2015–2016 volume 89 number 1

volume 89 num

ber 1 2015–2016 the TAY

LOR

IAN 161616161616the TAYLORIAN

2015

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Dear Reader

Welcome to the Taylorian 2013. This year marks the retirement of Stephen Wright after nine years of outstanding service to the school. We include tributes to him as well his refl ections on life at Merchant Taylors’. On a personal note, I should like to thank Stephen for his support in re-establishing the magazine in 2004. I should also like to commend to you the

valedictory on Geoff Colley who leaves Merchant Taylors’ after 42 years. Geoff has given a huge amount to the school and we wish him well for his retirement. On a more sombre note, we pay tribute to former Chemistry teacher Paul Overton who passed away recently.

After a bumper edition in 2012, this year’s magazine is slightly slimmer. There is, however, a new section entitled Guest Speakers which is partly a response to the large number of societies now thriving at the school. This section features several OMTs who have returned to share their expertise in a number of fi elds.

As they now leave for university, I should like to thank Andrew Collins and Alex Keating for their fi ne photography and Nick Choueiri for his help as deputy editor. They pass the baton onto this year’s Lower Sixth. As ever, I am grateful to our designer Robin Nicol and the team at Lazarprint for all their work in compiling this edition.

Jon Rippier

Editor

Mr. J.M.S. Rippier

Deputy Editor

Nick Choueiri (U6)

Sub-editors

Sam Robinson (U6), Deven Jobanputra (U6), Daniel Sowood (L6),Henry Searle (L6), Sachin Ananth (L6), Anish Kejriwal (5ths), Prahalad Prasad (5ths)

Photographers

Andrew Collins (U6), Alex Keating (U6), Sacha Bassett (U6), Bailey Taberham (L6), Henry Howe (L6),Jonah Surkes (5ths), Paras Gorasia (5ths), Rohan Gupta (Divs), Gabriel Sayers (Divs),

Chris Marks (Divs), Sungmin Kim (Divs), Sam Kaye (4ths)

Front cover photo: Bec Cowan

Merchant Taylors’ 1st XV vs Shiplake College 1st XV, 23rd November 2012 for the inaugural Stephen Wright Cup played under fl oodlights.

Taylorian branding N.S. Maitland

Appointed OutfittersTo Merchant Taylors’ School

PullensSchool Outfitters, Established 1924

48-50 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4AH 020 8954 385050 High Street, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1BL 01923 840 050

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Editorial

It is good to be able to record so much in which we can rejoice: our pupils’ academic and sporting prowess; the enjoyable and useful activity of our many societies; a royal visit; new buildings; and, not least, the enlargement of the Taylors’ community to some 1,200 boys. Constitutionally this merger of the senior and the preparatory schools represents a revolution: we now

offer an all-through education under the aegis of a single governing body; in practice, however, it is very much business as usual.

The intellectual, cultural, social, and sporting pastimes of our boys, recorded here, show that pupil life remains as vigorous as ever. The achievements and distinctions of three national sportsmen, plus those of a world-champion kayaker, are remarkable. Readers will also surely share our pride in the twenty-one successful Oxbridge candidates, as well as in the many others who we applaud for their success in academic competitions of national renown. Two prize-winning entries are published in our restored Literary Supplement, which was a feature of this magazine under Martin Drury’s editorship. Innovation and talent are by no means the monopoly of our scholars, however. So you will fi nd inside confi rmation of accomplishment in music and drama, as well as in the visual arts.

A number of familiar faces retire from the Senior Common Room this summer. We print inside valedictories of those long-serving colleagues, all of whom are distinguished, among much else, for their dedication to teaching. We also bid farewell to sixth-former Rohan Gupta, who has produced so many fi ne photographs for these pages over the years.

I cannot close this my fi rst editorial without paying tribute to my predecessor, Jon Rippier, who succeeded in reviving and then revitalising the Taylorian without compromising its basic integrity as our journal of record.

Mr A.A. Watts




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Editor

Mr A.A. Watts

Contributing Editor

Mr J.M.S. Rippier

Photographers

Rohan Gupta (U6)Sam Kaye (L6)Patricia Rayner

Steve PearcyIan RudlingAdam Karr

Front cover

A view of HRH The Duke of Gloucester processing through the Inner Quad to the Design CentrePhotograph by Steve Pearcy

Taylorian Branding N.S. Maitland




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1

Contents

Introduction from the Head Master 02

Valete et Salvete 03

Speech Day 25

Houses 35

School News 45

Societies & Activities 79

Careers 93

Library 97

Trips 101

Sport 131

Drama 173

Music & Concerts 189

Combined Cadet Force 199

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 207

MTS Creative 211

Literary Supplement 223

Intro.indd 1 23/06/2016 15:11

2

This has been a momentous year. At its outset, we announced that Northwood Prep was joining Merchant Taylors’ School to become Merchant Taylors’ Prep. For the fi rst time we are able to offer a 3 to 18 education, and bring our philosophy of education to new generations. Over the course of the year, we have learned much from each other. Teachers across the two schools are beginning

to work collaboratively. We believe that in terms of both sport and academic outcomes, pupils will experience signifi cant benefi ts. Of course, whilst we enjoy the benefi ts of this merger, we are also very mindful of our close relationships with our sister school, St John’s and our partner school, St Martin’s. We are developing even closer links with these two key prep schools, in order to enrich education in the whole Northwood area.

This was also the year in which we completed our new Design Centre. The Duke of Gloucester opened the building, which has proved to be a wonderful addition to our facilities. Pupils have enjoyed a host of new experiences and opportunities, thanks to the extraordinary array of high-tech equipment contained within the beautiful new structure. Design Technology at Merchant Taylors’ now embraces graphics, electronics, robotics and computer aided design. We are using the building to promote engineering and entrepreneurship, and already our pupils are responding enthusiastically.

I’m pleased to report that MTS continues to thrive as a centre of sporting excellence. Three pupils have represented England: in cricket Andrew Thomas was selected for England U17s; in rugby Will Porter was selected for England U17s; in hockey Karen Sofat was selected for England U16s. Our cricketers are fi nding great success in national and regional competitions. The U15s made it to fi nals day of the National Cricket Cup after beating Dulwich College in a thrilling regional fi nal. The 1st XI are North London T20 champions and the U17 side has reached the last 16 of the national competition and faces Millfi eld in the next few weeks. The hockey fi rst team made it to the fi nal of the U18 National Plate competition but unfortunately lost on penalty fl icks. We have also had a number of individual sporting achievements. Hugo Anthony was named U23 freestyle kayaking world champion aged just 17. Alfi e Collins was fast enough to make it to the qualifying stages for Rio’s 2016 Olympic Games in the 100m Individual Medley for swimming aged just 15. Bryce Puszet won Bronze in the national championships in the backstroke leg of the 4x100 medley relay and is the Welsh national champion for backstroke.

We have also enjoyed the artistic skills of our pupils. We sent a large contingent of musicians to join ten other schools in the Merchant Taylors’ Associated Schools Concert at Liverpool. Over 350 young people participated, singing a wonderful Puccini mass in the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Back at school, we staged the joyous musical Guys and Dolls. The cast were in fi ne voice and hugely impressed sell-out audiences. Finally, we had a number of highly successful dramatic productions, including the fi rst entirely student-led production for a number of years. The boys chose to perform 12 Angry Men, a challenging piece, giving us an evening of mesmerising and compelling drama.

S. J. Everson

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction from the Head Master

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4

Pupils admitted to Merchant Taylors’ School

from September 2015

11+

Afolabi, Oluwatooni, Radlett Prep School; Ahmed, Zayd, Alpha Preparatory School; Aiyetigbo, Michelangelo, Holland House School; Ali, Amar, Holland House School; Bailey, Josh, Eastbury Farm Primary School; Bayney, Matthew, Byron Court Primary School; Bellerose, Ozkan, York House School; Caricati, Enrico, Primrose Hill School; Chandoo, Imran, Radlett Prep School; Chapanery, Jayden, Mount Stewart Junior School; Cresswell, Benjamin, Aldenham School; Daniels, Robert, Hampden Gurney CE Primary School; Fraga, Javier, St John Fisher Catholic Primary School; Garella, Anikait, Eastbury Farm Primary School; Gopaldas, Rahul, Buxlow Preparatory School; Hamilton, Oliver, Radlett Prep School; Hardijzer, Victor, Newberries Primary School; Hartigan, Ryan, St Anselm’s Catholic Primary School; Hassan, Nabil, Orley Farm School; Hills, Marcus, Hampden Gurney CE Primary; Horgan-Smith, Ethan, St Helen’s College; Johnson, Luke, Christ Church CoE School, Chorleywood; Jones, Alexander, St Helen’s College; Kandala, Abhinav, St Joseph’s In The Park Prep School; Karurkar, Ishan, West Lodge Primary School; Kotecha, Dhruv, Oxhey Wood Primary School; Kukoyi, David, Westbrook Hay Prep School; Leapman, Euan, Hartsbourne Primary School; Lovegrove, Elliot, York House School; Madra, Khem, St Helen’s College;

SalveteSalveteSalveteSalveteNew Boys

Mathan, Jaroash, Buckingham College Preparatory School; Matthews, Mitul, The Swaminarayan School; Mehta, Kavir, Edge Grove School; Meshram, Atharv, West Lodge Primary School; Mills, Oliver, Coleridge Primary School; Muhunthan, Kavin, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School And Nursery; Muralitharan, Guganeshan, West Lodge Primary School; Page, Tobias, Trevor Roberts School; Patel, Amaan, Buckingham College Preparatory School; Patel, Dylan, Holland House School; Patel, Gauranga, Buckingham College Preparatory School; Patel, Ishan, Grimsdyke School; Rehman, Ghazi, Hollickwood Primary School; Roberts, Bruno, Edge Grove School; Rushanth, Kalaiarasan, Reddiford School; Shah, Ashin, Radlett Prep School; Shah, Mirren, Buckingham College Preparatory School; Shankar, Suraj, Radlett Prep School; Sheikh, Ayaan, Rainbow Montessori School; Temowo, Olumayowa, Alpha Preparatory School; Tillotson, Alexander, The Beacon School; Tillotson, Dominic, The Beacon School; Tokeria, Ayush, Cannon Lane Primary School; Vadgama, Eshan, Mount Stewart Junior School; Viyaijen, Aathavan, Longfi eld Middle School;

U3rds+

Brook, Harry, Nower Hill High SchoolJaffer, Mikaeel, United World College, SingaporePetitt, Robert, Hale School, Austrailia

13+

Alvi, Bilal, Devonshire House Prep School; Ames, Thomas, Durston House School;

Andela, Maleh, Orley Farm School; Anwar, Zain, St John’s School; Arlen, Max, Edge Grove School; Banerjee, Arjun, Orley Farm School; Barnett, Thomas, North Bridge House Prep School; Barnfather, Matthew, Northwood Preparatory School; Baxter, Jolan, St John’s School; Bickerstaff, Samuel, St John’s School; Bland, Christian, Fettes College; Brown, Patrick, Northwood Preparatory School; Burnell, David, Westbrook Hay School; Carr, Haydon, St John’s School; Chatoo, Adam, St John’s School; Chauhan, Kieran, St John’s School; Chen, Zuo, Edge Grove School; Cowperthwaite, John, Durston House School; Dattani, Seyan, Northwood Preparatory School; Day, Rohan, Northwood Preparatory School; Dewji, Imran, St Martin’s School; Dhawan, Millan, St Martin’s School; Dias, James, St John’s School; Duce, Samuel, York House School; Ellis, Jensen, Gayhurst School; Fallowfi eld, Benjamin, Davenies School; Fazil, Ayaan, Dubai College; Fidahusein, Azeem, Northwood Preparatory School; Florent, Barnaby, Durston House School; Gadsdon, Henry, St Martin’s School; Gharial, Manraj Singh, Orley Farm School; Gilbert, Oliver, York House School; Gokakkar, Vedant, St Martin’s School; Gossain, Sameer, Orley Farm School; Graham, Jamie, St John’s School; Green, Patrick, St Anthony’s Prep School; Gupta, Ankit, Durston House School; Haffar, Adam, Durston House School; Hart, Adam, St John’s School; Hobsbawm, Milo, Trevor Roberts School; Hunt, Benjamin, Gayhurst School; Jegeswaran, Ahilesh, St Martin’s School; Kalirai, Jai, St John’s School; Kassam, Kiyan, Northwood Preparatory School; Kotecha, Ishaan, Edge Grove School; Lidstone, Harvey, Durston House School; Mahindru, Rishi, Orley Farm School;


5

New Boys Maintzer, James, The Beacon School; Margaronis, Pandias, Hill House International Junior School; Mastin, Vincent, St Martin’s School; Maxwell, Joseph, St Martin’s School; McCormick, Tom, Northwood Preparatory School; Merali, Ammaar, St Martin’s School; Merchant, Uzair, St Martin’s School; Morzaria, Dilan, Orley Farm School; Munro, Hugh, St Anthony’s Prep School; Nicholson, Samuel, Durston House School; Nikolaou, Panagiotis, Durston House School; Patel, Kieran, Northwood Preparatory School; Patel, Niam, St John’s School; Patel, Shaan, St Martin’s School; Pattni, Rishi, Northwood Preparatory School;

Payne, Thomas, The Beacon School; Pereira, Kieran, St Martin’s School; Rana, Rahul, Durston House School; Rich, Joseph, St John’s School; Rimini, Emilio, St Anthony’s Prep School; Ristic, Stefan, St Anthony’s Prep School; Safi , Haroon, Durston House School; Sardharwalla, Amaar, Edge Grove School; Segal, Sam, St John’s School; Sharif, Munir, Durston House School; Sharma, Varun, Northwood Preparatory School; Sheikh, Rehan, Caldicott School; Singh, Anirudh, Devonshire House Prep School; Solanki, Krishi, St Martin’s School; Speller, Oscar, Northwood Preparatory School; Stanhope, Cameron, Northwood Preparatory School; Swan, Robert, York House School;

Tanaka, Rintaro, Clifton Lodge School; Taylor-Cummings, Samuel, Lochinver House School; Thacker, Kyle, York House School; Tillotson, James, The Beacon School; Torns, Zak, Lyndhurst House Prep School; Verma, Rohan, St Martin’s School; Winyard, Joshua, Aldwickbury School; Woolley, Edward, Durston House School; Yoshie, Yuki, Clifton Lodge School;

L6th

Fielding, Michael, Thorpe House School; Regan, Joseph, Verulam School; Sharp, Benjamin, Thorpe House School;


6

ValeteValeteValeteLeavers 2015

Al-Jumaily, Amir, 2010 - 2015, (re-applying);

Allum-Gruselle, Dan, 2008 - 2015, Girton College Cambridge, (Human, Social and Political Sciences);

Al-Naher, Hassan, 2008 - 2015, University College London, (Economics);

Amin, Dylan, 2010 - 2015, Imperial College London, (Medicine);

Anand, Amar, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Industrial Economics);

Barker, Thomas, 2010 - 2015, Sheffi eld, (Psychology);

Barnard, Adam, 2008 - 2015, Leeds, (Economics and Management);

Barnard, Philip, 2008 - 2015, Sheffi eld, (Mechanical Engineering);

Baumal, Samuel, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (Natural Sciences);

Bayar, Erk, 2010 - 2015, Imperial College London, (Electrical and Electronic Engineering);

Bennett, Christian, 2010 - 2015, Southampton, (Mechanical Engineering);

Beveridge, Thomas, 2010 - 2015, Southampton, (Economics);

Birkinshaw, Ross, 2008 - 2015, Nottingham, (Medicine);

Bresaola, Riccardo, 2008 - 2015, Kent, (English Language and Linguistics);

Chadha, Ankit, 2008 - 2015, Emmanuel College Cambridge, (Medicine);

Chandi, Jesal, 2010 - 2015, Bristol Univeristy, (Engineering Design);

Cheng, Oliver, 2008 - 2015, University College London, (Medicine);

Chouhan, Luke, 2010 - 2015, St Andrews, (English);

Chowdhry, Ali, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Ancient History and Classical Archaeology);

Clifton, Michael, 2010 - 2015, Bristol, (Economics);

Clivaz, Jonathan, 2008 - 2015, David Game College London, (Politics, Philosophy and Sociology);

Close, Barnaby, 2008 - 2015, Loughborough, (Geography);

Collings, Frederick, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (Natural Sciences);

Colman, Michael, 2010 - 2015, Bath, (Psychology);

Compton, Thomas, 2010 - 2015, Clare College Cambridge, (Natural Sciences);

Conn, Cameron, 2010 - 2015, Worcester College Oxford University, (Mathematics and Computer Science);

Cowan, Danny, 2008 - 2015, Magdalen College Oxford University, (History);

Damavandi, Mehrdad, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Politics);

Dattani, Rishi, 2008 - 2015, London School of Economics, (Philosophy and Economics);

Desai, Rahil, 2010 - 2015, London School of Economics, (Management);

Dhanji, Ali, 2010 - 2015, King’s College London, (International Relations);

Faruqi, Ryaan, 2010 - 2015, University College London, (Linguistics);

Feeney, Daniel, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (History);

Forth, Charles, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Geography with Chinese Studies);

Francis, Aaron, 2008 - 2015, Birmingham, (International Relations with Economics);

Gates, Scott, 2010 - 2015, Exeter, (Geography);

Gorasia, Paras, 2008 - 2015, Brunel, (Product Design Engineering);

Gordon, Ben, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (Geography);

Gower, Roan, 2010 - 2015, King’s College London, (Dentistry);

Grant, Dominic, 2008 - 2015, Florida State University, (Liberal Arts);

Gray, Max, 2013 - 2015, Liverpool, (Psychology);

Gregory, David, 2010 - 2015, (re-applying);

Grewal, Munraj, 2008 - 2015, Southampton, (Philosophy, Politics and Economics);

Hanson-Ikonomou, Yiannis, 2010 - 2015, Brighton, (Sport and Exercise Science);

Henderson, Matthew, 2010 - 2015, Bristol, (Economics);

Hewins, Maurice, 2013 - 2015, Manchester, (Chemistry);

Higgs, Oliver, 2010 - 2015, Loughborough, (Art and Design Foundation);

Jerrard, Mitchell, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Politics and International Studies);

Johar, Saf, 2010 - 2015, (re-applying);

Kara-Shah, Kyan, 2010 - 2015, Newcastle, (Biomedical Sciences);

Kejriwal, Anish, 2010 - 2015, Sidney Sussex College Cambridge, (Natural Sciences);

Khan, Hamzah, 2010 - 2015, (re-applying);

Khan, Uzair, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Philosophy);

Kota, Rishil, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Economics);

Kothari, Anish, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Economics);

Kundi, Aran, 2010 - 2015, Bristol, (Computer Science and Electronics);

Kurek-Smith, Jasper, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Industrial Economics);

Lalani, Zakir, 2010 - 2015, Bath, (International Management and French);

Lalor-McTague, Billy, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (Political Science);

Levy, Fynn, 2010 - 2015, York, (English);

Lotta, Savraj, 2010 - 2015, Rotterdam, (Economics);

Mackinnon, Daniel, 2010 - 2015, Queen’s College Cambridge, (Engineering);

Mahen, Beeshman, 2008 - 2015, Girton College Cambridge, (Medicine);

Man, Julian, 2010 - 2015, King’s College London, (Medicine);

Mandair, Sevir, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (International Relations and French);

Mansigani, Arun, 2008 - 2015, Manchester, (Modern History with Economics);

McKay, Gregor, 2010 - 2015, Manchester, (Psychology);

Mehta, Nikhil, 2008 - 2015, London School of Economics, (Economics);


7

Mehta, Vishal, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Economics);

Millet, James, 2008 - 2015, Birmingham, (History);

Mirza, Mohammad, 2008 - 2015, (re-applying);

Mirzai, Daniel, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (Economics);

Mistry, Kiran, 2008 - 2015, Birmingham, (Geography and Economics);

Mohindra, Amar, 2010 - 2015, Queen Mary london, (Dentistry);

Murphy, James, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (History and Political Science);

Nagda, Neerav, 2008 - 2015, Bournemouth, (Computer Visualisation and Animation);

Nathwani, Dillon, 2010 - 2015, Selwyn College Cambridge, (Modern and Medieval Languages);

Oakton, Joseph, 2008 - 2015, Nottingham, (Geography);

Oxenham, Benedict, 2010 - 2015, Leeds, (Biology);

Panjwani, Waris, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Philosophy, Politics and Economics);

Parker, Alistair, 2010 - 2015, Keble College Oxford University, (Engineering);

Patel, Chaneil, 2010 - 2015, University College London, (Classics);

Patel, Ewan, 2010 - 2015, Bristol, (Economics);

Patel, Maneet, 2010 - 2015, Birmingham, (Medicine);

Patel, Poojan, 2008 - 2015, Birmingham, (Economics);

Patel, Ravi, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Accountancy and Finance);

Patel, Rishi, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Management Studies with Spanish);

Patel, Shivan, 2010 - 2015, Queen Mary London, (Dentistry);

Patil, Shubham, 2013 - 2015, Sheffi eld, (Mechanical Engineering);

Pialucha, Aleksander, 2010 - 2015, Oxford Brookes, (Architecture);

Prasad, Prahalad, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Philosophy, Politics and Economics);

Puszet, Tudor, 2010 - 2015, SUNY Buffalo State USA, (Liberal Arts);

Radia, Jay, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Geography with Business);

Radia, Kishan, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Mathematics and Statistics);

Raguraj, George, 2008 - 2015, Queen Mary London, (Economics);

Reubin, William, 2008 - 2015, Northampton, (Design for Industry);

Richards, Edmund, 2010 - 2015, St Edmund Hall College Oxford University, (Engineering);

Riley, Tim, 2010 - 2015, Somerville College Oxford University, (Engineering);

Rose, Louis, 2008 - 2015, Birmingham, (Geography);

Sandhu, Arvin, 2010 - 2015, Bath, (Economics);

Seabrook, Benjamin, 2008 - 2015, Edinburgh, (English Language);

Sennik, Balram, 2011 - 2015, Warwick, (Economics);

Shah, Amar, 2008 - 2015, Bristol, (Aerospace Engineering);

Shah, Apurva, 2010 - 2015, University College London, (Natural Sciences);

Shah, Jay, 2010 - 2015, Gonville & Caius College Cambridge, (Geography);

Shah, Nikhil, 2008 - 2015, Nottingham, (Finance Accounting and Management);

Shah, Rishav, 2010 - 2015, London School of Economics, (Economics);

Shah, Rohin, 2010 - 2015, Exeter, (Mining Engineering);

Shah, Sajan, 2010 - 2015, Christ’s College Cambridge, (Economics);

Shah, Samay, 2008 - 2015, Gap Year, (Reapplying);

Singh, Harjot, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Computer Science);

Smith, Paul, 2008 - 2015, Hull, (Physical Geography);

Sritharan, Karthikeyan, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Economics);

Ssan, Rhal, 2008 - 2015, Warwick, (Philosophy, Politics and Economics);

Stern, Dominic, 2010 - 2015, York, (English Language and Linguistics);

Stokes, Matthew, 2010 - 2015, Bath, (Politics with Economics);

Sun, Kory, 2010 - 2015, (reapplying);

Surkes, Jonah, 2010 - 2015, Clare College Cambridge, (Human, Social and Political Sciences);

Sutaria, Hanish, 2008 - 2015, Imperial College London, (Mathematics);

Tebboth, Elliot, 2010 - 2015, Selwyn College Cambridge, (Natural Sciences);

Thaker, Ricky, 2008 - 2015, Manchester, (Biotechnology);

Theodoulou, Michael, 2010 - 2015, Queen Mary London, (History);

Thurston, Harry, 2010 - 2015, Nottingham, (Management);

Toohig, Matthew, 2008 - 2015, Kent, (Film);

Topping, Samuel, 2008 - 2015, Sussex, (History and Sociology);

Varma, Raghav, 2010 - 2015, University of Birmingham, (Economics);

Vaughan, Archie, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (History);

Virani, Pranav, 2010 - 2015, Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, (Chemical Engineering);

Vogel, James, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (Geography);

Wells, Johnathan, 2008 - 2015, (re-applying);

Westwater, Alexander, 2010 - 2015, Sussex, (Neuroscience);

Wheal, Alexander, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (Chemistry);

Wijesuriya, Teshan, 2010 - 2015, Warwick, (Politics and Sociology);

Williams, Edward, 2010 - 2015, Falmouth, (Sustainable Product Design);

Willis, Callum, 2010 - 2015, Durham, (Chemistry);

Wright, Sean, 2008 - 2015, Reading, (Politics and International Relations);

Yehuda, Daniel, 2008 - 2015, Queen Mary London, (Economics);

Zatland, Joshua, 2008 - 2015, Leeds, (Civil Engineering);


8

Simon Day – recently completed his PGCE at the Institute of Education. He is teaching Physics.

David Gibbons – joined from Stonyhurst College. He is teaching English.

Matthew Hilton-Dennis – joined from City of London School. He is Head of English.

David Hivey – joined from Brighton College. He is teaching Physics.

Conor Hull – joined from Queen Mary University of London. He is teaching Physics.

Haydn Hutchings – joined from Dulwich College. He is teaching Design and Technology.

Sadaf Khan – joined from Imperial College London. She is teaching Chemistry.

Ellie Lemoine – joined from Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Hertfordshire. She is teaching Geography. Niranjali Manek – joined from North London Collegiate School. She is teaching Mathematics.

Helena Maxfi eld – joined from Charterhouse School. She is teaching Geography.

John Rogerson – joined from Deira International School, Dubai. He is teaching Art.

Robert Simmonds – joined from Sir Frederic Osborn School, Hertfordshire. He is teaching Geography. Nina Turton – joined from Mill Hill County High School. She is teaching Mathematics.

Aaron Watts – joined from Oundle School. He is teaching History.

Eliot Williams – joined from Millfi eld School. He is teaching Computing.

Temporary Staff

Ferdinand Doepel – joined from Draper’s Academy, Romford. He is providing maternity cover teaching Economics.

David Robinson – graduated from Kings’ College London. He is providing cover teaching English.

SalveteSalveteSalveteSalveteNew Staff September 2015


9

New Staff September 2015


10

James Eales

James had never applied for a teaching job before his application to MTS, but when he came for interview, he instantly impressed through his warmth towards pupils, his affability towards future colleagues, and his passion for the subject. All of these continu ed during his two years here, and his natural confi dence and charm in the classroom have been used with shrewdness and subtlety: he has a knack of making every boy feel welcome, and no boy overawed.

He arrived at MTS from the Classics PGCE at Cambridge, which he undertook after a First in Classics at Queens’ College, Cambridge. His main academic interests had been in linguistics, and he has been ever eager to share his love of obscure branches of Indo-European with fascinated, and at times bemused, A level pupils. He also fulfi lled in very useful fashion the stereotype of the eager new teacher: as well as embarrassing his colleagues through his ability to use an interactive whiteboard with panache and purpose, he has even set up an MTS Twitter account, through which he has brushed virtual shoulders with some of the biggest names in the Classical fi rmament.

Having played football for Cambridge, and having played for his home team of Colchester United in his youth, James has impressed pupils (and those staff who have dared to play against him) with his skill, speed, and energy. He has coached the 1st XI, and recently led a trip to the England training facilities at St George’s

Park. His expert organizational ability was demonstrated fully on the recent Classics trip to Naples, which he managed with his usual combination of thorough effi ciency and modest understatement.

He has decided to take time away from teaching, and, amid some travelling, to pursue some business interests. Should he decide to return to teaching, some common room will gain an excellent colleague, and some pupils an excellent teacher.

Mr P.D. Harrison

Matt Prestshaw

Matt joined us from Ruislip High School in September 2013. It was evident from the outset that he has an incredibly diverse and in-depth knowledge of Geography. He is widely read and possesses a keen interest in both physical processes and politics, which combine together effortlessly. What became more evident over time was his desire to express this knowledge to others at every opportunity. Matt loves to talk, he loves to debate and, most signifi cantly, he loves to persuade. A generation of Merchant Taylors’ geographers has refi ned their ability to ‘PEEL’ and this has paid healthy dividends in the exam room.

He has opened their eyes to viewpoints different from their own, both in his Geography lessons and in the excellent scheme of work and teaching programme that he has devised as Head of PSHCE. Matt’s wider travels around the world, his strong sense of right and wrong, his

‘Corbyn-friendly’ view on current affairs, and his experiences in jobs as diverse as a health care assistant, have given him both the impetus and the means to really challenge our pupils to see beyond their bubble.

However, it is not just the boys that have been educated. Within the department we have been reminded on a regular basis that ‘sharing is caring’ and Matt has taken our collaborative practices to a whole new level, improving both the quality of teaching resources and reducing our workload simultaneously. We have been educated about the importance of ethical purchasing through a detailed expose of the actions of transnational companies such as Amazon and introduced to his conservative ‘fi scal responsibility’.

This has manifested itself in an insatiable appetite for any free school meal (free calories), looking forward to Duke of Edinburgh’s Award trips to save on living costs, sourcing his trainers from items in lost property and ‘holidaying’ to destinations as diverse as Iceland, California, China, South Africa and Morocco via Geography expeditions, DoE Gold and the rugby tour. Perhaps notable is Matt’s comment following the SGS event, during which he tested the theory that eating insects can save the world. ‘The fi rst free lunch I haven’t enjoyed.’

Matt is an educator in the truest sense of the word and it is his desire to both impart knowledge and encourage the ability to question, analyse and evaluate that really makes him stand out as a teacher. So, what have we taught Matt during his three years in our community? Have we changed our most northern of northerners? To answer that question, you have to consider whether it is ‘northern’ to wear red cord trousers and tweed jackets, to be a connoisseur of fi ne wines and cocktails, to play squash and cricket and quote Latin. I am sure that Matt would enjoy debating this over a large glass of Chateaux Lafi te.

We wish Matt and Abigail success and happiness in their move back to the North West.

Mrs S.A. Riddleston

ValeteValeteValeteStaff Leavers


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Huw Jones

Huw arrived from Stowe in the summer of 2012, taking up the prestigious role of Director of Music here at Taylors’. He was closely followed by his American wife Libby after some slight visa complications, and they quickly fi tted into life in the cul-de-sac of 1, 3 and 5 Askew Road. The joyful neighbourliness of life lived there will be remembered with great fondness, mainly because of the birth of their son Liam, in September 2015. Huw and Libby arrived here as newlyweds and leave as a solid family of three.

Some of Huw’s highlights as Director of Music include the department’s tour to Austria, last summer. A nine day tour involved the Chamber Choir performing in very high profi le venues, including Salzburg Cathedral and St Peter’s, Vienna. With the trip staffed by the whole department, music, culture and leisure activities were enjoyed by all. Evensongs to Chichester and St Martin-in-the-Fields were also memorable events, enabling the Chamber Choir to experience cathedral-style services.

Journeying alongside his particularly gifted pupils has been a privilege for Huw, especially nurturing the skills and talents of his Oxbridge Music candidates and enabling them to all be offered places. Growing the numbers of boys opting for GCSE and A level Music has also been an incredibly rewarding element to his work here. Huw leaves the department enjoying growth.

The extra-curricular value Music brings to the school community has also been continued under Huw’s leadership. Directing the joint schools’ performances of Handel’s Coronation Anthems in 2013, Faure’s Requiem in 2014, Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens in 2015 and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria in 2016 brought boys, girls, parents and staff together in unity and harmony. The school choir has also fl ourished, leading memorable Christmas Carol Services and the Vernon’s Service, both in the Great Hall and also in the City of London.

The extra-curricular opportunities continued with Huw establishing links with the Connaught Opera Company, enabling the boys to perform at the Tower of London and Banqueting House on Whitehall, prestigious venues indeed.It is very clear that Huw has given the boys immense opportunities for them to explore and enjoy a vast and diverse array of musical genres. The Music Award Holders have watched musicals, been awe-inspired by Simon Rattle’s brilliance at the Barbican, as well as jazz gigs, and other concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

A new initiative to develop and raise the profi le of contemporary music, enabled close links to be developed between Phab and Music. A biannual ‘Phestival’ event celebrated the boys’ spectrum of musical talents and raised many hundreds of pounds for the charity.

Huw, Libby and Liam look forward to moving to Harrow-on-the-Hill, taking up residence in the hustle and bustle of Crown Street. Huw has taken up the post of Director of Music at the John Lyon School, beginning in the summer term of 2016. He is excited to be working within the Harrow Foundation, developing their music programme in an exciting and visionary way.

We thank Huw for all his tireless endeavours, always prioritising the boys’ exposure to music, nurturing their skills and talents and developing their love of this creative and disciplined subject.

Fr D.M. Bond

Jamie Barnwell

The great Michelangelo is widely acclaimed as a painter, yet the argument could be proposed that he was in fact a more accomplished sculptor. In this respect, Jamie shares common ground. Widely acknowledged as an outstanding classroom practitioner, perhaps his greatest achievement is as a sculptor of young minds, as a teacher, a tutor, a Head of Department, and as a sports coach.

An insightful, refl ective, and ground-breaking academic teacher, his style is oft-imitated, widely admired, but rarely bettered. He is also a fi rst-rate mentor of staff, nurturing and helping teachers and coaches to make the most of their abilities. All this is facilitated by a fi rst-class knowledge of the subject and it is no surprise that he is a voracious reader. He frequently has a nose in a book and will regale all and sundry with cutting edge educational theories and the most effective way that we can help our students to achieve their dreams.

Jamie has also carved a niche as an innovative and successful Head of Department, demonstrating genuine drive and an all-encompassing vision for Academic PE. The realisation of this has catapulted the department forward and the boys who have taken it as a subject have enjoyed great success at GCSE and A Level.

As well as performing his academic duties with a unique fl ourish, he is also an empathetic tutor, well-versed in looking

Staff Leavers


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after the best interests of the boys in his charge. His tutees pay homage to his sage advice, fi rm guidance, and bonhomie. He has also impressed upon me the importance of ‘spotting the man behind the boy’ when rehabilitating the odd knight errant – a vital principle for any teacher.

However, his real raison d’être is rugby. He is a highly-accomplished and decorated rugby coach and a deep thinker on the game. Coaching with him has been a memorable honour, and each session demonstrates genuine clarity of thought and a rare ability to encourage his teams to achieve all of which they are capable. Despite the reputation of being something of a renegade, I have always found him to be the most cerebral and pragmatic of coaches–the Roundhead as well as the Laughing Cavalier. His teams rely on a synthesis between forwards and backs, where all players can perform the fundamentals of the game and make good decisions, and thus it is no surprise that many of Jamie’s teams have cut more vaunted opponents to ribbons. How could they not? They were so well coached they could employ both the bludgeon and the rapier.

He is also great fun. His ability to make new friends and inspire people is legendary. From Connecticut to Cape Town, from Croke Park to Moor Park, Jamie’s charm and boundless enthusiasm is infectious. Whether schmoozing the hosts on school tours, practising the mandolin with José from the Support Staff, or dispensing good cheer around the Common Room, Jamie is a gregarious and humorous soul who will leave a void in the SCR.

In addition, his commitment to the ‘gains-obsessed’ culture of the twenty-fi rst century led him to establish the legendary Wedge Club, a clandestine society of heavy-lifters committed to conviviality and pushing some serious tin. I am assured that David Gibbons is feverishly composing an Ubi Sunt poem in his honour as we speak.

Thus Jamie Barnwell is a scholar, an athlete, a leader, a teacher, a friend. We wish him well on his sojourn in the Far East. Merchant Taylors’ will miss that most rare of species: a Renaissance man.

Mr M.W.S. Hale

Chris Chong

Chris Chong joined Merchant Taylors’ in 2008 as a teacher of Economics and Mathematics, having previously been Head of Year at a school in Marylebone. In moving he sought a selective and more academic school in which he could challenge the most able. After four successful years he was appointed as Head of the Economics and Politics Department. Under his leadership the department has achieved excellent results, most notably at A Level where seventeen boys gained an A* grade last year. He has been a dedicated UCAS advisor during his eight years in the school. As a result the number of successful applicants applying to Oxbridge for Economics- or Politics-related subjects has often been the highest of any department.

As Head of Department his philosophy has been that a happy department will be a successful one. He has always been on hand to offer guidance and reassurance, especially to those members of the department who joined the school having not taught before. Those who have taught alongside Chris feel their teaching has improved immeasurably from having worked side by side with him. He has an instinct for when individuals need help and when they need the freedom to

work in their own way. It is this balance that has created a happy and successful department where there is real sense of camaraderie and fun, all of which is almost entirely down to Chris’ warmth, humour and caring nature. Whether it is barbecues at his own home or the department Christmas dinner, he will always ensure that everyone has a drink in hand and is having an excellent time.

However, even more important than this is that the boys respect him enormously. They appreciate his no-nonsense attitude and formidable subject knowledge but they also enjoy his sense of humour and value his compassion. His tutor groups past and present tell me that they have enjoyed their tutor periods and fi nd in Chris a mentor and advocate whose advice they trust.

He has provided boys with a number of extra-curricular opportunities such as the Target 2.0 Bank of England Competition and the National Business Strategy Competition. It is he who developed the Alfred Marshall Political Economy Society but then allowed the boys to run it independently as they saw fi t. Its guest speakers have included academics from UCL and LSE and also investment bankers and Cabinet Offi ce civil servants. During his time at the school he was Master in


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Charge of Squash until 2012 and organised all of the National Schools Championship matches. Yet it is surely this year’s ‘Wok with Chong’ cookery class which this year’s Upper Sixth will remember him for.

He leaves Merchant Taylors’ to lead the Economics Department at Brighton College. I know he is looking forward to collaborating with the London Academy of Excellence in Stratford as part of his role, not to mention being involved in Brighton College’s international endeavours. The Common Room will no doubt miss his friendliness, his laugh and his sense of style. We, as a department, will miss him greatly and wish him the very best of luck.

Mrs H.V. Butland

Chris Roseblade

Chris Roseblade arrived at Merchant Taylors’ in 1994. The MTS English faculty was in urgent need of a teacher and Chris’ CV marked him out as the obvious candidate since he had already been a successful Head of Department.

Chris quickly made his mark in the English Department, most importantly through lessons that were rigorous, lively, and inspiring. Which of the three was uppermost in the Inspector’s mind when he managed to conjure the rarity of a top-rated lesson assessment from a bowl of fruit isn’t recorded, but suffi ce to say he brought something new to the study of English at Merchant Taylors’. He refreshed the range of literature commonly taught, and his choices for class texts stretched from neglected children’s classics and modern masterpieces to the contemporary and controversial. His choices, from Kipling and P G Wodehouse, via Henry James, T S Eliot, and W B Yeats to Bret Easton Ellis and Stephen Chbosky – were expertly calibrated to whatever group he was teaching, both to stretch and to engage. While literature, as with most English teachers, was closest to his heart, he was equally at home teaching language. When the department decided to broaden the choice of A Levels to include Language specifi cations, Chris was central in pioneering the change, and developing long-term sustainable approaches.

His range as an English teacher was truly broad: though no seeker of the limelight, and while he may have preferred a designated striking role such as his talents deserved, he was always prepared to play holding midfi elder when the need arose. For example, when A level Theatre Studies hit problems with a sudden personnel change, he stepped in, picked up the threads rapidly, and helped to save a year group’s project. With an admirably freewheeling mind – who could forget those reports, chock full of joyously mystifying allusion, running effortlessly as it might be from Disney to Dickens in a single sentence – Chris was not only a stimulating teacher but also a shrewdly supportive tutor and interviewer. This year, a record four boys received offers to study English at Oxbridge and all were generous in their praise for the tuition Chris gave them during their preparation. Tellingly, he is still in touch with a number of his former pupils, and there is no doubt, whether actor, writer, or journalist, they would give credit to the intellectual fi zz that Chris brought to the classroom.


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In 1995, he became Head of the General Studies programme in a period when over half the Upper Sixth sat the A level examination. Results were outstanding, as they were when the AS Levels (that ultimately led to the demise of GS) were introduced, and the entire Lower Sixth took the examination. Chris was always more concerned with the intellectual content of the programme than with grade-grubbing, and one former pupil quite recently acknowledged (in Concordia) that Chris’s course in screen-writing – there’s that breadth again – was important in his developing a career in the world of fi lm. Very soon after Chris started at Taylors’, his (still unrepentant) Head of Department saw a way to nail a tricky Inset by using the new colleague’s stated interest in IT. Computers remained a dark art for most in the department, and Chris, still very new to Taylors’, had to work very hard to remain professional, faced with one or two who had barely reached the switching on stage, and several who made it quite obvious that they would rather have been discussing Milton, angels and pinheads. But, he persevered manfully, and though he carries the scars to this day, it was the acorn (perhaps) from which began the evolution to his being appointed Deputy Head (Information Systems) by Jon Gabitass in 2002.

This was a new post, which saw him undertake the enormous task of pulling MTS into a new era where technology would be embraced by both boys and staff. At a time when there was, shall we say, passive resistance from many in the SCR, this was no mean feat. There was one computer room, but four separate networks (on only part of the campus – biology and modern languages had had no computers and no network) three used purely for staff administration, and all rather fl aky. A half a megabyte cap on teachers’ email accounts meant that virtually no photographs could be emailed. To teach with a work-sheet from a teacher’s network drive involved the teacher copying it to a fl oppy disk in the Senior Common Room, walking upstairs, and then loading it onto a PC in the Computer Room. In this situation, it was extremely diffi cult to convince colleagues to teach using IT: their resources simply were not available where the

boys were. Before 2002, IT had been the province of extremely talented enthusiasts. Much of what Chris did involved replacing fl air with the sort of systems that could integrate IT into the normal pattern of school life. He led an IT Steering Team that came together to plan development over three year cycles, with measurable goals for the curriculum, school administration, the network infrastructure and the introduction of high quality software. Policies were developed for the acceptable

use of the school’s computers, IT in the curriculum, and so on. This work was necessary, but – for an English teacher who prized fl air highly – something of a grind. However, it paid off. It convinced the governing body to increase funding to a realistic level and the school began, under the leadership of Systems Manager, Peter Gregory, to develop a modern network.

In 2002, there were four networks with four servers, 120 of the 180 computers

A cartoon of CER drawn by Prakash Jayabalan’s Young Enterprise team in the Calendar for Phab (1996)


15

were used for administration only; there was one computer room, and one data projector. By 2012, there was an industry-standard system in place: one network, with a server-farm comprising 29 high quality servers, 572 computers, 15 suites of computers for the boys to use, a computer in every classroom (with 79 data projectors) and CCTV and digital signage throughout the school. In this period, the IT budget rose by only £30 000 – a powerful statement of the care that Chris and Peter Gregory took to ensure absolute value for money for the school, the boys, and the parents. Today, the use of IT for almost all learning, teaching, communication, and administration is pervasive – it was not always thus! Seeing the video and audio possibilities of IT early, Chris introduced the Sony Language Lab from the USA, the fi rst fully digital lab in the country (later purchased by over 100 independent schools). His vision and drive led to the sympathetic redevelopment of the Great Hall to bring a 1930s facility into the 21st century and to the school introducing what was then the fastest school internet connection in the country to prepare teachers and boys for today’s world of online learning and ubiquitous video. As the possibilities of IT grew, not least with the introduction of GCSE Computing, so did the number of technologically enabled classrooms, and the IT technical team – whom he would be the fi rst to acknowledge made all of this possible – doubled. Online registration, pupil email accounts, word-processing reports, online university applications: all these are taken for granted today, yet each one had to be introduced, argued for, carried, and implemented, often in the teeth of resistance from signifi cant fi gures in Common Room. With so much of the daily life of the school seemingly inevitably conducted via cyberspace, it was essential that there was a robust system to allow it all to function. This was the challenge that was met. Those whose memories go back far enough will perhaps recall the early, rather more unreliable, days and shudder just a little. Chris had an important third string to his bow: marketing. Through a series of IT conferences, and with the help of Director of IT, Andy Goff, the school had established a national profi le in that area. Taylors’

was the fi rst school to hold conferences on the signifi cance of Web 2.0 and as late as 2014 was still in the vanguard with the fi rst conference on MOOCs in secondary education. Chris’s job title was changed to Deputy Head (Communications) in 2006, at a time when branding was becoming ever more important ‘out there’. Chris’ foresight enabled Taylors’ to be at the vanguard of a key change in how schools promote themselves; no longer could they rely on word of mouth and sons of alumni. Under Chris’s guidance Communications became a real department within the school, with its own secretary (Sandra Sansom), and media/web specialist (Ian Rudling). Radical new websites (2006 and 2012), expertly manipulated, behind the scenes, by Chris and Ian, ensured the school enjoyed top rankings on Google and in his fi nal year Chris designed the latest incarnation of the school website, which went live this year just after his retirement. Chris also worked with then-Director of Development Christopher Massi, to create Concordia, aimed at the thousands of OMTs keen to hear from their alma mater. It also acted as a marketing tool, showing the valuable networks alumni could access on leaving. The occasion of the school’s 450th anniversary in 1561 saw Chris work with ITN to create a promotional fi lm for the bursaries campaign. In tandem with this, his creation and management of the school’s social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) served to bring many OMTs back to the fold – thousands now enjoying contact with the school on an almost daily basis: an enormous help to the Development Offi ce. In 2012, Scissorum followed: the standard (and length!) of this magazine made it a trendsetter in terms of how schools can use publications to communicate with pupils and parents and develop that “feel good” factor that always characterizes a buzzing school. In turn, it has helped prospective parents see the full panoply of activity at Sandy Lodge in vivid detail. Moreover, the deliberate use of a design agency from outside the world of education to oversee all the school’s branding was down to Chris’ vision. He ensured the highest design quality across all promotional material, creating or redesigning over thirty publications, as well as “branding” a great many ancillary areas – designing 450th anniversary “hoodies” for the boys, and

a new system for purchasing high quality sports kit online. For the fi rst time in a long time, the boys had kit of which they were genuinely proud and the multi-coloured motley that had characterised Wednesday afternoons simply disappeared, the boys preferring their smart new kit. All of this is a far cry from Wodehouse with the Fourths on a rainy Friday afternoon, of course, but it is the way of the world, and thankfully it exists side by side, and can even enhance, those humane values that lie at the heart of education. And make no mistake: for all the involvement with commercial and technical developments, that is what brought Chris into teaching, and what lies behind all that he has done. To read one of his drama reviews in the Taylorian – on South Pacifi c, say, or The Roses of Eyam – is to be made fully aware that here was someone who was fully informed about the plays and their hinterland (he had been much involved in Drama in previous schools), and who responded generously and thoughtfully to each production, ensuring that all contributions were properly credited. Above all, he wrote from an acute awareness of what both play and production offered the school community. Similarly, he relished the sporting life of the school, well some of it. A talented footballer in his youth, Chris maintained his enthusiasm for the beautiful game, coaching the Second XI, and playing for the staff in their annual fi xture against the boys. As the Taylorian reported in 1996, his “trusty left foot was much in evidence”, albeit in a losing cause. He also spent nearly a decade of summer’s afternoons in charge of the 2nd XI cricket team. And then there are the personal qualities. Colleagues, past and present, will attest Chris has ever been prepared to offer time and support when needed, quietly, without fuss. On one occasion, when it looked as if the Taylorian needed some emergency help he stepped up, devoting a substantial part of his summer holiday to ensure that it came out as usual. He cared deeply about the Common Room, and was often the voice of experience and common sense at meetings. You might have had to wait for ten minutes or so before you heard it, mind, his belated entry to the committee room having acquired something of the status of


16

an art-form. It was good that he had a rapid grasp of the issues! Chris’s willingness quietly to mentor younger colleagues and involve them in planning and decision-making meant that – when it was time for him to step aside – both of his roles went to internal candidates, current members of the Common Room, without the need for external advertising, with Adam Clarke taking up the reins of IT, and Jon Rippier becoming Director of Communications. Now, after all that technology and administration, Chris, like Candide, can turn his back on the strangling and impaling of viziers, and cultivate his garden, which will undoubtedly fl ourish, and he will have time to get back to those books that have been piling up in expectation. Where better to do all this than Cheltenham? As with so many of his generation Chris was a youthful radical; now, he fi nds himself settled in a bastion of conservative respectability, and loving it! We wish him and Julie, herself recently retired from her post as a Head Teacher, all the very best in their retirement.

