the musical year at rugby school 2016-17 [PDF]

METEOR 2017

CONTENTS 2 4 6

THE 450TH

• Reflecting on an incredible anniversary year

CHAPLAIN’S NOTES

• Rev Richard Horner considers what might be ‘A good year for Christ…’

SERVICE & PUBLIC BENEFIT

• The Arnold Foundation, thumbs up for the Pudsey Café and Community Action roundup

10 ACTIVITIES

• CCF – a year in retrospect and a ‘devil’ of an inspection day • A focus on Future Hope – this year’s GAP year report by Eleanor Garthwaite • The madness of the Push Cart Race • Griffin House reunites and says farewell to Anne Naylor

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18 SOCIETIES

• The Arnold, Law, Temple and Medical Societies reveal an impressive list of speakers and lecturers • Higher Education and GAP Fair picture special

24 TRIPS

• Pupils travel the world from studying Art and Design in New York and swapping places with students in Vienna and Madrid, to a full-on expedition to the rainforests of Madagascar

36 DRAMA & MUSIC

• Featuring ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, this year’s School Play • Pupils take to the Fringe, with not one, but two shows and make Dr Coker proud • Richard Tanner rounds up an incredible year of Music • The success of Festival on the Close – a week-long entertainment hub like no other

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52 CREATIVE ARTS

• Highlighting some of the best pieces from the past year

56 SPORT

• No one on the bench – a round up of the magnificent and the mighty, win, lose or draw

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94 VALETE

• A fond farewell to those who left us this year

Cover photo: Left to right: OR and Saints player, Harry Mallinder, with one of the Global Pass creators, Toby Marsh, also an OR, and William Webb-Ellis (pupil Ed Anthony) during the dramatic helicopter return of the 450th rugby ball on Community Day.

Artwork by: Isabella Holman-West

Head Master: Peter Green Editor: Jonathan Smith Design: Mercer Design Thanks to: Amanda Hunter, PJ Green, Peter Berners-Price, Jamie Elson, George Archer www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 1

The 450

th

As 2017 draws to a close, we can reflect on a wonderful year of celebrations to mark the 450th Anniversary of the founding of the School in 1567. The 380 ideas we received were reduced to eight main headings that then formed the structure of the year’s programme of events: 1. Our History: the ‘from Elizabeth to Elizabeth’ book; the 450th Exhibition; the unveiling of the VC & GC plaque. 2. Our Founder: the Lamb’s Conduit Street Festival and unveiling of the Lawrence Sheriff plaque. 3. Our Sporting Heritage: the International Schools U18s Rugby Sevens Tournament; the Society vs the School Sports Day; the ORGS Golf Day at the New Zealand Club in Surrey; Rugby vs Marlborough at Lord’s last played in 1972; the Girls’ Schools Hockey Festival. 4. Our Charitable Ethos: the Arnold Foundation Dinner at Middle Temple Hall; the ‘Boomer’ lunch; the 450th Legacy Campaign. 5. Music and the Arts: the fabulous Gala Ball; the wonderful Festival on the Close; the especially composed 450th Overture and Anthem; the School Choir CD ‘Jubilate Deo’. 6. Our Commitment to the Community: the Community Day on September 27. 7. Our Christian Faith: the Thanksgiving Celebration on November 26. 8. Our Global Reach, brilliantly reflected in the ‘Global Pass’ and the 450th Film ‘A Never-ending Journey’ with international screenings.

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An impressive range of specially created merchandise brought us to a total of 18 different projects and events! The aim was to design a range of events that would encourage the Rugbeian community - alumni, parents past and present, staff, citizens of Rugby Town, our tenants and suppliers, current pupils and friends - to want to support and commemorate this Anniversary in a way that would most appeal to them. Excluding current pupils, to date 1,800 people have attended specific 450th social events and 3,500 have attended 450th sporting events. In addition, more than 200,000 globally watched the Rugby Sevens Tournament streamed live from the School. More than 3,000 attended Festival on the Close events, plus well over 1,000 local schoolchildren. 1,250 ‘Elizabeth to Elizabeth’ books have been sold and well over 2,000 people have downloaded the ‘Never-ending Journey’ film. Add to that the huge numbers who have been involved in the passage of the Global Pass as the ball has made its way around the world and I think you can say that the 450th Anniversary of Rugby School has been well and truly recognised! Peter Berners-Price Chairman of the 450th Committee

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Chaplain’s Notes One of the things we teachers most love about our life at Rugby is the writing of reports. Occasionally, though, mistakes can creep in, and I heard a true story of a report sent back for correction to the teacher of a boy called Chris. The report was returned because the teacher had accidentally typed “it has been a very good year for Christ”. Breathing a silent prayer of thanks for the double gift of a talk in chapel and an article in the Meteor, I began to wonder exactly what sort of things might make it a good year for Christ. It wouldn’t depend so much on what he had done – we know that. The Bible tells us: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever, and he gave his life for the salvation of the world. Excellent for effort, 9 out of 9 for achievement. No, a good year for Christ will depend not on what he has done, but on what we do in response. It is a good year for Christ when people who call themselves by his name, Christians, live up to the very difficult demands which their Christian faith places upon them. How easy it is for those of us who call ourselves Christians to fail, how rightly we are often accused of hypocrisy. But it is a good year for Christ when his people strive to walk in his ways, falling but getting up again, and, more importantly, helping one another up with love and forgiveness when we get things wrong as we inevitably do. It is a good year for Christ when people who don’t call themselves Christians are nonetheless inquisitive and openminded about this man who, whether you follow him as God or simply respect him as a great teacher, changed the course of history and shaped the whole Western way of life. On these measures 2017 has been a good year. Always in the background of the year, and often coming through to the foreground, has been the celebration of our 450th anniversary. Day by day in the rigorous, restless reflection of Chapel we have taken our place and played our part in the story.

Throughout the year a series of pupil-led presentations focussed not only on our 450th but on other significant milestones. We were reminded that 2017 marked just 10 years, believe it or not, since the first iPhone. It’s 50 years since the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper album (and the Summer of Love, remarkably remembered by some who were there), 75 years since Pearl Harbour, 100 years since the Russian Revolution, 150 years since the USA bought Alaska for $7 million. And it’s 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his protest to the Wittenberg door, sparking the Protestant reformation, a milestone which was handled in Chapel with such delicacy and tact that some might not even have noticed it. It was, in the words of one famous contemporary theologian, an ecumenical matter. It wasn’t always a good year for the world outside our gates, and as news broke of terror and mayhem nearby and far away, we realised afresh the privilege of meeting regularly as a community to respond and stand together. At Rugby there’s no need to call special gatherings at times of crisis and loss – gathering together is what we always do, the DNA of the place. It’s no coincidence that “Chapel” is the word we use both for the building and for the activity that takes place within it. It’s a good year for Christ when some people come for the first time to a point in their lives where they are willing publicly to acknowledge him. Twenty-four pupils did exactly that in the Confirmation service in April. This is one area where the Chaplain would like to see boys catch up with girls as they are doing in other endeavours; but week by week, all of us, both in Chapel and out and about in the School, are called to live out the lives of prayer and work which undergird the duties and pleasures of a community at peace with itself. And now another good year comes to its end with a joyful celebration of our 450 years. November’s thanksgiving service will draw hundreds of past and present members of the School, friends and guests, back to Chapel. Then and always, may we look back with thankfulness and forward with hope. O God, at whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promises, grant to us this year the living hope of the word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen RMH

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SERVICE & PUBLIC BENEFIT The Arnold Foundation It’s been another important year for the Arnold Foundation. A further nine Ambassadors have now graduated and are embarking upon their careers or embracing new postgraduate opportunities offered by university. The 450th Anniversary has provided some wonderful occasions to meet and celebrate their achievements. A real highlight was the Arnold Foundation Lecture, and we were thrilled that Michael Mather (C 06-08) agreed to return to Rugby at the beginning of September 2017. He is the first former Arnold Foundation pupil to give this annual talk and we thought it particularly fitting that he should do so during our Anniversary year. Michael joins a prestigious list of past lecturers that include Ambassador Frank Wisner (Tu 56-57), Anthony Horowitz (SF 68-73), Robert Hardy (M 39-44), Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Professor Hew Strachan (K 63-67). To the title ‘So, you want to be a surgeon’, Michael spoke passionately about Rugby and the Arnold Foundation’s role in his own path to becoming a doctor, while giving an overview of his research interests and inspiring many of the pupils (and future medics) present. The lecture was quickly followed by our Arnold Foundation lunch, held to thank donors and those who have pledged to remember the School in their Will. Those donors attending the lunch were particularly grateful to have the opportunity to speak with Arnold Foundation Ambassadors, current Arnold Foundation pupils and tutors. Many of our regular events have been given a special 450th ‘twist’ this year, most notably our annual City Reception. In its place, we held a City Dinner on 21 March in the spectacular surroundings of the Middle Temple Hall. Hosted by the Lord Chief Justice of

England and Wales, Lord Thomas (W 61-65), the evening provided a splendid opportunity to celebrate the School’s anniversary with Rugbeians, parents and friends of the School. The Arnold Foundation has been embraced by a number of other events run by the Development Team as we seek to create our own legacy for the future. Our aim, in this special year, is to secure 450 pledges from Rugbeians and other friends who have included, or intend to include, the Arnold Foundation for Rugby School in their Wills. Our inaugural Boomer Lunch, for those who left the School 50 or more years ago, and two recent House Reunions, for Dean and Griffin, have been a hugely important part of our plans. Alix Morley

Pudsey Bear Café Do you know what Marshall House has recently been up to? Well lately, we have set up an amazing fair to help raise money for Children In Need called Pudsey Bear Café. In past years, we have raised thousands of pounds, and in 2016 we raised a massive total of £3,300. It was our first event of the year and a spectacular experience overall! Pudsey Bear Café is a very sociable environment where you can try out everyone’s unique stalls or just sit down and devour a slice of delicious Victoria sponge. Many stalls were creative, fun and funny, like: Tin Can Knockdown, Splat the Rat, Find The Key, and the main event Staff Sumo Wrestling. It is so much fun with all the teachers facing each other for the title of the best staff sumo wrestler! On the day before, the House (Year 7, then Year 8) set off into Rugby town centre to advertise the event and raise a few donations. We went up to members of the public and told them what we were doing and asking for a few donations. The amount of money raised on that day already totalled about £250! It was a new experience, and my first time publicly asking for generous donations. The next day was the grand finale. In the morning, everyone went up to Old Big School to see what it was like. Then we set up our phenomenal stalls; everyone was busy unpacking and setting everything

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into place. It was a chaotic atmosphere with people rushing around preparing to entice people to their stalls. Finally, at the end of the morning, everything was ready and looking fabulous. All the bunting lined the ceiling and lots of colour filled the room. Banners were put up and stalls were at the ready. I think my friends will agree that this was about to become one of our most memorable experiences and challenged me to overcome my fear of going up to people.

At the end of the day, it was a great event with lots of excitement whizzing around and pockets being emptied. We raised a large sum of money for a fantastic charity that will benefit people less fortunate than us. Children in Need helps children who need our support to live a happy, positive life. It also lets people feel good giving that little bit of money that will make a difference to a young person’s life. William Chen (G1)

Then, all of a sudden, people burst through the doors and it began. Cheerful crowds streamed through the wide-open doors and Rohan (the other person on our stall) and I were ready to entice. Our stall was called Ping Pong Shootout (you had to bounce ping pong balls into cups to score points). An interested man came to our stall and I explained the rules to him. It was challenging not to seem anxious, but because of our amazing prizes he had a go. I think our stall looked easy but was probably the hardest in the room! We showed our stalls to many students (and staff) and they had go after go at different stalls. Cakes were bought and games were played; there was so much fun to be had for all the family. Many people were tempted by the fantastic prizes that were on offer or couldn’t resist a bite of cake. After all, this was all going towards charity so there was no money to be lost! www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 7

Community Action The business and the buzz of School involvement in the local community has once again been much in evidence over the course of the academic year. Our pupils have been actively supervising primary school children in their own classrooms and helping them to develop their skills and aptitudes. Indeed it is rewarding to receive effusive emails and feedback praising our pupils for their endeavours on a Wednesday afternoon. The annual highlight of our relationship with the town primary school children is First Schools’ Day, an event which again brought some 230 visitors into School to enjoy the usual cocktail of fun and learning. “I don’t want to go,” issued the sad-glad voice of an eight-year-old girl, having thoroughly enjoyed participating in a campus-quiz and then been left breathless by a Science experiment where the innocuous-looking red balloon went off just yards away from her and made her hair, quite literally, stand on end. The Fun Run along the length of the Close was once again a magnificent sight to behold as the thrill of the chase was played out before the cheering spectators’ eyes. The sheer pleasure of sprinting before an appreciative crowd was visible on the faces of our young neighbours. We look forward already to seeing the same energy and exuberance at next year’s event. Our weekly visits to local elderly folk did not culminate in quite the same frenetic dash across the sward, but the two parties that we hosted for the “grannies” during the year were greatly appreciated by our visitors. The Social Service Music group produced their usual impressive range of melodies to entertain all who were there and the winning combination of quiz and bingo made for two very amusing and memorable occasions. Our involvement in a range of local young people’s groups was also busy and purposeful. This year’s highlight was the decision taken by the 6th Rugby Scout leaders to invest Alice Payne (G) and Eric Chan (M) as honorary members of the group, a first such accolade for Rugby School pupils. It is always a proud moment for the School when the quality of pupils’ commitment to service outside School is publicly recognised. The expansion of the programme next year sees a couple of exciting new initiatives. A charity supporting homeless young people in town will receive its first Rugby School pupils in the new academic year. This is a particularly poignant association for us since the establishment is affiliated to the Portobello Road charity in London with its close connections to the late, deeply lamented Khadija Saye. The birth of a new village, Houlton, with its own primary school, promises a new venture for the growth of our Community Action provision and we look forward very much to the completion of that village. AJN Artwork by: Alex Venters 8 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

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ACTIVITIES

CCF: a year in retrospect The cadet experience has always been an important part of life at Rugby and continues to promote the development of characteristics which Rugbeians carry throughout their lives: self-reliance, sense of responsibility, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance. Providing the opportunity to develop these is the challenge, yet one which we have risen to by offering an increasingly rich variety of activities for pupils to get involved in. The Corps of Drums have really made their mark this year at a number of events. The year began with recruiting a willing bunch of flautists and drummers, most starting with no previous experience whatsoever in music. Under the guidance of Capt McLean and with lots of additional practice in House, however, the Corps of Drums proudly marched onto the Close on 9 January led by DMaj James Holt to play at the launch of Rugby School’s 450th Anniversary celebrations. This was followed by performances at the 450th Rugby Estate Day in London, the opening ceremony of the Rugby 7s tournament, the CCF Inspection, and finally the Gala Ball. A whirlwind year for 10 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

all involved and some fantastic memories. Special thanks to Peter Berners-Price who has given so generously of his time in organising and supporting these events. The Royal Marines enjoyed competing once again in the Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy, led by CSgt Tom Lovegrove and Sgt Tom Lord, and cadets have experienced a number of shooting days and overnight exercises at training areas where all cadets are put through their paces by Capt Waples and Lt Welch in an exhilarating programme of camouflage and concealment, stalking, section attacks and harbour drills, among many others. The Royal Air Force section has enjoyed flying days at RAF Wittering as well as a visit to RAF Coningsby, and Mrs Higgins was instrumental in organising the very successful Leadership Day for senior cadets who are considering a career in the Armed Forces. A novel CCF experience for a chosen few was the opportunity to join the newly formed Catering Corps in January. With the support of Chartwells’ chefs pupils prepared different dishes each

week, but were slightly thrown in at the deep end when we asked them to cook a curry for more than 150 people in support of the Army Benevolent Fund in their third week! It was delicious and we raised a modest sum for a very worthy cause. The highlight of each year, however, is the Annual Inspection when the entire Contingent is on show. This year’s inspection was particularly special as CCF officers and senior cadets were invited to join Old Rugbeians and guests at the unveiling of a plaque in the Temple Speech Room by Major General Andy Keeling CB CBE (Tu 56-61) to commemorate those Rugbeians who were awarded the Victoria and George Crosses. Cadets also had the privilege to meet Major Peter Norton GC, Chairman of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. It was most humbling to hear the accounts of those ORs who gave their lives and the plaque will serve as a reminder to all for years to come. A replica of the plaque is proudly displayed in the CCF Armoury. We were delighted to welcome Lieutenant General Tim Radford CB DSO OBE (C 7781) to conduct the inspection. He even

managed to find time for a recce visit during which he enjoyed swapping stories with the boys in Cotton over lunch, while Housemaster Ed Trelinski dusted off the old House photo albums and organised a tour of the House to see how much has changed over the years. Inspection day was also the setting for the presentation of the new Rugby School CCF banners following a drumhead service on the Close led by Rev. Horner. The banners were presented by Lt Gen Radford and received on behalf of the CCF by senior cadets Lawrence Reynolds (T) and Edward Kendell (W), with Ludo Trott (M) and Freddie Ogilvie (T) forming the escort party. Special thanks must be given to Jeffrey Yang for getting the ball rolling and for his tremendous efforts in fundraising to support this project. A small memento for guests on the day came about after a surprise discovery in the old CCF Armoury: a Rugby School CCF cap badge! Ssgt Jeff Howe (Royal Army Physical Training Corps) had discovered one of the badges by chance some months earlier and we decided to commission a reproduction badge to present on the day. It came as quite a surprise when one OR approached me proudly bearing his original cap badge as well as a Warwickshire Regt. cap badge which had been polished so

vigorously over his years at Rugby that the embossed letters were no longer visible! The superb finale to the Inspection came in the form of the Parachute Regiment’s Red Devils display team who landed on the Close… complete with 450th rugby ball! A line was soon formed and the ball passed deftly from Head Master, Peter Green, to OR contemporaries Tim Radford, Mark Carr and our Chair of Governors, Lucinda Holmes. There is so much more I could mention regarding the 2017 Inspection: the delighted faces of local school children who were able to climb aboard the armoured vehicles on the Close and

meet the Parachute Regiment display team; the fiercely-contested tug-o’-war competitions; the shooting in the range and abseiling inside the Chapel; and the RAF flight simulators in the James Pavilion. This year has provided all members of the CCF and the wider Rugbeian community with many unique experiences and very positive memories. This contributes to the broader education of our pupils and is just one of many reasons why Rugby is such a great community to be a part of. AMM

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VOLUNTEERING AT FUTURE HOPE, KOLKATA (Gap Year funded by a Dewar-Pilkington Travel Award)

Our Christmas role-play inevitably went wrong when Praatap Boarding a plane to Kolkata is a bit of a shock to the system, leaving the comfortable familiarity of your multicultural London wanted the role of Mary but wasn’t too pleased to find out that she was a pregnant woman. It was funny too and we got to Dubai flight. “How will I recognise him (or her)?” we would incredibly close. On the day I left, Azar put both hands on my always say when going to collect a volunteer from the airport. The answer always was, “They’ll be the only other white person cheeks, pulled me down and gave me a kiss on each cheek, a goodbye and a thank you. there – on the plane, in the airport”. This sounds a bit trivial – and does it matter? It only does because you begin with In the afternoons when school was out I used to go and visit the the strange sense of being an outsider. Kolkata, a little off the beaten track, is an authentic city. With very few tourists around small girls. This was one of the homes for children aged four to about twelve. We would get out the beads and make bracelets you constantly feel you are seeing life as it is: the spectacle of and earrings, or do some drawings. festivals and street stalls is for the Chumpa-miss, their wonderful locals, not you the tourist. After house parent who looks after these perhaps a month you stop thinking ‘While I was there, there were 250 20 girls day and night, took a of yourself as ‘the tourist’ and after students with half living in the few of us to a jewellery shop in a two months that flat becomes school’s homes. As a volunteer you textile market. Imagine the magic ‘home’. By the time I left, I was leaving my independent life in assist in tutoring Maths and English, wardrobe (it was hardly bigger) – stacked top to bottom with lace, India – and people and a city I had or help in the classroom and try beads, sequins, ribbons hanging come to love. your hand at teaching.’ from the ceiling; the shop owners with their weighing scales were the I worked for five months with a only calm to be found. On a couple charity called Future Hope. Started of Sundays we made cakes, which was always a messy business, in 1987 the school has provided an education, and also a with storms of icing sugar to be anticipated. Marshmallows, home, for street children from Kolkata and the surrounding for cake decorating, were a hot topic of conversation because villages. While I was there, there were 250 students with lots of the girls had never seen them before – should they trust half living in the school’s homes. As a volunteer you assist in this strange squishy sweet? Three times a week we used to pile tutoring Maths and English, or help in the classroom and try onto the school bus (15 people squashed onto the back row your hand at teaching. When the ‘general knowledge’ teacher alone) and head to the Maidan (park) where depending on from learning support suddenly left, I started teaching ten your sporting prowess you could join in with the younger girls, children in groups of two or three. We covered everything older girls or the boys. I have one especially fun memory when from rubbish collection to Hindu festivals. ‘Challenging’ sums preparing for the Kolkata marathon of racing around the Maidan it up. Six of my tutees hardly spoke English, which by default with Bhaskr on my shoulders and every time I slowed down he meant endless drawing. ‘This is a reindeer, this is Mary and Joseph, repeat after me Baby Jesus…baby jeswus…babjeswu…’ would shout: ‘Carry on… carry on’ or ‘go…go…go!’ 12 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

Every evening during the week we would go and have dinner in one of the five homes dotted around the city – two for the girls and three for the boys. You have to learn to eat with your right hand, which is quite tricky, so on my first night one of the small boys helped me debone my lethally bony fish. Sometimes in the evenings we walked to the lake with the Bompas boys (the oldest in the school). There was always lots to see. The light show and fountains at 5 o’clock, the endless couples sitting two by two all around the edge, and the transvestites (part of the hijra community) who come to pester the couples for money. Future Hope is a proper community, a family where the social divisions and difficulties that haunt many people through school don’t seem to exist. So embarrassment too is not a thing. At 10 in the morning in the middle of a sunny field with Bollywood music blaring from a little shed, a five-year-old called Sandyiha started to bop - the classic move, one hand on her hip as she swung it up and down. Soon all the teachers and all the students were dancing. Absolutely, completely shamelessly. It was not dancing in the English bobbing sense, but wild moves were seen: Sudeep pounded his heart and Suraj shimmied. They felt the music.

The last event of the year is the Future Hope Mela. Weeks of planning go into this monumental event. All the girls made hand-embroidered scarves and shoe racks, the boys created carved animals and mugs. Then the performances began, from traditional dance to a modern-day “hips don’t lie” that had the audience wishing they could shimmy like that. In a three-day crash course the other school volunteers and I learnt how to Bollywood-Zumba dance to ‘Abito-party’, which must have been one of the most fun moments of Future Hope because everyone was excited to see our terrifically terrible rendition. I was asked a couple of times which festivals we had in England, and it is only Christmas that vaguely compares to the bold festivals of Kolkata: Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Diwali and Holi. The most wonderful thing about Kolkata is that the festivals of all religions are celebrated, so in festival season (September to Christmas) a week hardly goes by without a day off. These festivals take the city by storm and ordinary life stops, especially in Durga Puja. Pandals - large temporary temples in roads and parks - appear all over the city. Each community raises money and contributes towards their pandal. They were magnificent – www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 13

one designed as a bee hive, one a floating God, another like a huge palace. And inside each pandal stands a huge painted clay idol of Durga; her spear kills the demon at her feet and a lion roars by her side. It is not just the city that is adorned – lights appear everywhere dropped down from the roofs – and the Future Hope boys and girls dress up in their finest outfits: saris, jewellery, long adorned skirts, all bright and wonderful. Then we would go pandal-hopping which is when you walk around the city and see the best pandals. After a morning of fasting, once again in saris, we went to the temple to be blessed and to give an offering. Festivals in Kolkata are all-encompassing and it’s impossible not to become part of them. Food was essential at every festival and we ate lots of Bengali sweets; when my tutee recounted his experience of Durga Puja he centred it on all the delicious food he had eaten. How has Future Hope transformed lives? Few of the Future Hope children will tell you their pasts, but through those who do you clearly see how tough life is, and how a regular meal, an education and a safe place to live makes all the difference. There is definitely a brutality to life; death is that little bit closer, and suffering too. The students living in the school see their parents once or twice a year and there are often sad afternoons when someone’s mother does not arrive to visit them. To put it on paper makes it seem a little depressing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth: people are happy. They call Kolkata ‘the City of Joy’ and it is true, at least in my experience. Harsh, a local volunteer, told me, “Everyone is poor and so we’re happy, all being poor together”. I was always surprised at the resilience and cheerfulness of Future Hope students who have so little compared to us; their belongings fit in one bag each or on half a shelf. The bedrooms they use

double up as eating areas and play areas and the bedding is only rolled out at night. The children at Future Hope have exactly that hope – Ram would like to work on a cruise ship and travel the world, Gilly would like to be a doctor – that through their success they can help support their families and themselves in the future. If you would like to find out more about Future Hope you can visit their website: www.futurehope.net Eleanor Garthwaite (St 13-15)

‘Few of the Future Hope children will tell you their pasts, but through those who do you clearly see how tough life is, and how a regular meal, an education and a safe place to live makes all the difference.’

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GRIFFIN HOUSE REUNION Sunday morning at Rugby School can be a quiet affair, indeed, anyone would have expected this Sunday to be even quieter than normal in Griffin, as the annual Griffin Garden Party for the whole of the sixth form had been held just the night before. It was, as usual, a huge success (and a slight mess afterwards). However, by nine o’clock on Sunday 23 April, the House had come alive. Girls were tidying up the marquee from the night before, the cleaning staff were vacuuming to their hearts’ content and in the dining room the last few stragglers were gulping down their cereal as the room was transformed around them. Chairs were stacked and tables moved, all in preparation for the day to come.

The Push Cart Race School Field back in the running, and from an early start, was a surprise; and as the race unfolded, it became apparent that the glory years might be back as House after House failed to knock them off the podium. On paper, Cotton, with so much brain power, might have been expected to find a race-winning formula, but too much thought and not enough action left them on the workshop floor rather than the racetrack. Town quietly got on with the job to show that the promise of the Pointon mobile last year was not just that. The donkey cart had turned into a thoroughbred. On course at the same time, Sheriff fell foul of technical gremlins and terminal failure prevented their completing the race. They couldn’t count last year and didn’t count this. In the girls’ race, Stanley lived up to their star billing with a great showing from the off. No longer shamefaced after the 2015 debacle, they performed well and led until the very last cart. Rupert Brooke started fast, but lack of stamina saw them fade in the later laps. Marshall once again endeavoured to take on the older Houses, but sometimes size does count. Southfield did well enough to get their beautiful cart around the course, but should be thinking of a more streamlined design for future events if they hope to compete. Tudor and Dean both battled hard, with Tudor clawing their way back to overcome Dean and take the third podium place.

properly. One of the few total newbuilds, their prototype drove steadily to a creditable fifth place. Alongside them was a Michell cart with huge potential that lost it all in one impetuous moment approaching the finish. Who knows where they might have finished if they had held it together for 10 more metres. At the end of the day the top seeds took to the track. Bradley failed to meet expectations and their glory days seem to be behind them, while the controversial Griffin machine once again flew round the course to take top spot. Whitelaw, looking to regain their dominance, fielded a muscular line-up and began quickly with the third fastest lap, indicating that they might give School House a run for their money. Perhaps a more lightweight team will be the way forward as stamina soon became an issue and as their race slowed so did their challenge. School House once again set the fastest laps and were comfortable

winners by a bigger margin than usual. Look at the photos to see how much this title means to them. PAB

Now this Sunday was unusual throughout the School, as it was Confirmation Day. For some, a day to connect with their religion and embrace God. For others, it was a day when they had to wake up for Chapel even earlier than normal. But regardless of which category people may have been in (and I won’t say which I was), the service was entertaining as always, with people being splashed with water and the whole Chapel on their feet, pulling party-poppers aimed at the newly-confirmed. When it was over, people poured out of Chapel, some rushing about, others sauntering along in the rare English sunlight. As all the Griffin girls arrived back at the house they were reminded by Matron Liz (what would Griffins really do without Liz?) of the one o’clock start time. Lo and behold, one o’clock came around, as it usually does. Suddenly the tidied

dining room was packed to bursting with ORs, their parents, former tutors and Griffin girls mingling and chatting happily. Once the room felt like it was going to explode with people, the Head Master got up and welcomed everyone, after which people filed out into the garden, where the celebration was to begin in full. Old Griffins mingled together and caught up on their way into the marquee. Guests exclaimed over old pictures set up at the side and people took their seats. It was a genuinely beautiful day. The sun was out but not blinding, and pink petals of cherry blossom were scattered across the garden. Soon guests were chatting away over a delicious lunch and everyone was having a good time. After the last of the plates were cleared, the current Griffins filed onto the dance floor in the centre of the marquee and guests were treated to an enthusiastic rendition of California Dreaming, the number we sang at this year’s House singing competition. The Griffins then sat down amidst applause and Mrs Naylor gave her speech. She started by recounting her arrival at Rugby, with a story that made Mr Naylor blush tomato-red. She then told us of the many years she’s had at the school, and in Griffin - all of which created the Griffin we know and love today - and one particular story stuck in my mind. She was recounting the time Griffins had tried fundraising by ordering hoodies to sell. They were stuck for a slogan to put on the back, and eventually settled on ‘Griffins – not weird, just gifted’. Hmmmm, I thought, they might be on to something there. Now, Mrs Naylor

being Mrs Naylor, no speech is complete without a song. And in true Naylor style, she got everyone to their feet to join in a Griffin-ized version of a Sound of Music medley that had people laughing all around the room. After this, a current parent of three Griffins, Mrs Lou Bibby, gave a speech looking back on what an amazing Housemistress Anne Naylor has been, and how much Griffin is going to miss her (a lot). Then, a surprise guest appeared, none other than Barry Manilow (tribute act). As he swanned in, gasps echoed throughout the room (along with a couple of whispered ‘who?’s). He began to sing and we listened with rapt attention to his first song, or so. Then, as he settled in, guests moved to join him on the dance floor. Soon enough, everyone was up and it became a tangle of people, and right at the centre of it were Mrs Naylor and Liz dancing together. Now, I have to admit, the dancing scared me off and I snuck away slowly. However, I could still hear the singing and dancing, even from inside my room; Griffin House has rarely been so lively in my years living here. By late afternoon, the dancing had wound down and the guests began to leave, all chattering excitedly still, many of them sounding like they’d just returned to their teenage selves. I doubt a single guest left this house without a smile; and if that doesn’t sound like Griffin, well, I don’t know what does. Rachel Stevens (D Block Griffin)

Kilbracken performed with pride and genuine honour, playing the game 16 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

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SOCIETIES Arnold Society A lecture by Professor Meissner, Senior Lecturer in Classics (Philology & Linguistics) and Fellow and Director of Studies in Classics at Pembroke College Cambridge, speaking to the title ‘Number and Gender: Some Lessons from Proto-Indo-European’, started the Classics Society off this year. A large group of eager pupils listened closely to the enormously detailed and thoughtprovoking talk about how we should think about gender in English and other languages with particular emphasis on the Greek and Latin. In the Lent term, the Society hosted two eminent lecturers. Professor Patrick Finglass from the University of Nottingham (now at Bristol) presented a fragment of Sophocles as a lesson in the forensics of literature from the classical world. It was fascinating to see that such a small piece of papyrus could provide us with so much information. We also hosted

Professor Stephen Heyworth, Professor of Latin in the Faculty of Classics from Wadham College Oxford, who talked to us about ‘Ovid’s Amores: a Sequence of Programmes’. He examined various thematic structures in Ovid’s collection of love poetry thus complementing and broadening the study of elegiac texts currently set at Latin A-level. Our own teachers offered pupils the opportunity to hear about various aspects of classical scholarship they are passionate about. LXX Classical Civilisation pupils rose to the challenge of presenting their views on aspects of Athenian democracy they had been studying. And, as every year, our own F Block Latin Reading competition yielded a worthy winner, Annie Gromyko, who fended off stiff competition with her perfect rendition of Catullus’ poem about rejection in love. LXX pupils attended study days in Cambridge, while the XX attended A-level conferences in London which

proved invaluable. Another group also went to London to see the UCL production of Sophocles’ Antigone, which enthused them not only as their Greek A-level text, but also as a comment on some very important current affairs. Our youngest pupils from Marshall House participated again in the Latin play competition Ludi scaenici at the Perse School. Despite their (and Miss Harris’s) enthusiasm and immaculate preparation, they missed an honourable mention. Next year, the Classics Department plans many more exciting lectures, theatre and museum trips for the Upper School, a new F Block trip to the Ashmolean Museum and an E Block trip to Chester. We have also decided to extend our links with other schools in the area by welcoming them to our events and taking our pupils to the EMACT Latin reading competition at Derby Grammar. ADH Mr Carver, with the Engineering secretaries, Tom Lovegrove, Karan Chadha and Zengani Nyirenda

Engineering Society Traditionally, the Society has been a forum for a range of guest speakers to come and share their experiences of engineering as a career with members of the D Block upwards. This year the Society secretaries decided they would also like to introduce a couple of engineering challenges. This opportunity to apply practical skills was well received by the regular attendees.

working and project management skills, which are so relevant to engineering, within this context.

