

Instances of outstanding contribution within the community can be recognised with the award of the Deputy Lieutenant Certificate. This is a scheme run by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and this year the certificate which will be awarded during the Summer Term by Mr Martin Russell DL, has been awarded to Drum Major Hugo Forte for his outstanding leadership of the Mill Hill School CCF Corps of Drums and Army Section.

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Major Anthony Norrington

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ELOISE HAGANHaving seen television footage of the earthquake in Palu, Indonesia, Eloise was moved to launch an initiative to raise money for a donation to a charitable organisation to help those affected. Her idea of a non-uniform day was a resounding success and raised an enormous sum for this worthy cause.

GEORGE TAYLOR-YEATESGeorge has been selected for the Surrey U14 county squad and recently went on an Emerging Player Programme tour to Sri Lanka with London Schools. He is looking forward to a successful season with the Mill Hill Under 14 team this summer.

ATKINSON

ALEX ZUCKERMAN This time last year Alex was ranked 350/400 in the country for U18 and now he is in the top 30 (and in the top 100 for Men’s in the UK). He has regularly played abroad and won several matches in Men’s professional tournaments as well.

DANYAL ZAMAN ABBASDanyal was recently presented with the Burton Bank Luminary Award; a termly cup voted by the pupils for individuals who stepped out of their comfort zone and make a whole hearted contribution to the life of the House.

LUCAS TABERNAAn avid Fashion Designer, Lucas, was recently invited by designer Paul Smith to attend his show. He has also been given the opportunity to do an internship with the designer at his London design offices. Lucas has also met with designer Matthew Williams and was recently invited to the Alyx Studio runway in Paris to see his show. Watch this space!

BURTON BANK

JOSIE BROOMHEAD & AMELIA MACDOUGALLRegulars for Old Albanians U14 girls, after impressing during county trials, Josie and Amelia were recently selected to represent Middlesex U14 girls.

FREDDIE GOLDSTONEFreddie completed his EPQ presentation on HS2 in February. His coruscating conclusion was that the investment ought to be used to develop the rail networks of the Midlands and Northern England instead!

CEDARS HOUSE

ALEX EZIMORAAlex’s play for our First XV Rugby team has exceeded already high expectations, and has led to his well-deserved selection for Middlesex.

NICOLE FERMANNicole’s contributions to school drama have been consistently fine, and the sparkling élan of her performance in Bugsy Malone attested the energy and talent that we have come to expect from her.

YUEMEI JIANGYuemei’s recent EPQ was of astonishing maturity and quality and was appreciated by all those who witnessed its presentation; her A* grade bore out our feelings.

COLLINSONPupil achievementsA snapshot of the many achievements of Mill Hill pupils in recent months.

MAX MOIRMax is part of The Finchley Steel Orchestra which participated in the regional competition for the National Music for Youth Festival. The judges said that after their recent performance, the orchestra qualifies for the National Competition which takes place in Birmingham in July.

GEORGIE WARDGeorgie attended a clinic in Scotland last September with Karen Dixon (former Olympic eventing silver medalist at Seoul) who advised that she should be aiming for the U18 eventing teams (these start at Regional level then National and European level). During half term Georgie met up with Caroline Moore, the National U18 eventing coach. Georgie now has a new young horse which is talented but requires lots of training.

MCCLURE

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RACHAEL CUMMINGSRachael has been given a Head’s commendation for her design for the Bugsy Malone school play poster, programme and tickets.

OSCAR PRIOROscar is top scorer for the Under 18 first team Hockey. He is in the Remove year so this is a particularly great achievement.

KEON KALANIKeon was recently awarded the Area Squadron Trophy for local CCF schools. There are many events that we competed in, such as drill, shooting, first aid and RAF knowledge.

MURRAY

GEORGIA DIXONGeorgia is our Senior Mentor and there have been many situations that have highlighted how perfectly suited she is to this post.

STELLA HORTONIt would be hard to find someone further away from home than Stella, who came to Mill Hill as an exchange student from the Sunshine Coast Grammar School in Queensland. Stella was here for the Spring Term to experience netball in the Northern Hemisphere. She settled into life in New House seamlessly, making lifelong friends and collecting shared memories; she has been an absolute joy to have around.

NEW HOUSE

SHLOMO LEVYFourth Former Shlomo has just reached the finals of the National German Music Competition. He and his violin travelled to Prague in March. He has already attained Grade 8 on the violin and is now working towards his Diploma. He is also taking Grade 8 on the piano; he is trilingual, speaking English, German and French and also loves snooker.