Mr J. M. S. Rippier

Lesley Slator

It would be diffi cult for anyone arriving to teach at Merchant Taylors’ School in the past twenty years or so to imagine quite what a different place it was in the distant 80s. Saturday school was still in place. There were no coaches ferrying boys across north London. No curtains, carpets or computers. No modern library or lecture theatre (the building housing that wasn’t there). No glassed-in cloisters. No reception area. And, arguably the most far-reaching change, no female teachers. When Lesley joined the SCR in the mid-eighties she was indeed breaking new ground, and as one who found it pretty diffi cult myself to adapt to the friendly but somewhat formal atmosphere I fi rst encountered, I can only guess at how diffi cult it must have been for Lesley, who hadn’t even played rugby. Rather like the eldest sibling in a large family, all those female teachers who have followed, and have so enriched the Common Room, owe Lesley a huge debt of gratitude for paving the way.

In coping with a largely unchallenged male ethos it probably helped that she had spent a year’s exchange teaching in Australia. Indeed, she had already gained considerable teaching experience following a PGCE – eight years combined at Queen Anne Grammar School for Girls and York Sixth Form College, both excellent schools she recalls – before she joined Taylors’, initially as sabbatical cover, in January, 1986. Her own education had taken her from Colchester County High School to Edinburgh University to read Mathematical Physics, where she relished the camaraderie of a small but very strong department that included Peter Higgs, even then in quest of his boson. Now, here she was, Merchant Taylors’ fi rst female teacher, and in a science at that. In the subsequent thirty years she certainly made her mark.

She is fi rst and foremost a highly respected teacher of Physics. In her impeccably organised laboratory, surrounded by up-to-date displays on the walls (a combination that made it a natural choice to be the ‘show home’


17

for Open Days), young scientists were presented with innovative practical work that gave them the chance to discover physics for themselves. Unsurprisingly, given the particular specialism of her degree, her students were also offered a rigorous mathematical treatment of Physics, refreshingly beyond that required for the specifi cation. There was plenty to stretch and challenge the most able: she organised the Physics Olympiad for several years and prepared the more ambitious for their Oxbridge interviews and the Physics Aptitude Test. But really she embraced the full range in her teaching, even admitting to a special affi nity with middle school sets, something of a rarity I should say. Both as a teacher and for her immense experience – including years of external examining and even a short stint as acting Head of Department - the Physics Department will miss her greatly.

The same calm authority that distinguished Lesley’s teaching of Physics she also brought to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. In 1987, encouraged by the then Head Master, and drawing upon her previous experience elsewhere, she established the Award for the fi rst time in its own right, independent of other Friday afternoon activities, in order to prepare boys for the Expeditions section of the Award. Taylorian reports attest to its steady growth within the school, until in 1994 she took charge of the whole scheme. In the days before such things became partially out-sourced, she was responsible for organising and running expeditions at all levels. It was clearly a labour of love - though labour nonetheless, particularly given the increasing numbers involved – as, despite other commitments, she continued her active involvement at Gold level right through until 2009, revisiting the Yorkshire Moors, it seems to me, more often than Ted Hughes.

She only handed over the reins in order to take up the post – briefl y as it turned out - of Head of Walter House, in 1996 and thereby hangs an interesting tale for school historians. Not for the fi rst time, it was Lesley’s fate to be the agent of change. Much of the school’s nomenclature – Divisions, the Lunn, the Hour and the Quarter – may remain in

place from bygone ages, but we no longer have ‘Housemasters’, an apparently small, but signifi cant shift in the glacial adjustment of Merchant Taylors’ to the modern world.

And in various other, less high-profi le, ways Lesley showed herself to be the kind of committed teacher that allows schools to thrive. She contributed to games, most notably by running non-Olympic Badminton for a couple of decades, and was also to be found either backstage or on front-of-house duty for a number of school productions. She thoroughly enjoyed being part of this temporary theatrical world, and has particularly fond memories of the Roses of Eyam, helping to research the actual events in the Derbyshire ‘Plague Village’ where the play unfolds.

Underlying all of these disparate activities was her desire to see the boys develop and fl ourish, perhaps in unexpected ways. And where do boys fi nd some of their most critical and most momentous challenges? In the examination room. I can think of relatively few appointments over the years that have conferred such evident long-term benefi t to the school as Lesley’s agreeing to become Examinations Offi cer in 1997. This is a job that has been transformed utterly by an increasingly volatile educational world, which demands ever-greater accountability for its ever-expanding testing regimes.

Few will remember Taylors’ in those seemingly innocent days when, for instance, AS was a mere twinkle in an educational bureaucrat’s eye, and – even closer to home this – invigilation was solely done by the teaching staff. In many respects this was a new job, with all the need for precise recording and effi cient distribution that her predecessors had shown, but with huge additional burdens of government regulation (just think of the challenges resulting from the spread of digital technology in the past twenty years). Along with all of that, by building up a team of outside invigilators Lesley gradually freed the teaching staff from what was generally an unwelcome, and at times onerous, business. Those invigilators, and the close-knit, hard-working administration team she also

created, fully appreciate the qualities of the person in charge. In the face of an extraordinarily varied, and often very trying, range of situations, she always remained patient and level-headed, and above all, retained her sense of humour. Her own ‘mission statement’ (though she would certainly reject such jargon) was to create the conditions for boys to achieve their best performance. Literally thousands of pupils have been seen through to a happy fi nal outcome thanks to her professionalism, diligence and humanity.

Aspects of the way Lesley managed invigilation can be found in her wider contributions to school life. She instinctively recognised that her own early experience gave her helpful insight that could, perhaps, be of use to others. She reached out to the female staff, especially when new to the school, to ease their path, and more than one colleague would recall having been helped by an unobtrusive and sympathetic word. At a time when the number of female teachers was growing but had not yet reached current levels, Lesley organised annual gatherings. Initially, when numbers were still relatively small, these were pleasant picnics outside the Exam Hall, but as numbers increased they progressed to include the whole female staff, teaching and non-teaching alike. She was, of course, the fi rst female President of the Common Room, and here again she was active in seeking ways to make our environment a more civilised one: redecorating the Rec Room, introducing coffee throughout the day and extending other facilities.

I cannot imagine that Lesley will spend too much time looking backwards in her retirement, but when she eventually does refl ect on her packed career at Merchant Taylors’, and the considerable changes that have occurred, some of which she has been central to, she will do so no doubt with her typical modesty, mixed with some relief that she doesn’t have to deal with yet another day of examination clashes, or yet more frantic queries about GCSE results, but with a fully justifi able sense of a job well done.

Mr D.G. Andrews


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Julian Slator

No one who has seen any of the thirty seven school productions that Julian has either designed or directed, sometimes both, will be in the least surprised that he once considered a career in the professional theatre. His contribution to Merchant Taylors’ drama over the years has been inestimable. And yet he is in no doubt that he made the right choice – perhaps as far back as his days as a pupil at Malvern, and certainly before he left New College, Oxford - that teaching, teaching Mathematics, was his calling. Following a PGCE and two years at Windsor Boys’ School, he joined Taylors’ in September 1981, and has spent thirty fi ve highly productive and successful years teaching Mathematics here, the last decade as Head of Department.

From the fi rst his personal qualities as a teacher were quite evident: clarity of thought, a reassuring calmness of approach, a gently ironic sense of humour (often conveyed by the quizzical raising of an eyebrow – just one), and a sympathetic

approach borne out of a concern to communicate the beauties and challenges of his subject in a way accessible to all, not just those with natural aptitude. The kind of Maths teacher, in fact, I could have done with in my own education. His particular bent, perhaps a little unusually, was towards Applied Mathematics, which refl ected his own choice of Engineering for his degree, played its part in his extraordinary skill as a stage designer, and doubtless helped when he installed his own central heating system at home.

Richard Mulcaster, Merchant Taylors’ fi rst Headmaster, was clear that the Mathematical be “counted as the best master of sound method, of whom all other sciences do borrow their order”. The teaching of Mathematics, of course, remains central to any school curriculum, and managing such a large department, with its rich assortment of personalities, through the constant change that is the norm for modern education, is a challenging task. Julian has coped with these complexities with deceptive ease, which has much to do with his meticulous organisation. Always a successful subject,

Maths has thrived under his guidance, from considerably increased numbers at A level to the expansion of the Field Day prep and primary schools competitions that he ran. Above all, he has made the teaching lives of his department more productive not least by anticipating the implications of all those ‘initiatives’ that are such a feature of the current educational landscape. As one colleague put it, “he had usually worked out the best solution to any problem before we had so much as heard about it”.

There is no doubting Julian’s contribution to Mathematics at Taylors’ but we all know the academic is only one part of school life. Soon after he arrived at Taylors’ Julian was invited to be a House tutor (in ‘Mulcaster’: where else?). There were far fewer tutors in those days, so early recruitment was a particular mark of recognition. Early signs of what was to come. After six years as a tutor, he was the obvious choice to succeed to the post of Housemaster (as it was then), a post he continued to enjoy for a further seventeen years. In 1999 he became Senior Head of House, where he was instrumental in increasing the number of tutors to current levels and helping to rationalise


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the process of selection to the J.C.R. He also found himself dispensing sage advice in the Careers Department for a decade or so, being a tower of strength in support of the examinations team for another decade, and serving with distinction on a bewildering range of committees (of which my favourite was always the Space Committee – it isn’t what you think).

And then there are Friday afternoon activities. In his fi rst fi ve or so years, Julian could be found most Fridays on the ‘parade ground’, cutting rather a dash in his Navy uniform. As much as he looked the part, and brought to C.C.F. his accustomed effi ciency, I suspect that he was rather happier focusing his organisational skills supporting Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, whether on the Yorkshire Moors or in the wilds of Dartmoor, which he continued to do for the following twenty years. His was the perfect kind of support: when all went well, he would offer cheerful encouragement while keeping a watching brief; when there was a problem, he would be ready to step in to sort matters out. Suffi ce to say, this activity like all the others was very much the better for his participation.

Above all, though, looms the drama. With his experience as lighting designer for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (where he worked alongside such luminaries as Richard Curtis, and took at least one production to the Edinburgh Fringe), Julian proved invaluable to those wishing to convert the forbidding space and unforgiving acoustic of the Great Hall into a theatre. He was, for instance, in on the ground fl oor of the fi rst House Drama competition. I had airily suggested such a competition in some august meeting, but it was Julian who principally made it happen – and in the Great Hall at that. The Taylorian rightly called him an ‘unsung hero’ for facilitating the event in the most trying of circumstances, with all eight entries, in various stages of readiness, being scheduled in one mammoth evening. However, it was designing - and producing, let’s not forget - that astonishing range of excellent school productions that is his primary achievement. Here, he was continuing and enhancing a signifi cant Taylors’ tradition, one actually begun a very long time ago – by that same Richard

Mulcaster in fact. He it was who deemed drama to be an essential activity within any school, who wrote and produced plays for Elizabeth I, with the pupils as the only actors, and who built a theatre for the school. (Now there’s an idea….) According to Sir James Whitlocke, one of his students, drama taught them good behaviour and audacity. Well, perhaps.

This is not the place to consider productions in detail, but from the haunting scale of the early Coriolanus to the clever and intricate recreation of the main street of Llareggubb for Under Milk Wood, from the back streets of New York’s West Side, or the sinister demi-monde of Berlin’s Cabaret bars, to the sumptuous elegance of Edwardian London interiors for My Fair Lady, audiences were transported from the hard seats and tricky sound of the Great Hall into an exciting and rewarding theatrical experience. As wrote a reviewer of his compelling co-production of Cabaret: “The set was magnifi cent…There is not simply engineering alone to be admired, but also an acute theatrical perception in knowing what each scene requires, and how best to use the unwieldy Great Hall stage to maximum effect.” Quite.

Julian was equally adept in the smaller scale Studio theatre, converted from the old gym from 1986 on. Indeed, his advice and hands-on approach was essential to equipping it to host its fi rst productions, and he continued to oversee the technical elements thereafter. It actually became a training resource for budding stage technicians, foremost among them son Olly. Productions in both venues benefi ted hugely from his expertly crafted designs, each the product of considerable attentiveness, research and sheer hard graft. We had a glimpse into his profoundly thoughtful approach to stage design in the programme notes for a searing Studio production of Antigone in 2002, where he wrote eloquently of how the sculptures of Barbara Hepworth had markedly infl uenced his creation of the majestic set.

Drama is produced out of collaboration, of course, and the school was lucky to have had a number of other talented people involved during the past few decades; but it isn’t overstating the case to suggest that

without his dedication and skill drama would not have consistently hit the heights it has. Throughout his time at Taylors’ Julian played a vital part in elevating the standard of school productions to what was in effect a professional level, thus helping to provide generations of young actors and stage crew, not to mention other directors, with experiences that will endure a lifetime.

Colleagues will know Julian as unfl appable, considerate and cordial, qualities that stood him in good stead in his period as Common Room President. I might add, he was also extremely good company in post-Parents’ evening debriefi ngs in the Rec Room – an acid test. No real surprise there. But it may come as a surprise to some that he features signifi cantl y on the fi rst ever Trumpers score card, from 1984. A tall, elegant bat, he hit a brisk 25 not out at last wicket down, in a record partnership (his number eleven, a Chemist, was out for three) that may well still stand. Having made his mark, he retired from the game not long after.

So there it is: a Mathematics teacher fi rst, a very able administrator, a caring and effective tutor, a unique talent in the school’s theatrical life, and a highly valued colleague. To paraphrase a line in A Man for All Seasons, not a bad list, that.

Mr D.G. Andrews

Lesley and Julian Slator

Julian and Lesley offered Merchant Taylors’ very individual skills and qualities, which are quite rightly celebrated separately above. It seems to me invidious, however, to pass over the fact that they are also the fi rst couple from the Common Room to marry. The wedding took place in the Chapel of the Order of the British Empire in St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1987. My memory of the service, aside from its splendid setting, includes some beautiful singing of Handel by Nick and Glenda Curtis.

We wish them both a long and happy retirement – with lots of walking and theatre! – whichever part of the South Coast they eventually make their home, closer to where son Olly runs his business.


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Martin Drury

For 34 years, Martin has offered to his pupils and colleagues a seemingly endless supply of erudition and knowledge. He is one of the truly scholarly fi gures of recent years at Merchant Taylors’, and will be remembered by a generation of MTS Classicists for his unfailing commitment to and belief in scholarship and learning. Despite this somewhat formidable description, his presence in the Common Room has been one of relentless affability and terrifi c wit.

Martin was educated at Christ’s Hospital, where, besides his academic prowess, he distinguished himself as an actor, and was much lauded for his performance of Hamlet. From there, he went to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he took a Double First in Classics before undertaking graduate work on Ovid. In 1982, after a spell of teaching at Birmingham University, he moved to Merchant Taylors’. This was the year in which the Cambridge History of Classical Literature was published, to which he contributed a sweeping

Appendix of Authors and Works and a splendidly concise and elegant Metrical Appendix – a magisterial introduction to the notion of quantitative metre, which offers as good a precis of this complex topic as any available. His contributions to this work brought particular thanks in the preface from the editors, E J Kenney and Wendell Clausen. There surely could have been no doubt that a fi gure of true academic seriousness had joined the school, and his teaching in the coming years has continually demonstrated this.

It is diffi cult to do justice to what Martin has done in 34 years in the classroom, but one former pupil’s observation that not even Cicero’s pro Archia could ‘dull the twinkle in his eye’ perhaps should rank among his achievements, and certainly sums up his ability to approach with energy and humour any text of any genre – and unsurprisingly after 34 years there are very few authors in the Classical canon he has not taught. However, that energy has been by no means restricted to the cerebral denizens of A level Latin and Greek. His Greek textbook for beginners, Ganymedes, has served as a superb introduction for

a generation of MTS Hellenists, and is remembered with fondness by those who in this way fi rst encountered the language.

The expectations on a student of Latin and Greek in the early 1980s were very different from those today, yet his readiness to welcome these developments has been striking. In a beautiful piece written for Concordia in 2008, he contrasts his own Classical education, involving extensive and eccentric prose and verse composition, with the syllabuses designed by exam boards now, and acknowledges the greater intellectual vigour in Classics as it exists in the classroom today, thanks to the greater attention given to history, art and architecture, and so on. Indeed, his own approach to the Classical world goes beyond the narrowly academic: he is a lover of the Classical lands in their ancient and modern manifestations, and is equally at ease whether discussing Petronius or Fellini. As Gilbert Murray OMT once observed, ‘Greece, not Greek, is the real subject of our study’, and his expert guidance of numerous Classics trips around Greece, Italy, and Sicily has amply demonstrated this appreciation


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of and sensitivity to both ancient and modern. His presentation on the Olympic Games has fascinated many a pupil and colleague alike, as has his presentations on myth in Renaissance painting. He ever strikes that balance between the academic and the anecdotal, being well aware after years of teaching schoolboys of the seemingly trivial details that grab the attention and stay in the memory, and he has used this ability to splendid effect as a lecturer.

Martin was President of the SCR from 1997 to 1999, and his panache and verve when speaking at SCR events quickly won admiration and popularity. Indeed, it is said that his valedictory speeches for departing staff were positively enjoyed by all present, as they achieved that shrewd combination of humour, sincerity, warmth, and succinctness. During this time, he was also the fi rst SCR representative on the governing body, a role which he enjoyed, and which allowed him to use his tact, diplomacy, and eloquence to full effect. He also edited the Taylorian for several years and it was here that he made an enduring contribution to the wider life of the school. An early adopter of IT, Martin designed the magazine himself and it was under his guiding hand that it assumed the particularly distinctive character it still enjoys today. Martin began the division of the magazine into different sections, introduced literary supplements and highlighted the creative achievements of the boys by the extensive use of photography of their fi ne art. This strong aesthetic and cultural sense contributed decisively to the look and tone of the magazine which remains, despite the contemporary ubiquitous use of colour, very much rooted in his editorship.

He was House Master of White from 1984 to 1996, and brought to house assemblies intellectual and cultural awareness, but did so without ostentation, and with his characteristic nonchalance, underpinned by an ability to organize effectively, and by an awareness of and interest in every pupil in the House. He knew every by name, and was much respected by pupils and tutors. Less publicized, but equally public, were his contributions as a ghost writer: how many Head Monitors would have been left high and dry on St Barnabas

Day, had not Martin’s golden Latin prose composition come to the rescue?

His own interests are vast and varied, as anybody who has spoken with him in the Common Room will be aware. He has always seen a fi lm, play, or exhibition before others, and can assess any of these in fair and frank terms. His ability to recall performances and exhibitions from years g one by make him a terrifi c source of information, and a critic whose opinions only the rash would ignore. His victory in the New Statesman quiz – an undertaking which required hours of research – makes clear his commitment to and enjoyment of knowledge.

The scholarship brought to Taylors’ by Martin has been understated, and perhaps at times undervalued. Those who have known him as a colleague will miss his wit, his kindness, and his shrewd commentary on the ebb and fl ow of school life. He has the ability to recognize in initiatives and innovations the value, and often the fallacy, and conveys his thoughts with humour and candour. This incisiveness has made him a hugely useful colleague to the green HoD with whom he has worked in recent years. The mix of gravity and levity that he brings to both the classroom and the common room will be missed, but it is to be hoped that the love of learning and educating, which has so characterized his time here, will continue in his colleagues and his pupils alike.

Mr P.D. Harrison

Tim Stubbs

It is fair to say that the word legend is used too often in today’s society but few other words can describe Tim Stubbs and his contribution to Merchant Taylors’ School over his thirty-three year career here. In that time, generations of boys have been the benefi ciary of his vast subject knowledge and sharp wit in the classroom. He is without doubt one of the most accomplished teachers the school has seen. A wander through Biology Department corridors when he is teaching is to hear a consummate professional in action and is an absolute pleasure to behold, as he expertly conveys his deep knowledge of

the subject to his charges, who lap it up willingly. This wisdom and experience will simply be impossible to replace in the department and he will be sorely missed by both colleagues and pupils.

Life before MTS began for him at Hazelgrove Prep School before he earned a place at King’s School, Bruton. It is unsurprising to learn that he absolutely thrived academically at school and he followed his heart by going on to read Zoology at St Andrew’s University. He graduated and took up a PhD at Glasgow University with his 1982 Thesis titled: “Some aspects of the Neurobiology of Ophiura texturata (Echinodermata Ophiuroidea)”. To the rest of humankind whose depth of scyphozoans is a little more patchy, this was to do with the study of starfi sh nervous systems.

He started at Merchant Taylors’ as a new member of staff in September 1983 as a Biology teacher (presumably smartly dressed and clean shaven), when the school was a very different place to its present incarnation. Very quickly he was to earn promotion – he became Head of Biology in 1988; Head of Science in 1994; Senior Master in 1997; and Second Master in 2004. He has, of course, been fully involved on the extra-curricular front as well, including as leader of the RAF Section in the CCF and it is probably appropriate that the stories I have been told about him remain unpublished. In whatever role he has had at the school, however, Tim Stubbs has always set the very highest of standards for both himself and those around him.

Boys remain in awe of him in the classroom and beyond and for good reason. In a recent unscientifi c survey, a selection of carefully chosen Upper Sixth Formers and SCR members were asked to use words that best describes Dr Stubbs’ contribution to the school – the list included aura, academic, disciplinarian, Speech Day; lunch queue; starched shirts and many many more. What is clear is that such a potent cocktail of characteristics has served MTS extremely well over such a long period of time, both in the Biology classrooms but more recently as Second Master and the school’s enforcer of standards and etiquette.


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There are few smarter staff (in both senses of the word) and his legacy will remain for some considerable time. Tim Stubbs has been a wonderful servant to the school – he will be missed enormously, but the Stubbs family connection with the school will remain for some time. Thank you Tim for all you have done for Merchant Taylors’ and we wish you all the very best in your retirement.

Mr T.C.H. Greenway

How can one sum up a Merchant Taylors’ institution such as Tim Stubbs? He has given us 33 years of outstanding service, rising in that time to the position of Second Master. In that role, as in all of the positions of responsibility which he has assumed, Tim gave his all. I feel enormous gratitude for the support that Tim has offered the school: he is deeply understated, seemingly without ego, unhesitating in his offers of time and energy, determined and wise. In addition

to these qualities, Tim is incredibly effi cient in whatever role he takes on. His instinctive approach to the task in hand is to go above and beyond. One of his many current duties is to set cover for absent teachers; despite being incredibly busy Tim uses this role to take on more cover lessons than any other teacher in the school. I know that former headmasters feel exactly the same gratitude as I, and that both Steve Wright and Jon Gabbitas are equally vocal in offering praise. Tim has been a pillar of our community, always assisted and supported by his wonderful wife, Joan.

We should begin by recognising Tim as an expert classroom teacher. He remains a force to be reckoned with as a teacher, earning the praise and thanks of generations of students. Of course Tim’s talents are not confi ned within the lab. He soon rose to the position of Head of Biology and beyond that to be a very effective Head of Science. Tim’s many other talents can sometimes blind one to

the qualities that he brings to the Biology Department. As well as being a talented and enthusiastic teacher, Tim can look back upon having led our most successful ever entry to the Biology Olympiad, when the school fi nished second nationally.

In the three years that I have known Tim, he has been the ideal deputy. As Second Master he is a consummate ‘wing man’ – a wise counsel, a restraining hand for impatient HMs, an encourager, the soul of discretion – always knowing the perfect moment for the quiet chat and the word of guidance. He has worked closely with three Head Masters, but we are not the only benefi ciaries – countless staff have also found Tim a rock when they needed support and advice – he is unstinting with his time in ensuring that those who need a helping hand are well looked after and more. In recruiting new staff, Tim has time and again proved himself to be a very perceptive interviewer. Without making any show, Tim saw into the heart of each applicant and was able to offer a defi nitive


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judgement on whether they were, or were not, ‘right for Merchant Taylors’. Tim always gave the interviewee a health warning regarding the extra-curricular commitment required at MTS. He himself lived by that precept, having contributed enormously over his time at the school, whether as CCF stalwart in times past, appearing as a video presence in Return to the Forbidden Planet, or in the thousand and one different elements of his various roles. I have also enjoyed Tim’s masterly deadpan delivery of pupil names at St Barnabas Day, and at Cups and Trophies assemblies.

To the pupils he is perhaps best known as a strict but fair disciplinarian. It could never be said of Tim that any pupil ever messed him around. Perhaps, in the far distant past, one may have tried; we can be certain that the experiment was never repeated. Tim best expresses his talents as a schoolmaster of the old school as the ‘magister’ of the dinner queue. There are few creatures on earth more importunate

than a hungry schoolboy; Tim Stubbs’ gruff but kindly crowd control skills have kept the peace in the lunch queue for decades. Under his leadership, the school has rightly earned an unrivalled reputation for pastoral care.

It is fair to say that Tim is game for most things. However, one amusing story passed on to me by Steve Wright suggests that even Tim has his limits. On one memorable occasion, Tim had agreed to join Steve Wright in responding to an invitation from the JCR to go paint balling. The principle was that they would share the load of the inevitable assault from the Sixth Formers. However, having made his promise, Tim obviously had time to refl ect. He failed to show on the day, leaving Stephen Wright to be the pupils’ main focus for target practice – apparently, an experience of some ferocity. Another memorable story plays to Tim’s famous gruffness. Many years ago, during an ISI inspection he decided to send an email to the Head Master stating: “This

lead inspector is an idiot who expects me to do his job for him…” Needless to say, the email had been sent to the inspector rather than the Head Master. It had no impact on the outcome of the highly successful inspection other than, perhaps, to enlighten the inspector as to his future conduct.

We should fi nish this testimonial with the words of some of Tim’s pupils. Although he is far too modest to acknowledge it himself, Tim has earned the respect and esteem of a countless number of pupils of Merchant Taylors’ School. They speak in glowing terms of his authority, kindness and style. Perhaps the most enlightening comment is the shortest. As one might expect with a Merchant Taylors’ pupil, the matter is summed up succinctly. Refl ecting on all that Tim has done for Merchant Taylors’, the pupil simply wrote one word: ‘Best.’ I, and all the Merchant Taylors’ community, echo the same word.

Mr S.J. Everson


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SpeechesSpeechesSpeechesSpeech DayHead Master’s Address

Master, Wardens, my lords, governors, president, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to

our annual St Barnabas Day celebration of achievement. May I also specifi cally welcome the many head teachers and educational leaders from the local area, as well as Dr Benjamin Cartlidge, who is representing Professor Maggie Snowling, President of St. John’s College, Oxford. We are grateful for the attendance of the Chair of Hertfordshire County Council, Councillor Frances Button and Mr Ted Button and we also welcome Councillor Diana Barber, the Vice Chair of Three Rivers District Council.

What makes a great school? Churchill once said that his education was interrupted only by his schooling. But then he did go to Harrow. The two greatest resources that any school can have are superb pupils and superb staff to serve them. Our pupils, as you have already heard, are exceptional. Equally, we are blessed to have our wonderfully talented and committed teachers. However, sadly, this year we say goodbye to fi ve long-standing members of staff. Between them, they have given 154 years of service. So, I begin my words today by paying tribute to the outstanding contribution of these teachers. The longest serving, at 35 years, is Mr Julian Slator, our Head of Mathematics. He is joined in retirement by his wife, Ms Lesley Slator, who has herself given 30 years of service and was the fi rst woman to be employed as a teacher at MTS. Mr Martin Drury has taught generations of classicists over the last 34 years. At Christmas, we celebrated the contribution of Mr Chris Roseblade. He left us at the end of the Autumn Term after 22 years’ service. Finally, we must pay tribute to the unstinting hard work and extraordinary achievement of Dr Tim Stubbs. He has given the school 33 years, rising to Second Master. Above all, I must thank Tim as an invaluable colleague and friend.

Each of these fi ve has been an inspiration to others: pupils and staff alike; each has been a rock upon which the school has built its success; if we are stronger now than we have been in the past it is due

in no small part to their loyalty and their hard work. We should also acknowledge and thank seven other teachers who leave us this summer. They have been with us for less time, but have all made their own special contribution to the community which we celebrate today. Mr Huw Jones has left us to join the John Lyon School as Director of Music. Mr Chris Chong is heading south to Brighton College, where he will be Head of Economics and Politics. Mr Matthew Prestshaw is heading north to the King’s School, Chester, where he will be Head of Geography. Mr Jamie Barnwell heading east, all the way to Kuala Lumpur, to teach in an international school there. We also thank Mrs Berta Broncano, Mr James Eales and Mrs Hannah Barnes, all of whom are leaving the school to fi nd new opportunities and adventures elsewhere.

Speaking of education, W H Auden said that great teaching is not the fi lling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fi re. These members of staff, and all of our staff, would understand what Auden meant, and we spend our days at Merchant Taylors’ – metaphorically, of course – lighting fi res.

As a school we continue to provide opportunity and adventure, whether the challenge is intellectual or physical, whether the theatre of opportunity is the classroom or the mountainside. The huge variety of school trips is a testament to this. Over the course of this year we will have run an astonishing 53 residential trips, which will have taken place over 321 days.

That is without considering the even greater number of trips that took place within the school day. Over the year we will have visited 15 different countries and taken part in a range of extraordinary activities, from fl ying in Cyprus to trekking in Madagascar. The overwhelming feedback from our trips is how proud the staff are of the behaviour of the boys. Our marvellous pupils demonstrate more than just excellent behaviour: they show a willingness to engage with others in a spirit of gratitude rather than of entitlement. However, I am reminded that this positive approach did not stop some boys on the

cricket tour to Grenada convincing the slightly gullible, and increasingly fearful, Mr Webley that Jurassic Park was fi lmed on the island.

Dramatic events in our trips around the world are matched by the drama of our school productions. Sometimes the two are combined, as they were when the short fi lm ‘Yussef Is Complicated’ won the People’s Choice Award for best short fi lm at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was fi lmed at Taylors’, starred Rohan Popat, with several other current pupils and was directed by OMT Vaughn Stein. Back at school, Neville Birdi won House Drama for Walter in October. This was our fi rst event in the New Barn Theatre on the Prep School site. There was also a brilliant production of Guys and Dolls in the Great Hall, directed by Mrs Jo Cox. It was a production alive with colour and glamour: great singing and fi ne performances were delivered by our very own set of stylish and confi dent gangsters in bright pastel suits. A production of Medea at St. Helen’s also impressed, and the Duologues, as ever, captivated. They were judged by Robin Hooper from Ricky Gervais’ ‘The Offi ce’ - so it was no surprise that he handed the prizes to a series of amusing comedy duos. In March, the junior play was ‘The Witches’. It was an excellent and terrifying performance. The witches’ make-up took over 3 hours. Jo Rich, playing the Grand-High Witch with panache and wearing the ugliest mask, decided to add further authenticity to the horror and weirdness of it all by developing a nose bleed during his performance. Finally, in May there was a student led production of 12 Angry Men. It was a truly excellent production, enriched by very controlled acting by an ensemble cast and impressive directing by George Solomou and Tom Bannon.

Our music is no less exciting; our new Director of Music, Mr Simon Couldridge has seamlessly taken over the reins and we have also heard several pieces of his own composition over the course of the year. The fi rst was a fanfare composed for the opening of the Design Centre on the occasion of the royal visit by the Duke of Gloucester. The second was a setting of a

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Head Master’s Address poem, composed as part of the continuing commemoration and remembrance of WW1.

It has been an extra-ordinarily busy year of music. Our usual events – the Autumn Concert, the annual concert at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall and the Joint Concert – were joined by a host of other performances, the most notable of which was a concert in Liverpool. Eleven Merchant Taylors’ Company schools combined to perform a mass by Puccini. Two days of rehearsal culminated in the performance at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, with Chris Savage leading the orchestra brilliantly. Five MTS chamber music ensembles entered the South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition. The Wind Quintet progressed to the Runner Up Concert at St Mary’s Church, Harrow-on-the-Hill, and both String Quartets made it to the Finalists’ Concert at St John’s, Smith Square. This completed a hat-trick of these fi nals for Chris Savage.

Chris went on to win the Senior Music Competition in a fi eld of very talented musicians. Another notable individual success belongs to Ben Peart, who has won a Choral Scholarship to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In Art, George Weston had his painting selected for the Royal Academy Sixth Form Summer Exhibition, one of just 46 successful works of art out of thousands of entrants.

When I talk to parents about our school, they speak fi rst and foremost about opportunities such as these. Their clear message is that they regard the strength of the school as being the breadth of opportunity and adventure that it offers. When I mention that we are also highly academic and extraordinarily successful in terms of exam outcomes, they tell me that they regard such success as “a given.” Despite this, I must pause at this point in my speech to celebrate our great academic success this year. This success is manifest in our superlative GCSE and A-level results, and that almost 90% of our leavers are bound for Russell group universities, including 21 that have successfully applied to Oxford and Cambridge.

In addition to these successes there are some individual achievements that deserve recognition. We have entered and found success in a number of essay competitions run by Oxbridge colleges. Eight pupils have been honoured as winners or runners up in six different academic competitions, contested across the country in English, Classics, Land Economy and Politics. Three other pupils won prizes offered by European universities.

Further, Michael Wyeth won the Worshipful Company of Educators Public Speaking Competition. We have also enjoyed great success in the various Olympiad competitions for the sciences. MTS has three Biology Olympiad gold medallists; we also have four Chemistry golds. Savya Patel won golds in the Chemistry and Physics Olympiads. James Murrell won golds in Biology, Chemistry and won a Roentgenium Award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, identifying him as one of the top 60 junior chemists in the country.

Our younger pupils were not to be outdone. The MTS team of four in the Junior Maths Challenge fi nished fi rst out of 31 local schools, thereby winning a place in the national fi nals later this month.

Having completed the Design Centre, and converted the legacy DT workshops into a wonderful new History Centre, our thoughts are turning towards the next big project for the school. An ambitious development is being planned which will provide adventure and opportunities to our pupils in a variety of ways. This includes a new Geography Centre, and a redevelopment of the school’s interior sports facilities. The plans are ambitious, and so they should be, to match the achievement of our Sports Department and the talented young men it serves. 2016 was the year in which we put our mark upon national sporting competitions. Three pupils have represented England: in cricket Andrew Thomas was selected for England U17s; in rugby Will Porter was selected for England U17s; in hockey Karan Sofat was selected for England U16s. Our cricketers are fi nding great success in national and regional competitions. The U15s made it to fi nals day of the national cricket cup after beating Dulwich College in a thrilling regional fi nal. The 1st XI are

North London T20 champions and the U17 side has reached the last 16 of the national competition and faces Millfi eld in the next few weeks. The hockey fi rst team made it to the fi nal of the U18 National Plate competition but unfortunately lost on penalty fl icks. We have also had a number of individual sporting achievements. Hugo Anthony was named U23 freestyle kayaking world champion aged just 17. Alfi e Collins was fast enough to make it to the qualifying stages for Rio’s 2016 Olympic Games in the 100m Individual Medley for swimming aged just 15. Bryce Puszet won Bronze in the national championships in the backstroke leg of the 4x100 medley relay and is the Welsh national champion for backstroke. It is right that we celebrate these elite sportsmen and their wonderful achievements. We should also pause to thank all the other pupils who pull on a shirt to represent their school week in and week out. Sport is for everyone at Merchant Taylors’, so well done to all of our sportsmen – and well done to the staff who are tireless in their commitment to fi xtures and training.

We are one of only two schools (the other is Cheltenham College) to host fi rst class cricket. This is a testament to the quality of our grounds, and the strength of our relationship with Middlesex County Cricket Club. Over the half term we once again hosted Middlesex for a very successful four day game and an exciting (if cold) T20 game.

Another area, perhaps less well known, where we are making a signifi cant impact is in sustainability. Earlier in the year, the sustainability committee approached the school leadership team with some ideas. These have borne fruit with a whole school waste management programme that has already had a huge impact. We used to send almost all of our waste straight to landfi ll, now almost all of it is recycled. A new system in the kitchens ensures that instead of 100% of our food waste going to landfi ll, 30% goes to recycling and the remaining 70% is composted for use on our grounds. A remarkable turnaround in a student led revolution. The commitment and hard work of the student committee has been recognised with the award of the prestigious Green Flag. Nearly 18,000 schools have registered for this environmental award, but only about 1000

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have won it; we are the only local senior school to have done so.

However, the Sustainability Committee has not enjoyed complete success. Recently, whilst cleaning out the chickens, two boys were hauling a massive bag of chicken poop to the skip. I’m sorry to say that, despite his best efforts, one of those boys tripped and actually managed to fall into the sack he was carrying.

Another area in which our boys have been making the difference is in our charity work. Overall, we raised £16,000 this year. MTS has also responded to the refugee crisis, providing much needed clothing, food and money for support workers saving refugees. Then there is that extraordinary yearly enterprise we know as Phab.

This year we once again hosted 20 disabled teenagers. They were looked after for one full week, day and night, by 40 sixth formers from MTS and St Helens. The pupils’ commitment went far beyond the hard work of the week of care. They had spent the year raising over £20,000 to fund Phab Week. Nathan Stephenson and Chris Jervis added £4000 to this sum by running the London Marathon. The pupils were supported by 18 members of staff from both schools. The impact on our guest children and their families is immense; it is similarly powerful for our own students, who cite it as a transformative experience.

The CCF is also hugely active. This year, we have 340 Cadets and 15 staff. Cadets attended leadership courses, fi eld days and an overseas camp with the RAF in Cyprus, whilst Anna Thompson from St Helens will be representing the UK in a 6-week adventure training exchange in Canada. Inspection Day showed the commitment of our Cadets, where they put on a parade that was worthy of a regular military unit. On the day, the Army Section drill team surprised us all with a silent drill that was anything but, including as it did a short

burst of the Queen song “We Will Rock You”.

We continue to honour OMTs, many of whom went on from our CCF to join up to fi ght in the trenches of World War One. The year started with the ongoing commemoration of the Gallipoli campaign – alongside the restoration of the fl ag of HMS Rattlesnake we have restored the bell of the SS Clyde to the Great Hall Lobby to commemorate the VC of George Drewry in the campaign. The school recently welcomed former England rugby captain Lewis Moody, who recorded footage in the Lobby for a fi lm he is making for the RFU about rugby clubs and the effect of the Great War. He learned about the school careers of two of MTS’ fi nest sportsmen, Charles Bourn and John Raphael.

And so our thoughts now turn to July 1st – a century ago, the fi rst day of the Battle of the Somme. On July 1, 1916, in one day, twelve boys of the school lost their lives – the most tragic day in the history of the school. To mark the occasion the school will be creating a memorial garden to all those members of the Merchant Taylors’ community who have been taken before their time. At 7.30 am on July 1st – the moment the attack began – we will lay wreaths to remember the fallen. Everyone is welcome to this occasion and we will be joined by the relatives of OMT’s who fell in the Great War. We hope that our simple act of remembrance will embody the values of community that underpin Merchant Taylors’, values which those we commemorate would recognise themselves.

And so from our commemoration of the past, I would like to conclude my speech with a celebration of the future. This year we joined forces with what was Northwood Prep and has since become Merchant Taylors’ Prep.

In doing so, we unite two outstandingly successful schools to offer, for the fi rst time,

a 3 to 18 education for boys in Northwood. We have heard the impressive words of the Head Boy of the Prep – I am delighted that we will welcome him into the senior school in September.

The Prep has embraced the opportunities we offer, and we have discovered that we have much to learn from them. This union of strength has not gone unnoticed in our local community. Applications to join the Prep have doubled this year, with waiting lists longer than ever in the school’s history. In order to develop our prep school provision further, we have refurbished sections of the Manor of the Rose. MTP reception classes will move there in September to create a new Early Years unit with additional teaching space both inside and out. Prep school and senior school are united by a common vision of education and a shared desire to excite and challenge our pupils. We look forward to see what the future will bring our shared enterprise. However, our close links with our sister school, St John’s, and our partnership with St Martin’s remain immensely important to us, as do our links with other key prep schools.

And so I conclude my summary of another successful year in the history of Merchant Taylors’. As we commemorate our history we are busy forging it anew. We honour our dead by building a brighter future. Our sense of our shared past and our shared values illuminates the path ahead. We are an immensely successful academic community, and I have every confi dence that we will remain so, strengthened as we are by the two core elements that I praised at the start of this speech – our outstanding pupils, and our outstanding teachers. When we add into the mix the support of dedicated parents, the energy of the Merchant Taylors’ Company and a committed and active Governing Body, we are well-placed for even greater success ahead.

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CLASSICAL PRIZES

The Company’s Senior Prize for Latin James Wall

The Company’s Junior Prize for Latin Mark Nichols

The Company’s Senior Prize for Greek Matthew Barton

The Company’s Junior Prize for Greek Max Leadbetter

The Sidney Hubert Clark Memorial Prize for Latin Samir Choudhury-Asghar

The Sidney Hubert Clark Memorial Prize for Greek Tom Mynard

The Rimmington Prize for Classics Cameron Iggulden

The Curtis Prize for Classics Ishmael Levy

The Junior Prize for Latin George Wright

The Junior Prize for Greek Seyan Dattani

The Oxlade Prize for Classical Essay John Lee

MATHEMATICS PRIZES

The David Ducat Senior Memorial Prize Athishan Vettivetpillai

The David Ducat Junior Memorial Prize Mikhail Datoo

The Roberts Memorial Prize Savya Patel

The Hodgetts Mathematics Prize Savya Patel

The Senior Mathematics Prize Sameer Aggarwal

The Intermediate Mathematics Prize Udaivir Menon

The Junior Mathematics Prize Yuki Yoshie

Lower School Mathematics Prize Rohan Patel

Lower School Mathematics Prize Aathavan Viyaijen

MODERN LANGUAGES PRIZES

The Company’s Prize for French Sebastian Paes

The Company’s Prize for German Matthew Barton

The Company’s Prize for Spanish Ramish Qadeer

The Pigeon & Pugh Prize for Modern Languages (French) Daniel Surkes

The Pigeon & Pugh Prize for Modern Languages (German) Xavier Castelino

The Mason & Davis Prize for Modern Languages (Spanish) Charlie Barnett

The Gavin Brown Prize for Spoken French Otto Weisselberg

The Denis Ogan Prize for Spoken German Ronan Haskurti

The Campbell Prize for Spoken Spanish Daniel Surkes

GEOGRAPHY PRIZES

The Company’s Senior Prize for Geography Benjamin Peart

The Company’s Junior Prize for Geography Yaseen Zaman Bhuiyan

SpeechesSpeechesSpeechesSpeech DayAWARDS/PRIZES 2015/2016

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ECONOMICS/POLITICS PRIZES

The Senior Economics Prize Kieran Patel

The Intermediate Economics Prize Raj Vora

The National Westminster Bank Prize for Political Studies Thomas Overend

The Intermediate Politics Prize Aakash Mohindra

PSYCHOLOGY PRIZES

The Senior Psychology Prize Alex Michaels

The Intermediate Psychology Prize James Apps

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The Hessey Divinity Senior Prize Udaya Sharma

The Hessey Divinity Intermediate Prize James Holt

The Hessey Divinity Junior Prize Joshku Gunusen

ART PRIZES

The Company’s Senior Prize for Art & Design Nikhil Spellward

The Company’s Junior Prize for Art & Design George Wright

The Nishen Soochak Prize for Creative Endeavour Luke Thorpe

HISTORY PRIZES

The Company’s Prize for Historical Essay George Solomou

The Tyler History Prize Luke Parry-Billings

The Rickards History Prize Jake Keisner

SCIENCE PRIZES

The Company’s Senior Prize for Chemistry James Murrell

The Company’s Junior Prize for Chemistry Jawwad Zamin Ali

The Company’s Senior Prize for Physics Adnan Oomerjee

The Company’s Junior Prize for Physics Mark Eid

The Hilles Science Prize Sameer Aggarwal

The Company’s Senior Prize for Biology Matthew McCormack

The Company’s Junior Prize for Biology Rohan Patel

The Le Marquand Prize for Field Course Ecology Christopher Jervis

The Fleet Prize for Biology Paavan Shah

The Rimmington Prize for Medicine (2014 Leaver) Ankit Chadha

The Amersi Prize for Physical Science Savya Patel

The Harris Thorning Science Prize Khalil Sham

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MUSIC PRIZES

The Company’s Senior Prize for Music Benjamin Peart

The Company’s Intermediate Prize for Music Yasar Cohen-Shah

The Company’s Junior Prize for Music Joshua Winyard

The Philippa Hunter Prize for Music Nicolas Alvanis

The Gordon Keates Prize for Music Rafi Kelion

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY PRIZES

The Dudley Cox Senior Prize for Design and Technology Andrew Brooker

The Dudley Cox Junior Prize for Design and Technology Harry Clark

The Shanta Kumarage Memorial Prize for Excellence in Design Rohan Popat

ENGLISH PRIZES

The Frederick Fry Senior Prize for English Nicholas Skovron

The Frederick Fry Intermediate Prize for English Jamie James

The Frederick Fry Junior Prize for English Ben Hunt

The James Graves Senior Prize for English George Solomou

The James Graves Intermediate Prize for English Selvan Senthilkumaran

The James Graves Junior Prize for English Harrison Robb

The Company’s Prize for Verse Dowan Bellerose

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES PRIZES

The John Steane Prize for Drama Charlie Carter

The Tyler Drama Prize Udaya Sharma

The Upper School Prize for Drama Henry Gee

The Middle School Prize for Drama Neville Birdi

PE PRIZE

The Senior Prize for Physical Education Oliver Fox

The Intermediate Prize for Physical Education Chris Loftus

OTHER

The Michael Milsom Memorial Prize for James LehmannPromotion of the International Dimension of the School

The Tomlinson Prize for the Extended Project Qualifi cation Matthew Franks

OMT PRIZES

Junior Prize for Geography Tommy Taylor

Innovation in Design & Technology George Weston

Junior Prize for Science Patrick Brown

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Business Enterprise Suraj Satija

Business Enterprise Govind Grewal

Business Enterprise Daniel Roback

Innovation in Computer Studies Senior Mikhail Datoo

Innovation in Computer Studies Junior Keval Kapdee

The John Timpson Prize for Journalism Tom Bannon

The Writing Prize (3rds/U3rds) Rohan Patel

The Tony Wright Prize for Spoken Mandarin Matthew Barton

LOWER SCHOOL FORM ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PRIZES

3JKS Company Prize for Achievement Zayd Ahmed

3MF Company Prize for Achievement Atharv Meshram

3RGH Company Prize for Achievement Aathavan Viyaijen

U3JDI Company Prize for Achievement Rohan Patel

U3ML Company Prize for Achievement Connor Berrecloth

U3MWP Company Prize for Achievement George Wright

4DWH Company Prize for Achievement Ben Hunt

4FEP Company Prize for Achievement Patrick Brown

4FJCN Company Prize for Achievement David Burnell

4JDM Company Prize for Achievement Joshua Winyard

4JELC Company Prize for Achievement Jack Wu

4JMC Company Prize for Achievement Amaar Sardharwalla

4MWSH Company Prize for Achievement Edward Cross

3JKS Company Prize for Improvement Alexander Jones

3MF Company Prize for Improvement Alexander Tillotson

3RGH Company Prize for Improvement Javier Fraga

U3JDI Company Prize for Improvement Thomas Haynes

U3ML Company Prize for Improvement Zain Lodhi

U3MWP Company Prize for Improvement Shivam Soneji

4DWH Company Prize for Improvement Manraj Gharial

4FEP Company Prize for Improvement Edward Woolley

4FJCN Company Prize for Improvement Panagiotis Nikolaou

4JDM Company Prize for Improvement Samuel Lee

4JELC Company Prize for Improvement Oliver Lavelle

4JMC Company Prize for Improvement Ishaan Kotecha

4MWSH Company Prize for Improvement Cameron Fraser

LOWER SCHOOL FORM ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PRIZES

3JKS Company Prize for Achievement Zayd Ahmed

3MF Company Prize for Achievement Atharv Meshram

3RGH Company Prize for Achievement Aathavan Viyaijen

U3JDI Company Prize for Achievement Rohan Patel

U3ML Company Prize for Achievement Connor Berrecloth

U3MWP Company Prize for Achievement

George Wright

4DWH Company Prize for Achievement Ben Hunt

4FEP Company Prize for Achievement Patrick Brown

4FJCN Company Prize for Achievement David Burnell

4JDM Company Prize for Achievement Joshua Winyard

4JELC Company Prize for Achievement Jack Wu

4JMC Company Prize for Achievement Amaar Sardharwalla

4MWSH Company Prize for Achievement

Edward Cross

3JKS Company Prize for Improvement

Alexander Jones

3MF Company Prize for Improvement

Alexander Tillotson

3RGH Company Prize for Improvement

Javier Fraga

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MIDDLE SCHOOL FORM ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PRIZES

Div CWG Company Prize for Achievement Azn Faruqi

Div DCG Company Prize for Achievement Kishan Amin

Div MFD Company Prize for Achievement Ashutosh Khatri

Div MJP Company Prize for Achievement Kailen Patel

Div TPR Company Prize for Achievement Thomas Bailey

Div VMK Company Prize for Achievement Dong Ha Lee

Div WJB Company Prize for Achievement Alfi e Collins

Div CWG Company Prize for Improvement William Berrecloth

Div DCG Company Prize for Improvement James Haywood

Div MFD Company Prize for Improvement Anil Parmar

Div MJP Company Prize for Improvement Harry Clark

Div TPR Company Prize for Improvement Oliver Mansfi eld

Div VMK Company Prize for Improvement Jenson Harris

Div WJB Company Prize for Improvement Xavier Stavrou-Long

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HousesHousesHousesAndrewes Clive

This year has seen Andrewes continue trying hard to put last year’s last place fi nish behind

us and, with more commitment and enthusiasm from the boys, we have certainly succeeded. At the very beginning of the year, the House Drama team, under the excellent direction of Ben Bard, did Andrewes proud with superb performances from Max Kendix, Isaac Betteridge, Marcus Chaplin, Dylan Shah, Nikhil Kapadia and Zayn Baig. Their dedication and effort were inspirational to younger members of the House. Other notable events in the autumn term included a fourth place fi nish in the ‘wacky races’, a top four fi nish in House Maths, second place in Junior H ouse

Hockey, and Guganeshan Muralitharan’s excellent cross-country performance.

