Vol.

116
2013
Olavian Editor: David Craig
Old Olavian Editor: John Brown
Assistant Editor: Peter Leigh
Sub-Editors: Matthew Roberts
Dhruv Krishna
Isaac Van Bakel
Years 8 & 9 on World Challenge in Croatia
(Full story on p63)
Contents
Contents
Headmasters Introduction
Editorial
School Notes
StOGS in the Fifties
Staff 2013
Students Work
Prize Day
Sixth Form News
2013 Leavers Destinations
Clubs and Extra-curricular
Maths & ICT
Science
English & Drama
The Library
Music
Modern Foreign Languages
Humanities
Sports
Art, Design & Technology
Old Olavian
3
4
5
6
14
24
31
41
49
54
59
67
73
87
95
97
103
113
129
139
146
4 Olavian 2013
T
he theme of my third year as Headmaster of St
Olaves Grammar School has been the continuing
pursuit of scholarship. Erudite student research articles,
on topics ranging from Critical Limb Ischemia to
Duality in Oscar Wilde, form part of an emerging range
of student-led academic and society journals which now
take pride of place in displays in the cloisters.
Once again the year concluded with public examination
results that saw a record 52 students gaining Oxbridge
or Medical places and St Olaves as the top school
nationally for the EBacc at 96%. It is no surprise that
applications for places in Year 7 have, for the frst time,
exceeded 1000.
Our Wakeham Choristers of Te Queens Chapel of
the Savoy performed for Her Majesty Te Queen and 9
students received their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards
at St Jamess Palace. A number of students emulated
traditions by reaching the Olympiad stages in national
Mathematics and Science competitions.
Against an ongoing backdrop of public sector funding
cuts which are particularly hitting Grammar Schools,
we can be proud that our ancient school has continued
to thrive, with students engaged in international
cultural activities from Berlin to Botswana, Salt Lake
City to South Africa. An unforgettable Rugby tour of
South America, as well as the emergence of 8 national
champions at Fives, are indicative of the quality of
sporting involvement at the highest levels.
My thanks go, once again, to our Latin Master, Mr Craig,
and to Peter Leigh, for skilfully editing this magazine
which, I hope, will provide you with much interesting
and entertaining reading.
Aydn na
Headmaster
From the Headmaster
Olavian 2013 5
Editorial
My task in the production of this magazine is greatly
alleviated by a team of assistant editors who have worked
tirelessly behind the scenes, doing the type of work
which is beyond my ken, that of sophisticated desktop
publishing. I have known my deputy Peter Leigh for
some time now, not least because I have taught him
Classics for some years. Without Peters astonishing
gifts for computer work and organisation, this magazine
would not be such a joy to produce.
David Craig
Editor; Head of Classics
Editor - Te Olavian
David Craig, Esq.
St. Olaves & St. Saviours Grammar School,
Goodington Lane,
Orpington,
Kent BR6 9SH
dcraig@saintolaves.net
Editor - Te Old Olavian
John M Brown, Esq.
60 Te Lawns,
Rolleston-on-Dove,
Burton-on-Trent
Stafordshire DE13 9DB
johnmbrown60@gmail.com
I
n recent years, many of the schools faculties and
departments have been producing individual
magazines, which have been generated in a variety of
ways such as the series of departmental society talks given
by students, teachers and visiting guest speakers. My task
as editor has been to avoid any overlap or repeats and I
hope that this goal has been achieved. It is inevitable in a
school where there is so much activity in the classroom,
on the playing feld, on the stage, in the various orchestras,
in debates and in trips within the country and overseas
that a huge amount of culling of text needs to be done.
It is, in some senses, an enviable task, given that I have
so much copy from which to select, but at the same time
there is the concern that someone may feel omitted. Let
me therefore put readers old and new at rest, and stress
that no one has been left out with any intent and that,
given that this is an annual production, there will be an
opportunity in future to appear in its pages, even if on
this occasion there is to your mind a lacuna.
Tere will be, this year, some articles which will be a
little more diverse, as the wings of various departments
have spread and new teachers have brought to the
school diferent aspirations, for instance trips to Iceland,
diferent sites in London and battle felds not seen
before. Nonetheless, the core tenet of the magazine has
been to maintain an historical record of the activities
and achievements of the pupils over the past year from
year seven to thirteen, and the achievements are, as ever,
something to celebrate with pride. But we also celebrate
Older Olavians too and the vast contribution they have
made and continue to make to the wellbeing of the school.
SCHOOL NOTES 2013
6 Olavian 2013
Academic Olaves
F
ollowing the 2012 examination results, I hope that
some of you saw the Sunday Times article last year
on Britains Top 400 Secondary Schools, featuring St
Olaves as the 3rd best state school; this was followed
by the ofcial government performance tables which
confrmed St Olaves as the joint Top Boys school
Nationally for the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) with
96% of our boys gaining the qualifcation.
Student performance in the 2013 public examinations
confrmed St Olaves continued excellence as the No.
2 state school with mixed 6th Form. At A level 93%
of grades were at A*/B; 26 students secured Oxbridge
places with a further 26 for Medicine. GCSE results
were no less impressive and with 87 % of grades at A*/A
we were, once again, the No. 1 school for the EBacc
at 96%. For both of the last 2 years we were awarded
outstanding scores in all areas of the Alps report, with 3
year T-scores described as better than any performance
in the benchmark data set.
Oxbridge
C
ambridge and Oxford continue to lead our
impressive feld of Russell Group universities for
leavers destinations - a record of which we should be
rightly proud. I was delighted to receive letters from a
number of Oxbridge Colleges with news of recent former
students. Rishi Dutta and James Munro (Fitzwilliam
and Trinity, Cambridge) both graduated with 1sts
in Economics and Mathematics respectively. Kweku
Abraham was made a Scholar of St. Johns College,
Cambridge, and was awarded both the Leatham and the
Johnston College Prizes for his Part 1A Mathematics;
Kit Harris was formally declared a Scholar in recognition
of his achievement in Mathematics at St Hughs College,
Oxford; Eleanor Sands graduated with a 1st in History
from Merton College, Oxford; former School Captain
Harry McAleer, who is currently studying Engineering
at Clare College, Cambridge represented the university
in the Varsity match.
Kit Harris and Luke Abraham both returned recently to
speak to the 6th Form, as well as Old Olavians, Dr Peter
Harland who is currently at the Faculty of Divinity,
Cambridge, and Laura Reardon who read Engineering
at Oxford, and now works for Atkins Global in the
design of signalling and junction systems.
Royalty Olaves
A
utumn 2012 was an amazing time for our Wakeham
Choristers of the Queens Chapel of the Savoy, who
were honoured to sing in the presence of Her Majesty Te
Queen and HRH Te Duke of Edinburgh for a special
Service of Dedication to commemorate the Queens
Diamond Jubilee. Te Queen was very generous with her
time, spending a few moments in conversation with each
of the Choristers. Later, they had the honour of singing
in a service to celebrate the life and work of His Majesty
King Michael of Romania, in the presence of Te King
and Teir Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Margarita
and Prince Radu. Finally, the boys were called on for a
third occasion to sing, in the presence of HRH Princess
Anne, at a Service of Dedication for new members of the
Royal Victorian Order.
Commemoration
T
he spectacular setting of Southwark Cathedral played
host to the annual Service of Commemoration,
with an address given by Te Right Reverend Graeme
Knowles, CVO. Later in the year at Lower School
Celebration, former Captain of School, David Akinluyi,
presented the prizes and gave an inspirational talk about
his experiences at Cambridge and his leadership of the
Nigerian National Rugby Team.
6th Form
A
s our Year 13 students reached the end of their formal
education the fnal assembly in Te Great Hall was
an emotional end of era. However, they had let their hair
down prior to this with a Scottish dancing session, to
the accompaniment of bagpipes, with skipping, twirling
and Dosey Doeing a surreal memory to say the least
as one student commented. We also had an opportunity
to thank the Year 13 Prefects with a special luncheon
in Te Pavilion; they have been exemplary ambassadors
for the school, admirably led by the outstanding School
Captains Mohammed Fallaha and Grace Boyle, and
the Senior Prefect team of James Atkinson, Eleanor
Goodman, William Pyle and James Watson. A fnal
farewell Leavers Event started with a Reception in the
New Quad before students moved on to the Westerham
Golf Club. We wish all of them happiness and fulflment
at university and in their lives beyond.
Congratulations to the new Senior Prefect team: the
Captain of School, Skanda Rajasundaram; and Vice
Olavian 2013 7
Captains Timothy Adelani, Charlie Bishop, Jordan
Fisher, Sinead OConnor and Zeinab Ruhomauly.
Admissions Olaves
T
he reputation and popularity of the school are
continuing at record levels with Year 7 applications
now exceeding 900. Around 450 prospective external
students recently sat entrance papers for the 6th Form.
For the successful 100, expected to join us with 8 or
more A*/A grades, there was a real buzz of excitement
at the Congratulations Evening, with tours of the school
hosted by our Year 12 Prefects, and a very popular bufet!
Science and Medicine
C
onsistency of progression into Medicine is becoming
a hallmark of St Olaves and 2013 produced a
record 25 successes. Te students are highly organised,
running their own Medics Society with visiting speakers
such as consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Willis-
Owen or in-house speakers like Vice-Captain of
School, Zeinab Ruhomauly, who gave a presentation
on Antibiotic Resistance. Tey also produce their own
quarterly Medical Journal with scholarly articles such
as Can gene therapy be used to treat breast cancer? or
Critical limb ischemia. Congratulations to Mohammed
Fallaha and Asher Leeks who gained Gold medals in
the National Biology Olympiad; to Finn Duggan, Ian
Chiang and Tom Wang, who were awarded Gold medals
in the National Biology Challenge competition, and to
Alexander Robbins and Christopher Speller who won
awards for gaining the 3rd highest mark nationally in
the Salters-Nufeld A level Biology examination. Lower
School Biology Club has taken on a new lease of life
this year under the leadership of a fantastic group of
Year 12 students, who have arranged investigations and
dissections, informative talks and, more recently, a focus
on invertebrates to be found in the Biology garden. At
Nettlecombe Court Field Studies Centre in Somerset
74 A level Biologists carried out investigations on the
relationship between lichen species and the age of
gravestones.
Tanks to the leadership of Jenni Visuri, Harry Jenkins
and Fraser Boistelle, Te Natural Sciences Society
produced some superb examples of scholarship in their
latest magazine, with titles including Chaos, Discovery
of the Higgs Boson and Stellar limits on White Dwarfs.
Well done to Uroosa Chugtai who gained a Gold Award
amongst the 6200 students entered for the Cambridge
Chemistry Challenge, with questions ddesigned to
stretch the most able, including the discovery of the
oldest sample of water on Earth and the controversy
surrounding horse meat in processed foods.
Physics and Engineering Society continues to thrive with
lectures and debates on, for example, the possible shape of
the universe, how this is dictated by the amount of mass it
contains, and how this may determine the way in which
it ends. Members of Astronomy Club have enjoyed some
spectacular sights, including asteroid 2012 DA14 which
made a pass within 14,000 miles of Earths surface and
a meteor that burned up in Earths atmosphere, lighting
up the sky over the town of Chelyabinsk and sending a
powerful shockwave that injured about 1,000 people.
Mathematics Olaves
I
n a testament to the problem-solving skills of our
students, they achieved a record 43 Gold, 122 Silver
and 116 Bronze certifcates in the Senior Mathematical
Challenge. 7 students qualifed for the Olympiad, Round
1, with Alastair ONeill gaining a Bronze medal, for the
top 100 students, and Pascal Bose a distinction. Both
went on to the even more daunting Olympiad Round
2, where Pascal managed to solve completely 2 of the
4 extremely demanding problems to gain a place in the
top 20 nationally. Tis years Intermediate Mathematical
Challenge also produced a record 70 Gold, 92 Silver and
73 Bronze certifcates, with 15 students qualifying for
the Olympiads and 27 for the Kangaroo follow-ons. In
the Junior Mathematical Challenge, a record 10 qualifed
for the Junior Olympiad where Alex Song achieved a
Gold Medal for providing faultless solutions to 5 of the
6 demanding problems, with Alec Hong gaining Silver
and Daniel Maghsoudi and Oliver Bennett gaining
Bronze.
Te school hosted the regional fnal of the UK Maths
Team Challenge where the Olavian A-team of Owen
Messre, Richard Moulange, Henry Miller and
Christopher Rajendram emerged as winners and went
on to win a top 10 position in the National Final. In the
spirit of one of our founders, Ben Adlam left the UK to
take up a place at Harvard, majoring in Mathematics.
He returned recently to talk to Year 12 about American
universities and the scholarships available, which can
sometimes make US degrees cheaper than those in the
UK.
Political Economy Society
W
e were fortunate to welcome Mr Paul Mason,
Economics Editor of the BBCs fagship current
afairs programme, Newsnight, for an engaging session
on UK austerity and the banking crisis, and Dr Madsen
Pirie, Founder and President of the renowned Adam
Smith Institute, for a talk on Ten Major Errors of
Modern Political Economy. His experience as an advisor
to the Tatcher and Major Conservative Governments
8 Olavian 2013
led to a very informative and thought-provoking lecture.
Lincoln and Vietnam War Memorials, Te White House
and the World Bank were all part of the agenda in the
annual Economics and History trip to Washington and
New York. A packed New York itinerary took in Te
Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, Statue of
Liberty, Wall Street, American Museum of Finance,
and the razzmatazz of a Broadway Show. Te emotional
climax to this amazing trip was paying respects to those
who lost their lives at the new Freedom Tower being
built on the site of Ground Zero. Congratulations to
Benjamin Fryza, who has recently won a scholarship
with Ernst & Young.
Europe and Languages
O
pportunities for our students to broaden their
European cultural experience abound. In October,
6th Formers made their way to St Pancras and Eurostar
to begin a 5-day trip to Paris whilst younger students
enjoyed a day trip to the markets in Boulogne. A day trip
to France, for Years 8/9 took in a wafe shop and factory,
complete with tasting and purchasing these Flemish
delicacies, before heading to Lille, for the Christmas
market. A visit to Aachen started with breakfast in the
17th Century Alt Aachener Kafe Estuben before tours
of the Cathedral, Treasury and Christmas markets.
An amazing itinerary on the February Berlin trip took
in the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial,
the infamous Stasi Prison and a special 18th birthday
celebration in an exclusive caf with fowers, bows
and enormous pieces of exquisite gateaux! 34 German
students arrived from Starnberg to stay with Year
10s from Newstead and St Olaves, with an itinerary
including the London Eye, the Changing of the Guards,
the Globe and the Tower; the group left their partners
feeling rather sad, but looking forward to the return visit
in July. In Murcia students visited the mud baths of the
Salinas de San Pedro nature reserve and were specially
commended for the quality of their Spanish by the
organisers.
Humanities Olaves
Y
ear 10 Geographers visited Maidstone to collect
data on the sustainability of transport through trafc
counts, questionnaires, noise and pollution surveys;
Year 12 Geographers travelled to the Malham, in the
Yorkshire Dales, for the annual feld-trip a refreshing
if often rather damp experience!
Meanwhile, Year 9 Geographers gained a Certifcate
of Commendation signed by the Secretary of State
for International Development, the Rt Hon Justine
Greening, for their entry in the Shape the Future
Competition. Led by Alexander Leggatt, their
presentation covered the eradication of extreme poverty,
empowering women and infant mortality.
History continues to be a popular subject at St Olaves,
as evidenced by articles on the theme of Scandal in
the latest edition of the History magazine, including:
Te Abdication Crisis by Luke Watkins, Te Profumo
Afair by Cameron Garrett, Te Watergate Scandal by
Kieran Bayne-Douglas and Te Hillsborough Disaster
by Alex Tarrant-Anderson. Te Year 9 Battlefelds trip
to Normandy allowed students to visit the Pegasus
Bridge, Point du Hoc, Omaha beach, the St Laurent US
Cemetery and the Longues-sur-Mer gun battery. At the
Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Ranville each
student was allowed to place a poppy at a grave of their
choice to remember one of the men who died. Students
also travelled to Dover Castle with its secret wartime
tunnel complex and learned how the Dunkirk evacuation
was coordinated by Vice-Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.
Tanks to the restoration eforts of former student Mr
Michael Walter, the old Le Chavetois clock, which once
controlled all the school clocks at Tooley Street, now
hangs in pride of place in the School Reception.
Technology
E
ddie Ho and Abhay Gupta competed against 11
other teams in their age group in the National Final
of the Jaguar Maths in Motion Challenge at the Heritage
Motor Centre in Banbury. Tis is the frst time we have
reached this stage of the competition - a testament to
the outstanding support and encouragement provided
by Peter Leigh, Iain McGowan and Matthew Burns-
Watkins of Year 13.
Team Attyre of Billy Belsham, Kai Smith, Benjamin
Stanbury, Edward Tolmie, Seraphin Gnehm and Adrian
Santhaipillai whose belt made from recycled bicycle
tyres saw them shortlisted and gain a well-deserved
commendation in the fnal of the Design Ventura
competition.
Music Olaves
T
hose who braved a freezing cold December evening
were treated to a sparkling Christmas Concert with
extracts from Griegs Peer Gynt and Elgars Nimrod,
a-cappella carols by Taverner, Stopford and Lauridsen,
up-tempo Rudolph, Bare Necessities and Hollywood
Milestones from the Jazz and Brass and Symphonic
Wind bands, and a powerful performance of Pergolesis
Magnifcat. Te Final of the Norman Trotman
Instrumental Competition at the BYMT was a stunning
display talent with 2 Olavians amongst the 7 fnalists.
Olavian 2013 9
Stefan Beckett, who also has a prestigious scholarship to
the Royal College of Music, was awarded the 1st Prize
and the Norman Trotman Trophy for a performance that
was technically fawless. Stefan also had the honour of
performing at the Commonwealth and Foreign Ofce
in the presence of the Rt Hon William Hague MP.
Well done to Oscar Ridout whose setting of Te lucis ante
terminum was sung for the frst time at the Festival of
Contemporary Church Music at St Pancras Church.
A fabulous production of Cabaret displayed talented
performances from 2 diferent casts and some vocal
control that would rival that heard in many West End
productions. Te annual Jazz Night included special
guest Simon Bates whose sax/clarinet playing was
breath-taking, and the inspirational Nick Beston who
celebrated his 25th year since starting the Senior Jazz
Band. Te Spring Concert was also full of high quality
music from many of our Year 13 leavers, as well as
being the fnal concert for John Castle after 23 years of
conducting the Symphonic Wind Band.
English and Drama
N
ot only acting but also talented directorship was
on display this year with Fintan Calpin directing
Brechts Te Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Jack
Bradfeld and Samuel Luker Brown directing Oscar
Wildes classic Te Importance of Being Earnest.
Congratulations to all 3 directors whose new plays
received performances as part of the National Teatre
New Views competition. With so much time devoted
to the production of Cabaret, Year 11 students were
nevertheless congratulated by the examiner for their
performances of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are
Dead, Te Pillowman, Every Good Boy Deserves
Favour and Waiting For Godot, and Years 9 and 10
gave a powerful performance of William Goldings
Lord of the Flies.
Teatre trips have given our students exposure to some
of the best professional performances in London such as
the Apollo Teatres Te Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Night Time; a modern, updated production of
Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet at Te Globe, Michael
Morpurgos Private Peaceful at Te Haymarket and
Mies Julie at Te Riverside Studios. Dress Up as a
Book Character Day meant that the school was full
of colourful literary characters whilst celebrations for
World Book Day included a free 1 book token for every
pupil.
Chess continues to be one of our most popular and
successful interests. Conrad Allison and Raunak Rao
were part of the victorious 8 player Kent Chess team
that won the National Youth U18 Chess Association
title, with teams from 8 English counties and from
South Wales. Also, despite having predominantly young
players, our team did themselves proud in the annual
Millfeld International Competition, fnishing in 3rd
place to continue our unbroken run of fnishing in the
top 3 places for each of the last 9 years. In an exciting
climax to the season Conrad Allison won the U18 Kent
Junior Chess Association Grand Prix, also fnishing 1st
at the Grand Prix Final in Sevenoaks. Congratulations
to all of our boys who took part so that St Olaves
fnished as the top Secondary School for the 12th time
since 2000.
Sport Olaves
T
he Rugby teams were active all year and despite
bad weather leading to a number of fxtures being
cancelled, the 1st XV won their match against Salesians
to progress to the 5th round of Te Daily Mail Vase
competition. Te U15 Dublin Rugby Tour proved to
be a memorable trip with some tough encounters and,
2 years in preparation, the South America Rugby Tour
lived up to all expectations with fabulous cultural, social
and sporting experiences. Some tough but close Rugby
and some exotic locations such as Santiago, Buenoes
Aires and the beautiful Iguazu Falls helped to make this
an unforgettable experience.
Another highly successful Fives season resulted in St
Olaves students winning many trophies and defeating
top schools such as Alleyns, Eton, Berkhamsted,
Merchant Taylors, Oundel, Blundells, Shrewsbury
House School, Pilgrims, St Andrews Eastbourne, and St
Pauls on the way.
In the Open, Christopher Self & Sanjay Kundu won the
Doubles, and both players also met in the Singles Final
where Sanjay won the Title by 2 points!
Te St Olaves 1st Team of Christopher Self, Sanjay
Kundu, Sudhir Balaji, with Howard Wiseman, Seb
Cooley and Peter White beat Shrewsbury 2-1 in a
thrilling fnal to defend their prestigious Richard Barber
Cup title.
Kameron Swanson and Sohayl Ujoodia became
Midlands championships winners.
Tomas Gallagher, Vishwakrith Shetty, Kieran Walton, Sohayl
Ujoodia, William Carew and Kameron Swanson won the
REFCA CUP National 3 pair U14 team competition.
James Tate and Kieran Walton are the Eton Fives
Schools Nationals U13 champions.
10 Olavian 2013
James Tate and Kieran Walton are the Rugby Fives U13
National Doubles champions.
Kameron Swanson took the trophy as Rugby Fives U13
Singles champion.
