1561 - Merchant Taylors' School | Merchant Taylors' School€¦ · John Rutter’s Suite Antique. Rafi said: “When I heard that I had made the finals I felt happy and relieved –

The Phab Revue goes from strength to strength: a polished, professional and high-quality show which, most importantly, raises a huge amount of money to fund Phab Week. Well done to the Phab team and, of course, all the performers. Congratulations to Rafi on his tremendous achievement in reaching the final of the Emunah national music competition and also to our Amnesty film makers on their success at Northwood College. There has been too much going on in this final week of the Half to mention everything here, but do enjoy the boys’ fiction we publish this week, have a look at the wonderful work that has been going on in Chemistry, History, and Art, and enjoy the more light-hearted reports of equally worthy charitable endeavours. Sport has again been hit by the weather but, as we move into half term, pride of place must go to the Under 14 A hockey team who boast a 100% record. Do have a good half term break.

Scissorum1561

Merchant Taylors’ School Issue 18

Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter01 February 15 2013

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire

From the Head Master

Phab Phriday! Page 2 Our Cyborgs! Page 4

Rafi Kelion, Young Musician Page 6

Methane Mamba page 3

MTSThis week


Phab PhridayEvery Easter we host a residential week for Phab – physically handicapped, able-bodied - youngsters. The week provides much-needed respite for their 24/7/365 carers and learning to care for, and form relationships with, such youngsters, given the variety – and in some cases the extent – of their needs, is a life-changing experience for the boys (and girls from St. Helen’s) involved.

Throughout the year, the Phab team raise money to fund this residential week. Friday the 8th of February saw the boys go mad for Krispy Kremes, disport themselves in assorted mufti - a symphony of Hollister’s and Abercrombie & Fitch, and, of course, perform their Phab Revue - it could only be Phab Phriday.

With no school uniform for the day, and having sold 1020 Krispy Kremes at break, the sold-out Phab Revue on Friday night was

the exciting culmination of a day when over £5,000 had been raised for a great cause.

The Revue encored on Saturday night to an even more enthusiastic crowd. There were too many highlights to name them all. No one who was there will forget Alex Noorani playing an unforgettable guitar solo with his teeth or Kushal Patel and Oli Savage sung 25 songs in 6 minutes.

The final two acts led by Arun Thind (who MC’ed to the drum’n’bass of Andrew Collins and Fat K) and Sam Zatland (who got everyone, including Mr Howell, ‘skanking’ to his Puerto Rican rap, Gasolina) were simply amazing. A huge thank you goes to the Phab team, and Mr Howell and Mr Simons, for helping to organise such a successful day.

MTSThis week


Junior Chemists create snakes of fire! The ‘Methane Mamba’ demonstrates the density of a gas which is lighter than air. It involves blowing bubbles of methane gas, and igniting them on a boy’s hand. The hand is wet beforehand, and all the heat and flame from the reaction is directed upwards, so the hand is not burned.

The methane gas is bubbled through soapy water. Since methane gas is lighter than air the bubbles produced tends to rise vertically in a growing column, creating a dancing, wiggling mass that sways like a snake. For the grand finale, the bubble column is set on fire, demonstrating that methane is also flammable.

The boys then went on to make their own crystal gardens, and watched the growth of metallic silver crystals on a piece of copper under a microscope. We also ignited some bubbles filled with hydrogen and oxygen in Mr Brewis’s hand, resulting in a very loud bang.

MTSThis week


Digital cyborgs The Fourths (year 9) are having great fun in the world of cyborgs. A cyborg - “cybernetic organism” - is a being with both organic and cybernetic parts. Artists have recently explored more imaginative visions of the cyborg. Many strive to create

public awareness of cyborgs in paintings and installations, such as Neil Harbisson, and Tim Hawkinson - who promotes the idea that bodies and machines are coming together as one, with human features combined with technology to create the

Cyborg. Some work to realize the abstract idea of technological and human bodily union in digital renderings, such as those the boys have produced.

The theme is proving inspirational. The boys’ fantastic work speaks for itself!

Charlie McDermott James Stubbs

Daniel PhilpottBen Wu

MTSThis week


Digital cyborgs

Krispal Bamrah

Janith Abeywickrema

Omar Kheder Shaan Kara

Sayen GohilLiam Gould

MTSThis week


Rafi Kelion reaches the finals of Emunah Young Musician

Divisions pupil Rafi Kelion has made it to the finals of the Emunah Young Musician of the Year, 2013. He is one of eleven finalists from around the country.