Moving on to the Spring Term we came in the top four in a nail-biting House Chess competition. Under the expert organisation of Aditya Mavinkurve the team lost narrowly in the semi-fi nal, and I’d like to thank Aditya for also helping organise the competition. Andrewes also performed well in House Swimming, taking fourth place overall to the surprise of the team itself! We also managed to win the Senior House Hockey competition under the expert leadership of Pacho Nieto O’Brien; whilst the team started nervously - as they were a player short for the tournament - they grew in confi dence

as they won match after match after match.

However, it’s not all about winning. The important thing is that the enthusiasm and participation in events is growing, and Andrewes continues to grow as a community. It has been fantastic to see the boys take a more active role in the House, with each tutor group taking an assembly which have been used for charity fundraising, designing a new mascot for the House, creating an Andrewes Cup of Tutor Groups trophy (the intra-House football competition), and promoting House spirit. We have made excellent progress this year and I hope that the boys enjoy their deserved summer break

Dr M.I. Beacham

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Andrewes Clive

The very end of last year saw Clive House convincingly retain the Athletics trophy but unfortunately

just miss out on the overall House competition by the narrowest of margins and fi nishing second.

Keen to win back the title they won two years ago, all the boys in the House have worked hard and competed well in all the house events meaning that, once again, Clive House is in a prominent position for overall success to be a possibility.

The result in the cross-country event was a big improvement on the previous last year with Clive fi nishing second overall. Sam Bickerstaff won the junior event with Max Arlen third. There was also excellent commitment and dedication to House Drama this year. Vikram Paunrana wrote and directed a piece performed by Lower School pupils that just missed out on a place in the fi nal.

After last year’s heroics in the House Maths competition, we were unable to defend our title, narrowly defeated by the eventual winners in the fi rst round. However, there was signifi cantly more success in the House Chess tournament where the team of Amar Ali, Janith Abeywickrema, James Eid, Paul and Christian Bland, (the latter three winning all their games) won the

competition for Clive for the fi rst time for many years. Clive was victorious in the pool for the House Swimming event for the fourth year in a row, as once again the boys showed dedication and willingness to get involved and compete. Other notable sporting successes were in intermediate and junior hockey with Clive achieving fi rst and second respectively in these two events.

A challenge was laid down to the House at the start of the year to get involved with a new interest and improve the performance in House events that typically Clive has not done well in. This call was heeded, and for the fi rst time in recent years Clive reached the semi-fi nals of the Fives tournament. The pairs of Nathaniel Warren and Angus Hamilton, and Sachin Shah and Jamie Graham were victorious in their opening match but were unable to sustain this form further into the competition. There was also an improved level of participation in the House Bake-off event and Hikesh Sharma, Karan Shah and James Eid were nominated to represent Clive in the grand-fi nal in which James’ fantastic cake was highly commended in the ‘best tasting’ category.

Senior House prefects Ariyan Nanji and Michael Bonney organised the inaugural intra-house football tournament which was fi ercely competitive competition enjoyed by all of the boys and will continue next year.

£120 was raised for charity through House breakfast events during the year and in the annual football fi xture against are arch-rivals White House, Clive were unable to show the dominance displayed in the previous two years and the overall score between the two houses now stands at two games apiece.

The end of this year sees the departure of Mr Simon Couldridge as a Clive tutor as he moves on to take up the position Director of Music. Mr Couldridge has been a tutor for several years and has been a fantastic mentor. He has been incredibly supportive to the House throughout his time, particularly helping to arrange and organise the House Music events.

It will also be my last year as Head of Clive House and it has been a joy and a privilege to lead the House for the past four years and share in the boys’ successes as they have developed the identity of the House into a caring and supportive community where everyone has a role to play. The effort and dedication of all members of Clive have made it a real strength that will no doubt benefi t all the boys in years to come. Hopefully, this year, it will culminate in victory in the overall House competition. Mr A.S. Miller

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Hilles House has enjoyed very busy and successful year so far. The House Prefects, led by Joshua

Murphy, Adam Grant, and Matthew Franks, helped to create a positive adn friendly environment, running many assemblies and events, as well as fi nding our surrealist House motto; ‘Hilles, when mountains are too big’. Adam Grant also took the lead for creating our House logo, and the production of a truly impressive House banner. Highlights in assembly included a cross year debate on the migration crisis, a hilarious quiz about the House tutors, and a football fi nal with the whole House cheering on. The event I enjoyed the most was the debate on the migration crisis, in which

three pupils from across the year groups gave detailed arguments on both side of the debate. This was coupled with some insightful questions from the audience about what the best ways to resolve the crisis might be. There seemed to be a healthy tension between the instinct to be empathetic with people in trouble, and pragmatic about the reality of the situation. We revisited this topic over the remainder of the term, including raising money for the Refugee Crisis Appeal through a series of House Breakfasts. In terms of House competitions, it has been a mixed year of success, with the House only coming fi rst in one event. However, we had solid results across the board, including an excellent Senior

swim and debate performances. This has allowed Hilles to remain in the top three houses, and we are hopeful to build on this progress in future years. The House will be saying goodbye to Mr Barnwell at the end of the year, who has served his tutor group with enthusiasm and style, as he leaves for new opportunities. We also say goodbye to a large number of U6th who have really helped to set the tone in the House as a place of gentle humour and good spirit, combining maturity with a sense of fun. We look forward to what the new prefects will bring to the House for next year.

Mr J.D. Innes

Hilles Manor

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This year’s House Prefects were:

House Senior Prefect: Ben Wood

Deputy House Prefect: Udi Sharma

House Prefects: Jordon Dotting, Rahul Karia, Tom McGivney, Deven Patel, Rishi Patel, Dhian Sara, Parin Vaghjiani, Pujan Vaghjiani.

Another year of good performances and House spirit is as high as ever. Last year’s victory in

House Music was followed by a stunning performance in House Drama this year. Tom Bannon wrote and directed a fantastic comic piece that was superbly performed. First place seemed as though it was ours, but sadly the boys had to settle for second place. Dylan Bull’s masterful hair fl ick

combined with great comic timing had the audience in stitches.

A new event this year was ‘House Make Off’ run by the DT Department during DT week. A great team performance over the week enabled Manor House to claim fi rst place in this inaugural event.

During the year the boys continued to raise money for charity. This year we split our efforts between Phab and Unseen. Mr Foot’s tutor group ran a ‘House Breakfast’ and raffl e to raise money for PHAB. A charity that came to my attention this year was Unseen (Unseenuk.org) which I discovered whilst looking into the background of John Newton and his amazing story from slave ship captain to evangelical Anglican minister. We were able to contribute to this worthy cause which fi ghts modern day slavery.

Although there were some good results in the House this year it takes something special to win the House trophy and I am looking for next year’s prefects to push hard for this win. It will require them leading from the front, working hard and rallying the younger boys. I am confi dent Amit and Kypros are the young men to do this!

Mr S.L. Rowlands

Hilles Manor

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Mulcaster has enjoyed another year at Taylors’, achieving some notable success in the

process. We have been ably led by a group of excellent house prefects. The departing Scott Lewis, Andrew Keener, Sam Peters and Deji Arole have inspired the 2015- 16 Mulcastrians. They have created an environment of camaraderie and a sense of fun-fi lled purpose. Scott has really driven the school council sessions. Andrew and Sam have really worked hard to give the boys every opportunity at house events. Deji has managed our intra-house events;

the boys really enjoyed his Mulcaster football and dodgeball tournaments. We started off the House events season in fi ne fettle. We won the House Spelling Bee: one for one. Cameron Yule then ran brilliantly to win the School Cross Country in his fi nal year. A second in the House Make Off was matched in House Fives and House Debating. There was also a monumental bronze in house drama. The performance of sketches from Brecht’s ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’, directed superbly by Charlie Woolley, was original

and thoughtful. Even though the boys only scraped through to the fi nals, they listened carefully to the judge’s feedback and enjoyed the process of fi ne tuning. Their revised performance was magnifi cent.

Mr J.D. Manley

Mulcaster Spenser

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This has been another exciting and successful year for Spenser. We have excelled in Inter-House

sport, Inter-House competitions and our charity endeavours. The Spenser prefects have, as ever, set an excellent example to the rest of the House. Ably led by Thomas Lawrence, they have given generously of their time and talent and left a lot for the coming year’s prefects a lot to live up to (a challenge I’m sure they are eager and ready to meet). In Inter-House sports and competitions high participation levels remain our greatest strength and led to strong performances in House Swimming, House Cross Country, House Hockey, House

Chess, House Spelling, and House Drama. House Cross Country and House Drama were, perhaps the defi ning moments for the year. In House Cross Country Spenser won for the second consecutive year through the efforts of our elite runners, but also the commitment of those less used to the sport (it was a great team effort). Whilst for House Drama George Solomou wrote and directed (with the assistance of James Seery) the startlingly impressive ‘So Far, So Good’ staring Joshua Winyard, Zain Lodhi, Esher Baines and Pat Brown. Congratulations to all those who took part and to our team House Prefects who made it all happen.

Under the direction of our charities prefect, Sam West, we have also continued to raise money for our House Charity (Plan), via which we sponsor the education of a student named Pape who is ten years old and lives in Senegal. Fundraising has, in the Spenser tradition, been taken very seriously by the boys and the House breakfasts were both popular and successful allowing us to extend the scope of our charitable giving for future years.

Mr J.H. Tyler

Mulcaster Spenser

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Walter House continues to go from strength to strength. The House stretched sinews it never

knew existed and has become one of the leading Houses this year. If further proof were needed of Walter’s dramatic ascent, we actually topped the House leader board through September to November for the fi rst time in living memory.

The fruits of success were a result of greater consistency, including a series of strong fi nishes in House events. The dynamic duo of Hayden Davis and Alexander Sherborne maintained Walter’s fi ne record in House Debating, before bowing out in the semi-fi nals. The more mechanically-minded members of Walter also exited the stage

during the semi-fi nals of the House Make-Off, and the younger members of the House came second in the inaugural House Wacky Races. In fact second place was to become a running theme in House competitions as the Chess players were beaten fi nalists whilst the swimmers in Walter performed miracles in the pool before being narrowly squeezed into Second Place by Clive.

However pride of place this year goes to the victorious band of players who won the House Drama on a magical night at Merchant Taylors Prep. Neville Birdi and Daniel Surkes worked wonders to mould the artistic talents of Ishy Levy, Rowan Clarke, Dowan Bellerose, Thomas Hattam, Harvey Lidstone, and Matthew Hine,

who produced a compelling, disturbing performance from George Orwell’s masterpiece, 1984.

In addition, the House has sustained its reputation for conviviality and community. We have raised money for the House Charity, Crohn’s & Colitis UK, debated essential issues such as the EU Referendum, and enjoyed a wide variety of Tutor Group-led House Assemblies, with the odd tasty House Breakfast thrown in for good measure.

I would like to thank all members of Walter this year, staff and boys. Your dynamism, enthusiasm, and zeal continues to make Walter a fi rst-rate House.

Mr M.W.S Hale

Walter White

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The year has once again seen a wealth of activity for White House. Under the stewardship of Head of House

Henry Gee, boys have participated in an array of inter-tutor group and inter-house competitions and though not always resulting in victory, every pup il had performed with distinction and pride.

This year witnessed the introduction of two new inter-tutor group competitions, the Jamal Cup and Zaman Gavel. Lead Sports Prefect Johan Jamal organised a superb inter-tutor group football competition, with a four round knock-out competition eventually leading to a tense fi nal between the charges of Mrs Butland and Mr Eales, with the former coming out eventual winners in the dying moments of the game. This was not the only clash between these tutor groups, with the Zaman Gavel, the inter-tutor debating competition, again being fought over by the tutees of Mrs Butland and Mr Eales. The skilful oration of Rohan Popat was very well received by the House, who voting on their feet, left the Lecture Theatre through the right hand door to confi rm the second piece of silverware for Mrs Butland’s tutees

White House has also competed in thirteen different events against their seven rivals in

a bid to retain the House Shield. Though the House Drama rendition of Star Wars was applauded by the pupil body, the review from Mr Garnett sadly relegated us to last position. Greater success was found in the House Spelling Bee and Design Week competitions whereby mid-fi eld placings were assured, despite triumph in the Wacky Races aided by the speedy driving of Sean Duggan. More impressive still was our performance in House Maths, as Head Monitor Athishan Vettivetpillai headed up the team of Luke Parry, Cameron Fraser and Aathavan Viyaijen to defend our crown, smashing aside every opposition in their path. Similarly, a series of outstanding performances from Henry Gee, Rohan Popat and Haroon Zaman ensured we cemented our position as the leading house in debating, skilfully arguing for the motion that hosting the London Olympics was a regret.

Surveying our performance in the sporting arena it was brilliant to see well over ninety boys represent the House during Cross Country, thirty boys during House Hockey and twenty-fi ve boys in House Swimming, with all competitions seeing us secure mid-table mediocrity. Silverware was however regained in the annual White-Clive football clash, with the new MUGA caged arena

seeing a convincing White House victory as the White House team, comprised of the ten boys who had formally represented the house on the most occasions across the year, clinched an edgy two nil victory.

Special mention must go to those who have successfully gained their House Achievement ties this year: Ethan Reeves, Jodhvir Khera, Munraaj Mangat, Tunveer Mangat, Kishan Amin, Louis Duggan and Zac Bub. Further acclaim must go to Nick Skovron, Rohan Popat, Jeshuran Jebanesan and Imran Chandoo who, alongside Upper Sixth pupils Henry Gee, Haroon Zaman, Athishan Vettivetpillai and Johan Jamal were recognised for their massive contribution to the house over the year, going above and beyond the expectations to ensure the house was successfully represented, receiving cuffl inks in recognition of their commendable performances.

White House has again performed with pride and distinction in many events and, though only a few boys are mentioned by name above, all one hundred and nine members of the house have been a tribute to the legacy of Sir Thomas White.

Mr M. Flower

Walter White

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On September 1st 2015 Merchant Taylors’ School and Northwood Prep came together to create

Merchant Taylors’ Prep. The two schools each retain their distinctive identities, but now offer a ‘through school’ experience to pupils for the fi rst time.

Merchant Taylors’ Prep joins St John’s School, Northwood in the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust. The MTS admissions process will continue unchanged in all essentials: there is a level playing fi eld, and MTS will continue to welcome applications from all boys, whatever their school.

Head Master Simon Everson said, ‘This alliance is a natural evolution of the relationship we have long had with

NewsNewsNewsNewsMerchant Taylors’ Prep

Northwood Prep. We have, for many years, enjoyed a shared ethos, shared history, shared community, and shared ambition. Together, we combine an outstanding academic record with a commitment to helping our pupils achieve their full potential’.

Speaking on behalf of Northwood Prep, Head of S chool Dr Karen McNerney said, ‘We are delighted about this alliance. We believe it will offer our boys and their parents signifi cant academic, extracurricular and pastoral benefi ts. In providing a through school experience, we will be able to offer a much more personalised learning experience to pupils and improve our ability to meet the needs of the brightest and best pupils in both schools’.

Speaking on behalf of the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust, the Master of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, Peregrine Massey said: ‘We welcome Northwood Prep into the MTET. Northwood Prep will join existing member St John’s School, enabling MTET to offer a truly fi rst-class education to pupils from across the Northwood area’.

Mr C.E. Roseblade

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Merchant Taylors’ Prep

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NewsNewsNewsNewsHRH The Duke of Gloucesteropens the Design Centre

Merchant Taylors’ welcomed HRH The Duke of Gloucester offi cially to open the new

Design Centre. It was a wonderful occasion, continuing the great tradition of royal visits, which saw Edward, Prince of Wales opening the Science Block when Taylors’ was in Charterhouse Square in 1926 and George, Duke of York, later King George VI, laying the foundation stone of the present School at Sandy Lodge on St Barnabas Day, Thursday June 11, 1931. The future King was, on that joyous occasion, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who happily returned to the school to open the Music Block in 1975.

After lunch in the OMT War Memorial Clubhouse, the Head Master Simon Everson escorted the Duke through the Inner Quad, where six Houses of the school had assembled. The CCF Band, conducted superbly by Upper Sixth Former Rafi Kelion, played a fanfare as the boys awaited the Duke’s arrival. The Duke was then inspected a CCF Guard of Honour outside the Design Centre, before being shown around the new facility. He saw the boys hard at work in a joyous atmosphere

as they engaged in a range of activities and was presented with a gift by Fourth Former Harry Clark. As he formally opened the building, the Duke spoke eloquently of its importance as a symbol of the coming together of education and technology in our world today. Independent schools must both transmit the educational values that they have cherished since the fi rst Elizabethan Age and prepare the boys for the technologies of the future that have transformed the world during the Second Elizabethan Age.

The Duke, accompanied by his Private Secretary Lieutenant Col Alistair Todd and PPO Marc Hutley, was introduced to distinguished members of the Court of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, under the current Master, Peregrine Massey; Chair of Governors Christopher Hare; former Head, Stephen Wright under whose leadership the project was envisioned and planned, the President of the Old Merchant Taylors’ Society, Baron Stirrup; the Chair of Governors at St John’s Prep School and senior member of the Court of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, Johny Armstrong; Governor Deepak Haria, and

Governor and Chair of the Old Merchant Taylors’ Society, Richard Brooman.

We also welcomed local luminaries: the Deputy Lieutenant, Josephine Connell, the Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, Cllr Frances Button, the Chairman’s Consort Ted Button, OMT, the Chairman of Three Rivers District Council Cllr Eric Bishop, the Chairman’s Consort Vivien Bishop, Director of Community and Environmental Services at Three Rivers DC Geoff Muggeridge, Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Simon Megicks and Robert Voss CBE DL from the Lord Lieutenant’s Offi ce.

MTS was also delighted to welcome trustees from the Geoffrey Cox Foundation whose magnifi cent donation played so signal a part in the realisation of the fi nal facility: Trustees Michael Boyle, Ian Ferres, John Wosner, William Underwood, and Denzil Underwood all attended; our most sincere thanks go to them all.

We are most grateful to the Duke of Gloucester for giving so generously of his time. It was a most enjoyable afternoon

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HRH The Duke of Gloucesteropens the Design Centre

for all concerned; the boys were superb ambassadors, welcoming their royal guest with courtesy and good humour and at the heart of it all was the indefatigable Mr Evans-Evans, whose organisational brilliance was the crucial factor in making the event such a happy one. OMTs still recall with great pleasure the visit of the Queen Mother in 1975. This was another such day. Not a single boy in the school will forget it and this shared memory will unite the boys, as Merchant Taylors, for the rest of their lives.

Mr C.E. Roseblade

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NewsNewsNewsNewsDesign Week

BA

C D E

F G H

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Opposite page:

A Wacky Races – pupils took to the track in one of the department’s electric cars

B Music – each Quarter, visitors were treated to musical performances in the vestibule

C Bike build-off – local company Recycle-a-bike hosted a cycle building competition for 5th Form boys

D Bloodhound SSC – pupils tested their driving skills on the Bloodhound SSC simulator

E Institute of Materials – rare and interesting materials brought in by the Institue of Materials, Minerals and Mining

F Laserlines 3D printing – experts in comercial 3D printing shared new technology with the boys

G House Make Off – Heads of House visited new workshops to see creative outcomes produced

H Microbit – collaborative learning between Computing and DT with the BBC Microbit

This page:

I Motorcycle restoration – OMT Roger Stephenson shared his experience in motorcycle restoration

J Renault Twizy – Renault shared a true electric innovation with students, inspiring cleaner motoring

K PMC – Sixth Formers used rare precious metal clay to make jewellery

L Recycle-a-bike – students got to work closely in a number of areas of cycle repair and maintenance

M Abbie Hutty – former Young Woman Engineer of the Year, Abbie Hutty, shared her experiences in engineering

N Vex – Vex Robotics teacher John Taylor from Highgate School shared his experences

I J K

L M N

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NewsNewsNewsNewsThe Design Centre: Year 1

Following Design Week, the D & T Department got to grips with new CNC equipment sponsored by the

Cox Educational trust. Pupils learned new CAD skills using Inventor software and can draught components before manufacturing them using laser cutters, 3D printers, the CNC router or lathe and even a CNC plasma cutter. The department also lay claim to having the largest CNC milling machine in UK education, kindly loaned to the department by Mr Andy Grant, father of OMTs Matt and Dom.

The Young Engineers team spent the year getting to know their new surroundings and used the ongoing projects workshop when building the school’s Greenpower Challenge car. The team overseen by Mr Gifford and led by DT scholars Dan Jones and William Bettridge have made great progress and are aiming to test the car on the athletics track before the end of term.

This year, alongside Electronics and Junior DT clubs, we saw the introduction of Drone Club. The activity, run by DT scholar Elliot Crocker and Toby King-Cline, gave Upper Third and Fourth Form students opportunities to build their own drones.

The department has enjoyed being in the new facility and it was thrilling to celebrate

pupil achievements on Open Morning when twenty-three DT ambassadors represented us. The efforts of the pupils were complemented by a display of GCSE coursework from resistant materials and electronic products candidates, a range of Maglite torch holders produced by the Divisions, Drone fl ights, and Young Engineers in action, working on building the Greenpower car.

It has been a busy year, as we have hosted engineers from DEMAND and Recycle-a-bike, the Bloodhound land speed record team, poetry readings, Biology lessons, UCAS and YE groups plus myriad similar ventures.

Mr G.M. Stephenson

Harry Clark (Divisions) is a DT scholar. He writes of his experiences in the new Design

Centre:

“I have enjoyed being at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution at MTS. In the Design Centre, we have fi ve brand new Makerbot 3D printers linked to Autodesk Inventor software to help us design and engineer entirely new solutions to design and technology challenges. I have particularly enjoyed the rapid prototyping aspect of these new technologies. I have delved into this new world and competed in all 3D design and print competitions to test my knowledge and understanding of

3D Design and Printform and function. The great thing is being able to design lots of prototypes which can be manufactured quickly and easily before you settle on your fi nal product, just like engineers in the real world. This year, I have designed a phone holder, spinning tops (challenging students from the Thirds to the Upper Sixth) and a Maglite torch holder for my GCSE resistant materials course. The new CNC equipment, sponsored by the Cox Educational Trust has enabled me to get a taste of what Product Design is like at university. CAD design, using inventor software is now being taught as part of the DT curriculum across the year groups and aspects of 3D printing are

embedded into every project. I have therefore thoroughly enjoyed my fi rst year in the new DT facility and look forward to seeing what the future brings. In the short term this means the Caterham kit car build which I am really looking forward to.”

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NewsNewsNewsNewsSir Thomas White Statue

The Sir Thomas White Statue was safely installed under the canopy of the new Design Centre at 9

am on Thursday 27th August 2015. Hall Conservation restored and repaired him and he looks magnifi cent in his new home. We remain enormously grateful to the Merchant Taylors’ Company, the OMT Society and the Sir Thomas White Lodge for sharing the cost of restoration.

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NewsNewsNewsNewsGeneral Sir Richard Barrons OMTgives Remembrance Day address

On Wednesday 11th November, the school remembered those who gave their lives during World

War One, including 315 Old Merchant Taylors’. It was a most moving occasion, on which we welcomed OMT and Head of Joint Forces Command General Sir Richard Barrons to give the address. General Barrons spoke powerfully on how war must be avoided at all costs - but that war can also choose those who least expect it. A select number of boys also spoke in some of the different languages of those involved in The Great War, and Mr Hale detailed the sobering reality of what life was like for soldiers on the front line while paying tribute to OMT Arthur Phillips who died 100 years previously (to the day) on the Somme. At the end of the ceremony, as is tradition, the whole school processed in silence past the Roll of Honour in the War Memorial Cloister, paying respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifi ce.

General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE ADC Gen (OMT) delivers the Address

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NewsNewsNewsNewsCharles Moore

Dan Cruickshank

On November 17th, a large audience was treated to a very interesting and highly entertaining talk

from Charles Moore, Margaret Thatcher’s authorised biographer. Whether or not we believed in her policies was irrelevant. Moore managed to create a picture of a woman who will go down in history as one of the international political fi gures of the 20th century. He focused mostly on her international career and in particular, revealed one week in December 1984 and how that week typifi ed her energy and commitment to her job. A few highly entertaining anecdotes about telephone conversations with Ronald Reagan had the audience giggling, as we could only imagine him grovelling at her feet. A group of our sixth-form Politics students were in the audience and given exclusive rights to ask questions towards the end of the evening.

Hayden Davis (L6)

A packed Exam Hall was treated to an hour and a half of historian Dan Cruickshank on Thursday

5th November. He took the audience on a whistle-stop tour of some of the major architectural sites around the world ranging from classical ruins to modern New York. The evening turned out to be particularly poignant as he explained how many of the sites that feature in his new book are simply no longer available to us: either because where they are is too dangerous, or because they have been systematically destroyed in recent months.

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NewsNewsNewsNewsVarsity 2015

Cambridge

Dan Allum-Gruselle to read Human, Social, & Political Sciences at Trinity College

Beeshman Mahen to read Medicine at Girton College

Ankit Chadha to read Medicine at Corpus Christi College

Thomas Compton to read Natural Sciences (P) at Clare College

Anish Kejriwal to read Natural Sciences (B) at Sidney Sussex College

Daniel Mackinnon to read Engineering at Queens’ College

Dillon Nathwani to read French & German at Selwyn College

Jay Shah to read Geography at Gonville & Caius College

Sajan Shah to read Economics at Christ’s College

Jonah Surkes to read Human, Social, and Political Sciences at Clare College

Elliot Tebboth to read Natural Sciences (B) at Selwyn College

Pranav Virani to read Chemical Engineering at Gonville & Caius College

Oxford

Cameron Conn to read Computer Science & Mathematics at Worcester College

Alistair Parker to read Engineering at Keble College

Edmund Richards to read Engineering at St Edmund Hall

Tim Riley to read Engineering at Somerville College

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Cambridge

Kieran Patel to read Economics at Christ’s College

Paaras Kantaria to read Economics at Jesus College

Savya Patel to read Natural Sciences at Sidney Sussex College

Ben Peart to read Geography at Trinity Hall College

John Lee to read Classics at Magdalene College

Hugo Parry to read Engineering at St Catharine’s College

Oliver Smart to read Engineering at Downing College

Danny Capper to read Economics at Downing College

Adam Grant to read English at Gonville & Caius College

Ewan Patel to read English Literature at Emmanuel College

Khalil Sham to read Natural Sciences at Gonville & Caius College

Oxford

Grant Cox-Sehmi to read Computer Science & Maths at Somerville College

Tom Lawrence to read Economics and Management at St Edmund Hall

James Wall to read English at University College

Matthew Franks to read English at Hertford College

Danny Cowan (OMT 2015) to read History at Magdalen College

Haroon Zaman to read Law at Lady Margaret Hall

Athishan Vettivetpillai to read Mathematics at Jesus College

Rafi Kelion to read Music at Exeter College

Charlie Ford to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Exeter College

Gabriel Sayers to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Trinity College

Varsity 2016

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NewsNewsNewsNewsEwan Patel takes Gould at Trinity

Many congratulations to Ewan Patel who has won the Gould Prize for English Literature,

awarded by Trinity College, Cambridge. This is a tremendous achievement. Trinity College remains the intellectual powerhouse of the university and continues – for the fi fth year in succession - to top the Tompkins academic ‘League Table’ of Cambridge colleges. Ewan hopes to go up to Cambridge next year to read English (his OMT brother Callum, Class of 2013, also read English at Caius) and we wish him the very best of luck with his application for Emmanuel College.

Inspired by some words of the German author Peter Handke about actors in

his work, Offending the Audience (‘our bloodcurdling screams don’t pretend to be another’s bloodcurdling screams. We don’t step out of our roles. We have no roles. We are ourselves’) Ewan compared Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis with Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. 4.48 Psychosis concerns a person with clinical depression, a disorder from which Sarah Kane herself suffered. She killed herself in 1999, after the play had been written, but before its premiere at the Royal Court. The speaker of the play resembles the author Sarah Kane to such a degree that, as Ken Urban states, ‘it is hard to read the play outside of biography’, and yet, David Grieg’s caution against the ‘pointlessly forensic act’ of trying to interpret the

text – and Kane’s life – as products of one another is hard to ignore. Both Kane and the speaker suffer from depression, which manifests by waking them at precisely 4.48 am in spells of crippling anxiety, and so differentiating between the two is often problematic. This dilemma presents itself perhaps most clearly in the sophistication of the writing style of the play.

(The essay is printed in full in the Literary Supplement.)

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Ewan Patel takes Gould at Trinity

Charlie Ford (U6) writes: “Since August last year I have been going through the process of applying

to Deloitte’s Scholars Scheme so I was delighted to receive an offer from Deloitte for their 2016/2017 scheme. The s cheme involves working with Deloitte in their London Offi ce with their Graduate team, being given the same responsibilities and jobs as the graduates for 30 weeks. Afterwards you are given time and a bursary to go travelling, I would like to visit South East Asia.

I believe the scheme will give me a much greater awareness of the business world and what it’s like to work in an offi ce environment. It will also enable me to bring real world experience to studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Oxford, which allowed me to defer my place. The selection process involved submitting a document to Deloitte listing my motivations for working there, followed by online critical thinking and numerical reasoning tests. I then had three interviews spread over this term and last which were a group exercise, a competency interview and a partner interview.

I would really encourage anyone interested in the professional services to apply for this as it’s a great scheme while giving you time to have a good time travelling as well. Please feel free to contact me if you would like some advice on applying.”

NewsNewsNewsNewsCharlie Ford wins Deloitte scholarship

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Lower-Sixth Music Scholar Christopher Savage performed at last year’s BBC Proms with

the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. The NYO, which is Britain’s leading platform for the brightest and best teenage musicians, played Mahler’s epic Ninth Symphony in a performance reviewers described as ‘electrifying’ and ‘exceptional’. The promenade concert took place in London’s Royal Albert Hall and was the biggest of a series of performances

NewsNewsNewsNewsChristopher Savage in National Youth Orchestra

under the direction of conductor Sir Mark Elder. From London the NYO fl ew to Berlin where they gave their fi rst overseas concert for 20 years.

The concerts, and the two-week course that precede them, are always formative experiences for the young musicians who practise for up to twelve hours a day on some of the most challenging orchestral repertoires. Christopher, who was a string leader in the orchestra, described the

experience as ‘emotional’ saying: ‘I love the sheer volume and power that we create as one massive team. There is nothing better than the whole orchestra playing and the stage beneath you vibrating’.

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James Murrell’s achievement in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6) is outstanding (top 60 in the

country). The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6) is a written paper designed to stretch the best Lower Sixth Form Chemists in the country. Of around 8,500 entries, only 60 were awarded the top – Roentgenium – award, one of whom was MTS student James Murrell. In honour of this, James spent a long weekend at an all-expenses-paid Chemistry camp at Cambridge University, along with the other Roentgenium award winners.

James Murrell (U6th) writes, “Nearing the end of the summer holidays, I attended a Chemistry camp at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Each morning we attended classes in the Chemistry department. These were enthusiastically led by academics such as Dr Peter Wothers (who presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2012) and the topics ranged from exploring different functional groups

Many congratulations to those brave A-level chemists who put themselves forward for this

year’s Olympiad, a competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry comprising a tough written paper, but especially to James Murrell, Savya Patel, John Lee and Khalil Sham (pictured) on their gold awards. This represents a fi ne performance, with gold awards being achieved by only 7.9% of around 6000 candidates. Special mention also to Emrys Thursfi eld and Bryce Puszet on their silver awards; an impressive showing for Lower Sixth students.

NewsNewsNewsNewsCambridge Chemistry Challenge

Chemistry Olympiad

to atomic orbitals and the Schrodinger equation. The afternoons were spent in the labs, where we carried out practicals from a previous International Chemistry Olympiad and were taught new techniques.

This camp provided an excellent opportunity to meet not only other L6th students interested in Chemistry, but also current Chemistry students who are studying at Cambridge; they were always happy to answer questions or attempt to explain advanced Chemistry to us. In addition to the Chemistry, a highlight of the camp was being able to experience formal hall and, afterwards, getting shown around Corpus Christi college so that we could appreciate its impressive history and buildings. Overall, this was a fantastic experience, which confi rmed my choice to study Chemistry at university”.

from left to right John Lee, James Murrell, Khalil Sham and Savya Patel

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NewsNewsNewsNewsPhysics Olympiad

Several Upper-Sixth physicists took part in the British Physics Olympiad, and many congratulations go to the

ten pupils who achieved medals. The paper was designed to stretch the top young

Several Sixth Formers were successful in this year’s Biology Olympiad. Special congratulations to James

Murrell, John Louca, and Matthew McCormack, who achieved a Gold

Biology Olympiad

physicists in the country in a national competition and every question is indeed a real challenge. Particular congratulations go to Danny Capper, Joshua Murphy, Khalil Sham, Oliver Smart and James Withers

Award - James and Matthew having only completed half of the course. Only six percent of those taking the paper achieved a Gold Award. Over 7,200 pupils took part in the 2016 British Biology Olympiad.

who achieved a silver medal (making the top 300) and to Savya Patel who went one better and achieved a top gold medal as one of the best 50 students.

Those who achieved gold, silver or bronze were invited to attend the 2016 awards ceremony at the Royal Institution.

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NewsNewsNewsNewsEU referendum debates at MTS

In the run up to the EU referendum on June 23rd, Merchant Taylors’ hosted a number of speakers representing both

sides of the debate over the UK’s future in the European Union. The week of events was prefaced by a visit from Dr Nick Allen

of Royal Holloway, University of London, who delivered a lecture about the role of referendums in our democratic system. Dr Allen was highly critical of David Cameron’s decision to call the referendum, quoting Clement Attlee who dismissed

referendums as “a device so alien to all our traditions…” and a challenge to our system of parliamentary democracy. First to speak in support of the UK’s membership of the EU was Bill Newton-Dunn, an MEP for more than thirty years and an advocate of

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EU referendum debates at MTS a federal Europe. He spoke persuasively about the role that the EU has played in ensuring peace and prosperity in a continent that had previously experienced centuries of war and turmoil. George Galloway, the former MP and leader of the Respect Party was the fi rst speaker to outline a case for the UK to leave the EU, focusing on themes of economy, workers’ rights and immigration. Second to speak in favour of the UK leaving the EU was Peter Lilley MP. As a lifelong opponent of the EU, he spoke with great authority on the issue of sovereignty and the economy, making a strong case for the UK’s power being enhanced by departure from the EU. Lastly, David Gauke MP made a typically coherent case for the UK remaining in the UK, citing economic uncertainty as the most important reason to vote in. Throughout the campaign the students have asked pertinent and forthright questions of our speakers and the tone and quality of the debate has, thankfully, not refl ected the rancour of the campaigning in the country at large.

Mr E.P. James

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NewsNewsNewsNewsHugo Anthony is World Championin Men’s Junior Freestyle Kayaking

Sixth Former Hugo Anthony became the World Champion in the Mens’ Junior Freestyle Kayaking Event

in Ottawa in August 2015. This huge sporting fi xture held on the Ottawa River in Canada had 212 competitors from 29 countries. Hugo, who as British Junior Men’s Champion, led the Team GB junior squad, won through the heats and the semis and into the fi nal 5. He then put down a massive 781 points to win gold for Great Britain. This win means that he automatically qualifi es for the 2017 World Championships in Rio.

Dale Mears Photography

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NewsNewsNewsNewsNews

Alfi e Collins (Divisions) has had an extraordinary year in the pool. He writes: “Swimming this year

has been challenging, exciting and very rewarding; from swimming at the county championships for Middlesex (where I picked up 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals) to being invited in February to represent Middlesex in Lyon in France it has been an amazing journey.

In March I fl ew out to Tenerife for an intense training camp to prepare for the British Championships. On my return I was honoured to have been selected by London Swimming to be part of a team that would compete in Amiens at the FFN Golden International Meet. I loved competing with such a talented group of swimmers and was proud to win two silver medals in my age group.

After returning from France I swam at the London Regions meet in Stratford the following weekend and secured the gold in the 400 IM in my age group.

The highlight of the year was the Olympic trials in Glasgow in April – my biggest achievement to date. To reach the qualifying time to compete at such a prestigious event alongside professional athletes event for me was extraordinary. As a 15 year old, I suddenly felt very small in my surroundings and was also somewhat star struck by being surrounded by world record holders like Adam Peaty; it was a real honour.

All the early mornings and lack of social life were so clearly worth it as I had earnt the right to compete at this level. Despite my nerves, I managed a strong swim, achieving a time that qualifi ed me for the British Nationals in July.

Attending this event has given me the inspiration to train towards the Tokyo Olympic Games. After returning from Glasgow, I was also able to meet Mark Foster as Mr Foot arranged for me to go to MTP where he was visiting. It was an inspirational way to end an a wonderful year.

Alfi e Collins competes at Olympic trials

Alfi e Collins with former British swimmer Mark Foster at MTP

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NewsNewsNewsNewsT20 at MTS

On Thursday June 2nd Merchant Taylors’ hosted a T20 Blast match between Middlesex and

Gloucestershire. It was a fantastic occasion with 2000 fans braving the cold weather – Middlesex were beaten off the last ball with the away side winning by 4 wickets. In the run-up to the match, Middlesex played Hampshire in a four day county match on the same square, winning by an innings to break a series of six draws. This is the second time MTS has hosted such fi xtures, after fi rst doing so in 2014 - one of only two schools in the country that host fi rst-class matches. On the Friday morning, England captain Alistair Cook and no3 batsman Nick Compton also came to Sandy Lodge to practise with coach Mark Ramprakash – a memorable end to a great week of cricket.

Mr. T. Webley

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NewsNewsNewsNews1st XI are North London Champions

Match Report:North London Final v St Albans

Batting fi rst in blistering hot conditions, the MTS batsmen were on fi re! Nikhil Rawal and Andrew

Thomas dispatched the St Albans attack to all parts of their oval, it was one of the most destructive batting displays I have seen

with the total on 110-1 after just 10 overs. A shell-shocked St Albans watched Andrew Thomas score 78, and Nikhil Rawal 60 in a fi ne partnership of over 120 runs. MTS slightly faltered in the rest of their run chance, but still set an imposing total of 165-7 from their 20 overs. The St Albans chase started wel l and the game was in the balance until the fi nal 4 overs. A fi ne

bowling spell by Kishan Singh resulted in three quick wickets, and after two fi ne run outs, MTS won the game by 20 runs. The team are North London champions and are through to the last 16 of the National Competition.

Mr. T. Webley

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News

One of the highest accolades in sport is to represent your country, and this

is exactly what Lower Sixth Former Will Porter did during his Easter break. Will was selected at scrum-half (a position he has only been playing for a year and a half) in the England Under-17 rugby squad for matches against Italy and France.

NewsNewsNewsNewsWill Porter: Merchant Taylors’ and England

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NewsNewsNewsNewsRugby Week

This week’s Rugby Week (Taylors’ third) was the biggest yet. The week started with British Lions, England

and Saracens fl y-half Owen Farrell and Scotland second row Jim Hamilton coaching the senior squad players, while England/Wasps’ scrum-half Joe Simpson put the under 14s through their paces. Monday evening saw teams from Merchant Taylors’ Prep, York House, St John’s and Mill Hill take on Taylors’ teams, while on Tuesday, the focus shifted to the Under 15s, with matches versus Hampton (NatWest Round 5 Match) and Mill Hill.

World Cup winner and England fl y-half Emily Scarratt coached the rugby scholars on Wednesday; the session will shortly feature on the Pro-Rugby Coaches’ website. Orleans Park, Magdalen College School, and Skinners’ School visited us on Wednesday, and there was some fi ne rugby played. The fi nal fi xture was the “Friday Night Lights” evening match, together with with visiting prep schools, against Haberdashers’ Aske’s with the 1st XV emerging victorious 10-0.

England Women’s World Cup Star Emily Scarratt coaches the boys

Wasps’ Joe Simpson

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Rugby Week

Wasps’ Joe Simpson

Saracens’ Owen Farrell

Saracens’ Jim Hamilton

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NewsNewsNewsNewsHockey 1st XI reach U18 Platefi nal in English Schools Cup

The 1st XI hockey team enjoyed an extraordinary end of season as they reached the fi nal of the National

U18 Plate. They beat The Leys, RGS High Wycombe and King’s Chester before losing on penalty strokes to Prior Park in the fi nal at the Lee Valley stadium. The boys were unlucky to lose but impressed everyone with their high quality play.

Mr R.I.M. Alexander

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NewsNewsNewsNewsKaran Sofat plays for England U16 hockey team

Karan Sofat made his international debut in May against Ireland and Scotland. Despite being a year

young, he was picked for the England U16 team and is preparing for his fi rst international tournament this summer. Karan was also an integral part of the Merchant Taylors’ side that came second in the U18 National Plate .

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NewsNewsNewsNewsOskar Khoo

John Fielding (5ths) in action in this year’s House Cross Country, which he won by some distance. John continues

to run for Middlesex for whom he ran in this year’s Inter-Counties Championships in Birmingham at U17 level.

Oscar Khoo (right) and his opponent in the fi nal of the Middlesex Junior Squash B17 County Champion 2015

John Fielding

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During the fi rst week of Easter, ten Lower Sixth and ten Upper Sixth pupils from Merchant Taylors’

and St. Helen’s provided a residential week for twenty disabled teenagers to enjoy exciting and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities whilst giving their parents and carers a week of respite from 24/7 care. Once school had broken up, the Phab team set to work transforming the school, fi lling the Sixth Form Common Room with sofas and a cinema screen, and replacing the dining room tables with a bouncy castle and a ball pit.

On Monday the guests arrived: each visitor was matched with an Upper Sixth and Lower Sixth pupil who had been briefed about their specifi c condition and trained to accommodate their needs. Nervous anticipation on all sides soon subsided as we quickly got to know each other and we began to relax in each other’s company discovering shared interests such as

table tennis or listening to similar music. Puzzles and the ball pond proved particular favourites with guests and hosts alike! A highlight of the day was the visiting petting zoo where we held a variety of animals – mostly we liked the fl uffy chinchilla but bravely coped with the python that slithered over us as we lay on the fl oor.

We were more adventurous on Tuesday, when we went bowling in Garston, as well as making good use of MTS’ facilities: swimming, boating on the lake and experiencing a special walk-through planetarium dome in the dining room.