In November, the first of the practical engineering challenges was organised: a Lego building competition in which groups had to create both the strongest and longest bridge possible. The participants employed a variety of design strategies, some more successful than others. The load-bearing capacity of each structure was tested and a couple of the designs could support more than 10kg and span over two metres. That’s a lot of Lego have all delivered pieces!

The first talk of the year, back in September 2016, was ‘The speakers by two engineers their experiences in an interesting After the from Morgan and informative way and their success of Sindall, a enthusiasm for the discipline has the first Lego construction been well received by the Society.’ building engineering challenge, company. a second It was construction task was arranged in January interesting to learn about the complexity 2017. This time the aim was to create and challenges of building tunnels and, a crane that could lift the largest mass. in particular, the Lee Tunnel project Each team was given Lego blocks and which is helping to improve London’s a selection of electric motors and gears sewage capacity. One of the engineers, to create their mechanism. The teams Jamie Bradley, who graduated in Civil enjoyed learning about gear ratios and Engineering in 2012, also took the experimenting with different solutions to opportunity to give an inspiring account convert rotary motion to linear motion. of his recent experience of working as a volunteer in Tanzania with the Raleigh In March, Joy Au (St 11-13) who is International charity. It was fascinating currently studying Engineering at Oxford to hear how he had applied his team18 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

gave a talk about the varied disciplines of engineering. This was well received as engineering is such a wide subject and those applying for university courses can find it daunting to select the most appropriate option. Joy also spoke about her summer project work which included an account of the simulation and redesign of the frame of a car. The final talk of the year was by Charles Carver (SH 74-79), Managing Director of an engineering company which manufactures components primarily for the automotive industry. His enthusiasm for engineering was infectious as he explained in some detail how a range of automotive parts are developed, tested and finally manufactured. Looking back now over the year, Engineering Society members have had the opportunity to hear about the experiences of current graduates, recent graduates and seasoned engineering professionals. The speakers have all delivered their experiences in an interesting and informative way and their enthusiasm for the discipline has been well received by the Society. Tom Lovegrove (K)

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and dilemmas. The 21st century has arguably seen a significant increase in inter-faith intolerance (although this has been present for millennia), a trend continuing with the rise of the far-right and the election of Donald Trump. When we understand this context, the importance of the lessons of Father Martin’s talk suddenly become clear.

Temple Society with guest speaker Jon Jong (seated, front right), president Dr JC Smith (front left) and secretary George Muston (far right)

Law Society The Law Society has met several times this year and heard speakers from all over the UK and as far as Australia. Our first meeting saw the return of Ashleigh Owusu (S 13-15). As a current Law student at Nottingham Trent University, she gave an insightful talk which helped inspire our listeners to pursue Law at university, whilst offering encouragement to gain vital work experience and placements. Mr Robert Marcus was our next speaker, a parent of a current Rugbeian and senior partner at JURIT, an online law firm, who explained the technological advancements which are affecting the law and how practices have adapted accordingly - a very relevant talk. Alan Davis, a barrister and lecturer from Monash University, offered an exciting introduction to studying Law at university from a new perspective by providing a flavour of what might happen in a real court case - setting up a small mooting session which gave our pupils the opportunity to engage in some real debating and discuss actual cases. International law was touched upon through discussion of the main themes, challenges and principles that apply across jurisdictions in criminal law, with particular focus on sentencing. Following the excitement generated by this experience, it was requested that the Society engage in more such activities, and Mrs Stevenson was invited to deliver a talk on mooting. The final talk of the year was given by another Rugbeian parent, Mr Mark Mansell, a partner at Allen & Overy LLP, specialising in employment law, and his colleague, Sheila Fahy, another solicitor at this international law firm with global reach. The talk highlighted their different journeys to reach their current positions: the simple path of going directly into a Law degree at university; and the more 20 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

convoluted route of returning to university to study Law following an alternative career. This was both useful and reassuring as many members of the Society are still unsure of their future plans and the talk emphasised the competitive, yet exciting, environment in a top law firm. Overall, our five meetings have been diverse and interesting, recruiting a wide range of people with connections to law, including solicitors, barristers and students, with an increasing turnout throughout the year. Victoria Holland (D)

Temple Society This was another fantastic year for the Temple Society, which welcomed four very different speakers all of whom spoke with great passion.

First, Father Martin McGee delivered a fascinating talk on Christian-Muslim friendship, focusing on the intriguing story of the monks of Tibhirine. This was linked to his 2008 book Christian Martyrs for a Muslim People based on the story of French monks killed in the 1990s in Algeria for the sake of their Muslim neighbours. “They were given an ultimatum by the fundamental extremists; to leave the country or be killed. These people were very close to the Muslim people and they decided to stay. The Muslims told them they could leave but they had no means of escaping. They stayed. That is the amazing thing.” The talk was greatly illuminating about a subject that the Society knew very little about. Father Martin detailed many aspects of the story of the monks, especially on how brave they were, but, most importantly, he raised crucial moral questions

Victoria Holland (Society Secretary), Mr Mark Mansell, a partner at Allen & Overy LLP and his colleague, Sheila Fahy, Sam Denny (Society Secretary)

Peter Lamarque, a Professor in Philosophy at the University of York, then scrutinized the question: ‘What makes a novel Philosophical?’ He explored the differences between literature and philosophy, explaining their limitations and his personal rules about what makes a philosophical novel and how the idea of existentialism (as in Sartre’s novel Nausea) complements both literature and philosophy; for a character like a person has free will. The talk starkly highlighted the difficulties in reaching this equilibrium between two subjects which are arguably contradictory, since literature is fiction, with made-up characters in imagined scenarios, while philosophy seeks the truth. Even in classical times there was a divide between philosophy and poetry, Plato himself believing poets to be untrustworthy and irrational, ignorant, beguiling and deceitful. Yet interestingly, Aristotle was a playwright and a philosopher who argued that poetry is more philosophical than history for it can be universal and understood by everyone. Professor Lamarque dealt masterfully with some highly complex concepts, resulting in a totally engrossing lecture. Rupert Shortt, Religion editor of the TLS, argued that “God is No Thing: A Sideways look at Christianity”. The talk was amazing in its breadth and depth, covering a vast array of topics from classics, to ancient history, to politics, to science to religion. Essentially Mr Shortt argued that although parts of the Western world now appear totally secularised, Christianity remains the most potent worldview on earth alongside Islam. He eloquently and gracefully argued that Christianity is a much more coherent and progressive body of belief philosophically, scientifically and culturally than the proponents of so called “New Atheism” suggest. He spoke about the dangers of both religious fundamentalism and secularism and highlighted how a self-critical faith is of huge benefit to wider human flourishing, particularly through promoting peace. The talk was a brilliant take on the age-old question of the role and importance of religion. The last meeting of the year hosted Jonathan Jong, a psychologist working at both the universities of Coventry and Oxford, to give a talk on the psychology

of religion. Dr Jong presented a captivating analysis of the evolution of religion before analysing the relationship between theory of mind, paranormal belief and the motivations for religious belief. The breadth of psychological issues and topics was breath-taking. He also explored the impact of religion on the cognitive, social and cultural functions of human existence. Dr Jong immediately grabbed the attention of the audience with his entertaining speaking style and manner and, all in all, his talk was a wonderful conclusion to another successful year for the Temple Society. Thanks to all who attended and especially to Dr Smith for his continuous efforts in helping the Temple Society to thrive. George Muston (T)

Medical Society MedSoc this year has seen many successful health professionals generously giving up their time to come and talk to us. Our first speaker was Dr Nick Cook who as well as being an experienced ophthalmologist is also a Rugby parent. He spoke of how he started as a GP and then decided to work in ophthalmology and currently works at the Central Eye Surgery here in Rugby.

out an actual human skull for everyone in the audience to have a look at. Lastly he spoke about his interest in minimally invasive technologies and, in particular, keyhole surgery of the spine. The next meeting was a panel session with potential medics in the XX holding a discussion and taking questions from the audience. The Q&A covered: our reasons for wanting to do medicine, our work experience, our interviews and any things we would do differently if we had our time again. We included not only prospective medics but a potential nurse and a vet. This was a great opportunity for the audience to ask us questions about all the stages of the selection process to help their applications in the following year. In early March we welcomed Mr Robert Kerry, a Consultant Knee and Hip Orthopaedic surgeon at Claremont and Thornbury Hill Hospitals in Sheffield, who gave a very witty talk about his time at university and his career. Our last speaker was Becky Bestwick (D 0813), a medical student at Birmingham University currently doing an Intercalated year at UCL. Seb Somervail (SH)

Our next speaker was Mr Joshi, again a Rugby parent, a spinal and neurosurgeon. He explained how he enjoyed his training in London and about the skills we need to help us succeed at Medical School. There was great excitement when he brought

Amelia Stoddart (Society Secretary), Becky Bestwick (Medic at Birmingham University), Seb Somervail (Society Secretary) www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 21

HIGHER EDUCATION AND GAP FAIR Rugby welcomed 45 University and Gap Year representatives to the Collingwood Centre on Speech Day, allowing pupils and parents the opportunity to discover and discuss the wide range of options available to them on leaving school. These pictures are eloquent of their enthusiasm. JHH

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Classics in Italy

TRIPS Art and Design in New York By 12 noon, Vincent and several others in the party had fulfilled a lifelong goal and used a solid gold toilet, having first walked across Central Park in beautifully fresh and wintry conditions. They then endured a first taste of the subway, shopped in hectic Soho, became immersed and entwined in Pipilotti Rist, visited Hard Rock café for burgers, raced through a Times Square blizzard and were enthralled by the young cast of The School of Rock Broadway Show. Not bad for day one of the Art and Design Trip to New York. The pupils were to experience a vast array of inspirational creative works during the five-day trip. Apart from the already-mentioned surprise highlight – the fully functioning, 18-carat gold toilet made by Maurizio Cattelan in the Guggenheim – the main event of the first day was a selection of work by abstract artist Agnes Martin and a robot sweeping blood! And the pupils were transfixed by Pipilotti Rist’s installation – Pixel Forest amid a hustling bustling Soho crowd. The second day consisted of visits to MoMA and the Metropolitan Museum. The former had an eclectic mix of modern art and iconic product design that fell perfectly into place for the project work that many pupils were undertaking, while the vastness and variety of the Met offered something for all. The evening was completed by visits to two NYC icons of architecture and blockbusting films. We ate at Grand Central before surveying the night-time vistas from the top of the Empire State. History of Art pupils went to see the Frick Collection during the following morning while the remainder of the group visited the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum.

A fascinating use of technology, here, using a special pen, enabled pupils to scan articles of interest that could then be viewed again, back at home, on their own devices. Later a tour of the Museum of Art and Design took us through some elaborate ceramics and into a world of crochet coral – really eye-opening and for many a new take on traditional crafts and associated design. Some of the pupils used their free time to visit the Museum of Natural History for a session of observational drawing. An evening in and around Times Square where we demolished our own weight in pizza at John’s Pizzeria saw a very tired and weary bunch of pupils forego the cinema for a relatively early bed time. Wednesday morning saw us chasing downtown for an early tour of The Whitney Museum of American Art. Some truly stunning installations certainly made this unforgettable. The walk along the Highline to Chelsea introduced us to a variety of street art, some wonderful views of the city from two storeys above the street and a first taste of an icy cold New York. The Chelsea galleries were to be explored and some members of the group managed to see over 30 different exhibitions during the afternoon. Fashionistas were whisked off to the Fashion Institute of Technology where they were treated to an inspirational tour of Fashion and Textiles Design. Then there was a genuine experience of a NYC Italian restaurant (where we took over the whole place) before the ever-risky last-night adventure of ice skating in Central Park.

very tired yet inspired group of pupils then travelled back to Rugby. The trip was of course predominantly to support the work of the pupils when they returned to School, and in this respect it was certainly successful, but it was so much more than just an educational trip. As Freya Gibbs put it, “I had some of the best experiences of my life in New York, and the trip was utterly invaluable for a number of reasons. “The whole time, I didn’t feel like a pupil on a school trip because of the way the trip was structured – catching the subway, not taking coaches everywhere, having free time to explore all the areas that we stopped at, finding our own unique food destinations at proper New York delis, cafés and diners, the essence of which you just can’t get anywhere else. “I have also brought back so much inspiration from the vast number of galleries that we visited, all of which had a different style and homed in on a variety of genres and artistic movements. So if I were to do the trip again, even though it was a tiring and crammed itinerary, I would definitely not waste time not seeing galleries. The tiredness is worth it because you come back with so many memories, and so much inspiration, looking back on all that we fitted into six days. “Having experienced the culture, and the sheer volume and diversity of artistic inspiration, I have decided that I will definitely be going back to New York, either to live, visit or study art perhaps.” PAB

The last morning dawned and during blizzards and truly arctic conditions we caught a boat to Liberty Island to view the Statue and visited Ground Zero. A

Having checked in to Hotel Hiberia in central Rome, we walked to the restaurant via Trajan’s Column, which is a 30m-tall free-standing column built to celebrate victory in the Dacian wars in the early 100s AD. It has an intricate spiraling ‘comic strip’ all the way up its height, featuring an extraordinary 2,662 figures in 155 different scenes. Dinner was our first taste of Roman pizza on the trip, followed by ice cream, which some of us had to wait a little longer for owing to the (dubious) humorous antics of the waiter. On the way back to the hotel, we visited the Trevi Fountain and witnessed a proposal, before falling into the tourist trap and buying ‘I heart Rome’ t-shirts. The Trevi Fountain had looked hypnotically beautiful, lit up at night. The building was started by Pope Urban VIII but when he died the project was stopped. A century later, in 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to finish it and the building took 30 years. The central figure is Neptune, god of the sea. The two horses pulling his shell-shaped chariot represent the moods of the sea; one is calm, one looks enraged. It is built at the end of an aqueduct (Aqua Virgo) built in 19BC. On the first full day of this E Block trip, many opened the shutters of their hotel room to a stunning skyline of sleepy Rome with the ‘wedding cake’ straight ahead. We then explored the Pantheon and saw the Circus Maximus and Roman Forum and climbed the Palatine Hill. The Colosseum was amazing and well worth a few panoramic photographs as the sun shone through each little archway as it began to set. It was even better inside. At the bottom, you could see the complicated tunnels underneath the floor where the animals would be kept just before a show. We stopped off in Naples on our way to Sorrento and visited the archeological museum. There were lots of statues and mosaics, and a very impressive huge room upstairs with a detailed painted ceiling. For lunch many of us visited the self-proclaimed oldest pizzeria in Italy and enjoyed a deep-fried pizza. Next, we visited the villa in Oplontis. It was a typical rich person’s country house for the holidays and featured lots of rooms including painted reception rooms, bedrooms, hot sauna rooms and a huge garden with a pool. We also met lots of stray cats at Villa Poppaea. As we approached Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius was visible across the bright

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blue Bay of Naples and orange and lemon trees filled the gardens bordering the road. We spent a full day in Pompeii; it was amazing to walk through the streets just as Caecilius, Metella, Quintus and Grumio would have done years before. The house of the Vettii brothers was very impressive; each room had walls covered with frescoes, both tasteful and distasteful. The forum featured many different shops and temples, and the volcano towered over it. There was also a large amphitheatre and even a back street brothel, the ‘wolf-house’, with more distasteful pictures, advertising the activities. The undisputed highlight of the day in Pompeii was seeing the house of Caecilius in real life, which turned out to be exactly as described in the Cambridge Latin Course text book. One could almost smell the excellent peacock cooked by Grumio and hear the howling of Cerberus the dog in the street outside. In Sorrento we had a competition to see who could find the tackiest tourist items, learned how to make gelato with Mario and tasted pizza topped with French fries. On our final day, we visited Herculaneum on our way to the airport, which was a lot smaller than Pompeii but arguably better preserved, thanks to the mud rather than ash, with some beautiful artwork on the walls. The most shocking thing was the pile of bones in the boathouse whither citizens had fled during the eruption. In summary, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational trip. Sincere thanks are due to Mr Thomson, who was a fount of knowledge and good humour throughout, and also to Miss Harris and Mr Day. Alice Day (S)

French in Montpellier During the Exeat of the Advent Term, a group of Upper School French pupils went to the historical town of Montpellier in the South of France, for the chance to be confirmed into French culture and language. Arriving at Montpellier airport, we were greeted by our host families, who spoke to us over the course of the week only in French in order to help us practise our French speaking. In the evenings, our host families gave us a meal and their conversation enlightened us about French culture and the political and social views of French citizens. Every morning, we all met in the LSF language schools for French lessons, and also to take part in activities in the centre of the town, such as a survey of environmental awareness in La Place de la Comédie, or a showcase of French drama, where we were split into groups to edit and then perform French plays. On the first afternoon, we had a guided tour around the town of Montpellier, which gave us an insight into the history of this beautiful town. Some afternoons, we spent the free time relaxing and enjoying the town, often in the cafés of Montpellier. On other days, we participated in many exciting activities, such as ice-skating, bowling, a cinema trip, and a visit to the historical Roman town of Nîmes to see the amphitheatre. We even had the opportunity to visit the renowned Musée Fabre to view its famous paintings. When the week was up, we regretfully said goodbye to our hosts, and to the town of Montpellier. I really enjoyed the trip and have learnt much about the historical relevance of this southern French town; I have also immensely improved my spoken French and my understanding of French culture. I am truly grateful to Mrs Trelinska who organised this trip and to Mr and Mrs Trelinski for looking after us during our time there. Alexander Chow (T) www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 25

German Exchange to Vienna The Partners Isobel Bruce – I stayed in the third district in Vienna, around 15 minutes from the Theresianum by U-Bahn. The area was relatively quiet compared to the more central parts of the city but nowhere was especially far to reach. My exchange partner, Marlen, had a Parson Russell terrier which we walked most days. On the weekends, we went ice-skating together, as well as visiting the zoo and the cinema to see an English film in German. I had such a lovely time with her family and friends at school, and I hope that I can go back to Vienna when it’s a bit warmer! On a school day, we got up at 7.00 (this was over Exeat and slightly different to a normal holiday!) and took the U-Bahn to school after breakfast. The lessons in the morning were very varied, as the Viennese school system means that all subjects are carried on until final exams. I sat through French, Latin and Russian – all of which I hadn’t done before - but the teachers were all very interesting and it was good to experience the different teaching styles. After usually a quick lunch we would head out for our afternoon activity which usually involved walking to a place of historical or cultural significance in the city. Ed Carr – On the exchange trip to Vienna I was partnered with Kurt Niklfeld. He and his family were extremely friendly and hospitable. I arrived in Austria a week earlier than Isobel and Rhian – whilst 26 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

the school was on holiday – where I had the pleasure of skiing with the family for the best part of five days in a little ski resort in Salzburg called Zauchensee. It was a great addition to the trip which I thoroughly enjoyed.

like my previous school. Paula’s family was also very kind and helpful. I could not expect more. My only regret was that I wished I could speak better German so I could communicate with them better. After-School Activities

Rhian Kerslake – I stayed with the Kirkgöze family, my partner was called Nil, and she was really good at Mario Kart. We played a lot of board games and watched a couple of films (in German, obviously) and had a pretty chill time. Her family was Turkish and every so often I’d hear a smattering of Turkish and – thinking it was German – become very, very confused. I loved the convenience of living a five-minute walk away from the school as it meant I could spend a few more crucial minutes in bed. Bliss. I was slightly unprepared for the Monday that school started: going from a small family who didn’t mind repeating or re-phrasing things to help me, to the absolute riot of a bunch of 15/16-year-olds in one classroom was akin to being chucked not ‘in at the deep-end’, but something more akin to ‘into the Pacific Ocean with only a pair of inflatable arm-bands’. Despite the petrifying linguistic abyss, I managed rather well. I was, however, very alarmed when the Maths teacher approached me with extra work. Kewen Hu – My exchange partner was Paula. She is a very nice and sweet girl. I was shocked when she told me her class need to learn French, English, Latin and Russian – so many languages! The school was a bit different to Rugby. Students don’t move around between lessons, only the teachers do. I really liked it as it was much

Ed – On the first Monday, once we had attended our first morning of school at the Theresianum, we were given a small tour of Vienna by a history teacher. His extensive knowledge of the city meant that we were able to get off the beaten track and see more hidden parts that one would not necessarily notice, such as the ‘House of the Basilisk’ and a very pretty fire station. After the tour of Vienna we stopped off at a traditional Viennese café for hot chocolate with a splash of rum. This gave us a nice chance to warm up from being outside since it was a particularly cold day. That same evening, we went with our teachers and partners to the Vienna State Opera to see Verdi’s ‘Otello’. Although ‘Otello’ was certainly not the most uplifting opera, the building was absolutely breath-taking; the audio was fantastic and the overall experience was one of the highlights of the whole trip. Isobel – The next day we visited the Belvedere palace, which would have initially been situated outside the city walls but today sits alongside the modern buildings around it. It was only 10 minutes from the Theresianum, so we could walk there and back. Inside we explored the extensive collections of modern and Romantic art, including

the famous “Kiss” by Gustav Klimt. The gallery itself was very interesting but the whole experience of the palace and the grounds was equally beautiful.

of how her story changed after her death. Her story is told through photos and original documents and personal possessions.

Rhian – The town of Steyr was a welcome surprise: the small rural town was a nice change from the constant bustling and ornateness of the city. First we visited the town’s small university and given a quick lecture on the benefits of studying there (FH Upper Austria Campus), then we mooched to a café to have lunch and then met with the town Mayor. A short speech later, we were feeling very much like ambassadors from a far-off country. Then we went down into the catacombs – once an old bomb raid shelter, now a sombre memorial to the victims of the nearby concentration camp.

Rhian – The last scheduled day of the trip was filled with overcast skies and the baroque façade of Schloss Schönbrunn, its cobbled courtyard and marble figures welcoming the swarms of tourists that ambled through the ornate gateway. The aura of decadence and luxury was even reflected in the price of tickets. After removing our bags, coats and hats and a decent chunk of the €100 given to us for entry, the exhibition lay before us. Room after room of imperial history. Even before the bulky audio guides were handed to us, the hall breathed extravagance; the royal blue carpet led us onward up a flight of stairs under the frosty stares of painted cherubs and angels. The rooms were painted a glossy white with the occasional gold embellishment and Franz Joseph was an oft-cited figure, being the last of the Habsburg monarchs to have spent time in the palace and who had taste to fit his status. A sweet familial touch was seen in the smattering of family portraits adorning the walls. The centrepiece of the tour was the grand ballroom with its crimson carpet and golden accents, over which hung a gargantuan chandelier. Pretty sweet.

Kewen – Next lunchtime, we galloped off to The Spanish Riding School. The stables were amazing – and the Winter Riding School, which is a sunlight-flooded hall, with a portrait of Charles VI above the royal box and with chandeliers and velvet viewing seats. We learned some interesting facts about the horses, such as their individually-planned holidays and retirement options, as well as some history and how to work there. The riding school was first named during the Habsburg Monarchy and is the oldest of its kind in the world. Emperor Charles VI commissioned the architect to build the white riding hall still used today in 1792. For a time, it was used for various ceremonies, but it is now open to the public, who may witness the training and performances of the stallions. Traditionally, Lipizzaners at the school have been trained and ridden solely by men. In October 2008, however, two women were accepted. We then went to check out the nearby Sisi Museum, which gave us a glimpse of the traditional and daily life at court. I knew ‘Sisi’ through a musical called ‘Elisabeth’, so I was thrilled to visit the museum even though I personally don’t like her character, as she was apparently obsessed with her weight and avoided all her responsibilities. The beautifully decorated museum was very informative. I learned a lot and the silver and jewellery collections were incredible. Upstairs we learned the rich and moving story of Empress Sisi, culminating in her tragic assassination and a fascinating account

Isobel Bruce (S), Rhian Kerslake (S) Kewen Hu (St)

History of Art in London The Trinity Term History of Art trip took Upper School pupils to the National Gallery, giving all an opportunity to see a host of great paintings they had already investigated through slides and books in class. We pored over the perspective in Uccello’s seminal Battle of San Romano, the sfumato of Leonardo’s Madonna and Saint Anne and the historical significance of Turner’s Fighting Temeraire, alongside much else. The pupil-led discussions demonstrated how art-historical knowledge and skills radically enhance the experience of artworks. At the same time, they showed how first-hand experience gives fresh perspectives on artworks previously seen only in reproductions. One particularly memorable moment of revelation came when pupils saw Jan van Eyck’s seminal portrait of Giovanni Nicolao di Arnolfini (often nicknamed ‘The Arnolfini wedding’, though modern scholars tend to dispute this interpretation): some were startled by the unexpected effects of its small scale, while at least one pupil was momentarily stunned by the richness of delicate work in translucent oil paint, which far surpasses anything a photographic print can capture. Both XX and LXX led discussions on areas of respective expertise, and the trip enabled both years to practise their skills and revise key artworks ahead of AS and A2 exams. GMW

‘I hope that the India 2017 relationships that we have established will be In July, 23 pupils, with Mr McLean, strengthened more and Miss Scott-Martin more in the years to and Dr Jones set come as further groups off for this year’s expedition to visit our friends the Tibetan in Himachal Pradesh.’ settlements of northern India. After a few days’ sight-seeing in Delhi and Agra, including a wonderful evening at the Taj Mahal, we flew up to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, where we have established relationships with a variety of charities.

Continuing a relationship stretching back over a hundred years, the Rugby www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 27

pupils primarily worked with Tibet Charity India, running conversational English classes for newly-arrived Tibetan refugees, plus a few others from Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal. It was a fantastic opportunity that was hugely satisfying for both sides, and many new Facebook friends were made! All our pupils threw themselves wholeheartedly into their work, which was very gratefully received by their students. Each day some pupils also took part in Tibet Charity’s other projects around the town, helping at the animal clinic and accompanying nurses as they visited the elderly in their homes. At the weekend we headed further into the mountains to the small holy town of Tso Pema, from where Buddhism was taken to Tibet in the 8th century. To meet hermits who have lived in caves above the town for decades, such as the Venerable Ngawang Jimpa, was an extraordinary privilege, and all of us returned to Dharamsala with much to reflect upon in our own lives. After another week’s valuable and rewarding work with Tibet Charity we returned home to the UK, but every member of the trip had had an unparalleled experience, having seen and heard many things which made us consider how we live our lives in Rugby, and how we might be able to help those around us to a greater degree in the future. I hope that the relationships that we have established will be strengthened more and more in the years to come as further groups visit our friends in Himachal Pradesh. DJM

Madagascar 2017 Salaama. This year, over 60 intrepid pupils set off on the expedition of a lifetime to Madagascar, armed with a couple of T-shirts, a tent and a Spork. The pupils were split into four teams, each with two members of Rugby School staff. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all pupils for fully immersing themselves in the local culture and the staff for giving up their holiday (Mr Berry, Miss Sutton, Miss Abrahams, Miss Marks, Mr Parker, Miss Greatwood and Mr Smith). A short account from each team follows.

were some striking views along the way. The bumpy ride was well worth a sore back for this unique opportunity. As a group we also decided to take a boat trip along the Pangalanes Canal to see more of Madagascar in a different light. The boat trip was an interesting experience both on and off the boat. Despite the threat of the six crocodiles that apparently roamed in the water we managed to relax and enjoy the beautiful palm tree-lined canal. We stopped off at several villages, encountering a disco at 10am, a sacred elephant and one of the eight kings of Madagascar.

OG Team 1 Team 1 had an amazing expedition. During the month we were busy with lots of travelling but it was definitely worth it as we saw a huge variety of different landscapes, from rainforests and canyons to beautiful sandy beaches. A group highlight of the expedition was our beautiful trek in the Isalo National Park. We saw incredible views from the peaks but also scrambled through stunning canyons and swam in natural pools. We took part in a community project in a rural village in southeast Madagascar where we spent some time digging a trench and laying a water pipe. It was particularly special as we were the first group of foreign people ever to visit the village. After our project we travelled to Fianaar before taking the train to Manakara. The journey started on a cold foggy morning but the cloud soon cleared and there

At the end of our expedition we also took part in a short, two-day additional community project at Akany Avoko Children’s Home. We helped with the children’s everyday jobs such as watering plants and making charcoal, as well as helping with more manual jobs such as moving sand, clearing branches and carrying bricks. It was a tiring but rewarding last few days. It was particularly heart-warming to see how much our help meant to the children and staff when they sang us a song to say thank you and goodbye. Overall, we can’t even begin to sum up the sheer scale of the different experiences we encountered in Madagascar. We feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to go on such an amazing trip and would highly recommend the future expeditions to everyone. Jika Nyirenda (B) and Freya Harrison (B)

Team 2 Almost exactly two years ago, my group and I heard of the Outlook expedition to Madagascar. Beforehand, I knew nothing of it other than what I’d seen in films; during my month away I discovered that it was so much more. We spent our first night and subsequent few days at Akany Avoko, a children’s home just outside the Madagascan capital, Antananarivo. Here we spent hours playing with the children, teaching them French, English and playing basketball. It was an experience that stuck in our minds as we could see how happy the children were. We returned here for our last night and farewell, donating all our left-over Ariary and Euros to the home. Our four-day trek was the start of our expedition. This involved carrying heavy rucksacks 10km or more every day. Our goal was to scale Madagascar’s highest accessible point and look across the breath-taking landscape. After two days walking to get to base camp, we woke at 3.30 am and started our trek to the summit. Arriving at the top of Pic Bobby at 6.30 am - it was freezing but we had our breakfast of chocolate and biscuits - we observed the stunning sunrise. We also trekked through the national park Isalo, where we saw the iconic Madagascar lemurs. The notorious “King Julian” and “Maurice” were spitting images of the lemurs we were lucky enough to see. During the second week of our trip, we completed a community project in a remote Madagascan village. Here we built fences, laid concrete for a basketball court, painted and spent hours moving thousands upon thousands of bricks. The atmosphere in this village was incredible, especially on market days when the village was inundated with people buying and selling. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity of the Malagasy people. Everywhere we stayed we were treated to delicious traditional dishes. I had expected to eat nothing but rice and beans, but we discovered ‘Zebu’ (the Madagascan cattle) which was often served as a stew with

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rice, or ‘Min sao’, a noodle dish served with Zebu, chicken, fish or vegetables (our group’s particular favourite). We also discovered the luxury of condensed milk - in our coffee, on our breakfast, and also, ashamedly, straight out of the bowl! Our month away was not without trouble. A passport was lost, which resulted in a few of our group experiencing the expertise of the Madagascan police force as well as the inside of the British embassy. But this is a trip we would thoroughly recommend. Despite the lack of showers and flushing toilets, what Outlook expeditions have to offer is a trip of a lifetime with people you will never forget. Izzy Cara (S) and Molly Skan (RB) Team 3 During our trip we did two projects to help local communities. This included building fences out of tree branches to stop the villagers’ chickens escaping and resurfacing the youth centre’s basketball court by bashing the floor with hammers so the cement would stick. At the youth centre we spent hours playing tag with the local children which resulted in a frenzy of running, screaming children! The second project, near the end of the trip, entailed building stoves for the local village out of mud, ash and straw. This left most of us covered in red dirt which, with limited washing facilities, made us look like we had some hideous fake tan for four days! Another highlight of the trip was the fourday trek through the Isalo National Park in the southwest of the country. We spent

a whole day hiking to the top of canyons, where there were incredible views and dozens of ring-tailed lemurs jumping around on the rocks around us. We also explored the rainforests hidden in the crevices of the canyons that were full of rock pools and huge spiders. The trekking was long and tiring but it was amazing showering under waterfalls and camping at the top of canyons. One particular day stood out - our penultimate day when we were camping in the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. We spent the morning walking through the rainforest where we saw and heard the loudest and largest lemurs - the Indri. Later on we had an amazing last lunch together at a fancy hotel followed by a trip to a lemur sanctuary where the cute lemurs jumped on our shoulders and we could feed them out of our hands. To finish that exciting day off, some of us went on a nocturnal walk where we were lucky enough to the see a mouse lemur - the most seldom seen lemur because it is so tiny hence the name! Overall it was an unforgettable expedition and, even though there were a few broken windows, it was such an exciting month. Willow Stobart (Tu) and Portia Sherpa-Blaiklock (RB) Team 4 I didn’t know what to expect when I went to Madagascar; I had never been to a developing country before, nor had I visited Africa. What I found during my time there, was beautiful diversity: there were cultures different to any I had experienced www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 29

before, and surprisingly different to each other; a landscape which was at times rainforest, at times mountainous, and which sometimes looked remarkably similar to the Scottish Highlands. Even on my first travel day, I saw cities, towns, and endless expanses of rice fields as we drove – in an exotic minibus - to the edge of Andringitra National Park, in which can be found Pic Bobby - Madagascar’s highest accessible peak (at 2658m), and the summit of which was the ultimate destination of my group’s trek.