The 15-year-old flute player was one of dozens of talented youngsters who took part in the heats at the Royal Academy of Music. He impressed the judges with

a “fine performance” of Waltz no 4 from John Rutter’s Suite Antique.

Rafi said: “When I heard that I had made the finals I felt happy and relieved – then realised that I had to do a lot more practice! For me, performance is about the enjoyment of my hard work being completed. I started flute lessons when I was six years old and have weekly lessons during term-time. I practise most nights. This term I hope to achieve grade 8 (flute) then start working on a performance diploma. I would also like to take ‘A’ level music. I have not yet got any musical ambitions beyond school.”

This was the first time that Rafi has entered the competition run by Emunah – a major provider of welfare services for vulnerable children in Israel – and held in conjunction with the JC. Emunah helps thousands of children on a daily basis through its network of residential homes, high schools, day care, therapy and counselling centres. Appropriately, the contest raises funds for the Lord and Lady Sacks Music Therapy Programme at Emunah projects that benefits children with severe emotional needs.

Excitement is mounting as Rafi prepares to play in front of an audience of nearly 400 people at a showcase concert and competition finals when the overall winner will be chosen. The adjudicators will be Malcolm Singer, Director of the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music; opera singer Teresa Cahill; concert pianist Norma Fisher and Stephen Pollard, Editor of the JC.

The finals take place on Sunday 3rd March at the Royal College of Music in Kensington. If successful, Rafi could win £500 of musical instruments for the school, courtesy of Wienerworld.

The concert begins at 4pm. Tickets are £8 children under 16; £20 adults/£25 adults’ premium seats or £50 Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children).

MTSThis week


Amnesty hits the Big Screen at MTS! Our Amnesty International group recently hosted a Film Festival with Northwood College. Four teams from MTS and four from Northwood College produced gripping, mini-films that highlighted infringements of Human Rights. Entries were marked by impartial judges from The Mill, a Central London post-production f/x company.

Winners were Vishal Mehta, Arun Mansigani, Amy Yankuba, Matt Toohig, Ali Dhanji and their Director Paras Gorasia, who

told the powerful story of a boy being ripped away from his innocent life to become a child soldier. They won a personal tour of The Mill studios that will hopefully ignite their interest in developing careers in film. Many thanks to Rushab Shah, Stevan Boljevic, Mr Scott and the rest of the Amnesty Committee for contributing to the success of the evening.

Amnesty International meet every Tuesday at 2:00 pm in EN56 – All are welcome.

Mathematicians compete in final of UK Senior Maths Team ChallengeIn the autumn our team of four won a regional competition, and the prize was to attend the national finals in London. Every corner of the United Kingdom was represented; and whilst the Camden Centre’s hall is quite large, it soon filled up. There is then a real excitement at these events, with a concentration of very able mathematicians racing each other to answer cleverly designed questions. They don’t require all that much advanced knowledge, but they do test adaptability of mind. We finished 18th out of 62 schools present and it was a good experience for the boys to take part.

Enrichment Programme: West End Ghost Walk!As part of the enrichment programme, boys from the Third Form up to the Fifth Form were invited to learn about London’s eerie past by going on a ghost walk in London’s West End. The expert guide regaled the boys with eerily fascinating tales such from the story of the headless ghost of St James’ Park to the ghost of the heiress of Coutts bank. The boys were suitably spooked, but also found the tour very enlightening, and it enriched their vision of the contemporary city through the prism of the past.


MTSThis weekThe politics of sport in GermanyRegular readers will remember our Holocaust Memorial Day articles on racism in sport. On Tuesday this week, the Modern Languages Society, Panglossia took up this theme - this time focusing on Germany.

Dr Jon Hughes, the Head of the School of Languages at Royal Holloway, gave an insightful talk about sport in German culture amidst the backdrop of the political and economic vicissitudes of German history in the 20th century.

Dr Hughes covered the symbolic meaning

of sport and went on to illustrate how individual sporting achievement can represent the nation in the international arena, whilst the downfall of a champion can result in obscurity. He then focused on the political messages sent by the Nazi Party in support of their doctrine of ‘Aryan supremacy’ as in the case of the German heavyweight boxing champion Max Schmeling who beat Joe Louis in 1936 and 1938. Among other focal points were German sporting success after WWII, viewed as a Wunder, and equated with its

rapid economic recovery, and the sporting ‘rivalry at all costs’ between West and East - the Federal Republic and the Communist German Democratic Republic - with the latter resorting to doping its athletes: Marita Koch’s controversial Olympic record 400 m in 47.60 set in Canberra in 1985 still remains unbeaten!