SONA VISAVADIAWith two elder sisters who have been at Mill Hill, Sona refuses to live in their shadow. A good all-round student, she contributes to and benefits from the co-curricular activities available at Mill Hill. Sona not only plays first team Hockey, Netball and Rounders but also performs in the Chapel Choir and has just won three prizes in the Farrow Singing Competition

PRIESTLEYNOAH ZENIOSAll-round hero of Priestley is Noah who achieved 10 A* at GCSE last year. He is also a member of the school first XV, Wasps Rugby Club and represents Middlesex U 17 at Rugby. His favourite subject is Chemistry and he particularly enjoys making stink bombs.

DANYLO SHCHERBYNA As part of the Bugsy Malone cast in the recent whole school production, Danylo put in an excellent performance. UVIE SINGSANSERNUvie performed enthusiastically in Bugsy Malone as well as being an NCO in the CCF.

MITTIO MOHAMMADIAN Congratulations go to Mittio for his continued success in athletics, derived no doubt from his gruelling training schedule and his resilience in the face of injury. Last season was the first in which Mittio qualified to compete in the English Schools Championships, one of the most prestigious events for young athletes. Here he achieved his personal best time for the 400 metres event. He also came 4th in the South of England

RIDGEWAY

SCHOOL HOUSE

Championships; a significant improvement on the previous year’s performance.

More recently, Mittio came 1st in the Indoor County Championships in 800 metres and 2nd in 400 metres, as well as coming 1st in our 10 Mile Cup with a time of 5 minutes 17 seconds which helped School House to finish 2nd overall.

JAMES CROSSLEYJames has done himself great credit through recent successes in sailing competitions. (See page 28 for the full story).

MATVEI DOBROVOLSKII Matvei has received an award for his contribution and determination in Sport and has also received an outstanding pupil award from the EAL Department. He represents the School on the Food Council and is also our unofficial mascot lead.

AJANI DOWNIE Ajani is a keen sportsman and Head of Sports for St Bees. He has achieved awards for his attendance and commitment to sport. This term he was appointed as Head of House and contributes to the vibrant atmosphere of St Bees.

ST BEES

CHRIS TUNG Chris is to be commended for his fantastic aptitude for learning and study, achieving the highest number of commendations in House and the full attendance award. He contributes fully to co-curricular activities and societies, including being a Sports Leader for the Lower School and representing the House at the School Council. He is politically astute and his career ambition is to study Medicine.

THEODORE OGDENTheo is a YouTube vlogger and his channel has around 127,000 subscribers. He vlogs mainly about football and several of his videos have gone viral. He is signed to a media agency and last year flew out to the World Cup where his coverage was used by numerous media outlets.

YASMIN ADEWUSI A Grade 9 pianist, Yasmin has been offered a place to study Medicine at Cambridge. Yasmin recently designed over 1,000 online revision cards which she shared with all of the other Year 13 chemists. Yasmin is a truly outstanding pupil and musician and, most importantly, a wonderful person.

WEYMOUTH

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Looking forward, looking back

There had been numerous appeals but the Governors’ plan in 2006 was different: it was to establish something permanent and ongoing which would establish friend-raising and fundraising as ‘integral and mission-critical’ elements of the Foundation’s operation and strategy.

A year of preparation followed before the announcement of a fundraising initiative for ‘people and places’ on 1 March 2007 at the Reception at the Stationers’ Hall following the Bicentennial Service at St. Paul’s. Thirteen years down the line at the end of my responsibility for this, what might my final report look like?

It has been a pleasure to work with thirteen Old Millhillians Club Presidents, three Chairmen of the Club and those who have worked in the Club Office over the years who have had to put up with me. Innumerable volunteers have contributed significantly through their attendance at the various fundraising steering groups which have taken place over the years and fantastic work has been done by individuals and the three Parents’ Associations to support our efforts.

Above all I would like to thank all those who have donated over the years. It is their generosity that has given children A Better Chance and helped complete those capital projects, small and large.

‘I have been very lucky. I got the chance to come to Mill Hill as a result of

the Middlesex Scheme; there is no way my parents could have afforded the fees. School gave me lifelong friends, guided me into a professional career and gave me a network of contacts which has been invaluable.’ Graham Drake, co-founder with Ridgeway 1962 contemporary Robin Mills of the A Better Chance bursaries.