The project phase of our trip was unbelievably rewarding; I found myself almost moved to tears as the school’s headmaster came to tell us how grateful he was for all we had done, surrounded by the village children, and as I saw their faces light up as they looked at the gifts we had brought them. The experience was humbling, and I shall never forget my time in Sandrohy.

My group, our guide and our porters trekked for four days to reach the top of the mountain, stopping on the way at campsites with breath-taking views. The trek was hard work, and the weather did not help us (we woke up each morning with ice on our tents), but that just made reaching the top of the mountain feel like a greater accomplishment, and the dinner and dancing at the lodge after its conclusion more enjoyable. After we had left the national park – travelling in 4x4s on winding dirt roads – we travelled, after a serendipitous delay, through the Madagascan countryside on a “Jungle Train”. The train was an amazing way to see different Madagascan villages, and we stopped in many, buying food out of the train windows.

Physics in Florida

It was during our project, however, that we most fully experienced Madagascan village life – or one village’s way of life, as the regional differences were astounding - with a cultural tour, on which we learnt about rice farming, building wooden houses, how to weave, and some Madagascan dances. We also learnt a lot from the children who would come and play with us, and frequently offer to help us, as we painted the village’s secondary school and built benches for the pupils.

Alice Payne (G) and Issy Bruce (S)

I enjoyed the Physics trip to Florida and would definitely recommend it to others. We visited the Florida Institute of Technology, had a tour of the campus, ate in one of their dining halls and received a lecture from Dr Batcheldor at the university. It was interesting to hear not only his advice and personal experience in physics, but also what he thought about studying physics in America compared to England. The tour was particularly useful for those considering going to American universities as we had the chance to get a feel of what the campus was like and see how an American university might differ from an English university in terms of both campus and education system. We were taken to an engineering workshop at the university and some students showed us what they had been producing over recent months; they told us what was involved in their various projects, and how they became involved in their physics clubs or societies. We also visited the Kennedy Space Centre on two occasions. On the first, we were given the freedom to look around the different arenas and exhibits on our own,

so we chose areas which interested us most. On the second, we attended a masterclass and a Q&A with an astronaut and took a tour bus to see some of the rocket launch sites. It was good to spend two days at the Space Centre as we saw exhibits and learnt things that we wouldn’t have learnt without the tour guide, whilst also having time to see as much of the Centre as we liked. While in Florida we also visited Universal Studios - the highlight of the trip for many pupils. A lot of the rides at the theme park were virtual reality experiences, particularly impressive as they were so realistic and nothing like we had seen in England. We had a Q&A session with one of the rollercoaster directors, who gave us some background information on how he had become involved in the creation and manufacturing of rollercoasters, and what the process usually involves. We also visited a shopping mall on the last day and we had the liberty to go into the local “old town” in the evenings, where there was a fair with various rides and lots of vintage / souvenir shops.

no time was this stronger than when we entered the Supreme Court. It was the perfect opportunity for us all to buy our very own pocket constitutions – the reason we all signed up.

Anastasia de Clermont (S)

Politics in the USA With less than a month to go until Trump’s infamous election victory, the History and Politics Departments ventured out into Washington DC to test the political waters. Our first US experience was a Sunday service at the McLean Evangelical Megachurch certainly not the time for Mr Teeton and Dr Guard to engage in a mandate. Next up was a bike tour to the multiple sacred sites in DC in order to witness the US Constitution in action as the checks and balances of the US system of government were laid before our very eyes. Some pilgrims saw these sights faster than others, with Miss Pink’s group going on a ‘Pinkie Pootle’, taking additional time to soak in the city’s greatest sites. The next day of our trip was no less adventurous. The group strolled up to Capitol Hill, with the vast legislative grandeur that makes up the US Congress standing before us. Lady Liberty smiled down from the top of her dome on what was a brutally hot day. As we took our tour around, we were handed green bicycle pin-badges, worn to encourage cycling in Washington – of course, we’d already done our bit. Next on our agenda was a trip across the road, to that most revered of institutions: although immediately after entering US airspace we had felt the forces of the US constitution protecting us, at

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‘The potent smell of constitutional freedom was still fresh in our nostrils as we boarded the plane home, exhausted after a week of witnessing a true liberal democracy at work.’

One of the trip’s highlights was a visit to the US State Department, where we were able to observe the Federal Bureaucracy in action. Most importantly, our fears about the state of the ‘special relationship’ were quelled, as we were told that even economic suicide did not mean that the US did not see the UK as a less important ally. Dr Lara Brown, a professor at the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, gave us a lecture offering insight into problems in US politics. After speaking of partisanship and gerrymandering, she similarly tried to quell our fears, this time about Trump…. We also had talks from Hilary Shelton of the NAACP and learned of the crucial role that it very much still has to play in the US. His charming and eloquent demeanour captivated the whole room, while his promise to take the next group to his favourite pizza joint will ensure that next year’s trip is a good one. It came as no surprise that at Gettysburg Mr Teeton asked us to get our notes out ‘to the place in which we were last engaged’. This time, though, there was no need for his usual ‘if ever we were engaged’. The potent smell of constitutional freedom was still fresh in our nostrils as we boarded the plane home, exhausted after a week of witnessing a true liberal democracy at work. Hamish Venters (SF) www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 31

Football club, where Athletic came from behind to beat Celta Vago 3-2. From an academic point of view, this exchange, like many others, was a wonderful chance for me and the other Hispanists to further our Spanish skills and to improve our competency in the language. We found ourselves immersed from the beginning in a completely new world and were forced to adapt to it.

Scholars at the Globe When offered the chance to see a reinvention of Shakespeare’s ‘Cymbeline’ (reclaimed and renamed ‘Imogen’), we seized the opportunity. Performed at the Shakespeare Globe itself, this modernised reimagining of the classic play promised to be both entertaining and intellectually challenging. Despite having read many critical reviews of the new interpretation, we were prepared to go with an open mind. And as we settled down into the wooden benches around the stage, we realised that not only were we watching a play, but also experiencing the authenticity of a Shakespearean theatre. Here, we could participate and connect as an audience in a way different from other theatres – and we could opt to sit or stand under the open roof. Before watching the play, however, we attended a workshop led by one of the actors at the Globe. This was an extremely exciting experience as we heard about the theatre and the plays performed from someone who actually works there. Using rehearsal techniques used by the actors when preparing their own performances, we learnt about stock characters and characterisation, as well as status. Then we were split into groups and each group incorporated some of the ideas from the plot of ‘Imogen’ into their own piece. This was not only fun, but also helped us to understand the play better and enjoy the performance more. This production has been criticised for breaking with tradition and utilising loudspeakers and strobe lighting to enhance the performance. Many critics have expressed their distaste for the cultural changes around drug use and violence. In our opinion, however, the modernisation made it more accessible 32 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

for all ages, as well as for people with disabilities (one of the actors used sign language). The renaming of the play also sparked discussion as to who was the main character of Shakespeare’s play, but we agree that Imogen is the leading role. Overall, the play was thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking, especially as the updated version dealt with conflicts present in the society of today. Holly Duke and Ellie van Laar (S)

Spanish Exchange to Madrid This year’s LXX Spanish exchange between Rugby School, Colegio Base and Colegio Almazan (both situated in Madrid) was again a huge success. The Rugbeians travelled first to Spain and, as usual, the prospect of meeting the people who we would be staying with for the next ten days gave us some apprehension. However, after a prolonged flight, a merely palatable sushi lunch and a temporary frantic panic trying to find lost bags, at 10pm Spanish time we finally touched down in Madrid and found ourselves welcomed by a crowd of equally nervous but excited Spanish teenagers and their parents and went home to embark on our new experience. Having never visited Spain before I was curious as to what Spain would be like and I went to bed on my first night feeling electrified and eager to see what Spain had in store. Thankfully, Spain was an amazing experience. I felt thrown into the deep end right from my first day and any anxiety I had was swiftly eradicated. The school I stayed at, Colegio Almazan, was full of great people who I have made life-long connections with. One highlight was an exhilarating football match at the Vicente Caldaron, home to Athletic Madrid

The exchange provided an eclectic insight into how Spanish schooling and culture operates. Hanging out with teenagers of our age and finding out what they like to do, you are surprised at the number of similarities you share. You are given a lot of freedom to explore and lose yourselves in this wonderful city and, if you ever need support, your exchange partners and their friends are there to support and help you. I’m not sure there is any other opportunity which could have allowed us to experience all this apart from participating in the exchange. I would like to thank Enrique (my exchange partner), Mr Jarvis for accompanying us in Spain, Mrs O’Mahoney and everyone else involved in Rugby, and Colegio Almazan and Colegio Base who helped to make the exchange such a success. Chauncey De Los Santos (Sh)

Religious Retreat to Quarr Abbey A minibus parked in the Collingwood carpark: nine over-excited LXX, a casually dressed Mrs Parker-Jones and a fully tweeded Mr McLean, a plethora of junk food and kit bags, all raring to go to the Isle of Wight for a Leave-Out of silent meals and praying. There was certainly a mix of expectations: some were excited, others were leaning more to the I-wishI-could-go-home mindset. Despite the variety of images and pictures, Quarr Abbey succeeded in outdoing all our expectations and being, as we all later agreed, one of the most fabulous weekends we could have possibly had.

the guest wing by the delightful guest master Father Nicholas. It was kitted out with loads of teabags, comfortable beds and lots of books, including classics such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Supper was something each of us had been intrigued by since Mr McLean had told us that all meals were eaten in complete silence and women had to eat in a separate room. These were experiences new to all of us, but we soon learnt that, when eating in silence, the trick to not laughing is to not make eye contact with anyone and try not to chew loudly or accidentally scrape your plate with your knife because everyone will hear. For the monks, mealtimes are a time of reflection; at lunch they play an academic audio book to expand their minds - while we were there it was about the Spanish Armada. Supper was followed by Compline at 8pm and an early bed. Saturday was our only full day with the monks. Alarms started ringing all over the guest wing at 5:20am for our first service, Vigils, at 5:30am. All bleary-eyed and half-asleep, we experienced the beauty of being in Church twice before the sun had even risen as we had Lauds at 7am. Early mornings are not a strength of most people, especially not teenagers, and many of us swiftly got back into bed in the 30-minute break we had between the two services. In fact, Mrs Parker-Jones was one of the first to dash back to her bed, as soon as she could. It was surprising

to me how much I enjoyed listening to the monastic chanting and having the opportunity to pray, if one desired, or just to think. We had a silent breakfast and time for a few intense chess battles before it was time for Mass. After Mass we had what I thought was one of the defining moments of the trip - a talk from Father Abbot. Father Xavier is a French monk who a few years ago came to Quarr and was subsequently made Abbot; he looks after the Abbey and ensures it runs smoothly while finding time in his day to talk to interested visitors. He talked to us about the delicate dance of prayer, telling us what his grandmother used to say: “Prayer is simple!” He described God as his “big boss, best friend and best counselor”; the love he felt for God and his religion was evident in his poetic voice and assured words. To him nothing could be more interesting than a relationship with God. Before lunch we had a tour of the Abbey, including access to the incredible bookbinding workshop. Then it was Sext followed by a warming lunch, the biggest meal of the day. In the afternoon we were given some manual work to do, weeding and raking up leaves. It was satisfying work to look behind you and see a pristine path clear of a single leaf, as well as being helpful to the monks. It was the least we could do as thanks for letting us intrude upon their life for a weekend. The time outdoors was followed by many a cup of tea and some time to read a book and rest. At

5pm it was time for Vespers followed by a meeting with Father Nicholas, in which we were given space to question him on aspects of monastic life or theology. We pestered him with some tricky questions on abortion and homosexuality, as well as more practical ones like where he got his haircut. (The answer, if you were wondering, is that they do each other’s.) The next morning, some who seemed not to value sleep got up for Vigils, while most curled up until 7am for Lauds. We left the monastery after Sunday Mass, which was full of incense and the local Catholic congregation. Mr McLean and I were lucky enough to help with the service, bringing forward the bread and wine for communion. We left the monastery after saying our goodbyes and thankyous to Father Nicholas and Father Abbot, and drove down to a local fish and chip place for our fill of greasy hot food to get us home to Rugby. It was a wonderful weekend of ‘theology in action’ and reflection. For all of us it was relaxing and worthwhile, ending Leave-Out with new experiences and plenty to ponder on. Thank you to Mr McLean for allowing us into somewhere he loves, for organizing it and driving us down. Thank you to Mrs Parker-Jones for coming with us and making mealtimes all the more funny. Ginny Gough (B)

“It was a wonderful weekend of ‘theology in action’ and reflection. For all of us it was relaxing and worthwhile, ending Leave-Out with new experiences and plenty to ponder on”

Quarr Abbey is a Benedictine monastery, home to seven robe-clad monks, surrounded by an idyll of pigs, beehives and sea. The whirlwind of a weekend began with an ABBA and Bruce Springsteen-filled bus journey, ending at the much-awaited Abbey. Upon arrival we had approximately 30 seconds to get into the church for our first service: Vespers. This was the first of eleven services, varying between 20 minutes and an hour in length. After Vespers we were shown www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 33

History at Auschwitz ‘Arbeit macht frei’: work sets you free. The short slogan of the Nazi murderers, inscribed into the front gates at AuschwitzBirkenau, haunts me to this day. I have never experienced anything more powerful than the first time I visited Auschwitz. I can still hear the young Polish tour guide say, “Over one million people died here.” There is nothing quite like the chilling silence of a coach full of teenagers when it pulls into the car park at Auschwitz. I looked out the window at students, families, retirees. Polish, Israelis, Germans. My gaze was then drawn to the rows and rows of fences, topped with barbed wire. It was as if we had arrived at a chicken farm. We stepped off the bus and walked down the slowly winding path towards the entrance. The ground felt chalky and dry. On either side silver birches cast cold, dark patches of shade. As I looked around me, I thought about where I was standing. I struggled to fathom what had happened here. I looked over at my friend and I knew he was having the same harrowing thoughts. As I walked further into this garden of death, I reflected on the fact that I was stepping in the footsteps of the murdered Jews. We were shown a doorway to the left of the path, a gaping hole irradiating darkness. In we went. It was a darkly lit room of small proportions; I could feel my lungs work harder to draw in oxygen. The others entered with the same look of disgust painted on their faces. On the floor lay hay. I considered this might have been the camp’s stables. Yes, that’s right. Surely? “This room would have been home for fifty people.” This short statement still resonates. My heart sank in my chest, as I realized my mistake. I never really quite accepted the truth. It was simply incomprehensible that this room could have possibly had that many people living in it. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, as the truth unfurled. My hands were stone cold and my mouth was dry. I had to step outside. It was then that I noticed. Birdsong. The whole time we had been outside, there had been complete silence. Not once had I heard the familiar sound of birdsong. It seemed even the birds knew this place’s grisly truth. Uneasily, I continued with the tour. At the end of the path there was a brick entrance built into the side of a mound. On the mound there were no flowers, only the dull, yellow tinged grass that I had seen elsewhere in the camp. Walking through the entrance, 34 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

I was not immediately aware what room I was standing in. Again my mind raced to find the answer. And then I saw the scratches on the wall. Everywhere. The haunting marks left by victims of the gas chamber. I looked over to my teacher. He was crying. A man whom I did not expect would show such emotions outwardly. But he had no choice. The gas chamber was emotionally disarming; however unyielding you believe yourself to be, there is nothing in the world that prepares you for standing in a room where thousands had died. Once again the urge to leave took over, yet I couldn’t. A morbid fascination anchored me to the ground. I was now shivering. The room was enveloped in an icy cold aura, as if death had taken it as its own. A thick metal door swung open, as the tour guide gestured us through. A row of furnaces lined the wall. I now felt sick and my body weak. It was hard not to have a physical reaction when this sight is presented to you. The first thoughts are of family and friends substituted into the position of the victims. And however strong the mental constitution, those are difficult images to shake off. That afternoon we visited the second part of the camp. The first thing most people comment about Auschwitz-Birkenau is the size of the place. The sheer scale is hard to convey with row upon row of wooden huts lining the camp. In the centre, a train line, spanning around two hundred metres from the gateway, ran all the way down to a small copse at the other end. A railway car still stands there in solitude to remind visitors how the victims had first arrived. We walked parallel to the train track to the memorial that stood next to the ruins of the two main gas chambers and crematoriums, destroyed by the cowardly guards as they escaped the Soviet army. But gone was not the imperishable stench of death. On this site of extreme evil were hundreds of sweet-smelling flowers laid out on the ground next to the plaque which simply read: “For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women and children mainly Jews from various countries of Europe. Auschwitz-Birkenau 1940-1945.” I began the long walk back, allowing myself a quiet moment of thought. As I once again passed under the entrance to the camp, the silence was shattered… Birdsong. Alex Pagendam (SF)

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DRAMA & MUSIC The School Play:

Much Ado About Nothing This year’s whole-School play, ‘Much Ado about Nothing,’ was particularly fitting on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Despite originally being written in the Elizabethan era, this production is set in the immediate post WWII period, which proves to be the perfect backdrop for this comedy. Under the direction of Andy Chessell, the dancing and melodies reminiscent of the 1940s (sung by George Jackson and Naomi Cook) blend seamlessly with the Shakespearean language. The change of setting also allows for some clever use of props, including a bicycle, gorilla masks and copious amounts of fake beer. Having never studied Shakespeare, I initially thought I would be at a disadvantage when it came to understanding the play. Yet I found that my ears became quickly attuned to the Shakespearean dialogue and it wasn’t long before I was laughing with (and at) these much-loved characters.

The play follows two contrasting love stories. It opens with the jubilant return of men from the war. Don Pedro (Jack Harwood) visits his friend Leonato (Ginny Gough), bringing with him two other soldiers, Claudio (Sam Denny) and Benedick (Yaade Joba), as well as his much-maligned brother, Don John (Ned Sillett). Hero (Elin Gilbert) and Claudio are classical star-crossed lovers, smitten at first sight. However, in a typically Shakespearean twist, ‘the course of true love never did run smooth’. Conversely, Beatrice (Katherine Johns) and Benedick could not be more assured of their mutual disdain for one another. Katherine and Yaade are often engaged in impressive quick-fire banter with an ease that is entirely believable and hilarious to watch. The whole cast succeed in making the humour understandable, which is never an easy task when performing Shakespeare. For their own amusement, the rest of the characters decide to play matchmakers to Benedick and Beatrice. This results in some very poor attempts at eavesdropping from both Benedick and Beatrice, including an

absent-minded Benedick electrocuting himself and an eager Beatrice getting entangled in a deck chair. The moments of physical comedy achieved in these scenes are real highlights of the play, being much appreciated by the chuckling audience. Meanwhile, Don John conspires to ruin the happiness that Claudio and Hero have found. At their wedding, Hero is accused of being unfaithful, which is deeply humiliating and upsetting for all. Leonato delivers impassioned speeches at the mistreatment of his daughter. This point in the play is the true emotional climax; although called a comedy, the play has the emotional highs and lows to provoke far more than mere laughter. The royal guard (Stella Cohen, Alice Payne, Ilya Ezhov, Archie Kade and Felix Allen) then catch the conspirators and bring them to justice, supplying some muchneeded comic relief. Stella Cohen plays the buffoonery that is Dogberry with incredible flair. Her clumsy nature and hilarious word slips elicit many smiles from all watching. The cast blend comedy, physical theatre and drama to create a funny, yet thoughtprovoking play. Triumphantly, the end of the play sees the double wedding of Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick. Much dancing and excitement follows, ending this dramatic rollercoaster on a high. For me, this was one of the slickest and best-performed plays Rugby has ever put on, for which Mr Chessell and the whole Drama Department should be thanked. There were some outstanding individual performances, but most impressively, the cast worked brilliantly together as a closeknit team. Congratulations to all involved for a unique and thrilling version of a wonderful play - certainly a fitting tribute to William Shakespeare himself. Isobel Bruce (S)

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‘One of the best house plays I have seen in recent time’

Southfield

Stanley

After months of rehearsals, and being chased by the XX, the House pulled together and put on a version of “Mamma mia!” With Bernadette Reynolds as our lead Sophie, we managed to direct, act, dance and sing our way into a full production. It allowed different year groups to mix in rehearsals, forming new friendships by working together, and those who didn’t get on stage encouraged those who did. Even if some lines were forgotten, it was a fun experience for all, dramatically inclined or otherwise, and even some unsung heroes (pun very much intended) shared their otherwise secret musical gifts. There was a lot of talent on show and it was a thoroughly entertaining evening for both performers and audience.

The Stanley House Musical never fails to disappoint. With an audience full of prospective parents, pupils and current families, the evening consisted of dinner and a two-hour performance of the much-loved classic ‘High School Musical’. Every Stanley girl was involved, whether on stage or off, and the Collingwood Hall was a fitting stage for our high school set. Directed by Elin Gilbert, the play was fun-filled, feel-good and very amusing both to perform in and to watch. If the Stanley tutors hadn’t already heard the catchy songs from the film, they definitely knew them by the end of this memorable performance.

Holly Gowen (S)

The double act of Sharpay and Ryan was taken by Shifra Moriarty and Elin Gilbert with a full cast of LXX and XX all contributing to the action. With singing, dancing and even a basketball game, there was never a dull moment (even if a few basketballs were dropped onto the audience during ‘practice’). Tilly McAlister (St)

The lead roles were played by Sophie Walton and Izzy Sizer as Troy and Gabriella along with their best friends Taylor, Kelsi and Chad played by Freya Gibbs, Fizzy Conway and myself.

‘It was clear that Benjie had created an impressive House production, the atmosphere and the set design in the TSR adding something significant to the whole.’ Cotton “One of the best house plays I have seen in recent time” Andrew Chessell, Drama Department March saw the production of various Monty Python skits performed by Rugby School’s very own Cotton House. The play consisted of upcoming and established actors across all five years in Cotton working in unison to produce a memorable night for the audience. Directors Will Whitney and Jacob Jaffa were motivated to bring back the House play after a three year absence. The audience was completely engaged in the performance and special mentions go to George Mallinson and Jonathan Cole who created a comical atmosphere that was enjoyed by all. The play opened with one of Monty Python’s most famous sketches ‘The Killer Joke’ with the actors conveying Python’s wit to a T. The next skit featured George Mallinson, the star of the show, playing Biggles, his acting a world class performance that even Python would be proud of. Overall the show was a massive success with parents coming out of the theatre ecstatic and discussing it all the way back to Cotton and even during the meal. Extra credit must be given to Will and Jacob who led the show tremendously throughout, attending every rehearsal, providing actors 38 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

with suitable props and even rewriting parts of the script. Finally, special thanks must be given to Mr Chessell and Mr Thomas who guided us all the way through. Mahmoud Atta & Jasper Kraamer (C)

Michell Benjie Bradshaw directed and starred in an entertaining version of Terence Rattigan’s ‘The Browning Version’, interpreting the character of Andrew Crocker-Harris, an old-fashioned Classics master at a third-rate public school, in order to contrast strikingly with that of his adulterous wife, Millie, played with flirtatious skill by Hugh Falconer. Frank Hunter, her lover, was played in excellently caddish style by Ned Ponsonby, who manifested a prominently cold stage presence. Mr Frobisher, the Headmaster, was a pompous, manipulative man, portrayed with accuracy by Will Jacklin. Lachie Bucknall was Mr Gilbert, a naïve young replacement teacher, a true ‘lamb to the slaughter’, while his outrageous wife, Philip Sharkey, earned some true bellylaughs. Shail Sodha played poor Taplow, the Crock’s long-suffering pupil. It was clear that Benjie had created an impressive House production, the atmosphere and the set design in the TSR adding something significant to the whole. The plot-mirror effect of events - the

Browning version of the Agamemnon of Aeschylus being echoed by the behaviour of the protagonist and his wife - was faithfully reproduced by Benjie and his company, and this proved most engaging to the audience. With many of the cast available next year too, the bar has been raised, and we may anticipate another strong piece of drama in the Lent term of 2018. TJD

School House The School House evening of Music and Drama set off on a fantastic footing with a sketch entitled ‘The Retired Veteran’ performed by Josh Seagon and Angus Smith. This was followed by a plethora of equally amazing sketches and acts performed by members of the House from all age groups, many of them (the sketches) well known and loved. On the musical side of things, we enjoyed five solo musicians and two groups performing everything from Ben E. King’s ‘Stand by Me’ to the Horn Sonata Rondo by Beethoven. The night ended on the brilliantly high note of ‘Figure it Out’ by Royal Blood, performed by the School House E Block Rock Band. In all, over 40 boys in the House were involved, which was a real tribute to the producing and directing skills of Ned Sillett, who oversaw the whole production. Rob Arthur (SH) www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 39

DRAMA AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL Rugby School blasted on to the Edinburgh Fringe stage for the first time with not one, but two full shows in August 2017. The first, a brand new play written for Rugby’s new experimental theatre company Square Pegs ran for eight performances right at the start of the Festival before the second company The Stodge took the award-winning musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change to see out the Festival at the end of the month. Between the two companies, the School took a total of 21 young performers for a taste not only of performing at one of the world’s most famous arts festivals but also of seeing some of the most exciting theatre around, in a city overflowing with theatre during the month of ‘A refreshing August each year.

at House dinner about how lovely it was to see the House spirit so visibly at play on the Macready stage, despite the set falling down a couple of times and Jonny reading his lines from a script hidden in a copy of the Daily Mail. What you don’t get in school theatre is a real drubbing, a non-partisan, critical opinion or any real critique of the work at all. The difference between school theatre and school rugby football is that you can lose a football match: there’s no hiding from a drubbing there and it’s when you lose a match that your character, your resilience is really tested. But you just aren’t allowed to ‘lose’ a school play, you’re always a winner. Always a star.

So, take a show to the Fringe and you’re exposed to the risk of losing. performance, And that’s the greatest lesson showcasing some raw talent and you’ll ever learn as a young actor. showed real potential. The four cast Fortunately, Rugby didn’t lose at Both The Stodge and Square Pegs played to appreciative audiences members were young and brimming this year’s Fringe. But we did get mixed reviews, and we learned at every performance and, with very noticeable energy and from them. We grew as companies, exceptionally for young companies enthusiasm’’ as individuals. The cast had to pick such as ours, enjoyed remarkably themselves up from a bad show good audience numbers, with and go again the next day, more shows regularly playing to full determined to get it just right. And they did. And that is what houses. While many performers at the Fringe frequently makes me so proud of everything they achieved. find themselves playing to one man and a dog, both Rugby productions defied the odds, playing to crowds of hundreds of TDC eager theatre-goers during their runs. Square Pegs’ production of Nick Cassenbaum’s 1 Singular Sensation – written for the School company’s 17-strong cast – was a surreal piece composed in fragments, each politically charged and bitingly satirical, which confounded, entertained, perplexed and challenged its audiences with a bizarre mix of comedy, caricature and oblique social commentary. Whilst reviewers were luke-warm about the writing at times, there was praise for the cast’s ‘fantastic caricatures, with loud voices, big gestures, and fast-paced arguments that evidence the play’s surreal humour’. The Stodge’s show – a wonderfully quirky, off-Broadway musical presented in a series of vignettes connected by the central theme of love and relationships – earned itself a well-deserved 4* review. The reviewer described it as ‘a refreshing performance, showcasing some raw talent and showed real potential. The four cast members were young and brimming with very noticeable energy and enthusiasm’. He went on to say that it was ‘everything I would have wanted from a musical at Edinburgh’. It is this challenge – to attract and entertain audiences in decent numbers and to win over the critics – which is the most important thing about this whole adventure. Taking a school show to the Fringe is a huge risk. Not like the life-and-limb risk of a mountaineering trip, or even that of a rugby football team facing a wall of intimidating seven-foot forwards, but the risk that your audience and the critics simply hate your show. The risk is that you get a duff review and your self-confidence takes a bashing.

The Stodge Theatre Company: Naomi Cook, Elin Gilbert, George O’Keefe, Geraint Owen Andy Chessell – Director Rob Colley – Musical Director Peter Thomas – Producer Kim Thompson – Assistant Producer

Square Pegs Theatre Company: Felix Allen, Ella Daniels, Sam Denny, Susannah Gimlette, Felix Gladstone, Ginny Gough, Jack Harwood, Rachel Hubbard, Jacob Jaffa, Yaade Joba, Katherine Johns, Tilly McAlister, Alice Payne, Bernadette Reynolds, Ned Sillett, Hamish Venters, Freddie Walker Tim Coker – Director Peter Thomas – Assistant Director Simone Hancox – Producer

The thing is, taking risks like this is rare in school theatre. Even the ropiest House play gets a warm and encouraging round of applause, a firmly encouraging parental pat on the back, ‘Well done, darling’ (for trying) and a few fond words from the Hm 40 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

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THE MUSICAL YEAR AT RUGBY SCHOOL 2016-17 Music in Advent Term 2016 started with a visit from Michael Griffin, an Australian educator, speaker, author, conductor and pianist. Michael gave a talk to our full time and peripatetic music staff based on his book ‘Learning Strategies for Musical Success’, before delivering an evening lecture to pupils and parents, as well as to visitors from Bilton Grange School, on the quantity and quality of practice time as the greatest predictor of progress – in music and otherwise. We enjoyed a second lecture just weeks later, organised by Head of School Music, May de la Rue, and given by Paul Whittaker, a fascinating musician who has been profoundly deaf from birth. The first performance of the year was a Chamber Concert given by the new music scholars from G1, F Block and LXX. This was the first time we had asked all the incoming music scholars to perform solo items within the first week or so of arriving at Rugby, but knowing the quality of musicianship that would be on display from this intake, it was always going to be the impressive event that it turned out to be. Schola Cantorum, Oxford University’s leading chamber choir, then visited to perform and talk to our pupils about life at university, with an emphasis on how to balance academic demands with co-curricular activity at the highest level. Their conductor, James Burton, directed a workshop with the singers from Oxford alongside our own choir members, in which he worked on Poulenc’s Gloria. The House Sing-Off in October, in which the whole School participated, was adjudicated by Libby Fisher – a Housemistress and teacher of music at Wellington. The event was enhanced by quality sound production and lighting, as well as by the staff band, but the singing itself was what made the evening and amongst the many impressive contributions were the winning Houses, Dean and Whitelaw. In the same month, the tenors and basses of the Chapel Choir sang for Mass at St Marie’s Church and the Temple Consort gave a well-received concert at Holdenby House in Northamptonshire later that afternoon. The Prep School Orchestra Day was a triumph with around 40 prep school musicians inspired by our Symphony Orchestra conductor, Robert Hodge, and 42 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

other staff from our music department, culminating in an excellent performance of arrangements of Hornpipe from Handel’s Water Music, Mozart’s Symphony 36 and Symphony 4 by Brahms. Still in the same month, a group of musicians gave a concert in York Minster to a large audience, including pupils and parents from the Minster School. They later visited the Minster School to talk to their pupils about life at Rugby School before enjoying a guided tour of the Minster, followed by Choral Evensong sung by the Minster choir. The Keyboard and Percussion concert in November showcased a range of instruments from a spinet to the accordion. The choir sang live on BBC Radio 4 for the Daily Service, while music on Remembrance Sunday was glorious. Fine performances by the choir, instrumentalists and CCF pipes and drums in Chapel was followed by a vocal masterclass given by David Lowe, vocal coach to the choir of St John’s College Cambridge. Later that day saw the premiere of May de la Rue’s Requiem, a seven-movement work scored for full orchestra, chorus and soloists. The large and appreciative audience was also treated to a performance of Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto, performed with extraordinary virtuosity by Rob Colley, in celebration of the recent restoration of the TSR Steinway grand piano. Marshall House pupil, Rose Wang, gave an impressive solo piano recital in NMR at the end of November, featuring music by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Moeran and Gershwin – an extraordinary achievement for such a young musician. The Beavan House Singing Competition (for small vocal ensembles) in early December provided a fitting memorial to a highly-regarded member of staff on the anniversary of his death. Several

Houses could easily have been chosen as winners, but our adjudicator selected Tudor and Town. Musicians from Rugby School played their instruments side-by-side with pupils from Birmingham Conservatoire Symphonic Brass during the Winter Concert. The Concert Band, Close Harmony group, Brass Academy and Jazz Orchestra were all on excellent form, providing an entertaining programme ranging from Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony to theme tunes from Dr Who and well-known Christmas tunes. It was good to see so many parents and Rugby residents in the audience and the event raised around £2,000 in support of Myton Hospice and Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. The informal Strings & Orchestra concert the following day was an opportunity for the orchestras to showcase the work that they had achieved during the Advent Term, with performances of Mussorgsky’s Night on the Bare Mountain, Schubert’s Overture to The Magic Harp and Vivaldi’s Double Concerto in A minor. The run-up to Christmas was, unsurprisingly, a busy time for the choir, with fine singing in the atmospheric Advent Service by candlelight in the Memorial Chapel enhanced by accompaniment from harp, played by Auriel Pawsey, and strings. The high quality of singing at the carol services made it a difficult task to select a soloist from the eight who auditioned to start Once in Royal David’s City.