The talk was supported with photos and iconic posters, including those advertising the 1936 Berlin Olympics. MTS Germanists displayed considerable erudition when answering Dr Hughes’ questions at the end.

Jesse Owens, whose 4 Gold Medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics gave the lie to the Nazi doctrine of Aryan supremacy

Leni Riefenstahl’s discus thrower, Nazi propaganda from the 1930s

MTSThis week


French Divisions buy a railway ticket à la Beckett

Sometimes there comes a time when we feel like buying a ticket and going no place in particular. Divisions boys performed a play in French this week in the style of Samuel Beckett’s ‘Watt’. Confused and indecisive Watt (acted by Benedict Cross) feels just like that when - in the early hours of the morning - he gets to a provincial railway station where the simple procedure of purchasing a ticket from an impatient Monsieur Nolan (Josh Harris) becomes everybody’s business: the inquisitive porter’s (Oscar Miskin as Monsieur Gorman); the cleaning lady’s (Sam Tenzer as Lady McCann); and even the fully-awoken passengers’. Below is an excerpt from the dialogue :

Watt: Donnez-moi un billet, je vous prie.

Monsieur Nolan: Il veut un billet.

Monsieur Gorman: Un billet pour où?

Monsieur Nolan: Pour où?

Watt: Pour le bout de la ligne.

Monsieur Nolan: Il veut un billet pour le bout de la ligne.

Lady McCann: Est-ce un blanc?

Monsieur Gorman: Quel bout?

Monsieur Nolan: Quel bout? Le bout rond ou le bout carré?

Watt: Le bout le plus proche?

Monsieur Nolan: Le bout le plus proche.

Lady McCann: Mais quel accent extraordinaire!

MTSThis week


ShineThe art teachers have been busy over the past two weeks with the wider school community project, SHINE. Local primary school pupils have enjoyed some time in the Art department allowing them to get dirty and create some personalised graffiti!! They have also been moulding their own animals from clay. It’s a great opportunity for all of them to try something new and test out their artistic skills!

After half term, they will be waltzing and break-dancing around the exam hall… watch this space for updates.

Senior Scientists refuse to catch coldLower 6th student Sachin Ananth recently delivered a talk entitled “Will we ever cure the common cold?” to the Science Society. Sachin first outlined the difficulties in curing the cold (which are legion!) before moving on to possible ways of curing it; antivirals and boosting the immune response were the main talking-points. He also discussed the role of technology in the hunt for a cure, as well as inhibiting economic and social factors.

MTSThis week


Ulysses Kudos to Divisions (Year 10) pupil, Ewan Patel who has just completed his voyage through Joyce’s Ulysses with some 12 weeks to spare before Bloomsday. Though not of the same epic proportions as that undertaken by Odysseus to return to Penelope and Achates, Ulysses (the Latin form of Odysseus,) tells of a day in the life of Leopold Bloom as he travels through Dublin on 16th of June 1904 (historically, the day on which Joyce first dated his future wife, Nora). With suspected adultery, funeral marches, Bloom’s quest for fatherhood and a single sentence of 4, 391 words along the way. Joyce’s masterpiece was banned on publication, still occasions much controversy, and remains a formidably difficult canonical work – for Ewan to

Fourth Form English students debate mobile phonesIn their lessons this week, Mr Chidell’s English Fourth Form prepared and then debated the motion “This House believes schools should be mobile phone-free zones.” A range of excellent ideas were brought to the table by both sides and members of the floor all contributed questions for the two teams. In the end the proposition before the House was carried by the narrow margin of just four points.

have enjoyed and understood all its rich humour, puns and parodies, is an earnest of his ambition and a real achievement – he

has tackled great literature far beyond the ersatz, mediocre substitutes that dominate the majority of GCSE syllabuses.

A Divisions class took part in a Jeremy Kyle-style talk show, based on the GCSE text “I’m the King of the Castle”. Students – armed with props and costumes - each selected one persona

from the book’s range of characters and then discussed a range of ideas related to the themes, whilst the ‘audience’ posed questions based on events in the book.

Divisions boys stage talk show!

Ewan - a man of masks, like Joyce himself

MTSThis week


Geographers look into the future! This week, enthusiastic Lower School geographers from the Junior Geography Society worked in teams to produce their own visions of MTS in 100 years’ time.

Building upon geographical themes of sustainability, globalisation and technological development, the boys created a range of superb futuristic designs, combining fantasy and reality.

The Upper Third Form were particularly well represented at

the session and made use of their recent geography lessons on energy and resources to incorporate ways of conserving the planet, through the use of recyclable materials, wind turbines, hydro-electric power and solar panels. Boys also demonstrated their compassion by suggesting the creation of new community centres and apprenticeships to assist all members of the local community. The society meets weekly on Tuesdays at 1.45pm in GY9.