Chukwunenyem Nwuba beat St Pauls top player to take
the National U14 Rugby Fives Singles title.
Christopher Self and old boy Sebastian Cooley won the
Graham Turnbull Trophy
Our Cricket teams have been very successful this term
with all four teams reaching the Bromley Cup Finals
and Year 7 also reaching the Kent 20/20 Cup Final.
Stars of the season were Year 8 who recorded 13 wins
out of 15 matches this season following a successful
tour to Devon. Tey then proceeded to win both the
Bromley and Kent Cups with impressive performances
from Sohayl Ujoodia, Martin Senior and Laiq Nagi.
Congratulations also to Angus Dalgleish who was
selected for the Dartford and District Schools XI match
against Lashings XI. Well done to Sohyal Ujoodia,
Prabu Sathananthan and Angus Dalgleish who have
been chosen to represent Kent this summer.
Well done to Felix Haslam, Teodore Haslam,
Henry Rennolls and Michael Jacobs who all won
top places London Schools Swimming Association
Championship held at Crystal Palace. Michael went on
to represent London in the English Schools Swimming
Championships, winning the 400M Individual Medley
in a fantastic race to become the English Schools Inter
Divisional Champion 2013.
Well done also to Shunta Takino who, despite only being
an U16 player, has recently won 3 titles as Kent Tennis
Champion, U16 boys, U18 boys and U18 doubles; to Adam
Whitelaw who has been selected again for the England
U15 Epee squad; to Tomas Gallagher who was selected for
Kent U15 hockey; and to Chukwunenyem Nwuba who
won the Junior Victor Ludorum and to Bingham who were
overall winners of the Sports Day trophy.
It was good to celebrate the vast array of sports
undertaken by students at Sports Celebration Evening
where awards recognised skill and dedication, and guest
speaker/Old Olavian, David Akinluyi, was inspirational.
DofE
A
fter the practice expedition on Dartmoor where
drowning seemed more than possible, students
again endured unseasonal weather in the Gold DofE
Assessed Expedition in the Brecon Beacons during
the Easter holiday. Despite gale force winds and thigh
deep snow in many places, the group overcame the
challenge and passed the assessment with fying colours.
It is a testament to their character that they were one
of only a handful of teams to complete this 5-day
challenge when so many other schools had pulled out.
Year 9s commencing the scheme braved the terrain from
Limpsfeld to Sevenoaks on a DofE Bronze Award
training expedition in a variety of weather conditions
ranging from balmy sunshine to slightly more inclement
downpours. Congratulations to recent leavers: Caroline
Apsey, Michael Battle, Felicity Bown, Benedict Cook,
Deeya DSouza, Stephen Ellington, Jonathan Essam,
Kit Harris, Daniel Morland, Verity Pitts, Aaron Neill,
Emily Torne and Jon Tong who have been invited
to a presentation at St James Palace to receive their
certifcates from HRH Te Earl of Wessex.
Art Olaves
T
he 6th Form Art group enjoyed the cultural delights
of Amsterdam, with Rembrandts Night Watch,
the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Modern
Art Gallery. Light relief was provided by the Cheese
Museum, the David Bowie exhibitions and a canal
tour of this fascinating city. Year 10s visited a variety of
London galleries and museums, focusing on the way the
river Tames has been used, through historical evidence
in the old cranes, docks, buildings and pictures of the
3000 ships afoat at the height of the British Empire.
Cultural Enrichment
T
he 6th Form trip to Greece took in the traditional
sites of Olympia, Mycenae, Epidauros, Delphi and
Athens as well as the fascinating site of Rhamnous, an
Athenian military fort overlooking the straits of Euboea,
and a visit to Orchomenos with its colossal bee-hive
tomb.
Others few to Johannesburg to take part in a biological
conservation project with Operation Wallacea. Under
the guidance of local rangers at Struwigs Eco-reserve
in western Kruger, the students were trained in bush
survival techniques and conservation issues facing Africa
as a whole. As part of habitat surveys they collected
data on birds, invertebrates and mammals as well as
having many thrilling encounters with elephants, girafe,
zebra, bufalo, wild dogs and lions. Te 2nd week was
spent on the East coast at Sodwana Bay where students
completed their diving training and the reef ecology
course, before some close encounters with dolphins,
turtles and humpback whales!
Tose keener on sport jetted of to Salt Lake City, Utah,
for the annual ski trip. With 6 hours of tuition every
Olavian 2013 11
day, a chance to see the Grizzleys play Ice Hockey and
plentiful American cuisine, the experience was packed
full of all types of activities.
Congratulations Olaves
A
number of students have gained other individual or
team honours. Congratulations to:
Tomas Halton, Jonathan McCabe, Daniel ODriscoll,
Jordan Adesina, Alexander Martin and Rory Yeates
Riddoch who came through victoriously to take joint 1st
Place in the Bromley Fully Booked Literature Quiz.
Charles Jones, Skanda Rajasundaram, Keir Bowater,
Chiha Choi and Samuel Rowe who won prestigious
Arkwright Scholarship Foundation awards, bringing the
schools total to 11, a record for any UK school.
Jack Bradfeld, who was short-listed from 5,000 entrants
in the WICKED Young Writers Award and, in the
presence of Michael Morpurgo, had his work read by
members of the cast at the Apollo Victoria Teatre
Oliver Plumstead, whose photographs on Flickr led to
an invitation to be a contributor to Getty Images
Deniz Ali, who did conservation work with Exeter
University at the Alagadi Turtle Beach in Northern Cyprus
Teo Cliford, who was a fnalist in the Baillie Giford &
Financial Mail Young Writers Competition
Cultural Evening
A
fter much preparation, a massive audience was
entertained at the fabulous Cultural Evening, with
Tamil singing, American piano playing, Indian dance
medleys, Carnatic music, a Chinese poem and Indian
singing. Ireland stole the show with a sensitive reading
by Fintan Calpin of W. B. Yeats Easter 1916 - a Terrible
Beauty was Born and spirited Irish dancing by Roisin
Hegarty ODowd. Many parents generously brought in
food for the Food Market to create a mouth-watering
display of tables piled high with exotic dishes from just
about every corner of the earth, before the entertainment
was rounded of with a colourful Fashion Show.
Provision Olaves
T
he new year saw the start of our new catering
company and I am pleased to say that feedback from
students about the quality and range of food on ofer is
very positive. A new series of Careers Information Talks
has been taking place with guest speakers talking about
their careers, qualifcations and training opportunities.
We have welcomed a number of Old Olavians, including
Edward Barker, who talked about his Gap year with
accounting frm Deloitte; Dr Riyaz Shah who spoke
about careers in medicine and Neil Sears, who is
currently a writer with the Daily Mail newspaper, and
who, not surprisingly, spoke about the qualities required
to be a journalist.
Scholarship is at the top of the agenda at St
Olaves and I am constantly impressed by the research
undertaken, and presentations delivered by students
in academic societies, including: Nuclear Fusion,
Dystopian Fiction, Pharmaceutical Research, Reality,
Animation, Te History of the Soviet Union, How
Magnets work, Te universe before the Big Bang and the
Devastating Efects of Hurricane Sandy. A large number
of Senior students gave presentations on their EPQ
(Extended Project Qualifcation) research. Te scheme
was extended to younger students this year through the
Higher Project, with some erudite presentations on:
Te Olympic Legacy, Currency Forgery and the UK
Economy, Duality in Oscar Wilde, Journalism and the
Internet, Republicans and democrats, Cancer Causes,
and Treatment Options; British Interventionism, Chaos
Teory, Funding the NHS a Critique of Coalition
Policy.
Values Olaves
T
he annual Festival, complete with zany activities,
pushed the overall charity total to 7,000, which
students chose to donate to Over the Wall and Te
Princess Royal University Hospital Special Care Baby
Unit. 2 years ago, students supported the construction
of the new Langalanga School in Kenya and I was
pleased to receive a photograph of the door of one of
the new classrooms, named St Olaves. I also received
a letter thanking the staf and students for raising 350
during this years Poppy Appeal. It is good that our
students continue to support the Royal British Legion
who, without donations such as this, would be unable to
continue their vital benevolent work. Students involved
in Le Chavetois scheme have also continued support
local organisations where, for example, Iain McGowans
volunteering work at Raglan Primary School was
described as a wonderful inspiration by the staf. We
were pleased to host Bishop Lindsay Urwin for the
Communion Service in February; he particularly enjoyed
meeting a number of our students, whom he described as
mature, thoughtful and engaging.
12 Olavian 2013
Parents Association
T
he Parents Association continues to raise substantial
amounts of money for the school through Second
Hand Uniform Sales, Parents Quiz Nights, Auction
sales and so on. On a glorious sunny day a variety of
stalls, assault course, bouncy castle, food, drinks and
Samba Bands created a welcoming and highly enjoyable
afternoon at the PA Family Fun Day before a glamorous
evening of good food, wine and dancing at Te Warren
allowed members to let their hair down at their annual
Summer Ball. Te much-need fnancial support
provided by the PA has enabled the opening of the new
PE Fitness Suite, the purchase of 2 defbrillators, 3 new
Cricket sight screens, a brand new set of giant Chess
pieces for the 1st Quad and on-going coaching for this
important Club.
Old Olavians
M
y colleagues and I recently met with 6 recent
former Captains of School to explore ways to
cement stronger links with the Old Olavian community,
develop useful networks of peer groups, build on their
skills and experience to help current students and, of
course, to support fund-raising initiatives. One such
activity is Te Old Olavians Day and Luncheon which
was well attended this year, with boys from the Rugby
squad acting as waiters and a fascinating speech from
Sir Roger Sims. It was a pleasure to welcome back Old
Olavian Jeremy Wisdom who gave a thought-provoking
assembly on the challenges he has faced recently as the
Principal of Te Kings School in Burundi. It was also
good to see so many friends and Old Olavians at the
Former Choristers Service in Te Queens Chapel of the
Savoy. As always, the cheques received from Chris Harris,
Chairman of the Old Olavian Society, will be immensely
helpful in supporting the general school budget and the
hardship fund. It was particularly encouraging to note
the inclusion of a substantial bequest from Dr Ray
Cooper, who attended the Tooley Street site from 1948-
1956 and was a member of the Forties group of Old
Olavians. Sadly, Mark Jones who attended St Olaves
from 1986 to 1993, died at the very young age of 36. A
student at Trinity College, Cambridge and a great lover
of the music of Bach, he was a fne musician, organist
and lovely person; A CD, entitled Bach at Trinity has
been recorded as a tribute to him.
Colours
A
s always, I have been very pleased to award a large
number of School Colours to students who have made
outstanding contributions or demonstrated exceptional
talent, distinguished leadership, full commitment and
conduct that brings credit to themselves and the school.
Staffng and Funding cuts
W
e have now faced almost 3 years of the worst Public
Sector funding cuts for the last half century - and
there are still worse to come. Grammar Schools, like St
Olaves, continue to be particularly badly hit because the
funding formulas at both pre and post 16 have had ALL
success factors removed. We do not beneft from any of
the much-publicised Pupil Premium, nor the extra 1000
per pupil who fails GCSE English and Mathematics,
nor any post-16 weighting for Vocational subjects.
I am deeply grateful to a group of parents, the Ensuring
Excellence team (EEX), for their generous time and
commitment to the new fundraising campaign. Tey are
working tirelessly to increase parental contributions and
generate additional income so that we can survive the
overall reduction of 600,000 in our annual income and
sustain the levels of scholarship, excellence and cultural
activity in which we all take such pride at St Olaves.
Aydin na
Olavian 2013 13
14 Olavian 2013
StOGS in the Fifties
T
ooley Street - the name? According to what I have
read it is actually derived from the name of the
original church of St Olave.
Te present thoroughfare would be unrecognisable to
anyone who had attended St Olaves School during the
1950s, assuming they had not visited the area since, and
no more than just a couple of words to anyone under
their mid-ffties who had never been to the school there
at all. Te short stretch of the River Tames that lies
between London Bridge to the west and Tower Bridge
to the east, known as the Pool of London, was still a
bustling hive of activity in the middle of the twentieth
century with many wharves and warehouses situated
on the southern side. A quick reference to a map will
illustrate that there is but a comparatively narrow strip
of land between Tooley Street and the actual river but
the amount of cargo that moved through there was quite
amazing. Many of the commodities that were imported
across the wharves lining the river were foodstufs,
and I have heard the area in general referred to as Te
Larder of London for this reason. Although it may be
hard to believe in the year 2012, ocean-going vessels still
made their way up the Tames to the Pool of London
in the 1950s and would berth at wharves along the
southern bank to discharge and load cargoes. Generally
speaking these were comparatively small ships, even by
mid-twentieth century standards, and served in short
sea trading. Tis means that their voyages took them
to the nearer ports of Western Europe, but there were
vessels which sailed to and from the Baltic that regularly
tied up at the wharf which was sited between St Olaves
and the river where the Mayor of Londons ofcial ofce
now stands. Te northern bank of the Pool of London
had far fewer wharves, mainly due to the Tower of
London occupying much of its length. To the western
end, however, there stood the former Billingsgate Fish
Market, which was still actively trading in those days,
and a rather grand white building immediately adjacent
to the northern end of London Bridge called New Fresh
Wharf. Te principal cargoes landed here were fruits, and
the wharf was used by much larger vessels voyaging to
and from the Canary Islands on a regular basis with the
very occasional visit by a ship from places much further
afeld such as the Pacifc Coast of North America.
Before any of the ships visiting the Pool of London
could proceed on their outbound voyage they had to be
turned which could be quite exciting, especially in high
winds. On more than one occasion a large ship ended up
lying right alongside London Bridge which caused a few
headaches to the port authorities as well as the master
and ofcers of the vessel. When arriving or leaving each
vessel would require Tower Bridge to be raised leading
to total trafc chaos both north and south of the river
several times a week. It was not only ocean-going ships
that brought goods to be landed at the warehouses along
Tooley Street as there was also a huge amount of trafc
Robin Dadson, Old Olavian (1954-59), has written about his days at the school, then still situated
in Tooley Street, in the 1950s. He presents an incredible picture of a school very diferent to today
in many ways, but, equally, with smiliarities that Younger Olavians will, we hope, recognise. In
fact, we so liked the article - especially the wonderful descriptions of past teachers - that we have
chosen to print it here, near the front of the magazine, rather than in the Old Olavian section.
Whether you have just joined in Year 7, are soon to leave in the Upper VI, or are now an Old
Olavian, this is an article which we highly recommend.
Olavian 2013 15
that had been of-loaded from ships berthed in dock
areas further down river into lighters or barges which
where then towed upstream by tugs to enable fnal
delivery through warehouses in the Pool of London.
You may be wondering, quite rightly, what all this has to
do with life at St Olaves in those days and the answer is
plenty. Te narrow strip of land between the northern side
of Tooley Street and the river has since been dramatically
opened up with the demolition of many of the old
warehouses and the preservation and conversion of others
into shopping centres and/or riverside restaurants. Tere
is even a private hospital situated in a former warehouse.
It is strange to refect on the fact that the area now has
something of a trendy atmosphere which appeals both to
tourists and other visitors alike. In the 1950s the aspect
was far less attractive with a number of very narrow,
dark, dingy lanes leading northwards from Tooley Street
towards the river between the tall, dismal warehouses.
I believe the present students of St Olaves are inclined
to sing of Dark Satanic Mills. Well, gentlemen, and
I guess I should now also be saying ladies, you might
sing of these mills but we saw them, or their equivalent,
every day on our way to and from school rather than
the leafy lanes of Orpington. As you progressed along
Tooley Street you were treated to a variety of smells that
came from these buildings and these ranged from being
quite pleasant to most unpalatable. For me the worst was
the sickly, cloying smell of concentrated rum which was
to be experienced when passing a vault located under
the railway viaduct on the south side of the road, not
far from where the London Dungeon later opened. Te
buildings to the southern side of Tooley Street had not
changed to anywhere near the same degree as those on
the northern side when I last visited the area a few years
back mainly due to the Southern Railway and the viaduct
that carries the lines through London Bridge Station.
Te vaults under the railway viaduct, many of which now
house tourist attractions, provided a convenient storage
area for many of the imported goods. East of the junction
with Bermondsey Street the buildings seemed much the
same as they were sixty years ago. Te only diference was
that these buildings formerly contained ofces which
accommodated businesses that had some connection to
the shipping or import and export industries but many
now house bars, restaurants and other such attractions.
16 Olavian 2013
If I recall correctly the only place you could see anything
of the river and beyond was across a bomb-site opposite
the hostelry called the Shipwrights Arms - known
locally as Te Pink T-t due to the carved fgurehead
of a lady which still adorns the frontage. HMS Belfast,
now moored in the Pool of London, was possibly still
in service at that time and was certainly not there to
obstruct the view. Building work actually started on
this site whilst I was at school and became Battlebridge
House which I later visited quite often in the course of
my career but even this has now been demolished to
make way for more modern developments. How time
fies, but it is quite ironic that much earlier buildings
have survived whilst one built during the 1950s has
gone! Naturally there was a lot of road trafc generated
by all this commercial activity in addition to the normal,
everyday fow of buses, taxis and cars and all this had
to be avoided when crossing the street. Tere was no
bridge leading over the road by London Bridge Station
as there is today, nor was there a pedestrian crossing. It
was rumoured that, following a letter by Dr Carrington
which brought this situation to the attention of the local
authority, a zebra-style crossing was installed near to the
school and it was still in place when I last visited the area.
True to character Carrington immediately made it clear
that all boys travelling via London Bridge Station should
remain on the southern side of Tooley Street until the
crossing was reached. I cannot recall whether this was
made a school rule or only issued as a guidance, but
it was yet another area where Carrington imposed his
infuence.
It may come as a surprise for some to learn that, in those
days, the authority of a school carried far beyond the
actual premises. Woe betide any pupil should Carrington
received a complaint about any misbehaviour whilst that
boy was travelling to or from school or indeed anywhere
else whilst wearing the school uniform. Te complaint
would be investigated and, if justifed, punishment would
be imposed for bringing the name of the school into
disrepute. I cannot help but refect on my former place
of residence where there were regular complaints from
the local community regarding the behaviour of some
of the pupils attending the local comprehensive school,
a small element of whom just seemed to run wild. Sadly
the ofcial response was that, once students were beyond
the school gates, it was nothing to do with the school!!
How times have changed, and not for the better.
Although the dockers and stevedores who worked in the
wharves and warehouses along Tooley Street were usually
far too busy to take notice of the large number of boys
that passed them on a daily basis, there were occasional
industrial disputes which resulted in crowds of dock
workers gathering along the route between London
Olavian 2013 17
Bridge Station and the school. Te older men still took
little notice of the boys walking past but the younger
element might poke fun at Te Tofs dressed up in their
regulation uniforms and wearing their school caps. Tis
was all a bit silly as it was quite feasible that a son of a
dock worker might actually be attending St Olaves if he
were bright enough, but nobody seemed to acknowledge
this point. Indeed one of my contemporaries lived in a
block of fats right opposite the school building, literally
but a few yards distant, and, for all I know, his relations
may well have been employed locally in Tooley Street. If
I remember rightly during my frst couple of years all boys
were obliged to wear caps right up until their very last
day but this was later relaxed and, by the time I reached
the sixth form, all older boys were allowed to dispense
with this headgear. I can only assume that Carrington
became aware of the embarrassment his older students
were facing from these younger dock workers. Some boys
were eighteen or nineteen before they left and, obviously,
looked quite ridiculous wearing a cap at that age.
Whilst boys attending St Olaves were regarded as Tofs
by some younger people, frst year students were obliged
to attend elocution lessons under the supervision of the
only female member of the teaching staf, namely Miss
Robinson. Apart from the dinner ladies who visited for
a couple of hours or so each day the only other female
employed at the school was Dr. Carringtons secretary but
she was seldom seen by the boys. On refection I think we
junior boys were somewhat unjust to Miss Robinson as
she was regarded as a quite elderly, plain spinster and was
given the nick name Fanny in a somewhat derogatory
fashion. I must admit I have no vivid memories of her but
I now think she was possibly anywhere between thirty-
fve and forty-fve years of age and not that unattractive
to her contemporary males. Tis injustice possibly came
as a result of the general attitude of the time when ladies
past forty fell into the category of being middle-aged
and were thought of as sitting at home in their woolly
cardigans, knitting by the freside. Only recently, when I
was shufing through a large number of old photographs
in the hope of unearthing some taken during my days at
Tooley Street, I came across one of a dear old couple -
my maternal grandparents. I then suddenly realised that,
at the time it was taken, they were younger than I am
now myself. Times really have changed, but I digress.
Elocution lessons! Dr Carrington was clearly of the
opinion that a South London accent would be highly
detrimental in later life and had to be smoothed out in
order for a boy to get anywhere in the world. I wonder
how he would have felt if he had been able to see Lord
Sugar on the television stating Yer fred in his East
End accent. Strange to tell but my career was spent
almost entirely in the shipping industry during which
time I had a great deal of contact with East End freight
forwarders who were the salt of the earth and knew
shipping backwards but seemed to regard anybody with
an upper-class accent as being a bit of a twit. Anything
that Miss Robinson had tried to instil into me was
quickly dropped in favour of my South London, though
by no means cockney, way of speaking and I was more
than accepted. It also seems somewhat ironic that the
curriculum at St Olaves in the 1950s included teaching
English boys how to speak English when in 2012 we read
many schools face the situation where a large percentage
of pupils do not understand the language at all.
Te annual school play, which was overseen by Mr Hill,
who was nicknamed Benny for obvious reasons, was
quite an event and the acting was of a very high standard.
At least one of the boys that appeared regularly in these
productions entered the profession and has frequently
been seen on television. Tere were a number of
consecutive nightly performances to which parents were
invited, I believe, for a small charge which went towards
production costs. Te main hall became the venue for
these performances, which were drawn from playwrights
such as Shakespeare, and the dais was converted into a
very realistic stage.
Tere was also a school orchestra and choir, and some
choristers from the latter were recruited into the choirs
of Southwark Cathedral and Te Savoy Chapel. Te
orchestra gave ample support to the annual school play
if required.