Wear, who performed ‘Winter Winds’ by Mumford & Sons. The Brass & Woodwind Concert followed with a range of impressive solo performances as well as the Rugby Trumpets, The French Horn Quartet, Brass Club, Clarinet Ensemble, Brass Academy, Flute Choir, Saxophone Ensemble and Symphonic Brass, which played Mussorgsky’s The Great Gate of Kiev, specially arranged for the concert by Mark Smith. During Exeat in February the choir visited America, giving concerts in St Paul’s Norwalk Connecticut, General

Theological Seminary New York and the prestigious Carnegie Hall. The event at the Seminary was held for the American Friends of Rugby School as part of their celebrations of our 450th anniversary. An Old Rugbeian wrote afterwards: “It was a brilliant evening. The choir was flawless and there were comments from so many people on the quality and professionalism of their performance. I sat listening to it and was proud to be an OR! What great ambassadors for the School and fantastic young people.” That quality and professionalism was in evidence again, on their return to UK, at the Ash Wednesday meditation in the Memorial Chapel, which included

Allegri’s famous setting of the Miserere with its high Cs, sung by May de la Rue. In February, several small ensembles gave a concert in the TSR, where they performed a wide variety of music, from Gabrieli, played by the Brass Quintet, to Coldplay, played by the Percussion Ensemble. Also on display were guitars, a cappella singing, string quartet, cello ensemble and a piano trio. The final three weeks of the term saw some astonishing musical performances. In March, Gabriella Commins and Naomi Cook were winners of the junior and senior categories of the Musical Theatre Singing Competition. The next day Mr

The Rock and Pop Competition at the start of Lent was a triumph, as always. The standard of solo singing was exceptionally high, but Hannah Bruneau triumphed over fierce competition to win the prize. It was great to hear the Rock Choir perform ‘Not The Only One’ by Sam Smith before eight bands battled it out for the other prize, eventually won by Katie Aram, Shelly Fuxman, Oona Lowther, Paul Tsui and Brigitte www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 43

Colley gave a stunning piano recital of music by Liszt, Scriabin and Beethoven in the Memorial Chapel. The fifth annual Concerto Concert took place on 17th March with a professional orchestra accompanying outstanding performances by Alicia Middleton, Ellie Hancox, Natalie Houlston, May de la Rue, Rob Arthur, Michael Fuxman, George Jackson, Jamie Marshall, Brigitte Wear, Olivia Scarozza and Max Boorman. A group of musicians, including The Rugby Trumpets, the String Quartet, The Brass Academy, The Saxophone Quartet and the staff jazz duo, travelled to London to perform before the 450th anniversary City Dinner at Middle Temple Hall. For Grace before the meal, the choir sang a setting of a Prayer by Thomas Arnold, composed for the occasion by Director of Music, Richard Tanner, and, in between courses, entertainment was provided by soloists May de La Rue, Natalie Houlston, Michael Fuxman and Naomi Cook. During the Easter holiday five musicians played as members of the Duet Philharmonic Orchestra in a demanding programme of music by Prokofiev and Mahler at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The choir returned to School a couple of days early at the start of term to record a CD of choral music in celebration of our 450th anniversary. The professional attitude of the singers and the quality of their musicianship were exceptional and the final results are very pleasing. The standard of singing at the Song Prize in April was better than ever. The John Kentish Prize was won by Ischia Gooda, The Robin Milford Prize by Rufus Pawsey and The Cleaver-Beresford Prize by Natalie Houlston. The Musician of the Year competition took place the following day with Ischia Gooda being commended for her singing and Natalie Houlston for her performance of Mayuzumi’s Concerto for Xylophone. The runner-up was Oona Lowther for her performance of the first movement of Brahms’s Sonata for ‘cello in E minor. The adjudicator, awarding Brigitte Wear first place, said that he would have been happy paying money to hear her play Ravel’s Jeux d’eau on the piano at a London concert venue. 44 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

The 450th Anniversary London Estate Day on 28th April was a splendid event with magnificent contributions from the Corps of Drums, piper Max Bruneau and Brigitte Wear, Hannah Bruneau, Rob Colley and Andy Davey, who provided music on the corner of Lambs Conduit Street and Rugby Street. The Jazz Orchestra joined with Warwickshire Youth Jazz Orchestra for a masterclass and concert with John Ruddick (director of the Midlands Youth Jazz Orchestra) at the end of April. The Jazz Orchestra performed ‘Grooving Hard’ by Buddy Rich for the whole School in the TSR, alongside extraordinary performances of Ravel’s Jeux d’eau played again by Brigitte Wear and ‘I’ll forget you’ from the Scarlet Pimpernel, sung by Naomi Cook. On the same day, Peter Buckoke, Professor of Alexander Technique at the Royal College of Music, introduced music scholars and other musicians to an educational process that develops the ability to realign posture and to avoid unnecessary muscular and mental tension. Many of our musicians found the sessions to be transformational and we intend to offer Alexander Technique to our musicians on an ongoing basis in the future. In May, members of the choir performed, most movingly, Mr Tanner’s setting of a Prayer of Thomas Arnold at the unveiling of a memorial plaque to honour Rugbeians who have been awarded the Victoria and George Crosses. Ischia Gooda’s singing of John Ireland’s setting of Rupert Brooke’s poem ‘Spring Sorrow’ at the same event was enchanting.

Due to a change in the BBC schedule following the announcement of the General Election, we responded to a lastminute call from BBC Radio 4 to broadcast Sunday Worship live from Chapel on 14 May. We received many glowing comments about the broadcast, including one from the senior radio producer of BBC Religion, who wrote: “That was a tour de force the likes of which we haven’t heard for quite some time. Fabulous music, one couldn’t have wished for better anywhere, combined with one of the clearest presentations of what it is to be a follower of Christ that I have ever heard on air.” Later that day, LXX and E and F Block members of Canzona, our girls’ choir, demonstrated magnificent leadership skills when young singers from Warwickshire joined them for a singing afternoon, culminating in a service of Evensong in the Chapel. A week later, three of our choir members accepted an invitation to sing with the choir of University College Oxford at Evensong, where they held their own with a team of Oxford Choral Scholars. Throughout the year the choir has sung Evensong in Chapel twice a term, and from September 2017 will sing Evensong in Chapel every Friday. The 450th Anniversary Global Event Day took place on the Saturday of the final week of the Trinity Term, including the premieres of the 450th Overture for Concert Band, written by OR Nathan Williamson and Jubilate Deo by Simon Johnson (organist of St Paul’s Cathedral), sung by the choir accompanied by Bliss Sinfonia Brass. The next day saw the start of the ambitious, five-day-long Festival on The Close. There were more than 20 musical events, including concerts and masterclasses performed by pupils, side-by-side with professional musicians. Headline acts included: G4 with Lesley Garrett, the Symphony Orchestra’s Night at the Proms, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, virtuoso organist David Briggs improvising to the 1921 movie Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, Voces8 in concert (incorporating several of our own singers) and the choir’s CD launch concert, Jubilate. LXX music scholar, Robert Arthur, assembled, rehearsed and conducted an orchestra, which he named London Midland Orchestra,

comprising Rugby School pupils and friends from youth orchestras and junior conservatoires, in a programme including Symphony 5 by Tchaikovsky and Handel’s Oboe Concerto in G minor with music graduate teaching assistant, Katie Potts as soloist. The Festival on The Close brought a very busy and high-achieving year of music-making to a conclusion. A year which has also included many Sunday Chamber Concerts, Blue Note meetings, St Andrew’s Church lunchtime concerts,

informal concerts and performances in nursing homes and other venues in the local community as part of the Social Services Music programme on Wednesday afternoons. I am grateful to all the pupils and music staff who have made this such a successful year through their hard work, commitment and sheer talent, and to everybody who has turned up to support such a range of brilliant performances as audience members. RJT

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Culture. Creativity. Community THE FESTIVAL ON THE CLOSE Knowing where to begin writing a report on the inaugural Festival on The Close is almost impossible. With every single Rugby School pupil immersed in more than 100 hands-on, practical workshops across four days of unbridled creativity, alongside hundreds of children from local schools and colleges, this surely had to be the most ambitious and wide-reaching end-of-year Festival in any school in the country. It began with a bang on Sunday 25 June. We had promised culture, creativity and community, and when Lesley Garrett, fresh from filming Celebrity MasterChef, stepped on stage in the magnificent 450th Performance Arena to join the original X Factor A Capella stars G4, I knew we were going to fulfil all our promises in a week quite unlike anything Rugby would have seen before. Pictures tell the story far better than words and the range of workshops and performances depicted in these pages show how vibrant and inspirational the programme was. From live sport commentary workshops with ITV’s Mark Pougatch to physical theatre with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s movement director Georgina Lamb, the opportunities for all Rugbeians to have a go at something new were unprecedented. With backing from the BBC’s Get Creative campaign, there really was something for everyone, including workshops not only in the performing arts, but in creative science, maths and other disciplines too. And many of those workshops led to a public ‘sharing’ at the end of each day with pupils rolling up their sleeves and having a go at stand-up comedy, dance, beat-boxing and many other things in a series of informal performances across the campus. It wasn’t just about the workshops: another hugely exciting strand of the Festival put pupils’ creative work centrestage as pupil plays, concerts, cricket matches and art exhibitions were all open to the public. The Festival saw dozens of pupil plays and concerts, many directed by pupils themselves, staged in our numerous theatre and concert spaces. Rugby musicians wowed audiences all week in concerts ranging from rock bands to full symphony orchestras. Just one of many highlights was a

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special concert programmed, organised and conducted by talented LXX musician, Rob Arthur. Nor was Rob the only pupil taking a creative lead: the list of theatre directors (Victoria Green-Armytage, Felix Gladstone, Ella Daniels and James Gowen) was hugely impressive, all of them producing plays of quality and intelligence in a range of styles. Perhaps the most special moments, however, creating the most unique memories from this incredible week, were those created by pupils working alongside professional visiting artists in work created especially for the Festival. How many schools can boast that the cast of Stomp not only came to perform at their school but that 150 children from Rugby, Ashlawn and Rugby College were able to perform alongside the Stompers in a unique collaboration of pupil and professional work performing routines choreographed by Stomp specially for the Festival. How many schools can boast that their new Dance Company was able to perform a brand-new piece choreographed by Motionhouse as an introduction to the professional dance company’s award-winning contemporary work Captive. Or that our young jazz musicians, alongside other young players from across the region, performed live on stage with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Or that D Block cellist Oona Lowther played with rock band Passport to Stockholm in front of a sell-out crowd of over 1,200 people at the last night concert headlined by international sensation, Laura Mvula. These moments – and many, many others across the week – will linger long in the minds of all those pupils and adults who experienced something really special, right here in Rugby in June last year. The Festival on The Close – Visiting Artists: Stomp, Laura Mvula, Lesley Garrett, G4, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Simon Evans, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Louis de Bernières, Voces8, John Agard, Mark Pougatch, Passport to Stockholm, Tate Galleries, Motionhouse, Oxana Shevchenko, Royal Shakespeare Company, Rugby FM, Actors of Dionysus, David Bark-Jones, Slap Haddock, MC Zani and many more. TDC

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She is

CREATIVE ARTS

Wolves

She is the chrysalis from which wings will never again emerge and the tinkle of wind chimes; gentle, laughing whispers of a name.

Macclesfield

She is all the blinding and mismatched colours of an Ankara maxi dress; flowing and curving upon a fiercely made hourglass.

Grey haze covers a purple sky. Filmy rain drizzles from the small Clouds – as grey as that sky, A rich twilight colour Unwelcome in the morning light.

She is a pair of wedge shoes, red and shiny and dancing across fields of infinite possibilities. She is the yielding palm tree, entwining fronds with her neighbour, both seeking cover from a howling hurricane set to obliterate.

A familiar existence; trudge up a hill And another – they roll through the earth, Green ridges dotted with tiny sheep. Trees with bowed heads wave their branches At the sky.

She is the loudest tick tock of a clock. She is a ferocious heart, pumping, contracting, unbidden and unforgiving.

A spire rises high above the skyline, Trees littered with fairy lights twinkle Like the stars, which have not yet disappeared. The time they have left is short. The moon is already dimmed.

She is the amaryllis, rooting into soil, skin and bone. She is the best that I was and the best that I am and she is love. And she is gone. Mahmoud Atta (C)

Lights stutter on in the distance, Short flashes of wakefulness sustained Startle the businessmen, start them Into action. Morning mingles with evening.

A lone wolf prowled amidst the looming trees, the night swallowing his white pelt as he went. His eyes were searchlights, glowing amber and cold. The brittle leaves didn’t make a sound as he floated over them - he was a ghost in the black depths of the forest. A howl echoed from the depths of the woods, a piercing, lonely cry; a pain unbearable to even hear. The wolf’s ears pricked and he paused. He shook his snowy pelt, the noise of wind flowing through the hairs as the wolf turned his sleek back and continued on his way. His tail brushed the ground behind his lonesome figure, dusting away his footprints, all trace of his existence. A solitary moon bathed the ground with a silvery glow, and here the wolf paused. His paw in mid-air, not quite touching the light. His eye flickered back to the trees. The wolf was a statue, his fur prickling slightly around his shoulders. His paw dipped towards the ground and then froze. Another wolf slunk out of the trees, as black as the shadows that seemed to cling to it as it passed. A she-wolf. Her pale blue eyes fixed on the ghost wolf, unblinking. She sat comfortably in the shadows, watching the wolf, unseen but for her glowing eyes, like shards of ice, and the faint glisten as the moon danced on her nose. The wolf moved to put his foot down. She growled, softly, and his foot jolted back up before the light had even grazed it. Then, facing the she-wolf in defiance, he put his foot into the liquid light. At once the she-wolf leapt, with a snarl that would chill the bones of men. The white wolf crouched and sprang also. They met in the middle, a clash of fangs and claws. Their breaths ragged. The night held its breath, searching for the victor. The she-wolf stepped back, her flank torn. The wolves snarled at one another – this was far from over. The wolves each prowled along their borders, the light dividing them. They stared across eternity, neither of them blinking. Neither of them moving.

A bell tolls; the time to work has reappeared. Men and women scurry like mice Inside to their jobs, Lives separate Nothing complete, and yet; Everything begun. Ischia Gooda (Tu)

Then, in the same moment of forever, they both turned and ran. The she-wolf hid, crouching low in the forest shadows, while the snow wolf fled across the starlit ground. Two shots rang out.

Exotic Perfume

(translation of Parfum exotique by Charles Baudelaire) On a sultry autumn evening, as heavy lids close, I breathe in the scent of your perfumed breast, And see rivers unroll, from bursting banks, Like liquid fire, under the monotonous sun. A land of torpor, Where trees lie isolated, And their branches drop, with already rotting fruit, Where men’s bodies stand wrought and lean, And women’s eyes cut through to your heart. It is your scent that leads me, to this beguiling land, To a port where writhing sails strain from their masts, And the waves lull you into fitful sleep While the scent of tamarind, yet to ripen Pervades the thick air, Mixing, in my soul, with the cries of the mariners. Thea Edwards (D)

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The wolf was blown to one side, red splattered across his face like paint. One of his amber eyes was turning glassy before he hit the ground, the other blown clean away, along with his ear. The moonlight seemed to shine brighter for a second, twisting and engulfing his prone body. At the same time, the she-wolf crumpled, her final mournful howl cut into a clean, crisp note. A squeak in the silence of the watchful trees. She lay in the shadows, her icy eyes clouded. A leaf swirled down from the oak tree above her and softly caressed her head. And the branches whispered their grief to the world. Dawn broke over the forest, and both the wolves were surrounded by fiery light, it enveloped them in its unfamiliar embrace. The hunter dragged them away, shaking off a stray leaf that had landed on one of the bodies. He crunched across the snow-strewn ground; his boots scarring its pristine white skin as he went. The man hummed quietly to himself, happy with the knowledge that he’d secured his family another winter without starvation, and two fine wolf pelts to sell or turn to coats. The trees watched him go in silence. Rachel Stevens (Tu) (This piece won joint First Prize in the Senior Section of the Rupert Brooke Literary Awards 2017) www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 53

Elephant My worn-out leather jacket is lit by the setting of the sun, Its lengthy descent has coated me in orange gold since wandering from the watering hole. A repeated rhythm is heard around the savanna: the arrival of the ground stompers. My herd of storm stalkers, tornado dust in every crease of our wrinkles; Old steamers pulling into the next stop, in search of fellow ivory trees. Katy Salvesen (D)

Tawny Flame maker, coal eyes in the fireplace, or a feathered shawl, rough comfort draper, smothering the sharp edge of whisky, or carefree biker through the wind, or a library, stocked full in the cool shade, broken by the cream orange rays of sunrise, or a silent traveller. Annabel Mitchell (S)

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SPORT

side who also remained unbeaten, especially with Tris AstleyJones and Jamie Harvey out injured. Despite having possession in the opposition half on multiple occasions, Rugby were unable to capitalise during the first half whilst Oakham made one of their two penalty attempts. The cold, windy conditions did not lend themselves to very expansive play but Rugby thought that they had scored after a long play of great ball retention work. However, the try was ruled out as the referee was unable to confirm the grounding which left the score 3-0 to Oakham at half time. Shortly after the break, Xavier Addy cut in off his wing to score under the posts. Soon after Hardwick’s conversion, Oakham showed their pack strength driving the rolling maul over the try line to edge ahead 8-7. As both teams tired, more opportunities arose, and Matt Hackney was able to finish an excellent try again involving Addy. With five minutes to go, Tom Hardwick showed pace and strength to break, fend multiple challenges and score in the corner, pushing the game out of reach for Oakham. In the final play of the game, the resilient Oakham spread it wide to cross over, making the final score 17-15.

RUGBY FOOTBALL XV

P10 W10 D0 L0 Following a very successful tour of Japan, in which the squad won all four of their games, the XV were keen to extend their form into the domestic season. The opening game against St Edward’s Oxford was a tight affair. We went 10-0 up in the first half, as Hardwick first crossed over following a break on the twenty-two before putting Beal through to score in the corner. But poor discipline from Rugby in the second half allowed St Edward’s back into the game and they scored before the teams exchanged penalties to leave the final score 13-10. Despite three tries in the opening half against Denstone from Addy, Ireland-Life and Hardwick, who converted all three, Rugby’s illdiscipline again let them down as numerous conceded penalties allowed Denstone to come back and made for a tight finish, Rugby just winning 21-18. The following few games proved to be more free-scoring as Rugby sustained pressure more throughout the match. Against Trent, Hodgson and Ireland-Life showed pace and quick feet to both score in the opening 10 minutes. This lead was soon cancelled out, however, as poor communication in Rugby’s defence allowed the Trent fullback to score twice. After the break, Rugby capitalised on their dominant possession to extend their lead three times more with tries from Ireland-Life, Pond and Sibley to finish the game 44-21.

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After a slow start against Uppingham, Rugby scored three tries in the first half through Pond, Carter and Hardwick, who also converted a penalty to make the score 22-0. After the break, a well-worked period of possession ended with Beal touching down in the corner before Hatton showed pace to skip through three defenders and increase the lead. Not for the first time in the season, Hackney demonstrated his footballing skills, grubbering and fly-hacking down the wing to score Rugby’s sixth. In the closing minutes, Pond broke and threw a long miss pass to Beal who beat two men to score his second and finish the game 48-0.

At Abingdon, both sides had scoring opportunities in the first half, where the wet conditions resulted in many dropped balls.

However, no chances were converted and the first points arrived midway through the second half from a Hardwick penalty. Those ended up as the only points of the tense game as Rugby held strong to defend their own line for the last 20 minutes. Rugby emerged 23-12 victors in the Berkhamsted fixture which included a hat trick from Xavier Addy. His first was thanks to swift hands through the backs putting him in for the early lead. Addy showed the inside before going around one defender and shrugged off another to then score another. Hardwick later identified an overlap and threw a long miss pass, allowing Addy to score his third. Despite late pressure from Berkhamsted, Rugby’s defence proved capable. In the penultimate game of the season, Rugby were unable to play their expansive game against a strong Oundle side. Oundle came back into the game after Rugby led thanks to multiple penalties from Hardwick and an Ireland-Life try. Pond also scored but a nervy finish ensued due to poor discipline and resulting penalties. The tight 23-17 scoreline in Rugby’s favour was well celebrated after this victory over our local rivals.

In one of the oldest schoolboy fixtures, Rugby beat Cheltenham 42-16. Being the first game away from home, this encouraged the squad that it could get big results on the road. Hardwick kicked two penalties and set up a try for Addy with a cross field kick to give Rugby an early 13-3 lead. After converting another penalty and adding the extras to Addy’s second and Beal’s tries, Rugby led 28-9 at halftime. Cheltenham scored early after but further tries from Pond and Hodgson settled the match. Against Radley, Rugby played arguably their best game. The training with forwards coach Eoghan Grace paid off when Pond finished off two tries, both coming from extensive periods of possession in which retention was key. In the second half, scores came from Fagan and Sibley, who both showed agility in skipping through the defensive line. Nearing the final whistle, Hardwick converted Ireland-Life’s try and made a drop-goal before Ireland-Life converted Hardwick’s try to end the game 46-10. Coming back from a two-week half term break, the team knew that it would have to play its best rugby to overcome an Oakham www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 57

The Guest XV fixture was well attended as Rugby aimed to finish their season unbeaten. Pond and Addy scored in the first half hour but The King’s School Macclesfield kept it tight, scoring themselves. The pressure seemed to be felt by the players, particularly in the second half when despite scores from Ireland-Life and Addy, Macclesfield were always threatening to close Rugby’s eight point advantage. Rugby’s resilience was shown yet again in closing out the game 24-16 and completing their unbeaten season. At the club dinner, the efforts of individuals were recognized. Tom Hardwick was awarded Player of the Season, Ed Robinson was named Most Improved and James Sibley’s consistency earnt him the Unsung Hero award. Such a successful season would not have been achieved without the work put in by coaches Simon Brown, Eoghan Grace and Sam Pointon, for which the players are very grateful. Tom Beal (T)

2nd XV

P9 W3 D1 L5 The 2nd XV had a strong start to the season with convincing victories over St Edward’s and Trent, before a heated 14-5 victory over Uppingham. After a string of injuries saw new faces appear in the line-up we then took on high-flying Cheltenham. Here we achieved a remarkable comeback to draw 26-26 from 19-0 down at halftime. Confidence then rose a level after a midweek training match against the ‘unbeaten’ 1st XV saw us victorious on our famous Pontines pitch. Our last game of the first half of term was against Radley, a team that had recently found itself on our circuit again. We unfortunately found ourselves on the back of a 26-19 defeat, in very windy conditions, to end a reasonably successful start to the season. The second half of the season saw us face the toughest teams on the circuit. We travelled to Oakham and lost to a well-drilled team 35-5. However, this did not knock our team morale as our injury list grew dramatically and new faces continued to appear. The next challenge we faced was a very strong Abingdon side on their home soil, in conditions similar to monsoon season in India. After conceding early, we fought our way back into the game, with strong line-breaks from Theo Lindsay and Laurie Lewis, but couldn’t quite get over the whitewash, despite having two definite tries disallowed. We ended up losing the game 5-0, which was a tough pill to swallow, after a brave and physical performance. With two games remaining, we found ourselves in a desperate position with injuries and had to put a novice at 10, putting us at a disadvantage before the game kicked off. In our second-last game we put up a strong fight against a very quick backline of Berkhamsted and lost 26-7. The final game took us back to the real birthplace of the game, Pontines (the 2nd XV pitch). The traditional email was sent out before the game in an attempt to gain even more support than we usually got. It was a sunny day, the pitch was immaculate and the buzz of anticipation grew as the crowd built to around 15 people. The game was a hard-fought affair but we lost 38-7. Unfortunately, Henry Anton was injured by the Oundle fullback and he realised his playing was over as the team’s season ended. The standout player of the season was Chauncey, for ripping through every defence we played against and coming out as top try-scorer. The low point was Will Manners dislocating his shoulder, although his dad did produce an amusing video of the event. Freddie Walker (SF)

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3rd XV

5th XV

After a good start with an easy victory over St Edward’s, the team contrived to lose against Uppingham due to a misunderstanding of the laws which led to a very late try. There then followed a run of four defeats, some heavy, and a mounting injury list which deprived the team of both halfbacks and several other key players. The season finally got back on track with a 7-7 draw at Abingdon which highlighted the importance of captain and fly half Henry Myers on his return from injury and the significant improvement in the team’s defence. A narrow victory over Berkhamsted after conceding an early deficit of 17 points evidenced the team’s developing confidence and spirit.

The statistics may suggest that this team were a group of world beaters, but, to be honest, their success could be put down to the fact that they played with great passion and pride, overcoming the likes of Bedford, Oundle, Cheltenham and Uppingham in the process. They trained with a positive attitude, on the whole, and it was a pleasure to be in their company and see them develop as individuals. Many will be on Bigside 2 next year and I hope for their sake that they will not have to put up with my coaching.

P8 W2 D2 L4

P4 W4 D0 L0

The season ended with an extraordinary match against Oundle showcasing two teams with very different strengths. Oundle had a strong scrummaging pack whereas Rugby had a strong lineout with Matthew Bestwick and Charlie Hess taking all of their own ball and much of the opposition’s; Oundle’s backs kicked most of their possession for territory while Rugby ran everything. Both sides, though, evidenced a fierce determination to win and equally determined defence; in the end a 0-0 draw seemed a fair result to a match which thrilled, notwithstanding the score line. A number of players in the LXX have gained good experience of senior rugby which will stand them in good stead next year. Jacob Jaffa’s conversion to hooker proved a big success and Guy Williams was equally adept in both the front and back rows. In the backs, Will Whitney played in a number of positions due to the injuries and Toby Rowlands was always a willing carrier and tackler. Among the older boys, Tom Kerry always gave his all and captained well in the absence of Myers, and Aiden McGuirk was a thorn in the opposition’s side at the breakdown making a number of key turnovers. BJR

4th XV

P9 W6 D0 L3 The 4th XV began the season with a series of convincing wins, beginning with a 14-try defeat of St Edward’s and followed by further high-scoring victories over Oundle, Uppingham and Cheltenham. The defeat at Radley by 34-26 signalled the start of a poor run, partly due to injuries in the squad and call-ups from above, but also due to a lack of determination when matches became difficult. A big win over Berkhamsted steadied the ship and the final victory over Oundle showed a return to early season form. The forwards were a competent unit, not particularly big but very capable in the loose, where Angus Barlow and Player of the Season Adam Jacob were prominent. The power was provided by Bennie Awosika and Jake Rigby. At scrumhalf Ed Beard was a class apart and some of his dummying runs and chip and chase moves were worthy of a much higher team. There was plenty of pace in the back line too - James Holt and Eric Chan were as quick as anyone we encountered - while Hamish Venters and Captain George Muston provided control in midfield. Ned Loder was rock-solid at full back. Overall, then, we were a good team who could beat weak opposition convincingly but were hampered mid-season by injuries and a touch of mental frailty. BJR

If I were pushed to name names, I would have to go for the following: Nick Fong as a brave and foolhardy winger, Freddie Houlker as a wily, street-wise fullback, Natt Shephard as an effective and experienced flanker, Yaade and Sadi the Whitelaw props ably assisted by ‘hardman’ Tommy Kwan as hooker. But the final word must be given to Chris Grandage, scrum half and captain extraordinaire, who scored his fair share of tries using the skills acquired at the Calcutta Sevens.

rounded team with a great spirit. We worked on fitness a lot and this showed mainly in the last game when we held Oundle to a 17-17 draw despite the fact that they weathered a man in the sin bin for 10 minutes without conceding. It meant we could keep going and dig in until the end. Arun Mehta (T)

U16B

P9 W4 D1 L4 The U16Bs enjoyed a very successful season against some very strong opposition. Easy wins against St Edward’s, Cheltenham and Denstone did not prepare the team fully for the challenges posed by Radley, whose size and pace meant that the team faced their first defeat. Despite excellent performances against Berkhamsted, Abingdon and Oundle, the boys finished with three narrow defeats that did not reflect the effort they put in. Player of the season went to the ever-present Hugh Falconer. DCG

JCE

U16A

U16C

P11 W9 D2 L0

P9 W7 D1 L1 The U16As played some exceptional matches, growing throughout the year as a squad in both training and fixtures. On tour at the start of the year, they were hard-working and focussed. However, losing games on tour gave them an idea of how hard the U16s were going to be and they upped their intensity, hence a first win 53-12 against St Edward’s. Furthermore, throughout the season they grew as a squad because they tried their hardest in training and steadily became less dependent on the leadership team to set the example, but rather started to set the example for each other. Another boon this season were the shirt presentations on the night before matches, giving the team a target they could work for throughout the week. Everyone who played at the weekends knew they had earned their place and so played better. The U16 results were excellent, only losing one fixture - to Uppingham - and two matches on tour. The team showed great resilience and gave their all when facing defeat. The best example of this was against Oundle, when they refused to lose despite going a try down three times during the match and responded immediately. This showed they were strong both physically and mentally. The attack was very potent, scoring a lot of tries over the season thanks to strong runners like Freddie Whitelaw and Miles Shaw who provided good go-forward ball and the momentum needed to cross the gain line. The defence was also exceptional, holding even opposition like Radley to 0 points, despite being camped on their line for much of the game. This ability to steal the ball and general resolve not to let the opposition cross the line was first shown in the second match on tour, playing Methodist College, Belfast. The team refused to let ‘Methody’ across our line for a long time thanks to great covering tackles from the likes of Alex Jackson and Josh Seagon. The team this season has grown and changed from the one which walked over people in previous seasons with their size and power to a team which has started to grasp and understand complex attacking structures. They have now become a team who can create tries for themselves by playing through phases and not just relying on one or two people to break through and score. Finally, they have become a more

The season commenced on a very promising note with a convincing 50-5 victory against St Edward’s, Oxford. Regrettably we picked up a number of injuries which made the second encounter with Radley College an altogether torrid affair. The cancellation of fixtures by Uppingham and Cheltenham College meant that the next match was a long time coming. It was worth the wait, however, and the boys performed to a very high standard, winning 37-10 vs Oakham away. Unfortunately this sort of performance could not be repeated and the team subsequently went down to three defeats at the hands of Abingdon, Berkhamsted and Oundle, a feature of all three matches being that we started poorly but came back strongly in the second halves of all these games. PTE

U15A

P11 W8 D0 L3 The U15A side of 2016 were very successful and will certainly provide several talented footballers for the XV in a couple of years’ time. The arrival of Players’ Player of the season, Ben Muncaster, was pivotal in providing the success. From No 8 his powerful runs and high skill level were the catalyst for all things good and the go-forward that the team needed; it is unsurprising that in the two games he missed through injury the team suffered unexpectedly heavy defeats. The other most influential player was Rob Hardwick who is the most skilled of props; he always took intelligent lines and was a key player in both attack and defence. Many wins were by handsome margins but in close-fought affairs the side showed plenty of grit and a desire to win. The narrow win at Uppingham was a highlight. The scrum was rock-solid and, once properly organised, the lineout was an effective attacking option. The back row perhaps lacked a bit of speed and anticipation but the work in the tight was very impressive. Slight players, Phil Sharkey and Toby Henderson, punched above their weight and the mobility of Dom Clews added immensely to our defence. Xav Christopher took on the role of lineout catcher with great skill and Nikita Federov and Sam Cave made intelligent runs from phases. The backs had numerous swift www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 59

and strong players well-marshalled by fly half and Captain Jack Hughes. Archie Cade, Norman Ye and Josh Montford-Bebb broke the line on numerous occasions displaying elusive running skills. Josh Beal developed particularly quickly at inside centre and Peter Colbourne was sure under the high ball and skilled as a link player whenever he joined the line. The biggest disappointment came with the narrow defeat to NSB in the Cup competition. Some naivety in the defence reminded the team of the importance of practising organisation; more of that will come next year and the team will become more difficult to beat. TMW

U15D

U14C

U14D

The U15 D team had a brief season of contrasts. It started with a resounding 57-0 triumph over St Edward’s, Eddie Baker scoring the stand-out try. Sadly many of the further scheduled fixtures were cancelled and several games were played with a C team made up from a large squad of C and D players. The final fixture was a 19-0 loss to Radley.

The U14Cs had a good season, winning six of their nine games and getting off to a fine start with a promising 20-0 win against St Edward’s. A number of comfortable victories followed, including an impressive 52-17 against Malvern. A tough game against a strong Radley side, which we lost in the last 10 minutes by only five points, only served to bring the team together and two more wins were to follow. With the only losses coming against boys’ schools – with a much larger pool of players to choose from - this was indeed a very successful season. Our thanks go to FHA, for his excellent technical sessions on a Tuesday, and to all the boys involved for their commitment and passion throughout.