Divisions’ Design ProjectNathan Stephenson shows off the Longboard he has designed and built for his Divisions Project. All Divisions boys spend half a year researching a project of their choice and then producing a product.

There have been a wide range of choices - including websites, graphic novels, presentations and extended essays. In doing so, they develop the skills necessary for success in Higher Education and beyond.

Martha Holmes Sixth Form lectureMartha Holmes, a BAFTA award-winning BBC producer, spoke to the Lower Sixth last Friday about the nuts and bolts of how to produce a wildlife TV series like ‘Africa’. Her talk covered every stage in the production process, from researching to editing, as well as insights into what it’s like to work with David Attenborough and how to remove botflies from your skin!

MTSThis week


Joe Ray (OMT) wins a Grammy!Congratulations to Joseph (Joe) Ray (OMT, Class of 2002) on his Grammy Award for “Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)” which won the Best Remixed Recording category at the 2013 ceremony in LA

last week. Joe read Philosophy and Modern Languages at Exeter College, Oxford before becoming a professional musician. His band, Nero, have enjoyed massive success in the USA this year.

Vaughn Stein (OMT) directs Brad PittVaughn Stein (OMT, Class of 2003) has been one of the Assistant Directors on Brad Pitt’s latest vehicle, World War Z (based on Max Brooks’ novel “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War”) set for release in June 2013. Vaughn is pictured rubbing shoulders with Brad on the set.

Joe Ray (left) OMT with the other members of Nero accepting their Grammy in Los Angeles

(left) Vaughn Stein with Brad Pitt on the set of World War Z

MTSThis week


Charity Drive – Would I lie to you?History played Economics this week as two team made up of members of the respective departments devoted a lunch hour to raising money for the School’s good causes in the popular quiz game format, “Would I lie to you?” The event was based on the BBC television series, where one team has to guess whether the

other team’s proposition is true or false. In a closely-fought match, the historians ultimately prevailed 8-5! We would like to say a huge thank you to the teachers who made this event possible and the pupils that bought tickets. The money is much appreciated and is going to a worthy cause. We hope you all enjoyed the event!

Sustainability Committee at Warren Dell Primary The Sustainability Committee is spreading the word about Green issues and what we can do to help. Rahul & Rupinder went to Warren Dell Primary School in South Oxhey to address the school about some current ‘green issues, including Food Miles and where we get our food from and how we can reduce our waste

With Waste Week between 11th & 17th March we are aiming to raise awareness of the whole school and encourage everyone to reduce their waste – be in food they throw away, lights they leave on or even the tap that keeps running whilst they brush their teeth… All of this is waste: it not only costs money, but is ruining our fragile earth. Always remember: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

MTSThis week


The classroom as Renaissance Europe: Lower Sixth historians as Henry [VIII], Charles [V], and Francis [I]This week Lower Sixth History students have been learning about the motives behind Henry VIII’s foreign policy in a classroom transformed into a rudimentary map of Europe. The rulers of England, France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope were represented by students, while a few stuffed animals helped

to provide an idea of the size and relative importance of the different nations in the Tudor period. Students threw themselves into the experience of being an early modern ruler, deciding where the priorities in foreign policy lay and learning about the different disputes and treaties that occurred, bringing the topic to life!

Music Quiz Supper On Saturday, parents, staff and a number of current students gathered in the Dining Hall for the annual (and highly competitive!) Music Quiz Supper. After being fuelled with fajitas and exquisite puddings, the quiz began. Rounds ranged from identifying hidden pop lyrics to musical plagiarism – with a high-tech jazz round provided by Mr McCann on video-

link (sadly, he could not be present in person!). Tables headed up by the Music Support Group (including the Head Master) and the Music Faculty comprised the top two teams this year. Thanks must go to the Music Support Group – especially Mrs Cox-Sehmi – for organising the event, which raised over £400 for future Music tours.

MTSThe Spenser


AmintareThe sky above the town was the colour of television tuned to a dead channel. Though the weather was grim and fearsome, the dealings of the men below were darker still.

Within the murky half-light a solitary figure glanced furtively around as he limped through the empty town streets: Amintare. Hidden within the confines of his tattered cloak, lay a metallic mess of gleaming machinery, which he cradled with the utmost care. Travelling with surprising speed for a wounded man he moved with greater haste upon realising that dawn was fast approaching, heralded by the shouts of distant peddlers.

In silence, a thin figure stalked him with casual ease, skilfully hiding amongst those shadows which the pale morning light had yet to touch.