On occasions Dr Carrington would treat the school to
musical recitals and all pupils would gather in the main
hall in order to appreciate the performances. I recall one
group of musicians were known as Te Marylebone
String Quartet and, despite their undoubted talents,
most boys were totally bored by their presentations.
Having said that, it was better than sufering double
maths or, worse still, Latin which was still taught at St
Olaves when I joined in 1954. I believe I am correct in
saying Carrington gained his doctorate following his
research and work on Pompeii so, no doubt, he had a great
desire for Latin to be taught. Some students were quite
linguistic and took to learning this language but I have
to confess I was not one of them. Fortunately, after the
18 Olavian 2013
frst year, any boy that was clearly never going to master
the subject was excused further torture and was able to
drop Latin from his curriculum. I am certain Latin was
of use, possibly even essential, for some students who
were aiming for a certain career but it was totally useless
to the greater majority.
I had been fve years at the school before I came to gain
another somewhat strange insight into Carringtons
views on education. Once a boy had reached the lower
sixth he faced at least one period a week which was
overseen by Carrington rather than one of the lesser
teaching staf. My fate, and that of my contemporaries,
was to be taught of the days of the early English settlers
in North America and their lifestyle with reference
to a book written around that time. At the end of the
lesson we would be set homework on what we had
learned and would be tested at the start of the next
weeks lesson by being required to answer around twenty
supposedly relevant questions. Any boy failing to answer
a set percentage correctly was automatically awarded a
Saturday detention, upon which I shall elaborate later.
Most of us memorised dates, locations, names of settlers,
voyage details and the like, but on one occasion we were
asked to name the staple diet that prevailed during the
winter of sixteen hundred and whatever. I dont think any
of us had a clue but the answer was hog and hominy
whatever that is. Funny to think I have remembered
this right into the year 2012 and still do not really know
exactly what it consists of apart from pork and certainly
have never found the subject to arise in any subsequent
conversation I have had. In the words of Sir Michael
Caine, Not a lot of people know that, and by a strange
coincidence this respected actor was born in St Olaves
Hospital, Rotherhithe!
In earlier reminiscences I mentioned the fact that the
greater majority of students were not allowed to enter
the school by the main entrance but were obliged to walk
along the front of the building and use a side door. Tis
rule was relaxed, however, on one occasion when the
guttering and drain-pipes from the roof became loose.
It was deemed too dangerous to walk immediately under
these so everyone had to use the main door or covered
playground to gain access. Tis took place at the same
time as a particular song called Te Day Tat the Rains
Came Down became very popular and entered the hit
parade. Of course this was adopted by the school and
the words adjusted to Te Day Tat the Drains Came
Down before being sung at every opportunity. Whether
this had the desired efect of annoying Carrington
following the enforced relaxation of his rules we never
really knew as he never made any comment on the
subject. Obviously the repairs to the guttering and drains
were absolutely essential, but I think the majority of boys
would have preferred that some attention be paid to the
main toilet block which was situated on the western
side of the main playground and was built alongside
the high wall of the warehouse which lay immediately
to the north of the main school building. To say the
Olavian 2013 19
least these positively stank and, apart from moments of
dire necessity, were avoided by most pupils. In the heat
of the summer months the stench could become quite
unbearable whilst, in the winter without the provision
of heating, they could become frozen up and were an
extremely chilly area to have to visit. I am sure they
were cleaned on a regular basis in accordance with the
regulations of the day, but I am equally positive that in
2012 they would have been condemned outright.
Te main school building itself dated from the 1890s and
was quite unlike any modern educational establishment.
Anyone entering through the main door would have
found themselves in a fairly large entrance hall from
which access could be gained to the main hall, cloakrooms,
headmasters secretarys ofce and a rather wide stairway.
Tis led to a large frst-foor landing from which you
could reach the balcony around the hall, the library, the
monitors common room, the music room and that most
mysterious of places, the masters common room. I do
not remember a single boy that could boast of having
entered this hallowed sanctuary although I suppose
there were some. You could gain access to the masters
common room by either of two doors, one leading of
the frst foor landing as mentioned or a second which
led onto the balcony. I have vivid memories of passing
both of these doors at times when they had been opened
and seeing clouds of smoke roll forth with a dense hazy
atmosphere beyond. Clearly there were no restrictions
or deterrents towards adults enjoying a smoke in those
days although any boy caught so doing could expect an
early interview with Dr Carrington. As I have already
indicated the library also led of this frst foor landing
beyond which was the door to Carringtons study. Tere
was an excellent stock of books in the library and boys
could always be seen browsing there at those times
when this was permitted. Many of these were, of course,
genuine browsers but some were there in order to catch
the sounds emanating from Carringtons study as he dealt
with some poor miscreant in his time-honoured fashion.
Tere was a second door leading into Carringtons
study from the balcony and, not infrequently, a boy
could be seen waiting outside this door often for quite a
considerable time. Everyone knew why he was there and
what he could expect once he was invited to enter which,
I have no doubt, was Carringtons way of providing a
deterrent to any other pupil contemplating mischief.
A further deterrent available to staf to help maintain
discipline over and above writing lines was Saturday
morning detention. If a boy was sufciently disobedient
or disruptive his name was entered in the detention book
and, after Friday morning assembly, Carrington would
read out the names of those boys that were required
to attend school the following morning. Everyone
waited to see if Carrington would then indicate that
he required to see a certain boy after the assembly had
been dismissed. If this occurred everyone knew what it
meant, a boys name had been entered in the detention
book on more than one occasion during the week and, in
addition to the two detentions, a further swifter penalty
was about to be added. Tis did not cancel out either
of the detentions, the frst of which would be served
the following day and the second at the end of the next
week. Te economic situation during the 1950s was such
that many boys could not rely on their parents to provide
generous amounts of pocket money so they found
themselves Saturday jobs in order to earn a little cash. I
say Saturday jobs as, in those days, few if any businesses
were open on a Sunday, so Saturday was the only day
when there was an opportunity to fnd part-time work.
Obviously, if a boy found himself in detention, any job
he might have was put in jeopardy and he might request
that he be sent up to see Carrington rather than risk
his job by non-attendance. Tis was a bit of a gamble
as it was not unknown for Carrington to administer
immediate punishment and then add detention as well if
he considered the ofence warranted additional measures.
Although Dr Carrington was lord and master of all he
surveyed and was a strict disciplinarian, I have also heard
reports that he had another side to his character and was
not unknown to ofer fnancial support to some pupil and
his parents who had fallen on hard times. His methods
of maintaining discipline and order would, undoubtedly,
have led to an investigation in 2012, but these were quite
acceptable in the mid-twentieth century. In fact in later
20 Olavian 2013
years I had a business colleague who had attended a
famous residential public school during the1950s and we
were inclined to compare notes. Whereas at St Olaves
only Carrington was allowed to administer the ultimate
deterrent my acquaintance revealed that, at his school,
this privilege was extended to all teaching staf and even
down to those senior boys appointed as monitors. He
further claimed that some monitors had a sort of contest
which started at the beginning of each term to see which
of them would be the frst to draw blood from a boys
backside! Rarely were teachers assaulted in those days
which, in these more enlightened times, appears to
happen on a daily basis. So much for progress.
I have already refected in an earlier submission how I
learned, many years down the line from one of my former
masters, that most of the teaching staf were as equally
fearful of Carrington as were the boys but immediately
opposite the school stood Te King of Belgium. Tis
place had a magnetic attraction for two or three of the
masters, whom I shall not name, who used to nip across
for a lunchtime pint on occasions, presumably pay day. It
was an open secret, but they always entered the place by
a side door rather than the main entrance which could
be seen quite clearly from the school. Whether this was
an attempt to avoid the gaze of the pupils, Carrington
or both was never clear but grown men who were
perfectly entitled to enter a pub for a beer did so in a
rather surreptitious fashion in the manner of naughty
schoolboys. Te place is still there but has since been
converted into a sort of wine bar/bistro and can no
longer be regarded as a pub.
Although the school was always referred to as being in
Tooley Street half of the building actually fronted onto
Queen Elizabeth Street which led up to a junction with
Tower Bridge Road. On the north-west corner of this
junction, and backing onto the school playground, stood
a small hut housing a snack bar which, during school
hours, was strictly out of bounds to all students. Tis
regulation became like a red rag to a bull to some more
rebellious boys although, as nobody was allowed to leave
the school premises during the day without express
permission, it was extremely difcult to break the ruling.
A rather hazardous solution was found by some who,
during a morning, lunchtime or afternoon break, would
deliberately kick a ball out of the school playground in
the general direction of the snack bar. Permission would
then be sought from a master or monitor to leave the
school area to retrieve the lost ball. If a lad was sufciently
quick he might just be able to purchase a meat pie or
some other such trophy from the snack bar and smuggle
it back into the school but, should this be detected, an
appointment with Carrington was guaranteed with the
usual results.
Te science labs were at the top of the main building on
the second foor. Tere were a number of science masters
Olavian 2013 21
Although I never had any frst-hand experiences myself
I have been told that one gym tutor would occasionally
force a boy to jump from the balcony down onto the gym
foor rather than go via the winding stairway. I would
guess that this was from a height of around ten feet or
more and I have heard it alleged that this resulted in
broken limbs on more than one occasion. Just how this
was allowed I really dont know but it seems to have been
if the stories are true.
Te art room was situated at the top of the New Building
which was to the east of the main building of the 1890s.
Te close proximity to Tower Bridge and the Tower of
London could provide something of a bonus during art
lessons if the weather was fne. When I joined the school
the art master was a Mr Middleton but he soon retired
and was replaced by a much younger, rather Bohemian-
like, gentleman who I think was called Mr Sleeman or
something similar. He was quite a pleasant, talented,
young man but had some trouble in maintaining order.
In order to assist in this somewhat difcult task he would
occasionally take an entire class on an outing across the
river to the Tower where we would sketch and paint our
interpretations of life in the Pool of London. Yet again I
have vivid recollections of the smell of the River Tames
under a hot summer sun which was quite unique and
cannot be explained. It has now been confned to history
with the clean-up eforts of more recent years. Tese
treats were only granted to the best behaved forms and
including Tafy Stevens who obviously hailed from
Wales. Another master, who had a rather dusky eastern
complexion and was awarded the unkind nickname of
Soapy as a result as he looked as if he needed a wash,
travelled to and from Tooley Street on a motor cycle.
He was very likeable and seemed to do his bit for road
safety by continually stressing to any classes he took that
his machine was of 500cc but he never rode it at over 30
mph. Maybe this was his way of instilling road sense into
boys who might well purchase a similar machine within
a few years. Please bear in mind it was quite unusual to
see anybody from the sub-continent or West Indies in
those days and racism had yet to really rear its ugly head.
Te chap had a dark complexion and that was that with
no racism intended.
Te laboratory technician was a chap called Wren and it
became a sort of tradition for boys to listen out for Tafy
Stevens summoning assistance by hollering out WREN
at the top of his voice in his Welsh accent which would
echo around the several laboratories. I suspect that these
science labs were quite primitive compared with modern
standards but were apparently well able to support
experiments whether these were being legitimately
supervised or not. I was not actually at the school when
the following took place and I can only assume that I
was either at the Dulwich sports grounds or of sick but
I know there was a great hue and cry after it occurred.
It seems that the majority of pupils were in class or
going about other approved activities when an almighty
explosion rocked the building blowing out some of the
science lab windows in the process. Te ofcial story
was that there had been an unfortunate accident in a
storage area but rumours were rife that a small number
of students had found a recipe for making a crude sort
of explosive. Tere were no such things as a World Wide
Web or Google in those days so goodness knows where
it came from. An unspillable inkwell, a familiar object
in schools during the 1950s, had been emptied, dried
out and packed with whatever had been concocted and
a crude fuse inserted through the top. I think a sort of
indoor frework had been anticipated but the recip was
most efective with the aforementioned results. I have
a feeling that those responsible did not remain at the
school for long after the incident.
At the western end of the main building was an annexe
which stood on arches above the covered playground.
Above this on the frst foor were the woodwork and
metalwork rooms and on the second foor was the gym.
All these were accessed by a spiral stairway in what was
known as the tower and this stairway actually went a
little further up past the door to the gym and opened
out onto a balcony which overlooked the gym at one end
rather like a minstrels gallery. Tis was where the boys
actually changed into their gym gear before descending
the spiral staircase once again to enter the gym itself.
22 Olavian 2013
worked quite well in maintaining order but he could still
face insubordination from junior classes. I actually left St
Olaves at the end of 1959 so, during my last term at the
school, I had many free periods along with one or two
boys who were in the same situation. We were, of course,
all in the lower sixth by that time and aged around
seventeen. I have to confess that I and the others were
encouraged to sit in on many of the classes Mr Sleeman
conducted when the younger, more rowdy, pupils were
present and act as sort of deputies. We would actually
sit in the storeroom out of sight but, if things got out of
hand, we would be called upon to show our faces and
that was enough to quieten things down and we never
had to do any more. I often wonder what Mr Sleeman
did in the spring term of 1960 when his deputies had
left to earn their living in the great outside world, but I
guess I will never know.
It is a fact that he was not the only member of staf
that had the misfortune of fnding it difcult to keep
order whilst others, without ever seemingly trying, had
mastered the art. Please excuse the pun. Te rather
diminutive Mr Buck was very adept at maintaining a
quiet class with his characteristic question, Whatever do
these boys think they are doing? Tat was quite enough
to calm things down despite his height of around fve
feet whilst other, far taller men, struggled.
Not all subjects had dedicated rooms, and many lessons
were conducted in ordinary form-rooms of which
there were quite a number. Te master specialising in a
particular subject would make his way to the appropriate
form-room and take a lesson. Many had their own unique
way of instilling learning, for instance Old King Cole
who taught history, would act out historic events before
the class prancing to and fro like some amateur thespian.
Mr Creed, the German tutor, gave all his students
German names and would conduct the lesson entirely in
German. I was Sebastian and it was known for a fact by
the boys that Herr Creed had commanded a U-Boat in
World War II although I seem to remember discovering
much later that he was as English as the rest of us.
Geof Chapman taught geography and was extremely
patriotic, frequently pointing out what advantages
certain countries had gained through being part of the
British Empire which later, of course, was to become
known as the Commonwealth. Most masters wore the
traditional gown and Mr Jack Hawkins, Deputy Head,
who taught English had one that appeared to have got
mixed up with a shredding machine. Tere was also a
Mr Jones, who, although Welsh was a fanatical cricket
fan, one assumes Glamorgan, and boys could often cut
a lesson short by asking about the latest cricket scores
the moment he appeared. Mr PG Ramm, Maths, once
caused a whole form to collapse in laughter during one
geometry lesson when he calmly announced that he was
aware that many boys found basic geometry quite boring
but, as we got older and progressed, we would start to
notice some very interesting curves. I honestly do not
think he ever realised why there was such uproarious
hilarity from the entire class.
Eventually, just before Christmas in 1959, my days as an
Olavian came to a close and I walked out of the school
gates as a pupil for the very last time to fnd myself within
the ranks of the Old Olavians two months before my
seventeenth birthday which was a bit awe-inspiring. I
sometimes refect on just how many other boys had done
exactly the same during the 75 years or so the Tooley
Street building housed St Olaves School. Te intake of
new boys when I joined in 1954 was around 100 and,
if this serves as a guide, it would be somewhere in the
region of 7,500 students.
Equally I wonder how many remember their days at
STOGS, Tooley Street and have similar memories to
mine? I know for a fact there are others as, during the
spring of 2011, I made a sort of pilgrimage by taking
a cruise to Norway and visited Trondheim Cathedral,
the possible fnal resting place of St Olaf. Imagine my
surprise when I mentioned to our guide that I had
attended St. Olaves School in London and a voice from
within our party of the same ship said, And so did I.
May I close by quoting a couple of lines from Te School Song:
Tough far away they seem to us, those mighty days of youth,
And things may look a dream to us that once were naked truth.
Upon refection those days do not actually seem so
far away and look just a dream but appear to have
been no more than a year or two back. Sadly, however,
those mighty days of youth have gone and in 2012 my
unbroken record of attending every single Old Olavian
annual reunion since I left the school came to an end due
to a severe attack of sciatica. I now wait with anticipation
in the hope that Olaf will right my wrong and I will be
back on parade on future occasions.
Robin A Dadson (1954-59)
All photos in this article sourced by the Assistant Editor
from copies of the Te Olavian from 1951-61.
Olavian 2013 23
24 Olavian 2013
Staffng 2012-13
Chairman of the Governors
S. Hibberdine, Esq., B.Sc., F.R.I.C.S.
Vice-Chairman of the Governors
Te Revd Professor P. Galloway,
OBE, JP, PhD, DLitt, FSA
Foundation Governors
Appointed by the Lord Bishop of Rochester:
R.P. Highmore, Esq., M.A
M.H. Lovett, Esq., F.C.I.B.
Appointed by the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education:
Te Revd H.A. Atherton,
M.A., M.T., B.Sc., F.G.S., Dip.Ed.
I. Ketchin, Esq.
Te Revd B. McHenry, CBE, M.A., B.A.
Appointed by the Chapter of Southwark Cathedral:
N. Grenside, Esq.
Appointed by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
acting jointly:
M.A. Edwards, Esq., M.A., M.Sc., A.C.A.
Appointed by the Senate of the University of London:
Te Revd Professor P. Galloway,
OBE, JP, PhD, DLitt, FSA.
Appointed by the Dulwich Estate:
S. Hibberdine, Esq., B.Sc., F.R.I.C.S.
Appointed by the Special Trustees of
Guys and St Tomas Hospitals acting jointly:
Councillor N.R. Reddin, F.C.C.A.
Elected Parent Governors
Miss J. Cattell, LLB, TEP
Mrs S. Chaudhary, M.A., B.Ed.
R. Senior, Esq., M.A., ACMA
A. Wright-Jones, Esq., B.A.
Elected Staf Governors
Mrs K.S. Brooker
Mrs C. Johnson, B.Sc.
A. Kenward, Esq., B.A. (Ed)
Local Authority Governor
Councillor J. Grainger.
Associate Governor St. Olaves Grammar School
A. Stoneham, Esq.
Ex Ofcio
A. na, Esq., B.Mus., BSc., ARCM, FRSA
Clerk to the Governors
R. Walters, Esq., M.A., ACA
Assistant Staf
R.N. Archer, Esq., B.Ed. (Hons),
Loughborough University
A.T. Henley, Esq., B.Sc., M.Sc., C.Math,
M.I.M.A., Univ. Coll. Cork & South Bank
University
C.E. Davies, Esq., B.A., A.T.D., M.A.,
Universities of Wales, Bristol & London
D.M.G. Craig, Esq., B.A., M.Phil.,
Bristol University & Kings College, London
Olavian 2013 25
L.J. Ward, Esq., B.Sc., M.Sc.,
University of Sussex & City University
N. Maltman, Esq., M.A.,
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Mrs. S.L. Beston, M.A.,
St Catherines College, Oxford
P.E. Holland, Esq., B.Ed. (Hons),
Brunel University
A.M. Kenward, Esq., B.A.(Ed.) (Hons),
University of Exeter
Mrs. H.C. Cooley, B.Ed. (Hons),
University of Sussex
D. Bowden, Esq., B.A., University of Lancaster
Mrs. R. Maxwell, B.A., University of Manchester
Mrs. M.T. Morinan, B.A., B.Sc., M.Sc., M.R.S.C.,
National University of Ireland & Open University.
Ms C.E. Marwood, B.Sc., Te Open University;
L.R.A.M., Dip. R.A.M.
Mrs. D.A. Ott, B.Sc., University of Shefeld
Miss M.F. Sullivan, B.A.,
Westfeld College, London University
Ms S.K. Wilcox, B.A.,
Goldsmiths College, London University
Mrs. J.M. Cooke, B.Sc., University of Wales
Mrs. P. Garton, B.Sc.,University of Kent
Mrs. J. Upsdell, B.A., University of Surrey
Ms J. Bradley, B.Sc., PhD, Kings College & Royal
Free School of Medicine, London
Mrs. C. Johnson, B.Sc., University of Nottingham
Mrs. D.E. Lewis, B.Sc., University of Portsmouth
Mrs. D.A. Storrs-Fox, B.A.,
University of Southampton
Ms G.C. Gardiner, M.A.,
Newnham College, Cambridge
Mrs. E.J. Kite, B.Sc., B.A.,
University of Birmingham & Te Open University
Mrs. S.J. Wallace, B.A., MPhil., PhD, University
of Lancaster & Christs College, Cambridge
Ms B. Onifade, B.Sc., PhD,
University of Central England
Mrs. J.S. Penny, B.Sc.,
Royal Holloway College, London University
T.M.W. Conway, Esq., B.A., University of Kent
J.A. Greenwood, Esq., B.Sc.,
University of Bradford
Mrs. K.A. Hodges, M.Eng.,
St. Catherines College, Oxford
M.G. Price, Esq., M.A.,
Trinity College, Cambridge
Mrs. P. Padmore, B.Sc., University of Sussex
Miss M. Delage, Master 1, Universite de Limoges
Mrs. V.E. Watson, B.A., University of Sussex
L.D. Espejo, Esq., M.A.,
University of St. Andrews
Mrs E.A. Goodman, B.A., University of York
Miss R.E. Hawley, B.A., Middlesex University
Miss A. Wilkie, M.A., B.A., University of
Warwick & Goldsmiths College, London
Miss E. Amonoo-Kuof, B.Eng., Aston University
G. Buckley, Esq., B.Sc., University of Shefeld
D.J. Budds, Esq., M.A.,
St. Peters College, Oxford
A.R. Gyford, Esq., MSci.,
University College, London University
Miss S.L. Heraghty, B.A.,
Loughborough University
P.S. Holton, Esq., M.A., B.A., University of
Shefeld Hallam & University of Loughborough
Ms. C.M. Knight, M.A.,
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Mrs S.G. Latcham, B.A.,
University College, London University
T.A McCurrach, Esq., MMath.,
Magdalen College, Oxford
J.R. White, Esq., B.Sc., University of Bath
Mrs J. M. Munday, M.A.,
Christs College, Cambridge
Mrs K. I. Steel, B.A., PhD,
Oxford & University of Southampton
Miss H. Baguley, B.Sc., Bristol University
Miss F. T. Marche, M.Phys.,
St. Edmund Hall, Oxford
S. V. Ng, Esq., M.Phys., University of Sussex
26 Olavian 2013
Miss D. N. Ellis, B.Sc.,
Pembroke College, Cambridge
D. R. Shilling, M.Cam.,
Bournemouth and Poole College
J. Geoghegan, Esq., B.A. University of Durham
Mrs. S. L. Beard, B.A., University of East Anglia
T. A. Martin, Esq., B.A., University of Reading
A. Lake, Esq., B.A., University of Nottingham
Miss L. G. Dunlop, B.A., University of Sussex
Departing Teaching Staf, Summer 2013
The Faculty of Mathematics, ICT
& Computer Science, 2011-12
Olavian 2013 27
Valete
Richard Booth
Richard has left to
become the Deputy
Headmaster at
Townley Grammar
school for Girls.