The U14Ds played seven fixtures, winning one (20-19 against St Edward’s School, Oxford) and losing six. With many in the team new to the sport, the season was marked by some great achievements in terms of learning, team work and character. Special mention should go to German Gavrilov, who held the team together at scrum half, to Milo Cressman, whose tackles inspired the team, and to Joey Moss, whose all-round commitment and work-rate was unerring against even the toughest opposition.

P2 W1 D0 L1

P9 W6 D0 L3

BL

U14A

P7 W1 D0 L6

ANS

P11 W5 D0 L6

U15B

AELT & OG

P9 W5 D0 L4 The U15Bs learnt a great deal this season. Some early victories, including heavy wins against St Edward’s and Trent, seemed to suggest things were going well. However, the team was relying too much on moments of individual athleticism and was struggling to develop fluency and cohesion in both attach and defence. As a result they were badly exposed against more competent opponents, including Radley, Oakham and Abingdon. But these games proved to be the making of the side. They came together superbly well and developed a far greater level of intensity in their approach to training and fixtures. The result was that they were able to establish a working defensive structure, improve their capacity to compete in contact situations and develop a cohesive attacking pattern. Throughout the season there were outstanding examples of strong ball carrying, particularly from Max Bruneau, Oliver Mourant and Beno Wiltshire. When fit to play, Finn Baker-Cresswell and Imran Abdullayev offered stability in the forwards. Harry Darby and, increasingly as the season progressed, Lawrence Whalley, James Cooper and Luke Wandless offered a competitive edge at the breakdown. On the wing Mahmoud Atta showed moments of flair as did Conor Tobin on the flank. Jordan Haywood led the way in commitment to the tackle. The final game of the season against Oundle saw all this progress come together for an excellent win. ESD

The U14As had a tough season and tasted victory and defeat in almost equal measure. The season began with a run of three wins against St Edward’s, Denstone and, after a hard-fought match, Loughborough. Malvern College brought a very strong squad to Rugby for the next match and the team found themselves 30 points down within 20 minutes. To their credit the boys battled hard in the second half, scoring a try and restricting Malvern to a total of 43. Another tough fixture followed, leading to another loss, this time against a well-organised and physical Cheltenham College. Two victories against Radley and Oakham gave the team confidence as they travelled to Abingdon. This was a fantastic game of rugby with both sides threatening to win it in the last 10 minutes. Unfortunately, Abingdon were stronger and ran away with it, scoring three tries in the final minutes. Thus began a run of three more losses against some strong opposition. William Vaughan emerged as a Captain who leads by example and was deservedly awarded Player of the Season. Harry McNee and William Vaughan built a strong platform at 9 and 10 and I look forward to see this flourishing in the years to come. The team will have learnt a great deal from the season and there will be plenty of competition for places next year. I look forward to following their progress in the future. GCEJ

U14B

P10 W4 D0 L6

U15C

P8 W5 D0 L3 “Though it wasn’t their best season the Cs always came out willing to try their hardest and work together as a unit. Both on and off the pitch they were all a strong team and a group of friends. There were some sensational tries from both forwards and backs. Led by their captain they always came on the pitch and off with a smile, using their losses as a learning point. Overall a very good effort and strong performance from this squad.” These comments from Guy Balderstone underline a very enjoyable season for these boys. They started strongly and after a lull mid-season went on to finish with two excellent victories. The key to their successes was the phenomenal pace that they had in the backs through, at various times, William Gower, Eric Sun, Seyi Khalidson and Andrew Kerr-Chin. Few teams had any response to these boys if they were given any space at all. Of course the ball needed to get to them and this was achieved through excellent work in the forwards by the likes of Oliver Green, Louis Hatton and Douglas Ralston.

The U14Bs made a strong start to the season, with great victories against St Edward’s and Denstone College, but did then come up against some tough opposition from the likes of Loughborough and Radley. We bounced back, however, with a terrific win against Oakham (50-17) including a hat trick from man of the match Morgan Oruche. After a rematch against Loughborough was denied we came up against Berkhamsted for possibly the most exciting match of the season. We were 10-5 up in the last 10 minutes, due to an impressive push from the forwards and some skillful handling from the backs, when Berkhamsted gained a penalty and kicked for the corner flag. After winning the lineout, they persisted in pushing the defensive line, but Rugby held firm and managed to steal the ball from the ruck, kicking it out to signal the end of the match. A special mention goes to Alex Timms who improved rapidly over the season and whose amazing work in the rucks and great ball-running skills made him Player of the Season.

‘Many wins were by handsome margins but in close-fought affairs the side showed plenty of grit and a desire to win.’

Sean McKibbin (SH)

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Sturley ‘cast’-away with a broken arm after only two matches. However, Zenga was strong at the back; although she is ‘defensive’ at times, she was good with a stick in short corners, that’s for sure. To Bee an attacker or to Bee a defender? That is the question we asked Miss Richards, as she was naturally attracted to the opposite side of the astro (she was fabulous at both, of course). I’m a’Frey’d we ‘May’ have had to share the captaincy between the two most enthusiastic (or some may argue loud) players on the pitch. It was a gorgeous partnership! The LXX is in a good position to secure places in the 1st and 2nd XI teams next season. Good luck to them! LMH

3rd XI

P9 W6 D3 L0 I do not think that any of us started the season believing that it would end without a defeat. I am delighted for the girls, as they demonstrated considerable ability in matches, although they remained reticent during training.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY XI

P26 W19 D4 L3 This year’s XI had an extremely strong season. After a successful pre-season tournament and a sports tour to Singapore and New Zealand, the team were well prepared for the season ahead. The combination of LXX and XX girls had trained and integrated well together. Special mention must go to Jika Nyirenda for being the only D Block girl to play in the XI all season, scoring a large proportion of our goals. Overall, the XI won an impressive 19 games, with a highlight being a 3-2 victory against Repton (the U18 national Champions). Repton had endless chances to score, but, with a strong defence consisting of Lottie Powell, Liv Theaker, Charlotte Franklin, Georgia Martin and Kirti Mehta, the opposition struggled to find the space and time to score. The forwards were clinical in the attacking circle, capitalising on every opportunity to score. Rugby had not beaten Repton for over 15 years, so this was a match to go down in history! The XI were also crowned County Champions in late September, with many impressive goals throughout the tournament from the likes of Ella Bromley, Millie Anderson, Millie Hughes and Maia Bouchier.

The final score, and largest margin all season, was a 12-1 victory to Rugby. Many players were extremely dynamic in this match as they played out of their normal position, including Clara Miles and Ellie Kennedy, both of whom scored. Sympathy must go to Sky Martle and Maisie Harte who were injured for a large part of the season but nonetheless helped the team excel with their unwavering support. In the semi-final of the Independent Schools’ Cup, we travelled to Millfield. Having prepared as well as possible, we went with some trepidation to this powerhouse hockey school. The girls performed very well and had three clear-cut opportunities to get ahead before Millfield scored an impressive counter-attacking, passing goal. In the second half, again, we had a couple of clear opportunities, but late in the game Millfield stole a second and the game was all but won. Still, it was a fantastic achievement to get into the final four of this prestigious competition. Lastly, a few special mentions must go to players who received awards at the end of the season: Ella Bromley was voted Players’ Player, Liv Theaker Coach’s Player and Hannah Swaby Most Improved Player. The team would not have been so strong without the superb coaching and support of Mindy Dhanda and Ollie Willars, who contributed tremendously and kept us all on our toes. Liv Theaker (St)

Sadly, any chance we had of an unbeaten season slipped away when we faced Trent College in the semi-final of the regional finals. The nail-biting match ended with a 2-2 draw at the final whistle and so progressed to penalty strokes. Goalkeeper Lottie Harbottle had a tough job and played her absolute best, but unfortunately our chance to reach the national finals was taken. In the season finale, the XI played King’s School Macclesfield in the guest match. There was a fantastic atmosphere as many pupils came to support and the team were extremely grateful. 62 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

2nd XI

P10 W8 D0 L2 The 2nd XI had an excellent season, securing eight wins and only two losses (against strong Oundle and Repton sides). Stand-out players include Loz Rigby who was our ‘save’(-iour) in goal and Georgie Bibby (aka. top goal scorer). Sadly, Ella

The season began with two tepid draws against Cheltenham College and Uppingham. The girls played well against Dean Close, earning a victory which set up the match against the giants of hockey, Repton. The weather was atrocious. The girls pleaded to have the match cancelled and the coach lobbied on their behalf, only to be rebuked for being weak and pathetic. So the girls braved the hail, scored an early goal, then another and held out to the end. It was a famous victory and a turning point in our season. From that moment on, when I attempted to get the girls to take training seriously, I was greeted with “There is no need, we beat Repton.” As the season progressed the training got worse, but in matches they continued to perform exceptionally well. In the final game we had to defend our unbeaten season against Oundle. This was the crunch as Oundle were undefeated and had thrashed some schools we had only scraped wins against. In the build-up to the game nerves were not evident, as performance in training had reached new depths but, once again, they performed superbly. It was a draw, but Oundle equalised in the last play of the game. It was a pleasure working with the girls. They were fun in training, refusing, quite rightly, to take me seriously. They demonstrated that sport is about enjoyment. It is possible to have fun, not take the game too seriously and be successful. Moreover, they proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the symbiotic relationship between good coaching and excellent results is a myth. EAB

4th XI

P9 W5 D1 L3 The 4th XI got off to a successful start, winning their first three matches and even managing to secure a 1-1 draw against Repton. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and a disappointing 2-3 loss to Stowe quashed the team’s hopes of a ‘cheeky Nando’s’ with Mr Tester for an unbeaten season. Never ones to let their heads drop, the girls pulled themselves together and worked well as a team to go on to beat Oakham and Kimbolton. Although the season concluded with two losses, the girls remained enthusiastic throughout. Mr Tester’s sense of fun at training, top pre-match and training www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 63

tunes and the ‘half court press’ call certainly ensured excellent team spirit all season. While the whole squad improved over the course of the term, special mention should go to Players’ Player Blue Sasame, Coach’s Player Holly Chesser and Most Improved Player Isobel Bruce. STR

The Players’ Player of the Season was Anousha Salehi, the Coach’s Player of the Season was awarded to Freya Harrison, whilst Mimi Cleverly took home the award for the Most Improved Player of the Season. This final award could have been received by several members of the team, who must be commended for their phenomenal development this year. I look forward to seeing how they individually progress in their hockey careers in the future.

5th XI

KMS

P5 W2 D0 L3 The 5th XI had a rewarding hockey season even though results were mixed. We finished the season with a positive goal difference of +3, however, after beating Cheltenham College and Kimbolton heavily (6-0 and 6-2 respectively) and suffering narrower defeats against Oundle and Uppingham. The team played with spirit and commitment throughout, captain Iona Hanson and vice-captain Alice Shone both leading by determined example from the midfield. Annabel Rayner was deservedly nominated by her teammates as Player of the Season, having tirelessly harried opposition players till the dying minutes of every match. GMW

U16B

P7 W4 D1 L2 The U16B team had a mixed-fortunes mid-season bookended by victories. The losses were narrow and the draw against Repton so nearly a victory with Repton scoring their final goal in the last seconds of the game. Throughout the season the girls worked tirelessly and finished on a high with two back-to-back victories against St Edward’s Oxford and Oundle. The standout victory was 7-1 against St Edward’s where the girls demonstrated how successfully they could work together as a team. Prizes were awarded to Issy Fowler (Player’s Player), Hope Davies (Coach’s Player) and Ellie Brockbank (Most Improved Player). RJL

6th XI

P6 W4 D1 L1 The Sixths enjoyed a very successful season. Particularly pleasing was the progress made by players completely new to the sport – a number of whom performed heroics when donning the goal keeping kit. A fluid style of play and a general willingness to battle for possession was in evidence throughout much of the season. In training, the team never lost sight of the importance of having fun as well as building on set-piece skills and game-play tactics. Most importantly, a warm spirit of fairplay characterised the team’s approach to competition. Special mention should go to Ana Robinson, Sarah Francis, Hermione Bathurst and Holly Mansell in the XX, who played with spirit and commitment during their final term of hockey at Rugby. TDG

U16A

U16C

P4 W1 D1 L2 The U16C team was especially strong on communication and team work. We played a total of five matches, though one was abandoned due to adverse weather conditions. The girls stepped up towards the end of the season, winning the home match against Oakham with a real sense of unity. Although we ended the season with a loss against Oundle, it is worth noting that we gave the opposition a real challenge with some excellent attacking play and a number of shots only just off goal. In the end, it was a very close call. All the girls should be commended on their resilience throughout a season offering some challenging conditions of play. Particular mention should go to the Player’s Player, Olivia Johnson-Hill; the Coach’s Player, Orla McKay; and the Most Improved Player, Shelly Fuxman - but the whole team created a spirit of competition and endeavoured to improve.

U15B

P10 W10 D0 L0 The U15B team had the most successful season any coach could wish for, playing 10 games and winning all 10. They scored 44 goals and only conceded 4 due to Keza Nganga’s superb goalkeeping skills. Keza also played an integral part in the team as Captain and positively commanded the players from the back to strive for excellence. Early in the season Katie Murray became our highest-scoring player in every match and she maintained this title right to the end of the season, followed closely by Laura Clark and Elen Wylie. The team played as a squad all season, rolling on to a variety of positions and supporting each other no matter the combination put on the pitch. Thea Edwards was awarded Most Improved Player due to her outstanding commitment to play on both sides of the pitch with the same level of skill. Player’s Player was awarded to Lucy Venters and Coach’s player to Imogen Burgess, both defensive players who facilitated seven clean sheets overall. Congratulations to the team on an amazing season. DLS

U15C

P9 W8 D0 L1 The U15Cs had a strong season. All players worked well as a team under the excellent captaincy of Natasha Tailby-Faulkes. During the season, 44 goals were scored. In nearly every game they scored several goals and it was clear that they were determined to win. In the match against Repton, the final score was 10-1 and against Stowe the girls achieved a convincing result of 14-0. Players such as Alex Brookes, Charlotte McAlinden and Katy

Salvesen were regular goal-scorers. This attacking drive helped to secure further victories against St Edward’s and Kimbolton, both matches ending 5-0 . The match against Trent College was tough but the girls’ tenacity prevailed and the final score was 1-0. Victoria Perronet-Miller, Annie Mangan and Lilian Mossaheb showed a great deal of defending power when faced with an attack. Their composure gave other players more confidence and this helped midfielders to gain an advantage. Alice Day and Olivia Bruce showed excellent skill by delivering strong passes. The final match against Oundle ended 0-4 and, although this broke the team’s unbeaten record, the girls played well, finishing the season with eight victories and one defeat. MHP

U15D

P4 W1 D0 L4 The U15Ds had a mixed season. Despite enthusiastic training, they struggled to put their skills into action during matches. After a very successful 4-0 victory over Uppingham, the team could not find the same form again and the remaining matches led to unfortunate losses. The forward drive was provided by Nicole Egan (Player of the Season), Chess Von Furstenberg and Yeva Khranovska with mid-field support from Scarlett Seabrook, Florrie Barshall, Lexie Sabel, Rose Li and Catherine Marlow. The defence were ably led by goalkeeper Becky Ting (the season’s most improved player) with support from Ollie Whitely, Sofia Laine, Niharika Paul, Sophie Roe, Esther MacHaria, Cate Minnards, Annabel Mitchell, and Esha Joshi. ICM

P11 W7 D2 L2 SLH The U16As could not have opened their season with a stronger set of results, amassing six wins from six fixtures, as well as becoming Warwickshire County Champions. Jika Nyirenda and Freya Harrison both captained the side and were both equally responsible for converting many of our attacking opportunities into goals. The highlight of the season was our midterm fixture against Oakham. After a relatively even first half, the girls were unfortunately down 1-2 despite dominating possession. However, in the second half, the team outclassed their opponents in terms of work ethic, and played their strongest strategic game to date to be rewarded with a spectacular final score of 5-2. The final statistics for the season look promising as the girls graduate to senior sides next year. And the greatest development I observed was in the girls’ maturity and confidence, both on and off the pitch. Their universal commitment to training and in fixtures led to a team that improved exponentially and played cohesive and intelligent hockey. 64 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

U15A

P12 W9 D0 L3 The U15As had a really strong season, winning an impressive nine out of 12 matches. Some of the stand-out results include the 13-0 and 10-0 triumphs against Kimbolton and Marven St James. These results reflect the hard work and dedicated training that the girls put in over the term. The team worked and communicated well together under the captaincy of Lissie Bridges-Webb. Their technical accuracy and tactical play improved throughout the season and they learned to use the press formation effectively. The team also went on a successful and enjoyable hockey tour to Barcelona, where they played some of the top teams in the area. The Hockey Awards at the end of the term saw Lissie Bridges-Webb awarded the Players’ Player, Gigi Woodward the Coach’s Player, and Lucy Sielder the Most Improved Player. AA

www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 65

U14A

and development in their hockey skills and who will go on to have a great hockey career as they progress through the School.

P11 W3 D3 L5 The U14As had a tough start to the season with losses to both Cheltenham and Uppingham, but with greater determination in training soon notched up some fantastic results, including a draw against Repton (1-1) and wins against Dean Close and Stowe. This winning streak did not last, however, and the team suffered a few more losses towards the end of the season. We also competed in the County Championships but unfortunately a lack of goals in two games, and one loss, prevented the team from gaining a place in the Midlands finals. The Players’ Player of the season was Chidaro Nyirenda and the squad regularly recognised her as being the stand-out performer of every match. The Coach’s Player was Alice Jackson, who was also a fantastic captain: hugely committed to hockey, she certainly led by example. The Most Improved Player was Jeanie Falconer, whose effort and work rate was exemplary throughout. EAR

U14B

MWG

P9 W7 D1 L1 The U14Cs had an incredible season, winning seven fixtures and narrowly losing just one - to Oakham (1-0). 40 goals were scored and only two conceded, which was testament to how solid they were defensively and how creative the attacking players were. A highlight was our victory against a strong Repton side (2-0). The team played fantastically as a cohesive unit and every player performed to the best of their ability - selecting a ‘Woman of the Match’ was certainly very difficult after this match. A particular mention goes to Shobana Satchithananthan who had played very little hockey at the beginning of the season, yet went on to win the Players’ Player award having proved herself a dynamic and very promising player. As their manager, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to work with: their work ethic, positivity and determination were inspirational. LEM

P10 W4 D2 L4 The U14B girls had a very solid season after an excellent start with a 3-1 win at Cheltenham College. In their first season together the team grew in confidence and showed great energy and enthusiasm at every training session and at every match. Despite a couple of disappointing and unexpected losses there were a number of highlights to the season, including a good 3-3 draw against a strong Stowe side and a 2-0 defeat of Trent in which the girls showed a dominance and cohesiveness beyond their years. Particular mention should go to Hope Stoney, our Players’ Player of the Season, Neve Satchwell who won the Coach’s Player of the Season and May-Ling Turner who ended the season as the Most Improved Player. These awards should take nothing away from the other members of the team, all of whom showed great progress 66 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

BOYS’ HOCKEY

U14C

U14D

P3 W2 D0 L1 The U14 D team had a superb season in which they improved beyond recognition: some had never played hockey before! They gelled as a squad and trained well together and we had a lot of fun. We managed to win two of our matches, lost one and had one cancelled, but we improved with every match. Congratulations U14 Ds - I have thoroughly enjoyed being your coach! MB

XI

P9 W3 D1 L5 The XI had a season of progress and development, beginning with a successful pre-season where team principles and concept began to show, leading into the first league game. An exciting climax led to a last-minute short corner goal from George Mallinson to give Rugby a 4-3 victory away at Uppingham. At the same time came the first round of the England Hockey U18 Cup which saw Wills Hatton score a hat trick, progressing the XI to the second round. A home tie against Warwick saw us progress with a comfortable 4-1 victory including two goals from Ed Beard, while an intense 0-0 draw with Oundle in the league gave us a valuable lesson in capitalising on missed chances. A third round defeat in the Cup to reigning National Champions Repton meant we could focus on the league. Improving performances from Will Manners and Charlie Mourant helped to solidify the defence. Fresh from a hand operation, Fraser Ralston brought back some experience and composure to help the midfield, along with the natural sporting ability of Finlay McCreath and the physicality of Rory Pond, while our attacking options were led by D Block player Noah Martle and the double act of Jonnie Fagan and Ed Beard who both finished the season second on the top goal scorer list behind Wills Hatton. After half term the introduction of two new players really strengthened our squad: D block defender Arun Mehta, who offered aerials and solid tackling, and Hector Hilleary who came from the 2nd XI and slotted into the starting team relatively quickly and became a solid 1st XI player. A tough set of fixtures

against Repton, Trent and Oakham were our final three league games. Although two heavy defeats to Repton and Trent suggest the games were one-sided, this wasn’t the case. We held the lead against Repton for 20 minutes, suggesting we were able to compete at the same level as them. We played fast, high tempo hockey that just lacked the finishing product of putting the ball in the goal when we got the chance. The Trent game was a tale of two halves with Rugby having numerous chances in the first half but being unable to capitalise on them, allowing Trent to win the second half comfortably. The final game away at Oakham was Rugby’s best game of the season. Ed Beard’s goal in the first half, a first time deflection into the top left corner, was as brilliant as it was unlikely. Although losing the game Rugby pushed Oakham to the final whistle and a final few minutes of pushing for an equaliser left us short at the back for an eventual 5-2 loss. But Rugby’s efforts throughout the game really did highlight the improvements we had made throughout the season. Special mention must go to goalkeeper Vlad Shirokiy who made numerous exceptional saves, captain Wills Hatton who was awarded Coach’s Player of the Season, and George Gutteridge who was awarded Players’ Player. With a large number of the team being from the XX, this was the final year of our playing together and I would like to thank them for all their efforts. Thanks also go to Mr Stedman, who has adapted and changed the style of hockey at Rugby for the better through his coaching ideas, and to Mr Dhanda, who works tirelessly to make sure we can have the best possible season. George Gutteridge (T)

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2nd XI

P7 W3 D0 L4 The 2nd XI had a mixed season, starting with a tough first match at Uppingham on an astro that can only be described as a beach. Unfortunately, we lost 6-1 after some of the fitness levels of the players suggested Christmas had been too enjoyable. We knew we needed a reaction from the players to get us back on the road to success. The following week we played Oundle and despite huge improvements after a hard week of training we lost 3-0. Again we had to look at ourselves in the mirror and come out to train that week with a fresh attitude. We had a long trip down to Bedford needing a victory and a comprehensive 3-1 victory instilled belief back into the side, the highlight of the game coming from Archie Farquharson who missed an open goal from one yard out. Some would say it was harder to miss than score, but the victory more than made up for any individual moment of madness. Our confidence sky-rocketed and a hard fitness session that week continued the upward curve of team spirit. We eagerly awaited the home match against Dean Close. The crowd grew as we warmed up and the cameras were ready to capture our side’s resurgence to the top level of the sport. James Oliver ran from the half-way line to score and gave us an early 1-0 lead. This led to the tactic of ‘parking the bus’ for the remainder of the game. Despite a penalty-flick awarded to Dean Close the team maintained their composure and the unbeaten run continued. After half term, we had three hard games remaining, but felt a great deal of confidence on the back of two solid victories. We then played Trent College on home turf. We knew that a victory would bring us close to the pinnacle of school sport and to our goal of winning over half our games and going down in the history books. We managed to hold our nerve and gain a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory with goals from the upfront duo of Freddie Walker (the present author) and George Mallinson. With two games remaining we faced a very strong Repton side and stumbled to defeat, conceding three goals in the final five minutes. With one game left we knew we had to give it our all and leave nothing on the pitch as we travelled to one of the coldest places on earth, Oakham School. Unfortunately, our mentality wasn’t strong enough and we lost the game 5-1. This 68 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

ended our dreams of a Nandos on Mr Powell. The one highlight of the game was when a nutmeg ended Will Hardman’s career and forced him to hang up his stick for next season. A special mention has to go to the playmaker James Oliver who was a constant threat with the ball. Also to the rock in the centre of our defence who only conceded 27 goals and the gaffer’s player of the season, Charlie Hess. Freddie Walker (SF)

3rd XI

P5 W1 D0 L4 We really enjoyed the season. In terms of results, even Alastair Campbell would be unable to work his particular kind of magical spin, but the side did improve over the course of the season. In the first match we lost convincingly to Oundle; after that we competed well in all the contests with the team winning a closely fought match against Dean Close. It was not a big squad, but the thirteen boys turned up to training in good humour, played the matches in the right spirit and were good company throughout the season. They enjoyed it and that is, in my judgement, the reason for playing sport. EAB

whilst this is important, it cannot be the mainstay of a young person’s development either in a sporting situation or indeed in a life context. The U16 team, throughout the 2017 season, showed so many attributes that cannot be quantified, but the main qualities they displayed were perseverance, camaraderie and good humour. They developed a more structured, hard-working culture in the way they trained; never did any of the players give up and the improvement of the side over the season was pleasing to see.

victory against Repton, which featured the goal of the season from captain fantastic, Matt Wolfe. A flick, a turn and then a first time shot into the top corner. A 1-0 defeat of Oakham completed a very satisfying and hugely enjoyable campaign, which narrowly saw the team miss out on top spot in the league.

So how did these values shape the season? After an exciting first tournament, where Miles Shaw started to show the qualities he had as a goalkeeper, and where a change in structure defensively, meant that the team became more resilient, Wilf De La Hey started to stand out in midfield, and, indeed, the team started to mould together. The win against Solihull School was, most certainly, well deserved and motivation was high for the upcoming season. Much still needed to be done, however, and, after a further draw against Oundle School, the season became more difficult as the team encountered some strong opposition.

U15A

Positives were, however, still to be seen. Arun Mehta was excellent throughout the season, and duly got promoted to the XI, and the emergence of Mick McKibbin and Hugh Falconer as reliable half backs was important for the side. The defence of Marcus Richards, Ben Harris and Edward Anthony became sturdier as the season developed, and the sheer work rate that Hugh Olliver, Sam Stoddart, Alex Routledge and Josh Seagon put in ahead of them meant that the energy never dropped, despite results going against them. William Gardener and Freddie Whitelaw added skill and flair to the side, and their respective retention of possession and pace in breaking gave the team a way out of the pressure that Rugby sometimes faced. The final match, against Oakham, was the definition of success in my eyes. Having come back to 1-1, the team slipped to a 4-1 deficit with 25 minutes to go. The U16As then staged a remarkable comeback, breaking effectively to pull the game back to a 4-3 loss, with Wilf De La Hey scoring two remarkable reverse stick goals. At one point, through injury and illness, we also only had 10 players on the pitch, but still the “never give up” attitude, which had been so prevalent throughout the year, shone through. As well as this, the defensive shape held fast, whilst the rotation in the top three worked to create the chances that Rugby undoubtedly had to win the game. This was success – personified by something far less tangible that the price of silver or money in the bank. The boys deserved the plaudits they got at the end of the match: this was the culmination of the effort that they had put in. Was the season successful? In terms of results, maybe not, but in terms of development and fun, absolutely. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these young players and will look with interest to see how far they can continue to push forward as the years go on. The potential is there to see; it is now down to them to continue the “journey

U16A

NT

P9 W1 D1 L7 When I played in an U16 Soccer team at school, one of my greatest coaching influences talked to me once about how I defined success. He then started to put forward his thoughts on the matter and suggested that “success is a journey, not a destination”. This has resonated with me over the years when coaching teams at various levels - and its relevance in the development of the U16 Hockey team is important when looking back at the season. Success can be measured in different ways. The extrinsic value of earning a monetary reward for winning, or putting the trophy onto the mantelpiece, does motivate many a sportsperson, and,

U16B

EDT

P12 W5 D1 L6 The U15As had an exciting season, both in regular fixtures and in the National Cup competition. They also finished fifth in the Midlands Schools League, performing very well against schools which finished above them, losing by only one goal to Repton and Bedford, drawing with Trent and beating Oakham. This shows how tight many of the matches were. Moreover, the boys’ self-belief increased throughout the season and the final match against Oakham epitomised the strides they had made – a clean sheet, getting stronger as the game progressed and displaying a fair amount of skill - the day after playing two games in the National Finals. They deserve real credit for making it through to these Finals and just missed out on a medal, losing 0-1 to a strong St George’s College team. By their own admission, the boys had not had a very successful season at U14 level, so it was a pleasure to see the progress they made this year. They had a very good attitude in training, listened to their coaches’ advice and tried to put things into practice in matches. As a result, they played some great hockey, both individually and as a team. It was hard to pick out individuals for the end of season awards, such was the collective performance of the squad. However, the following boys are to be congratulated for their excellent seasons: players’ player: Beno Wiltshire; coaches’ player: Ollie Mourant; most improved player: Josh Montfort Bebb. PKB/KH

U15B

P6 W3 D1 L2 The U15B team have been impressive throughout the season. They began with commanding wins against both Uppingham and Oundle, with 11 goals scored and only one conceded. However, the final match before half term brought the tougher opposition of Bedford School. The match was an even contest, with play swinging first one way and then the other and not a goal in sight for either side. Unfortunately a superb performance from the Bedford goalkeeper brought the first defeat of the season by 1-0. The second half of the season saw mixed fortunes with a win, a draw and a loss. This second loss against Repton School, however, was one of our most impressive performances this season. Repton were strong opposition and the team defended superbly to hold us to a 1-1 draw for 50 minutes before Repton finally found their way through; no small feat. There are a number of strong players to watch for the future and throughout the season the whole team were praised by opposition coaches for their on-pitch performance and strength in unity.

P6 W3 D2 L1 RJL The season began with a tough opener against eventual tabletoppers Uppingham and resulted in a late 1-0 defeat. This match saw the first glimpses of the brick wall in goal, Theo Matthews, without whom the defence may have struggled. A tense 1-1 draw with Oundle followed before a 6-1 demolition of Bedford away from home. The team was now beginning to gel and play became more fluid. A courageous 3-3 draw against a typically dogged Trent side immediately after Leave Out led on to a resounding 5-0

U15C

P5 W5 D0 L0 The U15Cs had an outstanding season. Their collective drive and determination to excel was evident from the very first game, but more commendable still was the respect and support they www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 69

readily gave to each other on the pitch - no doubt contributing greatly to the number of goals they managed to produce. The season-defining game was certainly against Repton, as the boys were apprehensive about challenging the giants on their home territory, and indeed Repton played true to form, scoring two successive goals in the first 20 minutes of the game. Rather than having their confidence knocked, however, the Rugby U15Cs pushed back with greater resolve and quickly found their stride in the attacking half, dismantling the Repton defence to secure a 7-2 win. All five games played resulted in comprehensive victories with a total goal difference of +26 by the end of the season. RP

U14A

P7 W2 D2 L4 As a newly formed team, the U14As should be proud of how they embarked upon the first leg of their hockey career at Rugby and I expect to see their potential translate into fine results in the coming years. The side improved technically and strategically throughout the term, but it was the incredible cohesion that developed between the boys that facilitated their best hockey. Many of our results were an unjust reflection of the game and several score lines were frustratingly close – the most memorable of these being a 0-1 loss away at Repton. However, the definite highlight of the season came in the boys’ final fixture against rivals Oakham. Rugby dominated the game statistics in terms of possession, shots and short corners, yet Oakham were effective on the counter, and converted their few-and-far-between opportunities. James Langham put away two goals after some phenomenal grasswork by Inside Forward, Paddy Capper, but with just minutes remaining on the clock, the sides were level at 2-2. After several painstakingly close breakthroughs of the opposition ‘bus’, Langham netted his hat trick, delighting the spectators and securing the boys a thoroughly deserved win to conclude a tough and testing season. In light of this clinical final performance, converting his raw pace into countless attacking prospects, Langham was the recipient of the Most Improved Player award. I awarded Coach’s Player of the Season to Will Salvesen, whose strength and composure at the back made him an integral element in every single fixture. Harry McNee, whose game went from strength to strength, and who was frequently identified by opposition coaches and players as a standout individual, won Players’ Player of the Season. I would finally like to thank the Captain, Archie Jackson, whose game-changing experience and ability shone through as he demonstrated an unparalleled work ethic.