The pursuer was tall and menacing, yet eerily mesmerising. His movements were lithe and agile, unnatural for a man of such height, and the pursuit was undertaken with a strange grace. His calm façade was only briefly broken once, when he glimpsed a flash of glinting metal from beneath his quarry’s cloak. The thin figure deftly flicked a knife into his hand. In

his other, he held a selection of small metal cubes thickly coated with oil. As he rolled them across his cut-filled palm the dark surfaces shone wildly and the sharp edges dug deep into his flesh, opening old stitches and creating bloody wounds. The thin figure gave a quick grin: rows of ink-stained teeth. The chase was ending.

A practised flick of the wrist threw his knife straight and true, its sharpened edge whistling as it cut through the air. His aim accomplished, the thin figure disappeared. Amintare continued through the town, unaware of the strange nick in his thigh. It remained undiscovered until much later that day…

After pushing past the weary oak door, Amintare entered the damp hallway. Gently, he laid the object on a table. Its worn metal took on a soft orange hue as it bathed in the candlelight. Twitching and flickering, the machinery soon began to shake and scream. Its wailing resonated throughout the room, echoing amidst the stunned silence. For the twisted writhing machinery was a mechanical child, the first machine the town had seen for many centuries.

Ben Wu, Fourth Form (Year 9)

The Sir Frederick Fry writing prize is an annual creative writing prize that all our Fourth Form (Year 9) pupils enter. The boys are given an image to describe for the descriptive task and the first line of a story that they must develop into a section of a more complete narrative. The overall winner this year was Benjamin Wu, whose prize will be awarded at this year’s St Barnabas’ Day celebrations; highly commended were Fore Obatusin and Aaron Rozanski. Their efforts are included and we hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

MTSThe Spenser


Somewhere to runThe rain pelted down, splattering the cobbled pavement which was as grey as the heavens above.

I peered from under my hood, watching silently from the shadows as the wailing cars stopped on the other side of the street. Though their flashing lights - perched precariously on each roof – was a spectrum of colours, until the grey of the world consumed them and the cars blended into the dull canvas of the scene. Men got out, blabbering inaudible orders to the growing crowd which surrounded the area, voyeurs in the gloom. Concealed, I observed the rain as it dripped slowly down the fabric of my clothes, my emotions in turmoil.

Piercing even the constant wail of the cars was the incessant screaming of the crowd. I continued to look down, unable to see what the men were now bringing out of the alley, unable to face up to the situation. My tears morphed with the rain, dripping down my frozen nose and disappearing forever on the pavement below. The cold breeze carried the echo of footsteps to my ears. My body, now rigid with anticipation, sought to recede towards the invisible shadows of grey, like a breeze in the morning mist.

The footsteps crescendoed, then abruptly stopped. The vague voice just caught my ears, the whistled words waning in the wind.

“Give it up, son. There’s nowhere to go, nowhere to hide this time.”

Automatically, my hand moved towards my left hip, until it reached the familiar, cold handle. My head bowed, listening to the rain, always listening to the rain. The man inhaled the coldness; I felt his strong hands on my arm. He whispered three words, almost silent in the confusion of the rain.

“Nowhere to run....”

The sound of the bullet got lost in the labyrinth of the scene. The man’s mouth gaped open, warm blood flowed. I pulled him close, my mouth to his ear.

“My friend, there is always somewhere to run.”

In the shadows once more, I listened to the patter of the rain. I was right; the day was only going to get worse.

Aaron Rozanski, Fourth Form (Year 9)

Out of AfricaThe sun was beating down. The ancient trees in the distance, watched over everything, not that there was a lot to spy on. The yellow grass, dying from this treacherous heat, and just one solitary person, gave the place an abandoned feel, but the jet black lumps appearing in the sky did not. These lumps had fast oscillating blades which sliced through the air, and appeared to keep them suspended in it. They pumped out black, suffocating smoke.

At first, there was one; soon after, two, and then the number began to rise until there were ten of these large dark blocks in the sky. The lone shadow in the distance saw these ten large black dots in the sky, and simply jumped over the fence and ran away. Why he ran, no one knows. No one will ever know.

The dilapidated fence ran down the whole expanse of this tired, yellow field, the wood scorched dark-brown in places, from the intense heat. The barbed wire however, looked new, as if placed there a few hours ago, silver, without rust. Then again, this

could also be because this brutal place gets no rain whatsoever. Few life forms survive.

Up high in the baby blue sky, it was clear as a glass cup; there wasn’t even a bird, not even a vulture even though the environment was optimal for feeding on their prey.