Having arrived in
1997, Richard made
an enormous impact
on the school from
the outset. He
showed himself to
be an outstanding
economics teacher
and a man prepared
to give up vast
amounts of time
for pupils outside
the classroom. He
was heavily involved in the sports programme, especially
the rugby teams, though his own game of choice was
football and indeed watching it, preferably his own
team Gillingham. Additionally he accompanied World
Challenge Trips overseas and was very much perceived
as a man who did rather than spoke about how much
he did. With these blessings he leapt up the cursus
honorum frst becoming Head of Economics, then Head
of Sixth Form and then acting Deputy Head. In between
he managed also to marry Lisa Bennett, a biology teacher
at the school, and become the father to two charming
daughters. His head was one of reasonableness and of
frmness when frmness was required. His presence in the
classroom and in the common room will be much missed.
Dominique Ellis
Dominique joined the Economics Department having
worked for more than a decade in the city. Educated
locally at Newstead Wood and then at Cambridge she
was to prove a woman of strong convictions and imbued
with the acumen to turn her hand to teaching other
subjects such as geography. A striking character with
a love of pilates, ballet and the theatre in general, she
brought to the classroom a certain individuality and fair.
She has now moved to Alleyns where we wish her the
greatest of success.
Fermina Marche
Fermina was sadly with us for but a short time. She
struck you for someone so young as someone who really
understand the craft of teaching. She was positively
brimming with enthusiasm for everything to do with
Physics. She was never happier than when she was
motivating the pupils in the joys of her particular branch
of science. She worked phenomenally hard in a school
where the staf all work so hard. She became an Olavian
very quickly. She will be greatly missed and much
appreciated at her new school, Dulwich College.
Thom Martin
Tom came to the history department where he showed
himself more than capable of flling the very large shoes
left by his predecessor. Tom was actually an ancient
historian, having studied Classical Civilisation at Reading
University. Members of the Humanities Department as
a whole seem to be there at all times from almost the
dawn chorus to the wee small hours of the evening, and
Tom was no exception. A superlative practitioner of his
subject, he was to be found helping pupils individually and
giving them the encouragement they needed. He greatly
enjoyed sport and was a man who gave up virtually every
Saturday to help with both cricket and rugby teams. He
coached his teams after school with considerable success
and also accompanied the departments trips overseas to
the First World War and Second World War battle sites.
He will be an enormous asset in his new school in Bexley.
Debra Ott
Debra Ott has taken a very well-deserved retirement
after a lengthy career in teaching mathematics. She
was actually part-time at the school, but she was such
a dedicated teacher that one really never had the
impression that she was not there every day. She was
the voice of common sense and was certainly not abashed at
expressing herself lucidly. She was very much admired by her
colleagues in the mathematics department for her devotion
to her classroom work. We wish her and her husband a
delightful long rest and no doubt lots of dog walking.
We would also like to send out our very best wishes to Silky Ng,
Esi Amono-Kuof, Heather Pearse, Jack Little, and William
Byrne, and to thank them for their service to the school.
28 Olavian 2013
Salvete - September 2013
James Davis
James returns to St. Olaves
as 2nd in the Mathematics
Faculty. Educated at Warden
Park School, he graduated with
a Degree in Mathematics from
UWC Cardif. James recent
responsibilities at Combe
Bank and other Schools have
included VLE management,
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Leadership, Timetabling and
SIMS expertise. A keen Chess player, James is also
involved in Orienteering and Cross Country.
Rachel Garswood
Miss Rachel Garswood is
starting her teaching career
at St. Olaves as Teacher of
Geography. Educated at
Torquay Girls Grammar
School, she graduated from
Exeter University with a
B.Sc. Degree in Geography,
before completing her PGCE
at Exeter University with
placements including Torquay Boys Grammar School.
As well as having completed the Duke of Edinburgh
Leader Training Course, Rachel is a qualifed First
Aider, a keen singer and choir member.
Neil Stewart
We are very pleased to have
secured the services of Dr
Stewart, who joins us as Head of
Physics after 5 years in the same
role at Langley Park. Educated
at Hamilton Grammar School,
he went on to read Physics at the
University of Glasgow before
gaining a PhD in Ofshore
Engineering at Heriot-Watt,
Edinburgh. Dr Stewart has been involved with running
lower school Science Clubs, organising revision trips,
planning STEM activities with local Primary Schools and
organising a school Football Club.
Sezgin Kemal
We are fortunate to have Mrs Sezgin Kemal joining us as
a Teacher of English, after a decade as Head of English
at Newstead Wood School. Mrs Kemal read English
and American Literature at the
University of Kent before doing
her PGCE at Magdalen College,
Oxford. We hope to beneft from
her experience in organising
national and international events,
as well as from her Trusteeship of
the Ripley Arts Society.
Meera Lawrence
We are delighted that Miss
Meera Lawrence has joined
us as Teacher of Physics.
After attending Tonbridge
Grammar School for Girls,
Miss Lawrence went on to
Cambridge University where
she graduated with a Degree in
Engineering and then an MA
from Newnham College. She has taught at Mascalls
School where she was KS4 Co-ordinator, an Advisor for
Years 711 and a Film Club Leader, as well as a Mentor
for trainee teachers. Miss Lawrence has a keen interest
in conversational French and enjoys costume-making.
William Haines
William has been appointed as
the new Teacher of Economics.
Educated at Bromsgrove
School, Worcestershire, he
went on to the University
of Manchester where he
graduated with a Degree in
Economics and an MSc in
Development Economics and
Policy. Mr Haines PGCE in
Business Education concluded
with a fnal placement at Manchester Grammar School.
He is a keen sportsman with extensive Rugby coaching
experience, currently working towards the RFU Level
3 Coaching qualifcation; he is also an accomplished
Cricketer who represents the MCC.
Stephen Thompson
We are pleased to welcome Mr Stephen Tompson
who joins us as a full time Biology teacher to cover the
maternity leave of Mrs Upsdell. Mr Tompson was
educated at Oakwood Park Grammar School before
studying at Keele University. He taught Biology
previously at St Simon Stock Catholic School where he
was also Gifted/Talented and SEN Co-ordinator as well
Olavian 2013 29
as Science Department Literacy
Co-ordinator. Mr Tompson is
currently continuing his studies
through a distance learning
M.Litt on Creation, Origins
and Science at the University of
Durham.
Robert Cliff
Mr Robert Clif also joins
the Science Faculty as a part-
time Teacher of Astronomy.
Educated at Haberdashers
Askes Hatcham, he went on to
Gonville and Caius College,
Cambridge, to graduate with an
MA in Natural Sciences. In fact,
2 of his sons were, themselves,
former students at St Olaves.
President of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers Athletics
Club, Mr Clif has been involved with middle distance
athletics since school; he has also assisted with Duke of
Edinburgh Training Expeditions to North Wales.
Jeremy Dodd
We are pleased to welcome back Mr Jeremy Dodd, who
joins the Physics Department as a trainee teacher on the
School Direct Programme. Educated here at St Olaves
Grammar School, Jeremy went on to Corpus Christi
College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Degree
in Physics. He worked recently as a volunteer for City
Year London as a Learning Mentor and also took part
in the School Power programme to promote Science
in Primary Schools. A Duke of
Edinburgh Award holder himself,
Mr Dodd is now involved with this
programme at St Olaves. He has a
keen interest in Hockey and Rugby
and, whilst at Oxford, rowed for his
College and was elected Secretary
of the Boat Club.
Ateesh Sidhu
Dr Sidhu has been appointed
on a School Direct
Programme training place
in the Biology Department.
Dr Sidhu attended Blue
Coats CE School before
graduating with a Degree
in Molecular Biology from
University College, London.
He continued his studies with
an MSc in Bioinformatics at
the University of Exeter and
subsequently gained a PhD in Structural Biology from
the University of Warwick. As a Senior Post-Doctoral
Research Fellow at Cancer Research UK, Dr Sidhu
conducted some fascinating study into Fanconi Anemia.
He speaks fuent Punjabi, some Hindi and is also a keen
sportsman.
30 Olavian 2013
Creative Work
32 Olavian 2013
Students Work
Tis years creative work section reaches out to many diferent subjects within the school,
showing individual/group excellence within them. It is our hope that many readers will fnd
something to interest them within this section containing illustrations from the Art exhibi-
tion and works from English, Geography and Economics. It was, unfortunately, impossible to
include works from every subject that submitted pieces, but, with the launch of the new school
journals, including the Olavian Academic Journal under the patronage of Mr Budds, we feel
sure that such articles will not be lost to people as a result of not being printed here.
Should the experience of China silence those
who think that democracy is good for growth?
Dawud Khans (Lower VI) prize-winning Economics essay
Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the
world- Napoleon Bonaparte, 1803.
And China has done exactly that. It was conventional
wisdom that democracy was the best political system
for achieving economic growth
1
, Francis Fukuyama in
Te end of history suggests that it defeated feudalism,
monarchical, fascism, and fnally communism; that
democracy is undisputedly the ultimate result of political
evolution. But the rise of China as an economic super-house
has defed this perception; a country that is steadily on its
1. Troughout this essay economic growth constitutes as a Quantitative change or
expansion in a countrys economy. Economic growth is conventionally measured as
the percentage increase in gross domestic product (GDP) or gross national product
(GNP) during one year. defned by the World Bank.
way to become the largest economy, a position it held for 18
out of the last 20 centuries
2
, will re-establish itself in the 21st.
We have to understand institutionally what China is. It
is clearly not a democracy, its leaders are not publically
elected and neither are they held accountable for their
decisions. Te Politburo
3
is the absolute source of power;
policies are dictated by 25 individuals. But China is also
not the nation it was 40 years ago, since Deng Xiaoping
succession economic liberalisation followed, the country
very much encapsulates an authoritarian capitalist
system described by Minxin Pei as a Neo Leninist
model which amalgamates the one party system and
state control of key sectors of the economy with partial
market reforms and an end to self-imposed isolation
from the world economy. Tis model places greater
gravitas on economic development over liberalism. With
this system under its belt China produced remarkable
economic growth: it averaged a 10% increases in GDP
year upon year for 3 decades, it shifted 400 million
people into the ranks of the middle class, it alleviated
mass poverty and Robert Fogel even envisages that the
size of its economy will reach $123 trillion by 2040, far
outstripping that of the U.S. It is upon this authoritarian
capitalist system that we shall be focusing and whether
this model can replace that of democracy in achieving
the goal of economic growth.
Proponents of Capitalist Authoritarianism claim that
regimes are insulated from unwanted pressures and
possess the vision to implement policies to aid economic
growth, on a rock bed of political stability. Przeworksi
and Limongi afrm that democracy is susceptible to
pressures for mass consumption which occurs at the
cost of investment, hence of growth. Te reasons
behind this are varied, but the most common supposition
declares that the populace is myopic and demand
immediate consumption, inevitably diminishing savings.
Democratic politicians are forced to redistribute resources
to private and public consumption or face punishment
2. Tis was remarked by Chris Patten, the last British Governor of Hong Kong.
3. More commonly known as the Central Politburo of the Communist Party (CPC)
Olavian 2013 33
in the form of poor elections from voters. Whereas
Authoritarian regimes can more easily neglect these
pressures for mass consumption. Te frst channel of this
mass consumption results from political redistribution;
democratic countries are compelled to tax the rich, who
tend to save and invest a large proportion of their income
and redistribute this to poor who have a higher propensity
to consume. Secondly, an inherent part of a democracy
is the right to form collective labour organisations such
as trade unions, the existence of these bodies provides a
bargaining chip for workers to demand wage rises, the
ensuing consequence is that these workers receive higher
wages and inevitably consume a much greater proportion
of their income than their rich capital owners. Whilst it
is true that China is home to the worlds largest trade
union, the All-China Federation Trade Union (ACFTU)
with a membership of 137 million it is virtually impotent
when it comes to representing workers and in actual fact
remains largely nugatory which is a factor for Chinas
low wages. Tese lower wages have also played economic
miracles; it provided China with a comparative advantage
in the international community and gave rise to the
ofshoring of companies who brought vital investment.
Furthermore the ability of authoritarian regimes to
eschew political accountability and responsibility allows
them to discourage consumption through not providing
social security, welfare and insurance programs. China
only began widely introducing these in the 1990s whereas
before this consumers had to save for their retirement and
healthcare.
Te overall result of this mass consumption is that
consumers in democratic countries have lower savings
rates than those with authoritarian regimes, Chinese
savings rates as illustrated by Figure 1 have always been
more than twice that of the US, a democratic country.
Te Solow model suggests that high saving rates leads
to higher capital addition and higher growth, since
savings provide a pond of resources for investment,
a key determinant for growth. Tis idea is vindicated
by Elhanan Helpman who states economies with
higher savings rates grow faster because they allocate
more resources to inventive activities. Furthermore
Youngs studies of East Asian Tigers attributes this
capital investment from savings to be the predominant
reason behind their incredible growth. If a democracy
undermines investment in physical capital it threatens
its potential for economic growth and Authoritarian
regimes stand a far better chance in achieving it
4
.
Another argument for why Chinas authoritarian capitalist
model is more conducive at generating economic growth
is that the democratic system is replete with bureaucracy
4. It should be noted that the high savings rates reminiscent in china are due to
other factors besides regime type. Cultural elements and the one child policy also
played a part. However this still remains a signifcant factor.
Figure 1: National Savings Rates (IFS, Taiwan Statistical Databook)
and thus implementing profcient economic reforms
becomes wearisome. Te careful burdensome democratic
process with its institutional discussion, checks and
balances and the representation of diferent interest
groups makes rapid reform impossible. If authoritarian
regimes like China have the mantra of pro-growth
then instigating policies to aid this becomes easier. Two
heavy-weight economists, Acemoglu and Robison in
Why nations fail attribute this type of political decision-
making Extractive institutions where such growth
takes place when elites fnd it in their interest to allow
new technologies and institutional changes necessary for
economic growth. Moreover authoritarian regimes have
longer time horizons than their democratically elected
counterparts. Since politicians face re-election they
have little incentive to promote radical reform. Perhaps
the best example of radical reform which changed the
face of China is the Open-door policy where foreign
trade and investment was encouraged after a long
period of isolation. In 1978 the total volume of Chinas
foreign trade amounted to only 7% of GDP, after the
inauguration of this policy this volume jumped to 25% in
1987 and by 1998 comprised of 37% of GDP. Exporting
companies were also given special treatment; they were
allowed to retain part of their foreign exchange and
the government was generous with long term capital
expansion. Te speed at which this turnover policy was
implemented was remarkable, and such rapid reform
would be non-existent in a democracy.
Tere are three signifcant studies that delve into subject
of regime type and economic growth. Te frst, conducted
by Prezowrksi and limongi analysed 18 studies carried
out by various economists and generated 21 fndings.
Eight found in favour of democracy, eight in favour of
authoritarianism and fve discovered no diference and
largely came to the conclusion that authoritarian regimes
grew faster than democracies. Te second piloted by Ali
and Crain and suggested that the efect of economic
freedom on growth is independent of the level of political
freedom and civil liberty thus regime type is not a factor
for economic growth. Finally the most recent study by
Hassett, proposes that politically repressed countries
34 Olavian 2013
outgrew politically free ones by a score of 6.28% growth
in GDP compared with 2.62%, as elucidated by fgure 2.
Te signifcant factor here is that Hassett only analysed
Capitalist Authoritarian governments as opposed to
simple authoritarian ones, countries such as China,
Singapore, Malaysia and Russian were investigated.
Figure 2: Hassetts Bar Graph of Growth Rates, 1991-2005
Should critics be silenced? Not just yet. Authoritarian
regimes are replete with problems, if it is not the interest
of the ruling elite to pursue growth enhancing policies,
growth simply will not occur. In some cases regimes
may block such policies because it can undermine their
political position. Additionally a lot of authoritarian
regimes dont have political stability: African nations
with their localised power usurps are an anathema for
investment. Democracies are also believed to protect
property rights better and according to David LeBlang
nations that protect property rights grow faster than
those that do not. Another point to consider is that
the very accountability of democratic politicians which
poses a threat through mass consumption also results in
superior services in healthcare and education than those
in authoritarian countries. Tese improved amenities lead
to enhanced human capital and productivity - a generator
of economic growth. Moreover Paul Romer believes that
the most important determinant for long term economic
growth lies with technological change. Civil liberties
such as freedom of speech, mass media and travel allow
for a widespread difusion of ideas and technologies,
which consequently enhances technological change.
Tere is strong evidence to back this, Young highlighted
that Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea had fast
capital accumulation, but had unspectacular Total Factor
Productivity Growth (TFP) - i.e. low technological
change-induced growth. China has been successful
because it has avoided all these pitfalls: its capitalist model
is based on pro-growth ideology, it has centralised power
with which to carry efective reforms, its policies are aimed
at increasing technological development and investment,
it has devoted large resources to healthcare and education
and it comprehensively protects property rights.
Indeed, Chinas capitalist authoritarian model looks
compelling, but is it sustainable? Consider Siegle,
Weinsten and Halperins analysis Seventy percent of
Autocracies have experienced at least one such episode
(a fall of at least 10% of GDP) since 1980, whereas 5 of
the 80 worst examples of economic contraction over the
last 40 years have occurred in democracies similarly the
evidence isnt entirely skewed in favour of Authoritarian
regimes, overall they might exhibit growth rates above
those of democracies but the actual results show a great
amount of variance, with an iotas amount of growth to
the exceptional. Economic growth is also not the only
measure of a countrys progress. China may be accredited
with scintillating growth, but nevertheless it scores
poorly on other factors - Minxin Pei has routinely
called it fragile due to its domestic complications
such as burgeoning inequality, internal migration,
marginalisation of ethnic minorities, increasing
environmental damage, rampant corruption and lack of
labour rights. Chinas Gini coefcient of income has
increased from 0.28 to 0.45 from 1991 to 2000; a relatively
short time span. Additionally no authoritarian regime,
including China, are insulated from pro-elite policies
which can very easily hamper growth; since rising public
frustration coupled with social injustice breeds political
instability. However these problems are no secret to the
Beijing Consensus
5
, the most boisterous local dispute
over Taiwans sovereignty may fnally be coming to a
resolution and at home, the governments increasing
sensitivity to public opinion has made the regime more
popular than ever. Robert Fogel believes these dynamics
make political instability unlikely. However it is only
a matter of time before the educated Chinese middle
class will demand the same rights as their western
counterparts, the right to have a say in the governance of
their homeland, the right to full civil liberties, the right
5. Joshua Cooper coined the term Beijing Consensus in contrast to the Washington Consensus.
Olavian 2013 35
to self-determination. But the Politburo will not give in
so easily. Chinas institutional model will have to lose
either the authoritarian or capitalist part to survive; it
could develop into a liberal capitalist democracy or an
isolated authoritarian nightmare.
Te quest for the answer to achieving economic growth
has been an incessant one, in the light of the recent
recession which has plagued the developed world the
capitalist authoritarian model has provided a beacon of
hope; a model that has undeniably proved miraculous
for China. But no one should be silenced. It is true that
the evidence points in the favour of authoritarianism, but
correlation does not imply causation. Minxin Pei makes
a valid statement Dictatorships are good at concealing
the problems they create while democracy is good at
advertising its defects. Te shine of this model may
be beginning to peel of; many economists believe it is
the abandonment of Chinas isolationist, protectionist
and socialist economic policies that ushered in the era
of unprecedented growth as opposed to its institutional
model. Even Przeworski a decade after his initial study
suggested that there is no trade-of between democracy
and development. Te question of sustainability also
looms large; economic growth in authoritarian states
only acts to encourage democracy. And perhaps it is upon
this system that the world should be focusing on instead;
an amalgamation between an authoritarian foundation
followed by democracy, as South Korea has shown -
all western developed democracies also achieved their
initial growth under some auspices of authoritarianism.
Only time will tell whether any model can replace that
of the long established one of democracy. But if you
still prefer to indulge in Facebook
6
, than let us believe
that the capacity of self-correction in democracy can
only improve upon our existing model. And hope that
the contradictions in capitalist authoritarianism, like
communism before it, undermine itself.
Winston Churchill famously remarked Democracy is
the worst form of government except for all those others
that have been tried. Tat remains as true as ever.
6. Facebook is currently banned in China so this liberty is not enjoyed by most Chinese.
Discuss the relative importance of physical
and human factors in accounting for changes
to vegetation over time within ecosystems
in the British Isles
Iain McGowans (Upper VI) Geography essay
In the British Isles, physical factors, including climate and
topography combine creating climatic climax community
of temperate deciduous forest. Terefore, in otherwise
unafected situations, most of the British Isles would be
covered by temperate deciduous woodland, however, due
to human factors and variations in physical factors across
the country, subclimaxes occur, meaning only 12% of the
UK is covered in deciduous woodland. Subclimaxes can
occur from human actions, leading to a plagioclimax, or
from physical factors such as soil conditions, relief or the
availability of water leading to an edaphic, topological or
hydrological climax respectively. Terefore, it is obvious
that there must be a combination of physical and human
factors culminating in the formation of ecosystems and
these also account for changes to vegetation over time.