Coaches’ Player was Tinius Mosvold, the Most Improved Player was Nathan Fuentes Grant and the Players’ Player was Oscar Phillips. With an unbeaten record the future for this team looks bright. MWG

U14C

P4 W3 D0 L1 This was a highly successful season for an enthusiastic and committed group, with a range of previous experience, who worked hard to improve their hockey. A closely fought encounter against Oundle’s U15Ds (2-0) began the season, with Rugby’s willingness to chase everything down and work hard in midfield paying dividends. A skilful Bedford side proved too much to handle (0-2) after a sluggish first half, although we dominated in the later stages. The performance of the season came at Repton, so often a tough place to play, with an emphatic 10-0 victory. We finished in style, too, with a 3-0 win against a competitive Oakham side. Captain Yafet Melake led from the front and was voted “Players’ Player”, while the skill and speed of Fergus Rathbone earned “Coach’s Player” and the tireless Maelon Buckland won “Most Improved Player”. My thanks go to Mr Monteith for his inspirational team-talks, to Mr Stedman, Mr Tester and Bertie for their technical coaching and support, and to all the boys for their efforts over a thoroughly enjoyable season. AELT

U14D

P3 W2 D0 L1 The U14Ds had a successful season ending with a goal difference of +3. They channelled their energies and combined the strengths of their very different characters to beat Bedford twice, 1-0 and 3-0. Their loss was a narrow 2-1 away result against Oundle. Special mention should go to the player of the season, German Gavrilov, who showed some fine skills up front and consistent determination to win the ball in every match. Alex Timms won the award of players’ player by leading from the front and giving consistently strong performances. The most improved player was Angus Strachan in defence. GMW

KMS

U14B

P6 W6 D0 L0 The U14B boys had a very strong season demonstrating a high level of enthusiasm and determination both in their matches and in their training sessions. From the start of the season it was clear that they were going to work well as a team, seeing off King Edward’s School Birmingham in a one-sided competition which ended 4-0. A closer match came when the team hosted Bedford School, but some excellent defensive play in the second half ensured that a 2-1 lead was held to the end of the match. An easy win at Trent College was followed by a more nail-biting exchange at Repton, ending in a 1-0 victory after some very heated exchanges around both goals. Defensively the team remained strong throughout the term with Will Dudley in goal allowing only one shot over the line all season. Hans Fechner came to us without hockey experience but went on to lead the team with great resolve. There were no weak links so choosing players to be recognised at the end of the season was not an easy task. However choices need to be made and so the 70 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

‘We knew that a victory would bring us close to the pinnacle of school sport and to our goal of winning over half our games and going down in the history books.’

NETBALL

interceptions and relentless sprinting up and down the court to support her team mates.

1st VII

The team now says goodbye to Captain Ella Sturley and Coach’s Player of the season Skylar Martle as they embark on the next chapter of their education. Ella has proven herself a remarkable captain of the VII for the last two seasons and the team will miss her dedication, passion and commitment. Rarely do we see a captain so committed to post-match analysis, strategy-planning and team-bonding.

P17 W15 D0 L2 The 1st VII team returned from a successful tour of New Zealand and Singapore striving for more success. They took on the best teams in Warwickshire and came second in the championship after losing 5-7 to King’s High. This loss hit the girls hard and boosted their determination to succeed in the next round. The team went on to win the second round of the National Championship with an undefeated run of games against the best teams in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull and a win against King’s High (11-7). The team represented Warwickshire in the Regional round of the competition, making it the first time in Rugby School history that two age groups have qualified for the Regional rounds. The loss of Hannah Swaby due to injury and Jika Nyrienda due England Hockey commitments were a setback, but the girls pulled together to produce fantastic results against Hereford VI form, Shrewsbury VI form, RGS Worcester and St Joseph’s School. Two losses meant the team came third in the group and failed to progress to the semi-final. Putting the Regional Competition behind them, the team focussed on their league matches to ensure these matches resulted in wins. And they did not disappoint, winning seven out of eight matches and scoring 324 goals. Credit goes to shooters Ella Sturley and Clara Miles who have also been selected to play for Wasps Super League U19 Netball team. The defensive combination of Charlotte Franklin (Most Improved Player of the season), Ellie Kennedy and Skylar Martle meant only 201 goals were conceded throughout. The team voted Anastasia De Clermont Player of the Season and this could not be disputed after a season of fantastic

DLS

2nd VII

P9 W9 D0 L0 The 2nd VII had an unbeaten season and the girls should feel very proud of what they achieved over nine fixtures! The season began with two very competitive fixtures against Oakham and Bromsgrove, and these close victories set the bar high for the rest of the season. The work rate at training was excellent throughout and, despite a number of injuries, the whole squad pulled together to perform strongly each weekend. The 2nd VII went on to win a number of fixtures (Repton, Cheltenham, Tudor Hall and St Edward’s) by convincing margins, but the triangular competition against Oundle and Sedbergh on the final weekend was the toughest test. With three members of the squad away, the remaining members had to be resourceful in their positioning to come out on top in both games – by two goals following a last-quarter thriller against Sedbergh, and by five goals against Oundle. Lottie Harbottle was a fantastic captain; she led by example in every training session and every match so I am not surprised the team nominated her their Players’ Player. Liv Theaker www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 71

also played an important role as vice-captain – she was a dependable and dynamic GD throughout. Clio McKibbin won the Coach’s Player award for her consistent shooting and exemplary effort in training and games. Juliet Smith was a very deserving Most Improved Player, as her confidence increased enormously over the season and she became an unstoppable force in the circle. EAR

wins were 43-7 against Tudor Hall and 43-0 against Oakham. The single loss was against Bromsgrove 24-28 and they fought back well in a tight match against Oundle, holding them to a draw at 21-21. MCJ

6th VII

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3rd VII

P7 W3 D1 L3 The 3rd VII had a successful season in many regards. They showed resilience and adaptability when faced with difficult situations – not least when the temperatures plummeted sub-zero on those glum February afternoons! They kicked off with an incredible win against Oakham (59-2) that was always going to be difficult to emulate in other fixtures. Alysia Nimmo (GS) and Georgia Levin (GA) were scoring goals for fun and Freya Harrison (WD) defending made the opponents’ life very difficult. As the season progressed the girl’s results were mixed but their performances were consistent: effort and perseverance could never be questioned. Issy Fowler (C) provided the glue that kept the team playing as a unit with her regular pre-match team talks and she was awarded Players’ Player by her teammates for her ability to inspire even against the toughest opponents. The 20-20 draw vs Uppingham was probably the highlight of the season. The girls were five goals behind going into the last quarter and clawed it back level – almost stealing a win on Uppingham turf. A fantastic 33-13 win vs. St Edwards rounded off an exciting season full of opportunities for learning and improvement. LEM

4th VII

P8 W6 D0 L2 The 4th VII’s season got off to a blistering start with a 35-3 victory over Oakham. This began a glorious run of five consecutive victories with 147 goals scored and only 71 conceded. Unfortunately, a narrow loss to Tudor Hall put a stop to the team’s hopes of an unbeaten season, though it must be noted that the game was played on Astro! The girls should be commended for the competitiveness and skill they showed in all their matches. Players’ Player of the season went to Poppy Carver for her consistent shooting, Coach’s Player to Marina Symington for the commitment she showed in both training and matches, and Most Improved Player to Dilly Woolliams who gained hugely in confidence over the season. The infamous shooting duo of Bea Mostyn-Owen and Poppy Carver leave Rugby this year and we wish them both well for the future. STR

5th VII

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The 6th VII had a terrific season, winning all of their six matches. Over the weeks they formed into a dynamic and cohesive team with excellent communication skills on court. What was particularly lovely to see, was their ability to bring an element of fun and laughter to training sessions and matches. The attacking duos, Hannah Sainty and Rosie Clarke as well as Cordelia Kerner and Ella Price, were key to the team’s success. Hannah Sainty, in particular, was a reassuring figure with her unwavering and sure shooting skills. However, Ella Price was awarded the Most Improved Player of the season as she and her shooting skills gained in confidence every week. As the wins increased and the last match approached, the stakes rose and the girls were eager to achieve a full set of wins. Annabel Rayner, in particular, rallied the team together and proved to be an integral member. She always went on court with a full sense of conviction and the amount of work and energy she put into each match was clear to see; at the end of the season she was, deservedly, awarded Player’s Player. The final match, where the 6th VII came up against their toughest opposition yet, Oundle, was indeed a tense and close one. However, Rosie Marcus prevented the opposition from ever taking too much of a lead with her outstanding Keeping skills. She was awarded Coach’s Player of the season for her stoic and indisputable excellence in defence. In the final match, the whole team really dug deep and every member made invaluable contributions to the game, resulting in a highly satisfying victory. Special mention must of course be made of Alice Shone: as well as being a key player, she showed a fantastic sense of leadership through her umpiring assistance. The 6th VII were a delight to work with and it was a pleasure getting to know each of the girls and watching their success. HK

7th VII

P5 W5 D0 L0 The 7ths were a formidable combination of four experienced and feisty LXX girls, and a complement of energetic and determined D Blockers. The combination proved to be a good one and although we didn’t have as much competition as we would have liked, we remained unbeaten throughout the season. The most memorable performance was at home against St Edward’s when we were trailing after a somewhat relaxed start in the first quarter and subsequently burst into action to show our true worth and beat the opposition 2520. It wasn’t a surprise that Players and Coach coincided in their choice of Player of the Season – the brilliant Susannah Gimlette whose goal-scoring was consistently magnificent – while Most Improved Player was Ellie Brockbank.

U16A

P13 W8 D2 L3 The U16 season started extremely well as they came second in the Warwickshire County Netball Cup. They only lost one game during the tournament - to Higham Lane who went on to come fifth in the National Competition. The team went on to represent Warwickshire in the Regional competition and came third in their group, missing out on a place in the semi-finals only by goal difference. The team finished a very successful season with a 45-13 win over a very talented Sedbergh side. A remarkable achievement considering the team was dispersed for most of the season among senior teams and then asked to come together for the season finale. DLS

U15A

P9 W5 D0 L4 This season, every player consistently trained to the best of their ability and showed a great approach to both training and matches. Gigi Woodward, captain and deserving Players’ Player, led her team with an encouraging, can-do attitude; her vision, patience and determination were vital and game-changing. Harriet Cuthbert was Most Improved Player as she became a versatile defender, consistently marking tightly and dramatically improving her three-foot mark so as to force errors and turn over ball. Coach’s Player was Lissie Bridges Webb due to her hardworking attitude throughout the season; her turnovers and unbelievable feeds were crucial in competitive matches. The team has progressed hugely this year and I hope to see the skills they have all learnt continue to develop. RFA

U15B

P8 W4 D2 L2 The U15B team had a season of very close matches, which could have gone either way, or convincing wins. Throughout the term they all worked hard and improved their skills, which they then put into practice to good effect during matches. In defence, Annabel Barlow and Imogen Burgess formed a formidable circle defence, restricting our opponents’ ability to get the ball to their shooters. In the centre court, Flora de Boinville, Helena Russell, Tanya Scott and Izzie Baker all played key roles in both defending and attacking situations, moving the ball up the court where our own shooters, Sophia Ivanova, Alice Day and Kitty Clive were consistently accurate. Their excellent team spirit and 100% effort in all their matches made them a pleasure to coach throughout. Coach’s Player of the season was Imogen Burgess, Players’ Player Kitty Clive and Most Improved Player Alice Day. JEO

U15C

P8 W8 D0 L0 The 5th team had a very good season, with excellent shooting from Emilia Beere, Tilly Ponsonby and Georgia Burgess notching up 287 goals over only nine games. Combined with their speed and formidable defence, this meant that the 5ths had only 106 goals scored against them. The most notable 72 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

CAO The U15Cs had a tremendously successful season and remain undefeated now for two years in a row. The attitude of the team was focused and professional; they were a pleasure to coach. The defensive line-up of Sophie Hughes, Elen Wylie and Nicole www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 73

Egan skillfully protected our goal, whilst the middle of the court was controlled with precision by Lilian Mossaheb, Tilly Rose and Lucy Powell. Our impressive goal difference for the season is due to the shooting prowess of Eliza Rosselli, Tash TailbyFaulkes and Evie Baker Wilbraham. We also had the pleasure of Thea Edwards joining us for a few games and her ability to both attack and defend was a valuable asset. I wish the girls all the best as they progress into senior teams next year - and I hope they remember their yoga training. ICM

U15D

P8 W8 D0 L0 The U15D team had an unbeaten season thanks to excellent skill and great team spirit – and in most matches scoring a high number of goals. In the first match against Oakham, every player worked incredibly hard and the team secured a convincing win of 24:10. As wing attack, Scarlett Seabrook and Charlotte McAlinden played a vital role in setting up goals and intercepting passes against Cheltenham. Notable successes in the season include a 32:5 victory against Bromsgrove and a 30:10 score against St Edward’s Oxford. Players such as Zea Cole, Olivia Bruce and Honor Douglas showed their skill in defence. Moreover, the strong tactical positioning of Catherine Marlow and Lexie Sabel as centre players often helped the team to gain an advantage. A further fixture against Tudor Hall revealed the high standard of shooting by Thea Edwards, Georgie Nisbet and Katy Salvesen. All shooters worked brilliantly under pressure. Whilst the team was consistent across the season, their determination was tested in an evenly matched contest against Oundle at the end of term. But the final score was 19:16 reflecting their tenacity. It was really pleasing to see the team improve each week. MHP

U15E

P5 W2 D1 L2 The U15E team had an encouraging season and were consistent in their outstanding camaraderie and commitment to the game. We had excellent players across defence, attack and mid court. With a total of five games, we won comfortably against St Edward’s and Kimbolton, and lost against Bloxham and Oakham. This meant the final game of the season, a home match against Oundle, was especially tense: the girls were determined to have more wins than losses across the season. The team played brilliantly, securing a lead in the first two quarters, and maintaining that lead in the third quarter. In the final quarter, however, Oundle stepped up their game despite our side being stronger overall. The match ended 17-17, but it did not dampen our spirits. Over the season the girls played better netball than their results necessarily reflect, and every team member should be proud of their contribution. Special mention should go to Chess Von Furstenberg as Players’ Player, Phoebe Bates as Coach’s Player and Alexandra Brookes as Most Improved Player. But the whole team should be congratulated on their superb sports womanship and exemplary etiquette both home and away. SLH

U14A

U14D

The U14A season started with the County Tournament, a new challenge for the newly formed F Block squad. But this did not deter them or dampen their enthusiasm as they embraced the challenge and won their first game against Alcester Grammar 7-0! Given this was their first time together they played some great netball and ended the tournament having won three games and lost two and just missing out on a semi-final place. The U14s took heart from this and embraced training and all that was thrown at them, so whilst they lost their next two games to some very strong opposition from Oakham and Bromsgrove School, they remained positive. They went on to win their next game against Repton 17-12.

The U14Ds had a great season and I have watched them develop and grow as players. Our shooters, Auriel Pawsey, Rosie Marshall and Jessie Stoddart, scored a massive 139 goals across the fixtures this season. A special mention should be given to our Captain, Katie Newton, who handled her responsibilities amazingly, leading the coin toss, making good decisions, looking after the equipment and taking the opposition to tea every week. I am so proud of every one of the U14D players and have thoroughly enjoyed coaching them; their attitude and commitment to netball have been a credit to the School.

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The girls then went into the Bromsgrove School Tournament where their spirits were high, as was the standard. They came up against Oakham and Uppingham whom they had lost to previously and were determined to make amends. This they did by beating Uppingham 8-4 and Oakham 5-1. The squad played some fantastic netball all day with confidence and determination, finishing the day winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 2. Agonisingly, they missed out on a semi-final place on goal average – but what a massive improvement! Spurred on by this, the girls then beat Tudor Hall 23-17 and drew with St Edward’s 21-21. Determined to finish the season on a high, the girls then narrowly lost 14-17 to Oundle in a competitive game and beat Sedbergh 18-10. All in all, a fantastic achievement by a squad who have had just a short time together! LBL

AKJ

U14E

P7 W3 D0 L4 The U14Es made pleasing progress over the term. They were all enthusiastic and their work rate in matches was exemplary. Florrie Tyler was an excellent captain and her shooting accuracy was sorely missed when she was injured. There were a number of exciting matches but the highlight of the season was convincingly beating the St Edward’s team. Players’ Player was awarded to Sophia Bulla Rubio, Coaches’ Player to Florrie Tyler and Most Improved to Caitlin Maguire. LJG

U14F

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U14B

P8 W2 D0 L6 Regardless of the results, the U14Bs tried their hardest and, most importantly, had fun whilst playing. The competition was very strong this year, but this didn’t stop the squad from developing further as a team through technical skills and mastery of the basics. Every game they came out with a positive mind-set and eagerness to give it their best shot, which is our proudest achievement throughout the season. The entire team built greater communication skills on and off the court and learnt how to play their own game. They finally had two wins out of eight but were unlucky against the likes of Tudor Hall and Bromsgrove, losing by a single goal in both matches. Good luck to the players next season when a much-improved win/loss ratio can be expected.

This was a productive season for the U14Fs as, despite losing all their matches, they made huge progress in terms of teamwork and their netball skills. This was evident in the trend of their score lines, from 33-3 in the first to 17-8 in the final match, where the girls led for the first half. I was extremely impressed by the partnership of Tereza and Shobana, our “dream team” up-front, and by the enthusiasm of Molly, who regularly picked the team up when they were flagging. My Most Improved Player of the season was Emily, who started rather shy but soon developed into a confident and integral member of the team. All the girls should be really proud of themselves. EP

JM

U14C

P8 W2 D0 L6 It took some time to sort the squads this season, but eventually the C team were found and became a lovely squad to work with! They worked hard together (most of the time!), especially in matches, but the results were mixed and didn’t always reflect how close the matches were. However, the girls all deserved and enjoyed their places in the C team and I hope this continues for them next season. Our Players’ Player was Rinesa Kastrati, Coach’s Player Georgie Clayton and Most Improved was Evie Atkins. Congratulations! MEB

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CRICKET XI

P16 W6 D4 L6 The XI enjoyed a challenging but memorable season on the cricket field. The summer of 2017 will be remembered for the School’s 450th anniversary match v Marlborough College which returned to the home of cricket after a 45-year absence: an incredible day, a once-in-a-life time experience for the XI and an opportunity for many Rugbeians past and present to see the Duck Egg Blue back on the hallowed turf of Lord’s cricket ground. Ed Beard captained the team with authority and was second in the averages only to Warwickshire & Scotland international Finlay McCreath who amassed 793 runs at an average of 61 and took 26 wickets at just 19 apiece. The team highlight was the two-day victory against Clifton College which saw Rugby chase down 151 to win on the final afternoon after two very impressive bowling displays. Wills Hatton knocked the runs off with 51 off 48 deliveries after McCreath, Robinson and Choudhary had all taken three wickets each and left the XI with just over 30 overs to chase the target.

order and both Ed Robinson and Wills Hatton gave the batting line up a solid feel. Jonnie Fagan and Will Gardener bowled consistently throughout the year on some good surfaces and both Ed Robinson and Ed Beard bowled match-turning spells of spin at times. The final innings of the year saw one of the best partnerships seen at Lord’s in a school fixture. Finlay McCreath (95) was joined by Will Hardman (85) with Rugby facing humiliation at just 30 for 5. Will Hardman played the innings of his life and steered Rugby out of trouble in stunning fashion. Hardman and McCreath put together an incredible partnership of 185 runs which kept Rugby in the hunt for what would have been the most unlikely victory. When Hardman fell for a magnificent 85 the crowd rose and the Long Room viewers showed their appreciation in traditional fashion. McCreath was agonisingly caught on the Mound stand boundary edge for a brilliant 95 and Rugby’s run chase fell just 25 short in what was a quite brilliant game of cricket to close out the season. A stunning day to end the year and one that will stay with many for the rest of their lives. MJP

2nd XI

P6 W5 D0 L1 A confident performance against a strong Marlborough side in the traditional two-day fixture saw the XI force the follow-on and put a very experienced Marlborough side under pressure on the final day. Early losses in the season to St Edwards and Warwick were quickly forgotten after a brilliant performance at home in the National T20. Stowe were swept aside by nine wickets as Finlay McCreath and Astley-Jones put on 141 off just 91 balls and chased down what looked like a competitive score of 146. Leicester Grammar were next and Captain Ed Beard hit a destructive 73 off 58 helping Rugby to a fine total of 168 off their 20. Leicester never looked like getting to the total as Beard took 4 wickets to cap a fine all-round performance and lead the XI into the next round of the tournament. More dominant performances followed with McCreath and AstleyJones continuing their fine form with a partnership of 126 off only 86 deliveries against Denstone; and Uppingham were put to the sword by McCreath as he smashed his second century of the season. Saqlain Choudhary continued his meteoric climb from U14C team in the F Block to a place in the XI at Lord’s just four years later. He finished as joint top wicket-taker for the XI in his final year, the Saqlain ‘doosra’ causing opposition batsmen many problems throughout the summer. Saqlain’s rise to the XI will live long in the memory and will quite rightly be recounted by Mr Day (his Housemaster) at Rugbeian events for many years to come. Maia Bouchier (Middlesex CCC) came back from an early season injury to become one of the first female cricketers to play in a full school fixture at Lord’s. Maia’s performances for the XI over her two years in the Upper School demonstrated her strength of character and also how far her game has progressed in her time at Rugby. The women’s game is rapidly becoming the sport of choice for girls in schools and it was great to see Maia walk out at Lord’s just days after the England Ladies had clinched a dramatic victory on the same turf. The XI season fluctuated throughout with sound performances and resounding victories quickly followed by frustrating defeats. Henry Anton supported Captain Ed Beard well at the top of the 76 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

The 2nd XI, coached by Mr Middleton from DT and captained by School Field’s very own Freddie Walker, produced many strong performances throughout the season. Walker has without doubt captained more 2nd XI teams at Rugby than anyone in 450 years. The “A XI” started their season with a home game against Teddies. After winning the toss and batting first (obviously) we lost our opening top three cheaply. Billy Feather and George Mallinson provided a solid partnership with George scoring 51. Rugby ended on 156-9 after their 30 overs. They started excellently with the ball and momentum carried the team through to have Teddies 64 all out. Undefeated, the “A XI” went into their next match against Wyggeston in good spirits. After winning the toss and batting first (obviously), Rugby got off to an explosive start thanks to Tris Astley- Jones, who went on to hit every bowler to all parts of the ground, scoring 126* from 68 balls. Alex McAlinden provided good support by rotating the strike and some explosive hitting of his own, on his way to 46*. Rugby finished on 200-1 from their 20 overs. James Oliver then spearheaded the attack, taking three wickets and helping record a 131 run victory. Rugby, ruthless in all aspects of their game, then overcame a dogged Bloxham and recorded another, 109 run, win. The first real challenge came in the form of Denstone. Losing the toss and bowling first, Rugby started well and were restricting Denstone to a small score. However, they let the game slip away in the latter stage of the innings, allowing Denstone to post 138. It looked as if it would be a long day out for the “A XI” when Alex Routledge got a diamond duck and George Gutteridge followed with a golden. Thankfully, careful batting from Alex McAlinden, Matt Coe and Ben Harris got Rugby over the line. After a few weeks off, the team returned for a home fixture against Uppingham. Losing the toss and bowling first, Rugby bowled poorly, allowing Uppingham to reach 177 from their 30 overs, the only highlights being a fantastic leg side stumping taken by Alex McAlinden off Alfie Coward and Henry Myers taking four wickets. After a slow but steady start Rugby needed 98 runs from 10 overs.

George Gutteridge accelerated at the back end of his innings to hit 57 but, despite some late hitting from Alex McAlinden and Ben Harris, Rugby fell agonisingly two runs short. Needing to bounce back but without a few senior players, the “A XI” called in form horses Oscar Holt and Solomon JohnsonHill from the 3rds. Rugby lost the toss and were made to bowl first. Picking up wickets regularly, they managed to have Bedford 84 all out. Special mention to Henry Myers for 4-14 and Alex McAlinden for two stumpings off two wides. Alex Routledge suffered a second diamond duck of the season but thankfully Oscar Holt and James Oliver scored 35 and 31 respectively to see Rugby over the line. Overall, it was a very successful season. The leading wicket-taker was Henry Myers with 14 wickets and the leading run scorer was Alex McAlinden. Special thanks to Mr Middleton and Mr Darby for their support throughout the season and to Freddie Walker for his role as “specialist 2nd XI Captain”. Alex McAlinden (SF)

U15A

P9 W4 D0 L5 At the time of writing, the England team are struggling to decide what to do with their middle order in preparation for the test series in Australia over the winter. How do they use the matches they have against West Indies? Do they trust their batsmen to develop as they play more games? How long should you give a player to develop their game? Or is it all about winning to get as high in the test rankings as possible? Working with a school side, the questions are, strangely, not that different from those players ask themselves in international

cricket. The first was the target of the season and, for the U15A cricketers, as they gathered at the hotel in Dubai at the start of their hugely successful pre-season tour, whether winning was the only indicator of what they termed “success”. The development of a young sportsperson has so many intricacies and, once the players realised this was the start of a journey, vast improvements were very quickly made. The pre-season period was, in hindsight, crucial. Playing and training everyday got the squad weeks ahead in terms of knowing what effective practice was, understanding role clarity within the side, and thinking more deeply how to tactically structure a game of cricket. It was still a surprise, however, when, in the first game of the season at St Edward’s Oxford, Rugby blew the opposition batting line-up away with a virtuosic seam bowling performance from Josh Montfort Bebb. Ben Muncaster also came to the fore in this game, holding his bat throughout and getting the final runs as Rugby won by six wickets. Buoyed by this, the following game, against Bloxham, was similar, as Rugby scored a huge 209-5, creating scoreboard pressure, and thus won by 62 runs. The following Saturday also saw a good win, as Rugby beat Denstone by 55 runs. But what does success actually looks like? One fine coach I used to work with would say, “Success is a journey, not a destination”, and this has stayed with me. The journey for the U15As would not have been as fruitful without the losses. The cup match was especially chastening, as the players realised what it was like to play in front of a crowd and perform on the hallowed 1st XI turf. The excitement got too much for them in the end and the team meetings that followed were very much about keeping cool under pressure and thinking about game plans. Pleasingly, these game plans then started governing our play and, even though we struggled against Bedford and Trent, the development of our players was getting www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 77

U15B

The team had a successful season winning the majority of its matches. Its strength was its depth and its spirit. Often the team made enough runs thanks to the depth of the batting rather than any particular individual effort. In the field, wickets were shared with most of the bowling being of good quality. There are thus just two individuals I would pick out. Archie Cade scored the highest individual score of 99 not out and did dominate our batting until he was promoted to the A team. Dan Hatton was an excellent captain and helped maintain the good spirit which was largely responsible for a successful and happy season. I hope all the boys keep playing as they move up the School and I wish them luck if they do.

to bad weather. Then we travelled to Uppingham for our first away game of the season and beat a weak Uppingham side. We came back to defend the home soil against a Bedford team with some very strong individuals. They set a good total and we fell short despite a solid performance from Paddy PowellCapper with over 70 runs and some huge shots. We had a pleasing Cheltenham Festival, where we tied a dramatic game with Cheltenham, lost to Radley and won convincingly against Stowe, posting 163 runs in 20 overs. Unfortunately, we lost to Warwick in the semi-finals of the County Cup: posting only 100 runs with the bat meant an uphill struggle in the field. Our final game was against Trent College where, despite a decent bowling display, our batting let us down and we lost by 40 runs. But there were many positives over the season and we look forward to improving next year.

PJR

William Vaughan (SH)

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U15C

U14C

The team had a very enjoyable season, ably led by Jacob Bunting-Relph. The results did not always go their way but the matches were played in an excellent spirit. There were some dramatic moments which will live long in the memory. A 50 in our two opening matches for Xavier Christopher, Rufus Kerner’s wonder ball that caught the Bedford star batsman LBW, and a three-wicket over by Nathan Yoho were particular highlights. Some fine bowling was delivered by Nikita Federov, Henry Lushington, Harriett Cuthbert, and Harry Darby, while at the crease William Hardman, Alex Robinson and Harvey James-Bull showed moments of class. Particular congratulations should go to Praan Moodley for stepping up from G1 to feature in every match (bowling, batting and keeping wicket on different occasions), to Alex Brooks for captaining the side in its final match in Jacob’s absence, and also to Zea Cole and Katy Salvesen for making their debuts for the School in ‘hard ball’ cricket. Over the course of the season the team learned a huge amount about the technical and social side of the game and have been great fun to coach.

This was a mixed season in which the team hit a winning run of three matches early on, but then, when everything seemed to be running smoothly, out of nowhere collapsed in the last two matches. ‘C’est la vie’, as they laconically observe in non-cricket-playing France. We won matches against Bloxham (122-87), Denstone (64-63) and Uppingham (60-59), and lost against St. Edward’s (86-85), Bedford (43-42) and Trent (54-53). From a coach’s perspective – Mr Monteith and I ran the team together – it felt quite a patchy, uneven season, as it was difficult to know with any degree of certainty who might be expected to make the runs or take wickets, and performances varied hugely between the matches: this was most vividly exemplified in the last match against Trent, where abject batting in the actual match was followed by confident batting, against the same bowlers, in a friendly match straight

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more and more exciting to see. Alex Parker had now developed into a dangerous new ball bowler and smashed the ball to all corners in the Magdalen festival. Phillip Sharkey had become a skilful death bowler. Josh and Ben had honed their tactical understanding of how to bat and bowl in different situations, whilst Charlie Bruce Jones and Rob Hardwick had developed a nice understanding of running between the wickets in opening the innings. Finn Baker Cresswell became a destructive batter in the middle order, whilst Josh Beal developed his batting in the middle order, a factor we shall see the benefit of in coming years. This was the same for Archie Cade, who came into the side from impressive performances in the B team. Freddie Clayton worked hard on understanding the control on swing for his bowling and took telling wickets, whilst Ed Whitley joined the side late in the season, replacing the unlucky Charlie Collins, whose seam bowling was just taking shape before his injury. Success for me was determined by how all these factors developed both in individuals and to mould those individuals into an effective unit. Moulding a team together is pretty difficult for the coach – but a captain’s job is even harder. Jack Hughes showed empathy and awareness in his leadership of the team and, ably supported by Ben, Josh and Charlie (all aforementioned), he created a wonderful team spirit and atmosphere that was prominent in the final festival of the season at Magdalen College. He has become one of the best captains I have seen over the years at this age. The future is a bright one for cricket at Rugby School, and I certainly hope that the players in the U15As enjoyed the experience, and the learning that came with it. The journey of success never ends, and I will look with interest to see how the journey develops for these young, talented sports people in the coming years. NT

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afterwards. The team consisted of: Ollie Chapman (a charming captain), Ali Brown, William Jackson, Yafet Melake, Jim Slemeck, Hans Fechner, Hasnain Khan, William Spruce, Abraham Mosley, George Taylor, and Dylan Griffiths. In terms of batting, the best performances were Hans Fechner’s match-winning 21 against Bloxham, and William Jackson’s impressively direct and quick 27 against Uppingham. Bowling-wise, the best performance was Yafet Melake taking 5 wickets for 9 runs in 4 overs against Denstone. William Jackson, against Bloxham, flying spectacularly to his right, and with one very outstretched hand, took the best catch I have ever seen in a school cricket match. JOS

Girls’ Cricket P8 W6 D0 L2

The girls’ cricket squad had a successful season and it was pleasing to be able to field both U17 and U15 teams for fixtures against Bromsgrove, Uppingham, Trent and Rugby High. Unfortunately, the two losses in the season were both against Bromsgrove, but the return fixture was a very narrow loss with Rugby losing by four runs. Throughout the season there have been some stand-out performances from Freya Harrison (56) and Bertille de France (bowled someone out, took three catches and had a direct-hit run-out!) in our fixture against Uppingham. There has been much improvement in the ability of the girls throughout the season and testament to this is the representation of girls in boys’ teams: Harriet Cuthbert, Alex Brookes, Zea Cole, Katy Salvesen and Lottie Hill-Trevor. The girls have represented the School with great sportsmanship and are now keen to make the full transition from the ‘Incrediball’ to the hardball format in 2018. EAR

ESD

U14A

P9 W3 D1 L5 During the Easter holidays, the U14s went on a successful tour to Dubai. When we were out there, although battling the constant boiling heat, everyone managed to have a great time and this was reflected in our four matches of which we won three. Everyone played well with Alex Watson, Paddy PowellCapper and William Vaughan securing 50s. Entering the regular season, the team had a big hurdle to cross in the first, much anticipated St Edward’s game. We put on a disappointing performance with the bat, setting them an easy target to chase in 30 overs, but we stuck to it in the field and came away with a narrow loss. As Bloxham pulled out at the last moment, our next match was the first round of the County Cup competition where we defeated Princethorpe College with some ease. This led us to Denstone. We played tremendously and put up a massive total with the bat, notably from Tom Luttman-Johnson who scored 91*. The total was just too high and Denstone’s run chase slowly fell away. The U14s had a long break during the season as back-to-back fixtures against Warwick and Cheltenham were called off due www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 79

BOYS’ SOCCER

a successful U16 team coming through, I have no doubt the fortunes of the XI will return to previous levels.