Apart from the huge black lumps, the only item visible in the sky was a dark patch of cloud, emerging from the trees in the distance, soon to pass this way. The dusty dirt track disappeared in deep cracks. The warm, hypocritical wind dispersed the remaining dust all over, blinding anything that passed over this barren land, rendering it even more hostile.

Now the cloud obstructed almost all the light and the blistering hot sun. Suddenly the place was impossibly algid: almost completely black, apart from one hope-filled streak of light, which burst through the thick cloud.

Nevertheless, it was possible to still hear these ferocious beasts in the sky roaring

constantly at each other. They never stopped screaming; they seemed to go on forever: gargantuan bees that buzzed on into infinity. Now one could taste the black smoke that penetrated the darkness: chunky, dust-filled and charcoal to the tongue. The cloud, before long, destroyed that small beacon of hope, and the place was plunged into the despair of sheer darkness.

Fore Obatusin, Fourth Form (Year 9)

MTSport


HockeyThe Strikers’ Cup: A marvellous event for Prep SchoolsOn Friday 8th February, the School hosted its annual U12 Prep School hockey tournament, the Strikers Cup. Seven teams entered the competition this year; The Beacon School, Hereward House, Northwood Prep, St John’s, St Martin’s, Quainton Hall and of course MTS.

MTS made a slow start to their campaign losing their first two matches to St John’s and St Martin’s - who were unbeaten through the whole event.

The third game saw MTS take on a Northwood Prep side that was much improved from previous years. But MTS had finally started to play to the level expected from them and came out on top 3-2.

After lunch, MTS continued their success, winning back-to- back matches against Quainton Hall and The Beacon School which left us with a chance of making the final if results went our way in the last round.

A superb performance from St John’s School led to St Martin’s being held to a draw, dropping their first points of the tournament, whilst MTS beat Hereward House in their final game.

This resulted in a three-way tie for second place. Northwood Prep eventually made the final based on the lowest number of goals conceded.

In the final, both teams had plenty of good chances, but Karan Sofat, St Martin’s Player of the Day, made the decisive difference, having performed superbly in the midfield for St Martin’s all day. The St Martin’s win meant they had retained the trophy for the third year running; hockey seems to be going from strength to strength there.

The good news for MTS is that the standard of hockey at this tournament

was much higher than in previous years. The final league table reinforced this, with three teams tied on points for second place. Thanks to all the prep schools who attended and for all the hard work that went on back at their schools to raise the profile of one of our major sports.

Tournaments like this could not run without the dedication and hard work of the MTS pupils, who umpired and did a fantastic job throughout the day; thanks also to the Strikers’ Committee for providing drinks and snacks to boys and spectators throughout.

Final League Table

1st St Martin’s

2nd Northwood Prep

3rd Merchant Taylors’ School

4th St John’s

5th Hereward House

6th Quainton Hall

7th The Beacon School

MTS Results Man of the Match

St John’s 1-0 MTS Joe Qureshi

MTS 2-3 St Martin’s Tom Miller

Northwood Prep 2 – 3 MTS Jack Davey

MTS 2-1 Quainton Hall Tom Miller

The Beacon 1-5 MTS Tom Miller

Hereward House 1-4 MTS Tom Steene

MTSport


HockeyGB Under 21 star Will Byas at MTS!The group of boys who are part of the Friday Activities hockey group were given a real treat on Friday, when William Byas, Birmingham University player and Under 21 GB hockey star, led a coaching session for them. Will had just got back from the Youth Olympics held in Australia where Team GB won Silver in the hockey tournament with the girls picking up the Bronze. Will spent time looking at backhand hitting with the group as well as looking a penalty strokes.

v Haileybury1st XI Lost 2-3Man of the Match: Ben Seabrook.

After a bright start, we took the lead through Jack Lieberman and were very unlucky not be awarded a penalty corner soon after, when Jamie Loftus - who was clean through on goal - was up-ended by a recovering defender.

Haileybury had a number of strong players in their side and we were made to pay when sloppy defending allowed a cheap circle penetration and the loose ball deflected in.

After half time, Haileybury took the lead, then doubled it 10 minutes later. MTS fought back and scored through good work by Ali Grant, but it was too little, too late.

2nd XI Won 5-1Man of the Match: Nikhil Mehta

The boys produced some really great hockey. It was good to see training routines paying off in match conditions. There were cracking goals from Gates (x2), Grant, and Judge. Man of the

Match was awarded to Nikhil Mehta for controlling the play with a dominant performance in midfield.