Wednesday saw us out and about again – this time taking to the skies as we visited Aerobility in Camberley where most guests actually fl ew a plane, taking turns at handling the controls! Those who didn’t, shared the experience from the safety of terra fi rma on the simulator. Breathtaking! We topped off the evening back at school

round a cheery campfi re with songs and music a-plenty!

Thursday saw the highly-anticipated return of Electric Umbrella, a band of hugely talented musicians who fi lled the school with light, music and laughter. The chance to try out a variety of instruments, such as light beams which, when interrupted, emitted a note according to how far along we broke the beam (great for guests in wheelchairs) and more traditional brass and drums, started to raise suspicions of possible solo careers for some of our guests! This culminated in a musical extravaganza enjoyed by all!

The groups ventured Intu Watford (pardon the pun) for a bit of retail therapy on Friday with the obligatory Nandos followed by wall climbing and science experiments held at St Helen’s. Our evening talent show gave our guests the opportunity to showcase their dancing and singing skills.

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After nearly a week, we were pleased to welcome friends, past Phab hosts and families to MTS for a BBQ after a busy morning when Herts Fire & Rescue brought their Fire Engine to school (happily not to attend an emergency, rather to give our guests the chance to hose down anyone in a ten-meter radius with a jet of ice-cold water). Lots of photos and a Phab fancy dress disco rounded off our time together.

Sunday farewells were a tearful affair – our visitors had certainly captured our hearts and made us far more aware of how much we have to be thankful for, and how much we can learn and share with young people whose everyday lives are fi lled with challenges. Our guests had taught us so much, but more important than that were the incredible friendships we’d formed over the week, friendships that we all hope will last a lifetime. We know we are privileged to have been part of Phab Week, but it was by no means our endeavour alone. To everyone who helped out on the Week, visitors, support staff, OMTs, our guests’ parents, all the students who support us throughout the year, and of course to Dan and Andrea, we’d like to say a massive ‘thank you’; we could never have held this week-long celebration of unconditional friendship without all your help.

Joe Salkeld (L6)


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Paaras Kantaria (U6): “The inaugural MTS-Northwood College cultural show ‘Fusion’ took place at

Northwood College on Thursday October 8 and raised over £3000 for the two sponsored MTS charities in India (Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) & the Raphael Centre) and Cancer Research UK.

The evening music, dance and magic was a fantastic opportunity for the MTS boys and Northwood College girls to showcase their talents to a packed audience of both friends and parents.

There was so much in the show to enjoy: Rajan Dehiri’s breakdancing masterclass; Max Kendix’s rousing vocals; Kushal Patel’s suspenseful drumming; Charlie Carter’s breath-taking rapping; and Tej Thakkar’s incredible magic tricks, were but a few of the highlights. To round it all off, Udaya Sharma and his band gave the audience an enthralling journey through time with their ‘History of Hip-Hop’ medley.

Organising sound and light, marketing, sponsorship, rehearsals, and the acts were just some of the hectic activities performed by committee members in the run up to the show at a particularly busy time of their academic careers. On the night, the backstage team, led by Andy Keener, ensured that the show ran smoothly, and the sound and lighting teams were on top form.

A huge thank you has to go to the teachers involved, especially Miss Blowes at MTS and Mrs Smart at Northwood College.”

Fusion Committee 2015: Udaya Sharma, Ayan Batra, Paaras Kantaria (Co-Chairmen) Rishav Punatar, Ewan Patel, Krishen Shah, Parin Vaghjiani, Gaurav Dewan, Rajan Sharma, Premal Pattani, Pujan Vaghjiani, Andy Keener, Athishan Vettivetpillai, Karan Khanna, Keval Amin

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The Society this year took a decidedly ‘three kingdoms’ approach. We were fortunate in having brilliant

speakers – Ian Archer, David L. Smith, Andrew Spencer, and John Watts – who guided us through delicate matters of constitutional adjustment, as well as the convulsive actions of some rather indelicate kings. But this was no triumphant chronicle of parliaments versus crown. The Society heard, too, of the transformation of early-modern cityscapes, the pressure of the public on late-medieval politics, and of administrative peculiarities in far-fl ung colonial locales. Without exception our speakers’ learning was generously offered: arguments magically unfurled and each lecturer embedded his subject in a strong and vibrant historiography. For their part, boys were praised universally for the penetration, elegance, and insight of their questioning. The Committee extends its wholehearted thanks to all participants, not least to Mr Try for his carefully-curated and most genial hospitality.

Mr A.A. Watts

S&AS&AS&ASocieties & ActivitiesBulstrode Whitelocke Society

Professor John Watts

Dr David L. Smith

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The Science Society provides a focus on activities that are of interest to both scientists and non-scientists

alike. The members of this year’s Committee include: Matthew McCormak, John Louca, Luc Worthington, Paramvir Khera, Mikhail Datoo and Emrys Thursfi eld.

Luc Worthington took the lead in inviting Professor Clare Selden from UCL to give a talk at Merchant Taylors. It is a credit to him that the Society was able to introduce such a high profi le speaker to the School, Professor Selden spoke about her life’s work on the making of a Bio Artifi cial Liver.

This year Matthew McCormack commenced the Friday afternoon meetings with a talk on Stem Cells - Is this the Future of Medicine?

Luc hosted the second talk entitled ‘Is This How It All Ends?’ where he paralleled the ending of the world from a scientifi c and religious approach. Although it seemed quite controversial, he managed to fi nd common ground in both belief and fact. As advertising manager, Luc has made a signifi cant contribution to the design of posters and publicity of events.

Other topics covered were Quantum Mechanics by Mikhail Datoo, The Innate Immune System by John Louca and Special Relativity by Charlie McDermott. In March John Louca and Matthew McCormak also ran an open debate on Evolution.

As part of the activities for Science Week., the Society organised a Teacher’s Challenge on Thursday, 9th June. It was a great success for the Society as they managed to reach out to a great number of like-minded individuals who share their passion for Science. The teams comprised of Mr Canales-Navarrete, Mr Powell, Mr Spikings, and Mr Coote, and Mr Hivey, and Dr Lomas.

It was clear from the outset that both teams were taking this very seriously and that there was going to be fi erce competition. Mr Spikings was on top form, not only with his Physics but also with his highly entertaining comments.

S&AS&AS&ASocieties & ActivitiesThe Science Society

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Societies & Activities

Charity Drive is the organization responsible for fundraising money for charities, and the committee

is made up of twelve pupils ranging from those in the Divisions to others in the Lower Sixth. Thiathe RNIB Sunshine House and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. The RNIB Sunshine House is a specialist primary school for blind and partially sighted children with signifi cant learning diffi culties and disabilities. The Sunshine House is based in Northwood and allows children from the ages of 2 to 14 to achieve their full potential. Children can stay at the Sunshine House overnight for up to four nights per week for up to 50 weeks per year demonstrating the amount of time and hard work that is required to care for the children. The Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is a highly specialized cancer hospital that has 500 members of staff and supports over 5,000 new patients each year.

To raise money for these very worthy charities the committee plans and runs events in order to fundraise as much money as possible. We started the year off by organizing the very successful annual staff vs student basketball match. This event proved particularly entertaining as it is fair to say the pupil team won by a considerable margin and the committee managed to raise over £200. Other notable

events that occurred during the year included the student FIFA tournament and two mufti days where Krispy Kremes and cookies were on sale. However, the highlight of the year by far was the charities week where there was a different charity drive event each day of the week. Events included a staff vs pupil cricket match, a house bake off and the infamous charities fair where stalls such as sponge the teacher allowed students to sponge the likes of Mr Horan and Mr Fothergill.

The year has proved both rewarding and hard work ensuring as the committee is constantly working hard to pull off the next fundraising event. It has, however, been very worthwhile, as we have made over £4,500 this year and we hope to make even more with our events that are going to hold in the summer term.

Dylan Shah (L6)

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Candide, Charlie Hebdo and freedom of speech

In September, Panglossia, the Modern Languages society, welcomed Dr Jenny Mander from Newnham College,

Cambridge to talk about the link between Voltaire’s Candide and the current debate on freedom of speech. Dr Mander gave a fascinating talk, using a diverse range of publications such as Private Eye and Charlie Hebdo to highlight the issues at stake. Of particular interest to linguists were her quotes from Voltaire’s great work, which seems as relevant today as it did when it was fi rst published in the Eighteenth Century. We would like to thank Dr Mander for an inspiring talk and the many boys who attended.

Mr J.M.S. Rippier

Les Quatre Cent Coups

On 12th November, Panglossia welcomed Professor Diana Holmes from Leeds University

who gave a fascinating talk on Francois Truffaut and his fi rst major hit ‘Les Quatre Cent Coups’. Professor Holmes interspersed her talk with well-chosen clips from the fi lm and it was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to be exposed to the work of one of the greats of world cinema and learn about some of his infl uences. The Modern Languages Department would like to thank Professor Holmes for a fascinating talk; we hope very much the boys will be inspired to explore more of Truffaut’s work.

Mr J.M.S. Rippier

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In ecology, sustainability is the capacity to endure; it is how biological systems remain diverse and productive

indefi nitely. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are examples of sustainable biological systems. In more general terms, sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. It can also be defi ned as the ability to continue over a long time and it is this that we try to promote to Merchant Taylors’ boys!

‘Every little helps’ is a common mantra as the committee have tried to embed the importance of each and every pupil or member of staff doing what they can to help. The simple fact that if all cans in the UK were recycled, we would need 14 million fewer dustbins! On a typical Sunday nearly 90% off newspapers are thrown away in Britain. This is the equivalent of throwing half a million trees into landfi ll.

Eco-deHere at Taylors’ we are keen

To keep our school bright and clean.Campaigning and promoting,

We’re always devotingOur time,

To being Green.able to continue over a period of time: able to continue over a period of time: able to continue over a period of time:

We are currently waiting for our 2nd assessment for Green Flag. It has taken a lot of time and hard work from the committee to be in a position to reapply and maintain the systems we already have in place. Out of 17801 registered schools, only 1128 have been awarded the top green fl ag award so we are proud to be the only Independent Secondary school in Three Rivers District to have Green Flag.

The committee wrote the application, including an Action Plan which gave examples of where we have embedded out chosen topics into the syllabus. This year we chose the following topics: energy, water, biodiversity, school grounds, healthy living, transport, litter, waste, and global citizenship.

One of our topics was waste and so our pressure group (A subsection of the committee) met with SLT to discuss areas we feel we could improve as a school and as a result of one of our points Taylors’ now have a new waste food composting system. We are now 100% compliant to zero land fi ll; 70% Recyclable waste and 30% going to energy! We are also in the process of developing a nature reserve and nature walk, linking with the Biodiversity section above. Many of the boys have enjoyed lessons down there to look at the importance of ecology and biodiversity. MTP have also carried out 2 ‘what’s under your feet’ national surveys with the help of LPL. Boys measured the length and mass of all the invertebrates they could fi nd and all the data was then inputted into the national database

We have also introduced bees into the Taylors’ community and we currently have a small committed group of boys to look after them. Keep an eye out for Merchant Taylors’ honey next year!

Mrs L. Pruden-Lawson

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The purpose of Jewish Society is to provide a place for students in the school to learn about the Jewish religion and culture, giving students a place to express and argue their opinions, while learning more about various aspects of the religion. Boys take an active part in all sessions and enjoy heated discussions with each other about various aspects of Judaism, while enjoying the food provided. The weekly sessions are open to boys of all ages across the school and take place on Monday during the Hour.

Jewish Society has had a successful year, with a strong cohort of Lower School boys attending sessions regularly. Boys have enjoyed hearing speakers on a range of topics including “Sport and Coexistence”, “Is Antisemitism Possible in a Post-Holocaust World” and “Science and Religion”. Recently, they were visited by Ashley Blaker, writer and comedian who spoke about maintaining his identity as a religious Jew while pursuing a career in comedy writing at the BBC. Purim was celebrated with a reading of the Book of

Esther and the society is looking forward to their fi nal event of the year, Israeli Dancing.

This year, Jewish Society has also participated in the charity drive for Syrian Refugees and the new Interfaith Society which has run sessions on food across religions and prayer. Many thanks to Dan Surkes, James Cowan and Daniel Robert for organising and publicising the sessions

Mrs D.C. Gedalla

S&AS&AS&ASocieties & ActivitiesJewish Society

Chess Club has run on Thursday lunchtimes this year. A number of boys have been working for

their Duke of Edinburgh’s award during this time. Aditya Mavinkurve has, for the second year, run the club and the school will miss him as an expert player, always willing to help, teach and give advice to

other club members. The lower- school boys have played against Lochinver House, winning the fi rst match and await the rematch later this year. The highlight of the Chess year was the House Chess Competition won by Clive House, with Walter the runners-

up although perhaps the most nail-biting game in the competition was played by Paul Eid of Clive and Mohammed Manji of Manor (last year’s winners). Their match was impossible to adjudicate and they had to return the next day to fi nish.

Mrs D. C. Gedalla

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This has been a year of change for the Society, moderated by continuity. We were sorry to say farewell to Mr

Mackridge and those senior boys who so distinguished themselves last year – but it was a modifi ed sorry (as W. G. Gilbert might have put it) for our programme was coordinated by a truly fi rst-rate committee that included Haroon Zaman, Kieran Patel, and Cameron Yule. This year boys have won applauds in the usual national

competitions – Oxford Union, the English Speaking Union, and so on – and the spirited House Competition, in which White emerged triumphant, showcased both great profi ciency at the top end, alongside, at the other, zeal. Motions this year included old favourites about trial by jury and religious tolerance, as well as on such contemporary issues, to use words de jour, as slave-trade reparations and LGBT rights as a condition of international trade.

Naturally a debate on Britain’s relationship to the European Union took pride of place in the summer’s line-up. We have been fortunate in our panel of adjudicators, which this year extended to Mr Doepel and Mr Gibbons. Most happily, though, Mr James has been at the helm; we extend our thanks to him for his tireless energy and expert supervision.

Mr A.A. Watts

S&AS&AS&ASocieties & ActivitiesDebating Society

Kieren Patel, Cameron Yule, and Haroon Zaman


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November: We now have a number of OMT guest speakers and parents who regularly join us for the annual 5th Form Careers Convention offering seminars that range from fi nance to marketing to medicine to law.

As part of our lunchtime guest speaker programme this month we welcomed Microsoft’s Global Head of Retail Dave Castell and Criminal Barrister OMT William Hughes QC, both of whom shared their career journey to interested pupils from the Middle and Upper School.

September: The start of Career Bridge, our unique employability programme for U6th pupils

where they are introduced to interview techniques; graduate assessment centres and professional networking.

Young Enterprise: 2015 saw the largest number ever of budding entrepreneurs with six teams of L6th students entering and competing successfully in the competition and fi ve of our teams reaching the Watford Area Final at KPMG.

Enterprise@Taylors’ for the Lower School saw Oliver Lavelle lead his team to win the inaugural award, raising the most money for charity.

October: Courtesy of our parents 35 Lower Sixth pupils gain advice on life in a global bank. A personalised programme of events covered graduate opportunities and insights into investment banking, trading and fi nance with a truly international guest speaker list. Hosted by Barclays Canary Wharf, the event gave the boys experience of life in the City, with two of the pupils returning for a week this summer.

During the month we were also delighted to welcome representatives from the University of British Columbia who spoke with those boys interested in undergraduate study in Canada.

September: The start of Career Bridge, our unique employability

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The next term was equally busy as we introduced a specialist Law Insights Programme for those students considering future careers in the Legal Profession. OMT Alex Adamou put together a 5 week programme covering his journey from school to BPTC and discussed and debated areas of law and case studies.

March: L6th students attended seminars at our Higher Education Convention when we were privileged to welcome academic staff from leading universities including the LSE, Imperial College, The Dyson School of Product Design Engineering, Nottingham, Birmingham and UCL. Boys were able to select from a wide range of seminars, including Geography, Engineering, English, Computer Science, Politics, Modern Foreign Languages and Economics.

April: We continued the theme of Higher Education Research by welcoming for the fi rst time the University College Groningen

to share their knowledge of study abroad opportunities and classes taught in English across Europe.

May: Divisions students have enjoyed a seven week introductory programme into careers. Guest speakers have included current pupils in U6th and L6th sharing their experiences on univeristy choices and Young Enterprise, OMT speakers talking about Law and Engineering; and other guest presenters from our parents and the fi nancial sector.

Breakfast at Taylors’ launched this month with Lloyds of London and Aon representatives joining 12 Lower 6th pupils to share insights into a changing insurance market including internship opporutnities available for post 18 students.

June: Working collaboratively with our parents and past parents as well as our Physics Department and English Department 4th Form boys enjoyed a morning of Career Inspirations. Including were Medicine, Architecture, TV Production, Speech Writing and Financial careers, amongst others. The boys then honed their analytical and problem-solving skills as part of a team effort to plan, design and construct a bridge in conjunction with McAlpine Engineering and our Physics team.

Mrs H. Armstrong

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Shades of light and dark coloured the many events in the library this year.September brought the end of

the Summer Reading Challenge and an exciting collection of colourful illustrations and summer holiday reading reviews from our Third and Upper Third Forms. This annual challenge is judged on the effort and creativity of the review booklets submitted, and it also gives us the opportunity to see what the pupils choose for recreational reading. The year group winners were Atharv Meshram (3rds) and Jeshuran Jebanesan (U 3rds). Runner-up prizes were awarded to Aathavan Viyaijen, Abhi Kandala, Amar Ranauta and George Wright, who has now won a prize in each of our three library reading challenges.

‘Light’ was the theme of National Poetry Day in October, and a return visit by poet Paul Lyalls inspired the Upper Third Form to write ‘urban haikus’ to illuminate a signifi cant event, fact or object. He then showed the boys how to ‘grow’ their poems using synonyms, expanding on ideas, and writing an ending to elicit a reaction – a smile, a laugh or an “Oh!” - from the reader.

Paul’s poetry workshops fell in our autumn reading week which also included the fi rst of our three ‘Drop Everything And Read’ sessions. These give everyone in school 15 minutes of quiet reading of a book of their choice and reinforce our commitment to the importance of reading for pleasure. This message is also demonstrated in the introduction of regular visits to the library for the lower school and a ‘Reading Bingo’ initiative in which Sixth Form English prompters encourage wider reading for the Third and Upper Forms.

The shadier side of life was in evidence in the Great Hall during National Storytelling Week in February when Ben Haggarty performed some of his darker traditional tales for the Third and Upper Third Forms. We were delighted to welcome Ben back to share his stories of courage, greed and misadventure, and were pleased that Year 7 and 8 pupils from Merchant Taylors’ Prep were able to join our boys in experiencing Ben’s captivating performances.

Our Spring Term reading week in early March saw author Jonathan Stroud celebrating World Book Day with us. Merchant Taylors’ Prep pupils again joined our Third and Upper Third formers to hear Jonathan talk about his path to becoming a writer. He then focussed on his ‘ghost-busting’ series Lockwood & Co. drawing squeals from the audience as he played a spooky book trailer, and giggles as he ‘accessorised’ a willing volunteer with the tools required to defend against the different ghosts who feature in his stories.Jonathan also attended The Big Read Grand Finale which marks the end of the Thirds Forms’ second reading challenge of the year. Launched at the end of the

Autumn Term, this aims to encourage the boys to explore new authors and genres by challenging them to read and review at least six books from a selection of eighteen. As a group incentive, a prize is offered to the class which submits the greatest number of quality reviews, and this year it was won by Mrs Shockley’s English class, 3KS. The prizes were presented by Jonathan Stroud, with the individual awards going to Ishan Karurkar (overall winner), Gauranga Patel, Eshan Vadgama and Mirren Shah (runners-up). Some boys also spoke persuasively about their favourite book of the challenge, resulting in Bone: out from Boneville by Jeff Smith being voted The Big Read ‘Book of the Year’.

LibraryLibraryLibraryLibrary

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Later in March our pupils were able to share in the Book Week celebrations at Merchant Taylors’ Prep. The Third and Upper Third Forms were invited to the New Barn Theatre to hear historical author Paul Dowswell’s presentation on the research he undertook for his book Eleven Eleven set in the shadow of World War I. The boys listened intently as Paul displayed a series of black and white photographs from which he drew his inspiration.

Book Boffz book club for the Third and Upper Third formers continued to provide its members with a wide variety of book related activities. These included selecting and promoting books for their annual World Book Day collection, collaboratively writing a quest story, reviewing author websites and recommending books to each other. This year also saw the relaunch of a Fourths’ Friday Book Group, whose members currently enjoy the opportunity for guided book selection and guaranteed reading time in an otherwise hectic life.

At the time of writing we are looking forward to our summer term reading week, the highlight of which is a visit from author, ex-journalist and creative writing lecturer Martyn Bedford. The Fourth Form will hear about his varied career and his writing, and will have the chance to ask him questions about his work. Martyn will also conduct a writing workshop for a group of Divisions pupils selected by their English teachers.

Our year draws to a close with the launch of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, and an invitation to the rest of the school to indulge in some paper or digital holiday reading from the library come rain or shine this summer.

Mrs A.J. South

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The Geography Department took thirty-four boys to California. The boys experienced an awesome

mixture of both physical and human Geography by visiting some key tourist attractions such as Alcatraz, Universal Studios, and Las Vegas, whilst also visiting the incredible physical landscapes of Yosemite, the Mojave Desert, and the Grand Canyon. The teachers’ favourite was the Hoover Dam but the boys seemed to enjoy all aspects of the trip and the opportunity to live the Californian lifestyle. Mrs Shockley writes, “Nunatak: A mountain peak which projects above an ice sheet, generally angular and jagged. Without a doubt this is my favourite Geography term. As we stood in Yosemite

National Park, gazing up at the one of the park’s many granite behemoths, Mr Prestshaw said it: ‘Nunatak.’ I thought he had gone mad, but no, ‘nunatak’ (NB: not ‘nun attack’) is a word. Derived from an Inuit language, it describes the craggy peak of a mountain that stands above a smooth layer of rock. The nunatak is the section of the mountain high enough to escape the glacier that scraped, like sandpaper, across the rock below.

You might think that Geography and English have little or nothing in common, but that is far from true. Sure, I’ve never read a novel that uses the word ‘nunatak’ (though I’m very keen to fi nd one), but I’ve read work from plenty of writers that are so concerned with the

geography of where their novel is set that setting almost becomes a character. Take Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde (1886) for example – it wouldn’t be half the novel it is if you took away the London setting and Stevenson’s understanding of cities. You’d lose his warnings about the dangers of overpopulation and urbanization. You wouldn’t be able to follow the characters down winding streets. Crucially, you’d miss the crux of the novel: the duality of mankind which, throughout the text, is mapped out geographically – respectable virtue rubs up against the sinful depths of Soho. Many novels are deeply embedded within a landscape. Imagine Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) without the precipices of the Alps or the inhospitable Arctic. Imagine Charlotte Brontë’s

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Wuthering Heights (1847) without the moors stretching between Heathcliff and Cathy. Imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) without the journey through the Valley of Ashes into New York, or the view across the bay from West Egg to East Egg. As Philip Hensher, who won the 2013 Ondaatje Prize with Scenes from Early Life, said ‘literature has to engage with the physical world, and with the culturally specifi c meanings of one place or another.’ Understanding and recreating place is a central concern for many writers.

Thus, I was excited to see California because literature had already transported me there to walk through its vast swathes of agricultural land and zoom along its endless highways, headed straight for the horizon. John Steinbeck, who used California as a setting for many of his novels, including Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath, saw his writing as being about place; in 1938 he wrote to a friend: ‘I think I would like to write the story of this whole valley.’ In part,

Steinbeck saw this landscape as a place of suffering: the lack of rain, effects of over-farming and giant dust storms over the Great Plains brought workers here in hope of employment in California’s agricultural industry. However, the massive scale of the migration, tyrannical farm management and governmental failure left many dispossessed, displaced and, ultimately, starving. In 2015, the picture is very different, but the state is in drought and waiting for the mighty El Niño* to bring much-needed rainwater to the thirsty ground. As it did during Steinbeck’s time, California still leads agriculture in the US. Two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown here, and not without controversy. In 2013, farmers sold almost $50 billion of food. That sounds like a lot until you realise that California, with its trendy social media industry in San Francisco and world-leading entertainment industry in L.A., has a $2 trillion economy. 80% of the state’s water is used for agriculture and many city-dwellers resent it. Perhaps there’s

scope for a modern novel about the confl ict between the urban and rural in America’s most populous state.

As well as seeing California, I was keen to travel through it; this is the way to really get to know a place. The journey can be just as, if not more, important than the destination. American literature is full of journeys – be it a hedonistic road trip like that in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road (1957), a doomed search for a new life as in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath (1939) or a post-apocalyptic journey through the last dregs of civilization as in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (2006). Steinbeck said that ‘every American hungers to move.’ We took this to heart, travelling nearly every day, making journeys up to 7 hours long. This allowed us to see the landscape in a new way: to observe the Central Valley as a giant bowl bordered by the Sierra Nevada to the West and the ocean to the East. Watching the sun set over the Central Valley, I couldn’t help imagining Steinbeck’s Joad family settling down

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to sleep under their tarpaulin. Crawling towards the lights of Vegas, I pictured Hunter S Thompson (of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) fame) lurching towards the city and its gaudy pleasures. I could see why this place has been a constant source of inspiration for writers throughout America’s history: there are stories held in the vast, desolate fl ats of the Central Valley, the deep caverns of The Grand Canyon and the dizzying heights of the nunataks of Yosemite.

*This is another great geography term that I’m not going defi ne for you geographers - though I will tell you the etymology (historical development) of the word: it’s from Spanish and means ‘the child’. Are you imagining a giant toddler stomping over the sea? More likely, ‘the child’ refers to Christ and the fact that El Niño often occurs around Christmas.

Over half-term the Geography department took 34 boys to California for 9 days. The trip started in San Francisco with a tour around the city including a trip on the famous Cable Cars. Many famous sites were visited including the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf where the boys ate in Bubba Gump Restaurant of Forrest Gump fame. However, the highlight has to be the trip to Alcatraz where the boys learned what life was like in what was the world’s most secure prison. The journey away from the coast exposed the boys to some of California’s incredible physical geography. From the popular glaciated landscapes of Yosemite National Park to punishing and barren stretches of the Mojave Desert, the landscape seemed to change from one hour to the next. In rural California the boys visited the ghost town of Calico and the magnifi cent feat of human engineering that is the Hoover Dam. They even managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Las Vegas. The highlight for staff and students alike was the incredible Grand Canyon where boys enjoyed discussing their own theories about how this natural wonder of the world was formed. The fi nal destination on the trip was Anaheim. After an unsuccessful whale watching trip was followed by a fun afternoon at the beach, this was to act as a base for visiting Universal Studios and

Hollywood in Los Angeles. Both were popular venues for tourism and impressive celebrations of American culture.

The trip gave the boys an insightful experience of American culture. Our bus driver was invaluable and taught the boys about a great range of topics from water management to food production to political controversies. In addition, Mr Tyler and Mrs Shockley supplemented the boys’ geography knowledge with valuable insights into the importance of the landscape in the literature of California such as ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.’ I thank them both for their contributions in addition to thanking Miss Maxfi eld for helping to run a successful and valuable trip.

Finally, I must thank the boys. They were fantastic ambassadors for the school, approaching all activities with a positive attitude and always maintaining the highest standards of manners and etiquette.

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Having worked hard supporting the Design and Technology Department during Design Week

2015, Mr Kyriacou and Mr Stephenson accompanied by A-level Product Design and Systems and Control pupils took off on a well-deserved break to Italy – an Engineering trip to Bologna, organised jointly with Highgate School. The group visited Modena, home to some the world’s fi nest manufacturers of cars and motorcycles and also famous for its food. This we discovered when visiting a family that has produced world famous traditional balsamic vinegar using a process which has remained largely unchanged for two-hundred years. The engineering tours of Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ducati and Pagani were exceptional, with the highlights being: the trip to Ducati, when we watched production teams building Ducati’s top of the range road bike, the Panigale; and a factory visit of Pagani, where highly-skilled workers prepared monocoque body shells from carbon fi bre.

Our experience of Italy was further enhanced by our excellent guide, Tamara Sonago, whose local knowledge of Bologna and inexhaustible energy meant we were always entertained and never without something to do. This included arranging an impromptu visit to a restaurant, for all twenty-seven members of the group, in order that we could learn how to make pasta. Pupils on the trip were a credit to both schools and formed lasting friendships. I would personally like to thank Mr Kyriacou, Tony and Mal at OnTourz, and Andy Thomson from Highgate for supporting the idea and helping organise the fi rst of many join ventures between the schools.

Mr G.M. Stephenson

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The tour party awoke early on Sunday morning, eagerly anticipating their matches at the Kensington Oval,

the Barbados internation al test ground steeped in 133-years of history. Following a satisfying breakfast, we embarked on our journey, in our usual vehicle driven by Sheldon, our driver, the omniscient Bajan sage.Upon entering the stadium, the boys were immediately struck by the quality of the playing surface and the facilities. Having had a photo with a statue of the great Sir Garfi eld Sobers, the boys explored the arena before the 2nd XI began their warm-up. The gripping encounter against a Trinidadian touring side was watched from high in the stands by the 1st XI who spent the time between overs watching England collapse from the comfort of the ground’s board room.

Lunch was held in the Sir Garfi eld Sobers Pavilion. Shortly afterwards, the 1st XI

took to the fi eld to get the show on the road. Losing the toss and bowling fi rst, MTS walked out for the fi rst time in their new tour T20 kit. The boys started well with Deven Patel and Ashwyn Randev restricting their opening batsmen to 34 runs after the powerplay. Good bowling from Anirudh and Aaran, aided by excellence in the fi eld, meant the middle overs ticked along without too many boundaries being scored. Despite this sound display in the heat, some lusty blows at the death from the Barbados Combined XI meant that they fi nished perhaps 10 above par on 144 from 20 overs.

The opposition appeared confi dent, and their three West Indies Women’s U19 players talked in a relaxed manner as to their prospects of victory. No home player expected what was to follow, and it was poignant that Andrew Thomas hooked the fi rst legitimate delivery he faced, for a

magnifi cent six, deep back into the long leg stands. From then on it was relentless, almost brutal, as Rawal and Thomas both pounced on inconsistent length to score 94 punishing runs from the powerplay: an absurd 60 more than the Bajan effort. Thomas didn’t stop there, accelerating to 50, including 6 sixes, from just 16 deliveries. After he departed, Rawal continued what he had left behind, and the run rate continued to climb. After his half century, completing a triple of back-to-back-to-back 50+ scores (including his 116) on tour, it was left to Alex Palmer to guide the winning runs through third man. The celebrations ensued.

All in all, the 1st XI result capped a momentous day in the boys’ and schools’ cricketing calendar – the end of what is surely one of the fi nest seasons in the school’s cricket history.

Mr T. Webley

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Matthew Barton (U6) writes, “It may be the case for other pupils on the trip to Sicily, as it was

for me, that they grossly underestimated the utter magnifi cence of Sicily’s ruins and landscape. In fact it is a challenge to call some sites ‘ruins’, so unexpectedly well-preserved were many of the theatres, temples and mosaics, to name a few visit-worthy antiquities. A personal favourite was the near-intact temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples, which, as Mr Drury pointed out (among many, many other things) was in fact not a valley but a ridge. This temple is so impressively unspoiled that it was rented out, over the summer, by the owners of a certain Google, so that they might enjoy a meal within the temple (again pointed out by Mr Drury). However, a highlight for all must have been climbing over the ruins at Selinus (these were actually piles of rubble, but even these incited as much joy amongst the climbers, as the still-standing temples). Mr Drury had come to to seem more and more omniscient with each site we visited. Yet even he was baffl ed by the sight of Roman women wearing bikinis in a pristine mosaic. Theories were thrown about regarding the meaning of all of this, but the mosaic, alongside another which depicted what seemed to be babies riding ostriches and other exotic aviary species (there is in fact a wonderful haiku describing this spectacle) remain a mystery to all. However, Mr Drury was not alone in making this trip so enjoyable for every minute of every day. For without the industrious Mrs Fielding, much of the trip simply couldn’t have taken place, and who could forget the creativity of Mr Eales’ daily quizzes and the fi ercely contested 2015 Haiku and Limerick Championship? It is actually diffi cult to say whether more effort was put in by the boys in answering the questions or by the quizmaster in his design of the quizzes. Of course I would like to thank all three teachers, whose hard work and enthusiasm made this trip such a success; so much so that it is without a doubt that any future excursions will have their work cut out trying to best such as perfect trip as the one in Sicily”.

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This summer Merchant Taylors’ School visited the land of biltong, safaris and world-class rugby:

South Africa. A group of 21 boys (current U6th) and fi ve members of staff journeyed across the Eastern Cape, from the shadows of Table Mountain in Cape Town to the warmest winter weather any of us had ever experienced in Plettenberg Bay. Despite the reputation giving way to a nervous build-up, within the fi rst few days we were off to a very good start after delivering a win in the fi rst match against Elsie’s River. With time for occasional respite and downtime the boys visited the V&A waterfront

where they were able to dig into a good wildebeest steak whilst the staff sampled some of the fi nest South African coffee.

The following back-to-back matches against La nga and Jan Van Riebeek were incredibly tiring but the effort put in paid off as we came away from both with wins. The tour around Langa Township was a memorable experience for all of us and, despite a rather heated match, the post-match social was an opportunity for the boys to bridge the gap between continents and cultures to enjoy good company and fantastic entertainment from the hosting

team. The boys then made the most of a well-deserved rest in the luxury of the Gondwana Game reserve, before setting off to prepare for our toughest match of the tour against Langenhoven Gimnasium. With a close 15-10 scoreboard the MTS boys came away with a win to fi nish off an incredibly successful, unbeaten rugby tour. Special thanks must go to Mr Alexander, Mr Try, Mr Taylor, Mr Prestshaw and, of course, Mr Mills, whose promise of a tour to U14 teams four years ago was fi nally delivered.

Pacho Nieto O’Brien (U6)

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After arriving in northern France at midday, we visited the Loos battlefi eld, scene of fi erce fi ghting

in 1915, before visiting the luminous International Memorial at Notre Dame de Lorette, the world’s largest French military cemetery.

Friday morning saw the party brave unseasonable chill as we learned about the Somme offensive of 1916. We visited the vast Lochnagar crater at la Boiselle created by a mine exploded on the morning of 1st June 1916 at the start of the Somme offensive. We then learned about the feats of bravery performed by troops from the Devonshire regiment at the Devonshire cemetery (where the poet Noel Hodgson is buried), before moving on to learn about the experiences of Newfoundland troops at Beaumont Hamel, and the 36th Division at the Ulster Tower. There then followed a short ceremony at the grave of Second Lieutenant G.A. Ward OMT which has passages from the school song carved on the grave stone: Homo Plantat Homo Irrigat sed Deus dat incrementum.

After lunch we visited the former home of the Red Baron, Fricourt German Cemetery which offered a stark contrast to the British & Commonwealth, and French cemeteries. We then travelled to the Thiepval Memorial to fi nd the names of 22 OMTs amongst the 72,195 British & Commonwealth soldiers missing on the Somme. The day concluded as is tradition at Lonsdale Cemetery with a wreath-laying at the grave of Frederick Arnaud OMT, killed aged 19 on the fi rst day of the Somme. Letters from Arnaud were also read in a moving and memorable ceremony.

Saturday drew our enjoyable trip to a close with a visit to the battlefi elds at Serre where the Pals’ Battalions of the north of England performed such distinguished service during the Somme campaign. We also paid tribute to Lance Corporal James Woodcock, a relative of Edward Poole (4ths) and George Poole (U6th), who was killed on the Somme in September 1916. Prior to lunch we managed to squeeze in a jaunt to the Bullecourt Museum replete

with a fearsome collection of WW1 weaponry, before travelling underground on a subterranean journey into the tunnels of Arras to see how men lived underground during the 1917 Battle of Arras. We then embarked for England, tired, happy, and hopefully enlightened by our wonderful experiences.

We hope the boys thoroughly enjoyed the fascinating History and sensational War Poetry during the trip. Their behaviour was acclaimed by all who encountered them and they were an absolute credit to themselves and the school.

Mr M.W.S. Hale

TripsTripsTripsBattlefi elds Trip to the Somme

Ed Poole at his relative’s grave - April 2016

German cemetery at Mametz - April 2016

Thiepval memorial to Somme missing

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Grave of Frederick Arnaud OMT

Henry Gadson reads a poem at the Devonshires cemtery - Mansell Copse

Mr Manley read his poem here

Newfoundland Park Beaumont Hamel Dud Corner CemeteryBoys read their own poems

The school song was sung at the grave of G A Ward

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On the evening of Sunday 30th August, a group of keen Lower Sixth Physics students met at

Luton Airport to set off on a trip to visit the Large Hadron Collider, the largest and most complex experiment ever built, which straddles the Swiss-French border.

We began the Monday morning with a walk in glorious sunshine by Lake Geneva. We stopped to visit the History of Science Museum, which has a lot of interesting experiments including a human sundial and an electron microscope. Our next stop was the Stettler Chocolate Kitchen where several of our boys tried their hands at creating Swiss chocolates, under the guidance of Robert the chocolatier. After a relaxing lunch by the lake, we took at guided tour around the UN Palais de Nations, learning much about the history and work of the UN, as well as seeing art work donated by countries from all the world. We rounded off our fi rst day with dinner at a traditional Swiss Fondue restaurant, complete with Alpine music

which our students keenly joined in with on the stage.

The Tuesday was the pinnacle of the trip as we visited CERN. After an illuminating talk from one of the Physicists about the Standard Model of Particle Physics, we visited the Synchro Cyclotron and then CMS. Due to an unexpected shut down

we were lucky enough to go underground in the heart of the CMS experiment, where the physicists showing us around explained in detail the workings of the experiment.

Many thanks to Mrs Mayadeen, Dr Lomas, and Mr Jacob for running the trip.

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TripsTripsTripsArt Trip to Venice

Gregory Kraftman (5hs) writes, “During the half term, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Venice

with the Art Department. Initially, I had not wanted to go but last minute a space opened up and I decided that I may as well go. Once we got to Italy and dropped our bags off at the hotel, the group travelled to the Santa Maria Gloriosa, which contained lots of traditional sacred paintings. On the second day, we went to the Ca’ Pesaro which included an oriental art exhibition. In the afternoon, we visited the Biennale, which is one of the best museums I have ever been to. All the modern art seemed to have a deeper meaning and that really interested me. On the third day, we went to a different part of the Biennale, where different countries were represented by certain artists in their own building. What I really liked about this trip is that the museums we went to were so varied and there was defi nitely something that we saw that everybody liked. Also, I think everybody else who went on the trip can agree that our observational drawing skills had improved. Obviously, art was a large part of the trip, but we also had many nice meals at Italian restaurants and also had a short ride on a gondola. Even though it was a short trip, it was jam-packed experience –and I am so happy that I was able to go”.

Rish Patel (Fifths) writes, “When we arrived in Venice, it was particularly sunny meaning that, luckily, the photos that I took turned out a lot better than expected. The main point of the trip for me was to improve both my observational drawing skills as well as other factors such as photography and using different mediums. Going to the various exhibitions helped with trying to recreate a piece in the style of the artist using different mediums, varying from watercolour to oil pastel and graphite. However, what I found most rewarding was the observational drawings that we managed to do outside the cathedrals and inside the churches. Not only did this help me with getting the proportions right in harder pieces, but also improving my time management and being able to work a lot faster. Overall, the Venice trip was very rewarding and a great use of ti me”.

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The Classics Department took 29 3rd formers to the Bay of Naples to investigate the vestiges of

the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. The devastating eruption buried the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash and mud respectively, leaving them behind to be discovered by posterity 1500 years later. Needless to say, the appeal is not just of the unique opportunity to lose yourself in a Roman town frozen in time, but also the gorgeous scenery and the glorious weather. Mid-April in Italy can be erratic, but we were lucky and had warm sunshine for most of the trip – the perfect weather for excursions, even if a few of us returned red in the face!

A great time was had by all, with lots of pizza, pasta and ice cream! The boys learnt a lot and deserve praise for showing great enthusiasm and interest in a packed itinerary: we climbed Mt Vesuvius, visited Pompeii, Herculaneum, villa Poppaea, the amphitheatre in Pozzuoli and Naples Archaeological museum. It was sad to say goodbye to the glorious views across the Bay of Naples from the hotel, but we left with great memories of a fantastic trip.

Mr J.A. Eales

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and Rohan Day, Munraaj Mangat and Ben Fallowfi eld showed their skills. A fi nal team meeting ensued, followed by a pool tournament!

On Thursday the team led by Munraaj Mangat put in a superb display of bowling with Matthew Barnfather, David Cherry and Tom Szostak showing what strength and depth we have in our seam bowling department. Chasing 140, Taylors’ knocked off the score comfortably with scores of 49 from Jolan Baxter, including a huge six supported well by Sardana and Fallowfi eld.

Each evening on tour Mr McGowan and his snitches Oliver Gilbert, Matthew Barnfather, and Jamie Graham led a ‘fi nes meeting’ where the players were fi ned for dropped catches, inappropriate attire, and so on. Arjun Banerjee and Ammaar Merali paid in more than most it must be said, and on refl ection Jack Townsend got away with a few! On the fi nal evening the ‘Fines Pot’ was used to treat the boys to an authentic Spanish paella, and some end-of-tour awards were handed out by the staff.

Mr I. McGowan

standout performances included a superb spell of fast bowling from Finn Edwards and an innings of maturity from opener Vedant Gokakkar. The side was well led by captain Samir Sardana and Vice Captain Tom Szostak.

The second game of tour was rain affected, and proved to be a tough match against much stronger opposition including current Spanish international Christian Munoz. MTS didn’t bat well at all here, with careless shot selection throughout. However, one shining light was a 40 not out innings from wicket keeperbatsman Tunveer Mangat, who showed superb concentration and composure whilst wickets tumbled at the other end. Sporting Alfas knocked off the score confi dently in the end.

On Wednesday the boys wanted to put to bed the poor display of the previous game as the coaches put the boys through their paces in a whole squad training session. The session was meant to last two hours but the determination from the group meant that we trained on for close to three hours. Consequence nets were enforced, in that if you get out in the nets your batting is over. This helped focus the batsmen –

TripsTripsTripsU14 Cricket Tour to Spain

During the Easter holidays, we took seventeen Fourth-Form pupils to Alicante in Spain for a cricket

tour. The tour included three matches against Sporting Alfas Cricket Club, which the school has been visiting for nearly twenty years.

After an early start on the Sunday we had a relatively smooth trip to Alicante from Gatwick Airport at around 2pm in the afternoon. A day of leisure was just what was required and the tourists enjoyed some food before partaking in beach football. The evening was a little more serious with the tour expectations outlined by Mr Webley, Mr Penny and Mr McGowan in a team meeting after dinner. The group outlined some of their own goals in what was a really interactive session.

The Monday morning came around quickly with our fi rst match of the tour. The MTS squad was selected after breakfast and the team had an opportunity before the game to brush off the cobwebs in the nets. The intentions discussed the previous evening, and the intensity shown in the warm up, resulted in a convincing victory for MTS, with Tom McCormick scoring an excellent 58 not out with the bat. Other

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Over the summer holidays, 29 of Merchant Taylors’ best singers spent nine days in Austria,

visiting the cities of Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Vienna, performing in a series of concerts at some very prestigious venues.

The fi rst leg of the tour saw the boys visit Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. As well as visiting his birthplace (the ground fl oor now a Spar supermarket!), the boys took in thesights of picturesque Salzburg from the impressive Salzburg Fortress. The fortress overlooks the cathedral, where the fi rst concert of tour took place the following day. Here, the Vocal Group sang ‘Pastime with Good Company’, composed by Henry VIII, as well as Stephen Paxton’s ‘Breathe Soft Ye Winds’, and ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’, composed by Robert Burns. The Chamber Choir then performed ‘Oculi Omnium’ by Charles Wood, and William Byrd’s ‘Ave Verum Corpus’. The evening was then spent the only way possible in Salzburg – on board the offi cial Sound of Music Tour!

The next day, the group visited the Salt Mines in Halstatt, undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip, before performing an evening concert at Mondsee Abbey, famous for hosting the wedding of Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’. As well as the Chamber Choir and Vocal Group, there were some excellent solo performances. Lawrie Lee sang Handel’s ‘Where’er you Walk’, and James Murphy performed ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’, by Gershwin. The Chamber Choir also performed some more modern numbers, with ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Theme from The Sound of Music’ and ‘Mack The Knife’.

The second leg of the tour saw the boys arrive in Klagenfurt, despite the misfortune of the coach breaking down atop the ‘Grossglockerhochalpenstrasse’ – literally translated as the ‘Great High Alpine Road’. After a slightly longer lunch, the group were welcomed to the youth hostel by a thunderstorm, although this did little to dampen the spirits as Mark Nichols celebrated his birthday with lots of cake! The next day the boys were privileged to

visit the Mayor’s Offi ce for a reception and press conference, complete with an impromptu choir performance. This warm welcome, in addition to a delicious traditional Wiener schnitzel three-course lunch the following day, was kindly organised by Mrs Udell, and ensured that the time in Klagenfurt was a memorable one. Whilst there, the boys performed during mass at Klagenfurt Cathedral, before providing an evening concert, including the Chamber Choir, Vocal Group and two ensemble performances. The Brass Quintet performed ‘March from Die Zauberfl öte’ by Mozart and a selection from ‘Porgy and Bess’ by Gerswhin. Aaron Rozanski and Joe Savage also expertly delivered Bach’s ‘Vivace’ from the Double Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV 1043.

Vienna was the destination for the fi nal leg of the tour, and after experiencing warm climes at Lake Wörthersee in Klagenfurt, the temperature rose dramatically, in what was offi cially the hottest ever July on record in Austria. Despite the temperatures reaching 39C, the boys all managed to

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deliver two more brilliant concerts, at the Votivkirche and St. Peter’s Church. As well as the Chamber Choir, Vocal Group and Brass Quintet, theaudiences in Vienna were treated to solo performances from Oliver Mansfi eld, singing ‘Simple Gifts’ by Aaron Copland, and Ben Peart singing Arthur Sullivan’s ‘The Lost Chord’. Yasar Cohen-Shah also performed an expert organ voluntary, playing Philip Moore’s ‘Paean’ at the Votivkirche.

Whilst in the capital, the group also soaked up the funfair atmosphere at the famous Prater Theme Park, watched a stunning concert of a selection of Mozart and Strauss repertoire at the Schönbrunn Palace, went bowling, and even managed to sneak in a trip to the zoo!

A packed nine days of music and sightseeing rounded off Music Week, and indeed a strong year of music at Merchant Taylors’ as a whole, in the perfect fashion.

Mr H.R. Jones

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In July 2015, four pupils from the Fifth Form and three from the Lower Sixth visited Klagenfurt, in Austria.

accompanied by Mrs Udell and Ms Thornton. In fi ve days of work experience in various departments of the town hall, we gained invaluable work and German-speaking experience. All students could use their German in the real world, some for the fi rst time, as opposed to just learning the language in the classroom. The speed of speaking and vast range of vocabulary proved a challenge at fi rst. However, by the end of the week the increased fl uency of the group in German was clear for all to see.