In the British Isles, the majority of the country has
ideal climatic conditions for producing temperate
deciduous woodland. Worldwide, temperate deciduous
forest is located between 40-60 degrees north or south
of the equator. Lying between 58.6 degrees north and
50.0 degrees north, the UK provides the ideal location
for temperate deciduous forest to grow, providing the
appropriate seasonal variations between temperatures
and rainfall. Temperate deciduous woodland also needs
an average of 1000-1500mm of rainfall each year, which
should be relatively evenly distributed across all twelve
months. Whilst the UK gets more than enough rainfall
in some areas (especially in the west, due to relief rain
falling as moist air from the sea rises onto the land) other
areas such as the south east receive less than 1000mm,
with London receiving an average of 650mm each
year. Tis means some areas have better conditions for
temperate deciduous woodland than other areas and so
physical factors have a great efect on the climatic climax
vegetation in an ecosystem.
Te deciduous trees favour a growing season of four
to six months, allowing them to shed their leaves each
autumn when they have become damaged and worn out
as it is more efcient than trying to repair their leaves
all year round. Tis also means that there is a lower
chance of the trees becoming desiccated over the winter
when moisture is less accessible as transpiration rates
are lower. Te UK also has a moderate temperature all
year round with no extremes, so cold spells and drought
occur infrequently and trees are less likely to die.
However, there are regional variations in the average
temperature across the UK as the north has an average
of 8.5oC and the south has an average of 11oC. Tis
has led to some areas of Scotland, especially areas of
36 Olavian 2013
higher ground, having a climatic climax community of
coniferous forest due to the lower temperatures, such as
in the Caledonian Forest. Long hours of sunlight during
the summer give the biome lots of energy, leading to
the production of lots of organic matter. Tis therefore
means that the temperate deciduous woodland has a
high net primary productivity (NPP) rate of 600-2500
grams per square metre each year. Te change in the
location of the nutrients between seasons can be seen
on the two Gersmehl models on the next page. Tere
is obviously going to be a change in plant life (both in
number of plants and species) from autumn to spring
due to the diferent amounts of nutrients available to the
plants from the soil. Tese physical factors contribute
to changes to vegetation on a seasonal basis and so are
responsible for changes within the year.
Plagioclimaxes, where human intervention stops an
area becoming the climatic climax community, may
occur when humans deforest an area of land. Much of
the UK used to be covered with temperate deciduous
forest, however human intervention since the Bronze
Age has led to deforestation to clear land for live stock
farms and wood harvesting. Some areas of cleared
landed, such as the North Yorkshire Moors, have
resulted in a plagioclimax of heather moorland being
created. Deforestation in the Middle Ages in Malham,
Yorkshire, cleared vast areas of land for agricultural
purposes, predominantly for pastoral farming. Soil
degradation then occurred due to trampling by sheep
and weathering, leading to the establishment of heather
moorland in the area. Grazing prevents young saplings
from growing back so the heather (Calluna Vulgaris)
has remained the dominant species. In order to keep the
heather (which provides valuable habitat for species of
bird such as Red Grouse) as a plagioclimax, muirburn
occurs, burning patches of heather, allowing new young
heather to grow which provides a better diet for sheep
and allows nutrients to return to the soil from the ash.
It also allows fast growing species, such as blaeberry,
to establish themselves before the heather once again
takes over. However, if uncontrolled, the burning can kill
plants and new shoots wont be able to grow back from
rootstock level, leaving land barren. In the case of the
North Yorkshire heather moorland, human intervention
is not only the reason why it is there, but the reason
why it remains, however, this is not always the case as,
according to Dr Oliver Rackham writing in History
of the Countryside, some heather moorland occurred
naturally in Scotland, as pollen analysis proves that trees
have never grown in the area. Terefore, physical factors
afect the plant community present in an ecosystem as
well as on the succession leading to it.
Deforestation can also occur from natural causes.
For instance, lightning can cause forest fres in times
of drought. Tis leads to changes in vegetation as the
dominant tree species of temperate deciduous forest
generally take many years to grow and so faster growing
species can thrive. Another major cause of deforestation
is as a result of urbanisation. As humans make the change
from rural settlements to towns and cities, more land
has to be cleared of its vegetation in order to build the
buildings and the infrastructure required to support the
town. Land is cleared for roads and transport links such
as airports and railways. In the UK, 16,321km of railway
tracks exist as well as 394,428km of roads, requiring
massive areas of land to be cleared for these to be built.
Airport expansion has led to the loss of habitat, as well
as noise disturbing wildlife and pollution from aircraft
disrupting the ecosystem. Proximity to a new airport may
lead to an increase in visitors to an area of woodland, as
there is more trafc in the area with people getting of
planes, leading to the forest being damaged and plants
being killed due to litter, loose dogs and people stealing
dead wood (preventing nutrients returning to the soil).
Terefore, the transport links created in our urbanising
world can have serious side efects for the plants, which
is a decidedly human factor in the changes to plants in
the British Isles.
Another reason for changes to vegetation is the need
for more food (due to an increasing population and
an increase in meat consumption) in the cities leading
to the mechanisation of agriculture has occurred. At
each trophic stage, energy is lost and so eating meat as
opposed to crops, as it contains at least one extra stage,
is more inefcient as lots more land is needed to give us
the same amount of energy. Tis has led to larger felds
leading to the loss of other habitats such as hedgerows.
Developments in genetically modifed crops also means
that some plants would be unable to compete with the
ones human choose to grow, even if the farms were to
be abandoned and the vegetation to become wild again.
Te use of pesticides and insecticides also impacts on the
wider ecological community as when the insects die, they
become unable to pollinate other plants and so the plants
may become rarer and eventually die out. Tis is another way
humans can afect succession within an ecosystem, however
the increase in organic produce means that all pesticides
and fertilisers used are natural and so this may reduce their
efects on the plants growing in the British Isles.
Recently, there has been a trend towards aforestation
Olavian 2013 37
by humans across the British Isles and across much of
Europe. Te European Union has provided grants to
farmers who turn part of their agricultural land into
forests since 1990. Tis has resulted in an increase
in temperate deciduous forest from just 4% of land
area 100 years ago to 12% now in the UK due to the
reintroduction of traditional species, such as oak and
ash, into forests across the UK, such as in Rand Wood
in Lincolnshire. However, despite progress being made,
the UK is still very far of of the EUs average of 45%,
but this can be explained due to the UK having a high
population in a relatively small land area compared to
other countries such as France and Germany. Terefore
the changes to the vegetation of an area can be disrupted
by human activities such as deforestation, but they can
also be reversed such as through aforestation.
One physical factor that can cause changes to plants in
the British Isles is from disease or the introduction of a
new animal to an area. If a new animal is introduced, it
may choose to eat all of one plant allowing other species
to grow in its place. Animals moving into an area may
also bring in new species of plants with them through
faecal matter and so cause change in this way. Disease,
such as that caused by the Chalara fraxinea fungus
on ash trees, can wipe out much of one particularly
susceptible species. In Denmark, the fungus has wiped
out 90% of its ash trees and a similar problem could now
occur in the British Isles now. However, humans are
trying to intervene to stop this wide scale destruction
and have destroyed 100,000 ash trees in just six weeks to
try to control the disease. Tis human intervention will
also have an efect on the plants in the ecosystem, but
perhaps not as much as the physical efect may have had
if it was left alone.
One major factor accounting for changes to vegetation
in the British Isles is its location within the country. If an
area of land is near to the coast, a halosere is more likely
to develop than a temperate deciduous forest is. In a salt
marsh such as Morcambe Bay in Northwest England,
there is likely to be a succession from pioneer halophytic
plants growing in the mudfats which trap sediment
through focculation, allowing other plants (such as sea
meadow grass and sea lavender) to grow before the area
turns into carr woodland. However, in an inland dry
environment, such as Wytham Woods in Oxford where
oak and ash woodland covers 400 hectares of land,
succession leading to a temperate deciduous forest is
most likely to occur. Te availability of water in an area
also afects the changes to the plants, with a fresh water
environment being likely to transform into a hydrosere
such as Ofwell in Devon. Originally the lake there
was too deep for rooted plants to grow as not enough
sunlight would reach them for photosynthesis to occur,
so the sole inhabitants of the lake were microorganisms
and plankton foating in the water. As sediment gets
transported into the lake, depth decreases so rooted
plants, such as starwort and pondweed, can grow. As
plant life increased, small invertebrates and fsh began to
inhabit the area and dead matter flled the lake, turning
it into a swampy area. In this, yellow iris and branched
bur-reed began to grow and over time, evaporation turns
the swamp into drier land, allowing new plants, such
as water mint, to take over in the changed conditions.
As the boggy areas dry up, plants such as star sedge and
ferns grow, until the area becomes ever drier, partly due
to transpiration of the vegetation, allowing the climatic
climax community of temperate deciduous forest to
grow, with oak, ash and beech becoming dominant
with smaller plants, such as wood anemone and wild
garlic, growing on the forest foor where enough light
flters through the leaves. Terefore, the location of an
area within a country can hugely afect the changes in
vegetation of an area and so can the plants themselves
as they help to prepare the area for new plants through
trapping sediment and changing the pH of the soil.
In the British Isles, many factors combine to create
succession within our ecosystems. Human factors, such
as deforestation and aforestation and pollution
(through carbon emissions and littering) can cause
plagioclimaxes which stops the plant life from reaching
its climatic climax community. However, the physical
factors of a location (within both the country and
the world) and climate of the country generally have
larger efects on the progression of the species within
an ecosystem than human factors do, but both physical
and human factors can cause subclimaxes and stop the
climatic climax community from ever being achieved.
Humans are having a greater impact on the changes to
vegetation than they have done in the past as a greater
population has led to a greater strain on resources,
consequently leading to more exploitation of the
natural environment than in the past and so humans
are having a greater efect on succession now than they
ever have before.
38 Olavian 2013
The Thirteenth Labour of Hercules:
The Bronze Bull
Sam Beales (8C) imaginative depiction of the thirteenth labour,
incorporating an impressive knowledge of classical mythology.
Hercules approached the throne of Eurystheus and knelt
respectfully at the foot of the mighty chair. Hercules eyes
were glued on the foor as he knelt, but they rose to level
with those of the man sitting upon this glorious seat.
Hercules couldnt help but notice the encrusted jewels that
glittered just before his eyes as he met the gaze of the King
Eurystheus, his reluctant cousin. Te king was an unfair
man, Hercules thought, coming up with ways to dismiss
Hercules successes as failures. Originally, his cousin had
promised just ten tasks would be set for Hercules, yet
he found fault in two of his expeditions, because of the
pay and help respectively. He had set Hercules two extra
tasks as replacement for these failures, which Hercules
had triumphed over as he had all the others. Sometimes
Hercules hated his accursed cousin so much he wondered
why he ever handed himself over to his employment, but
he knew it was the right thing to be doing he felt it was
a little redemption of the sin that he had brought upon
himself when he had slain his own sons. Hercules looked
into his cousins eyes for the twelfth time now, and cleared
his throat to speak.
My Lord Eurystheus, I have completed the fnal task that
you have set for me. Hercules voice bounced around the
room with a sinister echo.
Eurystheus narrowed his eyes he had clearly not expected
Hercules to still be alive at this point.
Very well. He responded calmly, yet Hercules could
detect the shade of malice in his voice. Seeing as you
have successfully completed all the errands I have had
you run, there shall be one, fnal, conclusive test. Hercules
suppressed a sigh, for he knew that that would make his
cousin angry. Te king continued, however, seemingly not
noticing Hercules lapse in concentration.
I want you to slay the legendary Ninitean Bronze Bull. You
will fnd it in the hills to the south of here, outside the village
of Ninite. You will have to provide your own transport for
this. Eurystheus waved his hand absentmindedly, which
was his universal signal for when he no longer wished to
speak. Once again, Hercules bowed curtly, then turned to
exit via the route he had come. He was just on the brink
of freedom from the presence of this repulsive man when
Eurystheus spoke one last time:
Oh, and Hercules, my dear cousin, if you fail this task, do
not return. Te king spat these last words of his tongue
as he sneered cruelly at Hercules and waved his hand
again. Hercules narrowed his eyes at this spiteful request
but held his tongue there was nothing he could do about
it. Turning swiftly toward the exit, Hercules strode out of
the colossal room, determined when (or if!) he returned, to
wipe that sneer of his cousins face.
Once out of the chamber, Hercules made for the nearest
stable, for horseback was the fastest way to travel. As he
had learnt from his second task, no help was allowed if the
task was to be considered a success, so he travelled alone.
Fortunately, he knew exactly where Ninite was, for he had
visited his aunt there many a time and knew that they had
been plagued by some beast for a while he now assumed
that that was the bronze bull. Hercules had actually
considered taking on the challenge of slaying this monster
before, to ensure his aunts safety, but his prior challenges
had always taken priority.
Hercules made fast progress on the roads, alone with his
thoughts for the short journey. Time passed in the blink
of an eye and soon he was in the familiar paths of Ninite,
not far from his aunts villa. His aunt was rich, yet kind and
caring not from Eurystheus side of the family. However,
not only was Hercules not allowed any aid, he now felt that
he no longer needed it he had acquired many useful items
in his twelve other adventures. Shouldering his Nemean
lion pelt and the other souvenirs he had gained, Hercules
turned away from Ninite and headed south again, but now
the hills where Eurystheus had said the bull dwelt were in
sight. Tey were huge, past the point that Hercules would
have considered hill, and more like mountain or natural
spire. Tey continued backwards for as far as the eye could
see and were almost the same width-wise. Looking at their
vastness, and having no clue as to which part the bull made
its home, Hercules took a deep breath and dismounted
from his horse it had done enough for now. Tying it to
the nearest tree or sturdy wood that he could fnd, Hercules
patted its head, whispering to it as he tied.
Good boy, I shall return soon, with the head of a bull on
my shoulder. Hercules hoped he could keep that promise.
Te trees were thinning out, noticed Hercules, as he drove
on deeper into the ocean of green that was the hills of Ninite.
Te air was also becoming thinner as the altitude rose, but that
did not worry Hercules he would have to get very high in
order for less oxygen to trouble him. His searching had been
fruitless for the last couple of hours, for he had not seen head
nor tail of the bull. Te rich, golden sun Apollo, of course
- was now turning a light shade of orange as it sank lower in
the sky. About a tenth of it had already been consumed by
the ground, or at least that was how it looked (Hercules knew
that it was just Apollos chariot nearing Olympus). It would
not be long before Artemis, goddess of the hunt and goddess
of the moon, took over. As ever, Hercules was on high-alert,
for a moment of distraction could mean he missed any sign
of the bull. As Hercules approached a particularly massive
tree an oak his sharp eyes caught sight of a glistening
liquid dripping from one of the plants leaves. Upon closer
Olavian 2013 39
inspection, Hercules dabbed his fnger onto the substance,
and brought it to his nose, snifng.
Instantly, he finched away, for the smell was unpleasant but
recognisable. Hercules nostrils were well used to the scent of
poison when they smelt it. Tis was good, for Hercules knew
from spending time with his aunt that there were no poisonous
creatures in these hills. Tanking the goddess of luck, Tyche,
for this almost certain sign of the whereabouts of this elusive
bull, Hercules examined the trees and ground next to the
plant, searching to confrm his suspicions. Sure enough, he
found that a nearby tree had deep gouges in it, seemingly from
claws, teeth, or, more likely, horns. Looking down, Hercules hit
another stroke of luck a piece of luck that could be decisive
about the location of the Bronze Bull; hoof-prints.
Hercules breath caught in his throat he had not expected
to fnd such an obvious clue to fnding the bull. Surely,
now, it was just a matter of following the prints and being
led either straight to the bull itself or at least to its den
or base. Hercules feet were shadows as his eyes locked on
the ground, following the trail. He padded along like a lion
stalking its prey, until, to his excitement, the hoofprints
fnally led out into a clearing. Tere was no doubt to
Hercules raptor vision that an animal or thing had been
living here, temporarily using this clearing as a base. It
seemed the bull was to be given credit for its intelligence.
All of a sudden, Hercules ears pricked. Tere was a faint
thundering sound in the distance, an odd, banging kind of
thundering like a stampede. It was getting louder by the
minute, yet Hercules had no idea what kind of being could
make such noise. Surely not even a bronze bull could be so
loud? Te ground was shaking slightly now, rumbling like a
chariot over uneven ground. Unsure what this could mean,
Hercules took cover behind a fortunately placed boulder by
the edge of the clearing. His hand twitched by his scabbard,
ready to trigger his sword at a moments notice. Now the
ground was rumbling even more, like a tiny earthquake
was taking place. Suddenly, three things happened at once;
Hercules threw himself clear from the boulder behind which
he was hiding; the few trees that were behind him collapsed;
and the bull fnally make an entrance in all its glory.
Despite the smoke fowing freely from its nostrils, the bull
was a beautiful thing, a sight to behold. Its shining bronze
hide glittered like silver and its impressive gold tipped horns
dripped with ugly green venom the sample that Hercules
had found before. It was large, larger than Hercules himself,
and a look of rage was plastered onto its refective face.
Its long, leather tail whipped angrily like a horse that was
swatting fies. Up close, Hercules could see its solid build, and
now understood the earth-shaking noise this thing must
have weighed tonnes. Te only part of the creature that wasnt
shiny and refective were its eyes they were a deep, menacing
crimson. Hercules had severely misinterpreted where the
stampeding was coming from; the bull had managed to come
up behind him. Letting an opponent surprise you was a fatal
mistake, and Hercules knew it could be his last.
Hercules was snapped out of the mesmerising beauty of the
bull by a ferocious bellow it was clearly unhappy that it had
an intruder. Coming back to his senses, Hercules leapt clear of
the bulls range to get some more space to act. Te bulls crimson
eyes swivelled to reach him and it charged quickly, faster than
Hercules would have thought possible for a creature that big.
Hercules sidestepped the charge, but the bull clearly too clever
to be defed by such an easy manoeuvre, lashed out with its
leather tail and span Hercules round as it caught his arm, the
tail acting as some kind of lasso. Struggling to his feet, Hercules
raced after the charging bull, only to be surprised again as it
came to an abrupt halt. Hercules cursed as he few into the bull,
travelling too fast to stop. Te pair were sent to the ground, a
cloud of dust erupting around them. Coughing, Hercules forced
his eyes open, only to be met with more smoke and dust
but this time, from the bull that was laying on top of him. Its
immense weight would have crushed any normal human, but
the son of Zeus shakily sat, that was when the bull came to its
senses. Bellowing, it forced itself upon Hercules, hoping to crush
him, only for its face to register surprise as Hercules resisted,
straining. Te monster bellowed again, and craned its neck to
try and dig its poison-tipped horns into Hercules stomach. In a
panic, Hercules lashed out at the bulls windpipe, putting all his
desperate strength into one punch. To his surprise, it had some
efect the bull was sent into a coughing ft and gasped for air.
Springing to his feet, Hercules had an idea. Tis beast
clearly needed to breathe, and its windpipe was evidently
vulnerable. Summoning all his remaining energy, Hercules
threw himself at the bulls throat, his hands ready and
open. Latching them around the creatures neck, Hercules
squeezed with all his might, ignoring the bulls squeals, roars
and now feeble struggles. If it were possible for bronze to
go a shade of purple, this bull was doing just that. Hercules
waited until all the fght had faded from the bull, then
released his hands. All was still. He pushed himself up and
gazed at this magnifcent creature. Its eyes were no longer a
deep crimson, but now a lifeless, dull red. Te Bronze Bull
of Ninite was no more.
40 Olavian 2013
Prize Day
42 Olavian 2013
Prize Day
The Headmasters Speech
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to celebrate the
achievements of our senior students as we refect on
another excellent year.
A recent NMC question: A wealthy man died and
left 10m in his will. His 7 children each got 1.2m,
his brother, his sister and his wife each got 1/3 of the
rest. What did his wife get? Well known private school
beginning with E, 4 letters, 1/2m, No; a local private
school beginning with D: 533,333.33 No! It took a St
Os pupil to give the correct answer: A lawyer!
Students at St Olaves constantly surprise us like this
with their creativity and ingenuity. However, in a more
serious way, using intelligence to think laterally, to
explore an idea more deeply, to delve into an area of
personal interest is fundamental to our aspiration for
greater scholarship. I hope that tonights prize-winners
will continue to pursue that aspiration and build on the
great heritage of this prestigious Grammar school, as
they embark on life with optimism and excitement for
the future in a new and changing world.
Our Year 13 leavers again produced remarkable A level
results confrming St Olaves position as the 2nd best
state school with mixed 6th Form. 93% of grades were at
A*/B; 26 students secured Oxbridge places; a further 25
for Medicine; and 10 students gained 4A*s. For both of
the last 2 years we were awarded outstanding scores in all
areas of the Alps report, with 3 year T-scores described
as better than any performance in the benchmark data
set. Te whole year-group, as well as staf and parents,
can look back with great pride on these achievements.
Year 12 students also produced the =best AS results for
the last decade with 87% A/B grades, a superb overall
standard which augers well for next year. GCSE results
were no less impressive and with 87% of grades at A*/A
we were, once again, the No. 1 school for the EBacc
at 96%. With 14 students gaining 9/10A* grades, we
have great confdence in a strong 6th Form intake this
autumn. Such results have clearly not gone unnoticed
by prospective parents where applications for Y7 places
have rocketed to 1020 this year.
Against a continuing backdrop of the worst public
sector funding cuts of the last half century the number
and variety of sports and extra-curricular activities was
maintained, enabling our students to set their academic
excellence in a wider cultural context.
Te much-anticipated South America Tour lived up to
all expectations for our senior rugby squad. Some tough
but close matches and some exotic locations such as
Santiago, Buenoes Aires and the beautiful Iguazu Falls
helped to make this an unforgettable experience. Our
Fives players have had a spectacular season, beating most
of the top schools on the circuit, winning almost every
national championship and even starting to dominate
Rugby as well as Eton 5s. Chess continues to be one of
our most popular and successful interests. In an exciting
climax to the season Conrad Allison took 1st place in
the Kent Grand Prix Final, with St Olaves fnishing as
the top School team for the 12th time since 2000. Stars
of the cricket season were the Y8s who took both the
Bromley and Kent Cups; whilst in swimming Michael
Jacobs represented London in the English Schools
Championships, winning the 400M Individual Medley
to become the national Champion 2013.