XI

I must as always conclude with a big ‘thank you’ to all the soccer staff who have given generously of their time, patience, expertise and effort this year. It is to their credit that the Association Game continues to grow and develop at Rugby. On a personal note, after my 22nd year as MIC, I have decided to stand down. With five independent schools finals and four victories over the past 14 years (since the IS Crusader Cup and more recently the IS LB / Errea sponsored cup competition was established), as well as the formation of a thriving Old Rugbeian Soccer club in London, I will look back on this period with great satisfaction and fond memories. My sincere thanks to all staff past and present, and to all the boys, who have helped to contribute to the success of Soccer during my time in charge.

P7 W1 D1 L5 This was not a vintage season. Long-standing injuries to several key players resulted in their missing the entire season and a lack of experience in key positions would prove to be our undoing in several key games. The start of the season was hampered by harsh conditions and results were disappointing, but the team played attractive attacking football, though often a few key mistakes in the closing part of the game cost us dear. This was evident in the cup game against Oundle where we were on course for victory until two mistakes and two goals in the final 10 minutes saw us leave the competition. The team was well led by Stefano Antoci and what he lacked in vocal leadership he made up for by playing and leading from the front. However, with both Vice-Captain James Sibley and Club Captain Michael Suddaby out injured for the entire season, Hamish Venters, at left back, took the role of deputy on the pitch and was always a safe, reliable contributor. Stefano Antoci’s ability to distribute the play, assess the situation and combine very effectively with Jean Charles Agbo’s speed and flair were the root of a good midfield partnership. Tom Ireland-Life and Ben Skailes’ strength and stamina formed the basis of the centre back line up and were ever present. Henry Anton’s reliability, tenacious tackling and determination throughout all games demonstrated his potential for next season. Goal-keeping duties were shared between Theo Lindsay and Guy Williams. In the midfield and upfront, we created chances in all games. Jamie Harvey’s strength and ability to hold up the ball was essential to the team’s attacks, whilst Seb Somervail’s pace caused opposing defences problems all season. Tris AstleyJones developed into an attacking threat on the right as both he and Stas Chistyakov grabbed their fair share of goals and assists, with Stas’ Chistyakov’s crosses being a constant source of danger. Felix Gladstone’s endurance and Billy Feather’s physicality and skill were visible throughout. Henry Myers, Saqlain Choudhary, Matthew Hackney and Youssef Alabassery all put in a series of good performances and the latter two will be available next year. The pre-season tournament on Springhill proved beneficial. The opening match against Oakham was a 0-0 affair, although we had the better chances including a missed penalty. The team struggled to find a rhythm, and lost to a strong Abingdon side and a much fitter Oundle. However, improvements were noticeable by the end of the day, as we beat St Edward’s 1-0 thanks to a Henry Myers goal, and the match against Malvern ended with a comfortable 2-0 win, with Billy Feather scoring from the spot-kick and Seb Somervail finishing the game off with a good run and finish. The first block fixture was against Oundle, a team who had beaten us in the tournament a week earlier. The match started well for Rugby, and we came back from a goal down to score two early in the second half, Stas Chistyakov scoring with a good shot almost immediately after the restart and Jamie Harvey heading in a cross from the left. However, our lack of composure proved to be the determining factor as Oundle retook the lead with two goals of their own. Lack of fitness was our downfall in these opening two matches, as we lost a lead going into the final 10 minutes of both games. Against Magdalen College Oxford, we dominated the first half and raced into a 2-0 lead by the half 80 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

FHA

2nd XI

created and maintained within the group. Adam Jacob’s endeavour in every training session and match was terrific and a great example for the younger boys in the team. Angus Barlow shone in goal time and again, his great bravery keeping the score down, while ever-present Luki Nishikawa and Jonathan Cole were incredibly consistent throughout a difficult but ultimately rewarding season. AKC

4th XI

P6 W0 D0 L6 The 2017 season will not be remembered in terms of games won or lost. The team was composed of boys with a willing spirit but lacking in experience and physical presence. A glance at the playing record will elicit the fact that we lacked an effective defensive capacity. In attack we exuded greater confidence but the ability to stop any counter-attacks was woefully inadequate. It was in short a season memorable for its character-building benefits.

P8 W5 D1 L2 PTE time whistle. The goals were scored by Tris Astley-Jones after a low shot beat the keeper and Tom Ireland-Life scored with a welltaken goal from a corner. MCS started to play better football after going down and scored two counter-attacking goals before shutting themselves off in defence for a 2-2 draw. Having lost after being ahead in the first two matches, we improved against St Edward’s. Goals from corners proved a strong point for the season, with Stef Antoci from the right and Stas Chistyakov from the left. Ben Skailes and Tom Ireland-Life’s headers, as well as Seb Somervail’s accomplished finish, saw the match end with a comfortable 3-1 score line. The final match before half-term was against a strong Radley side. Although the team started well, once again lapses in concentration and good finishing from Radley took them into the break with a three-goal lead. The second half was a different affair, with Rugby pushing Radley onto the back foot, and Jamie Harvey grabbing the consolation goal with a great strike across the goal. The second half of the season started with 90 minutes against Uppingham played in a Force 8 gale! In heavy wind and rain, we went into half-time up 2-0, following the goal of the season from Tris Astley-Jones from 20 yards out and a good run and finish from J-C Agbo. However, in the second half the wind picked up and we found it difficult to clear our lines, Uppingham mounted a comeback and scored the winning goal in the final two minutes.

The team undoubtedly had an astonishing season, not just being the best performing team with only two losses, but also beating the 1st XI on more than one occasion, and beating the 2nd Old Rugbiean XI. The season began with a painful result against Oundle, losing 3-0, but the team battled hard to the end and showed a lot of team spirit despite being formed only a week before. After the loss, there were some alterations from managers Phil Berry and Tom Rennoldson that led to an impressive 3-0 victory away against Magadalen College. Then at home against St Edward’s the team really performed impressively and won 4-1. This was followed by a shocker against Radley at home, losing 8-0; even though we were missing key players this was no excuse and we went into the next match against the ORs with a strong desire to overcome the older opponents. At half time the team was 1-0 down, but after some instructions and confidence-boosting from the managers the boys managed to pull back and grasp a 2-1 victory. Next came Loughborough Endowed School, where we out-performed the opposition but couldn’t get the ball past the goalkeeper. We went on to beat Princethorpe College, however, (in fact it was their 1st XI) 2-0 – a score we replicated in our final match against Oakham away to end an incredible season. Youssef Alabasery (C)

The final match of the season, against cup finalists Oakham, was our best in terms of performance. Against strong opposition, we grabbed the lead through a nice volley from Stas Chistyakov, but conceded softly from two corners. We pressed them in the second half, and there were individual performances of skill by various players, including Stefano Antoci, J-C Agbo and Jamie Harvey. It is perhaps encouraging that over half the squad will still be here next season and, with lessons learnt and

P7 W2 D1 L4 As the statistics suggest, this has been a mixed season for the U16A team, which started and finished with a win against our most traditional of opponents, Oundle and Oakham respectively. It did take us the best part of a term to sort out our positional play, and we did concede twice as many goals as we scored, which has been the story of our season. I would say the low point was the heavy defeat away to Radley, which was a footballing lesson, and our best performance against Princethorpe, where we lost 4-2 but put up a great fight against the most accomplished players we had seen all season. I used 14 players over the 11-week term, and if I were to name the standout performers, they would be Emmanuel Yapobi-Attie, who scored four of our goals with his strong running, and Theo Rodney who equalled that record and was our captain for much of the season as he struggled with a knee injury. Player of the Season would undoubtedly be Jacob Drabble, who was always our most competitive and committed player at the heart of the defence – a role model whom others should have followed. JCE

3rd XI

P7 W1 D0 L6 The match against eventual LB Cup shield finalists Loughborough Grammar summed up the season: after we had played good attacking football in the first half but missed a number of good chances (including a saved penalty), and a good finish from Jamie Harvey, Loughborough scored against the run of play and then quickly extended their lead. Rugby pressed until the final minute but couldn’t find the equaliser.

U16A

U16B

P2 W2 D0 L0 24 enthusiastic boys gathered on a cold January afternoon ready to push their case for a place in the 3rd XI squad. Impressively, this enthusiasm was maintained throughout the season despite results, more often than not, going against us. Many games followed a similar pattern. Our dominance of possession was not reflected in goals scored. However, on one Baltic Thursday afternoon, we outplayed a hard-working, physical St Edward’s side and were rewarded with a 6-1 victory. The attacking flair that day from Husseyn Sultanli and Ben Charlwood was a joy to watch, while some crunching tackles from Alex Candlish and Jake Rigby made sure the opposition knew their physicality would be matched.

This season saw a steady progression by the boys as they bonded as a team and developed their own style of play. In the early games, the defence were often hard at work, with Alexey Rovner and Tom Myres providing an often solid wall, frustrating the opposition forwards. The fixture against Magdalen College School signalled the first arrival of a game plan and some good attacking football saw Matty Coe score four goals as part of a 5-0 victory. Tough fixtures followed against Radley and Oundle which produced gritty performances from Captain Ollie Branston and midfield partner George Forsdyke who collectively covered many miles in pursuit of the ball.

Alex Candlish and Ben Charlwood led by example as captains throughout the season, ensuring a positive atmosphere was

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little of the ball, we fell a goal behind soon after the restart. The team responded brilliantly, rising to meet the physical nature of the opposition and quickly scored two goals of their own, including goal of the season from Akachi Onyia with a sublime strike across goal from the edge of the box. As Princethorpe rallied, Rugby stood their ground with Husnain Choudary providing no way through and the game ended in a famous 2-1 victory. A most impressive end to a season which saw all the team advance in both skill and confidence. BJW

U15A

P7 W4 D0 L3 After four matches, the U15A team had the best record in the School with four straight wins, but three losses in the last three matches suddenly changed the complexion of things: this was a season of two halves, but overall, a successful one, not least because of the marked tenacity of the team. I missed the third match of the season, an excellent 3-2 victory away at Radley, and Mr White looked after the team. On the Monday morning, I asked how the team had played: “It seems a strange observation,” he said, “but I was struck by how, for an U15 team, they jumped high and competed for every header.” That sounds like my team, I thought to myself. We won matches against Oundle (3-2), Oakham (4-2), Radley (3-2), and Uppingham (8-1), and lost against Loughborough (4-0), Princethorpe (6-1), and Oakham (4-2). The team possessed much collective skill and a fighting-spirit, but they were also unusually good at taking on board advice and sticking to simple structures as regards maintaining shape and creating patterns, which avoided costly errors: a feature of the season was the very few number of unforced defensive errors which led to the opposition scoring. Marlon Spiers was a brave, agile goalkeeper, whose performances in the close early victories made a telling difference. The unchanged defence comprised the speedy, dextrous, and combative full-back pairing of Daniel Chow and Thomas Short, and the mobile and strong central partnership of Lawrence Whalley, who was an excellent captain, and Jasper Kraamer. The most improved player across the season was Lawrence Gower, a right midfielder who added grit to skill as we moved from match to match and scored some valuable goals. Seyi Khalidson was very skilful and made this count with his direct and confident attacking play – he, quite brilliantly, created

the last minute winning goal in the first match against Oundle. Stefan Palade and Ronan McKay in central midfield were two Town fighters who covered the ground relentlessly and, Stefan in particular, contributed important passes which kept up the momentum. Our attacking tactics essentially revolved around two things: threading a ball beyond the opposition defence so the electric-paced Norman Ye could run on and score, and just generally hoping that the ball would somehow get close to the wonderfully clinical Luca Antoci, who invariably finished with no little panache (he was top scorer with nine goals in seven games and Player of the Season). Ugonna Agwo also featured as a tough central defender – as such, he was a star performer at Radley – and strong-running midfielder. This was a very impressive team, and they should feel proud both of the quality of the football they produced as a cohesive, working-for-each-other unit, and of the two notable away victories at Oundle and Radley. JOS

GIRLS’ SOCCER 1st XI

P7 W1 D1 L5 The season started with a loss in a tough game against one of the strongest teams in the league: Oakham. Molly Hammond must be commended for an outstanding tackle, which earned her Player of the Match. In the second game, Millie Glenn opened the team’s account with a hat-trick against Uppingham, including one of the best goals in the illustrious history of the girls’ 1st XI. However, the game was ultimately lost 6-3 and revenge would have to wait until the last match of the season. A week later, the team secured a convincing 3-1 win against Stamford, with goals from Maia Bouchier and Olivia Scarozza. A close game against Malvern followed, which ended 4-2 with two late goals from Malvern, setting up a grand finale in Uppingham. Could the girls overturn the 6-3 loss at home? At half time, it did not look hopeful, with Uppingham 3-0 up on a windswept pitch. However, the girls held their heads up and

battled back in the second half to finish 3-3 with a goal from the last kick of the game. The team was captained excellently by Katherine Johns, who held the defensive line with Amelia Stoddart and Maisy McDermott. Due recognition must also go to the other XX leaving us this year (Immy Brooks, Freya Gibbs and Henri Wood) and our brave goalkeeper, Alice Payne, who all helped make this a memorable season. OG

2nd XI

P2 W0 D0 L2 This was the first ever season for the 2nd XI and they can be proud of two close matches: a 4-0 loss to Repton and a 3-0 loss to Uppingham. Freya Gibbs was an excellent captain and led from the front. There were some outstanding performances from all the girls, who can be proud of being the first-ever girls’ 2nd XI squad at Rugby. OG

U15B

P6 W0 D0 L6 The U15Bs came to the sport in their first term at Rugby with the usual enthusiasm but with much to learn. They have however risen to the task and we think it’s fair to say that their lack of wins is unrepresentative of their progress. When they came to us in the first session, it was immediately apparent just how much they loved to play. One player particularly stood out, Peter Hammond, who would become our captain. As the season developed, a few of the team emerged as extremely reliable players - William Hardman, Rob Hardwick, Seni Fagbemi and Patrick Grady – while the Player of the Season has to be Louis Hatton, who showed himself to be a strong goalkeeper and, in the final match, played confidently in midfield. We would hate to label this season a disappointment despite the defeats. The boys now have a solid understanding of the game and a strong basis on which to enter U16 soccer next year. We applaud their fervour and love of the game and congratulate them on how much they have learnt. PT2 & ESD

‘It is perhaps encouraging that over half the squad will still be here next season and, with lessons learnt and a successful U16 team coming through, I have no doubt the fortunes of the XI will return to previous levels.’

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BOYS’ TENNIS

2nd VI

1st VI

We only managed to play four of the six planned fixtures this term due to the opposition pulling out in one match and then torrential rain on our trip to Bedford. The girls have trained diligently and worked hard to improve their volleying and footwork. The consistency of all the girls in the group has been very high and there were many selection headaches to decide which girls to put into the team every week. Having dispatched Uppingham comfortably in the opening fixture, the girls found it “too hot” the following week and fell well short against Oundle. Some re-grouping and a little more training later allowed them to beat Repton and then comfortably beat Cheltenham to end the season on a real high. A large number of the successful team were in the LXX and will be back in action for us again next year – which is excellent news indeed.

P4 W3 L1

P7 W5 L2 The team played well this season recording good wins against Uppingham, Oundle, Shrewsbury and Stamford. The match against Shrewsbury deserves especial mention; we were the underdogs relying on the second pair of Peter Colbourne and Noah Martle to defeat their first pair in the deciding rubber. We lost narrowly to Warwick and MCS, demonstrating the need to keep working hard. We are a young side with all players, apart from Jamie Harvey, returning next year. A number of D Block pupils played this year. The experience should help them as they move up the School. If we are going to stay ahead of our rivals, we will need to continue to work hard throughout the year, taking advantage of the wonderful coaches that we have at our disposal, led by Jamie Taylor. I am very proud of the way tennis is going, although sad that this is my last report. I hope that the School will allow younger players to opt for the sport (if they want to) so they can take advantage of this excellent coaching. Tennis is in a good place as over the last four years we have lost only a handful of matches. For this to be sustained, our coaches will need support.

RD

EAB

BADMINTON The boys’ team captained by Theo Matthews and the girls’ team captained by Charlotte Sherpa-Blaiklock both won just over half their matches. After losing some outstanding players from the previous season’s XX, we had an inexperienced squad so overall the results were most pleasing and reflect the hard work and enthusiasm of the players. Anna Robinson and Eric Sun were the outstanding new young players of the season around whom we will rebuild for the future. Well done to all, thank you to the staff for their help on and off court and, as always, thank you to Darren Walker, our professional coach.

ATHLETICS GIRLS’ TENNIS

Trinity 2017 was another fantastic term for the athletics club, which goes from strength to strength. Over 120 pupils were involved and every pupil had the opportunity to represent the School. A new fixture against Marlborough and schools not on our circuit were added to the fixture list to push the sport to the next level.

1st VI

U16A

P5 W4 L1

P2 W1 L1 The team had a good but short season due to external examinations, with strong performances from all. Special mention must go to Theo Matthews who captained the team with expertise and put in an excellent performance against some tough opponents. OG

U16B

P2 W2 L0 This has been a short but sweet season. The first match was a 5-3 win against Uppingham, followed by a 7-3 win against Oundle. The team was captained excellently by Hugh Olliver, with excellent support from all players: Tom Candlish, Guy Gooch, William Chaumet, Mick McKibbin and Henry Killick. OG

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This was another successful season. Bolstered by the arrival of Lily Reynolds, this young team (with only one member of the XX) won all but one of their matches. The highlight of the season was the 5-4 victory over Oundle which reversed last year’s 8-1 defeat. Such progress is down to the hard work that the girls, under Jamie Taylor’s coaching, have made over the past year. With the game tied at 4-4, the first pair of Lily Reynolds and Jika Nyirenda put in an excellent performance against their opposite number, dominating the game to win 6-3. Thanks, at this stage, must go to Zenga Nyirenda who captained the team and who played throughout her public exams. This season completes three years at which she has played at first team level and, for her excellent skill and commitment, she earns her Senior Tennis Colours. As this is a very young team with three LXX and 2 D Block girls, the team will look to improve on their performance next year. In recognition of their high level of play, as well as their commitment to tennis in the middle school, both Aya Mekushina and Jika Nyirenda are awarded their Junior Tennis Colours. KH

Before half term, all fixtures were won and we managed to retain the Six Schools Trophy and the Rugby Relays. The Intermediate boys’ and girls’ teams again reached the ESAA Midlands A final. At the Radley Relays the U17 boys’ teams won the 4x100m race title; the School still holds three of the six records at this event. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams reached a record number of finals at the Achilles Relays, which is great credit to the teams that attended this prestigious competition. After half term, several pupils had trials for the County and a record number were selected to represent Warwickshire at the Mason Trophy, which takes place at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium. A number of pupils have gone on to the Nationals, as they have done for the past 15 years – a great credit to the work put in by athletics staff. All in all, the athletics club is as strong as it ever has been and promises to remain very competitive for the foreseeable future. SJB

NDJ

BASKETBALL A season hit by injuries to some of our key players led to mixed results this year. Rugby finished the season with a 57% win percentage, winning four games and losing three. The season started brightly, with Captain Robert Geary leading the team to convincing wins at home and away to Uppingham. The team continued to grow and improve on many fronts, particularly in their perimeter shooting. Arkadiy Baskaev scored some vital three-point baskets in the wins against Loughborough and Stamford. Incredible willpower and determination was shown against Radley College in the tense final game of the season where the team managed to pull back a 20-point deficit; unfortunately time was against them and the well-fought match ended as a possession game with a score of 66:69. The most impressive player throughout the season was Callum McGuinness, who was a key player in both defence and offence, managing to finish most games with double figures in points and rebounds. IST

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FIVES

POLO

Rugby Fives remains healthy at the School and plenty of good players are emerging. It is true that the girls make the bigger impact at national level but the boys, especially the younger boys, do well in the Midlands competitions and in all matches. The IV have won most of their matches; Vlad Shirokiy and captain, Michael Suddaby, are as good as any since the courts were rebuilt. Vlad got to the last 16 of the nationals as did U16 Jacob Drabble who has great potential. (The four point defeat at Whitgift was a real highlight of the season – both sides hugely competent and perfectly matched.) Ronan McKay won the Midlands U15 cup and with his partner Josh Beal also picked up the doubles crown. The U16 pair of Jacob Drabble and Arun Mehta were hard to beat until at the quarter-final stage of the nationals they met a rather strong Winchester pair.

Rugby School’s Polo club has had an increasingly busy year, with growing numbers of players and some extra fixtures in the Trinity Term. Under Captain Jake Rigby, the Winter Nationals, held at Rugby Polo Club in Dunchurch, were a great opportunity for our teams to develop further, followed by a freezing cold and wet match against Wellington; but it is in the spring and summer, once the main season begins, that the club really takes off. An early extra match against the ORs was arranged at the beginning of term, and it’s always a delight to get out on our historic School pitches, even if the ORs won.

The girls’ season started well at Cambridge in the Lady’s Cup where for the second year running, although with a different partner, Lottie Harbottle won the plate. Success continued when Freya Harrison won the U23 national doubles crown – she was lucky enough to have Tessa Mills, multiple champion, as a partner. (Freya gained hugely from the experience and has improved considerably.) The major achievement of the season was that Harriet Fagan retained her U16 national title and Harriet, with Freya, held on to their doubles crown. The final was a nervy affair with the pair coming back from 14-10 down to win 16-14. Harriet was more dominant in the singles winning the final 15-2. (Arte Denton has also emerged as a very capable U16 player and along with Daisy Woodley there is great depth in this age group.) The senior girls are also very strong but at the nationals it became clear that they are not as dominant as the U16 group. Lottie Harbottle completed four very good years of Fives by securing the Plate with partner Liv Theaker. Winners of the House competitions were Kilbracken (Senior) and Town (Junior). TMW

Speech Day was, as ever, the highlight of the club’s year. This year, as well as the usual OR match, an additional match was arranged against the British Army Development Team. The OR match was a nail-biting event, as the school team, once far ahead of the opposition on the score board, fell back in the last chukka to lose by an extremely narrow margin. Even so, it was a delight to see Jake Rigby and Hassan Usman playing for the school for the last time after a decade of valuable service to the club between them. The match against the Army Development Team was a different matter, with a strong School team, led by our new Captain Benjie Bradshaw, winning 6-1 against a team of much older players, with Benjie being awarded the prize for Best Player. In addition to our usual round of fixtures, Benjie was hugely privileged to Captain the SUPA (GB Schools) team against China at Kirtlington Polo Club on a blisteringly hot day in June. The result never seemed in doubt and the GB team won by a convincing margin of 7-3. With two established players joining F Block in 2017, and a great stream of newcomers to the sport in all years, Polo is on the up at Rugby! DJM

RACKETS The rackets club had another enjoyable season. All pairs had their strengths and won the majority of their matches. We had two trips to Manchester, so that a variety of players could get the taste of rackets and Real Tennis at this wonderful club. The first pair Ed Beard and Will Hardman won 10 out of 14 of the regular fixtures, and when they did not win it may have been because they were more equipped to play long rallies than finish them. The second pair, Jonnie Fagan and Wills Hatton, were also successful. Beard, Fagan and Hatton have the unusual distinction of playing 18 terms of first team sport between them in rugby, hockey and cricket, two of them being captains. This has been great for the perception of rackets in the school. The colts, Noah Martle and Will Gardener, won all their regular fixtures and the junior colts, Peter Colbourne and Freddie Middleton, won over half and showed promise. At Queens we were more successful in the singles than the doubles. Peter Colbourne had an encouraging run in the U15 singles before losing in the semi-final. Noah Martle reached the quarter-final of the colts and Ed Beard the semi-final of the Renny cup. In the girls’ singles, Flossie Rosser reached the semi-final of the senior singles. In doubles, the notable performances were from the U16 age group. In the boys, Noah Martle and Will Gardener, having been unlucky not to be seeded, were one of only two pairs to get a game off the eventual winners, Tonbridge. In the girls, Harriet Fagan and Freya Harrison reached the semi-finals where they were narrowly beaten in an exciting contest.

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Changes at the School have made it possible for the numbers of boys and girls playing rackets to increase. This has led to a great spirit in the club. Changes have also meant that the challenge to get the best players to play enough is still there, but we are working on this. Old Rugbeian rackets is now thriving under the new guidance of Louis Winstanley. The inaugural Sapphire Trophy competition was a great success and we look forward to an even more competitive competition next year. The vast majority of the players had been on tours to North America while at Rugby and this clearly encourages them to keep playing after School. Old Rugbeians James Hingley and Nick Colbourne enjoyed extended periods in North America last season and our current captain Ed Beard is to have the same experience in the next few months. PJR

ROUNDERS It has been pleasing to see the girls improve their skills this term. The season started well with the U18, U15 and U14 teams winning their first match. The U18 team defeated Uppingham and the final result was 15-11.5. The U15 team’s final score was 10-9 and the U14 result was 7-6 against Nottingham High School. Unfortunately two fixtures for the U15 and U14 teams against Oundle were cancelled due to poor weather. Both the U14 and U15 teams had a disappointing defeat against Kimbolton. The girls played well but Kimbolton’s strong batting gave them an advantage. In both matches, Kimbolton were able to score 25 rounders. This disappointment was followed by www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 87

Winners of the Radley Relays in the 4x100m, U17 category another tough fixture against Wellingborough where the U15 team demonstrated their tenacity but lost the match by one rounder. The final result was 8-9. The U14 girls worked hard as a team but unfortunately, they also lost 6-16. The season ended with House rounders in which all demonstrated great team skill and enthusiasm. The 3rd House competition was won by Griffin, 2nd House by Bradley, and 1st House by Stanley. MHP

RUNNING

The team was unbeaten in matches for the second year in a row, having managed to beat Uppingham, Stamford, Oakham and Oundle, Stowe and Kimbolton. The OR match was a particularly fun afternoon and we were fortunate to have many ORs come and race. It was a win for the School and we look forward to racing them again next year to try and retain the trophy. House sailing took place this year on a very windy day. Six Houses were represented and after a number of closely fought races Michell (Elliott Marshall and Will Jacklin) came out on top.

In cross country Rugby displayed strength in numbers, particularly on the girls’ side where we fielded two teams at most events including a remarkable four teams in the home fixture. Many of our team results were in the top half of the table and Polly Reynolds, Hannah Bruneau, Ethan Malone, along with Captains Ella Bromley and Simon Waterhouse, deserve a special mention for their commitment and fine performances. At county level, Gigi Woodward competed for Warwickshire at the English Schools’ National Cross Country competition and came third for the county. On the home front Rupert Brooke demonstrated its depth of running talent in claiming the House Cup in the Timed Run. This was in the face of strong competition from Town and despite narrowly losing to Sheriff in Advent. AJS

SAILING The sailing teams performed extremely well this year. The highlight was the 1st team winning the BSDRA Eastern Regionals at Rutland Water. Having finished the round robin stage in third place and winning a re-race in order to qualify for the finals, they met Stamford in the final. As usual this consisted of the best of three races. After losing the first race, the team managed to win the second so it was all down to the last race. The decider was close all the way to the finishing line, but Rugby sailed just a little bit smarter and faster and came out just ahead.

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The BSDRA competition at RHS over leave-out was a good warm-up for the Easterns but the team just missed qualifying for the final. They also competed in the BSDRA Thames Valley, but tricky conditions (very little wind) frustrated the team and their efforts.

Two pupils were also fortunate to compete in the National Schools Championships at Itchenor. It was hard sailing with light wind and strong tides but Julian Fung and Elliott Marshall did extremely well to come sixth out of the 48 firefly crews. Excitingly, six fireflies have recently been added to the School’s fleet so the team are looking forward to serious training next term in the hope of doing even better next academic year. Elliott Marshall (M)

SWIMMING Swimming has continued to grow this year with good numbers of serious swimmers training hard in each of the three terms. Due to unavoidable cancellations there was only one match this year, in which the Rugby team acquitted themselves well against Oundle and Gresham’s. Although the School was not victorious overall, the Senior Girls’ team won their match and remain unbeaten over the last three years. Minor sports colours were awarded to Hattie Byrne, Anna Gibson, Edward Kendell, Harry Kendell and Aiden McGuirk for their efforts in representing Rugby over their school career, which, in the case of Byrne and McGuirk, is seven years since they started in Marshall House. With a number of strong swimmers still with us next year we look forward to continued success and improvement. BJR

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Cricket Tour to Dubai

Barcelona Hockey Tour

The F & E Block travelled to Dubai & Abu Dhabi for the Easter pre-season cricket tour. The U15s competed in the Arch Trophy against a number of English Schools and the U14s played a mixture of local academies and touring teams.

In October half term the boys’ and girls’ U15 hockey teams went on tour to Barcelona. On arrival we went straight to the Real Club de Polo for our first training session in preparation for the match the following day. Then we went back to our hotel in the heart of Barcelona, unpacked our things and settled in comfortably.

The competition was challenging for the 15s yet a vital component in their developing the structures required for the season ahead back in Rugby. Three defeats in succession left them with a final tie against Skinners School at the Dubai Sevens ground on a day that reached 45 degrees in the middle. A fine all-round performance from Captain Jack Hughes and the team gave them a much-needed and morale-boosting victory ahead of the new season. The U14s also had a vital five days out in Dubai and played some good cricket in testing conditions. A brilliant partnership between Oscar Phillips and Paddy Powell-Capper saw both batsmen pass 70 and set an excellent total of 241 in 40 overs. It was a resounding 70-run victory to start the tour with some promising performances. A 60-run defeat to Cumnor House was followed by two excellent victories against Trent College. The tour ended in a very positive fashion with an unbroken first-wicket partnership of 169 between Alex Watson and Will Vaughan. Both batsmen dominated the bowling with Watson hitting 74 off 54 deliveries and Will Vaughan 61 off 55. The tour was a very enjoyable one and a big thanks go to Messrs Thomson, Tester, Robinson and Middleton for making sure all went to plan and the boys had a positive experience on tour. MJP

‘The competition was challenging for the 15s yet a vital component in their developing the structures required for the season ahead back in Rugby.’

‘After lunch in the city centre we were given the afternoon to explore Barcelona even more and the girls even managed to fit in some shopping.’

The next morning we had another training session, mainly to practise our set pieces for the match later in the evening against Natacio Linia 22. The results didn’t quite go our way against a very strong opposition, with the boys losing 5-2 and the girls narrowly losing 3-2. In the first 15 minutes the girls went 1-0 up with a great pass in from Georgie enabling Helena to score. But soon after Nactacio Linia 22 scored a couple of goals making it 2-1 at half time. We went into the second half fighting hard. With 10 minutes to go the score was 2-2 but it sadly didn’t stay like that and we weren’t able to take victory. The boys found themselves two down at half time and it was a shame they couldn’t capitalise on a few more chances as it would have changed the outcome of what was a close match throughout. Next day we had another training session to work on what we hadn’t done so well in the previous match. The second matches were hosted by two different clubs meaning that the girls and boys played in separate places. This time we had mixed results with the boys winning 8-1 and the girls again narrowly losing 3-2. The boys played against a weaker side than before and the goals came from James (3) Ed (2), Beno (2) and Freddie (1). The girls played Club Égara who are known to be a tough opposition. It was 0-0 after the first 20 minutes but Club Égara went on to score two goals before half-time. Mr Dhanda gave us some tips to take into the second half and in the first couple of minutes Flora did a great hit into the D which Laura deflected in and Harriet scored a brilliant goal. Kitty made some incredible saves but near the end she was left one-on-one against a strong attacker who clinched victory for Club Égara. The following day was very exciting. We all went to Camp Nou and had a tour around the stadium, which was amazing. Then we headed to our final fixture. The results all went our way, with the boys winning 2-1 and the girls winning 4-0 against CD Terrasa. The final game for the boys was a spectacle. Charlie assisted Beno and Beno assisted Charlie before half-time against the strongest opposition yet. After half-time the opposition came back strong towards Conor in goal, but Conor wasn’t letting the lead slip and kept them to just one goal, so the team ended the tour with a win. The girls had a phenomenal match. Gigi scored three goals early on thanks to some great passes from Georgie and Harriet. In the second half Georgie scored towards the end and we took a comfortable victory. The defence were strong throughout, especially Lissie and Lucy. On our last day we had a very interesting guided tour of Barcelona and saw the Sagrada Familia which was amazing. After lunch in the city centre we were given the afternoon to explore Barcelona even more and the girls even managed to fit in some shopping. Overall the tour was a huge success and enjoyed by all. Many thanks to all the staff, especially Mr Dhanda, who made the trip even more memorable. Lissie Bridges Webb (D) and Helena Russell (B) aided by Charlie Bruce-Jones (SF) and Beno Wiltshire (SF)

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There was a record number of runners in the OR event this year, topping the 100 mark. The trend of The Crick becoming ever more popular with staff continued this year with 31 running (eight, 13, 21 ran in the event over the past three years from 2014-16). In addition, Helen Grant who left last year, came back to run too! The staff also did well to claim four of the top 10 positions, but it was the ORs who were particularly dominant this year. Mark Bridges displayed the impressive

fitness he had shown when he last ran in 2015 in claiming a second win. Charles Plumptre finished second, hot on Mark’s heels in a time which was also knocking on the door of the hour mark. First staff runner Graham Joyce claimed third place in a good time, despite not producing the same form as when he last ran three minutes faster in 2015. In the female event Liz Robinson ran an excellent time to dip under 80 minutes, which is a new fastest time for a female member of staff.