While the German we have learned and practised at our work experience will help us in our studies towards our A levels, we will also all have a big advantage when looking for work in our later lives. From the Fifth Formers, James Lehmann worked in a nearby Kindergarten und Hort (Kindergarten and pre-school), keeping the children busy and entertained. Sayen Gohil

helped out in Tourismus, giving visitors the necessary information about Klagenfurt, and Nicholas Hwang enjoyed his work in the Exekution (Debt Collecting), the job needing no further explanation. I was given a placement in the Bürgerservice (Civil Service), helping out with the magazine made for senior citizens. Josh Murphy helped the Presseagentur (Press Offi ce of the town hall), whereas Anuj Mavinkurve and Matthew Barton worked in the Praesidium, the main town hall offi ce. Their jobs were quite demanding, translating letters and documents from English into German at the highest level. These Lower-Sixth boys, having won an earlier essay competition in connection with the University of Klagenfurt, stayed on for a three-week intensive German course.

All boys thoroughly enjoyed their jobs, whilst improving their knowledge of German. We stayed in a Jugendgaestehaus in the most perfect location in Klagenfurt.

With the town on one side and the university and Woerthersee, the famous lake, on the other, everyone found it easy to commute.

One of the highlights of the trip was the reception in the town hal l when each student was presented with an exquisite certifi cate as a reward for his work experience by a Governor of Klagenfurt. This trip was once again a success and looks set to continue long into the future. Many thanks go to the Town Hall of Klagenfurt and to German in Austria at Klagenfurt’s University. Thanks must also go to Ms Thornton and of course to Mrs Udell for organising and running such a special trip with the right balance of work and fun throughout.

Xavier Castelino (5ths)

TripsTripsTripsWork Experience in Klagenfurt, Austria

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On the non-academic side of things, a ‘Free-time Programme’ ensured plenty of activities and trips as entertainment. These ranged from visits to Klagenfurt’s marvellous lake to all-day excursions around the county of Kärnten (or Carinthia in English). But introductions in German to Italian, Slovakian and Russian students were not the only non-academic encounters we faced. To simply survive we had to tackle living as a student for three weeks in a German-speaking country. Despite diffi culties (mostly at a certain busy supermarket) we all gained a lot of experience in general life without parents, and two of us even pulled off a pseudo-English Breakfast as our contribution to the International Buffet.

We would like to thank everyone at Deutsch in Österreich, especially the organiser Ms Andrea Pirker for offering to us this chance to develop ourselves as German students and I thank Ms Udell for her efforts in making this wonderful trip a reality.

Matthew Barton (U6)

Three boys – Josh Murphy, Anuj Mavinkurve and Matthew Barton – enjoyed a German language course

held at Klagenfurt University last summer, funded by ‘Deutsch in Österrreich’. The boys gained places on the three week long German course after winning an essay competition.

We very much enjoyed the opportunity on an academic level and also as a chance to meet people from new cultures and backgrounds. The fact that, after aptitude tests, two of the pupils were placed in the second highest set and the other in top set spoke volumes for the quality of teaching we receive at Merchant Taylors’. With ten hours lessons per week and with an additional two hours of workshops per week, the course certainly deserved its title as an “Intensive Course”. The teachers on the course were encouraging and friendly to the end, and the Psychology workshop which we attended was always captivating and thought-provoking. Naturally all three pupils achieved at least a pass in what was a thoroughly challenging course (entirely in German), with one pupil receiving a distinction.

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TripsTripsTripsFourth Form Trip to Burgundy

During the October half term, twenty-nine Fourth-Form pupils took part in the annual trip to

Burgundy, accompanied by Miss Haye, Mr Macleod, and Mr Watts. They were able to enjoy various activities (all led in French) at the Maison Claire Fontaine centre, such as archery, French cooking, challenging circus skills, and more. They had to buy lunch at a local market and later brilliantly presented the meals they had put together. They also visited the fi rst hospital for the poor in Beaune, as well as the beautiful basilica in Vézelay. The highlight of the trip – apart from their French lessons of course – was to taste the excellent cuisine at the centre, not to forget escargots!

Ishy Levy (4ths) writes, “It’s somewhat hard to describe our feelings as the coach crept closer towards La Maison Claire-Fontaine in Burgundy. To begin with, I’ll say there were around thirty of us, having signed up in the hope of improving our French, learning about the culture, or simply spending a week in the countryside with friends. Suffi ce to say, in the following weeks we were not disappointed. Shortly after arrival, we were divided into four

groups, which would not affect which activities we did during the day, but when we did them, and who with. On top of groups, we were allocated dormitories where we would sleep, wash, relax, and prepare for the following day. At fi rst, there was a certain collective apprehension as we came to expect a rigid, school-like timetable, but we soon came to embrace both the freedom and the opportunities that we were presented. Whether touring a city square, exploring a moutarderie, or struggling through conversations with the residents of the nearby villages, our experience constantly felt fl uid and immersive. There were also a number of activities to enjoy on the premises, the garden serving as anything from an archery range to pétanque park. Even mealtimes were memorable, often in the form of familiar dishes given a French twist. In one activity we even had to bake our own desert, an apple tart for which we were given the ingredients and recipe, but everything else was down to us. The results were surprising in looks as well as taste, which varied more than a little! However, our most memorable mealtime must undoubtedly have been our fi nal dinner,

the starters for which were a generous number of escargots. Some were shunned, some were eyed with curiosity, and some were devoured with gusto, but opinions of the edible molluscs were almost as varied as the tarts we had eaten just a day earlier. The visits to the neighbouring towns of Vézelay and Avallon were also unforgettable, specifi cally the simply awe-inspiring basilica that dominated the landscape of Vézelay and houses one of the few surviving relics of Mary Magdalene, the fi rst person to witness Jesus’ resurrection. Reports said the rib of Mary Magdalene has been held in basilica since 1050, a relic which we were fortunate enough to see in the crypt below the impressive roman architecture of the main hall. Overall, the Maison Claire Fontaine experience was one I would certainly recommend to anyone with an interest in modern languages, no matter your age, confi dence, or ability to speak French. The chance to be part of and learn about a foreign culture can appeal to anyone and everyone, especially when it’s a chance to spend time with friends”.

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very impressed (and possibly even a little jealous) of the smart British school uniforms! School visits aside, our guests also had the opportunity to spend some time in Central London, with the London Eye, the Thames river cruise, the Natural History Museum, and shopping in the West End all proving extremely popular amongst the visitors, many of whom were visiting the UK for the very fi rst time. For the duration of the exchange, the Germans lived with their English exchange-partners. This allowed the opportunity for real language immersion, and to develop the skills required for quickly adapting to new people and places in the future. The return leg of the trip to Hamburg took place in the

Easter break, accompanied by Mr Pacey and Mrs Davis (St Helen’s), with a mixed group of boys and girls from the two schools.

Mr M.W. Pacey

The second annual exchange between Merchant Taylors’ and the Matthias Claudius Gymnasium

kicked off in October 2015 with the arrival of ten students from the Hamburg grammar school, accompanied by English and History teacher Frau Eva Gogolin. As single-sex schools are practically non-existent in Germany, it was quite a novelty for the German boys and girls to part ways, with the former attending classes at Merchant Taylors’ and the latter at St Helen’s. One of the many aims of the exchange is for the Germans to experiences the similarities and the differences between the two styles of schooling in Germany and the UK. The Germans were

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TripsTripsTrips Fourth Form French Exchange

It’s 5:30 AM, and I’ve been woken up to the sound of an unfamiliar alarm. Not an entirely pleasant experience,

but one that has been made considerably more interesting by the fact that I’m not at home. True, I will have to be on the bus to school in less than an hour, but I won’t be going to my school. And when I arrive to see dozens of students already gathered in groups, standing, laughing, and talking together, I’ll fi nd that the simple matter of knowing what is being said is considerably harder than usual, because they won’t be talking in English. And that is just a small snapshot, but a common theme, of the Fourth Form French exchange. I can’t deny that a kind of frantic haze surrounded the trip, but this had nothing to do with the impeccable organisation of the teachers involved. Instead, it came from the wonder for another country; for its history, for its culture, and for its language. And there you have it. To describe the journey as an eye-opener is too passive for the week spent in Versailles. It was a brilliant, hectic experience, fi lled with good food, breath-taking views, and unforgettable experiences with new-found friends in a warm and welcoming family. And I, for one, loved every minute of it.

Ishy Levy (4ths)

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TripsTripsTripsSki Trip to Les Menuires

We were fortunate to enjoy near ideal skiing conditions during our stay in Les Menuires.

Following heavy snow falls the previous week, the weather cleared and the visibility was great for several days.

The beginners groups had a great time working through the wide green and blue pistes around Les Menuires, before progressing to red runs further up the mountain. Our top two groups explored great black and red runs around Les Menuires, before progressing to skiing the glaciers around Val Thoren. The instructors remarked that out top skiers were amongst the best they have met this season, whilst all of our beginners made impressive progress. Quite apart from the conditions and stunning landscape, another major appeal of Les Menuires is buzz of the local area; every evening we ran an activity either in the comfort of our hotel or in the local area. We were lucky enough to catch the annual Les Menuires versus Val Thorens rugby fi xture from the comfort of our own balconies; it was played outside our hotel on snow and featured a number of ex-internationals. There was a real festival atmosphere. We also got to know the local area through treasure hunts, with 6th and 5th Formers heading up small teams and competing against one another. Many of the older boys also played fi ve-a-side football against local teams. From a teacher’s perspective, perhaps the most distinctive feature of the trip was the poise and leadership shown by the older boys. Quite apart from their leadership of teams during organised events all of our Sixth and Fifth-Form boys spent time getting to know younger pupils, helped them to get organised in the mornings, led by example and were fantastic representatives of the school.

Mr J.D. Manley

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TripsTripsTripsFootball Tour to St George’s Park

The MTS football team made their way to St George’s Park in Burton, England’s national

football centre. It boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including exact replica Wembley football pitches (indoor and outdoor), Futsal arenas and sports science facilities such as hydrotherapy suites and altitude chambers. It is the home of all 24 England national teams, and many other professional teams stop by to use its facilities, for example Barcelona made a stay last year. When we arrived at the on-site hotel, we discovered our neighbours for the weekend would be the England, Italy, Norway and Czech Republic U16 teams. The boys were not fazed, though there was a tangible feeling that we were brushing shoulders with elite sportsmen.

The weekend involved lots of football. The boys enjoyed a Futsal (indoor 5-a-side football) session and two football sessions over the three days, all coached by FA licensed coaches. The coaches focused on basic skills and provided dynamic and enjoyable sessions. The boys no doubt learned a lot from the coaches who were as amusing as they were experienced. The boys also experienced the sports science side of being a professional sportsman and were put to the test on the Friday afternoon

in sprinting and squatting. Congratulations to James Harrison for winning the sprints! After a gruelling session they were able to relax in the hydrotherapy suite, mixing between warm water and a lovely ice bath.

In a jam-packed weekend, we even managed to fi t in a trip to Walsall to see the top of the table clash between League One outfi ts Walsall and Wigan. It proved to be an excellent match, with Walsall losing 2-1, and we were treated to three excellent long-range goals. Even so, the highlight of the match for the boys was a certain

England international, namely Chris Smalling, sitting in the stands immediately in front of Rishi Bagdai. The boys also ate well. The hotel provided a private all-you-can-eat buffet on both nights.

Well done to all the boys on a great tour, who were keen, interested and motivated throughout.

Mr J.A. Eales

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MOTM goes to Millbank who carried the ball well and was a regular fi gure in the breakdown.

Game day 2v Blackrock College

0-34MOTM: Millbank

Thursday 22nd OctoberAfter a thrilling tour of Croke park in the morning and a relaxing afternoon in the hotel we headed off for our under lights kick off at Cill Dara. Taylors started very much on the back foot after early pressure from Cill Dara enabled them to tscore early. However, Taylors made a swift reply with Salkeld scoring from a well-worked penalty. Two more tries for Cill Dara at half time meant they went into the break with a 17-7 lead. With the opposition scoring early, Taylors had to pull back a 15 point defi cit. Davey scored a well-worked try but then Cill Dara reinstalled their lead with a soft try. However in the last minutes of the game tries from Steene and Davey saw the gap to only 5 points, but time was up. The forwards were ever present at the breakdown and most notably Salkeld who

was everywhere on the pitch. A spirited effort and a fantastic way to fi nish the tour.

Game day 3v Cill Dara RFC

24-29Tries: Davey x 2, Salkeld and Steene

Cons: Brown x 2MOTM: Salkeld

Friday 23rd OctoberAfter our fi nal meal at our hotel we departed and set off to the airport for our journey back home. Although we did not win any games it was a great experience and most were able to witness very entertaining games of rugby.

John Hoh (Divisions)

Monday 19th OctoberWe set off to Heathrow airport at around 6AM. After checking in and taking our place on the plane tour law was enforced and off we went to Ireland. When the short journey fi nished we travelled to our hotel and unpacked our stuff before heading out to train with the Leinster coaches. The session was full of useful and testing drills but this meant we were well-prepared for our challenging fi xtures ahead.

Tuesday 20th OctoberAfter a morning session of paintballing, we set off for our fi rst game of the tour. Merchant Taylors’ were put on the back foot early after a St. Michael’s penalty. However, this provoked a reply with Ben Carter scoring a try from a tidy move between the forwards in the opposition 22, later followed by a great individual try by Tom Steene who converted both as well. However, St. Michael’s pulled a try back to make the half time score 14-10. Straight after kick off in the second half Fitzgeraldbundled the ball over to score converted by Steene. However, what followed was St. Michael’s scoring 15 unanswered points to win the game 25-21. Tom Steene played well at 10 scoring 13 points for team but the MOTM award goes to Tommy Deane for his tireless effort.

Game day 1v St Michaels

21-25Tries: Steene, Carter and Fitzgerald

Cons- Steene x 3MOTM: Deane

Wednesday 21st OctoberAfter a “light” training session on the pitches next to the hotel, we set off for an afternoon kick off at Blackrock College knowing we were in for the toughest game of the tour. The fi rst fi ve minutes belonged to Taylors keeping possession well and looking threatening. However, after that Blackrock started to show their class scoring 19 points in the fi rst half. The second half took over from where the fi rst half left with Blackrock scoring an extra 15 points. However, Taylors showed great character to keep fi ghting and try and get a score despite facing heavy pressure.

TripsTripsTrips Rugby Tour to Ireland

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Echoes of Munich’s history are never far away: beneath its lacquered surfaces abound half-

forgotten references to its complicated past. So, during the May half term, some thirty Divisions boys and their teachers travelled to the city. On the fi rst day we retraced the steps of the Putschisten, the resistance movements, and the Nazi high command. We journeyed to Nuremberg, on the second, to explore the infamous rally grounds and to nurse our academic curiosity in its remarkable museum. On the third day we enjoyed a coach ride to Berchtesgaden, to visit Hitler’s mountain retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus, nestled in the snow-capped Bavarian Alps. Our fi nal destination was the camp at Dachau.

Throughout the trip boys were especially well fed and watered, typically in one of Munich’s ubiquitous beer halls or Wirtshäuser. The great hunks of roasted pork were quick to catch on; even the carbonated mineral water won several admirers. Our hotel – a mere thirty-minute bummel from Leo von Klenze’s magnifi cent city centre – offered warm sanctuary after these long days exploring. The party is indebted to Mr Flower, for his superb itinerary, and grateful to Mr Taylor and Mr Try, who were integral to the success of the trip.

Mr A.A. Watts

TripsTripsTripsA Visit to Munich

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The Lower-Sixth geographers spent an enjoyable and productive four days in Devon investigating the

need for and success of rural rebranding and the pressures on coastal environments, together with carrying out an assessment of coastal management schemes.

TripsTripsTrips Geography Fieldwork in Devon

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Rugby – 1st XV

Pre-season started back in February with 7am strength and conditioning sessions twice weekly and

continued throughout the summer with gruelling track sessions. The squad moved onto Cardiff Camp where the usual mix of intense fi tness and pitch training was complemented by spending time with Lions and Welsh centre Jamie Roberts. Preparations for the season were fi nished off with a match against the Louis Rose XV; the squad learnt some valuable lessons in a close fought match played in excellent spirit.

St Albans always marks the start of the season, and an away match makes it even trickier. Taylors’ started at a fast pace and rocked the St Albans forward pack with Coull and Keener physically dominant. This allowed Porter and Lambert to pull the strings behind, Taylors’ fi nishing with a 20-7 victory. Some diffi cult matches followed, especially against the unbeaten Magdalen College Oxford. Taylors’ camped on the MCS try line for the fi nal seven minutes of the match, but couldn’t

quite fi nish the opposition off, with the fi nal score 12-6 to MCS.

UCS were dispatched with a clinical performance, Porter nailing kicks from the tee and Reynolds and Salkeld putting in powerful ball carrying performances. The fi nal match before half-term was for the ‘The Todd-Raphael Salver’ at Allianz Park

against Mill Hill. Smart and Seabrook set the platform with outstanding individual performances and the front fi ve produced Premiership-level rolling mauls which resulted in three tries. Taylors’secured the Salver for the second year running with a 25-19 win.

SportSportSportSportRugby

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With the second half of term arriving so did the wind and rain. A powerful Bloxham side turned up at Sandy Lodge with the aim of overpowering Taylors’. The difference was one Porter penalty, Taylors’ winning 3-0.

The business end of the season had arrived with two trophies up for grabs in two weeks. First up was the Friday night match away at Henley RFC against a committed Shiplake side. It was a back-and-forth match with the lead changing hands several times. Hugo Anthony then cut through Shiplake to score a match winning try from 40 metres out. The Stephen Wright Cup went to MTS for the second year running.

It was Haberdashers’ turn to visit Sandy Lodge at the end of a hugely successful Rugby Week, which needed fi nishing off in style and that was the challenge for the 1st XV. The rain and wind was biblical, which saw a superior Taylors’ side pegged back. Anthony was the hero again, this time on the defensive side, chasing back with cramp in both legs to beat two Haberdashers’ players to the ball and a certain try. Taylors’ retained the ‘Friday Night Lights Cup’ with a 10-0 win.

At the start of the season the team set the goal of winning all four trophies in which they compete. They were cruelly deprived of this with a last minute loss in the fi nal match of the season against MTS Crosby. I must thank all members of the squad for their commitment. They were a pleasure to coach and made the school proud of their efforts. Theo Reynolds and Jack Lambert did outstanding jobs as vice-captains. Christian Coull stepped up and led from the front and couldn’t have been a more committed captain. My thanks also to Mr Evans-Evans and Mr Lambert for all their efforts in helping to coach the team.

Mr A.J. Mills

Squad: C. Coull (Captain), T. Reynolds (Vice-Captain), J. Lambert (Vice-Captain), H. Anthony, A. Brooker, J. Seabrook, N. Stephenson, O. Smart, B. Wood, J. Salkeld, W. Hunt, A. Keener, T. Lawrence, L. Jellicoe, L. Parry-Billings, J. Harrison, L. Duckworth, A. Nanji, O. Fox, T. Bannon, S. Peters, C. Aarons, S. Li, P. Nieto O’Brien, C. Savage

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Rugby – 2nd XV

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Following a successful move in the previous season there was a continuation of rugby policy in 2015 to make the prime role of the 2nd XV to prepare players for 1st XV rugby, so that when a 1st XV player was unavailable, unfi t or lost form they could be replaced seamlessly. The wider 1st XV squad, comprising around 40 players, therefore trained together and were treated in the same manner throughout the season. This policy again saw a signifi cant number of players who started in the 2nds promoted to the 1sts; in several cases remaining there for the duration. Once again, a peripheral benefi t was that the 2nd XV played a level of rugby far above that achieved when they prepared as a separate entity and which saw them outplay many of their opponents.

The season got off to a worrying start with a nasty injury to fl y-half Charlie Warren triggering the abandonment of tight encounter at St Albans’ but ended with a stunning comeback victory against Eton in which a fi t again Charlie played a full and infl uential part. There were frustrating losses along the way to Haileybury, Habs and UCS and the overall superb ‘two thirds’ win ratio could perhaps have been even better still.

Although it seems slightly incongruous to name-check any individual in such a tight-knit and selfl ess squad it is right to record the achievements of ‘Captain Fantastic’ Sam Peters who ended the season as top scorer and the owner of the ’player of the year’ and ‘players’ player of the year’ awards.

On the training paddock the 2nd XV proved themselves to be extremely ’coachable’ and translated much of the playing framework to match day where they acquitted themselves admirably, played with heart and spirit and on occasions produced scintillating rugby that had the touchline buzzing with appreciation.

Mr N.D. Lambert

Squad: C. Aarons, T. Bannon, D. Birkinshaw, A. Brooker, M. Brown, N. Clifton, T. Davies, J. Gibson, A. Graham, J. Harrison, W. Howells, W. Hunt, H.

Itabashi, C. Jervis, J. Johal, C. Lewis, S. Li, D. Loftus, C. McDermott, N. Muller, A. Nanji, P. Nieto O’Brien, L. Parry-Billings, S. Peters, F. Sargent, C. Savage, N. Stephenson, N. Skovron, P. Tugnait, J. Vakil, C. Warren, J. Withers

Rugby – 3rd XV

The 3rd XV enjoyed a strong season consisting of three wins, two draws and two losses. The fi rst half of term was bursting with fi xtures and saw the boys pick up impressive wins against Watford,

Wellington and a 41-0 thrashing of MCS. However their most impressive result was the 17-17 draw away at St Albans where, three tries down going into half-time, the boys showed great character to claw their way back into the fi xture. Unfortunately, many fi xtures scheduled for the second half of term were cancelled and the boys went four weeks without a game. This left them rusty for the signifi cant opponents of Eton and Haileybury where they suffered two losses. Whilst results have been mixed, performances have on the whole been good. The more experienced forwards such as Driver, Murphy and Sargin have

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led from the front while the fl air provided by younger backs such as Seery, Vaughan and Aurora has led to some impressive tries. Player of the Season Will Sheard was a reliable presence at full back and the top try scorer was Chris Driver with six tries.

Mr M.J. Prestshaw

Squad: J. Sargin, J. Andraous, J. Apps, N. Shah, T. Davies, J. Murphy, J. Johal, C. Driver, C. Cowan, D. Birkinshaw, J. Oyenuga, H. Zaman, J. Seery, M. Vaughan, R. Vora, J. Vakil, M. Nimmo, K. Aurora, A. Jung, W. Sheard, D. Surkes, A. Vettivetipillai

Rugby – 4th XV

Early season fi xtures against Haberdashers’ and Mill Hill hinted at a youthful, skilful team who struggled against more physical opponents (of which there were many…), but who were able to play with fl air and panache with the ball in hand. Joe Rogan marshalled the back line and controlled the tempo; Alessandro Arnaldi emerged as a playmaker; Roman Murphy and Alex Hattam in particular caught the eye as hard-working forwards (the latter collecting plenty of tries along the way); Hugo Parry, probably the stand out player over the last few seasons, was excellent when he played; and Ali Abdelaal and Farooq Shitta-Bey proved what devastating runners they could be, the latter collecting the accolade for top try scorer of the season. At our best – such as in the magnifi cent demolition of Wellington – the 4th XV played a wonderful brand of champagne rugby: spreading our attack from one fl ank to the other, supporting the ball carrier, offl oading when the opportunity arose and dominating the contact area. Although some were occasionally reluctant to admit to enjoying themselves, the 31 players who played for the 4th XV have contributed to a successful season and I thank them for their efforts.

Mr T.W. Jenkin

A. Govani, R. Banger, N. Shah, R. Murphy, H. Khan, D. Philpott, J. Honigberger, O. Cohen, J. Seery, A. Armour, M. Nicholls, E. Reeves, J. Regan, H. Khan, A. Abdelaal, S. Kara, F. Shitta-Bey, R. Vora, K. Khanna, J. Cowan, H. Parry, D. Surkes, A. Arnaldi, J. Ng, A. Bayar, A. Hattam, B. Collis, T. Ellis, V. Chhapwale

Rugby – U16A

Rugby this term for the U16 squad has been exceptional, with the development of 40 players across 4 months resulting in one of the most successful seasons to date. The U16As have won all but two games and stated a real claim for 1st team shirts next year. The captain, Luke Parry, has been an outstanding leader and led from the front in every instance; he is one of the fi ttest and most hardworking players who set an example followed by the rest of the team. It is diffi cult to not mention every player in this report as they all deserve it, however I must highlight the performances of Ben Gould who was one of the most exciting players to watch. He was the top try scorer and will be one to watch in senior rugby next year.

Our most memorable win was against Skinners School during Rugby Week where the game was played under lights. The fi rst half was dominated by Skinners and was the most physical encounter the boys had experienced. What happened in the second half was probably the best 30 minutes I have seen in a MTS jersey given the conditions and the opposition we were playing against. MTS fought back and took Skinners to pieces by using clever tactics and eliminating their strengths.

Well done to the whole U16 squad for what has been a very memorable season.

Mr L.D. Foot

Squad: H. Stevens, H. Parry, J. Singh, D. Gates, F. McKenzie, F. Murphy O’Connor, O. Cross, B, Gould, B. Jones, D. Mahon, F. Hart, H. Heenan-Jalil, J. Burling, O, Olubode, I. Rather, A, Yuen, C. Loftus, S. Aggarwal

Rugby – U16B

The U16B team had a fantastic season under the astute captaincy of Sameer Aggarwal who was ably supported by the hard-working Matthew Cooper. Winning seven out of nine games refl ects all the hard work the squad put in and the improvement in skills that we as coaches witnessed. Ollie Carter was an outstanding presence throughout (bagging a dozen tries overall), closely followed by Nathan Ferguson (10),

as well as Alex Lush and Chris Loftus (both 6). Tom Richards provided fantastic accuracy with the boot and accumulated 66 points during the season.

The team scored 395 points (at 44 per game) and conceded just 93 (at 10 per game) all season with 21 different try scorers.

The highlights were probably the last three games and included the destruction of Haberdashers’ (66-0), Haileybury (73-0) and the fi nal game of the season against a very strong Eton side who were put to the sword 27-12. This fi nal game was one of the most complete performances I have seen at this level and provided compelling evidence that senior rugby is inheriting some genuine depth from the current U16 cohort.

The boys have made it one of the most successful and enjoyable seasons in recent memory and I thank them for all their efforts.

Mr T.C.H. Greenaway

Squad: J. Sieradzki, J. Rabin, J. Tomaszewski, M. Wyeth, I. Bright, E. Omale, K. Patel, S. Aggarwal, M. Cooper, A. Lush, Z. Aslam, C. Jervis, L. Allen, A. Palmer, T. Townsend, O. Carter, T. Matheickal, M. Avanzato, N. Ferguson, D. Sarin, C. Loftus, T. Richards, E. Eagles

Rugby – U16C

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The U16Cs had an excellent season, only losing to strong Eton and Bloxham sides. Ably led in the latter stages of the season by Selvan Senthilkumaran, captaincy was initially held by Zain Aslam who was promoted to the B’s after two games. Dhruv Sarin and Tom Townsend were also promoted. The opening two games against Bedford and Wellington saw the side come alive in the second half to seal away victories against very strong rugby schools. The next two fi xtures were convincing wins against local rivals Watford Grammar and Magdalen, two tighter games with strong performances from Sam Kent, Andrew Aresti and Tom Mynard in the forwards, and George Williams, Ashely Patel and Jamie James in the backs. The fi nal two games of the season were

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unfortunately losses against the always tough Eton and new fi xture, Bloxham. The Player of the Season was Selvan Senthilkumaran for his strong leadership and good communication, and the Most Improved Player was Nathan Horne for consistently excellent improvement over the whole season. A very good season that was thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

Mr I.L. Smith & Mr J. Hibbert

Squad: A. Aresti, Z. Aslam, R. Berry, R. Chadha, J. Davies, R. Dehiri, K. Haria, R. Haskurti, M. Henry, A. Heskin, N. Horne, J. James, S. Kent, C. Keschari-Robson, G. Kraftman, M. Mamtora, A. Moseley, T. Mynard, T. Oakton, S. Patki, D. Sarin, S. Senthilkumaran, T. Townsend, G. Williams

Rugby – U15AThe U15As have had a magnifi cent season, fi nishing with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, whilst utilising 26 players. The A and B team have trained together for the past two seasons, which has resulted in a 43 man strong squad, all vying for places in the match day line-up. The clear benefi t of this has been witnessed through the development of, now established, A team players, who were once playing for the B or C team. Matthew Fitzgerald made the number 2 jersey his own, through his aggressive ball carrying and outstanding work around the tackle area. Likewise, Charlie Bridgewater stepped up to provide us with our own Cian Healy. Harry O’Sullivan continued his meteoric rise through the age group and will provide an exciting lineout option next year. Jack Leathem moved from wing to full back and took to the new role immediately, causing all sorts of havoc, as he instinctively launched himself into the backline. The highlight of the past two seasons undoubtedly came in the fi nal fi xture against Eton. The victory was thoroughly deserved and proved that this group of players is capable of mixing it with the strongest schools on the circuit.

Mr R.J. Try

Squad: J. Hoh, M. Fitzgerald, C. Bridgewater, B. Carter, A. Kerley, N. Gillyon, B. Salkeld, T. Deane, F. Oxenham, T. Steene, T. Holes, J. Davey, M. John, B. Kantaria, J. Leathem, T. Williams, W.

Milbank, O. McNaughton, H. O’Sullivan, J. Qureshi, O. Mansfi eld, R. Clarke, T. Miller, S. Topping, J. Lewis

Rugby – U15B

The U15Bs developed hugely over the course of the season. They were a little ‘ring-rusty’ at the beginning of the season and succumbed to early defeats away at St Albans and Watford – both of which were close fought and disappointing in a number of ways. However, the boys really

stepped up their performance levels as the season went on. They trained splendidly, looking to impose an uncomplicated but effective structure on both the attacking and defensive sides of their game. This reaped rich reward as the conceded fewer than 50 points and scored nearly 200 in their last 6 games. The culmination of this excellent effort came in their fi nal fi xture of the year against Eton. As U14 players, they lost this fi xture last year by 50 points. However, they showed just how far they have come by running out winners by 18 points, scoring fi ve tries in the process and

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defending magnifi cently. They will be a formidable force as U16 players and I would hope to see a goodly number representing the school in the 1st XV as they enter the Sixth Form. They have been a pleasure to coach and I look forward to seeing how they develop over the next three years.

Mr B.J.C. Horan

Squad: J. Lewis (C), Z. Sheikh (VC), K. Amin, T. Boyle, A. Broomhead, L. Cahn-Brown, D. Cohen, S. Davies, N. Dixon, A. Gardner, J. Haywood, W. Millbank, Z. Murphy, T. Nayrouz, R. Ossman, O. Oyenuga, H. O’Sullivan, D. Pindoria, O. Powell-Tuck, J. Ricciardiello, K. Sheikh, J. Softleigh-Moore, B. Topping, A. Thomas, F. Tyrrell, H. Zuberi

Rugby – U15C

The Under 15Cs truly embodied what it means to be a team. There is no question that every boy has improved as a player. Also, by buying into the intense training sessions and team mentality, the results and atmosphere in both training and matches have been fantastic, even on the wettest days. I think any season where points scored are quadruple those conceded can be seen as a success, especially when no week saw the same starting line-up. To pick out individual players could be unfair to those not mentioned due to the great efforts from all, however, the leadership of Aman Ghai was stand out. From try scorers to ruck winners, big hitters to decision makers, even the injured boys who turned up to support the team when they couldn’t play, every boy has played their part and enriched this term. Our thanks to them all.

Mr H. Hutchings & Mr J.D. Innes

Squad: A. Ghai, H. Forsyth, B. Marcus, C. Iggulden, M. Ellmore, D. Lehman, Z. Murphy, J. Ricciardiello, , N. Dixon, P. Wilson, M. Bowden, D. Bhundia, L. Phipps, B. Chouhan, G. Arora, L. Duggan, E. Banks, T. Nayrouz, S. Ryde, J. Harris, W. Berrecloth, V. Shah, D. Pindoria, A. Berisha, A. Samoylov

Rugby – U15D

The U15Ds swiftly recovered from a sluggish fi rst fortnight of term. Ever susceptible to hard-won individual promotions, the team showed resistance in defence, and also some ability to attack, across the rest of the season. Small and incremental improvements in handling, positioning, and communication began to accumulate, especially in the second half of term. Soneel Bhattessa was a model of low-key determination in tackles and mauls. George Snape danced and screamed with conviction, rallying the side. Twins Aman and Anil Parmar, who richly deserve their accolade of most outstanding players, provided a more sober counterpoint that was no less effective. Marcus Chaplin, Oskar Ford, and Kabir Mandair likewise made standout contributions. By the time of the last quarter of the fi nal fi xture, versus Eton, the players, under Zachary Gordon’s excellent captainship, took hold of the game and truly dominated. It was an excellent way to fi nish the season.

Mr A.A. Watts

Squad: A. Parmar, M. Chaplin, A. Parmar, A. Singh, R. Kapoor, M. Melly, P. Keener, O. Hassan, T. Harrison, K. Patel, O. Ford, Y. Guezour, K. Mandair, Z. Gordon, S. Bhattessa, K. Solanki, A. Moskofi an, A. Oomerjee, A. Popat, M. Malik

Rugby – U14A

After a slow start, our hard work developing our handling paid off, resulting in our fi rst win against Watford Grammar. We simply outplayed them. The half term ended with a 3 loss 3 win ratio, fi nishing against Bloxham (one of the most intense games of rugby most of us had ever played). We defended like our lives depended on it in the last fi ve minutes, holding onto a 17-12 win.

The second half of our season started with a disappointing loss against Shiplake College where we were the only team in the entire school to lose. This was our biggest low of the season and with the game under lights just around the corner, we knew we had to improve. We came up against a huge Mill Hill team which

we knew would be strong. A gigantic centre partnership was matched by us with a completely new pairing which kept them at bay. However, the forwards were superb in this game. Against a much larger pack they managed to win a lot of ball and completely dominated them at the breakdown. This was our best performance by far, winning 37-15.

We ended the season with 10 games played, 5 wins and 5 losses. But we don’t need statistics. We all feel that we have improved dramatically and can’t wait to continue growing in seasons to come.

Finn Edwards (4ths)

Squad: H. Lidstone, O. Gilbert, T. Szostak, B. Edwards, R. Pattni, S. Duce, J. Townsend, F. Ogunyemi, C. Byr ne, T. Wickham, T. McCormick, F. Edwards, B. Fallowfi eld, V. Mastin, O. Lavelle, B. Alvi, R. Day, E. Woolley, S. Bickerstaff, S. Lee, J. Rich, R. Nicholls, Y. Yoshie, S. Khurjekar, A. Hart

Rugby – U14B

Played 12 Won 10 Lost 2(1 loss to Orleans Park A team)

If all the business of rugby, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavour to fi nd out what you don’t know by what you do, then this season was a stunning success for the U14Bs. They learned swiftly and implemented a quick tempo, highly skilled game plan to a tee. After crushing wins over all local rivals, plus a Reichenbach Falls-esque struggle with Reading Blue Coat, the team entered the fi nal game at Eton undefeated against a B team (Orleans Park’s A team had scalped them in the late November sunshine). Although Eton’s gargantuan side emerged victorious, the U14Bs should feel proud of their efforts in this monumental season.The backs were captivating, spearheaded by that great warrior-poet Sam Bickerstaff, the willow-the-wisp half backs Sam Lee and Eddie Woolley, and the blunt force trauma of Paddy Green. The forwards, steered by the teak-tough trio of Ruaridh Nicholls, Andrew Ingate and Jo Rich, evolved into the rucking equivalent of a threshing machine, guaranteeing quick ball against all comers. I hope the squad enjoyed this

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invigorating season. Thank you to all who played, to the stellar Mr Barnwell, and the parents for their unstinting support.

Mr M.W.S. Hale

Squad: S. Bickerstaff (c), K. Kassam, O. Speller, B. Chan, M. Arlen, R. Nicholls, R. Pattni, S. Khurjekar, J. Townsend, D. Jones, J. Rich, S. Nicholson, R. Day, A. Ingate, A. Arivalagan, E. Woolley, S. Lee, C. Byrne, P. Green, A. Hart, B. Alvi, Y. Yoshi, B. Fallowfi eld, S. Patel, F. Maintzer, V. Matthews, J, Burdell, J. Baxter, J. Wu, J. Graham, J. Goldman

Rugby – U14C

2015 has been a successful season for the U14Cs; they recorded impressive wins against Haileybury, Haberdashers’ and Magdalen College School. Whilst the individual talents in the C team are considerable, what has impressed me most is their character. They have faced tough conditions and tougher opposition but have been fearless in their pursuit of their collective goals. The extent of their progress was shown against Haileybury in one of the best performances of the season. The pack controlled the set piece and the ruck, whilst the back row were especially tireless in their work around the fringes and made intelligent decisions going forward. Sachin Shah produced some great footwork and handling to put blind side wingers and centres into space. Our most memorable performance came, however, in defeat against Eton. MTS produced a composed fi rst half of rugby, rattling the opposition and cruising to a twelve point lead. Eton were unable to manage MTS wide in the wide channels, and frustrated by the tenacity of our much smaller pack. The second half, however, was a different story and with the wind at their back and an intelligent kicking game Eton edged into the lead and an eventual victory. The result was disappointing, but the game was fi ttingly exciting and expansive.

Mr J.H. Tyler

Squad: R. Sheikh, S. Morris, H. Robb, J. Baxter (c), M. Barnfather, J. Goldman, C. Hassan, V. Mathews, J. Graham, S. Shah, K. Patel, F. Maintzer, L. Lee, S. Thobhani, V. Busschop, M. Alexander-Bryan, J. Burdall, A. Dave

Rugby – U14D

The team ended the year with a record of two wins and two defeats but all players have gained valuable experience and have improved their rugby skills immensely.The season opened with a fi xture at Bedford in which MTS were leading at half-time. However, Bedford took advantage of the match experience they had gained from a previous fi xture and as Taylors’ tired in the second half and injuries took their toll, Bedford scored a number of tries to run out comfortable winners 41-19. In training, the U14Ds worked hard on their tackling technique and effective rucking which was refl ected in their best performance of the year in their second match against Wellington College. After taking an early 14-0 through tries from Rintaro Tanaka and Pandias Margaronis both converted by Shrian Thobani, Taylors’ defended valiantly for long periods, winning a thrilling encounter 14-12. Now on a roll, the following week Taylors’ crushed Reigate Grammar school with a resounding 57-5 victory which saw seven different try scorers. Eight weeks of preparation then followed before the fi nal fi xture against Eton. Sadly, despite being a fairly even game for large periods of the match, Taylors’ lost 52 – 7 to an Eton side who clearly had benefi tted from signifi cantly more game time. Player of the Season was awarded to second row forward Millan Dhawan for his consistently impressive displays, always leading by example when it came to rucking and tackling, whilst Most Improved Player went to fl anker Rintaro

Tanaka who demonstrated excellent athletic ability and scored a number of important tries this season.

Mr A.S. Miller

Squad: K. Chauhan (c), A. Anwar, M. Dhawan, C. Dora, G. Dora, H. Karim, S. Kohler, A. Kushevica, M. Mangat, P. Margaronis, R. Mehta, A. Murghai, K. Patel, S. Pemberton, A. Sardharwalla, A. Siddiqi, R. Swan, R. Tanaka, S. Thobhani

Rugby – U14E

The U14E XV began with glorious performances against Bedford School and a quite astonishing victory against Reading Blue Coat U14 C XV, with Rintaro Tanaka scoring three tries in a 27-19 victory. With Wellington College unable to fi eld a side, it was Bedford School that provided opposition in the fi rst half of term. Captain Tom Payne ran the game from scrum half where his four-try haul helped secure a 56-17 win away at Bedford. The return fi xture was equally convincing - 53-0 with an early fi nish. This game saw the emergence of two powerful runners in Hayden Carr (2 tries) and Adam Haffar - recently promoted from the Championship and self-proclaimed “King of Rugby” who deservedly won the award for Most Improved Player. After 8 tries in two games against Bedford, it was inevitable that Tom Payne would go on to be named Player of the Season. In our last match against Eton, a tight encounter was only settled by the brilliance of the

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opposition full back who ran through the defence twice from 70 yards to score two fi ne tries. We were unlucky to lose 7-17. Some of these players will almost certainly go on to represent senior sides. The speed and physicality of the likes of Munir Shariff and Nirujan Kamalanathan were matched by the elusive running of Varun Sharma and Imran Dewji. The front row was particularly scary; Florent-Gupta-Haffar ... remember those names as they will be a symbol of resistance as permanent as the Berlin Wall. Our thanks go to all the players of U14 Game 3 for their spirit and sense of adventure. Allez l’équipe de rêve 2016!

Mr F.R. Vignal & Mr J.G. Taylor

Squad: B. Florent, A Gupta, A. Haffar, R. Ranan, Z. Torns, N. Kamalanathan, S. Stanhope, H. Carr, T. Payne (capt), A. Merali, N. Patel, T. Mangat, V. Gokkakar, I. Dewji, V. Sharma, B. Roberts, M. Gharial, J. Ellis, D. Hosnaini, P. Brown, M. Shariff

Rugby – U13A

The U13s were the fi rst to make an appearance in this season’s ‘Rugby Week’ and despite being in the middle of the hockey term, and with limited preparation, the team played extremely well and recorded their fi rst win against Northwood Prep. This performance showed their potential and proved to be a precursor to an excellent rugby term.

Though the team lost to a physical Haileybury side in their fi rst match after Christmas they were strong in defeat and a hidden resolve and steeliness became apparent. This group clearly love their rugby and are at their best at ‘game time’ and a win against Salvatorian soon followed before perhaps the performance of the season at Berkhamsted where a handsome win and an even more admirable performance was delivered.

The squad comprised players from last year’s U13As who had clearly benefi ted from the experience of the season before, other Upper 3rds gaining promotion and a tranche of U12s new to the school. These three groups blended seamlessly in training and on match day and secured

further wins against St Martin’s, Orley Farm and Reed’s whilst falling just short against UCS and in a return fi xture at Haileybury.

In the middle of all the 15-a-side action a squad of ten also enjoyed success at the St Martin’s 7s tournament, retaining the trophy that MTS fi rst won last season.

The record will show six wins and three losses but even in defeat this squad fought manfully and learned from the experience. The emotion shown at the fi nal whistle of the last game demonstrated just how much these boys want to succeed and when blended with the upcoming intake a powerful rugby unit is in the making.

Mr A.J. Mills

Squad: P. Aarons, M. Alexander-Bryan, J. Brennan, J. Burdall, C. Byrne, D. Byrne, B. Chan, S. Duggan, B. Edwards, F. Edwards, A. Florestein, D. Jones, S. Khurjekar, O. Lavelle, S. Lee, R. Nicholls, F. Ogunyemi, J. Savage, T. Szostak, J. Townsend, T. Wickham

Rugby – U13B

The U13Bs had mixed season with some very good wins alongside some unfortunate heavy losses. They were ably led by Josh ‘Courage’ Goldman who was indomitable in attack and defence. A mix

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of 3rds and Upper 3rds presented a unique coaching challenge, with several boys having never played rugby before, but who were regular starters by the end of the term, Archie Brown, Louis Davies and Jasper Jobling among them. Length of the fi eld runs were common from Sachin Shah, and power in the engine room was often provided by Munraaj Mangat at lock. It was a very enjoyable season and I am sure there is much more to come from the boys next year.

Mr J. Hibbert

Squad: M. Horne, J. Wu, H. Robb, M. Mangat, A. Siddiqi, A. Fraser, J. Goldman, J. Burdall, V. Buschopp, C. Hassan, E. Poole, J. Drown, S. Shah, C. Dora, L. Davies, C. Fraser, L. Lee, T. Hattam, J. Jobling, C. Horridge, O. Murphy

Rugby – U13C The U13Cs have enjoyed what for many of them was their fi rst taste of rugby. The boys approached training sessions with enthusiasm but took a long time to come to terms with the seemingly endless new rules and strategies. By the end of the fi rst half of term the boys were starting to transfer the core skills they had developed in their mini-games into real match situations during competitive sessions with the U13D team. In these matches the boys started to get to grips with scrummaging, rucking, and eventually the offside line! The strength of opposition in their competitive fi xtures prevented this from being transferred successfully from the training pitches to matches. The boys always put up a good fi ght and by the fi nal match, they even managed to put a few moves together and score a couple of tries. There is hope that, like last year, many of the younger members of the squad will break into the A and B team squads next year.

Mr M.J. Prestshaw & Mr A.A. Watts

Squad: T. Gnanamurali, W. Bettridge, K. Mehta, A. Mehta, X. Phillips, D. Hasnaini, T. Haynes, B. Roberts, A. Dave, C. Horridge, A. Kushevica, S. Sardana, T. Mangat, J. Jobling, L. Dora, N. Kamalanathan, D. Magbagbeola, S. Ahtti, M. Darbyshire

Rugby – U13D

It was a steep learning curve for the Junior D rugby team with some tough early fi xtures. After getting battered and bruised, the squad worked hard in training to develop their tackling and rucking skills. This brought about a much changed work ethic, and enabled us to perform with great passion against UCS. Overall, a promising season, and I’m sure the boys will have benefi ted from the experiences they gained.

Mr. T. Webley

Squad: R. Patel, C. Berrecloth, S. Morris, A. Semenov, R. Mehta, E. Cross, T. Murphy, S. Pemberton, N. Shah, M. Darbyshire, L. Wise, L. Braddock, Y. Zaman, M. Aina, J. Johnson, J. Fitzgerald, R. Kukadia, L. Shannon, K. Hurer, I. Rodriguez, T. Sandhu, S. Hewins, D. Bellerose

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SportSportSportSportHockey

Hockey – 1st XI

This year saw a rebuilding of the 1st team, having lost 12 of the starting line up from the year before it

was to be a young team that would need to come together quickly in a very short term. The boys conducted themselves well, quickly adapting to the speed and demands of fi rst team hockey. Early wins over St Albans and Mill Hill gave the boys confi dence and allowed them to build team relationships which would prove vital later in the season. Further wins followed in both weekend fi xtures and the Cup with a cracking win over Haberdashers under lights being a top spectacle for a big home crowd. The weekend fi xtures went extremely well only losing two games all season but it was to be the Cup that was to be the top highlight. After beating The Leys away from home 5-3 it put the school in the fi nal 16 teams in the country. A home draw against RGS High Wycombe was to decide whether Merchant Taylors’ would go to the National Finals. The boys played extremely well winning the game 4-2 for a place in the U18 National Plate Cup fi nals. A win over Kings Chester 3-2 in the semi-fi nal put Merchant Taylors’ into their fi rst Hockey National Finals. Merchant Taylors’ were brilliant in the fi nal. Both with their play and with which the manor they conducted themselves. After the game fi nished 0-0

it went to penalties, which agonisingly we lost. Taylors’ thoroughly deserved the win but sport can be cruel. Taylors’ must now look to build on this fantastic season and recognise that currently we are one of the top single term hockey schools on the country. A tremendous season where full credit needs to be given to all t he twenty-fi ve boys who played for the 1st team this year. They all contributed to a great season. We will look to go one better next year.