Te pursuit of real scholarship through deeper intellectual
inquiry and subject societies, continues to develop.
Erudite submissions for the Extended and Higher
Projects, the Medical and other Journals ranged from
Duality in Oscar Wilde to Chaos Teory and Critical
Limb Ischemia. From the impressive number of students
gaining top awards in the Maths and Science Olympiads,
there were Gold medals in Biology for Mohammed
Fallaha and Asher Leeks. In Maths, Pascal Bose gained a
place in the top 20 nationally in the daunting Olympiad
Round 2, with Alex Song achieving a Gold medal in the
Junior Olympiad for a set of faultless solutions. Leading
intellectuals like Paul Mason, Economics Editor of
BBCs Newsnight, and Dr Madsen Pirie, founder of the
Adam Smith Institute engaged students on thought-
provoking topics such as UK austerity or Ten major
errors of modern political economy.
For those wishing to develop or showcase their musical
talents, there were ample opportunities, with a sparkling
Christmas concert, a professional production of Cabaret
that would rival many West End shows, a foot-tapping
Jazz Night and a fne Spring Concert in which John
Castle fnally laid down his baton after 23 years with
the Symphonic Wind Band. Stefan Beckett took 1st
Prize in the Norman Trotman competition and is just
about to start at the RCM on a prestigious scholarship.
And for royal accolades, our Wakeham Choristers of the
Queens Chapel of the Savoy were honoured to sing not
only for Her Majesty Te Queen and HRH Te Duke of
Edinburgh as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations,
but also for His Majesty King Michael of Romania and
Olavian 2013 43
subsequently for HRH Princess Anne and new members
of the Royal Victorian Order. Talented directorship was
much on display this year with Fintan Calpin directing
Brechts Te Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Jack
Bradfeld and Sam Luker Brown directing Oscar Wildes
classic Te Importance of Being Earnest. All 3 received
performances at the National Teatre as part of New
Views competition and Jack Bradfeld was additionally
short-listed in the WICKED Young Writers Award to
have his work read at the Apollo Victoria Teatre. None
of our activities would fourish so efectively without the
valued support and commitment from the staf, for which
I thank them greatly. Indeed the time they generously
give has enabled a range of local and international trips
that so enrich the cultural experiences for our students.
Despite gale force winds, thigh deep snow and enough
rain to drown in on the Gold DoE Expedition in the
Brecons, the group overcame the challenge and passed
with fying colours. Tey will soon complete the award
and join the 13 leavers who have been invited to St.
James Palace to receive their certifcates from Te Duke
of Edinburgh. Econ and Hist students again learned
about the World Bank and the US political system
in an exciting trip to Washington and NY. Trips to
Paris, Boulogne, Berlin and Amsterdam, exchanges
with Starnberg, travel to the mud baths of Salinas de
San Pedro, opened up new outlooks on European Art
and culture and the importance of foreign language.
Te 6th Form Greece trip took in the traditional sites
of Olympia, Delphi and Orchomenos with its colossal
bee-hive tomb; others few to Johannesburg for a
conservation project with Operation Wallacea including
encounters with elephant, girafe and humpback whales;
those keener on sport jetted of to Salt Lake City for the
annual ski trip.
Such experiences, which see our students return with
new energy and a broader outlook on life, would not
be possible without the support of parents and OOs.
Not only do they underpin international enrichment,
they also enhance wider provision, whether through the
PAs new defbrillators, bequests from OOs, targeted
fund raising of the EEX gp or cooking exotic dishes for
Cultural Eve.
St Os is rightly recognised as a centre of excellence, but
there is another dimension a sense of values which we
hope students all acquire. In this respect, I was delighted
when our students chose to donate their 7K charity
money to Over the Walls and the Princess Royal
Hospital Special Baby Care Unit
Chairman, I believe that our prize-winners have
embraced real educational enlightenment, but with
a sense of balance. Tey have combined academic
scholarship with rich cultural involvement, underpinned
by true values, to become well-rounded individuals. Tey
have earned their prizes in another highly successful year
and deserve our warmest congratulations.
44 Olavian 2013
Special Prizes
Giles Pilcher Prize for Public Service
(Awarded by Te Old Olavians Lodge)
Grace Boyle
Mohammad Fallaha
John Marshalls
Educational Foundation Prizes
James Atkinson
William Pyle
Eleanor Goodman
James Watson
Chambers Prize for Leadership Michael Yates
Te Anthony Jarvis Shield Mohammad Fallaha
Te Woodard Board Prize Peter Leigh
Michael Pugh Prize for Public Speaking Oliver Hamlet
Te Renshaw Shield for Debating Ashwarya Pai
O.O. Lodge Prize
for Contribution to School Life
Grace Boyle
Cathedral Parish Prize for Voluntary Service Timothy Adelani
Leslie Sanders Prize for English Literature Katherine Shanahan
French Prize Matthew Burns-Watkins
A.W. Walker Prize for German Timothy Stickings
Spanish Prize Laura Christen
Matthew Holmes Prize for Classics Rogba Oladimeji
Te Ashley Prize for History Timothy Stickings
Antiquarian Society Prize
for a History Project
Alexander Rodker
Geography Prize Iain McGowan
Economics Prize Teo Cliford
Harry Little Prize for Mathematics Alistair ONeill
Paul Slade Prize for Physics Peter Leigh
Brian Ruth Memorial Prize for Physics Timothy Hill
Gnaanachelvan Prize for Biology Asher Leeks
Biology Project Prize Chrissy Antoniou
George Dyson Prize for Chemistry Sudhir Balaji
Chemistry Project Prize James Teoh
Computing Prize Robert Sharp
Phyllis Packer Prize
for Practical Musicianship
Stefan Beckett
An Old Olavian Prize for Music Tomas Bridges
Religious Studies Prize Lucy Clarke
Art Prize Oliver Plumstead
Graphics Prize William Dalton
Design Prize Christopher Self
Susan Owen Medal for Drama Eleanor Goodman
L.W. White Prize for Sporting Activities Joseph Teuns
I.W. Kirk Prize for Sportsmanship Eleanor Goodman
Ben Read Trophy Joseph Teuns
Senior Victor Ludorum James Allen
Sidney Tweedy Chess Cup Conrad Allison
Douglas Keeble Prize for Fives Sanjay Kundu
Prizes for Achievement in Public Examinations
H.G. Abel Prizes for A-Level
James Allen Peter Leigh
Conrad Allison Nikhil Math
Sudhir Balaji Alistair ONeill
Jacob Bartlett Alexander Penn
Teo Cliford William Pyle
Mohammad Fallaha Morgan Roberts
James Fargie Christopher Self
Benjamin Fryza Lucy Sharman
Luke Geoghegan Beatrice Shepherd
Eleanor Goodman Timothy Stickings
Andrea Grillo James Teoh
Maximilian Kennedy James Watson
Asher Leeks Peter Zheng
For G.C.S.E.
Tanusan Balakrishnan Adrian LaMoury
Kush Banga Samuel Luker Brown
Jack Bradfeld Edward McAleer
Daniel Bradford Alexander McKenzie
Stephen Chan Christopher Page
Nigel DSouza Abhishek Page
Daniel Fargie Raunak Rao
Edward Fearnley Akkilash Raveenthiran
Andrew Flagg Matthew Roberts
Daniel Gillette Nirjithan Sivapalan
Ankur Gupta Connor Smieja
James Kershaw Janushanth Sritharan
Edward King
Lower VI Form Prizes
Awarded by the Parents Association for enthusiasm, commitment
and imagination in the use of the Lower Sixth year
Timothy Adelani Sinead OConnor
Fraser Boistelle Sunkanmi Ogundipe
Fintan Calpin Zeinab Ruhomauly
Jordan Fisher Jenni Visuri
Bejamin McKechnie
Olavian 2013 45
Form Prizes
11J Joseph Dudley
Edward King
11K Matthew Allen
Lawrence Do
11L Jack Bradfeld
Michael Cann-Abaidoo
11M Dhruv Krishna
Matthew Roberts
11N Daniel Finucane
Alistair Haig
11O Colm McElligott
Cameron Fisher
10J William Belsham
Eddie Tolmie
10K Daniel Jenkins
Alexander Mulroy
10L Christy Hinchclife
Bradley Sawyer
10M Wilfred Kiondo
Ian Chiang
10N Rowan Wright
Praven Jeyarajah
9B Richard Decker
Richard Moulange
Luke Politz
Teo Antonov
9C Ali Albarosa
Raafay Younus
Samson Woodley
Aaron Kiernan
9H Jonathan Buchanan
Joshua Davidson
Kayo Kufeji
Adrian Santhiapillai
9L Seraphin Gnehm
Anik Roy
Jonathan Clarke
Rosler Mgbokwere
8B Gabriel Ide
Veyasan Karnan
Ali Mehmood
Hari Patel
8C Daniel Maghsoudi
Cristiano Da Cruz
Samuel Beale
Sohayl Ujoodia
8H Christopher Rajendram
Niko Kristic
Eric Leung
James Byrne
8L Leo Bennett
John Bentas
Ammar Kisat
William Carew
7B Shalin Kothari
Tomas Halton
Matthew Page
Jonathan McCabe
7C Alexander Song
Nebiy Daniel
Kelvin Liew
Jack McKeone
7H Louis McLean
Arnav Barry
Hai Duong
Benedict Forster
7L Samuel Jolly
Owen Somhorst
Akshay Karthikeyan
Matti Mitropoulos
Grants and Awards
Governors Awards
Stefan Beckett Norman Trotman Competition Winner
Tomas Hadden Norman Trotman Competition Finalist
Sanjay Kundu National Doubles & Singles Fives Champion
Peter Leigh Grade 8 organ with Distinction
Abhishek Patel Bromley Festival Recital Class Winner
Christopher Self National Doubles Fives Champion
Joseph Teuns Kent U18 Rugby
Grants for Outward Bound, Travel and Gap Year projects
Te James Burdett Prize for Gap Year Travel:
Peter Leigh For travel to Eastern Europe, Italy and
the Iberian Peninsula to experience
diferent cultures, visiting historical
towns, cities, museums, art galleries
and churches.
Te Potto Hicks Award:
Tomas Upton For travel to Hong Kong, New
Zealand and Los Angeles to visit engi-
neering landmarks, as well as museums
and other cultural sites.
46 Olavian 2013
Te Witton/Newmarch Award:
Maximilian Kennedy For travel to Paris, Rome, Venice,
Amsterdam and Poland to visit famous
Art Galleries, Museums and other
places of historical interest.
Te Lennie/Gridley Award:
Michael Yates For travel to Hong Kong, New
Zealand and Los Angeles to explore
the cultural diversity, museums and
engineering landmarks.
Marshall s Awards
Grants were made towards expenses as follows:
for the Woodard Foundation Senior Prefects Course
for Woodard Foundation Masterclasses
for the Woodard Musician of the Year fnals
for a JACT Ancient Greek Summer School
for entry to Mathematics Competitions
for Fieldwork including Biology, Geography, History and Languages
for Senior Art and Design Project Installations
In addition a number of students received expenses in regard
to music tuition.
Awards were also made to a number of students at the start
of their Higher Education Courses last year.
Marshalls Grants were also awarded to assist in enabling
students to go on feld trips which families could not otherwise
have funded.
Olavian 2013 47
Full Colours 2013
Senior Colours
Senior Prefect Colours
for Commitment to the
School
James Atkinson, Grace Boyle
Eleanor Goodman, William Pyle,
Mohammad Fallaha, James Watson
Contribution to School Sixth Form Association:
Alexander Rodker
Cabaret: Lucy Clarke,
Joanne Maure, George Mesure
Festival: Alexander Rodker
Culture Evening: William Dalton,
Mohammad Fallaha, Kulvir Guram,
Jeevitham Jeyashiri, Caroline Yuen
Technical Support: Luke Watkins
Olavian Magazine: Peter Leigh,
William Dalton
Rugby Joseph Teuns, Alexander Miller,
Michael Yates, Jack Cordrey,
Samuel Murray
Netball Eleanor Goodman
Mens Fives Sudhir Balaji, Samuel Rix,
Christopher Self, Julian Wickert,
Sanjay Kundu (13Q)
Hockey Stanley Ho, Charles Stoneham
Football Joseph Coleman, Samuel Ketchin,
James Narula
Table Tennis Benjamin Fryza, Timothy Stickings
Badminton Timothy Foo
Chess Conrad Allison, Asher Leeks,
Robert Lobo, Alex Tse
Music Sudhir Balaji, Stefan Beckett,
Tomas Bridges, Tomas Hadden,
Peter Leigh, James Watson
Drama Grace Boyle, Lucy Clarke,
Eleanor Goodman, Max Kennedy,
Michael Yates, Charlotte Flowers,
Tomas Hadden, Shannon Lavender
George Mesure, James Watson
Debating Oliver Hamlet, Aishwarya Pai,
William Pyle
Chapel Nicole Akano, Tomas Bridges,
Peter Leigh (13X)
Other Clubs & Societies Languages Clubs: Tomas Bridges,
Lorraine Li, Adelia Rakhimova
Chemistry Club: Sudhir Balaji,
Samuel Bentley, Asher Leeks,
Alistair O Neill
Art Club: William Dalton,
Timothy Foo, Oliver Plumstead,
William Searle, Timothy Hill
Munga: Aishwarya Pai,
James Watson
Film Club: Luke Watkins
History Soc. Magazine: Luke Watkins
Natural Sciences Society: Asher Leeks
Design Club: Samuel Rix,
Christopher Self
Literary Society: Katherine Shanahan
Maths in Motion: Iain McGowan,
Matthew Burns-Watkins,
Peter Leigh
Library: Peter Leigh
Intermediate Colours
Rugby Michael Cann-Abaidoo,
Joseph Cordery, Edward McAleer,
Joshua Searby, Alexander Weeks
Fives Josh Ravi
Cricket Daniel Fargie, Nithen Pathmanathen
Athletics Jonathan Pairman
Chess Nigel DSouza, Raunak Rao,
Gautham Reddiar
Music Alaric Belmain, Jonathan Day,
Jonathan Leech, Abhishek Patel,
Adam Stagg
Drama Jack Bradfeld, Samuel Luker Brown
Clubs & Societies Film Club: Jack Bradfeld
Doce Pares: Jay Desai
Junior Colours
Rugby Henry Edwards, Charles Peck,
Ciaran Twomey
Fives Tomas Gallagher, Morgan Pugh,
Chukwunenyem Nwuba,
Vishwakrith Shetty
Swimming Michael Jacobs
Cricket Arjun Anilkumar, Adlai Chua,
Amrit Dawood, Henry Edwards,
Jack Hurley, John Oxley,
Morgan Pugh, Keeran Rajendran,
Byran Sathananthan
Athletics Joshua Davidson, Charles Davis
Chess Owen Messre
Music Prem Chowdhry, Shaqib Chowdhury,
Richard Decker, Amrit Dawood,
Oliver Morrell, Richard Moulange
Chapel Jonathan Buchanan, John Hawk,
Richard Decker, Oliver Morrell,
John Holden-Murphy
48 Olavian 2013
VI Form News
50 Olavian 2013
VI Form News
Building Team Spirit at Blacklands Farm
Te battle at Blacklands Farm for the top form prize
ensued on 13th September. In their new year 12 forms,
students completed mental and physical challenges to
solidify friendships and foster team spirit. Accompanied
by the year 13 ambassador prefects, who shared the
wisdom they had acquired the previous year, the year 12s
excelled, putting teamwork and ingenuity into practice.
Abseiling 15ft drops, navigating through the trees on
high ropes and flling an impossibly leaky pipe, 12G
were crowned the overall form winners, gaining the
most points from their activities. While the Gs showed
their penchant for outward bound teamwork, each form
gained valuable experience and had the chance to bond
with their peers.
Te day ofered the opportunity to put competitive
spirit to good use and develop relationships within form
groups, with their form tutor and members of year 13. It
was an invaluable experience and lots of fun.
Eleanor Goodman, Vice Captain of School
Year 13 Oxbridge Workshop
Jenny Medland, Admissions Ofcer at Mansfeld
College, Oxford, led two invaluable sessions on
Wednesday 19th September in the Sixth Form Library.
Te frst of the two Oxbridge Applications Forums was
held for staf in order to further refne and develop the
quality of support which they can ofer to those students
aspiring for places at these prestigious universities. Te
second was directed at the applicants themselves and
was attended by almost half of Year 13.
Tis latter session consisted of a detailed and engaging
presentation covering all aspects of the admissions
procedure, debunking myths which surround the
interview process, ofering valuable hints on fne-tuning
the Personal Statement of the UCAS application and
ofering a broad range of advice on how best to prepare
for the forthcoming admissions tests. Te presentation
was followed by a lively question and answer session
in which our students acquitted themselves with their
usual incisive yet gracious aplomb. Jenny Medland will
be visiting the school again (with the Senior Admissions
Tutor for Mansfeld College) on the occasion of the
forthcoming Oxbridge Evening for Year 12 students to
be held in the Great Hall on March 18th.
Young Olavians Day
Te Young Olavians Day took place on 12th September,
with over 60 Young Olavians taking part in a range
of events from chess to rugby, and many more Young
Olavians coming to watch, cheer and get behind the
teams. Despite some very tough contests, the results did
not fall kindly for the school and the only victory was in
chess, with the Saint Olaves chess team defeating the
returning Old Olavians 3-1. Te match looked tight from
the beginning and, though three wins in a row raised
hopes of a whitewash, it was not to be. Nevertheless it
was a pleasing result for their frst match of the year!
Te netball match took place for the frst time in fve
seasons, helped by the Young Olavians calling up two
Cambridge netball players at the very last moment,
which helped secure them a victory. Te results were as
follows:
Event Score Result
Chess 3-1 Win
Football 3-7 Loss
Basketball 16-38 Loss
Netball 9-28 Loss
Fives 1-1 Draw
Badminton 2-5 Loss
Hockey 3-4 Loss
Rugby 13-19 Loss
Tis proved to be an excellent afternoon for the Sixth Form
and the students who left last year. We wish all students
going of to university the very best of luck.
Olavian 2013 51
Assemblies given by the Joint Captains of School
Confict Assembly
On Tuesday 9th October, an Upper VI Former gave an
assembly in front of the whole school about the issue of
confict. In his assembly, Mo outlined the confict faced
in the Syrian civil war, and described the consequences
of a number of potential solutions to the crisis. He then
went on to conclude that whilst there may not be an
immediate answer to the Syrian confict, we can learn
how to resolve most of the conficts we encounter in our
lives by adopting ideas from people such as Mahatma
Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
Imagination is more important than knowledge,
knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the world
On the 16th of October, a VI Former gave an assembly
on the potency of imagination, focusing of how it can
set us free. She talked about the true story of French
fashion magazine editor Jean Dominique Bauby. In
1995 Bauby had a massive stroke, leaving him with
locked in syndrome- a condition where in the mental
faculties remain intact but most of the body is left
paralyzed.
Bauby was only able to blink his left eye lid, and used
this limited physical freedom to dictate a book (one
letter at a time) via blinking called, Te diving Bell and
the Butterfy.
Grace used this metaphor of physical imprisonment vs
mental liberation to demonstrate that, like Bauby, we can
surpass our own limitations in life to achieve something
remarkable. As somebody studying both Literature and
Drama, Grace perceived this story as a form of portraying
the importance of artistic expression. She argued that
there are so many ways to express ourselves, not only via
language but also through music, theatre and painting.
Grace wanted to show that, although you cannot do a
GCSE, an A-Level or even a degree in imagination, it is
by far our greatest gift.
Scottish Country Dancing
Every Friday, during period four, year thirteen have
a lecture. We have enjoyed a variety of presentations
from the danger of cults to the argument behind
animal testing, but nothing was quite like what we
experienced last Friday. We stood huddled together
outside the doors of the great hall, not knowing what
lay ahead for us. Tere had been rumours that this week
was going to be diferent, and the speculations about
dancing remained a torturing threat to those of us
with two left feet.
Te rumours werent wrong. Tere was dancing alright.
We opened the doors and scurried into the hall to be
greeted with the sight of two women and one man, all
dressed in the trademark tartan of Scotland. I dont know
who was more shocked (or scared): us, not knowing what
they had in store, or them with the sight of a student
dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
After getting into partners we lined up and simply
accepted the humiliation that we would soon endure.
Te easy routine was explained; deep breaths were
inhaled and then came the bagpipes. Of we went. We
skipped, we twirled and we even Dosey Doed; It only
took about fve more explanations until we sort of got
the hang of it!
Overall, to my surprise, it was rather enjoyable. I dont
think we had ever imagined ourselves all together,
dressed as book characters, in school, Scottish dancing -
a surreal memory to say the least.
Upper VI Softball
Last Tursday saw Year 13 engage in a battle of wits and
strength as they channelled their seven years of secondary
school experience into the art of softball. With forms
Joint Captains of School for 2012-13,
each presented an assembly to the whole school.
52 Olavian 2013
pitted one against another, the top feld was littered with
epic shots and spectacular catches. With two games
apiece, everyone had a chance to bat, with varying levels
of success, while the large number of felders made for a
tight and challenging game.
Although there was no outright winner, great fun was
had by all in this less-than-conventional PSHE lesson.
Special mention must go to Mr. Optimus Price, for his
outstanding home run, and to Mr. Rees for an agile, but
soon-disqualifed, catch.
Many thanks to James Atkinson for organising the event
and to the staf, especially Mrs. Upsdell, for overseeing,
refereeing and scoring.
James Watson, Vice Captain of School
VI Form Association
Troughout the year, representatives from each Year 12
and 13 form have been meeting with Mr Rees, Director
of Sixth Form, and the Heads of Year, Mrs Updsell and
Mr Budds, as a voice for students in the Sixth Form.