This is why we do it. Hopefully the Founders of Mill Hill School would be pleased with the first thirteen years of the Development Office as they sought to establish a place of education offering religious and intellectual freedom and promoting diversity for ‘meritorious individuals who possess the promising talents which would otherwise be lost.’

What does the future look like? The response to the ABC Balls and Fun Run have demonstrated that many parents feel as strongly about the provision of bursaries as many Old Millhillians do. The Belmont Centenary Campaign ball at Lord’s showed their willingness to support capital projects too. Above all, these events showed the willingness to party amongst our parents and alumni! And we look forward to doing it all again on Saturday 8 June at the Ball for a Wall at Allianz Park. See you there.

by

Mr Nick PriestnallDirector of Development

The Development Office thirteen years on…

Pushing the boat out…A hobby becomes a passionI started sailing at the Dovey Yacht Club in Aberdovey, Wales, when I was seven years old. My older brother, my parents and my grandparents all sailed, so it was inevitable that I should give it a go. The boat I sail is a Topper, which is one of the junior Olympic pathway boats usually sailed by 10 to 18 year-olds.

After a few years of club racing in Wales, often winning against older children and sometimes adults, I decided that I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do more. In September 2017 I joined the 20 Knot Squad (Junior Training Scheme) at Datchet Water Sailing Club near Eton. After a couple of weeks, I became the Junior Champion at the Club and was entered in the London and South-East Zone Championships. There, one of the RYA coaches asked me to go to a Squad Selection Day where I was selected for the RYA London and South-East Zone Squad. This is the first level in the RYA’s training programme aimed at training junior sailors who have the potential to go on to compete nationally and internationally. Great Britain is one of the top sailing countries,

often winning medals at the Olympics, and the RYA takes its training very seriously. Charlotte, who had spotted me at the Zone Championships, is now my coach. I train through the winter with the Zone Squad which is very cold at times but still fun and I learn a lot.

In February last year I entered the National Winter Regatta at Weymouth in the Topper 4.2 fleet and was thrilled to come 3rd in my first national event! Since then I have competed in many national, as well as regional events at lots of sailing clubs in the South East and at my home club of Datchet. Last year I won the Topper 4.2 National Championships, which were held over a week during the summer at the Weymouth National Sailing Academy, and at the end of last year I was awarded Sailor of the Year at Datchet. This year I have moved up to the Topper 5.3 fleet and I am training or racing most weekends. In January I was 1st Topper at the Bloody Mary, a two-and-a-half-hour pursuit race with over 200 boats of different classes that is considered one of the top five events in the world.

I train on and off the water, working on theory, strategy, nutrition and fitness on land and putting it into practice on the water. It is also important after a race to review it, seeing what you did right and wrong and making improvements. Racing is hard work, particularly at national events where you can be on the water for several hours at a time, racing back-to-back. My aim this year is to secure a place in the RYA’s National 5.3 Squad and, based on my performance at the recent National Winter Regatta at Weymouth, I should be on track to achieve that.

The best thing about sailing is making the boat go fast and pushing yourself and your boat to the limit. I hope to continue sailing for the rest of my life and look forward to taking the path from sailing a small dinghy up to 60-foot trimarans, one step at a time.

by

James CrossleyFourth Form

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£10 million

£1 million Gift

40 Pupils

£500,000+

2,000

More than £10 million pledged

First £1 million gift for a century secured

More than 40 pupils have had A Better Chance bursaries

Raised for four different capital projects

Almost 2,000 current and past parents, Old Millhillians and Old Belmontians have donated

If I describe my current job to people outside school, I remind myself what an exceptional and excellent place this is. One of the most historic, valued and multi-faceted jewels set in the Mill Hill crown is surely the Old Millhillians Club (OMC). From The Old Bursary, Laura Turner and I run it alongside an extensive team of volunteers from the Old Millhillian community. Seven decades separate the first Millhillian leaving (December 1808) and the Club’s foundation (December 1878). Yet even before such ties were formalised, Mill Hill remained in the minds of loyal and nostalgic Old Boys. In 1821 the first Life Governors (now Life Guardians) were elected, with OMs, as the School’s first historian Norman Brett-James put it, serving to ‘form a strong buttress against any dangers which may threaten the