Mr R.I.M. Alexander

Squad: R. Murphy, N. Stephenson (VC), J. Seery, K. Sofat, O. Evans-Evans, G. Smith (vc), A. O’Brien, S. Satija, C. Aarons, C. Jervis (c), T. Richards, M. Vaughan, B. Shah, A. Hattam, B. Gould, B. Jones, M. Brown, H. Parry, A. Amin, A. Harris, N. Rawal, S. Satija, G. Grewal

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Hockey – 2nd XI

In early January a young, new-look 2nd XI began the season with a 5-0 victory against St Albans which showcased the side’s skill level, pace and discipline. This performance was representative of the season both in in terms of the result and the desire to play superb team hockey. It is a superb record to win almost every game and credit must go to the forward and midfi eld lines with a combination of selfl ess work rate in all aspects of the game and some beautiful individual skills. Special mention must go to Ashane Wijesuriya who was the biggest contributor to the team’s average of nearly 5 goals a game and was voted most improved player for his superb record in front of goal. Recognition must however be also heaped upon the defensive unit with superb leadership and performances from Nikhil Rawal at centre back and a player of the season performance from Ben Gould in goal whose mobility, reactions, and domination of his penalty area saved multiple goals. A superb season with more standout performances than can be acknowledged here, I look forward to seeing the high level of hockey the boys will play whether in the 1sts next year or in university level hockey.

Mr J.E.L. Coote

Squad: B. Gould, N. Rawal, R. Murphy, C. Savage, C. Loftus, T. Oakton, S. Satija, O. Carter, D. Mahon, A. Arnaldi, C. Jervis, T. Townsend, J. Dotting, A. Wijesuriya, A. Patel, K. Reddy, A. Harris, G. Grewal, M. Mishra

Hockey – 3rd XI

This was in many ways an end of an era and a beginning of another regarding the 3rd XI Hockey team. This season was the ‘fi nale’ for a group of players that have been part of the 3rd XI for three years that included tours to South Africa and even winners of the Team Spirit Award in 2014 at the Cape Town Hockey Festival. Pacho Nieto-Obrien, Gabriel Sayers, Tom Lawrence, Angus Hamilton and Jack Lambert must be thanked for their dedication and passion towards MTS Hockey. You will be missed! However, this season also saw the introduction of many

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up and coming younger players who have much potential. Thomas Oakton, Rish Patel, Keelan Aurora and Siddhant Patki showed performances that suggest a higher level of hockey awaits. Daniel Gates, Oscar Khoo, Andrew Yuen, Thomas Matheickal and Freddie Hart are accomplished games players and will get out of hockey whatever they put in. A big thank you goes to all the players and the manner that you all represented the school.

Mr J.C. Barnwell

Squad: K. Aurora, P. Nieto O’Brien, A. Hamilton, G. Sayers, T. Lawrence, J. Lambert, D. Gates, T. Oakton, S. Patki, R. Patel, O. Khoo, A. Yuen, T. Matheickal, F. Hart

Hockey – 4th XI

The 4th XI got off to a quick start to the season, only to lose confi dence after a run of big defeats against tough opposition. With the boys back and enthusiastic after the winter break, the team quickly shook of the rust and gelling as a unit. With two early season wins against Trinity College and Harrow – eclipsing their win total from the previous year (0) – there was real hope for the season ahead. Having played exceptionally well, Will Sheard (player of the season) and Selvan Senthilkumaran were made joint captains, with their enthusiasm spreading to everyone in the squad. However, things turned sour quickly, with three matches against signifi cantly tougher opposition – Reed’s (lost 0 - 5), Watford (lost 1 - 20), and Berkhamsted (lost 0 - 9). After these heavy losses the team’s confi dence was shattered and they struggled through the fi nal couple of matches. This has been a tough season and the boys should be pleased that they never gave up, giving their all even when matches were one-sided.

Dr M.I. Beacham

Squad: S. Senthilkumaran, J. Burling, R. Karia, A. Priddy, G. Williams, M. Mamtora, J. James, N. Hwang, W. Sheard, M. Nimmo, S. Patel, P. Rajesh, S. Ragudasan, N. Skovron, I. Rather, J. Cameron, M. Henry, A. Kothari, T. Bannon.

Hockey – U15A

Following a hugely successful U14 season, the U15As rolled into the 2016 season with great confi dence. Having brushed aside early opponents Haileybury and St Albans with 5-0 and 6-1 wins respectively, the fi rst real test came against St Albans, with the 0-0 stalemate being the only fi xture of the season where the fruitful frontline failed to get on the scoresheet. Special mention must go to Jack Leatham and Max John, who collectively scored over 15 goals across the

season. Following disappointment in the U16 County competition, the team showed drastic improvement in the second half of the season, with Kabir Mandair, Joe Qureshi and Bradley Simmonds most notably excelling. The U15s capped a positive season with a comfortable 5 – 1 victory over local rivals Habs’, completely outplaying them with clear systems of play and strong forward interplay, which was a priority across the season. With ever improving athleticism and tactical understanding the U15s showed marked improvement in their play by the end of the season and well over

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half a dozen of the team have set forward strong claims to break into the 1st XI team next season. Overall, the season statistics read played 8, won 4, drawn 2, lost 2.

Mr M. Flower

Squad: A. Sandhu, D. Bull, J. Davey, S. Davies, O. Ford, A. Golar, M. John, B. Kantaria, J. Leatham, K. Mandair, T. Miller, K. Patel, J. Qureshi (c), B. Simmons, T. Steene, A. Walia, L. Duggan, K. Amin, Z. Sheikh, T. Zaman

Hockey – U15B

The U15B team have had a fantastic season with over 25 boys from the age group representing the team. This was down to the popularity of Hockey and how much boys wanted to compete for the school. What is particularly pleasing is how much the boys have developed their hockey ability over the course of the season. We have had 7 boys from the B team represent the A team this year which is a fantastic achievement. One of the highlights have been the matches against Reed’s as it was always going to be a test as they are regarded as one of the strongest hockey schools Nationally. The game was electric and both teams played some exciting hockey. The goals came quite quickly for both teams which set up the potential for a grand fi nish. Unfortunately it was not to be. MTS I felt were unlucky to not come away with a win as a number of chances were narrowly missed in the dieing minutes. Zak Sheikh was awarded the man of the match with two great goals, one of them a wonder goal. Every player in the team played exceptionally well especially in the second half. The season has been a huge success and will strengthen the senior programme next year. Well done to all the boys who played.

Mr L.D. Foot

Squad: K. Amin, E. Bains, W. Berrecloth, D. Bhundia, B. Carter, M. Chaplin, N. Dixon, L. Duggan, Z. Gordon, O. Hassan, G. Arora, A. Berisha, J. Harris, J. Ricciardiello, D. Lehmann, Z. Murphy, O. Powell-Tuck, T. Holes, D. Shah, Z. Sheikh, A, Syed, A. Thomas, E. Townshend, T. Zaman Bhuiyan

Hockey – U15C

The U15C hockey squad pushed them-selves from day one, showing character, fi ght and a passion to play creative hockey. The fi rst outing was arguably the toughest game of the season. Reed’s School supply-ing a like-for-like C team were held 1-1 by the MTS boys, until thirty seconds from time. Unfortunately, this was the nature of our season, holding B and C teams across the country until the dying moments of the match. Stand-out players include Tommy Deane, Nick Gillyon, Joe Ricciardiello and

Arthur Berisha. The boys never stopped fi ghting, never stopped running, never stopped tackling, and were a pleasure to train with all season.

Mr J.B. Rogerson

Squad: M. Ryley, T. Holes, B. Topping, J. Ricciardiello, R. Clarke, A. Singh, M. Hine M. Melly, J. Hoe C. Bridgewater, T. Deane, J. Harris, N. Gillyon, T. Nayrouz, A. Berisha, M. Haywood, A. Kerley, L. Cahn-Brown

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Hockey – U14AThe U14A hockey team completed an extremely successful season. The side began the season well, beating a tough St Albans side 4-2. The team then went on to win comprehensively in their next three fi xtures beating West London Free School, Harrow and Aldenham by over 5 goals per game, a testament to the style of hockey the U14A side were able to implement. The side then went up against a strong Reeds’ side, coming away with a 1-1 draw, implementing the half-court press effectively.

The second half of term saw the U14A side pick up their performance further. The team’s ability to implement high level hockey principles effectively is a testament to their ability to learn and implement tactics successfully. The team fi nished with 10 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. Notably, the MTS side comprehensively beat Dr Challoner’s, a team that made it into the U14 National Finals. Standout performances came from Cameron Byrne, for his control and workmate in midfi eld, Finn Edwards for his outstanding individual skill and line breaks and Rishi Pattni for his prolifi c scoring ability.

Mr. M. J. Penny

Squad: M. Alexander-Bryan, M. Barnfather, S. Bickerstaff, V. Busschop, C. Byrne, D. Cherry, A. Dave, B. Edwards, F. Edwards, A. Ingate, O. Lavelle, T. McCormack, R. Nicholls, N. Patel, S. Saradana, S. Shah, T. Szostak, T. Wickham

Hockey – U14B

If the 2015-2016 U14B season is anything to go by, the future of hockey at MTS is very bright indeed. Testament to the depth of talent we have in this age group is that 24 different boys played for the B team this season. Moreover, the season was without loss having conceded only two goals. Indeed, in the draws against Reed’s and Felsted – both excellen t hockey schools – we were the better team and really deserved to win both. Unfortunately we were unable to take our chances against Felsted and conceded with only two minutes left to play against Reed’s.

The highlight of the season was probably the performance against Reed’s, but in truth this team have improved each week, regardless of the opposition. Congratulations to Kieran Patel, Patrick Brown, Kieran Mehta, Tunveer Mangat and Jack Townsend for playing in every match, but especially to Kieran Patel for his haul of 13 goals this season. From a personal point of view, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with a super bunch of talented and committed boys. They really have given their all this year, and I hope that they continue to develop and enjoy their hockey as they move to U15 level. Thanks also to all the parents who have supported us along the way; I can assure them their encouragement really does make a difference.

Mr T. J. Hingston.

Squad: J. Townsend, T. Mangat, M. Mangat, P. Brown, K. Mehta, K. Patel, F. Ogunyemi, V. Busschop, O. Lavelle, C. Hassan, R. Tanaka, J. Brennan, O. Gilbert (GK), S. Thobhani, D. Jones, L. Lee, A. Arivalagan, K. Chauhan, A. Dave, R. Swan, S. Sardana

Hockey – U14C

The U14C team had a rusty start to the year but soon started gelling well together and made stark progress as the season progressed. It was mainly the goal scoring that let the team down in matches. We were always physically strong and managed to keep it tight at the back but we often struggled to pierce the opponents defence. A special mention goes out to Oliver Gilbert who was outstanding in goal in all the matches. His enthusiasm shone through and he always encouraged his team mates to step up their performance. Jolan Baxter is another player who stood out due to his solid performance all over the fi eld of play. One second he would play a critical pass in the opposition half and next he would be the last man succeeding in a last ditch tackle preventing the opposition from scoring. Overall though the team deserve a special mention for their team work and sportsmanship that they showed in each and every game, even the ones they felt they might have narrowly missed out on unjustly.

Mr D. Gibbons, Mr M.P. Powell & Mr F. Doepel

Squad: H. Carr, A. Chatoo, I. Dewji, S. Duce, C. Fraser, J. Graham, D. Jones, H. Karim, J. Khera, S. Lee, V. Mastin, T. Murphy, S. Patel, T. Payne, E. Rimini, B. Roberts, R. Tanaka, Y. Yoshie

Hockey – U14D

Overall it was a very successful term for the U14Ds, many of whom who had made the jump from Championship Sport to become unlikely heroes of the team (including Jodhvir Khera and Barnaby Roberts). In our one and only game of the season our star man Adam Chatoo scored a brace as a full back and Rintaro Tanaka scored a blinder that saw him rise to prominence with an eye-catching promotion to the B Team! Overall it was a term that was enjoyed by all, with many of the fl edgling Hockey stars working hard to fi nd that sought after place in the main squad. It is this team spirit and competitive mentality that saw the MTS ‘Invincibles’ go the term unbeaten.

Mr A. Donnan & Mr D.G. Robinson

Squad: J. Khera, V. Mastin, B. Roberts, A. Chatoo, R. Tanaka, T. Hattam, E. Woolley, Y. Yoshie, Z. Thorns, T. Murphy, O. Speller, S. Patel, E. Rimini, M. Arlen, J. Baxter, B. Fallowfi eld

Hockey – U13A

The U13A team excelled over the 2015 season, transforming into a formidable side which continually demonstrated a high level of tactical understanding. Under the captaincy of Charlie Horridge, and inspired by an outstanding tour to Holland, the second half of the season witnessed several spectacular performances. Whilst we battled hard against Whitgift, narrowly losing 4-1, the season highlights were the 10-1 destruction of Berkhamsted, with goals for Duggan, Byrne, Horridge, Brown and Murphy, and the 5-1 victory over National Champions Kingston Grammar with the three A team forwards – Horridge, Duggan

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and Savage – converting their goals with superb composure. The boys showed an ever improving ability to transfer the ball at pace, utilising the space across the pitch and penetrating the D with superb stick skills. Special mention must go to Ush Murphy, who was recipient of Player of the Season, showing superb athleticism, decision making and rugged defending, as well as Archie Brown, whose superb individual skills always elicited praise from opposition teams. This team are certainly a talented bunch and have been a pleasure to coach over the past two seasons.

Mr M. Flower

Squad: C. Horridge (c), S. Duggan, J. Savage, A. Fraser, O. Murphy, G. Wright, M. Horne, L. Davies, D. Byrne, A. Brown, J. Cameron, D. Williams, T. Haynes

U13 SummaryThe U13s had yet another good year both in results and in development. With a much harder fi xture card than previous years all the boys stepped up to the challenge and played some brilliant hockey. The popularity continued with their development of hockey as A-E teams were put out a number of times during the season. Over the course of the season once again all boys in the year were able to represent the school at hockey which is a fantastic achievement for all the boys involved. The season also included a tour to Holland in the October half term where the U13s took on 4 of the best hockey clubs in the world. They were also introduced to 11 a side hockey and showed that the future is bright for the U14 season when they move full time from 7 to 11 a side. Back in the UK highlights included a 3-5

loss to Whitgift (the top hockey school in the country) - this was their closest result all season and at one point MTS led. This really is a fantastic achievement and all those boys involved should be very proud of their achievement. A great term of hockey where all the boys showed massive development both in individual and team play.

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fully fl icked the ball into the roof of the net in a manner a National League hockey player would have been proud of. Others have been team based, which have resid-ed in some technically advanced patterns of play leading to some mesmerising team goals. The squad has come on dramati-cally this season, shown through their results and the style of play they have implemented. It has been a great season with much to look forward to in the years to come.

Mr M.J. Penny

Squad: C. Byrne, A. Ingate, T. Szostak, B. Edwards, V. Busschop, F. Edwards, E. Poole, J. Townsend, T. Wickham, D. Cherry, S. Shah, O. Lavelle, M. Mangat, R. Nicholls, S. Sardana, A. Dave, A. Ari-valagan

Hockey – U13BThe U13B squad have put together some exciting performances and some impressive result this season winning four, drawing one and losing one. The level to which the U13B squad have played this season has been phenomenal. This has been shown both by the number of U13B team players whom have represented the A team and by the style in which they have played this season.

The squad started the season strongly, managing to put together three strong performances resulting in three wins out of three. They then took on a strong Haileybury side and lost by three goals to one. The way in which we played however optimised the style in which we have tried to play for the entire season,

Hockey – U13AThe U13A squad has changed throughout the season, emphasising the strength and depth of the age group. It is a season that has gone from strength to strength with the U13A team winning four, drawing one and losing two.

After the Holland Hockey Tour the U13A team thrived, putting together some excep-tional performances against Berkhamsted and Haileybury respective ly. The most no-ticeable and impressive performance was ironically the defeat to Reed’s. Despite the loss the U13A team played with determi-nation, intensity and spirit, never giving up and playing to a standard above any-thing they had played to previously.

There have been many highlights, some individual, where one of the boys power-

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with desire, skill and positivity. The only thing they lacked was the fi nishing touch in this game, which they found in the last two games of the season.

The most impressive performance of the season was the Reed’s fi xture as it was a real battle. This season has seen the U13B squad develop vastly as a team and as individuals. An outstanding season with pupils that should be looking to push for A team places come the U14 year.

Squad: A. Dave, R. Nicholls, A. Arivalagan, L. Lee, T. Mangat, F. Ogunyemi, M. Alexander-Bryan, C. Hassan, D. Jones, K. Mehta, A. Siddiqi, S. Thobani, J. Wu, A. Anwar, J. Brennon, J. Drown

Hockey – U13C

The U13C squad have developed considerably, both individually and as a squad this season. They have won 3 and lost only one, notably to a very strong Reed’s side. The individuals that made up this enthusiastic young team have been able to able to put together some fantastic hockey performances this season.

The U13C team’s most notable performance was against a good Haileybury outfi t. Although Haileybury had some clear cut chances throughout the game the U13C team were able to hold out and fi nish the chances they made clinically. The last game of the season ended in a tough defeat to Reed’s, however the lessons learnt showed just how far the squad had come as the lessons taken were have more advanced than the initial games at the beginning of September.

The U13C team members have reaped the rewards of having a fantastic attitude and would be comfortable playing against many other oppositions B teams. A great team and a successful season for the U13C team, off of the back of the effort from all pupils.

Squad: S. Pemberton, J. Brennon, J. Drown, C. Fraser, B. Chan, H. Karim, J. Khera, T. Murphy, S. Kohler, B. Barnaby, D. Desai

Hockey – U13DThe U13D team have had limited opportunity to display their hockey skills this season, due to the limited U13 fi xture card. Despite a heavy 5-1 loss against a very strong Reed’s outfi t, the U13D squad have shown tremendous spirit and individual progression throughout the year.

Much of the U13D squad took part in a block fi xture against York House. This was a special fi xture in which the squads were mixed around, proving benefi cial to all. The U13D squad were able to step up to the faster pace of the games and take this into competitive training sessions.

The most positive aspect of the U13D squad’s play has been the way in which they have tried hard to use the space on the pitch. Their skills have become sharper, allowing them to use this space, which stands them in good stead to push up the teams in the U14 season.

Squad: N. Kamalanathan, A. Kushevica, C. Dora, J. Johnson, L. Dora, Danyal. Hasnaini, S. Hewins, S. Morris, L. Wise, E. Cross, A. Daya, A. Murgai, H. Robb

U13 SummaryThe U13 year group have progressed dramatically, with regards to both their hockey specifi c core skills and their psychological attitude throughout this term. Training has been enjoyable for both pupils and coaches this term, solely down to the fact the boys have been eager to learn and enthusiastic in the skill based and gameplay based activities that have been organised. They have been a joy to work with this term and have suffi ciently developed the skills needed for a comfortable transition into the eleven a-side senior hockey format.

THLThe U13 Tuesday Hockey League, (THL) has been a huge success this season. Local prep schools comprised of Merchant Taylors’, St. John’s, Northwood Prep and St. Martin’s pupils were invited to attend the THL.

The initial training was implemented to help facilitate all of the boys’ basic skills. This training has been crucial in aiding cross-school interaction - a pivotal component for ensure all games were played in the correct spirit. After the training period the prep schools took part in a league stage, each playing the other schools twice, followed by semi-fi nals and fi nals.

The rate of progression from all boys has been unquestionable. The programme provides boys with another development and performance-based setting that has undoubtedly increased the provision of the hockey to the boys.

Mr M.J. Penny

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SportSportSportSportCricket Review – June-July 2015

Cricket - 1st XI

Played 17 won 12, lost 4, draw 1

It has been a fantastic second half of term for the 1st XI with wins against Reed’s, St Albans and Habs. The

main highlights were Andrew Thomas scoring a sublime 115 not out to win the game against an unbeaten and incredibly strong Reed’s XI. Furthermore, beating Habs on the big stage at Lord’s in front of a bumper crowd was something the boys will treasure forever. Dylan Amin was the star of the show scoring a superb 77. Another real highlight was the training session the XI had with the Australian cricket team, which was broadcast around the world on Sky News! The team went on to record some other excellent victories and demonstrated resilience batting all day to salvage a draw against Habs in our 2-day fi xture. Scott Gates proved to be an outstanding captain and was an impressive leader. Overall,

it was an incredibly successful season with experiences that will surely last a lifetime for the boys. We say goodbye to four great servants of the 1st XI in Barney Close, Uzair Khan, Dylan Amin and Scott Gates; they have set the bar very high indeed and will be sorely missed.

Mr T. Webley

Cricket - 2nd XI The second half of the 2nd XI season was tougher than the fi rst with losses to St Albans, Eton, Dr Challoner’s and Habs. After a narrow loss to St Albans and a midweek thrashing from Eton, MTS responded well by convincingly beating St Benedict’s. Batting fi rst MTS scored 216 with Wijesuriya’s hitting proved to be ferocious before the guile of Ragudasan and Hanson-Ikonomou combined with the aggression of Brown was too much with the ball as the opposition were dismissed

for 49. They then followed a frustrating mid-week loss to Dr Challoner’s, with a solid performance away at Habs, limiting the home side to 184 off their 30 overs. Ellis and Ragusan did their best to keep Taylors in the game, falling 40 runs short with their chase. The Seconds fi nished with an outstanding performance against OMT 2ND XI. The Seconds bowled well to limit OMT to 189 for 7, with leavers Wheal, Radia and the surprising hero, Gregory (wk) performing well with the ball. The 2nd XI put bat to leather from the outset, with Upper Sixths Wijesuriya and Gregory striking the ball all over the park and hitting the winning runs with an over to spare.

Mr I.L. Smith

Cricket - U15A

The U15s have had a remarkable end to their cricketing year, winning the

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Middlesex County Cup against St Paul’s at Enfi eld Cricket Club. As the winners of the Middlesex County Cup the team were entered into the ECB T20 regional stages and played the winners of Kent, Eltham College, in the Regional quarter fi nals. Eltham drew the short straw and had to travel. MTS lost the toss and were asked to bowl on what was an excellent wicket for batting. However, regular wickets and some excellent captaincy and fi elding meant that Eltham could only manage 77. MTS chased down the below-par score in less than 8 overs winning by 10 wickets. The Regional Finals were held at Billericay Cricket Club. MTS were charged with the tough task of playing Essex County Champions, New Hall School in the regional semi-fi nal. Batting fi rst MTS made 111 in their 20 overs and would need to bowl and fi eld brilliantly to compete. The opening bowlers charged in hard but some streaky batting left New Hall getting off to a fantastic start of 20-0 before the collapse began. Regular wickets and the introduction of spin meant that New Hall, from a position of comfort, struggled to

make the 111 total falling 11 runs short in what was the best fi elding and bowling performance of the campaign for the u15s. The U15s met Dulwich College in the fi nal. Bowling fi rst this time, MTS restricted the powerful Dulwich College batting line-up to 136 bowling them out in the 20th over. However, MTS looked comfortable, winning comfortably by 6 wickets in the 19th over of the match to be crowned South of England Champions.

Mr I. McGowan

Cricket – U14A The U14A cricket team had a successful season, with everyone contributing. Particular mention goes to Tom Steene who hit a hundred and two 50s, backed up by his fast bowling. In the County Cup, the side were forced to play two matches in a day, fi rst a 20/20 game which they won to make it into the fi nal against Harrow. They then played a 40 over game which they narrowly lost, failing to chase down

267. The team’s Saturday performances were outstanding, with the side bowling consistent line and length, backing this up with a strong batting performance in almost every game. Mr M.J. Penny

Cricket – U14B

The U14B team had a cracking second half to the season going unbeaten under the guidance of Captain Qureshi. The team built around their stoic leader Qureshi developed into a superb team and found a symbiotic relationship between their bowling and batting. Esher Bains increased his run up for the second half of the season ensuring his bowling was even more destructive. Karan Sofat found some form with the bat and strengthened the middle order. Whilst Alexander Kerly continued his rich form at 1st slip only dropping one catch all season.

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Kabir Mandair and John Hoh demolished teams and were rightly drafted up to the A’s for the fi nal game. Hoh in particular showed the greatest improvement and will be a force to be reckoned with higher up the school.

Mr R.I.M. Alexander

Cricket – U14C

Refreshed by half-term, the U14C team faced the stern test of Reed’s, Cobham. MTS lost the toss and were invited to bat. After losing two cheap wickets, Ollie Powell Tuck and Dylan Cohen batted carefully to put on 50 for the third wicket. This enabled Kapadia (20) and Dixon (44) to accelerate the score. Cohen was fi nally out for a fi ne 57. Harrison and Miller reduced Reed’s to 18-5 after 5 overs, both missing out on hat tricks. Some calamitous run outs saw the game over very quickly.

Following the celebration of St Barnabas Day, the U14C team found themselves facing the disciplined bowling of Watford Grammar U14B. In very diffi cult conditions, several batsmen got in, but only Cohen got past 20 and it was left to Samarakoon to see get the fi rst innings as high as 89. In much easier batting conditions Watford appeared to be sailing towards a clear win. However, a spectacular caught and bowled by Dixon opened the fl ood gates. Powell-Tuck and debutant Kendix took fi ve quick wickets as Watford subsided from 84-4 to 89 all out, allowing us to secure a most unlikely tie. A result which felt better than a win if that is possible.

The summer solstice coincided with the visit of St Albans. MTS won the toss and decided to fi eld. At 26/6 St Albans were in big trouble but some dropped catches and wayward bowling allowed them to post 106 all out (Kendix 3/12). MTS batted very sensibly with the running between the wickets a notable feature. Cohen (29) and Powell-Tuck (24*) saw the team home with few concerns.

Our one away fi xture saw us MTS travel to Ealing on the hottest Saturday of the year. Experience quickly told as the opening attack of Neelakandan and Rana Menon got the upper hand. Chasing a modest

target Udi Menon and Miller visiting his former school made short work of the task despite facing a spirited St Benedict’s attack.

Our fi nal fi xture saw us face our near neighbours Haberdashers’ Aske’s. MTS lost the toss and went into bat in moist conditions after an overnight thunderstorm. The top order of Walia (14), Dixon (25) and Cohen (28) showed their continued good form and were able to take runs at will. After a slight middle order slow down Captain Kapadia (25) applied the long handle to get MTS 128-6 off 25 overs.

In reply Haberdashers’ found it diffi cult to contend with the MTS attacking out cricket. Wickets tumbled regularly: two each for Neelakandan, Harrison and Duggan. Kapadia took a good catch to fi nish the game and season with Habs 52 all out with time to spare.

This made for a very satisfactory conclusion to a super season which will long linger in the memory of those involved. We have been the benefi ciaries of a strong parental following for which we have been very grateful.

We should like to thank Mr Ayling and his team who have worked hard to prepare true wickets and lush outfi elds for us to practise and play on. Mr Fayer and his team of catering staff have also prepared some splendid teas that we have all enjoyed.

Played 5, Won 4, Tied 1

Overall Played 8; Won 6, Tied 1, Lost 1

Mr J.G. Taylor & Dr A.R.H. Clarke

Cricket – U14D

Taylors’ U14Ds had a good – if short – season, winning one match and losing the other on the fi nal ball. The season started with an emphatic win against Reed’s. Batting fi rst, MTS put up a fantastic 125 – 4, with the fi rst three batsmen retiring. They then bowled superbly, with Forsyth taking two early wickets, and the game never looked in doubt. Whilst the team were unable to take all Reed’s wickets, they

won by 28 runs. The second match of the season saw a closely fought match against a competitive St Albans’ side. After a diffi cult start with the bat – and some outstanding catches by the opposition, Haris and Din played some fantastic shots and ensured our total was competitive. Tallen and Forsyth bowled brilliantly, taking seven wickets, but were unable to contain their late surge and St. Albans won the match from the fi nal ball of the day. All in all it was a great season, which highlighted the players’ potential.

Dr M.I. Beacham

Cricket – Junior A

I would like to start by congratulating the boys for being selected from across the Third and Upper Third year groups for the junior A team. The fi rst game against Highgate saw MTS’ fi ne fi elding restrict the opposition to 108-8 off 20 overs. MTS needed 27 off the last three overs and Jack Townsend and David Cherry did a fantastic job of bringing it down to the last ball needing two to win. Unfortunately their opener bowled a dot ball which won them the game.

Berkhamsted was another fi xture in which the opposition batted fi rst, putting on an impressive 161. Some indecisive running between the wickets cost MTS early wickets but Marcus Horne steadied things with an impressive 24 off 3 overs. The boys had many opportunities to challenge for the win but ended up losing by 30 runs.

Against Enfi eld Grammar, MTS put in a strong team performance, winning by 8 wickets. Enfi eld were all out for 61 with some impressive bowling from MTS. Wickets fell early and the top order was dismissed for very few runs. Dylan Byrne took a spectacular catch and was awarded MOM for it. MTS went out to bat and reached the total with wickets and overs to spare.

Another memorable game was against St Edmunds who batted fi rst and put a total of 116 on the board in 20 overs. The Mangat brothers got us off to a great start with a lovely 50 partnership and some textbook batting. With a couple of wickets from their strongest bowlers the

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game was tense and our run rate had dropped. David Cherry and Olly Lavelle came in and steadied the nerves with some aggressive batting which put St Edmunds under pressure. Overall, it was a very good season where boys worked hard to develop their skills and progress as exciting young cricketers.

Mr L.D. Foot

Cricket – Junior B

Played out in often glorious conditions, it has been a busy half of term once again for the Junior B team. Standout performers across the term have undoubtedly been Dylan Byrne (who has impressed with highly effective, technical batting), Sachin Shah (a gracious captain), Sam Lee (dangerous opening bowler), Hussain Karim (always full of motivational speeches) and keeper-batsman Shivam Soneji. Victor Busschop and Aryan Dave have developed into strong all-round players. The team has a resilience and fi ne spirit about them and have been a joy to coach and work with this term. Results have been mixed, some strong wins were recorded against Belmont (notable for a fi ne batting performance by Charlie Horridge) and St. Benedict’s. The team came up against strong opposition in Haberdashers’ and St. Albans and lost both games. The St. Albans game was memorable for a quite remarkable batting collapse but also the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and great Australian batter Steve Smith and pose for some great photographs. The team fought valiantly against a rapid Haberdashers’ bowling attack in the fi nal game of term but succumbed to 89 all out, an impressive total given the rapidity of the bowling on the day. Well done to all involved throughout the term; they have always managed to play the game in the right way and deserve commendation for their approach. Thanks to the parents for their support across the term.

Cricket – Junior C

This half of term the Junior C team have had a really strong performance. They have built upon their impressive start with some comprehensive wins over Belmont and recently St John’s.

Great batting has been seen by many of the team, but perhaps deserving a special mention are Toby Wickham and Andrew Ingate. With his speedy running between the wickets, and excellent coordination Toby Wickham was able to pick up 20 runs from half as many balls against Belmont- a real achievement. Against St John’s, Andrew Ingate showed some real composure to steady a rocking ship. Hitting 8 boundaries in 10 balls gave him a scorecard of Chris Gayle proportions. Modest in his achievement he dutifully retired to allow others to bat.

Fantastic bowling from many of the team was also apparent. Having sacrifi ced speed for accuracy, the whole team are a group of demon bowlers. Dylan Desai was brilliant recently, along with Rian Shah.

It has been a very successful second half of term and the team deserve much praise.

Mr H.B. Phillips

Cricket – Junior D The D team played in 10 fi xtures over the season with a combined side of year 7 and year 8 boys. What was particularly pleasing was how well the boys progressed during the season and developed the ability to work together and merge year 7 and 8 in to one team. Particular highlights for the season were matches against Enfi eld Grammar school, Reed’s and Habs where some fantastic cricket was played. Particular mentions go to Casper Hussan for his masterful spin bowling, Jack Wu for his aggressive batting and James Brennan for his all-round ability. Each of these boys turned out for the D team week in week out and were consistent in their performances.

Cricket – Junior E

The E team only played in fi ve fi xtures across the course of the season and within the side had a good mix of ability. There were players from both year 7 and year 8 and they formed a good bond amongst both age groups. Issey Rodriguez and Louis Duggan were two consistent players in the E team that rarely missed a match. Players were rotated a lot to ensure lots of boys got the opportunity to play for the school.

Memorable matches were against Belmont and St Benedict’s where some good cricket was played by boys from both schools. I feel that the most valuable thing to draw from these matches was that boys who had not played before learnt about a sport and developed quite quickly. I hope that some of these names will progress further and represent the school at a higher level.

Mr L.D. Foot

Cricket – Junior F

The “Fighting F” team found themselves consistently pitted against more experienced opposition. The sadly unbroken string of losses however does not refl ect the spirit and skill of this group. Bowling improved in leaps and bounds, with some very accomplished bowlers emerging from the ranks, especially Santusht, Niam and Michael. Fielding was more of a challenge but batting improved as the term progressed as did the confi dence to strike out for runs, with Dowan leading the way in bold – even aggressive – decisions. What the team had in spades, however, was sportsmanship, earning the approval of opponents and spectators alike for the dignifi ed and professional way in which they handled themselves. They made friends and grew as cricketers – an excellent result.

Mr G.N. McCleod

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SportSportSportSportCricket – April-May 2016

Cricket - 1st XI

The 1st XI have made an outstanding start to the fi rst half of the season with 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. The highlight was being crowned North London Champions in the National T20 Competition, and the team are now through to the last 16 nationally. The team’s main strength has been the batting, with some outstanding innings being played by Omar Karim, Andrew Thomas, Nikhil Rawal, Joe Regan, and Aaran Amin. Omar Karim’s 101 runs in just 56 balls v Aldenham was a pleasure to watch. The bowling and fi elding has been indifferent, however, Deven Patel, Kishan Singh, and Aaran Amin have showed glimpses of brilliance in some of their spells. The team have real strength in depth with Alex Palmer, Ashane Wijesuriya, David O’Sullivan, Ashwyn Randev, and Michael Brown all contributing to the team’s success. Hopes are high for the remainder of the season, and the team are in an excellent position to fi nish the term on a real high.

Mr T. Webley

Squad: A. Thomas (c), N. Rawal (vc), D. Patel, K. Singh, D. O’Sullivan, M. Brown, J. Regan, A. Randev, C. Aarons, P. Rajesh, A. Amin, A. Palmer, A. Wij esuriya, O. Karim

Cricket - 2nd XIThe 2nd XI put in a fi ne performance in their fi rst match, scoring swiftly against Reading Blue Coat, with special mention going to 4th Formers Tom McCormack and Rohan Day who deputised and delivered strongly with both bat and ball. A far more exciting affair came against Berkhamsted, where Taylors’ bowled superbly, pace bowler Anirudh Ramamurthy playing a crucial role in limiting the hosts to 115 all out off 28 overs. Opening batsman Partha Rajesh anchored the MTS innings, allowing Charlie Aarons and Tom Bannon to knock the runs off quickly, doing so in just over 26 overs. This was not the fi rst game where Taylors’ had excelled with the ball, with an earlier encounter against St Paul’s seeing Ramamurthy again cause problems for the hosts’ batsmen. Sadly, Taylors’ could only muster 89 all out, losing by 25 runs. In their fi nal match of the half term the 2nd XI met a very strong Reed’s side. After being batted out of the game the 2nd XI grimly tried to hold out but despite heroics from Aggarwal and Reynolds the former was out just two balls away from securing the draw.

Mr I.L. Smith

Squad: A. Hussain, P. Rajesh, D. Gates, C. Aarons, S. Ragudasan (Capt), S. Patel, A. Daryanani, T. Bannon, T. Ellis, A. Ramamurthy, S. Satija, S. Shah, M. Brown, T. Lawrence, Z. Siddiqi, G. Smith, U. Sharma

Cricket - 3rd XI St Paul’s (lost by 60 runs) SPS 125-4, MTS 65-all out. Sadly the selectors got the selection very wrong. We had an extremely strong bowling attack but were very short batting. Salkeld (5-1-18-2), Rather (4-1-10-0) and Sahni (5-1-14-0) were the pick of a very tight attack of seven bowlers. Anuj Patel, Vakil, Tugnait and Surkes all supported well. In reply, Lawrence (20) looked dangerous as he smashed three fi ne boundaries on a very green outfi eld. As an opening bat, Wolff kept out some very quick bowling. Rather looked dangerous for a while, but our batsmen found the conditions diffi cult. Bizarrely the game ended with a hit wicket.

Haberdashers’ (lost by 6 wickets) MTS 115-6, Habs 116-4. After a slow start and a few wickets, Tom Bannon (44) and Max Vaughan (24 not out) marched to the crease with clubs in hand. Bannon was magnifi cent, smashing the ball all over the ground. So as not to interrupt his rugby fi tness regime, he decided to stick to boundaries. Vaughan had an even higher strike rate and practised most of his hockey shots, skilfully clubbing the ball very hard. Annoyingly for Bannon, he hit a few singles and was run out. In truth, as a batting team, we did not take enough risks and despite the heroic efforts of

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the above, we always looked short of runs. Vora, Sharma, Smith and Wolff all played themselves in, only to face some very good bowling. All were dismissed before building an innings. Despite some excellent bowling the Haberdashers’ batsmen mostly looked in control. Joe Salkeld (3.3-0-16-3) tried to spoil the party with three wickets. Sahni (4-0-18-0) and Anuj Patel (4-0-20-1) both bowled well also. The fi nish was very exciting with the opposition only scoring the winning runs with three balls to spare.

Mr C.R. Evans-Evans

Squad: T. Lawrence, U. Sharma, A. Patel, I. Rather, S. Sahni, J. Salkeld, D. Surkes, I. Tugnait, J. Vakil, M. Vaughan, R. Vora, J. Wolff, T. Bannon, G. Smith.

Cricket – U15AThe U15s have had an unbeaten start to the 2016 season, notching wins against St Paul’s, Berkhamsted and Westminster and a winning draw against Reed’s. The U15s are also into the Middlesex Cup U15 fi nal next Thursday 16th June at Enfi eld Cricket Club against Twyford School after comprehensive victories against John Lyon and Enfi eld Grammar.

The U15s have had some superb knocks with the bat this term. Jack Leathem’s 37 in challenging conditions against St Paul’s and 60 against Berkhamsted, 40s

from Max John and Tom Steene against Westminster and a swashbuckling 81 from 72 balls from Matthew Bowden were among the highlights.

We have three spinners in Ossman, Sandhu and Bowden who have picked up the majority of the wickets to date. Ossman is leading the wicket taking stakes with 7 wickets including 4-4 against Berkhamsted and 3-10 against Reed’s.

Although our seam options have bowled well throughout the fi rst term, we are yet to put together a complete seam bowling performance. John Hoh on debut took 4-13 against St Paul’s, just desserts for a winter working hard on his craft.

Like always, the second half of the season will characterise whether this can be deemed a successful season or not for this group of talented young cricketers.

Mr I. McGowan

Squad: M. Bowden, S. Davies, J. Hoh, M. John, B. Kantaria, J. Leatham, K. Mandair, R. Ossman, K. Patel, A. Sandhu, T. Steene, A. Syed, A. Thomas, V. Shah

Cricket – U15BThe U15B cricket team have performed admirably, to date, without yet hitting the heights which they are capable of. Sam Davies, Karan Sofat and Dylan Cohen have impressed with the bat, and Rohan

Ashar and Omar Hassan have taken lots of wickets, amidst a potent bowling attack. Handsome early season victories over St Paul’s and Berk hamsted have recently been balanced by a below par loss to Reed’s, but the side look strong and should progress throughout the rest of the season. They have trained well and are developing both technique and temperament.

Mr T.W. Jenkin

Squad: M. Malik, R. Ashar, E Bains, D. Byundia, S. Davies, N. Dixon, T. Harrison, A. Kerley, J. Qureshi, K. Sofat, M. Kendix, L. Samarakoon, L. Duggan, K. Amin, U. Menon, R. Menon, O. Hassan, D. Pindoria, O. Mansfi eld, P. Samani, K. Mandair.

Cricket – U15CThe U15Cs have luxuriated in a wholly Corinthian attitude to the game this summer and have thus basked in a prolonged and very pleasant state of reverie. Tactics and planning have been eschewed in favour of wholesome enjoyment, running between the wickets has been abjured in favour of the occasional saunter down the pitch, whilst the odd bad ball has been clonked to the boundary. Or not. It really has been rather fun. Honourable mentions must go to ace fast bowler Tallen ‘The Human Mangonel’ Neelakandan, the indefatigable Olly Powell-Tuck, the katana-sharp refl exes of

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Thomas Harrison behind the stumps, and the really rather wonderful Dylan Cohen. This buccaneering crew has been ably skippered by Ateek Walia, who has stuck to his mantra that ‘I am here for a good time, not a long time’, and we are all the richer for that. Thanks should be extended to Mr Tyler for his provision of cricketing knowledge and deportment, and the parents for their unfl agging support.

Mr M.W.S. Hale

Squad: A. Walia, J. Haywood, T. Neelakandan, D. Bhundia, L. Samarakoon, K. Pindolia, D. Pindoria, T. Harrison, L. Duggan, O. Powell-Tuck, D. Cohen, U. Menon, R. Menon, K. Amin, M. Malik, Z. Din, N. Dixon, N. Kapadia

Cricket – U14AThe U14A cricket side got off to a fl ying start after a successful pre-season cricket tour to Spain. The side started their campaign against St. Paul’s, dominating the game with Tom McCormack scoring 73* winning by 7 wickets. The side continued their strong performances with notable wins over both Berkhampstead and Reed’s. Rohan Day delivered a phenomenal opening spell against Berkhampstead, taking 2 wickets in the fi rst two balls of the innings, claiming another in his second over, winning the game convincingly by 91 runs. The other notable game saw MTS put on a score of 167-4 and then dismantle the Reed’s top order leaving Reed’s 74-9. The U14A side have become much more competent in the fi eld, play with freedom and fl air when batting while maintaining discipline and consistency in the bowling. They have an opportunity to play QEB, followed by a tough Cup fi nal versus Harrow if they are successful.

Mr M.J. Penny

Squad: M. Barnfather, J. Baxter, D. Burnell, D. Cherry, R. Day, F. Edwards, K. Kassam, O. Lavelle, M. Mangat, T. McCormack, A. Merali, S. Sardana, S. Shah

Cricket – U14BThe U14B team have had a great start to the season going unbeaten in all of their games. This is a fantastic achievement in itself but when you consider we have played schools such as Reed’s it is a magnifi cent performance.

Szostak has captained superbly and made great decisions under pressure as well as taking some fi ne wickets bowling and scoring freely with the bat.

Standout bowlers have been Shaan Patel and and Rishi Pattni. Both have bowled with unplayable pace, sowing fear into the hearts of the opposition, thus earning quick promotion to the A team.

With the bat it has been a team effort, each member stepping up when needed and scoring valuable runs. Tunveer Mangat has had some textbook innings playing classic cricket shots and treating crowds to a real spectacle. Kiyan Kassam made an audacious start to the season with two big scores including 78* and as a result was quickly snapped up by the A team.

Mr R.I.M. Alexander

Squad: J. Townsend, T. Wickham, A. Chatoo, A. Singh, K. Chauchan, L. Lee, J. Graham, V. Gokakkar, B. Alvi, T. Szostak (Capt), S. Bickerstaff, B. Fallowfi eld, S. Patel, T. Mangat, O. Gilbert, M. Barnfather, O. Lavelle, F. Edwards, R. Pattni, K. Kassam, S. Shah

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Cricket – U14CThe season started in arctic conditions against St Paul’s. Winning the toss on a damp wicket was vital and MTS made the most of bowling fi rst. The team held their catches as wickets fell steadily to all the bowlers. St Paul’s were unable to post a score that they could defend and MTS were able to knock the runs off despite giving away several wickets. A good effort in the fi rst match of the season.

Fresh from their Open Morning duties, the U14C team welcomed Westminster. Our guest’s relative inexperience quickly told and three wickets in the fi rst 5 balls settled this contest. Alexander-Bryan marshalled his troops well and rotated the bowling generously. A brief hail storm interrupted proceedings, but in the second half of the match MTS chased down their target with no alarms.

In our third game, Townsend and Patel reduced Berkhamsted to 25-5 after 5 overs. The spinners bowled very well but were not backed up by good catching, fortunately four run outs meant that Berkhamsted were never able to recover.

Dhawan and Jegeswaran batted well, looking for singles and hitting the bad ball for four. Dhawan ran himself out leaving Captain Alexander-Bryan to fi nish things off with some fl ashing strokes after an early scare.

In our fi nal fi xture of the half term we, had to contend with damp and overcast conditions, more typical of the Lancashire leagues, MTS won a key toss and invited Reed’s to bat. The top order batsman showed their class, although a steady stream of errors meant our guests were never able to “boss the

game” for long. Maintzer cleaned up the middle order in one devastating over and good catching from Poole amongst others fi nished off the innings surprisingly quickly. In reply, MTS had to dig deep to weather an early storm from Hurricane Reed’s. Captain Alexander-Bryan did well to steady the ship and in calmer conditions after lunch, a few lusty blows from man of the match Speller settled the contest with good time to spare.

We would like to thank Mr Wooldridge for his mid-week coaching expertise, Mr Ayling and the Groundsmen for preparing true wickets and outfi elds for us to play on and Mr Fayer and his team for keeping us so well fed at tea time.

Played 4 Won 4

Mr J.G. Taylor & Dr A.R.H Clarke

Squad: M. Alexander-Bryan, A. Banerjee, V. Busschop, A. Chatoo, M. Dhawan, J. Harris, A. Jegeswaran, H. Karim, O. Lavelle, F. Maintzer, K.D. Patel, E. Poole, A. Singh, V. Sharma, O. Speller (wkt), J . Townsend

Cricket – U14DWith the sun starting to shine, the U14Ds season got off to a slow start with only a single match played prior to half term. This gave the boys a lot of time in the nets but, whilst they became technically better with bat and ball, they were mentally under prepared for the match against Reed’s. With Reed’s opting to bat fi rst – with an excellent opening partnership – Taylors’ did well to hold them to 116 runs. However, it was the mental errors when batting that cost the side, with the boys losing four wickets for no runs. Whilst they fought back bravely, the damage was done, and the boys lost by 55 runs. There were lots of positives, and hopefully the boys will be ready for the fi nal thre e matches of the season.