3rd XI Won 1-0Man of the Match: Gavin Brown

The 3rd XI maintained their unbeaten record, breaking the deadlock with a well-executed short corner in the 23rd minute. James Ellis slipped the ball to Aaron Francis, who left the ball dead for Gavin Brown to pick his spot. The new look team has gelled quickly. Well done to Adam and Phil Barnard as well

as Beeshman Mahen, Jaskiran Nagi and Thomas Compton.

U15A Won 1-0 (Sayers)Man of the Match: Krishen Shah

The finest performance of the season so far, with polished passing, efficient approach play and a sharp defensive performance. As the second half wore on we became ever more dominant and Gabriel Sayers broke the deadlock by steering the ball home from shoulder-height after Chris Jervis’ reverse flick across goal.

MTSport


HockeyU15B Won 3-0Man of the Match: George Weston

Atty Vettivetpillai made the break through before a wonder goal from George Weston took us into half-time 2-nil up. We ended up deserved winners and carry on our unbeaten run!

U14A Won 6-0Man of the Match: Nik Muller

Another well-deserved victory! Goals from Will Porter, Charlie Aarons, Tom Bannon and George Smith secured the win.

U14B Won 8-0Man of the Match: Josh Walker

A fine win distinguished by a high work rate and excellent teamwork. Many thanks to the superb sideline of supportive parents! Great performances from Aaron Obrien, Govind Grewal, Hugo Anthony and Alex Harrison - who scored two goals - and a ‘champagne worthy’ hat-trick from Man of the Match Josh Walker.

v UCSU15C Lost 7-1Man of the Match: Jordan Dotting

To even up the fixture the C’s were pitted against a UCS B team. Jordan Dotting was man of the match – gave 100% effort amd pressurized the opposition on every front. Great game!

U14C Drew 1-1Man of the Match: Janay Vakil

A tight, exciting game with impressive performances and a fair result. There was superb goalkeeping from Farooq Shitta-Bey, a wonder goal from Man of the Match Janay Vakil, and fantastic work from Nick Clifton and Charlie Warren too.

v Berkhamsted4th XI Lost 0-5To make a decent game of it The 4th XI played the Berkhamsted 1st XI. Aurele Armstrong played outstandingly well in goal, as did Henry Howe and Tim Riley in

defence. Miles Murdoch worked hard up-front, along with Deven Jobanputra.

5th XI Lost 0-7

We were up against it from the start with a depleted side, but the boys fought bravely throughout.

v UCS U12A - Lost 19-20

Tries: Steene, Cohen, Qureshi

Cons: Steene x 2

A simply excellent game of rugby, played (and officiated) at a level that belied the tender age of both the players (Thirds) and the officials (L6th) involved.

MOM – Zach Murphy

MVP – Qureshi

U13 A - Lost 0 – 60

UCS, with their larger talent pool and two-term preparation, dominated this fixture. Bryn Jones, Andrew Aresti and Chris Loftus did very well and will no doubt look forward to a rematch next year when the 100 plus reinforcements of our 13+ intake have arrived!

MTSport


Rugby

v City Academy U13A - Lost 12 – 59

Tries: Jones, Loftus

Cons: Mahon

When MTS had the ball in hand we looked confident and well organised. Bryn Jones and Chris Loftus led by example

and demonstrated great commitment which galvanised the squad right up until the final whistle.

MVPs: Jones, Loftus and Jervis

U12A Won 43 - 10

Tries: Qureshi x 3, Davey, Kerley x 2, Cohen

Cons: Steene x 4

MoM - Alex Kerley

MVP - Joe Qureshi

An entertaining game played with high skill levels. City went a try up in the first minute but we soaked up the pressure and hit back decisively to secure a handsome victory. The U12A team have now scored 19 tries in 3 games!

MTSport


SwimmingGeorge Yerbury, Tudor Puszet and Tom Lawrence were selected to represent Watford in the Hertfordshire District gala on Friday 8th February. All three boys came second in their individual races, with Tudor and Tom just missing out by 100ths of a second. Tom and the intermediate team won both relays and Tudor and George with the senior team won the medley relay and came third in the front crawl relay. Watford won the gala in both the intermediate and senior age groups with the help of our MTS boys. Tudor broke the 50m butterfly intermediate school record in a time of 27.17 seconds.

Hertfordshire Swimming Gala

In the sixth and final gala of the season where the six best schools in the league were to fight it out, Taylors’ boys put in another outstanding performance.

The Intermediate boys won every race. Bryce Puszet broke his own Individual Medley Record for the fourth time this season. Special mention must go to Sam Peters who won his butterfly race for the first time in the league galas in a smashing personal best time as well as going sub 30 seconds for the first time on the front crawl relay.