It was a staff first and second with Leanne Milner finishing in second place, followed closely by Lottie’s mum, Helen Harbottle, who finished half a minute behind. With more and more runners and wouldbe competitors taking up the challenge of The Crick, the 180th anniversary of the event next year is likely to be bigger and better than ever! AJS

Crick and Barby Run This year saw the most challenging conditions for the Crick course since it was first run in 2014. Runners faced a head wind over the first half of the route where they joined the canal. However, the forecast a few days before had been for gale force 40+ mph winds which made the 15mph not seem so bad after all. Conditions underfoot were quite reasonable – the usual mud, but not quite so sticky and wet as it had been a few weeks before the event. The challenging conditions did not put off the 307 runners – the first time the total field has exceeded the three hundred mark! Simon Waterhouse and Ella Bromley were favourites for the wins of The Crick, having won in 2016. However, there were to be no foregone conclusions as Simon has been struggling with injury over the past year and Ella has had little time for cross country training as she has been busy with England Hockey squad commitments. Nevertheless, Simon led the way from the start and finished in a fine time of an hour and six minutes, albeit nearly three minutes slower than his speedy time last year (second fastest student time on record behind Ben

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Sutherland 1:00:57 in 2014). Hopeful Ethan Malone began to struggle from the half way point and was unable to make a contest for the win. Thomas Farren did very well to finish only a couple of minutes behind Simon as he has been only running on an occasional basis this term. Max Guo also did well to finish third in an hour and ten minutes as he had been struggling with shin pain in the days leading up to the event. Meanwhile in the girls’ event Ella displayed her sheer dominance and fitness, again finishing around 10 minutes ahead of second place Sophie Whittley. Ella broke her own record girls’ time (set in 2016) by more than two and a half minutes. Sophie and Hannah Bruneau ran fast times (which would have won the 2014 event) to place second and third. In The Barby, having helped try to set up the start line banner on Hillbrow as part of his warm-up, Wilf de la Hey managed to fend off a challenge from Harri Ogilvie to win the event. Harri ran well to finish only 11 seconds behind Wilf. In the girls’ Barby Polly Reynolds and Issy Turner both ran very strongly to finish under 50 minutes. Polly managed to stay ahead to secure the

win, having come second in 2016. Flora de Boinville was third girl, which made for a very impressive record for Rupert Brooke – claiming all three top positions! Overall in the boys’ House competition, thanks to such strength in both Barby and Crick (claiming two top ten places in The Barby and all three in The Crick), Town comprehensively took the win. School House came second and they certainly deserved a high placing due to their terrific turnout of 26 runners out of the 47 in House this year. Similarly, Sheriff had a typically strong turnout (23 runners out of 52 in the House) which helped claim their third place. In the girls’ house competition Rupert Brooke were pretty much guaranteed the win on the strength of their top runners in The Barby, but they also had strength in numbers as 15 out of the 49 in the house ran. Southfield were well represented (having 13 runners) and they benefitted from having Ella Bromley, Sara Brown, Neve Satchwell, Sophie Norton and Ellie van Laar who have been doing cross country this term. Tudor’s superior representation (16 runners out of the 52 in house) helped them to claim third place.

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special himself just after leaving Rugby, winning ‘Coach of the Year’ at the Crabbie’s National Rugby Awards at Twickenham in August. He leaves with our congratulations and special good wishes.

VALETE

Simon Brown (2002) The longer a colleague remains at Rugby, the harder it is to remember how things were before he came and what a difference he has made. This is conspicuously the case with Simon Brown, who arrived from MCS Oxford in 2002 as Director of Boys’ Games, to coach rugby and to invigorate the sports programme, becoming Director of Sport in 2013. He leaves us now as the XV celebrate their first unbeaten season since 1978 and a record number of School players are established on the international stage. A fitting climax to years of patient and passionate nurturing on and off the field. The roots of Simon’s success lie perhaps in his awareness of the opportunities he himself had as a Sports Scholar sponsored by the Rank Foundation at Radley College. This made him a committed Arnold Foundation tutor at Rugby, not to mention the tutoring he has done in School Field and Michell, and he introduced several initiatives to recognise pupil achievement. He revised the School Colours system; he revived the Leigh Thomas bursary for Welsh boys; he developed the Webb Ellis Scholarship into the Webb Ellis Award that recognises boys in their final year who have made a significant contribution to the game. The 10 now recognised on the honours board in the Sports Café are just a few of those ‘generations of 1st XV players’ who, as Dr Hampton puts it, ‘will look back with respect and great fondness on the way they were looked after by Simon.’ The School has benefitted enormously from Simon’s links with individuals and institutions beyond Rugby. He has produced many junior internationals and four international rugby players - Alex Grove, Rupert Harden, Robbie Povey and Harry Mallinder. He has brought countless visitors to Rugby from round the globe (Racing Metro, Saracens, Leicester Tigers, Saints, Wasps, Canada, Argentina, Italy A, World XV, New Zealand Maori) to train 94 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

with the boys and inspire them. When Will Greenwood brought the Webb Ellis Trophy into Michell House lunch, the boys could not believe it. And Simon keeps these links alive: alumni present their international shirts to the School and return to inspire the next generation. His Follow-Up Club Lunch attracts over 100 former members of the XV each time. And he arranged the PoultonPalmer Memorial Dinner, which was graced by the likes of Finlay Calder and Micky Steele-Bodger. Such success is only possible after laying the groundwork over many years. In his early years at Rugby, Simon refereed at prep schools regularly to ensure those youngsters knew about Rugby and he saw over a thousand of them. He set up Webb Ellis Days and curtain raisers before 1st XV matches to give feeder schools the chance to play on the Close; he hosted the Prep School Barbarian tournaments. As a result, a steady stream of talented rugby players applied to Rugby; Simon set up the Sports Scholarship programme and sports assessment days. From Rugby, moreover, he has led rugby tours to South America, Singapore, Australia, Canada and Japan, winning 28 of the 31 matches played and making many friends among those sharing his love of the sport. Sport at Rugby, and rugby football in particular, has changed enormously during Simon’s 15-year tenure: the ethos of the Corinthian gentleman amateur has been superseded by a more professional era, reflecting national trends in both club and school sport. Simon appointed the first county cricketer, Nick Cook, which paved the way for Rugby to employ several cricket professionals since. And it was only because the School remained at the cutting edge that Rugby reached the finals of the Daily Telegraph Independent Sports School of the Year awards in 2011 and Gareth Davies could say, ‘Rugby School continues to be an exemplary establishment for nurturing brilliant sport and sports people’. Simon’s successes have not been restricted to rugby football. He has been MiC of Athletics for 14 years, during which time the School has scored major victories and records at the Radley and Achilles’ relays and several teams have reached the English Schools National Final. He set up the Rugby Relays and the Six Schools athletic competitions. He has been MiC Hockey and run a 1st, 2nd, U16 and U14 team. While

he was MiC Basketball, the School lost only four matches in four years. And in Rugby Sevens, junior teams have reached the finals, the U18s the knock-out stages of the Nationals, several times. He has recruited many quality sportsmen at 16+ and it’s no coincidence that the School’s sporting fortunes have improved accordingly. Simon has also been instrumental in some of Rugby’s most spectacular sports events. I am thinking not only of Sports Day in May or of the Guest XV match in December, occasions when the whole School gathers to celebrate the feats of a few, but of his part in recreating the first rugby game when the Olympic Torch came in 2012 (watched by 3,000 on The Close and recycled several times on TV - Saturday Morning Kitchen, Flog it, Blue Peter) and in several Rugby World Cups. In 2015, after filming at Rugby for the opening ceremony, the Director of England 2015 wrote that ‘Simon Brown’s support and guidance with the cast selection and onsite management was crucial in ensuring that the boys were well briefed and managed’. And after six weeks of media attention and countless interviews, the School Marketing Manager said he had been ‘worth his weight in gold’ for his PR work during the tournament. This year’s 450th anniversary celebrations have been a fitting climax to Simon’s career at Rugby. These included one of the biggest-ever international U18 Schools Rugby Sevens tournaments to be held in the UK and, this time, there were more than 100,000 people worldwide watching the live streaming on 24-5 March in addition to over 1,000 spectators on the Close. 12 teams from across the globe, including Japan, South Africa and Australia, joined rugby ‘greats’ such as Martin Johnson and Jason Leonard at the Birth Place of the Game. And of course Simon knew them. I shall remember Simon most, however, for his loyal, unstinting and self-effacing work behind-the-scenes. Certainly, his name will be there on the cup he has instituted, the SJB Trophy for senior boys’ overall winner in Athletics, but brightly polished silverware is inadequate memorial of a colleague I will always see training his rugby squads on autumn evenings when the light is fading from the Close but you can still hear a voice shouting encouragement… Simon’s slogan when visiting prep schools was ‘Come and be part of something special’. He achieved something quite

JCS

Tony Darby (2003) Tony Darby joined the Rugby School community in 2003 having been one of two candidates selected for interview for the position of Head of Economics and Business Studies. During a tour of the School it became apparent to his tour guide that one of his main motivations in applying for the position was the proximity of the School to The Hawthorns football ground. Tony was advised that this fact may not need to be mentioned during his interview with the Deputy Head Academic and that it would be sensible to concentrate instead on his mastery of Economics and Business Studies and his commitment to developing the Learning and Teaching agenda within the department. He departed Rugby being so convinced that he was second choice that he didn’t bother to leave a forwarding address or tell us that he was travelling to the Canary Islands the next day on holiday, leaving the Head Master unable to offer him the position until he returned a week later. Tony’s leadership of the department for the next eight years saw it achieve considerable success on results day and in the days before A* grades there were 45/47 A grades achieved in Economics in one year. Despite the success of Economics as a subject, Tony never saw himself as a one-trick pony and continues to demonstrate a real interest in the teaching and development of Business Studies and its importance as a curriculum subject. His time in charge saw numbers studying both subjects grow and the integration of a number of new staff into what had been a very stable department for some years. He managed the department, which included two distinguished former HoDs, with tact and diplomacy but with characteristic firmness, determination, natural instinct and a large and necessary dose of his inimitable humour too. On his arrival at the School Tony was

assigned to be a tutor in Stanley and in 2005 became the Ahm there before moving to Kilbracken in 2009 in order to build on his pastoral experience and tutor in a boys’ House. In September 2011 he took on the mantle of Hm of Town House, ensuring the continued integration of the day boys into a full boarding school environment and all that that entails: developing strong relationships with parents and the Heads of the day feeder schools. He has enjoyed beginning the current expansion project for the day Houses and I know he will watch with interest to see how this progresses. The expectations and standards that Tony sets himself are high and he has served the boys with distinction during his time at the helm. He has expected no less of the boys in his care and over the years has helped nudge many of them into achieving their full potential. He has nurtured the staff too and the adults in his team have the highest regard for him. Tony is a gifted soccer player and, according to his CV, played at semi-professional level in a previous life; his passion for West Bromwich Albion is well known to many, most of whom struggle to understand it but humour him nevertheless. He has coached soccer, hockey and cricket throughout his time with us and is a regular fives player too. He has also been a regular attender at the weekly five-a-side staff football sessions. One story goes that he gave his new and incoming HoD a black eye in one of these games. When presented with a clear shot from close range, the done thing in a ‘friendly’ match is to gently side foot the ball into one of the corners of the goal. Instead, on this occasion, Tony swivelled on the spot and put his laces through it - directing the shot straight at the keeper’s face. He really is a very good footballer; perhaps not the most mobile (he never moves far from the opposition goal), but he can kick a ball hard – and with great accuracy. The important thing, however, is that the new HoD saved it – and they became great friends, in time. He represents the staff team when they play against the ORs and still hasn’t recovered from missing a penalty against the old boys which cost the staff the game. As might be expected, given his academic background, Tony’s other interests include keeping a close eye on share prices and assessing the odds of pretty much anything happening: horse racing, sports matches, oil prices and election results to name a few. Up until now he has kept much of his success in this area secret but I am very much hoping to be the recipient of ‘Tony’s Top Tips’ in the future! He oversaw the establishing of the successful Entrepreneurs Club as part of the Community Action programme and has continued to be involved in a number of economics-related society meetings.

For the last three years Tony has held the position of Senior Hm and he has finetuned his own leadership style during that time. It is this whole-school experience and membership of both the management and leadership teams that have provided the platform from which he now launches himself into the role of Sub-Warden at St Edward’s School, Oxford. I know he has learnt a lot during his time with us and many of us have learnt much from working closely with him. I hope that Tony will look back on his time at Rugby with great fondness; he came to us a young single man and leaves with Leah, and their children Bella and Lewis, to embark on the next stage of family and professional life. He has been a real friend and support for many and I know that he takes our very best wishes to Oxford with him. SAR

Mark Hennings (2007) Mark has been an inspirational figure within the Maths department since joining the School in 2007, leading our mathematical societies and training sixth form mathematicians for national challenges and examinations such as STEP and MAT papers. Previously a professional mathematician at Cambridge University, Mark’s incredibly high level of expertise has seen him achieve legendary status amongst the pupils. Comments in lessons like ‘I bet Dr Hennings will have a two-line proof of that’ are commonly encountered, and it has been a real pleasure to work alongside a mathematician who is capable of effortlessly opening up highly technical concepts effectively and at quite short notice. Mark has always been very kind to help out pupils and teachers alike when ambushed in corridors with questions like ‘Can you just have a really quick look at this one…?’ Mark’s open and friendly approach have also been a key part of his teaching. He has always treated colleagues as mathematical equals; a flattering assumption that has led to clandestine meetings in the maths office as we have worked through some of his solutions, but gratifying nonetheless! “Proof by Hennings” has emerged as a regular feature of maths lessons at Rugby. www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 95

Mark recently gave a fantastic lecture to the Dodgson Society about Knot Theory, again bringing high-level maths to life for our pupils. It has been a unique moment in my career to see a school lecturer answer the question “Did you ever work on these ideas, Sir?” with “Yes: the Hennings Invariant is a Knot Invariant that I discovered”. Fairly stunned silence followed, with pupils wholly impressed by the fact that the mathematical processes involved in pulling pieces of string apart led to Mathematicians re-writing the understanding of DNA Helix unzipping – a truly memorable moment. Equally valuable has been a resurgence of the Rugby School Mathematics competition, with questions posed by Mark for pupils, parents and staff alike. It is an indication of the affection that Mark’s pupils have for him that answers this year were supplied by a recent OR currently studying at Trinity Cambridge and a current parent who was taught by Mark during his time at Oxford. Aside from the significant impact he has had on Rugby School Maths, Mark has been involved in several projects as a mentor for Brilliant.org, writing the Pre-U Maths textbook and publishing in the Mathematical Association Gazette. He has also run the School’s fencing option and pioneered the US Universities applications process. He has served as Deputy Head of Mathematics and I have been very grateful for his willingness to take on a range of jobs from high-end maths mentoring to laboriously typing out lower school exam seating plans at short notice. Mark’s expertise and his kindness will be missed in equal parts as he goes on to take up a teaching position at Concord College. We wish him and Susie the best of luck for the move.

the department in typically enthusiastic and flamboyant style! As a strong mathematician himself, Jon has been involved in developing the department’s approach to the Pre-U qualification with Mechanics a particular focus. He is never satisfied with pupils simply being able to reproduce mathematical techniques and he has been keen to ensure that his students have an appreciation of the concepts behind the maths that they are putting into practice. Alongside his work in the classroom, Jon has taken charge of our Junior Mathematics Society, producing excellent maths challenge results and seeing our Junior Team win through to the national final of the UKMT’s Team Challenge event for two years in a row – a first for the School. He has also singlehandedly run a popular outreach programme to local primary schools, opening up some interesting and fairly high-level mathematical ideas to children of ages 8-11. Jon’s range of skills were neatly exemplified by his Dodgson Society lecture on the nature of mathematically modelling games: moving swiftly from summing numbers to 21 to the idea of ‘Global Thermonuclear War’ in the 1983 classic film provided a number of surprises for his audience! Jon spent much of his time as a tutor in Sheriff House, earning the mysterious nickname of ‘Doc I’ from the boys before moving to help out in Marshall. He leaves us to take up a teaching position at St Edward’s, Oxford, thus nearer to his family, and we wish him the very best of luck with his move. MRB

MRB

David Gillett (2008) Jonathan Ingram (2007) Jon has completed ten years at Rugby and has been fully involved in all aspects of school life throughout his time. First and foremost, Jon has a love of teaching in general and of Mathematics in particular, undertaking a Masters qualification in education and sharing his experience with 96 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

There are few occasions when newcomers actually turn out to be ‘impressive’, so I was one of many colleagues sceptical that the young man arriving to become HoD of Modern Languages would live up to the hype. He was an Oxford linguist with an honours degree, he had run UCAS at Bedford School, his reputation as a top triathlete struck fear into the hearts of all staff who thought themselves capable. But live up to the hype he did. A determined

player all-round, his competitive urge pushed colleagues and pupils to levels of previously unknown fitness. After all, why ride for two hours when you can ride for four? Why ride at 20mph when you can ride at 22? Many of us have suffered. Dave’s energy was felt throughout Modern Languages as he pushed students to aim high in all they did. Despite impeccably high standards that led to frustration when he did not meet his own expectations, he demonstrated considerate patience with pupils struggling with the nuances of grammar or fluency in oral practice. Sharing duty nights with him in Kilbracken, I could see his excellent teaching manner when dealing with processions of faltering German and French speakers. It was here also that his deep knowledge of all things technological could be seen. If there was a way round clunky software systems, mastering the School timetable, or just understanding how to use my iphone effectively, he was the go-to person. Dave was MiC swimming for two years on arrival and has been a permanent fixture running U16B rugby, his support of Leicester Tigers adding to the competitive element he stimulated in the boys. A key member of the athletics coaching staff, he was often the busiest man at Sports Day as he managed the running of events with his customary self-effacing calm. In the off-season he has been known to turn his hand to Sumo and has led this activity at Pudsey Bear Café for several years -further evidence of his drive and strong will to train his body to such contrasting forms. It is in House that Dave really shows his ability to deal with the teenage beast and his tutoring skills have been especially appreciated. His tutees and other boys in Kilbracken, where he has been AHm for six years, certainly value his balanced approach and considerable wisdom. A sense of fair play and sharp humour is apparent in all his dealings with the boys, even when a firm word is necessary. Before accepting the AHm post Dave was already sharing his skills in a wide range of School activities. Though uncomfortable in RAF blue, he led many sky-bound adventures during his five years as a CCF officer. More at home solo-navigating such heights as the peak of Mont Blanc, he was equally happy (well almost) strolling across the flat Norfolk landscape with a group of Bronze DoE adventurers. He has been a great supporter of DoE expeditions at all levels and always a man to rely on if things took a turn for the worse. Those who have travelled abroad with him will have valued his linguistic skills,

notably on successive ski trips to Europe, whatever they thought of his style on the slopes. Wearing tweed while cycling around School on his Dutch “shopping” bicycle certainly fits the image of the scholarly intellectual, but easily disguises the exuberant Rammstein fan that lurks beneath. Indeed he is model professional who, to those who know him well, also has a wickedly mischievous alter ego. Meanwhile, Dave married Ina in 2014 and they now have two young boys, Max and Charlie, who despite the trials of raising young children have brought a sense of calm and perspective to his life. He leaves us for Nottingham to be Head of Sixth Form where I am sure he will thrive and perform extremely well. Dave is one of the most diligent individuals I and many other colleagues have had the good fortune to work with. He is a natural leader because he sets a first-rate example and defines high expectations. His combination of powerful intellect and adventurous endeavour will be Nottingham’s gain and Rugby’s loss. Apparently school at Nottingham finishes at 4.00pm so what will Dave do with his time? Well, it’s not too far away, so perhaps he will visit us on his new bicycle. PAB

his way in a calm and friendly fashion. It should be noted that Lawrence has previously worked at very high levels in software engineering, running his own company, and equally high areas in school management as a bursar. He has brought a wealth of experience and excitement to his classes, encouraging pupils towards the best work they are capable of achieving through high expectations coupled with a willingness to offer huge amounts of time and support outside the classroom. Lawrence has been able to inspire students with his in-depth knowledge of technical systems: wonderful lessons on how submarines avoid radar detection, preparing a Cambridge Computer Scientist for the Facebook Hacker Challenge and dropping in to advise our Senior Maths Team on the applications of cellular automata all spring to mind. Lawrence has recently been involved with our accelerated lower school classes, and it is no surprise that levels of Further Maths uptake have increased alongside some remarkable Olympiad results. Lawrence has been the School’s timetabler since 2013, a post ideally suited to his abilities. Despite Rugby’s running a system of free-blocking, Lawrence managed to give almost all pupils their first choice of subjects with a minimum of fuss and he successfully implemented a number of recent changes without any problems – a remarkable feat given the size of the task.

from her calm, kind manner in coaxing the best out of them orally. Fortunately for Rugby, Maria took to her new life here and in the School community so much that she chose to extend her stay and we were delighted. Her partner (now fiancé) Ruben gave up his job in Spain and came to join her. Thus, we enjoyed four more years of her dedicated and thorough approach, during which time she has qualified as a teacher and become ever more involved in School life. She has been tutor to two successive F Block years in Rupert Brooke, she has delivered PSHE, and this year took on an F Block Spanish class too. Spanish at A-Level in Rugby has never been in better health and I think this is in no small measure due to Maria’s input. She has been an invaluable aid to the Spanish Department, helping both students and staff in any way possible and always with a smile. She has always been willing to accompany enrichment trips and activities, even when they have fallen outside her responsibilities. I know Maria’s decision to return home was a difficult one for her, and that she will take with her special memories of her time here. We too will remember her quite simply as the best Spanish Assistant we have ever had and hope she will come back to visit. Maria will be sadly missed and an extremely hard act to follow. We wish her all the best with her future life back in Spain.

Lawrence’s contributions to the School have been hugely valued by pupils and staff alike, especially during his time as a popular tutor in Kilbracken House. Nothing is ever too much trouble for him, and he has been an outstanding colleague to work with. He will be very much missed, and we wish him all the best for his projects in the future.

Lawrence Rao (2012) It was noticeable that, upon Lawrence’s appointment to the Mathematics department in 2012, everything seemed to run much more smoothly. Lawrence has had an enormous impact in a wide variety of areas from polite but pertinent suggestions about schemes of work, calculator use, and organising and supplying the department office, to the purchase of a large tea urn to save kettle-boiling time! Departmental morale was also increased significantly when it transpired that Lawrence was also a part-time dessert chef, and he kindly produced a selection of cakes for weekly departmental meetings for four years without ever repeating an item. Lawrence is one of those rare and talented individuals who does everything well, and throws himself into every task that comes

CAO

MRB

Jamie Walker (2012)

Maria Elena Tirado (2012) Maria came to join us in September 2012, highly recommended by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She was an immediate hit with our students, who benefitted hugely from her knowledge of contemporary Spain and

Jamie was appointed to lead the Economics and Business Studies department back in September 2012, a time when the department needed some stability and careful management. In the two years that followed, Jamie brought the staff together, galvanising the department into Victorian work habits, culminating in what can only be considered a blip year of superb results in 2015 (although Paul Bryant may also claim some credit for the results). Throughout his tenure as Head of Department he was the consummate professional, always willing to collaborate and share resources (including his furniture), and make sure the pupils www.rugbyschool.co.uk | Meteor 2017 | 97

within the department were happy and flourished, whilst at the same time respecting and using the vast experience and knowledge of the other members of department. It has been a similar story in Kilbracken, which he took over in the summer of 2014. The tutor team have enjoyed his calm presence and strong organisational skills, the boys have undoubtedly taken on the core values such as modesty and integrity and reliability that are a true reflection of their Housemaster, and the House now punches above its weight academically. It is safe to say that the incoming Housemaster will take over a House with great forward impetus and in very good heart. Jamie has also turned his hand to various co-curricular activities such as coaching the girls’ 6th XI hockey team, as well as encouraging plenty of road runners to enjoy their time pounding the streets of Rugby. He also proved to be an effective cricket coach, taking the U15B team for a number of years, his best victory being when he ‘bagged’ a close victory against a competitive Warwick team with only ten players. Jamie has demonstrated throughout his time at Rugby that he has the qualities and all-round common sense to care for the academic and wider welfare of the pupils within his care, and I have no doubt that these traits will be the key to his success in his new role as Assistant Head at the Grange School. I really do hope Jamie, Hannah and the girls will be happy in Cheshire; and I truly believe he will be a huge loss to the Rugby School Common Room.

Richard quickly established himself as ‘T’ai Chi Mr. Baker’ (as opposed to ‘the other one’!) through his popular extracurricular classes that have been a success with pupils and staff alike. As a keen cricketer Richard has also developed the 4th XI, now affectionately known as ‘The Gentlemen’s XI’, who have thoroughly enjoyed their time and also begun winning fixtures! Richard’s students speak unequivocally about his ability to bring Mathematics to life, especially those pupils who have not previously found the subject easy to access. He is a natural in the classroom and a helpful colleague; the girls in Bradley House have found him to be a kind source of help and a friendly ear where necessary. We wish Richard all the best for his relocation to Spain. MRB

Léa Berger (2015) The French department is very grateful to Léa for all her hard work over the past two years with pupils studying French throughout the school. The Upper School linguists, in particular, have really benefited from and enjoyed their weekly speaking lessons with Léa. We wish Léa the very best of luck in the future and, in particular, for the completion of her PGCE next year. STR

Academically, Paul has been a huge benefit to the School and his students (not to mention the local pub economy). He taught both Chemistry and Physics to Pre U level, producing excellent resources but also always offering to help in both departments, doubling his workload without any fuss. His deep understanding of Chemistry ensured he stretched the top students, helping them gain places in prestigious universities. I know Mr White and Dr Davies will miss his expertise and knowledge next year. His assistance on the Florida NASA trip was appreciated by all where he had a very hands-on approach to dealing with the locals. Paul was not only an academic but a keen sportsman, selflessly giving up his expertise in the (recreational) squash court to help guide the 3rd hockey XI to an outstanding season: conceding over 50 goals, scoring 2. Having honed his skills on the hockey astro, Paul moved on to badminton, where he is often seen darting around the court with the agility of a 70-year-old. In fact, he is such an athlete, two hours of runner duty at Sports Day put him out of action for a whole day. Paul’s main strength lies in bringing people together, helping to make the Science Department a very happy place to work. But ultimately, despite a possible return to untucked shirts, the students will miss him the most. As one student put it, “Callegend - Extremely knowledgeable. High Standards. Banter is so bad it’s good. And terrible beard. But good overall. 5 out of 5”. We wish him all the best as he moves to his spiritual home of London. He will be hugely missed by all.

AJD

OG

Paul Calleja (2015)

Richard Baker (2014) Richard joined Rugby in January 2014 and brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to the department. He has taught a range of classes from Further Pre-U mathematics to extra help sessions in the F Block with equal passion and a genuine love of being in the classroom. Two Bakers in the department was initially confusing for the pupils of Rugby, but 98 | Meteor 2017 | www.rugbyschool.co.uk

There are not many phrases that send a chill down the spine of a Rugby School student: stodge closing, gation, three minors in one week. Now, however, there is another on the list: Mr Calleja. When it comes to enforcing the rules and standards of the school, Paul has been second to none. He was always fair and students knew where they stood, leading to high expectations and progress in all of Paul’s classes… providing they didn’t have hooped ear rings. In fact, Paul will go down in history for achieving the infamous “triple” – three minors to the same student in one lesson.

classroom. Joe Sutcliffe writes: ‘Elanie has been a fabulous presence in the English department over the past two years, full of energy, a can-do spirit, and helpful initiatives. She is very concerned about her pupils, both in terms of their fulfilling their academic potential and their general happiness and well-being, and it’s easy to see why her new job with Teach First appeals: she has a strong belief in the power of learning. Everything she does is efficient and clear, done with a light, good-humoured touch, and, as the department’s watcher over F Block matters, she has suggested lots of valuable approaches and set interesting, challenging termly tests. I observed her teach an F Block class once and was struck by her vitality and friendly, purposeful engagement with the pupils: she is a natural teacher. We shall miss her.’ By September, Elanie was eager to throw herself into House life by taking on the role of D Block Tutor and we knew she was going to be a hit by the way her English pupils talked in House of the support and encouragement they had already received in the short time she had taught them. There was a hearty cheer when news of her joining the Griffin Tutor team was announced. On top of lunch time GCSE specials, Elanie has been exceptionally generous with her time in coaching pupils of all ages. She has welcomed the chance to guide sixth formers as they consider their higher education options just as she has delighted in sharing ideas with F and E Block on how best to spend their Sundays. She has been a great comfort with wise advice when pupils have found the challenges of boarding overwhelming and her positive outlook and energy to make every day full of purpose and productivity has been a role model for all, especially her tutees during the important D Block year and the run-up to the exam season. We wish her every success in her new role at Teach First, mentoring and training teachers in schools around the West Midlands, but first she must have a funfilled summer with husband Alex and beautiful little girls, Isabelle (5) and Olivia (2). Thanks for all you have done in this short time, Elanie. AN

Elanie Ademokun (2016) New to the boarding game, Elanie joined us to teach English in January 2016. Wide-eyed and full of questions as she got to grips with the actionpacked life of a boarder, she was also clearly experienced and ‘at home’ in the

James Morgan (2016) James has added himself to the long list of quality Graduate Teaching Assistants attracted to the School and the Sports Department. Having been a pupil at

Llandovery College, James had some knowledge of what life at Rugby would be like and what the demands of a busy boarding school would be. Like all committed sportsmen, he threw himself into the sports programme and has passed on his experience to all the pupils he has coached, whether in rugby, netball or cricket. In Sheriff House, the boys have found him very approachable and appreciated his honest, helpful advice whenever they sought it. Elsewhere he has enjoyed his time with the CCF, on DofE expeditions and in the Geography Department. James has been good value throughout the year and gained valuable experience which will stand him in good stead as he begins his PGCE course in September. He leaves with our best wishes and I am sure he will be a success both in the classroom and on the sports field. SJB

It is wonderful that she will remain in the county and I feel sure that she will be returning regularly to play oboe in our Bliss Sinfonia. RJT

Julian Mackenthun (2016) Julian has made a tremendous impression in the German Department this year, not just giving freely of his time for routine conversation practice, but delivering meticulously researched presentations on contemporary German politics and society, and a course of interactive lectures on various aspects of 20th century German history and art including film, painting and literature. He will be missed by pupils for his thoughtful engagement in the classroom – and even more by his colleagues at five-a-side football. JCS

Katie Potts (2016) Katie came to Rugby having completed undergraduate and postgraduate study as an oboist at the Royal College of Music. It’s been an eventful year and we have made the most of Katie in two live BBC radio broadcasts, a CD recording and a tour to America for her to demonstrate the advantages of a rigorous approach to music-making in order to achieve the highest standards. On all of these occasions she has stunned listeners with exquisite oboe playing. Having been a chorister at Manchester Cathedral, she also understood what was needed to support the choral programme during a year of exceptional achievement. Having been on choir tours to America herself as a pupil, she was perfectly placed to act as Housemistress for the choir’s visit to Connecticut and New York in February. She was great value, in short, on pastoral, musical and social levels.

Kate Sutton (2016)

Katie has enjoyed her interactions with pupils during her year at Rugby, whether in Tudor House, in sport or in the Music Department. She has provided excellent advice to our music scholars who have aspirations to professional careers in music and it’s clear that they have much enjoyed their conversations about music with her. She has been responsible for introducing Alexander Technique to the Department and meticulous in her administration of the Sunday chamber concert series. She has enjoyed assisting with aspects of academic music and we are all delighted that her experience at Rugby has inspired her to embark on a teaching career. We wish her well as she moves to a full time teaching post at King’s High in Warwick.

Kate will also be missed in Rupert Brooke where she has been a reliable member of the tutoring team. The students have benefited from her positive, honest and reliable personality. She is joining the Madagascar expedition as her final contribution to the School.

Kate has been an exceptional graduate teaching assistant this year in the Sports department. She came to us with no formal coaching qualifications yet she has proved herself a passionate and talented hockey coach. She has dedicated her time to mentoring the School’s talented athletes and offering an abundance of additional coaching advice. Her organisational skills are second to none and thanks to her initiative she is always one step ahead. It is no surprise, therefore, that she has been selected for an extremely sought-after position with Adidas. Kate has been a constant source of positive and innovative energy in the office. She supports all the department with hockey, rounders and tennis, to name but a few activities.

We wish Kate the very best in her future endeavours and look forward to hearing of her future successes. DLS

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Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5EH Telephone: +44 (0)1788 556 216 Email: [email protected] www.rugbyschool.co.uk