Dr M.I. Beacham

Squad: A. Dave, A. Ingate, A. Murgai, C. Byrne, C. Hassan, D. Jones, H. Carr, H. Lidstone, J. Khera, K. Mehta, M. Andela, N. Patel, R. Swan, S. Duce, S. Kohler, S. Thobhani, T. Payne, U. Merchant, V. Mastin, V. Sharma

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Cricket – U13AThe U13 season got off to a particularly slow start. With some matches being cancelled due to poor weather, and some schools opting to play our “B” side, the U13 A’s have had limited opportunities to show what we are capable of. Whilst the match versus Berkhamsted was a thriller which tested not only the physical skills but also the mental aspects of performing in a pressure scenario, the game will stand us in good stead moving forward and we learnt many things as a group. The loss to St. Martin’s was tough to take, simply because we did not perform to the levels we all know we are capable of and even with a number of players unavailable due to Jet Cup commitments with MT Prep, we should have given a better account of ourselves. The core players have played together for two years now, and there are some partnerships being made that will fl ourish in the future. With the National Cup fast approaching, we must be on top of our game continually for the second half of the term and put in performances that we know we are capable of. While the fi rst half of term may not have gone to plan with our win percentage the skills and development that have been learnt is evident and should we apply these skills correctly the second half of term should be one of great success for the U13 A side.

Mr C. Patterson

Squad: P. Aarons, D. Byrne, S. Duggan, M. Horne, S. Soneji, J. Cameron, Z. Lodhi, A. Brown, K. Shah, A. Mehta, S. Shankar, C. Horridge, J. Savage, A. Sheikh, G. Muralitharan.

Cricket – U13BThe U13B team has learned a lot in recent weeks, in a challenging series of games. A relatively inexperienced side, they have worked increasingly well as a team, and have pulled together when faced with challenging circumstances. The tightened fi elding has been a big improvement in recent weeks, and this has been needed against some talented opponents. Games have been tough, as they have come up against some extremely strong sides, and have therefore seen some chastening defeats – perhaps above all against Reed’s, in which, after Michael Darbyshire

took a wicket with the fi rst ball of the day, the Reed’s number 3 hit a century. Nevertheless, there have been many encouraging signs, with consistently good bowling from Dabrera and Darbyshire, and some big hits from Jaffer, Fitzgerald, Davies, and Zaman Buiyan. The half term ended on a high, with a satisfying victory against St Martin’s.

Mr P.D. Harrison

Squad: Z. Bub, R. Dabrera, M. Darbyshire, L. Davies, K. Dulai, J. Fitzgerald, M. Jaffer, S. Jegatheesan, I. Rodriguez, N. Shah, Y. Zaman Bhuiyan.

Cricket – 13C The U13C team have trained hard and developed a good sporting attitude so far this term. A highlight of the year was the home match against Berkhamst ed where the team fought valiantly but fell short on sunny, albeit, slightly windy Saturday. Taylors’ lost the toss and were put into bat. Some tidy bowling made the initial scoring slow until a strong partnership of Myan and Anmol gave Taylors’ a foothold in the match. Anmol scored an impressive 23 before Jasper struck the ‘shot of the match’ with the fi nal ball of the innings, by displacing it for four to the delight of the home team. Berkhamsted’s opening batsmen settled and began to build an impressive partnership despite some

accurate bowling from Aaron and Myan. Well done to all students involved in the U13C team.

Mr R. Simmonds

Squad: S. Ahtti, M. Aina, A. Benedict, C. Berrecloth, T. Gnanamurali, J. Jobling, D. Magbagbeola, A. Ranauta, A. Singh, M. Vaghji, D. Williams.

Cricket – U12AThe U12A team has played three games together, winning one and losing two. A shaky start to the season saw a shuffl e in selection and new boys entering the fold. Now a more established group of players, they have produced some most watchable cricket. There are some outstanding individual players, including Nabil Hassan, whose action is masterfully rhythmical. Turning the ball at right angles, so as to entice his opponents into a false shot, is his stock in trade. The opening bats boast strong averages, and have put on fi fty partnerships on two from three occasions. Muralitharan Guganeshan and Suraj Shankar are unorthodox but highly effective in their methods.Such timing is rarely witnessed at this level, but when these two craftsmen took to the crease, we came to expect the thunderous crack of ball on willow. Our leading all-rounder has been Ayaan Sheikh, a terrifi c performer fi t for the big occasion. He single-handedly

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outfoxed Reed’s with bat and ball to lead the team to victory. Ones to watch closely next half of term include Mirren Shah, who bowls at the death of games to keep opponents guessing, and Ishan Patel, who puts bowlers to the sword like no other.

Mr J.B. Rogerson

Squad: Z. Ahmed, A. Kandala, J. Mathan, N. Hassan, G. Muralitharan, A. Shah, M. Shah, S. Shankar, A. Sheikh, J. Mathan, I. Patel, R. Gopaldas, I. Karurkar, O. Hamilton, R. Hartigan

Cricket – U12BThe U12B team take their cricket seriously. No daydreaming at Long Leg with this squad. In the fi eld, the encouragement of each other and the desire to succeed and not to yield is palpable. So far this season, there have been some narrow defeats but splendid victories too. There were stand out performances in the fi rst game of the season against Merchant Taylors’ Prep School, including an unbeaten 80 N.O. by captain Ishan Patel, which saw him, alongside fellow opener, Kavin Muhunthan, promptly promoted to the A team. But there is strength in depth here, and as long as the arm keeps brushing the ear, the bat remains straight and the catches go to hand, the promise of success with this team will never be far away.

Mr M. Hilton-Dennis

Squad: O. Hamilton, I. Karurkar, R. Hartigan, M. Hills, A. Ali, I. Chandoo, E. Horgan-Smith, D. Kotecha, D. Kukoyi, K. Madra, O. Temowo, A. Tokeria, I. Patel, K. Mahunthan

Cricket – U12CThe U12C side enjoyed a successful fi rst half of term in what was, for the main, glorious sunshine. The term focused mainly on improving the technical quality of the boys’ batting, fi elding and bowling with the aid of a professional coach. The variety of training activities really captured the boys’ interest and as well as some enjoyable relays and the ever popular ‘catching volleyball’, the match atmosphere was replicated in the nets, with some impressive wickets tumbling and the

boys showcasing their much-improved bowling technique. Each boy also had the opportunity to develop his own batting skills and having started through small-scale drills the boys felt confi dent enough to stand at the crease in the nets and show off their abilities. It has been all round a very enjoyable term of cricket.

Mr D.G. Robinson

Squad: M. Aiyetigbo, M. Bayney, J. Chapanery, A. Garella, L. Johnson, K. Mehta, A. Meshram, A. Patel, D. Patel, G. Patel, G. Rehman, K. Rhsanth.

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1st XI - Autumn Term

It has been a testing term for MTS 1st XI with a large number of fi xtures and most against good footballing schools. This term also saw MTS enter the Brigg Cup for the fi rst time, which gave the boys experience of different schools, namely St Ignatius from Enfi eld.

It was a diffi cult start with a fi xture against John Lyon, who are renowned for merciless thrashings, before there was any time for any training. The result was not what the performance deserved, but this proved to be the nature of most of the fi xtures for the rest of term. This includes the fi rst fi xture against St Ignatius, who beat MTS 5-0 with some lucky counter-attacks.

By the end of term, however, things began to improve. It so turned out that the teams that overwhelmed them in September were the teams against which the results improved. This is testament to the hard work the boys had put in over the term with a gruelling schedule, and it was truly what they deserved. They recorded two excellent results, a draw against St Ignatius and a win against John Lyon, to round off a memorable term. Well done, boys!

Mr J.A. Eales Squad: F. Obatusin, C. Ng, L. Gunnoo, T. Ellis, S. Kaye, D. Arole, S. Sahni, A. Michaels, R. Qadeer, M. Barton, G. Weston, A. Arnaldi, R. Karia, K. Shah, M. Saunders, K. Patel, J. Lollesgard

2nd XI - Autumn Term

This season was packed full of fi xtures against some tricky opposition but the boys acquitted themselves very well. For many of the boys this was their fi rst foray into 11 a-side football and this was telling in the early part of the term where results didn’t go as planned. However, after some hard training and some gritty performances some good results were achieved. Highlights included the 2-1 away victory against a strong St Columba’s team which comprised many 1st team players, and a

well deserved victory against John Lyon which showed just how far the boys had progressed. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the matches and showed that football can be a game played by gentlemen - which they were. I hope that many of the boys can build on their experiences of playing football competitively and continue to do so in the years to come.

Football

Mr M.A. Fothergill Squad: M. Lavelle, C. Seddon, P. Pattani, D. Sara, R. Murphy, B. Shah, R. Bagdai, A. Harris, K. Sham, S. Patel, G. Poole, A. Hussain, I. Tugnait, E. Patel, D. Shah

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We have enjoyed another year of successful aquatics at Merchant Taylors’. Both swimming and

water polo are available to boys on Monday and Wednesday afternoons as a Games option. One session develops practical swimming skills and stroke improvement through drills. It has been very rewarding to watch boys with little experience in the water grow in strength and skill. The Wednesday session allows boys to develop skills specifi c to water polo, such as dribbling, passing and shooting, before a weekly friendly match.

Additionally, more capable swimmers have the opportunity to participate in the Hertfordshire Swimming Gala series. This sees our boys compete against a large number of schools in the local area. Each

of these galas features a squadron race as the fi nal event, where two boys from each of the junior, intermediate and senior levels compete. This is always a highlight, and a top example of boys from different year levels coming together for the benefi t of the school. As part of our commitment to this gala series, Merchant Taylors’ once again hosted one of the galas in November last year. Such an event pushes our pool to capacity, but it is always great to see our pool being used for such a high standard of competition.

Upon the recent release of the Hertfordshire fi nal results for the season, Merchant Taylors’ senior squad came in with a very impressive second position. It must be remembered that we are competing against some boarding schools where swimming

training is part of the regular daily routine, meaning we have the opportunity for fewer practice sessions than most. With this in mind, our intermediate and junior squads, despite their best efforts, both came in eighth position.

Mr M.W. Pacey

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Alfi e Collins (Divisions) at the British Nationals

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Watersports continue to fl ourish throughout the school in terms of boys from all year groups

being able to access the facilities in some way throughout the whole year and it being a three term games option for many boys. Participation remains high and the standard of sailing has improved since the arrival of Mr Hivey with his innovative approach to mastering the basics and making wise use of the evening club racing sessions at Datchet. Kayaking continues to improve with some of the boys making superb use of the pool sessions to master their rolling technique. This summer term saw more windsurfers at Datchet than any of the past seven years and thanks to Mrs Pruden- Lawson rowing has been introduced and the school has purchased new kit to aid this. As I write fi nal preparations are being made for the inaugural trip to the Seaview, Isle of Wight for The Great Twelve Sailing Regatta at Seaview Yacht Club(SYC). For the last decade or so, there has been this Inter-Livery event for the Ironmongers Company, and it takes place under the auspices of the Seaview Yacht Club. The format is that each Livery Company of the Great Twelve tries to assemble 2 sailing teams comprising an Old Guard (four members of the Livery/Court), and a Young Guard (four members of the Apprentices and Freedom). The purpose is that they race against each other in a total of four races during the day, and the points deriving from their positions in the fl eet lead to a ranking; at the end of the afternoon there is a prizegiving and a dinner. No doubt this event will be a great experience for the boys involved.

Mr A.S. Bannister

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Seniors

The 1st and 2nd senior tennis teams played two matches before the start of exam leave, versus

Haberdashers’ and Berkhamsted. Against the former, there were wins for Tom Townsend, Michael Saunders and Charlie Seddon, with the latter two showing good form to win their doubles. The 2nds struggled although showed notable fi ght against doughty opponents – Amit Kejriwal’s singles win was the highlight in a heavy defeat.

Against Berkhamsted’, the 1st IV won 4-2 again, and for the second time in a week the sun shone. Aaron O’Brien and Michael Saunders won their doubles with some fi ne teamwork - Michael’s arcing serves and Aaron’s slick volleys were too much for the opposition while Mark Nichols and Charlie Seddon also won their match in a close encounter. Michael then won his singles with real authority (6-0) and it all came down to Charlie’s singles match with MTS 3-2 up in rubbers. Leading 5-4 in games and serving, Charlie saved several break points before advancing to the net and hitting a stunning forehand drive-volley winner, a shot which many professionals struggle to execute. It was a shot fi t to win any match. The 2nd IV - made up of Amit Kejriwal, Matthew Brearley, Joseph Andraous and Jake Keisner - went down 5-1 again. They struggled to get used to the low bounce but credit must go to our opponents for their quick movement. Joseph’s combative singles victory was the highlight.

As Mr Barnwell heads for pastures new, I would like to thank him for his sterling contribution to MTS tennis. He has given junior tennis valuable impetus and we wish him all the very best in his new role in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr J.M.S. Rippier

1st team: A. O’Brien, T. Townsend, M. Saunders, C. Seddon, M. Nicholls

2nd team: A. Mohindra, A. Kejriwal, M. Brearley, J. Andraous, J. Keisner, R. Popat

Juniors What a season it has been for the U14 and U15 tennis teams this year. With Sam Ryde, Younes Guezour, Bergen Merey, Ferdi Maintzer, Bilal Alvi, Jamie Graham

and Jasper Jobling all starting their Merchant Taylors’ tennis careers. The U15 teams are unbeaten and the U14 have only one loss to their name. Ferdi Maintzer showed his talent as he played for the U15 instead of the U14. Ewan

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Townshend and Ayush Popat showed pure determination after a comeback from 1-5 down to win 7-5 after saving 13 match points against Westminster. This was only possible because they communicated with each other extremely well and were consistently positive. Ayush Popat and Zach Murphy handled the pressure of playing top seeds for U15 very well and are an unbeaten doubles pair, whilst Ewan Townshend boasts an unbeaten singles run with only 6 games lost. Sam Ryde handled his debut extremely well, fi ring 4 aces to defeat his opponent 6-2 against St Albans. Jasper Jobling has handled the challenge of playing for the U14 whilst still being in the Upper Thirds very well. After half-term, MTS played two fi xtures against Berkhamsted and Haberdashers’. Ferdi Maintzer and Ewan Townshend continued to be unbeaten in their singles matches winning 6-1 and 6-0 respectively. Haberdashers’ proved to be a strong opposition a few days later as the team welcomed back Sam Ryde, Jasper Jobling and Panagiotis Nikolaou into the frame. Panagiotis performed superbly with some exemplary ground strokes to continue his 100% win ratio in all singles matches.

Ayush Popat (Divisions)

U15 team: A. Popat, Y. Guezour, Z. Murphy, S. Ryde, F. Maintzer, Z. Din, E. Townshend

U14 team: B. Merey, B. Alvi, J. Graham, E. Woolley, P. Nikolaou, J. Jobling

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This year has been a successful one for fi ves at Merchant Taylors’, seeing a large number of boys, both

old hands and those completely new to the sport, playing the game. The example set by the Lower Sixth, combining both commitment and a high level of play, has proven inspirational to many of those lower down the school. As such, much of the conspicuous success enjoyed this season has come as little surprise.

All fi xtures have been competitive and played in an excellent spirit with wins coming against Christ’s Hospital, Bedford Modern, Bradfi eld, Rugby and Whitgift. The Centenary Cup was also retained in emphatic fashion against Bedford School. Despite losing fi xtures against St Paul’s, Winchester, Malvern, Oundle and Oxford University, and junior fi xtures against Whitgift and Rugby, there is much to be positive about and the level of singles play, in particular, was impressive. At the end of the season, there was also a victorious Winchester Fives fi xture for the 1st IV away at Radley College in which they enjoyed the novelty of the game and the chance to play a different code of fi ves. A number of individuals have stood out through their high level of play, not least Ethan Taberham who, in his fi rst performance as captain, set the tone for his season by beating his Oxford University counterpart with both style and ease. Sarthak Garella made his debut for the both the 2nd and 1st IVs this season and played very well, showing that despite his comparative youth he was far from out of his depth.

The U13 players had one fi xture against Pilgrim’s School, losing against a strong side but enjoying a day of Fives played in great spirit. Six boys from the U13s also attended the Nationals and the two Third Formers in particular gave promising performances. Though none of them made it through their singles groups, Mitul Matthews and Ayaan Sheikh will be rightly hopeful of doing so next year. The Nationals saw a large number of boys – fourteen in all – travel to St Paul’s over the Easter break. All of those who participated did both themselves and the school proud. In the U18s, Ethan

Taberham was narrowly beaten in the last sixteen before going on to win the Doubles Plate with Joe Savage. This was all the more impressive as they conceded no points on their way to victory. Sarthak Garella did very well to make it through to the quarter fi nals of the Colts Singles. The U14s played exceptionally well with Jamie Graham winning the Singles Plate competition and Andy Singh and Tunveer Mangat fi nishing runners-up in the Doubles Plate.

This has been my fi rst year in charge of Fives at Merchant Taylors’ and I have been incredibly impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm of the players at the school. The gentlemanly way in which they play the game has been remarked upon by many visiting masters-in-charge and opponents. I hope that the game will continue to grow next year.

Mr S.F. Hardman

Captain: E.L.C. Taberham

SeniorsC.S.C. Barnett, A.K.J. Hamilton, A.C. Hopkins, J.A.K.C.B. Kwabwe, J.J. Murphy, J.W. Savage, J.A. Seery, E.L.C. Taberham, E.D. Thursfi eld, J.A. Wall, J.J. Withers

ColtsJ.K. Anand, A. Aresti, N.V. Birdi, S. Garella, M.S. Mishra, A.A. Sham

Junior ColtsA.D. Chaudhry, N.J. Kapadia, M.P. Kendix, Z.T. Murphy, E.C. Townshend

U14H.M. Carr, A.M. Daya, J.W. Graham, M.S. Mangat, T.S. Mangat, V.B.A. Matthews, S.R. Sardana, S.S. Shah, A. Singh

U13Z.A. Bub, K. Dulai, J.G. Gunusen, M.T.A. Matthews, A. Phillips, A. Sheikh

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SportSportSportSportAthletics and Cross Country

compete against the elements, you must also compete against over 300 of the best distance runners in the country. Sam can rightfully claim that he is now the 34th best distance runner at his age in the country. Considering the popularity of cross country and athletics in England, this

is quite sensational and surely one of the most signifi cant sporting achievements Taylors’ has seen for quite some time.

And so we turned to the track. Our annual outing to the ESAA Track and Field Cup was a happy occasion once again. Junior

The House Cross Country continues to be a great success. It is rightfully competed with more ferocity

each year. There were some excellent performances, including a deserved win for Cameron Yule (Mulcaster) in his fi nal year at the school. The top boys qualifi ed to take place in the Borough Cross Country Championships. Here we impressively qualifi ed thirteen team members through to the Middlesex County Championships. The boys battled hard on a saturated and hilly course in Uxbridge. In the Year 8 and 9 race, the boys were incredible. If we were allowed to enter the team event, it would have been one of the most resounding victories the competition had ever seen. Max Arlen, unlucky with sickness, battled hard to fi nish 13th, Laurie Lee fi nished in 9th, Sam Lee (Shaftesbury Barnet) in 7th, Ruaridh Nicholls was 6th, Bert Edwards came 5th, Patrick Brown won a bronze in 3rd and Sam Bickerstaff (Harrow AC) was crowned Borough Champion. In the GCSE years, Mayank Mishra (Hillingdon AC) qualifi ed in the top 5 and John Fielding (Ealing) won the Borough gold. In the sixth form Tom Lawrence, Aaron O’Brien and Jonathan Clifford-King all fi nished in the top 10, qualifying for the Counties.

Good form continued in the Counties. Guganeshan Mularitheran spectacularly fi nished 4th in the Colts race (his fi rst proper cross country race): he is certainly one to watch. John Fielding (Walter, 5ths) and Samuel Bickerstaff (Clive, 4ths) qualifi ed to take part in the National School Cross Countries Championship. Their 5th and 4th respectively secured them a berth in the Middlesex team who would tackle the Championship at Wollaton Park, Nottinghamshire. On a fast course, they competed superbly. John, after a long period out, proved that he has returned to full form. 139th in the country is not to be sniffed at. He has shown real grit over the past two years: his road to recovery will always stand as one of the most impressive things I have seen as a sports coach.

Sam’s performance was quite astonishing. He fi nished 34th in the Junior Boys. Cross Country is one of the hardest distance disciplines. Not only do you have to

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boys Mayowa Temowo, Malachi Aina, James Savage, David Kukoyi, Charlie Horridge and Alexander Jones also achieved Bronze Awards. Silver Awards were secured by Sean Duggan and Aaron Florenstein. Congratulations must also go to Junior team members Michel Aiyetigbo, Dylan Byrne, Ush Murphy, Archie Brown, Ethan Lawes and Guganeshan Muralitharan.

We look forward to an even bigger year of athletics in 2017.

Mr J.D. Manley

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In February 2016, a squad of fi fteen Merchant Taylors’ judo players travelled to High Wycombe Judo

Centre to compete in the Independent Schools Tournament, their experience and success at the competition proved to be the high point of an excellent year for the small and spirited squad. A remarkable eight out of the fi fteen players achieved podium fi nishes in their weight and experience categories. Highlights included our excellent Junior Captain Luke Thorpe’s silver medal in the under 50kg interm ediate category, Michael Fielding’s hard fought silver medal in the under 73kg seniors category (which included a number of Great Britain fi ghters) and Philip Wilson achieving a gold medal in the under 90kg intermediate category. Termly fi xtures with Harrow School and St. Paul’s School have proved to be stern tests of the squad’s skills, stamina and discipline. Whilst we failed to secure overall victory in any of this year’s fi xtures, the technique and determination that individual players displayed bodes well for next season. Whilst the junior members of the squad have progressed impressively under the tutelage of our coach, John Jones, particular mention should go to the seniors (James Apps, Ben Collis, Jinge Ha, Gishean Thayaparan and Matthew McCormack) who have competed with great tenacity and courage. We bid a sad farewell to a most committed and formidable player in the form of Jagsukhbir Johal and also to our Captain and most experienced player, Charlie Ford. In his fi nal year at MTS, Charlie has focused more on coaching the junior members of the squad but in achieving a bronze medal at his fi nal Independent Schools Tournament, he proved that he is still a formidable judo player himself. He will be sorely missed.

Mr E.P. James

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Equestrian is going from strength to strength, with more pupils horse-riding every term. Horse riding is

offered as a games option from Divisions onwards, and as a Fourth Form Friday afternoon activity. Equestrian is organised and run by Mrs Udell, with Mrs Stubbs helping at horse riding as a games option. Equestrian as both a games option and an activity is getting more and more popular, we now have an MTS Equestrian team, and Alex Coleman is show jumping for MTS, and already winning rosettes. Our favourite horse is Jigsaw who is loaned by Mrs Udell and successfully giving of her best to get prizes for MTS in dressage as well as in jumping. We ride at Littlebourne Equestrian Centre, a well-established and famous BHS recognised riding school, with excellent, friendly instructors and lovely horses. Littlebourne has horses for all abilities of riders, from advanced horses to ponies who are ideal for beginners. A full list of all 42 horses at Littlebourne

Boys from the watersports section have had the opportunity to row for the fi rst time on the lakes at Merchant

Taylors’ during the summer term. With fi fty percent of boys falling in on their fi rst session, it was a relief to see them all still smiling! I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the Yardarms association who have made a fi nancial contribution towards the purchase of the boats. Over the course of the sessions the boys focused on their balance and core stability as we started with fi ne sculls and one racing double. We now have 2 training sculls and a quad (which takes 4 boys). All boys that have taken part should be proud of the progress they have made this year; both in terms of their balance and technique. Next year we shall be taking part in the National Indoor Rowing Championships, so they shall also be testing their fi tness to the max!

Mrs L. Pruden-Lawson

used in riding lessons is on their website. Littlebourne is a massive riding yard, with a total of around 200 horse, including liveries, and has over 100 acres of post and rail, and three miles of non-road hacking around the farm. Littlebourne has an 80m x 40m fl oodlight outdoor arena, one unlighted arena, and an indoor school, with lighting. Riding is a great experience for anyone interested, and builds up team work, especially in dressage,

communication skills, and is great fun! I can only whole heartedly recommend this skill and sport. It is exciting, challenging and fun. A huge thank you goes to Mrs C Udell for giving us this special opportunity and to take us and ride with us every week.

Ben Hunt (4ths)

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I was thoroughly entertained and very pleasantly surprised. What a show! From the tight harmonies in “Fugue

for Tinhorns” all the way through to the (brought the house down) “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” the cast delivered a superb performance of Guys and Dolls.

The time and effort spent on the show was evident from the start. From the lovingly realized details in Savio Gimmi’s set and lighting design, to the obvious hours spent at the piano with Joan Stubbs rehearsing the harmonies, to the excellence of the backstage team, this cast and crew can be very proud. The audience must have been wondering where on earth the pupils and staff fi nd the time (on top of what is an already heavy workload) to polish and perfect a show as complex as this to West End standards. Jo Cox and John Coleman must be very proud and can take a well-deserved bow: as can Simon Couldridge, who worked his magic on the band.

There are always standout performances, but what was especially pleasing about this production was how evenly the principal players shared the honours. Ben Peart transformed brilliantly into a bumbling Nicely-Nicely and Udaya Sharma made a wonderfully sleazy Nathan Detroit. The real surprise for me was Charlie Carter, playing the part of Sky Masterson, whose performance of “Luck be a Lady Tonight” was my personal favourite. We have a crooner in the making with Charlie. The girls from St Helen’s were equally impressive. Nadya Kumar has the voice of an angel, as well as natural acting talent. She played a wonderfully humorous and sympathetic Miss Adelaide. Kristen Smithers’s timid, repressed Sarah Brown had no chance against the wily ways of smooth operator Sky Masterson, and his charm compounded with the news that the Mission is in danger of closing down because not enough people take advantage of its services, set up the stupendous fi nale.

Few productions will ever bring out the essential warmth of the show better than this. Sky, of course, can draw on his wide circle of friends on Broadway to guarantee that the Mission is crowded and thereby saved (“Sit down You’re

Rocking the Boat”). Sarah’s romantic interest in Sky thereby revives and their love affair achieves its Hollywood ending at the altar; as – at long last -- does that of

Nathan and the long-suffering Adelaide. Well done to all!

Mr. P.M. Capel

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You allow yourself to get bulldozed by these intellectuals……you think too much; says Juror 10 (Aaon

Rozanski), who then proceeds to condemn an entire under-class. Thinking may, one might hope, be a minimum requirement, in the matter of justice – particularly when a 16 year old boy could be sent to the electric chair, but not so with these jurors, the eponymous 12 Angry Men of this excellent student directed production (by George Solomou and Tom Bannon). Thinking is not their style. Did the boy murder his father? The nature of evidence in a pre-forensic/DNA age, 1950s America, is at the core of the drama here, but more than that – the inability of these men to make sensible judgements. Juror 12 (Rishi Bagdai), preoccupied with his crass advertising slogans; the infantile Juror 7 (Joey Ricciardiello) – can only see everything in terms of sport and baseball, and is more interested in getting off to the game. Juror 3 (Tom Bannon), only able to see through the prism of his own broken relationship with his son – ‘I’ll make a man of you, if I have to break you in half to do it’. There is the humane Juror 8 (George Solomou) – stalking the stage liked a trapped animal.

Bannon played his role with the threat of violence lurking underneath – ready to erupt any moment, which indeed it does. Daniel Surkes sat with a still presence at the centre of the stage – gravity holding the men together. Lewis Duckworth’s stark set was ideal – echoing the moral vacuum of the characters. The simple use of the 3 light bulbs and the sound of rain in Act 2 was very effective. There was a

sophisticated sense of atmosphere from the start of this production. Praise goes to everybody in the cast. There was not one fl awed performance – every cast member had a professional focus throughout, and sustained their accents with skill. Let us hope this is the fi rst of many student directed productions.

Mr. D. Garnett

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In Roald Dahl’s novel, The Witches, the unnamed, eight year old narrator explains to his readership, ‘only a

woman can be a witch’. True though this might be in Dahl’s fi ctional world, in the theatrical sense the MTS junior play demonstrated that males can in fact be witches and terrifying ones at that.

The play version is largely faithful to Dahl’s original tale, in which a boy endures two encounters with witches to orchestrate a revenge attack equally as sophisticated. In the junior play the boy’s cigar-smoking grandmother was brilliantly adapted and portrayed by Ishmael Levy’s sartorial grandfather whose opening bed-time, spook story set the scene for a dark and sinister production.

When Teigue Murphy’s narrator unwittingly chooses a hotel conference room for mouse-training he fi nds himself trapped in the annual meeting of the fearsome English witches, chaired by Joe Rich’s Grand High Witch, who is suitably spine-chilling and charismatic as Dahl’s devious, child-frying psychopath. Their agenda is simple: the destruction of all children by spiking sweets with an animorphic potion.

During the witches’ conference, the revelation of child protection operatives into fully fl edged kindergarten killers was one of the brilliant scenes of the play and owed much to some exceptional technical acting, painstaking make-up and costume detail, and Mr Garnett’s eccentric appropriation of Peter Greenaway soundtracks and carmine set designs. As the witches’ brutal plan goes chins up, the ensembled cast fl ourished in a stunning display of muricidal mayhem.

In fi ne form also, Harrison Rob and Tom Szostak offered great value as the neurotic, middle class parents to Harry Brookes’ wonderfully acted, binge-eating sadist, Bruno. As Murphy is assigned with the challenge of feeding the witches their own medicine he does so scurrying around the highly entertaining Adam Haffar as the head French chef. Superb

supporting performances and split-timing special effects helped to round off four jaw-dropping performances which did ample justice to Dahl’s dogs-dropping shenanigans. A fantastic show all round!

Mr I.J. Mitchell

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On Wednesday 2nd March, James Seery, George Solomou and Daniel Surkes gave an

outstanding representation of a part of Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art’ at the Festival du théâtre francophone’ at King Alfred school. It was a great performance, both in terms of acting and speaking French.

Mr F.R. Vignal

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In November, St.Helen’s and Merchant Taylors’ put on a joint production of Medea. This was a superbly acted

and powerful production; brilliantly directed by Michelle Connell and Dani Sinclair. It was also visually striking, with an imaginative use of lighting, and stunning images projected on to a beautiful set design of white and silver. Infanticide is a heavy theme to handle (not to mention the murder of members of a Royal household), but the cast played it with maturity and control. You could sense each line had been carefully thought through. Selin Balcioglu, as Medea, is clearly an actress in the making, and I really believed Henry Gee’s portrayal of Jason, particularly the moment where he discovers his wife has murdered their children (no wonder the Greeks found this play hard to stomach). Elliott Arnold made a memorably authoritative Creon, and Neville Birdi and George Yerou brought gravity to their roles as The Tutor and Ageus. Overall, a well-paced production, with no opportunity for the audience to lose interest. The spectacle of the doors opening at the end, Medea standing with a dagger, murdered sons at her feet, is one that is hard to forget.

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There were so many strong pieces in the House Drama this year that fi ve Houses went through to the

Finals, held, for the fi rst time at the New Barn Theatre at Merchant Taylors’ Prep. Our Judge, Mr Spencer Hinton, of this parish (Mr Hinton is Head of Speech and Drama at Merchant Taylors’ Prep), had the unenviable task of choosing a winner, and he gave some useful and constructive feedback to the boys, as well praising their strengths.

Mulcaster gave an imaginative and chorus-based rendition of Brecht’s ‘The

Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’, with a huge, director-led cast. Hilles offered an intense and extremely well-acted version of ‘One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, and there were two pieces written by the boys themselves. Spenser’s ‘So Far So Good’, was written by George Solomou and was a piece that was thought-provoking and political in a way that was dramatic and drew in the audience. Tom Bannon, for the Manor, wrote ‘The Pigeon’, an extremely funny piece of political satire that elicited a tour de force performance from Dylan Bull as the central, deluded comic lead. The winner, however, was Walter with a

realisation of Orwell’s ‘1984’ that was both chilling and powerful; it was brilliantly acted by Ishmael Levy, and beautifully staged and directed by Neville Birdi and Daniel Surkes. All in all, it was an evening of work of astonishing quality by the boys.

Mr. D. Garnett

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The Duologues this year reached a very high standard of performance, as noticed by our

illustrious judge, Robin Hooper – star of ‘The Offi ce’, alongside Ricky Gervais, and former Literary Manager of the Royal Court theatre. There was a broad range of material, from The Two Ronnies to Sarah Kane, and Robin enjoyed and commented on the passion and freshness of the performances. Drama Scholar Jo Rich and Ishmael Levy took the Juniors with a dark piece, Pinter’s ‘The Homecoming’. Luke Rozanski and Matthew Hine won again this year with a Two Ronnies sketch, ‘Crossed Line’; this time in the Intermediates category. Aaron Rozanski and George Solomou took the Senior Award with the Sarah Kane piece: note the double Rozanski triumph – sibling rivalry just narrowly avoided. Elliott Arnold and Henry Gee ran away with the Bolton Cup for Originality (Gee throwing in a humorous dig at the Head of Drama’s dramatic tastes, which was enjoyed by all), and Emilio Rimini and Vincent Mastin won Best Newcomers’ Award. Thank you to both Robin and the boys for a fantastic evening.

Mr D. Garnett

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This year’s Autumn Concert celebrated movies and musicals, and featured as ever MTS’ larger

instrumental and choral ensembles. Taylors’ Brass opened the proceedings with Brass Tacks, a new commission by Mr Couldridge, given its fi rst performance earlier that day to the Duke of Gloucester. The Wind Band then followed this with catchy Thriller and Chicago tunes, before the Vocal Ensemble beautifully performed Deep River and Arthur’s Theme. The Dixieland Band entertained next, before Mrs Stubbs’ Concert Band closed the fi rst half with Over the Rainbow (with an enchanting vocal solo from Ben Peart) and some moving Hans Zimmer themes.

The Choir kicked off the second half with a rousing West Side Story medley with brass and percussion accompaniment, before Sinfonia took to the stage with the Peter Gunn theme. The Swing Band then performed an exciting number, before Chamber Orchestra and Senior Orchestra – both led by Chris Savage and directed by Mr Couldridge – superbly concluded the event. Senior Orchestra’s fi nale of Beethoven 7, second movement, provided a most poignant ending to the concert, the music of course from The King’s Speech.

Mr H.R. Jones

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At the end of the Spring Term, Merchant Taylors’ joined forces with St. Helen’s, St. John’s and

Merchant Taylors’ Prep for the Joint Concert 2016. In terms of participation, this is beyond doubt our biggest musical event of the year, and this year’s concert did not disappoint. The fi rst half consisted of an eclectic mix of highly polished items representing each school. St. John’s began proceedings with a tight and energetic medley of three pop songs, directed by Ann Selwood. St. Helen’s then followed this with High Flight, a new composition by Mr Couldridge, directed by Robert Crowley. It was beautifully sung, a very poignant moment in the concert. The Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mr Couldridge, then performed pieces by Walton and Copland, the latter in particular showing off some delightfully crisp and rhythmic string playing. The fi rst half ended with a rendition of Can’t Buy Me Love, directed by Mr Jones and with Benjamin Peart soloing – though the madrigal-inspired arrangement was quite a departure from the original Beatles classic!

The second half featured a choir of around 200 (the above schools’ choirs plus the combined parents’ choir), accompanied by professional orchestra (led by Christopher Savage). The amassed ensemble then performed the Romantic and melodious Messa di Gloria by Puccini, conducted by Mr Jones. It was a tour de force, sung with conviction and passion, and accompanied by a quality orchestral sound. The soloist was Windsor-based Ben Alden, whose

operatic top B fl ats sounded lyrical and effortless! Overall, this was a very fi ne moment for MTS Music – one to remember – and thanks must go to all who performed.

Mr H.R. Jones

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Monday evening saw the fi rst event of the Music Calendar at Merchant Taylors’, with

the Music Award Holders’ Concert. The evening was a chance for those boys who hold Music Awards at Merchant Taylors’ to perform a solo item on their chosen instrument to showcase their talents.

Upper Sixth Former Rafi Kelion opened the evening with a wonderful rendition of the Waltz from Suite Antique, composed by John Rutter. There were then excellent performances from bassoonist Demetri Alvanis (Upper 3rd) and Toby King-Cline (Divs) on the oboe. The audience was then treated to seven further items from current award holders and some of Taylors’ most senior performers, George Wright (Upper 3rd), Alex Alvanis (Upper 3rd), Nicky Alvanis (Upper 3rd), Ben Peart (Upper 6th), Joe Savage (Lower 6th), Matthew Cooper (5th) and Xavier Stavrou-Long (Divs).

The Music Department were also pleased to introduce and hear from our new Music Award Holders for 2015: we extend a warm welcome to Joshua Winyard, Ben Hunt and Samuel Taylor-Cummings.

All the boys performed to a superb standard, reminding the staff and parents of the huge wealth of talent possessed in the school.

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On Monday 29th February, musicians from MTS teamed up with musicians at local prep

school and fellow Merchant Taylors’ Company school, St. John’s, to put on a superb evening of music. The evening began with the St. John’s School Brass Band, who played with real style and projection and surprised the audience with an un-programmed performance of Bobby Hebb’s Sunny. The MTS Vocal Group, expertly conducted by Mr Saunderson, was next on stage to sing two songs

which captivated the audience. St John’s String Quartet and Chamberlain Wind Ensemble gave stellar performances of an array of pieces while two of MTS’ smaller groups – the Clarinet Quartet and the String Quartet – both performed to a very polished standard, fresh from their showings at the South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the Chamber Choir performing with an elite selection of instrumentalists including Mrs Stubbs on Organ; together they showcased Kyrie

MusicMusicMusic & ConcertsConcert at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall

and Agnus Dei from Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. Concluding the concert was the MTS Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mr Couldridge, rounding off the evening with a lively performance of Hoe Down from Rodeo for String Orchestra by Aaron Copland. It was a most enjoyable and varied concert and it was inspiring to see such a wealth of talent on display from the two schools.

Mr. H.R. Jones

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From Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th March, 49 Merchant Taylors’ boys along with four boys from the Prep

headed up to Liverpool for the reunion concert of the 11 Merchant Taylors’ Company schools. These musical events are rarities to cherish, the last two being in 1986 and then 2000! Following a four-hour coach journey, the boys checked in to the Best Western hotel in the centre of Liverpool, before enjoying a fi ne feast at Bella Italia in the heart of the city. On the Friday, we all headed to the boys’ and girls’ schools in Crosby for a full day of rehearsals led by Mr Holroyd (the Liverpool Director of Music), Mr Jones and Mrs Stubbs, before

attending an evening reception in the dramatic crypt of Liverpool Cathedral. Here, each school performed one Beatles song, and our Vocal Group, on this occasion directed by Mr Jones, delivered a highly polished performance of Can’t Buy Me Love starring Benjamin Peart as the soloist.

On the Saturday we had further rehearsals at the boys’ school, before heading to the Philharmonic Hall for a run-through in the afternoon. The evening concert was a real treat, with fi rst-half items including a Vivaldi double-concerto movement from Willem and Niels Redman from Merchant Taylors’ Prep, together with a brilliant

MusicMusicMusic & ConcertsMerchant Taylors’ Company Associated Schools’

Concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

performance of Copland’s Hoe-Down from our Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Mr Couldridge. St. Helen’s contribution also had an MTS connection – they performed was a captivating choral work called High Flight, composed especially for the event by Mr Couldridge. The pièce de résistance however was the second-half item, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, led expertly by our very own Christopher Savage. The sound of the c.300 singers with orchestra was truly magnifi cent, and fi lled every corner of the impressive Philharmonic Hall.

Mr H.R. Jones

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CadetsCadetsCombined Cadet ForceHaving taken command of the

Contingent this year, it has proven to be very much a full-time, part-

time role, but one that has permitted me to see the tremendous achievements of the Cadets and staff. Key to this has been the successful partnership with St Helen’s School, which enters its twenty-fi fth year next year, and I have been grateful for the high quality staff and Cadets who have made signifi cant contributions this year. The CCF also could not function without the School Staff Instructor, WO1 Kevin Sharrock who has taken the CCF to new heights and brings with him a wealth of Army experience and seemingly boundless enthusiasm. The Adjutant, often an unsung hero, Lt Samantha Hannam RNR, has also ensured that the key administration has been done, something the CCF cannot cope without.

Whilst the Inspection Day was a very overt demonstration of the capability of the CCF, earning the praise of Group Captain David Manning, the Inspecting Offi cer and Station Commander of RAF Northolt, it was just one facet of the cadet experience. We have seen Cadets attending Leadership courses across all 3 Sections, competing in the Guthrie Cup at Harrow, fl ying with the RAF, an overseas camp in Cyprus for the RAF and we are currently building up for the Army Camp at Nesscliffe in Shropshire that will see many of our Cadets testing their skills and returning home tired but more self-assured as individuals. This Summer will also see Cdt Sgt Anna Thompson participating in Exercise Whitehorse on a 6-week expedition in Canada, having won one of 12 places offered to Cadets from across the UK, something that is a tremendous accolade for the CCF.

Inevitably staff and senior cadets are moving on and I am grateful for their input and the considerable time they have devoted to making CCF what it is, they have truly set the standard for those who follow them. Next year heralds a partnership with RAF Northolt in terms of gaining support from some of their very highly-qualifi ed instructional staff and also continuing to offer a challenging and rewarding Cadet experience. Merchant Taylors’ School CCF continues to be an incredibly capable and exciting organisation.

Sqn Ldr S.E. Reade

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This year has been a busy one for the CCF’s Army Section, with a huge range of activities and opportunities

on offer. The start of the year was marked by the inaugural London inter-schools Guthrie Cup competition, held at Harrow School, with MTS Army Section fi elding a strong, select team. Despite having little time to prepare, the team gave a highly impressive performance, and their ability, effort and enthusiasm were praised by Colonel Ian Denison, Colonel Cadets London District.

On top of the year’s Friday parades and weekly training, Army Section cadets have taken part in two Field Days, in the Autumn and Spring terms. The fi rst Field Day was held on the School grounds, with activities such as Camoufl age and Concealment, Command Tasks and a Close Quarters Paintball Range on offer. The second Field Day was held at Bramley Training Area

in Hampshire. Sixth Form cadets (and one brave Fifth Former) stayed in bashas overnight on Thursday, with the remainder of the Army Section joining on the Friday morning. United, the section was tasked with reconnaissance, and locating and neutralising a number of (fake) ACME style explosives. Section NCOs reacted to fl uid and dynamic changes in intelligence and situation with impressive effi ciency. No cadets, nor Road Runners were harmed.Inspection Day held high promises for the Army Section, with a decisive performance both on and off the Parade Square. Despite losing out to the Navy Section for the Intersection Trophy, a well-planned and highly entertaining drill routine earned the Section unanimous praise from the Inspecting Offi cers, and a somewhat unique victory in the Drill Competition.

The remainder of the year will see a portion of the Army Section attending

Annual Camp in July, which will be held at Nescliffe Training Area in Shropshire. Activities will be supervised by one of the Army’s Cadet Training Teams, and there will be an over-night blank-fi ring exercise with potential for cadets to enter the training area via helicopter.

The Army Section is also proud to name Cadet Sergeant Anna Thompson, who will be taking part in the Expedition, Leader and Instructor Canada Exchange Course: Operation Whitehorse this summer, as one of 12 Cadets selected from the UK. She will take part in leadership exercises and adventurous training in the Yukon. The Army Section wishes her the best of luck, and looks forward to seeing the skills and knowledge she will bring back.

2Lt S. Logan

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The Royal Navy Section has had another exceptional year. The Section has had to reduce in size

from 120 to 90 cadets so that we can continue to deliver and oversee high-quality training with the available staff. Although the Section as a whole is leaner, we have had another huge Upper-Sixth cohort, who have continued, whilst the intake into Divs has had to decrease. This has led to an imbalance in the command pyramid, but has enabled many without a position of responsibility to continue their service. Our Cox’n, CPO Tom McGivney, assisted by POs Alex Hattam and Jemma Wolff, have been tremendous in leading the Section and they embody the core values that the Royal Navy espouses.

We have been fortunate to have many excellent, competent and enthusiastic Upper Sixth boys too, who have been able to deliver great practical sailing sessions, as well as classroom theory lessons, on Friday afternoons – especially A/POs James Withers, Charlie Carter, Sam Peters and Matthew Stillwell. Field Days afford all the cadets a chance to immerse themselves for the day in our core activity, afl oat training; as well as gain exposure to the Royal Navy. In October, the whole Section spent Field Day either sailing or windsurfi ng

at Datchet. Thankfully, the weather was clement, allowing for a quality day on the water.

March Field Day for Starboard Division (Fifths) and Lower Sixth began with an overnight stay organised by Lt Des Linehan, our RN Liaison Offi cer, at the Royal Navy Acquaint Centre based in HMS COLINGWOOD, our affi liated establishment. On the Friday, the cadets visited the Maritime Warfare School, used the ships’ weapons simulators and ended their visit being taken over the RN Leadership Academy Obstacle Course by PTI. Port Division (Divs) and the Senior Rates (U6) paid a visit to the Royal Marines (RM) Museum followed by hands-on activities with a team of Marines who run

the Royal Navy’s Pre-Deployment Training Cell. And, as tradition holds at the end of the day, the whole Section met at Action Stations to use the helicopter and RM simulators and watch Command Approved, a portrayal of the key roles of the Navy.

Finally, on Inspection Day, the RN Section dominated the inter-Section competitions, winning all the team events except for the Drill Competition. It has been our third successive victory. The teamwork in the raft-building and how everyone pulled together in the tug-of-war, as well as individual sharpshooting efforts, exemplifi ed the spirit and ethos that all the RN cadets embrace.

Lt J. Firestone

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The RAF section has had a year of changes; the section did not have a commanding offi cer so the fi rst 6

months of this year the section was being run by Cadet Warrant Offi cer Dana Afshar. Dana controlled and led the section with strength and determination enabling the cadets to enjoy and continue with most of the activities offered by the RAF. Sqn Ldr Jeremy Schomberg joined the Section in November 2015 as the new offi cer commanding and took over the role as head of RAF. The strength of the section being just under one hundred cadets and staff. The section has had excellent support from 3 members of staff from St Helens, Dr Christopher Ryan, Jenny George and Krystyna Palamarchuk.

The RAF section has enjoyed a revitalised fl ying programme taking cadets from both MTS and St Helens on Air experience fl ights out of RAF Benson. The Section had a very enjoyable fi eld day at RAF Northolt with visits to the Fire Section, Air Traffi c Control, the WW2 Under-ground bunker at Uxbridge and 32 Sqn (The Royal Squadron). All received the school with great gusto and produced a memorable programme for the cadets. Inspection

day was very well supported with our Contingent Commander Sqn Ldr Simon Reade introducing the inspecting offi cer Group Captain Manning. The Group Captain enjoyed all of the stands with specifi c interest and expertise in fl ying the RAF section Drone. The Group Captain handed out the prizes and the day fi nished off with a CCF formal dinner highlighting

all of the achievements of the year and saying good bye to all of the senior cadets and wishing them every success in the future.