Seniors were excellent again; records were taken by Tudor Puszet in the Individual Medley, Fravash Bilimoria in the breast stroke, and the team in the Medley Relay. Eden Slack and George Sadler also produced some excellent personal best times.

The Juniors performed well and although heading into this gala in 6th position came 5th or above in most races. The star performer was Josh Rabin who came in third place with a massive personal best time in the butterfly. Bryn Jones also recorded a personal best in the front crawl.

The official results of the league come out in March but we are pretty sure of the overall standings….

MTSport


Cross countryMTS hosts ATW Metropolitan League cross-countryOn Saturday, the School hosted the final ATW Metropolitan League cross-country fixture of the season. It is arguably the UK’s most competitive regional league and is keenly contested by London’s top clubs. Six MTS boys competed in the U17 race (4k). Mark Murray, Oliver Fox, Chris Driver, Arda Bayar, Louis Driver and Ariyan Nanji all performed manfully and posted very respectable times against a strong field. The 300 strong senior men’s race (8.6k) was won by TeamGB cross-country runner Neilson Hall with a time of 29:32. Highgate Harriers took the league’s top spot. Local boy Rob Thompson of Hillingdon secured an impressive fourth place in the season’s individual league. The post-race online reaction was exceptionally complimentary about the course, hopefully heralding the use of MTS as a major cross-country venue.

Chess

FivesOn Saturday a mixed U16 and U15 VI beat St. Paul’s at home. It was a closely contested match and after the singles we were ahead by a single point. All three pairs showed great teamwork and combined to extend the lead so that the final score had Merchant Taylors’ winning by a score of 126 to 117. Particular mention should go to Elliot Tebboth (who came to play straight from senior hockey and demonstrated great resilience as 1st seed) and Fourth Former (Year 9) Joe Salkeld, who was playing up a year in only his second match for the school.

On Sunday an U13 VI travelled to Winchester to take on Pilgrim’s School. The boys were treated to a traditional Sunday lunch followed by an afternoon of fives. Playing on the unfamiliar – Eton-style - Winchester courts, which include a buttress, gave the boys the expected difficulties of digging the ball out and although they improved greatly over the day, Pilgrim’s came out the winners. All of the boys represented the school marvellously well and one could see them improve minute-by-minute in what was, for a number of them, their first game.

On 4th Feb MTS played a chess match against Lochinver House School & won. Neville Birdi (playing Board 1) was undefeated, winning 3 out of his 3 matches.

MTSLooking Forward

Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter February 15 201324

MTSLooking Forward

Merchant Taylors’ School Weekly Newsletter February 15 201325

The Duologues Competition this year is on Wednesday the 27th of February, at 7.30pm in the Studio Theatre. It is an exciting opportunity for your sons to test their mettle and confidence in live performance. Do come along and support the boys!

Duologues

John & Katherine Giannini, U-21 Ballroom Champions, Amateur Ballroom and Latin Finalists are in the Great Hall on Wednesday 6th March 7.30pm. Join us for an exciting evening of dance lessons with unique Ballroom and Latin demonstrations from champions. You don’t need to know how to dance to come along! Tickets are: £20 (adults); £8 (students); entry includes drinks and canapés: tickets from Mrs Teskey. Please send in your money in an envelope, with your son’s name (and his tutor’s) by Friday 1st March

Strictly charity dance workshop 6th March 7.30 Great Hall

Notices 11+/13+ Offer LettersThis is a week when many parents whose sons are candidates at 11+ or 13+ live on their nerves. Just a reminder that 11+ and 13+ offer letters are sent out on Thursday 21 February, 2013 and our very best wishes to all boys and parents – may your son find a school at which he will be happy and excel!

Dealing with AlcoholOn Thursday 21 March Dr Aric Sigman is coming in to speak to Fourths, Divisions, Fifths, Lower VI and then to parents in the evening at 6.30: the talk is on alcohol and related issues.

Physics Trip to Kennedy Space Centre, OrlandoWe are planning a twelve day expedition to Orlando in October half term 2013. Obviously, this is a late addition to the calendar and we appreciate that some students have already signed up to other trips. Our primary focus will be to visit the Kennedy Space Centre, where we will spend two days, although we will also visit a number of other world-class venues while in the region.

The provisional dates for the trip are 21st-30th of October but these may vary slightly due to flight availability and number of people attending. For more information [email protected]

Documents

1561 - Merchant Taylors' School | Merchant Taylors' School€¦ · John Rutter’s Suite Antique. Rafi said: “When I heard that I had made the finals I felt happy and relieved –