Te Association has discussed issues raised by individual
students, such as soap in the toilets and sourcing a clock
for the pavilion, and matters which afect the whole of
the Sixth Form, including car parking, use of the Sixth
Form Library and the Leavers Reception.
As treasurer, Daniel Powell has been responsible for
overseeing the collection and spending of the Sixth
Form Subs, maintaining the condition of the Sixth
Form Common Room and subsidising the Leavers Ball.
Caroline Yuen, as secretary, has ensured agendas have
been circulated and minutes issued.
I would like to thank them both for their help this year and wish
Max Hamilton-Jenkins (Chairman), Alex Bargeron (Treasurer)
and Shino Hiraski (Secretary) the best of luck as our successors.
Alex Rodker (Chair, Year 13)
Oxbridge Offers
During the year, students have been busy with UCAS
applications and university interviews. As ever, the ofers
from prestigious Russell Group universities fooded
in and the new year began magnifcently with an
impressive spread of Oxbridge ofers. Congratulations
to the students, whose ofers bring our Oxbridge total to
nearly 120 over the last 4 years.
Leavers Reception & Ball
A new format for the Leavers Event was introduced this
year with a combined reception and ball held on a Friday.
Tis new arrangement began with a reception in the new
quad, where students were joined by their parents and
staf for canaps and champagne as they listened to a
string quartet and the newly formed barber shop singing
group. Students and parents also heard speeches by the
Headmaster, Director of Sixth Form and Grace Boyle
and Mohammad Fallaha, Captains of School.
We must record our thanks to Mrs Upsdell and Mrs
Vaughan for organising the reception, with help from
the South America rugby tourists. Tis was a highly
successful event, marking formally the end of an era
and culminating with a heartfelt and rousing (though
perhaps lacking in musicality) rendition of Jerusalem,
accompanied by Mr Geoghegan on the school organ.
After the reception, parents waved their sons and
daughters goodbye as the students moved onto the
Leavers Ball at Westerham Golf Club. Students
danced the night away to the Take 5 Party Band and
were entertained by a magician as they socialised on the
balcony, overlooking the golf course.
Upper VI Scottish Dancing...on a non-uniform day!
Te VI Form Council Team for 2012-13
Olavian 2013 53
Lower VI - Blacklands Farm Team-building Day
54 Olavian 2013
Leavers Destinations
Name Destination Course
Nicole Akano Oxford Brookes University Architecture
Lucy Allatt Exeter Accounting and Finance
James Allen Girton College, Cambridge Mathematics
Conrad Allison St. Catherines College, Cambridge Economics
Georgia Amos UCL Geography
Tom Anderson Applying 2014
Samuel Andrew Imperial Physics
Chrissie Antoniou Kings College London Medicine
James Atkinson Applying 2014
Rahul Bagga Kings College London Medicine
Sudhir Balaji Queens College, Cambridge Chemical Engineering
Akwasi Bamfo-Quaicoe Westminster Human and Medical Science
Leslie Bampoe-Addo Birmingham Chemical Engineering
Tanmoy Banerjee Bristol Aerospace Engineering
James Barnard Bristol History
Joseph Barrow Southampton Biomedical Sciences
Jacob Bartlett Imperial Physics
Aditi Basavakumar Imperial Medicine
Deepika Basavakumar Brighton and Sussex Medical School Medicine
Stefan Beckett Royal College of Music Music
Samuel Bentley Durham Natural Sciences
James Boobyer Exeter Economics
Pascal Bose New College, Oxford Mathematics
Grace Boyle Applying 2014
Francesca Bradley Exeter Ancient History
Tomas Bridges Applying 2014
Matthew Bruce East Anglia Economics
Matthew Burns-Watkins Durham Modern Languages
Emily Bushell Durham Law
Hadi Butt UCL Medicine
Mica Campbell Manchester Life Sciences
Nancy Carney-Holland Cardif Medicine
Anna Chadwick Bristol English
Rebecca Chan Birmingham Biomedical Sciences
Shanujan Chandrarajah Southampton Aeronautics and Astronautics
George Chattaway Applying 2014
Esme Chowdhry Manchester Chemical Engineering
Laura Christen UCL Spanish and Latin American Studies
Olavian 2013 55
Lucy Clarke Exeter English and Drama
Teo Cliford Merton College, Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Joseph Coleman Birmingham English
Jack Cordrey Imperial Chemical Engineering
Benjamin Cotton Exeter Economics
Adam Cox Exeter Archaeology
William Dalton Applying 2014
Kathryn Deegan Hertford College, Oxford Economics and Management
Joseph Delaney Warwick Mathematics
Carson Dennis Durham Accounting and Finance
Jack Etienne Applying 2014
Mohammad Fallaha Imperial Medicine
James Fargie Birmingham Chemical Engineering
Emily Fittock Liverpool Physics with Medical Applications
Charlotte Flowers Exeter English
Timothy Foo East Anglia Environmental Geography
James French Applying 2014
Benjamin Fryza Jesus College, Cambridge Land Economy
Luke Geoghegan Imperial Medicine
Pavan Gill Bristol Economics and Finance
William Glevey Kings College, Cambridge Economics
Eleanor Goodman Murray Edwards College, CambridgeEnglish
Liam Gough UCL History
Andrea Grillo Trinity College, Cambridge Law
Kulvir Guram Queen Marys, London Dentistry
Tomas Hadden York English
Clark Hailston Applying 2014
Omid Hakimazari Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Charles Hallett Applying 2014
Oliver Hamlet Durham Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Tomas Hannath Reading Geography
James Hart Bristol History of Art
Henri Hassett Bristol Geography
Roisin Hegarty ODowd Kings College London Medicine
Tomas Heslop Norwich University Of Te Arts Illustration
Timothy Hill Employment
Siu Fung Ho Warwick Biological Sciences
Manh Duc Hoang UCL Economics
William Hoang Applying 2014
Matthew Holland Sussex Economics
Cinderella Jawahar Queen Marys, London Medical Genetics
Ashley Jefs Southampton Geography
Olivia Jenkins Nottingham Law with Spanish and Spanish Law
Jeevitham Jeyashiri UCL Economics
56 Olavian 2013
Harriet Jones Durham Classics
Mounif Kalawoun Warwick Engineering
Harshit Kanchi Nottingham Industrial Economics
Ria Katwa Exeter Modern Languages
Maximilian Kennedy Warwick History of Art
Hayley Kenton-Merrill Nottingham Mechanical Engineering
Philippa Kenton-Merrill Shefeld Chemical Engineering
Charles Kershaw Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford Ancient and Modern History
Samuel Ketchin Birmingham Geology and Geography
Vincent Khor Sussex Biochemistry
Sanjay Kundu Southampton Electromechanical Engineering
Shannon Lavender Exeter Economics
Michael Le Guillou Warwick Economics
Asher Leeks New College, Oxford Biological Sciences
Peter Leigh Applying 2014
Lorraine Li Warwick Economics
Selina Li UCL Modern Languages
Robert Lobo Manchester Material Sciences and Engineering
Amy Lord Bristol Veterinary Science
James MacDonagh Shefeld Biochemistry
Nikhil Math Imperial Medicine
George Mathers Southampton Geography
Joanne Maure LSE Mathematics and Economics
Benjamin McCracken Canterbury Christ Church Geography with International Relations
Max McDonagh Loughborough Product Design and Technology
Iain McGowan Durham Geography
George Mesure Applying 2014
Alexander Miller Birmingham Economics
Kezia Mithra Johnson Applying 2014
Anthony Moore Reading Environmental Science
Samuel Murray Bristol Ancient History
James Narula LSE Accounting and Finance
Michal Nerek Sussex Physics
Mina Nguyen Applying 2014
Fadil Nohur Imperial Biochemistry
Annabel Norris Bristol Medicine
Adam ODolan Kings College London Mathematics
Temitope Odufsan Loughborough Product Design Engineering
Oluwarogbayimika Oladimeji Selwyn College, Cambridge Law
Emily OMalley Nottingham German (Beginners) and History
Alistair ONeill Trinity College, Cambridge Mathematics
Jason Opoku-Afriyie Warwick Mathematics and Statistics
Taha Pagdiwalla York Economics and Finance
Aishwarya Pai Imperial Medicine
Olavian 2013 57
Julia Panascia Glasgow Human Biology
Aashish Panchasara Imperial Physics
Rishi Patel LSE Economics
Shiv Patel Warwick Economics
Richard Pattinson Applying 2014
Tomas Paulsen Exeter Geography
Alexander Penn UCL Physics
Alexander Pereira LSE Economics
Oliver Plumstead Ravensbourne Broadcast Technology
Daniel Powell Royal Veterinary College Veterinary Medicine
Anastasia Prempeh Applying 2014
Prabhleen Puri Southampton Biomedical Sciences
Ryan Pye Leicester Medical Biochemistry
William Pyle Brasenose College, Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Usenthini Rajasekar City Actuarial Science
Adelia Rakhimova UCL Economics and Geography
Sujaen Ravii Kings College London Biomedical Science
Saraavanabirasa Ravinthiran Imperial Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Yasmin Razzaque Leeds Biochemistry
Katherine Reed Exeter Law
Joshua Reynolds Applying 2014
Samuel Rix UCL Architecture
Morgan Roberts Southampton Acoustical Engineering
Alexander Rodker Christs College, Cambridge History
Rebecca Rodney Southampton Economics
Tomas Rumbelow Birmingham Business Management
Tomas Russell Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford Physics
William Searle Brunel Sociology
Christopher Self Imperial Civil Engineering
Katherine Shanahan Warwick English and German Literature
Lucy Sharman Bristol Economics and Finance
Robert Sharp Shefeld Computer Science
Beatrice Shepherd Jesus College, Cambridge Philosophy
Benjamin Shotnes Applying 2014
Tomas Silver Bristol History
Abraham Siregar Essex Computer Science
Ryan St Ledger Reading Geography (Human)
Joseph Stevens UCL History
Timothy Stickings Durham History
Charles Stoneham Cambridge Land Economy
Ghajhan Surenthiran Kings College London Medicine
Chandini Sureshkumar Leicester Medicine
Nicola Tagoe Birmingham History
Alexander Tarrant-Anderson Durham History
58 Olavian 2013
James Teoh Imperial Physics
Joseph Teuns City Investment & Financial Risk Management
Alex Tse Warwick Economics
Celia Udeagbara Loughborough Civil Engineering
Tomas Upton Bristol Engineering Mathematics
Mantas Volkauskas Swansea Civil Engineering
Luke Watkins Nottingham History
James Watson New College, Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Ella Wells New College, Oxford Biochemistry
Julian Wickert York Economics
William Williams Bristol Palaeontology and Evolution
Jakobi Wilmott LSE Economics
Rebecca Wong Reading Accounting and Business
Michael Yates Durham English Literature
Caroline Yuen Queens College, Oxford Law
Peter Zheng Imperial Aeronautical Engineering
Clubs
& Extra-curricular
60 Olavian 2013
Clubs and Extra-curricular
Natural Sciences Society
In January 2013, three people were appointed to be the new
leaders of Natural Sciences Society; Jenni Visuri, Harry
Jenkins and Fraser Boistelle. Te society meets every Friday
lunchtime in S4 for a range of diferent types of events.
Each of the leader gave a speech during the Spring term, the
topics being exoplanets, explosives and evolution of whales,
dolphins and porpoises. We also held a debate on the topic
should science interfere with nature? In addition to this we
have contributed to the global Zooniverse project which asks
all people to register and help with scientifc research and
analysis which cannot be done by a computer. Tis features
projects such as classifying parts of the Moon, mapping
Mars, and classifying galaxies as well as helping sort images
of cancer cells. On the last day of the Easter term we held a
quiz on random scientifc knowledge which was just for fun.
Te NSS has also been to visit many lectures at UCL over
the year, which have featured a plethora of topics such as
quantum computers, aliens and colonising space, the origins
of asymmetry in the brain, mirror image molecules, and the
science of invisibility. Tese have all provided a fantastic
opportunity for members who have visited some of these.
Easter term was a extremely busy one for the society because
we have released the third issue of our journal, a frst for the
new leaders. We had a whole new host of members wishing to
participate by writing articles in all three felds of science. We do
hope that you will read our journals (available online from the
school website) and learn a lot about diferent scientifc topics.
Chapel Notes 2012-13
2012-13 was a busy year for the School Chaplaincy, with a
full programme of special events as well as the Chaplains
day-to-day pastoral support for the school community.
Te Chaplains weekly discussion group Firm Foundations,
which is aimed particularly at boys in Y7 to Y10, has covered
a wide range of exciting and sometime controversial topics,
including If Hitler repented on his deathbed, would he go
to heaven? Ten in the end-of-term special event known as
Roast the Reverend, the Chaplain was subjected to a quick-
fre barrage of difcult questions put by the students. His
knowledge of theology bore up reasonably well, though his
awareness of TV soap operas was found wanting!
Alongside the junior meeting, a group of Sixth Form
students has continued to lead the Senior Christian
Union, giving opportunities for Y12 and Y13 students to
lead prayers and Bible study discussions. Te Staf Prayer
Meeting has also continued this year, with a faithful group
of teaching and support staf gathering week by week to
pray for the needs of the school community.
Continuing the schools tradition of preparing lower school
boys for Confrmation in the Church of England, three
students Billy Belsham, Marcus Finn and Alex Song - were
confrmed in April by the Rt Revd Brian Castle, Bishop of
Tonbridge. Te boys also helped to lead diferent aspects of
the service such as Bible readings and prayers. Music was led
by the Chapel Choir, conducted by Peter Leigh.
Our annual Chapel weekend away at Carroty Wood Activities
Centre near Tonbridge involved a group of students ranging
in age from 12 to 18 and a team of staf led by Mr Maltman
and the Chaplain. Along with activities such as low ropes,
scavenger hunt, campfre and a forest wide game, students
had the opportunity to consider aspects of the Christian faith
through scheduled sessions and informal discussion times.
Tis year our theme was Christmas, which we celebrated in
the middle of the summer with roast turkey and traditional
carols! Despite the unseasonal weather, we enjoyed taking
a fresh look at the story of Jesus birth, and saw how the fact
of God coming into his world 2000 years challenges us to
re-examine our relationship with him today.
Te schools community service programme known as the Le
Chavetois Society (named after a former member of staf)
has continued to grow in size and scope, with over thirty Year
12 students taking part in a wide range of diferent projects
from healthcare to charity fundraising. A large team were
based at St Pauls Cray Church of England Primary School
- a local school which St Olaves has supported in various
ways for many years - where our students helped in the
schools literacy drive, running a library bus and reading with
children from Years 2 to 6. Placement supervisors testifed
to the positive contribution our students made within the
community, describing their Olavian volunteers as excellent,
polite, helpful, professional and always willing to help. One
headteacher summed up the contribution of one of our
students: he will be sadly missed by all our pupils.
Festival 2013
Following a special Christmas Assembly on Tursday 20th
December, the School held a festival to help raise money for
two charities nominated by the students; Over the Walls and
the Princess Royal University Hospital Special Care Baby Unit.
Te Festival Committee put together a great line up of
events, including Jeopardy, Just A Minute and University
Challenge. Tese events saw teachers pitting their skills
against each other in the Great Hall. Also, students wore
non-uniform to school and during the afternoon tutor
groups created stalls in their classrooms to help raise money.
Te School raised through Festival and Cabaret around
7300 for the two chosen charities, with the most successful
form being, by a considerable margin, 9C, who raised some
226 by selling pancakes, cupcakes and milkshakes.
O-Factor 2013
After weeks of intensive training, the O Factor inter-house
choir competition fnally culminated in an electrifying
showdown on the last Tursday of the spring term. With
each house singing one hymn and one karaoke classic, oferings
ranged from Robbie Williams Angels to Amazing Grace via
Bread of Heaven and even a song from Disneys Te Lion King.
After more than an hour of music, punctuated by
excoriating criticism from the judges and dry wit from the
dynamic duo of hosts Max Kennedy and the Reverend
McClellan, the champions were fnally crowned.
A close contest saw Leeke house (singing Angels and I
vow to thee, my country) storm to victory for the third year
running, followed by an unprecedented three-way tie in
second place between Harvard, Cure and Bingham. With
a rousing full-school rendition of Jerusalem to round of
proceedings, another years competition came to an end.
Special thanks must go to the music prefects, senior prefects
and Peter Leigh who together masterminded, co-ordinated
and led the competition from start to fnish; the generous
assistance and coaching from the music department; and
the forbearance of Mrs. Ayres in reprographics.
James Watson, Vice Captain of School
____________________
CHESS NEWS
Congratulations to Raunak Rao (Year 11) who came
equal second in the Jessie Gilbert International Chess
Festival, held at Coulsdon between August 25th and
27th 2012. Tis result is particularly impressive as it was a
largely adult tournament, with many high graded players.
Congratulations also to Raunak who, as a member of the
Kent Chess team, contributed, later in the year, to their
win of the Southern Counties Chess Union under 160
Grade tournament for the 2012/13 season. Although the
team still had one match in hand, they were declared league
champions. Raunak played on Board 3 out of a 16 board
team and has faced formidable opposition in his opponents
over the course of the past year, being the only junior player
in the team. Our congratulations to him and the team.
Millfeld Chess Tournament
Our young Chess team travelled to Somerset to take
part in the annual Millfeld International. At the end
of the frst day we were in third place and hopeful of
Olavian 2013 61
maintaining this position. However with relatively little
experience, exhaustion took its toll and we slumped down
the standings, needing a very strong performance in the
last round to take third. As the results came in, this looked
unlikely, but a nail-biting fnish in the last game of the
tournament did indeed secure our third place position,
continuing our run of successive top-three fnishes for the
past nine years! Well done to all the young players.
ECF National Schools Chess
Championships
On Tursday 16th January St. Olaves played Te Kings
School Canterbury in the second round of the ECF
Schools Championship.
Tis proved to be a challenging match; however, we were
able to fnish with an impressive 5-1 win to progress to
the next stage of the competition. Congratulations to all
who played: Sachin Balaji, Nigel DSouza, Owen Messere,
Raunak Rao, Gautham Reddiar and James Wagstaf-Hall.
Ten, on Friday 8th February St. Olaves faced Eltham
College, in what promised to be a tight match. Despite
wins from Conrad Allison and Xavier Chitnavis on boards
1 and 6 respectively, some unlucky results meant we drew
the match 3-3. Unfortunately, due to the age handicap
system, our participation ended there. However, we then
looked forward to the challenge of the plate competition.
ECF National Schools Plate Competition
At the beginning of March, our chess team played
Hampton School B team. It was a match we expected to
win with relative ease, but things didnt quite go to plan.
From the beginning it was a struggle, and we soon found
ourselves two games down, with tricky positions in several
of the remaining games. It looked as though it was all over,
that we would be consigned to a humiliating defeat. But
with true Olavian spirit and tenacity, we slowly fought
back. Wins in the last three games from Xavier Chitnavis
(who has won all his games this season), Raunak Rao, and
Conrad Allison, on boards six, two and one respectively,
clinched victory by the narrowest of margins - 3.5-2.5!
Our team was yet to be defeated this season, and we
looked forward to playing in the quarter-fnals.
Unfortunately we were then soundly beaten by QE
Barnet in the quarter-fnals, losing 0.5-5.5. However, we
look forward to next years competition well be back!
Kent Junior Chess Success
Conrad Allison of Year 13 won the Under 18 section of the
Kent Junior Chess Association 2012/13 Grand Prix, also
fnishing frst in his section at the Grand Prix Final held in
Sevenoaks on Sunday 14th July. St Olaves School also fnished
the season as the top secondary school. Congratulations to all
the boys who took part to demonstrate the chess prowess of
St Olaves over the past year.
62 Olavian 2013
DofE Awards - Expeditions
Te Gold D of E group had a very testing time on
Dartmoor over the October half term, as they struggled
to complete their practice expedition. Te weather ranged
from icy cold on the frst night to high winds, driving
rain, mist and the occasional glimpse of the sun over the
next 4 days of trekking. Te groups started in Cheston
and trekked over 4 days (which included 3 nights of
wild camping on the moor) to Oakhampton. With this
behind them, they hoped that the assessed expedition,
to take place in the Brecon Beacons at Easter, would be
comparatively easy.
As Easter approached, expedition preparations were
then under way, with not only Gold going out to the
Brecon Beacons at Easter, but also Bronze in and around
Sevenoaks and fnally, Silver participants either on the
Sussex Downs or in the New Forest. All in all it was a
busy time for both students and the hard-core helpers
on the staf without whose support these challenging
opportunities just would not have been able to happen
and we are very grateful to all of them.
Te Upper VI had hoped for a better assessed expedition,
following the Gold practice in Dartmoor where
drowning seemed more than possible. Instead, we again
endured unseasonal weather with temperatures down to
-5 at night plus the windchill factor! During the day on
the Mountain tops it was well below -15 with gale force
winds and thigh deep snow in many places.
Te assessed group numbered 26 walking up to 25km a
day in hills and mountains in testing weather conditions.
Despite this, all the teams overcame the challenge and
passed the assessment in the Brecon Beacons with fying
colours. It is a testament to the teams that they were
only one of a handful of groups to complete the fve
day expedition when the weather had caused so many
schools to pull out.
Year 10 on their Bronze DofE Expedition
Gold DofE Expeditions
Pitching camp on Gold DofE
Olavian 2013 63
World Challenge Years 8 & 9 in Croatia
Te expedition was to be for many of us the highlight
of the summer, if not the academic year. After months
of fundraising, lunch time meetings, and team building
exercises after school, the two teams of year 8 and 9
students were almost ready to leave. Te teams were led
by teachers from the ADT department, Miss Hawley
and Miss Heraghty, who were then joined by World
Challenge leaders. Tis record of the trip is mainly in the
perspective of Team 2 led by Miss. Heraghty, as this was
the team I was part of.