Mr J. Schomberg

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This year has been another successful year for DofE, with many boys continuing to want to rise to

the challenge and show that they have the required levels of commitment and perseverance to achieve their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Seventy division boys signed up to the Bronze award and have now completed their practice and qualifying expeditions. They showed good progression from their practice to qualifying expedition and, whilst there were lots of sore bodies, the relief of having successfully completed their qualifying expedition was clear. Silver has progressed well with sixty-eight boys having signed up and all successfully completed their practice expedition with Scott from Adventure training and expeditions in the Kent Downs at the end of March. These boys are now waiting for their qualifying expedition which takes place at the end of August in the New Forest.

The Gold intake was looking promising until a number found that Reading festival had more pull than the Gold Award – which was a shame! However, eleven boys have successfully completed their practice expedition in the Brecon Beacons and will be going to Snowdonia in August to complete their qualifying expedition. This is a three-night expedition that not only tests the boys’ physical ability but also their navigational and safety skills.

For the other three sections, boys have done a wide range of activities. Volunteering activities include leadership in the CCF, helping younger children read, helping in a charity shop and supporting tennis coaches. For the physical section, boys have played tennis, football, rugby, hockey, swimming, whilst the skill section has produced a wide range of activities including music, drawing, cooking, young enterprise, and bible study. This goes to show the wide range of activities that can be used for DofE and that the majority of boys at Merchant Taylors’ can already use what they do towards their Gold award.

Since last July, forty-seven participants have achieved their Bronze, twenty-three their Silver and fi fteen achieved their Gold award. At Gold level, a number of these boys

and OMTs received their award from either the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) or the Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward) during Gold Award Presentations at St James Palace, but two old boys managed to be even luckier. To celebrate the DofE 60th anniversary, a Gold Award Ceremony was held in Buckingham Palace Gardens in May and old boys

Alistair Parker and Connor Reisepatt were lucky enough to attend. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the achievement of these boys. Well done to all those who completed their awards.

Mr W.J. Beaumont

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It has been an exciting year for the boys studying Art at Merchant Taylors’. The department regained the two classrooms

lost last year during the building works and now have two wonderful studios in the top fl oor of the Design Centre. Our department with four teaching studios, an Art specifi c IT suite, a ‘Crit Zone’ where boys discuss the progress of their projects in a university-style setting and dedicated Sixth Form studio, is one of the most impressive in the country. Mr Rogerson, who is a ceramics specialist and accomplished painter, joined us in September, adding to the already impressive skill set within our staffi ng.

The Design Centre exhibition space was an excellent venue for our Summer Exhibition, which was the busiest to date. This year included a Lower School exhibition and Mr Horan gave the Teachers’ Choice Award to Oliver Lavelle 4JELC, Harvey Lidstone 4JELC, Patrick Brown 4 FEP and Issey Rodriquez U3 MWP. The Head Master selected his favourite pieces from our GCSE and A Level students work to display in his reception rooms. Scott Lewis, Elliot Arnold, Simran Kumar, Nikhil Spellward, Casius Nice-Garside, George Weston and Mohammad Manji were selected and Luke Thorpe won the annual Nisheen Soochak Memorial Prize. We had inspirational trips that included Venice for the Biennale, the Frieze Art Fair, the Royal Academy for the Ai Wei Wei exhibition, and our annual Divisions trip to Tate Britain.

Ms I. Lumsden

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Tommy Taylor (5ths) Scott Lewis (U6)

Joseph Burling (5ths) Adam Johnson (U6)

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Nick Wells (5ths)

Rish Patel (5ths) Sajan Patel (5ths)

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Jamie Wolff (5ths)

starting top left: Harry Lidstone, Hugh Munro, Rinato Tanaka, Jack Wu,Finn Edwards, Ahilesh Jegeswaran, Thomas Szostak & Samir Sardana

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George Williams (5ths) Joshua Lack (5ths)

Mohammed Manji (5ths) Alex Alvanis, Luca Braddock, James Cameron, Kabir Dulai, Thomas Haynes, Alp Kilic, Tianyue Ma, Alexander Mohar Csaky, Amar

Ranauta, Anmol Singh & Dylan WIlliams (All U3rds)

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217217Rahul Chadha (5ths) Alex Coleman (5ths)

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Nikhil Spellward (U6)

Fraser Campbell (5ths)

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R.Popat & J.Vakil R.Popat & J.Vakil B.Collis & W.Sheard

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stereotypes, and their validity as factors in this periodisation process must also be assessed. It is necessary to defi ne where the Middle Ages were as well. The Middle Ages are a concept devised by Europeans to defi ne European history; as such, while brief consideration must be made of historical developments in other geographical regions- notably the Middle East- the bulk of the historical events to be considered will be limited to Europe. In order to decide when the Middle Ages began and ended, a consideration of the many possible dates for each will be necessary.

Deciding when the Middle Ages began is perhaps the easier task of the two. Historians tend to focus on the later years of the Roman Empire when considering this. Within this period of two hundred years or so, however, there are several possible points to mark the transition from the antique to the medieval. Key among them is the conversion of the Emperor Constantine the Great (c.272-337) to Christianity in 312AD, and the legalisation of the practice of Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313AD. While Christianity had been slowly spreading for more than 300 years, the legalisation of Christianity was a step towards the establishment of total Church power in Europe. However, the Middle Ages was typifi ed by an entirely Christian Europe. The mere act of making Christianity legal, therefore, was perhaps more of a symbolic step, alluding to the future power of the Church, than one making the Church all-powerful. A greater practical step was taken in 380AD, when Christianity was made the offi cial religion of the Roman Empire. At this point the Empire covered huge areas of land in Europe, from Britain to the Eastern Roman Empire in Greece and beyond. Thus Christianity became the offi cial religion of this vast area. However, is this a great enough turning point to warrant transition from one era to another? Firstly, the suddenness of this change of feeling towards Christianity- within less than seventy years it had gone from an illegal religion to the offi cial religion of the empire- suggests that it is unlikely that the people of various Roman provinces simply abandoned their faith and took up Christianity: the process was undoubtedly more gradual than this. Secondly, the empire never encompassed some areas of Europe that became key Christian nations

during the Middle Ages, most notably the area we know today as Germany. Many people within this area were already Christians, but were Arian Christians. As such, the events of 380 did not solely create a Europe unifi ed by an organised Catholic Church. Furthermore, during this two-hundred year period, the empire was in rapid decline: only thirty years or so after the events of 380, in approximately 410, the Roman Empire withdrew from Britain. Over the course of the next few years, Gothic invasions into Roman provinces meant that the reach of the Empire further decreased, and so the spread of Christianity throughout the empire would have been even more limited.

Another key date to consider is the Fall of Rome. Taken on face-value, the ‘Fall of Rome’, or the ‘Sacking of Rome’, took place in 410, on the “night the Salarian gate was silently opened, and the inhabitants were awakened by the tremendous sound of the Gothic trumpet”. 4 However, in reality, this was only an event of emotional signifi cance, as the ‘Sacking of Rome’ “did not of course mean the ‘fall of Rome’ in any precise sense”. 5 Rome was no longer the capital of the Western Empire: it had been replaced by Ravenna in 402, and served little in the way of political signifi cance. There continued to be emperors of a greatly diminished Western Roman Empire until 476, when Romulus Augustulus (c.461-unknown) was deposed: this is considered by many to be the point at which the Western Roman Empire truly collapsed, and so perhaps the point at which Antiquity fi nally drew to its close. With the collapse of the Empire for good, Roman ideas quickly dissipated into parts of Europe where they had not been carried before- chief among these ideas was Roman Catholicism, which spread from this point onwards to become the biggest religion in Europe. As such, the collapse of 472 (rather than 410) not only severed the fi nal ties with Antiquity, but was also a key starting point for the dominion of Catholicism over Europe.

However, focus on a particular religion is not the only defi ning feature of the Middle Ages; another feature was the contrast between the republican system of the Roman Senate and the divine power of medieval monarchs. However, this contrast may not have been as acute as it may seem.

LiteraryLiteraryLiteraryTwo sixth formers won plaudits from

Cambridge colleges for their essays on literary and historical subjects.

Ewan Patel (Upper Sixth) secured Trinity College’s highly-coveted Gould Prize for English Literature; George Solomou (Lower Sixth) was commended for his submission to Peterhouse’s Vellacott History Prize.

When did the Middle Ages begin and end?

“The thousand years from 500 to 1500 AD were considered as a homogenous epoch, the middle period, between Ancient and Modern History”. 1 This was the traditional view of the Middle Ages around the time that the name was popularised by German classicist Christopher Cellarius (1637-1707). It was Cellarius who popularised the traditional three-part periodisation of European history, consisting of Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Modern Era. Of the three, the Middle Ages are automatically the most diffi cult to consider because they were seen as a period of stagnation, without development or change, the “dark ages” between “the ideal” and “its rebirth”- hence their rather dismissive and derogatory name: they are simply a ‘Middle Age’. 2 Despite further study indicating that this is far from the truth, the era’s negative reputation has largely stuck to this day because it was treated with such historiographical contempt for so long. Therefore, this enormous expanse of time, regardless of unprecedented periods of change, has been bracketed into a vast, vague middle period, from around AD 500 to 1500. As such, attempts to defi ne when the Middle Ages were vary widely, because little attempt has been made to defi ne precisely what they were. The Middle Ages are defi ned by a number of key features: the power of the Catholic Church and the infl uence of religion; the advent of feudalism; the fragmentation of Europe into smaller, warring states, in contrast with the relatively united Europe of the Roman Empire; the “divisions which arose from lack of communications and social disorder”; the decline of Europe into a predominantly agrarian society; and the reputation of general illiteracy, and the rise of the oral tradition. 3 Of course, some of these characteristics are highly exaggerated

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Many point to the reign of Diocletian (c.244-311), from 284 to 305, as the turning point in Roman government. Diocletian’s governmental reforms shifted the focus of Roman politics from the republican powers of the Senate to the divine powers of the emperor alone. This provides an excellent parallel to the medieval ‘divine right of kings’, the theory that a medieval ruler is given power by God and so should be treated with divine reverence. This parallel could suggest that the true Roman Empire of antiquity ended not with the traditional fall of Rome or its conversion to Christianity but with its fall from democracy to dictatorship. This is perhaps too strong a stance to take, however- after all, the empire had throughout its history had an emperor, who was by defi nition more powerful than any other individual. The changes during Diocletian’s rule were simply indicative of a shift in emphasis on power rather than an entire overhaul of the Roman political system.

Of course, the Middle Ages need not even be defi ned by the parameters of the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages are also seen as a period of economic regression, whereby northern Europe retreated into agrarianism. This is attributed to a number of key factors, primary among them the “Muslim conquest of the southern basin of the Mediterranean”. 6 The growth of the Caliphate into North Africa and the very eastern peripheries of Europe cut off many key trade routes for northern and western European nations, causing trade to radically decline, and Europe to become rooted once more in agriculture. Henri Pirenne (1862-1935) suggested that this regression marked the fi nal decline from an even vaguely Roman system of complex trade and relatively advanced economics, to a basic, often subsistent, medieval one. 7 This regression also contributed to the development of feudalism, which grew out of a society with many poor farmers. As such, this economic regression helped to form medieval society as we understand it. However, the decline was a vague, slow process which is diffi cult to date; furthermore, it arose because of other major events, notably the collapse of the Roman Empire and the aforementioned Muslim conquest. As such, it is an important development, but cannot be considered the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Trying to fi nd where the Middle Ages ends is the more diffi cult task, as it requires

consideration of a greater number of events that lie somewhere in one of the greatest extended periods of change in European history. One of the most prominent theories is that the Middle Ages ended with the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, in 1453. This is believed to symbolise the fall of Eastern Christianity, and the fall of the fi nal connection of medieval Europe with the Roman Empire, as Constantinople was the head of the aging Byzantine, or Eastern Roman, Empire. However, when examined in greater depth, this event may have limited importance for this question. By the time of its fall, Constantinople was of more emotional importance than anything else- while it remained the spiritual capital of Eastern Christianity, it had “ceased to have any real political importance” years before. 8 As such, its fall was only of religious importance- and only to Eastern Orthodox Christians at that. This brings into question the importance of the unifi ed Christian Church as a pillar of medieval society- after all, the Church had not been truly unifi ed since the East-West Schism between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches in 1054. When we consider the Middle Ages, we tend to consider a Catholic Western Europe; however, how far should the Middle Ages be said to stretch geographically- should Eastern Europe or the Middle East be considered part of this medieval tradition, for instance? If the answer is no, then the Fall of Constantinople is of little importance here. If, however, the answer is yes, the question of when the Middle Ages ended is further complicated. Perhaps the fall of the city of Eastern Christianity signalled the end of the Middle Ages in the East; in the West, however, its greatest impact was the potential threat that the Ottoman Empire posed to its far western neighbours- threats that, for most western nations, never became more than just threats. As such, it is reasonable to call the Fall of Constantinople the end of the Medieval East, but it was certainly not the end of the Medieval West.

Many historians commonly look to the Renaissance, particularly the Rise of Humanism, as another point at which the Middle Ages may have transitioned into the Early Modern Era. There are a number of key issues with this, however: the Renaissance is a vast chunk of cultural history, as blurry in its duration as the Middle Ages themselves. As such, to mark this as the end of the Middle Ages would require sifting through a cultural revolution

that spanned three centuries in order to fi nd a single event of monumental change. The Renaissance is further complicated by its links to other movements and philosophies. Humanism, for instance, is closely tied in with the Renaissance, and is seen by many as the movement that laid the foundations for it. Medieval society focused on the omnipotence of a Christian God, while Humanism applied such reverence to Man: it saw in ancient art the magnifi cence of the human form, and set out to revive this. Hence key tenants of Humanism were the revival of the use of Latin and of painstakingly accurate art that fed into the works of great Renaissance artists. 9 Humanism and the Renaissance did not just see developments in art and culture, but in the technology that made the spread of such a movement so rapid. Key among these innovations was the Printing Press, fi rst introduced by Johannes Gutenberg (c.1398-1468) in around 1440, which allowed for the rapid printing and distribution of infl uential works across Europe.

As such, it is abundantly clear that this period was one of rapid change: was it, however, a period of transition from one era to another? The humanist focus on creating a link with the old age of Antiquity is interesting; however, such links had existed throughout the Middle Age. The Church had used Latin as its primary language, for Church services and written texts, since its beginning, while many ancient Roman and Greek texts, which had been considered lost, had been recovered from interactions with Arabic traders several hundred years before the rise of Humanism. Furthermore, when we view the contrast between a Humanist way of thinking and a medieval one, we see it only through the lens of the Humanist thinker, who looked back on the Middle Ages, which they believed to have fi nished by the fi fteenth century, with contempt. When looked at more objectively, their contempt may only be accurate when applied to the Early Middle Ages. In fact, many thinkers of the Later Middle Ages, notably Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), thought in a very humanistic way, believing that “to detract from the creature is to detract from the perfection of the divine power.”10 Early twentieth century historians found “so many medieval roots for supposedly new phenomena” of the fi fteenth century that the “‘medeivalness’” of many aspects of the fi fteenth century and the Renaissance became apparent. 11

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Therefore, neither the rise of Humanism nor the Renaissance can be deemed such monumental turning points in light of this question, as neither truly brought out any more than dramatic cultural changes: they had little impact on the role of monarchy or the political structure of Europe. Their only other effect was upon the reputation of the Church, which some Renaissance thinkers slandered in their works. However, many of these thinkers – Martin Luther (1483-1546) being the most famous- are so closely linked with the Protestant Reformation happening simultaneously that it becomes almost pointless to consider their impact on the Church as part of the Renaissance in the fi rst place. As such, the Renaissance is a hugely important period of cultural change, with some wider implications for the role of the Church and the state, though these were not great enough to end one era and begin another.

If the Catholic Church is so central to the Middle Ages, it is important to look at its decline in light of this question. The Sixteenth Century Protestant Reformation is the primary movement to consider. Its outcome was the decline in power of the Catholic Church as a result of the rise of new forms of Christianity, notably many different forms of Protestantism. Several European powers, notably England, abandoned their ties to the Pope by making Protestantism their offi cial religion. With the division of the European population in terms of religion, surely the power of the Catholic Church was diminished? Furthermore, if this development is considered in tandem with the rise of Humanism, then the decline of religion in general could demonstrate a radical shift in the face of European thinking. However, it is too strong to say that the division of the Church left it powerless, for this was not the fi rst time in which the Church has been divided: the First Great, or East-West, Schism (1054), saw the split of Catholicism in the West from Orthodoxy in the East. This means that for four-hundred years before the Reformation, Christian Europe was divided East from West, and so this decline in Catholicism will only have affected a certain proportion of Christian Europe. The Second Great Schism (1378-1417) was “the most serious threat that had confronted the Church for centuries”. 12 While this Western Schism may only have lasted forty years, it can be seen to have had greater effect in

relation to the notion of the Middle Ages, as it “called into question much of the accepted ecclesiastical constitution”, led to the simultaneous reigns of two (and, at one point, three) separate Popes and thus severely diminished popular confi dence in the Church as a unifying body. 13 Some more radical historians even suggest that the common medieval man never had allegiance to a Church or a Pope, but simply to an idea that roused in them a belief no better than paganism. 14 Perhaps this this may be true, and too great an emphasis has been placed on the importance of Catholicism, and more should be placed on Christianity in general. This does not, however, diminish the importance of the Great Western Schism and the Reformation, as both events mark the decline of not just Catholicism but Christianity in general. As such, while the Reformation was a period of rapid change in the medieval mind-set, it was fuelled by four-hundred years of equally momentous developments. The diffi culty with the Reformation, however, lies with its scale- it is very diffi cult to select one date or event that epitomises this century of change. Many historians point to the publication of Martin Luther’s ‘Ninety-Five Theses’, an event which “set in train a series of events which split the Church from top to bottom”, as a logical landmark date: after all, if the change began with Luther’s work, then perhaps the Middle Ages ended with it. 15 Perhaps the most interesting event within the plethora of possible medieval endings is the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) in 1492. However, it also stands out as the most fl awed. The discovery of America can obviously be seen as the point at which European nations began to think about expansion beyond their continental borders- from this point onwards began colonisation of Africa, the Americas and parts of Asia by European powers, sparking off a period of empire-building synonymous with the Early Modern period. However, the discovery of America was merely one event in a series of events that would last several hundred years, rather than a point of immense change in itself. It was not, in fact, even the fi rst of these colonial developments, because trade with the West Indies had existed before Columbus’ voyage, as Columbus and his crew were not the fi rst Europeans to know of or even land on American ground. Therefore, while the discovery was clearly important, its importance has been

exaggerated. Furthermore, the voyage had no immediate impact on the structure of European society; most Europeans would have been unaffected by the discovery of the New World, and those who would have cared already knew that the place existed. The discovery of America can only be said to have had great impact on Europe upon the formation of the Thirteen Colonies on the continent’s east coast in 1607, which can be seen as the beginning of an English Empire outside of Europe. One could also point to the American War of Independence (1775-1783) as a war against medieval European values- against the need for conformity to a Church, against feudalism and against the great class divide that had grown out of it. However, to what extent can this be deemed the end of medieval Europe? In short, it cannot- it was little more than a rebuke to what, by this point, was already a collapsing set of values of a declining age. Furthermore, it is necessary once more to consider what is meant by the term ‘Middle Ages’ – it is a concept coined by Europeans for Europe, and, as such, external factors, such as the discovery of America, did not have such a profound effect on all European people that they can be said to have entirely changed the face of European society.

Twentieth century study into the Middle Ages has only further complicated the process of defi ning the period. As the original view of the period as a “homogenous epoch” is far from the truth, historians have begun to pick more and more holes in this archaic misconception. Primary among these was Charles Homer Haskins (1870-1937), whose ‘The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century’ points to the fi rst major change in this supposedly stagnant period. According to his study, the Twelfth Century and the surrounding years saw profound cultural change – as much as the more well-known Renaissance two centuries later – as Europe essentially became a literate society. 16 This literary outburst was epitomised by the appointment of a poet laureate, Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374), in 1341, for the fi rst time in more than a millennium. This cultural change was accompanied by a population explosion that was not equalled again until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as well as a decline in tribal warfare and the establishment of permanent settlements and cities- including Venice, Genoa and other Italian trading hubs- from the tenth century onwards.


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17 This is evidently a period of enormous change, both culturally and in the general structure of medieval society, to the extent that it is impossible to say that the society of 850 and that of 1100 were even remotely the same. As such, P.G.J.M. Raedts suggests that we are able to pick so many holes in our current periodisation because we still look at the Middle Ages in a very derogatory way- as an era of no progression. To look at it in this way, Raedts argues, means that periods of rapid development- notably this Twelfth Century Renaissance- disappear entirely, and so our attempts at periodisation are automatically fl awed. 18 To combat this, Raedts provides “a completely different periodisation of European history: Antiquity until 1000, the Middle Ages between 1000 and 1800 and the Modern Age from 1800”. 19 While Raedts’ periodisation seems logical, it still falls victim to many of the issues he criticises in his article: his idea of Antiquity entirely disregards the might of the Roman Empire at its height and lumps this together with the ‘Dark Ages’ that followed its collapse. Furthermore, extending the Middle Ages to the end of the

eighteenth century, to coincide with the end of the French Revolution, entirely disregards the changes that occur to European society as a result of the decline of the Church and the scientifi c innovations of the fi fteenth to seventeenth centuries. While his theory is innovative, logical and interesting, it, like everything else about the Middle Ages, is still riddled with anomalies.

Defi ning the Middle Ages is extremely diffi cult, because the Middle Ages are a concept devised to defi ne history without themselves being very well defi ned. As such, in deciding when the Middle Ages began and ended, it is not a matter of which option is the best, but which is the least fl awed. It is also necessary to consider which events combine different thematic developments, including religious, cultural and technological changes, in addition to the contrast between East and West. To conclude, perhaps the best option is to say that the Middle Ages began, in Europe, in AD 472, with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, and ended in 1517 with the publication of Luther’s

‘Ninety-Five Theses’, as the beginning of the Reformation, a movement that, fuelled by earlier and simultaneous developments, truly revolutionised European society. The radical shift in the political East following the Fall of Constantinople could suggest that the Middle Ages ended here in 1453. Despite the relatively traditional nature of this periodisation, it does not support the idea of the Middle Ages as a “homogenous epoch”, as the era should be considered as two separate periods, an Earlier Middle Ages, running from 472 until the start of the eleventh century, and a Later Middle Ages, from the eleventh century to 1517. Taking into account Raedts sound conclusions on the importance of the Twelfth Century Renaissance, the concept of the High Middle Ages, used often to defi ne the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, becomes almost unnecessary, as this era fuels the developments of the Later Middle Ages to such an extent that the two are essentially one combined half of a larger historical age

George Solomou (L6)

1 P.G.J.M. Raedts, When Were the Middle Ages?, Dutch Review of Church History Vol. 76, No. 1 (1996), pp. 9-25, at p. 13.2 Raedts, When Were the Middle Ages?, p. 11 3 R.W. Southern, The Making of the Middle Ages (Great Britain: Pimlico, 1993), p. 18.4 Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (USA: Penguin Book, 1985), at p. 618.5 Dero A. Saunders cited in his abridged version of Gibbon, The Decline and Fall, p. 618.6 Raedts, When Were The Middle Ages?, p. 16.7 Henri Pirenne cited in Raedts, When Were The Middle Ages?, p. 168 John Julius Norwich, Byzantium: The Decline and Fall (London: Penguin Group, 1996), p. 443.9 Raedts, When Were The Middle Ages?, p. 10.10 E.J. McCorkell, Humanism and The Middle Ages, Speculum Vol. 24 No. 4 (1949), pp. 516-519, at p. 517.11 John L. Watts (Editor), The End of the Middle Ages? (United Kingdom: Sutton Publishing Limited, 1998), p. 4.12 Robert N. Swanson, A Survey of View on The Great Schism, c.1395, Archivum Historiae Pontifi ciae, Vol. 21 (1983), pp. 79-103, at p. 79.13 Swanson, The Great Schism, p. 79.14 Paul Alphandéry, cited in Raedts, When Were the Middle Ages?, p. 15.15 John N. Schumacher, The 450th Anniversary of The Protestant Reformation: A Catholic Celebration?, Philippine Studies, Vol.15 No.4, pp. 592-608, at p. 592. 16 Charles Homer Haskins cited in Raedts, When Were The Middle Ages?, p. 17.17 Raedts, When Were The Middle Ages?, p. 18.18 Ibid.19 Ibid.

Selected bibliography

P.G.J.M. Raedts, When Were the Middle Ages?, Dutch Review of Church History Vol. 76, No. 1 (1996), pp.9-25.

E.J. McCorkell, Humanism and The Middle Ages, Speculum Vol. 24 No. 4 (1949), pp. 516-519.

Robert N. Swanson, A Survey of View on The Great Schism, c.1395, Archivum Historiae Pontifi ciae, Vol. 21 (1983), pp.79-103.

John N. Schumacher, The 450th Anniversary of The Protestant Reformation: A Catholic Celebration?, Philippine Studies, Vol.15 No.4, pp.592-608, at p.592.

Richard E. Sullivan, What Were The Middle Ages?, The Centennial Review of Arts & Science Vol. 2 (1958), pp.167-194.

Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (USA: Penguin Book, 1985).

John Julius Norwich, Byzantium: The Decline and Fall (London: Penguin Group, 1996).

R.W. Southern, The Making of the Middle Ages (Great Britain: Pimlico, 1993).

John L. Watts, The End of the Middle Ages? (Great Britain: Sutton Publishing Limited, 1998).


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‘Our bloodcurdling screams don’t pretend to be another’s bloodcurdling screams. We don’t step out of our roles. We have no roles. We are ourselves.’ (Peter Handke on actors). Discuss this claim in relation to at least one example of dramatic literature.

G. E. Lessing offers an interpretation of the frequently problematic concepts of time and space in art in his essay Laocoön1: he states that poetry, a textual art, operates in the temporal ‘axis’, while a plastic art, such as a painting, acts in the spatial ‘axis’ – that is, a poem describes actions succeeding one another in time, whereas a painting describes objects standing adjacent to each other in space. This leaves the dramatist and the audience a crucial question: in which ‘axis’ does theatre act? Theatre is composed of both the dramatic text and the theatrical performance: a dual state of both ‘poetry’ and ‘painting’. Theatre may be seen, then, to utilise both time and space, because it involves the internalisation of a given reality within the boundaries of a stage; crucially, this given reality is one that, like our own world, functions in both temporal and spatial capacities. Therefore, in our considerations of Handke’s “role”, we must interpret it in the context of a “timespace”2, a term used by David Pattie to describe a reality of unifi ed space and time. However, for an audience, considering theatre as a unifi cation of text and performance and of time and space is problematic: an audience must accept that there are two plays, two realities existing onstage. As David Pattie labels them, there is the “dramatic timespace”, or the world of the play that the playwright has created, and the “performance timespace”, which is the reality of theatre itself, the actors, stage-craftsmen, directors and so on. Traditionally, theatre offers the suspension of the reality of the audience, by dislocating the dramatic timespace from the performance timespace. In his piece Offending the Audience3, however, Handke explores the effect of the dramatic timespace overlapping exactly with the performance timespace; this seemingly results in the piece no longer really being able to be called a play (Handke calls it a “word-piece”, and it appears as some

form of lecture). A second, perhaps more pertinent result that Handke identifi es is that the actors do not fi ll a role; instead, an actor onstage for Handke is nothing more than an actor, with no pretensions of identity or role. Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis seem to inherently ally themselves with a study of the ‘role’ in the context of a timespace, and this essay will deal with space and time individually in the plays, to attempt to discover how both concepts function as a unifi ed reality.

4.48 Psychosis is essentially an exposition of the brutality of depression, medication, unrequited love and communication, and psychosis. It is in the striking honesty of the play’s internal violence, manifested in the way in which the often vulgar (but still beautifully crafted) language strips the text of any sense of pretence, that Kane opens up and examines the space in the relationships between the playwright, the speaker, the actor and the audience. Kane defi nes her speaker’s “consolidated consciousness”4 in spatial terms, describing how it resides in a “darkened banqueting hall”, and so, in this essay, I will treat space in 4.48 Psychosis as the space that opens up in theatrical relationships between the playwright, speaker, actor and audience, as well as the discrepancies between the dramatic text and its performance.

Biographical readings (that is to say, attempts to align the playwright directly with her character) of 4.48 Psychosis are simultaneously refuted and encouraged. The speaker of the play resembles Sarah Kane to such a degree that, as Ken Urban states, “it is hard to read the play outside of biography”5, and yet, David Grieg’s caution against the “pointlessly forensic act”6 of trying to interpret the text and Kane’s life as products of one another is equally hard to ignore. Both Kane and the speaker suffer from depression, which manifests by waking them at precisely 4:48 a.m. in spells of crippling anxiety, and so differentiating between the two is often problematic. This dilemma presents itself perhaps most clearly in the sophistication of the writing style of the play.

Hatch opens Stark light

the television talks full of eyes the spirits of sight

and now I am so afraid7

This passage is inescapably poetically written, even taking Lessing’s formulaic defi nition of poetry as operating through the medium of time. Kane offers fi rst an image of hopefulness, an image of an open hatch. But she tempers this hope with the adjective “stark”, suggesting painfully bright light, an unwelcome purge of darkness. The anthropomorphisation of the television, evoking a strange alternative to conventional fears about modern surveillance society, suggests a paranoia that is rooted both in the speaker’s immediate surroundings (her television) and in the speaker’s sense of a spiritual world. The passage ends with a fear that feels isolating and lonely, which Kane enhances by physically isolating the phrase on the page. The way in which the play’s voice deftly moves through such intense emotions and themes is indicative of the sophistication of the writing here, and it is here that the problem arises: whose ‘sophistication’ are we seeing? It makes little sense to attribute it to just one of Kane or the speaker, and so we are left to conclude that this is some kind of shared process. The speaker is in the midst of some sort of mental and emotional collapse, in a “struggle to remain intact”8, and the content of the writing refl ects the pain and fear of falling apart. However, the form, the aesthetic beauty, seems unlikely to stem from one so unstable: this seems instead a product of Kane the playwright; the fragmentation of the speaker is enveloped in the poetry of Sarah Kane, and it is the way in which this distinction between playwright and character is explored that allows us to interpret Handke’s claim about roles. Though the play’s voice is inseparable from the playwright, it is clear that both women, Kane and the speaker, are both echoing Handke’s claim that “we are ourselves”, and are manifesting themselves in the play in distinct ways.

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At this point, however, two reservations must be held; the fi rst is that though Kane skilfully portrays her speaker as a separate identity, ultimately the speaker is a product of Kane’s creation, and is wholly dependent upon the playwright. The second is that the notion of roles, in Handke’s terms, is more relevant in the performance timespace in allowing us to progress from examining the playwright-speaker relationship to the speaker-actor relationship. The similarities between the speaker and the playwright, and the often ambiguous nature of speech within the play (that is, it can be diffi cult to identify who is saying which lines, and to whom they are addressed) result in a speaker who seems to be acutely self-aware: just as one might say that the suicidal sentiments expressed in the play inform those of Kane herself, so one could claim that Kane’s authorial awareness bleeds into the speaker’s voice. The words “you have no choice / the choice comes after”9 take on a new meaning in the light of this self-awareness. The second person pronoun could denote the speaker addressing someone in particular, or could instead be used in place of the pronoun “one”, to suggest that this lack of choice is a universal claim. Considering the performance timespace, it seems possible that these words could thus be part of a kind of conversation between the speaker and the actor. This potential relationship is explored more fully in the following passage:

Okay, let’s do it, let’s do the drugs, let’s do the chemical lobotomy, let’s shut down the higher functions of my brain and perhaps I’ll be a bit more ******* capable of living.10

As before, the pronoun here (“us”) asks us to identify to whom it is referring. In the context of the dramatic timespace, it is clear that the speaker is in conversation with a psychiatrist, who is asking her to take medication that numbs her higher order brain functions. In the performance timespace, which it is necessary to consider given Handke’s claim, the speaker seems to include the playwright and the actor within the pronoun. In this timespace, the “chemical lobotomy” perhaps is an extension of the claim that “you have no choice”; the speaker is lamenting that she

ultimately has no power over what she says and does, and neither does the actor, because these have all been prescribed by the playwright. The result of this is startling: Kane creates a speaker who seems to have an identity separate from Kane, and they appear as two different entities communicating with each other. However, the speaker is inevitably aware that she is a part of Kane’s creation, inextricably tied to the playwright. As a consequence, the speaker’s words resonate deeply within the speaker-actor relationship. Kane herself stated that “acting is a powerless profession”11, and so the speaker’s “struggle to remain intact” is refl ected in the struggle of the actor to retain their independence. If the “higher functions of my brain” may seem to represent the speaker’s own self-awareness but simultaneously the actor’s own personality outside of the play (as it is these that are crucial in allowing the speaker and actor to realise their powerlessness), then the shutting down of these functions is tantamount to binding the speaker and actor to a role, and refusing to let them be themselves. This is resolved by the fact that there is a “struggle” against this: the speaker lashes out at doctors who try to numb her with medication (she has an “argument with junior doctor whom she accused of treachery”, and “believes [her] consultant is the antichrist” ). This is consistently presented in a sardonic, dry humour, and this is effective in showing how the speaker, and in turn the actor, is rebelling against the confi nes of a role, desperate to be perceived as themselves, thus confi rming Handke’s statement.

All of these relationships lead to one confl ict: the “struggle to remain intact” ultimately fi nds its parallel in the struggle between the dramatic text and the theatrical performance. Consider the following passage:13

In the text, we can make reasonable guesses about what this is: some sort of countdown

or number chart. And yet how can one interpret this onstage? Kane stated of her play Cleansed that “you can do anything onstage. There’s absolutely nothing you can’t represent one way or another.”14 Of course, the numbers could just be spoken, starting from 100 and going to 7. But this does not exactly map the dramatic space to the theatrical space. How do you interpret the way the numbers are laid out? In the dramatic text, when we read the play, the only infl uences we witness within the play are those of the speaker and the playwright, but in a performance, by necessity the actor becomes involved and embroiled in the communication process as well. The audience can see through the representation of the production to the timespace of the actor, and Kane encourages this discrepancy between dramatic text and theatre. Just as the fragmented, cellular structure of the play might refl ect the splintered nature of the speaker’s identity as she suffers with her depression, so too could it reveal the way in which the communication between space on the page and space on the stage is not truly complete. As a consequence, we fi nd Handke’s claim supported by Kane’s differentiation between drama and theatre: the role, like the actor, is only present in a theatrical performance, and as we have seen, is a “powerless” and empty fi gure.

At this point, logic might dictate that the functionality of time within 4.48 Psychosis be examined, or the functionality of space within Waiting for Godot. However, each of these concepts is negated in each work. Godot takes place in one setting, and the audience is never given any evidence of the rest of the dramatic timespace. Both acts of Godot end with the following interchange between Vladimir and Estragon:

Vladimir: Well? Shall we go? Estragon: Yes, let’s go. [They do not move]15

Adolphe Appia, the famed stage designer and architect, wrote that “it is movement that brings about the meeting of Space and Time”16, and so the fi nal stage direction, present at the conclusion of both acts of the play, reveals how Beckett’s play negates the ‘axis’ of space. In 4.48 Psychosis, time as a concept is treated in a similar

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manner. The play’s fragments do not follow any linearity; there is not a sense of the progression of time (of course the fragments that contain speech do possess some sense of time, but only insofar as dialogue necessitates one line following another in time). The only reference to time otherwise in the play is 4:48 a.m., and even this is revealed to be subjective and immeasurable: to the speaker, her anxiety spells bring about “sanity”, but to an external observer, it appears as “desperation”. The play remains frozen at 4:48, and so Appia’s assertion once more points to the negation of time in the play.

Nevertheless, time is still a problematic concept within Waiting for Godot. As we have seen, both acts end in the exact same manner, with the fi nal lines of Act I repeated verbatim in Act II. Similarly, both acts begin in the same manner. In Act I, Beckett sets the scene as a “country road” in the “evening”; Act II is staged at the “same place. Same time”17, but on the next day. The events in the middle of each act largely stay the same as well: in both acts, Vladimir and Estragon discuss turnips and carrots, Pozzo and Lucky both arrive, and a messenger from Godot announces that the meeting has been rescheduled to the next day. Beckett himself states that “nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes”18. However, in his essay Proust, Beckett offers a way in which we can interpret time and its passage in the play; Beckett writes that what he terms as “personality” possesses a “permanent reality [which] can only be apprehended as a retrospective hypothesis.” This, he explains, is a result of the passage of time, and its effect on people: “we are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday”19: the individual is continually updated, and thus interpretations of the self can only be perceived as the sum of all their past behaviours and experiences. The self in its most recent and present form, is “sluggish, pale and monochrome”, and inevitably beyond our grasp. This interpretation of the passage of time illuminates some of the perhaps confusing sections of Godot. In Act I, a boy, who says he is the messenger of Godot, announces, “Mr Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening, but surely tomorrow”.20 Subsequently, in Act II, as Vladimir and Estragon are

again waiting, an unnamed boy appears, with an identical message. In the cast list, Beckett specifi es one boy, so it can be assumed these are the same people, but Vladimir states that “It wasn’t you came yesterday”, and “This is your fi rst time”, with which the boy agrees. This is even more startling, because, when the boy fi rst appeared, Vladimir instructed him to tell Godot that he, the boy, had actually seen the two men, and when asked “You did see us, didn’t you?”, the boy replies in the affi rmative. How is it, then, that the boy does not recognise the men? Beckett’s interpretation of “personality” suggests that the boy doesn not recognise the men because the Vladimir and Estragon of Act II are not the Vladimir and Estragon of Act I: because of the events of Act I, the two men have irreversibly, intrinsically changed. This concept is made explicitly clear when Pozzo and Lucky fi rst leave the tramps. Minutes after seeing them leave, Estragon states that he doesn’t know them. Vladimir at fi rst excuses this by telling him, “You forget everything”, but then, to himself, ponderously, he states, three times, “Unless they’re not the same…”.21 If we are following Handke’s advice, in Offending the Audience, his “prologue” to drama, then this principle of constant change and renewal of identity can and should be transferred to the performance timespace. On opening night, an actor may adopt a particular role. However, between then and the next performance, he may read a review of his performance, or the director will ask him to make some changes to his performance. Thus when he returns to the stage, he, as a person, has, like the tramps, intrinsically changed. This ultimately leads us to question the validity of the concept of a role: if we are never the same as we ever were, can we ever fi ll the same role twice? The interactions between performance and dramatic timespaces here indicate that we cannot: our own self-awareness prevents us from returning to a point where we knew less about ourselves and our ‘role’, and thus prevent us from ever stepping into the same role again – and a role that is only used once and is then discarded instantly can hardly be called a role at all. Eva Metman points out that “Godot’s function seems to be to keep his dependents unconscious”22: by waiting, and not actively passing the time,

Vladimir and Estragon are confronted by the fl owing of time, and their subsequent inability to interact with it results in the equivalent of unconsciousness. However, Beckett offers the audience a singular moment where this unconsciousness lifts. At the end of the play, Vladimir wakes up, and wonders aloud:

Was I sleeping? Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today? That with Estragon my friend, at this place, until the fall of night, I waited for Godot? … The air is full of our cries. But habit is a great deadener. At me too someone is looking, of me too someone is saying, he is sleeping, he knows nothing, let him sleep on.23

Like Kane’s speaker, Vladimir exhibits a sense of self-awareness here: he is aware of his previous unconsciousness, and that someone (the audience) is looking at him as he looks at Estragon, of the illusions of time that are intrinsic in theatre. The “habit” of waiting, of hoping for Godot’s arrival, deadens Vladimir, and “shuts down the higher functions” of his brain. Soon, the messenger arrives again, to sink Vladimir back into “passivity” and unconsciousness, but in this moment of clarity, free from the illusions of time and theatre and the dramatic text, Vladimir notes that “the air is full of our cries”, of Pozzo’s earlier cries for help: Handke’s claim takes on new signifi cance here: it is true that “we have no roles, we are ourselves”, but only when we shirk off pretensions and illusions, and face, both in the performance and the dramatic timespace, some form of objective truth.

Ewan Patel (U6)


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1Lessing, Gotthold E., and Edward A. McCormick. Laocoön : an essay on the limits of painting and poetry. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984. 2Pattie, David. ‘Space, Time, and the Self in Beckett’s Late Theatre’. www.samuel-beckett.net.3Handke, Peter. Publikumsbeschimpfung Und Andere Sprechstücke. 21st ed. Germany: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1998. 4 Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 205.5Urban, Ken. An Ethics of Catastrophe: The Theater of Sarah Kane. Johns Hopkins. www.iainfi sher.com/kane/eng/sarah-kane-study-ku.html 6Kane, Sarah. Sarah Kane: Complete Plays. London, Methuen Books. Introduction by David Greig, 2001.7Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 225.8Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001.9Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 230.10Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 221.11Sierz, Aleks. In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today. London: Faber & Faber Plays, 2001. Print. p. 92.12Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 224.13Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001. p. 208.14Sierz, Aleks. In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today. London: Faber & Faber Plays, 2001. Print. p. 115.15Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000. 16Appia, Adolphe. ‘Refl exions Sur Espace et Temps’. Aujourdhui III (1958).17Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000. 18Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 1959. p. 41.19Beckett, Samuel. Proust20Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000. p. 44.21Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000. p. 41.22Metman, Eva. Refl ections on Samuel Beckett’s Plays’, Journal of Analytical Psychology, London, January 1960. p. 51.23Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000. p. 83.

Selected bibliography

Appia, Adolphe. ‘Refl exions Sur Espace et Temps’. Aujourdhui III (1958).Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. London: Faber and Faber, 2000.Berger, John. ‘Ways of Seeing’: Based on the BBC Television Series: Based on the BBC Television Series. London: British Broadcasting Corp., 1972.Cody, Gabrielle H., and Evert Sprinchorn, eds. The Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007.Esslin, Martin. The Theatre of the Absurd: 3rd Edition (Penguin Literary Criticism). 3rd ed. New York: Penguin (Non-Classics), 1987.Handke, Peter. Publikumsbeschimpfung Und Andere Sprechstücke. 21st ed. Germany: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1998. Jay, Martin. Vision in Context: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives on Sight. Ed. Teresa Brennan. New York: Taylor & Francis, 1996. Kane, Sarah. Kane: Complete Plays: ‘Blasted’, ‘Phaedra’s Love’, ‘Cleansed’, ‘Crave’, ‘4.48 Psychosis’, ‘Skin’. London: Methuen Publishing, 2001.Konzett , Matthias. Encyclopaedia of German Literature. Routledge , 2000.Middle, Martin, and Hubert Zapf. Self-Refl exivity in Literature. Ed. Werner Huber. Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann, 2005.Pattie, David. ‘Space, Time, and the Self in Beckett’s Late Theatre’. www.samuel-beckett.net. N.p., n.d. Sierz, Aleks. In-Yer-Face Theatre: British Drama Today. London: Faber & Faber Plays, 2001.Volbach, Walter R. ‘Time and Space on the Stage’. Educational Theatre Journal19.2 (1967): 134–141.


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Dear Reader

Welcome to the Taylorian 2013. This year marks the retirement of Stephen Wright after nine years of outstanding service to the school. We include tributes to him as well his refl ections on life at Merchant Taylors’. On a personal note, I should like to thank Stephen for his support in re-establishing the magazine in 2004. I should also like to commend to you the

valedictory on Geoff Colley who leaves Merchant Taylors’ after 42 years. Geoff has given a huge amount to the school and we wish him well for his retirement. On a more sombre note, we pay tribute to former Chemistry teacher Paul Overton who passed away recently.

After a bumper edition in 2012, this year’s magazine is slightly slimmer. There is, however, a new section entitled Guest Speakers which is partly a response to the large number of societies now thriving at the school. This section features several OMTs who have returned to share their expertise in a number of fi elds.

As they now leave for university, I should like to thank Andrew Collins and Alex Keating for their fi ne photography and Nick Choueiri for his help as deputy editor. They pass the baton onto this year’s Lower Sixth. As ever, I am grateful to our designer Robin Nicol and the team at Lazarprint for all their work in compiling this edition.

Jon Rippier

Editor

Mr. J.M.S. Rippier

Deputy Editor

Nick Choueiri (U6)

Sub-editors

Sam Robinson (U6), Deven Jobanputra (U6), Daniel Sowood (L6),Henry Searle (L6), Sachin Ananth (L6), Anish Kejriwal (5ths), Prahalad Prasad (5ths)

Photographers

Andrew Collins (U6), Alex Keating (U6), Sacha Bassett (U6), Bailey Taberham (L6), Henry Howe (L6),Jonah Surkes (5ths), Paras Gorasia (5ths), Rohan Gupta (Divs), Gabriel Sayers (Divs),

Chris Marks (Divs), Sungmin Kim (Divs), Sam Kaye (4ths)

Front cover photo: Bec Cowan

Merchant Taylors’ 1st XV vs Shiplake College 1st XV, 23rd November 2012 for the inaugural Stephen Wright Cup played under fl oodlights.

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Editorial

It is good to be able to record so much in which we can rejoice: our pupils’ academic and sporting prowess; the enjoyable and useful activity of our many societies; a royal visit; new buildings; and, not least, the enlargement of the Taylors’ community to some 1,200 boys. Constitutionally this merger of the senior and the preparatory schools represents a revolution: we now

offer an all-through education under the aegis of a single governing body; in practice, however, it is very much business as usual.

The intellectual, cultural, social, and sporting pastimes of our boys, recorded here, show that pupil life remains as vigorous as ever. The achievements and distinctions of three national sportsmen, plus those of a world-champion kayaker, are remarkable. Readers will also surely share our pride in the twenty-one successful Oxbridge candidates, as well as in the many others who we applaud for their success in academic competitions of national renown. Two prize-winning entries are published in our restored Literary Supplement, which was a feature of this magazine under Martin Drury’s editorship. Innovation and talent are by no means the monopoly of our scholars, however. So you will fi nd inside confi rmation of accomplishment in music and drama, as well as in the visual arts.

A number of familiar faces retire from the Senior Common Room this summer. We print inside valedictories of those long-serving colleagues, all of whom are distinguished, among much else, for their dedication to teaching. We also bid farewell to sixth-former Rohan Gupta, who has produced so many fi ne photographs for these pages over the years.

I cannot close this my fi rst editorial without paying tribute to my predecessor, Jon Rippier, who succeeded in reviving and then revitalising the Taylorian without compromising its basic integrity as our journal of record.

Mr A.A. Watts




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Editor

Mr A.A. Watts

Contributing Editor

Mr J.M.S. Rippier

Photographers

Rohan Gupta (U6)Sam Kaye (L6)Patricia Rayner

Steve PearcyIan RudlingAdam Karr

Front cover

A view of HRH The Duke of Gloucester processing through the Inner Quad to the Design CentrePhotograph by Steve Pearcy

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2015–2016 volume 89 number 1