School’. When low numbers forced the School to founder and close in the late 1860s, it was thanks to one 1842 leaver, Thomas Scrutton (remembered as both a resourceful realist and an ambitious visionary) that the New Foundation recovered so successfully after reopening in 1870. It was at the apex of this phoenix-like revival that the OMC was founded. Via an article in the an 1873 school magazine, Henry Tucker (a former missionary in India, who taught sport and was Winterstoke librarian) rolled the idea of some alumni association for Mill Hill into the scrum. It was not picked up until 1878, when a letter appeared in a later edition (written by the future first Club Secretary), calling for an Old Boys’ Football and Cricket Club. The first ‘Past vs Present’

Old MillhilliansSeven decades separate the first Millhillian leaving (December 1808) and the Club’s foundation (December 1878).

rugby match followed soon after. So the OMC’s origins lie in sport; and OMs’ sports teams remain active. Over the decades the scope of the Club has extended beyond sport to embrace many forms of community-building activities such as regional and overseas reunions, and the OM Freemasons and OM Liverymen. As Brett-James wrote, ‘Even those boys whose life at the School was not much of it sunshine… find that in the Club there is room for every one who is ready to take his share in doing honour to Mill Hill’. Speaking of which, we have a significant legacy of philanthropy dating back to 1934, when a group of OMs stepped in to help manage and fund Alford House, a charity in Lambeth providing support and activities for 8 to 21 year-olds who would otherwise go without. Today its trustees are all OMs, and one of them, Nigel Baker, regularly updates the OMC Management Committee on the charity’s progress. Club Chair Peter Wakeham’s recent Young Old Millhillians Ambassador initiative is

aimed at increasing benefits for younger members. It also rhymes neatly with history, as it was during the post-war reforms of 1919 that a Senior Monitor, who had left only a month before, was included in a committee to discuss the future of the Club. From sports to social, and from professional networking to other career support, the OMC provides great benefits to members. I would invite you to visit our website learn more. Our motto is non nobis sed scholae, ‘not for us but for the School’, and it is hoped that our work helps make Mill Hill an even better place to be and to have been.

by Mr Samuel ChadwickClub Administrator, Old Millhillians Club, (Priestley House, class of 2017)

DR AMANDA CRAIGDr Craig joined the Court of Governors in 2006 and gave twelve years of service to the Mill Hill School Foundation, in the last 18 months of which she was Chair. During her tenure Dr Craig played an important role in the development and progress of the Foundation with the introduction of weekly boarding, the end of Saturday school, the merge with The Mount School and the establishment of The Mount, Mill Hill International. As Chair of the Pastoral Committee and the designated Governor responsible for Safeguarding, Dr Craig was integral to the Foundation’s focus on ensuring the welfare and safeguarding of all the pupils. This included a full review of the medical care provided and the implementation of a cross Foundation, comprehensive, safe medical service with increased counselling provision in all the Schools across the age ranges and support and training from the counselling service for all the staff.

As Chair, Dr Craig was responsible for successfully leading the Court and the Foundation; including leading the process resulting in the appointment of Mrs Sanchez as the new Head of Mill Hill School at the end of last year. The members of the Court are indebted to Dr Craig for her loyal and valuable commitment to the Foundation over the last twelve years and send her the very best wishes for the future.

The Court of Governors

ValeteSAM BELLRINGERSam was the first recruit to the nascent Development Office in 2005. We lured him from Harrow; what a good steal it was. Sam’s title was Research & Database Manager, which was entirely accurate when he started but by the end he had a much wider remit and Campaigns Manager might have better described his work over the last few years. At no point did he ever neglect the database. Indeed there is no doubt that without his outstanding work in this area the Development Office could not have achieved what it has. He built the database from scratch and ensured over the years it was constantly up to date and fully functional. In 2005 there were valid contact details for around 700 Old Millhillians; by the time Sam left there were some 7,000. It is equally true that the Old Millhillians Club could not have functioned in the way it does without this database and Sam’s willing support. Beyond the database Sam developed skills and played a major role in the production of development print materials and websites; he led on a very complex and hugely successful telephone campaign and became a key part of the hosting team at reunions. Sam’s contribution to the establishment of the Development Office and the work of the Old Millhillians Club has been immense. We wish him and his family every happiness in the future. Nick Priestnall

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Instilling values, inspiring minds millhill.org.uk

Mill Hill SchoolThe RidgewayMill Hill VillageLondon NW7 1QS

+44 (0)20 8959 1176 millhill.org.uk

Follow us @MillHillSenior

The Mill Hill School Foundation: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England: number 3404450 Registered office: Walker House, Millers Close, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AQ. Registered charity number: 1064758