Te expedition began at Saint Olaves Tuesday 30th July
where we completed our fnal team building exercises,
practiced putting up tents and getting familiar with
the trangia which would all be essential if we were to
survive in Croatia. After fnal goodbyes were given by
tear-sodden parents a fnal supper of Dominos pizza
from Orpington High Street was shared. Te night soon
fell and we slept in the pavilion, an honour which many
students dont get to experience in their school life. Our
fight to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, from Gatwick
left at 05:50 the next morning. We woke up just after
midnight and were at the airport at 02:30, due to the
regulations of our insurance. Tired, anxious and yet still
excited we boarded the fight as the sun rose over our
Easyjet plane. On an expedition of frsts the Easyjet
fight was also a frst for many.
Once we had landed in Zagreb, a comparatively
minuscule airport, we met our local guides who took
us by coach to our frst destination, Lidl supermarket,
a second frst for some. Here we were faced with the
challenge of getting used to the local currency (1= 8.6
Croatian Kuna), and buying food for the next three days
ahead as well as keeping within the teams budget. Two
hours on the coach followed, Team 1 of 15 students lead
by Miss Hawley, started on the beaches of the Adriatic
Sea, near Novigrad Bay, overlooking the national park
paklenica. Teir frst challenge sea kayaking.
Te second team, led by Miss Heraghty, were then
dropped of on the bank of the River Zrmanja where
we set up camp and then tackled the challenge of
cooking, not only for ourselves but for our leaders too.
On the menu frst was chicken with paprika on a base
of very sticky rice, which was no mean task especially
without cooking oil for the chicken, but we overcame
the challenges and were all feed. After a camp fre with
roasted marshmallows we settled down for the night.
Kayaking down 8K of calm, crystal blue waters
surrounded by baronial canyons was the next challenge.
Te surroundings were stunning but the kayak was to
be a difcult one. After packing up tents and putting
our equipment in dry bags ready for transportation on
the two man kayaks we set of down the River Zrmanja.
We then came to the River Krupa and joined it to reach
our wild camp destination for the night with no facilities
what so ever, apart from the refreshing water running
from a spring close to our camp which was welcomed
with masses of open bottles after a long day on the river,
negotiating rapids among the challenges.
After a rougher night than the last we were up early
ready to get back on the river to the campsite a further
8km downstream with a couple of waterfalls in the way
as well. Negotiating these natural phenomenons was a
task left to the local guides, lowering them one by one
with many cords of rope. Continuing past the waterfalls
ended our River journey and brought us to a popular
campsite, with toilets and a shower all which had been
alien to us the night before. Tese facilities were greeted
with open arms after setting up camp in the sweltering
mid day heat and kayaking for more than three hours.
Everyone was greeted the next morning by the warmth of
porridge for the tasks ahead of us were massive. Te frst
on the list was food shopping for the time we were going
to spend in the mountainous national park paklenica. Te
challenges in Lidl still present. Once we had distributed
the food between our bags we were back on the coach and
dropped of at the foot of the park. What was advertised
as a two hour walk for tourists certainly was not. Once our
65+ litre bags were factored in we knew two hours was
an unrealistic target, especially with most of the course
sloping with a violent gradient up hill. Te moment we
made it to the mountain hut was one few will forget,
celebrations flled the air and the home made swimming
pool was bombarded by 13 students needing a wash.
Once recovered from the trek, we were greeted by Miss.
Hawleys team who had just climbed the black peak. Tis
was the frst time the two teams saw each other and a
great chance to talk about each others adventures. Our
team were eager to fnd out the time they had completed
the black peak trek, knowing we were set to do the same
trek tomorrow. Given a time to beat of seven hours, after
supper, we made home in the mountain hut and settled
down for the night.
After waving Miss. Hawleys team down the mountain, to
their river journey, we set out with our day sacks to climb
the infamous black peak, so named because of the trees
that surrounded it, making it stand out from a distance
compared to the other peaks white with rock. Reaching
the peak was another moment on our expedition that
was unforgettable, eating lunch overlooking the Adriatic
Sea. Te trek was a challenging one but we were glad to
hear supper was to be cooked by our leaders as a reward
for our eforts throughout the week, a well deserved and
much welcomed break.
Te next day saw us wave goodbye to the mountain hut
and trek down to the foot of the park where we were to
64 Olavian 2013
Year 8 & 9 - World Challenge 2013
Olavian 2013 65
...from Orpington to Croatia...
66 Olavian 2013
be transferred to the Adriatic Sea, near Novigrad Bay.
Kayaking across the sea the next day was to conclude
our expedition but was a totally diferent challenge and
one which was rewarding for all. Once we had harboured
the kayaks back where we were situated, we sat in the
local caf overlooking the sea with ice creams in our
hand under the 37 degree heat. Night fell and all our
kit was ticked of and the tents back in their tight bags.
Te coach picked us up after midnight to take us to the
Zagreb airport. Our fight was a short one and we were
fooded with parents with open arms seeing their sons in
a diferent light, a son who had taken on the challenge of
a life time. A World Challenge.
Troughout the journey everyone took turns to be leader
for a day. We grew as individuals, in leadership, strength
and teamwork; all skills which will be invaluable in life.
Te expedition to Croatia was an amazing one and I
know that many of us will want to go on the four week
expedition in a few years time.
Samson Woodley (9C)
Mathematics
& Computing
Specialist Status
68 Olavian 2013
The Faculty of Mathematics,
ICT & Computer Science
T
he Faculty has continued to thrive in its signifcant
achievements on both the academic and
extracurricular fronts. Tere have been new teaching
courses introduced plus a new national fnal reached.
Students continue to develop their considerable
mathematical plus problem-solving skills within
both the classroom setting plus extracurricular clubs
and competitions. Te culmination of these eforts
is a signifcant number of students embarking upon
mathematics or mathematics related degrees.
A record number of Year 13 students completed both
the A2 Mathematics and the A2 Further Mathematics
course, achieving yet another outstanding set of results.
Almost 80% of entries were at A* or A grade with forty-
nine students achieving these grades on the demanding
Further Mathematics qualifcation. Tis is possibly the
highest number for any school nationally and a testament
to the dedication, teaching and learning by students and
staf. In addition, two students achieved very creditable
results in the STEP papers.
In Year 12, results for an amazingly large cohort of 169
mathematicians were comparable with the previous
years excellent results. On the Mathematics front, well
over a three quarters achieved at least an A grade score
with over half of these being high enough to suggest the
student is on course for an A* grade at A2. Te truly
outstanding results were achieved by the 100 Further
Mathematicians in this year where 94% achieved an A
or B grade for their Further Mathematics AS, well above
any previous level achieved. Tese results refect the
efective advice upon the part of the staf plus wisdom
upon the part of students as to their appropriate level
of mathematical study. St Olaves continues to have a
amazing number of students studying Mathematics
beyond the standard level and the prospects are that
the incoming Year 12 will maintain and quite possibly
further this growing tradition.
Our Year 11 students were the frst set of Olavians
to undertake the Edexcel Mathematics IGCSE
qualifcation as this is deemed to be a slightly more
efective preparation for higher level mathematical study.
Results were awaited with slight trepidation by staf, but
we need not have worried as the students rose to the
challenge, achieving our equal highest ever proportion of
A* at almost 85%. Te top sets continue to study courses
beyond the IGCSE with, for the frst time, both the top
two sets sitting the Free Standing Unit in Additional
Mathematics. Very creditable results were achieved by
both sets, giving them useful insights of concepts for
their future mathematical studies.
Students in years below have continued to be
enthusiastically involved in clubs, national mathematics
challenges plus team competitions, mathematics clinics,
the buddy system and mathematics activity days plus
team competitions. All of these have hopefully developed
their skills plus passion for mathematical progress and
development in future years.
As ever, all Olavian students have at least two opportunities
to sit each of the national Junior, Intermediate and Senior
Mathematical Challenges with impressive results being
achieved in each plus signifcant numbers qualifying
for the further Olympiad and Kangaroo rounds. Te
problem-solving nature of the competitions complement
well the more didactic nature of much of the public
examination qualifcations and hence represent an
important component in ensuring students develop into
rounded mathematicians, especially as there is a desire
to develop the problem-solving component of public
examinations.
In Computing, Dr Onifade has overseen the frst
cohort of students to undertake the Computing GCSE
course with very encouraging results achieved as they
achieved an A*/A proportion directly in line with the
school average. In addition, the AS ICT students results
were sound. Despite a large number of Year 8 students
displaying the Olavian trait of leaving task completion
until the last minute, a very high proportion of the year
completed successfully the well-respected ITQ. Te
department is looking forward to introducing at Key
Stage 3 a course more focused upon Computing rather
than IT over the coming years.
At the end of the year the Faculty bade farewell to Mrs
Ott who taught Mathematics to students in Years 7 to
11 for twelve years. Apart from achieving some excellent
results with lower set Year 11 students on a consistent
basis, Mr Ott will be remembered for her speedy marking,
ability to relate mathematics to her previous career in
banking plus being an efective Special Educational
Needs Co-ordinator within the Faculty. We wish her an
extremely happy retirement.
In September we welcomed back Mr James Davis who
takes up the role of second in charge of the Faculty with
specifc responsibility for Key Stage 4 Mathematics. Mr
Davis brings with him a wealth of mathematical teaching
Olavian 2013 69
Neil Maltman
Head of Mathematics
experience plus IT skills that should be very useful in
the continued development of the Faculty. In addition,
it is good to report that Mr Timothy McCurrach
successfully completed his Newly Qualifed Teacher year
in December of last year. Te Faculty has an encouraging
blend of experience and youth that should stand us in
good stead as we go forward.
Finally, as I refect upon my frst year back as Head of
the Mathematics and Computing Faculty, I consider it
to be a privilege to oversee such capable plus motivated
groups of students plus staf and look forward to them
continuing to respond so efectively the opportunities
plus challenges of the coming year.
received a certifcate of distinction placing him in the
top 25% of those sitting the paper. Both these students
sat the even more daunting Round 2 paper in January.
Congratulations go to Pascal Bose who managed to
solve completely two of the four extremely demanding
problems in this years paper to achieve a score placing
him well within the top twenty scores nationally.
Senior Kangaroo
Nineteen students from Years 11 to 13 sat this follow-on
competition from the Senior Mathematical Challenge.
Te paper consisted of twenty problems with three-digit
answers. Six students achieved certifcates of distinction
placing them in the top 25% nationally. Congratulations
go to Oliver Mansell (11M) and Alastair Haig (11N) who
achieved the best results in the school, each successfully
solving thirteen of the problems. Tis represents an
impressive achievement as they were undertaking the
paper against students up to two years their senior.
Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
In February a record 295 students from Years 9 to 11
participated in this years Intermediate Mathematical
Challenge. Tey achieved a creditable 70 gold, 92 silver
and 73 bronze certifcates. Fifteen students qualifed
for the Olympiads and twenty-seven for the Kangaroo
competitions that took place in March. Congratulations
go to those achieving the best-in-year scores: Alistair
Haig (11N), Tom Wang (10N) and Coby Plews (9L).
Intermediate Mathematical Olympiads and
European Kangaroo
Olavians found this years Intermediate Olympiad papers
tough and only Kush Banga (11L) managed to secure
a certifcate of distinction. However, a creditable seven
students received a certifcate of merit in the European
Kangaroo papers.
NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Senior Mathematical Challenge
On Tuesday 6th November, students from Years 11, 12
and 13 took part in the Senior Mathematical Challenge.
Tis years paper proved more difcult than most recent
years papers with the average score being lower than
usual.
However, the 356 Olavian entrants responded extremely
positively to the challenge to achieve a record 281
certifcates (43 gold, 122 silver and 116 bronze)
representing an impressive 79% of entrants, by some way
our highest ever proportion of entrants achieving such
recognition. Special mention should be made of Alistair
ONeill (13Z) who achieved best in school with a score
of 120 out of 125 plus Oscar Wilkins (12G) and Oliver
Mansell (11M) who achieved best- in-year results.
Seven Year 13 students qualifed for the frst round of
the British Mathematical Olympiad and an encouraging
twenty-two qualifed for the inaugural Senior Kangaroo
Mathematics follow-on round. Many schools are highly
selective in whom they enter for the Challenge, rather
than St Olaves policy of entering all students studying
Mathematics at the appropriate level, and hence these
results are another testament to the excellent problem-
solving abilities possessed by many Olavians.
British Mathematical Olympiad:
Rounds 1 & 2
Te seven Olavian students who qualifed for the British
Mathematical Olympiad in December all achieved
creditable results on a demanding paper. Special
mention must be made of Alastair ONeill (13Z) who
was awarded a bronze medal placing him in the top
100 students nationally and Pascal Bose (13X) who
British Mathematical Olympiad award-winners
70 Olavian 2013
Junior Mathematical Challenge
Students from Years 7 and 8 achieved another impressive
set of results in this years Junior Mathematical
Challenge. Almost ninety percent of students gained a
certifcate, including 74 gold, 74 silver and 50 bronze
certifcates. Te outstanding top scorers in Year 8 were
Daniel Maghsoudi and Christopher Rajendram who
both scored 130 from a possible 135, whilst in Year 7
they were Alexander Song and Hai Duong who both
attained a score of 124. Tere were ten qualifers for the
Junior Olympiad which took place in June.
Junior Mathematical Olympiad
St Olaves involvement in this years national
Mathematics competitions ended on a high. In the
Junior Mathematical Olympiad, a record four students
were awarded medals placing them well within the
top two hundred students nationally. Alex Song (7C)
achieved a gold medal for providing faultless solutions
to fve of the six demanding problems. Close on his
heels were Alec Hong (8L) with a silver medal plus
Daniel Maghsoudi (8C) and Oliver Bennett (7C)
with bronze medals. Several of the other six entrants
achieved creditable scores. All are to be congratulated
upon these outstanding results that are a testament to
some excellent problem-solving abilities and bode well
for future successes.
Senior Mathematics Team Challenge:
Regional Final
On Wednesday 14th November, some of the best
mathematicians from over 35 schools gathered at
Ravenswood for the South East London regional fnal
of the UKMT and Te Further Mathematics Networks
Senior Team Mathematics Challenge. Each school
felded four mathematicians for what would be an
extremely tight competition.
Alistair ONeill (13Z), Pascal Bose (13X), Louise Selway
(12I) and Oscar Wilkins (12G) represented St. Olaves
supported by Mr Henley and Frau Cooley. After the frst
group round, the top fve teams were separated by only
one question, raising the pressure. Following a very strong
performance in the cross-number, where we dropped
only a single mark, came the fast-paced relay round in
which points are awarded not only for getting the correct
answers but also for beating the clock. With an average
of a minute and a half per challenging question, this was
no easy feat.
After all scores had been collated, overall we achieved
second place, closely following a very strong St. Dunstan
team. To do so well in such a competitive region was a
performance of which the team can be proud.
UKMT Mathematics Team Challenge:
Regional Final
On Wednesday 6th March, St Olaves hosted the regional
fnal of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge for thirty-fve
teams of four students from Years 8 and 9 from schools
around South East London. After four hard-fought
rounds of problem-solving, including a crossnumber and
a frenetic relay, the Olavian A team of Owen Messere,
Richard Moulange, Henry Miller and Christopher
Rajendram emerged as narrow winners with a very
high score of 224 points from a possible 240 and hence
qualifed for the national fnal in June. Congratulations
also go to the B team of Richard Decker, Vishwakrith
Shetty, Daniel Maghsoudi and Ken Yanagida, which
achieved a very commendable fourth place.
The four Lower School JMO Medallists
The Olavian Senior Team Challenge group
Olavian 2013 71
UKMT Team Mathematics Challenge:
National Final
St Olaves achieved another top ten position in the
National Final of the UKMT Team Mathematics
Challenge on Tuesday 18th June. Te team were placed
8th from the eighty teams in the fnal. Te frst part
was a poster competition based upon the interesting
theme of Packing which involved using prepared
materials plus solving some problems set on the day. Te
team produced an impressive plus informative poster. In
the actual competition, after a slow start in the group
circus that involved some practical problem-solving,
the team performed impressively in the remaining
rounds, achieving close to maximum scores in the
crossnumber, mini relay and relay rounds. Te team is to
be congratulated upon achieving St Olaves best position
for several years, a suitable reward for the considerable
number of training sessions undertaken by Mr Sanderson
plus Mr Maltman.
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS
Mathematical Lecture
In April, the Olavian Mathematical Society continued
its programme of lectures with former student Luke
Abraham, currently reading Mathematics at St Johns
College, University of Cambridge, returning to provide
a highly entertaining lecture under the title Minus a half
factorial and other nonsensical questions. Te lecture
certainly broadened our horizons mathematically and
not a few quizzical faces left the Chapel that evening!
Oxbridge Mathematics Symposium
Te School was delighted to welcome back Old Olavians
Kit Harris and Luke Abraham (2004 2011) in September
to lead our frst ever Oxbridge Mathematics Symposium.
Tey are second year Mathematics undergraduates from
Oxford and Cambridge respectively. Tey presented
engaging proofs of various assumptions which are taken
for granted at pre-university Mathematics and gave
insightful commentaries on the Oxbridge admissions
process to members of Years 12 and 13. We aim to repeat
and develop this opportunity in future years.
Royal Institution Maths Masterclasses
Six Year 9 students had the opportunity to extend their
mathematical horizons by attending Mathematics
Masterclasses at Bromley High School on Saturday
mornings during the Autumn term. Te sessions involved
exploring more advanced and abstract topics, often
beyond the scope of traditional mathematics lessons. In
the words of one student, the emphasis on proof and
rigour provided both challenge and satisfaction.
Maths in Motion Club
Te Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion Club has continued
to be very enthusiastically and ably run by Peter Leigh,
Iain McGowan and Matthew Burns from Year 13.
Students have an opportunity to use their mathematical
and arithmetic skills to design and fne-tune their racing
cars in order seek places on the podium in races around
simulations of various formula 1 race tracks.
St Olaves qualifed for the national fnal of the Jaguar
Maths in Motion Challenge for Schools, a computer-
based competition where students design and race
cars around virtual Formula 1 circuits in a variety of
driving conditions. Eddie Ho and Abhay Gupta of
7H competed against eleven other teams in their age
group at the Heritage Motor Centre near Banbury on
Wednesday 26th June. Te computer-based competition
involved designing a formula 1 racing car in the light of
information given about a track and conditions. After
a fercely contested race, Eddie and Abhay achieved a
very creditable 7th place in their age group. Tis is the
frst time we have reached this stage of the competition
and its achievement is a testament to the outstanding
training, support and encouragement provided over
several years by Peter Leigh, who accompanied the team
on the day, Iain McGowan and Matthew Burns-Watkins
of the Upper VI.
The St Olaves A (left) and B (right) teams from the
UKMT Team Challenge Regional Final
UKMT Team Challenge Regional Final in the Great Hall
72 Olavian 2013
Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion - National Final
Science
Specialist Status
74 Olavian 2013
The Faculty of Science
T
he atmosphere within the Science Faculty this year
has been both innovative and inspirational, with the
burgeoning of student-led societies and the publication
of several excellent academic journals.
Te Natural Sciences Society has gone from strength
to strength under the leadership of Jenni Visuri, Harry
Jenkins and Fraser Boistelle. Friday meeting are always
well attended, with talks being given by members of the
society and by outside speakers. A third issue of the NSS
Journal was published in the Spring and another issue is
going to press as I write. Medics Society has continued
to thrive and published their own journal in the summer,
and the Physics and Engineering Society attracted
record numbers of students to its frst few meetings with
a journal now in the pipeline.
Sixth Form students continued to run the lower school
Chemistry Club, and Biology Club has become a forum
for talks given by younger students as well as an exciting
opportunity for dissections and more extended projects.
Our academic prefects ran several in-school activities
during National Science week as well as visiting St Pauls
Cray Primary School with a range of exciting practical
activities.
A level Biology students visited a range of institutions,
from the Sanger Institute to the Natural History
Museum, in preparation for their coursework reports, and
years 7, 8 and 9 enjoyed various enrichment trips during
activity weeks. A level Biology students also spent a week
at Nettlecombe Court Field Study Centre in Somerset
where they carried out individual investigations into
various aspects of the surrounding habitats. In addition,
I was lucky enough to lead an outstanding expedition to
South Africa under the auspices of Operation Wallacea,
brilliantly brought to life by Alexandros Adamoulas in
this edition of Te Olavian.
Te results of last years public exam result were excellent,
and we now look forward with interest to the new A level
structure and to the frst cohorts taking the Certifcates
in Science (formerly IGCSE).
7H with sea lions at Colchester Zoo
Caroline Marwood
S___Head of Science Faculty
Lower VI Biologists on the Nettlecomb Court feld trip
Olavian 2013 75
Year 7 trip to Colchester Zoo
Te Colchester Zoo experience was amazing! It was a
great day out with special opportunities. Its not often
that you get to feed elephants and girafes, but Colchester
Zoo provided us with that possibility. Te zoo is a 600
acre park with something new, exciting and interesting
around every corner you turn. From lions to warthogs,
this zoo provides a bigger range of animals than London
Zoo! My personal favourite were the Sea Lions.
Tis area had a glass tunnel under the pool where the
Sea Lions swam. We were not able to see some species of
animals as it was too cold at the time for them to come
outside, but luckily enough most of them had their own
indoor space that we could see into. Tis trip showed us
all how the animals needed diferent life surroundings,
which related closely to our current topic of evolution.
Seeing how animals have changed over millions of years
is a fascinating study! I would defnitely recommend
Colchester Zoo to anyone, whether it is for studies or
just fun! Tis zoo provides a thrilling experience for
anyone. I obviously want to say a huge thank you to all
of the science staf and especially Doctor Bradley for
organising this brilliant trip.
Dominic Marshall, 7H
Royal Observatory in Greenwich
During Activity Week 1, Year 8 visited the Royal
Observatory in Greenwich where they enjoyed an
interactive talk on Exploring Exoplanets and, under the
panoply of a ceiling of stars and galaxies, an intriguing
lecture-show about the features and nature of our
universe.
Year 9 trip to Kew Gardens
and the National Archives
On Tursday 4th October 2012 Year 9 visited Kew
Gardens where we were shown a variety of plants that
have use in medicines, cosmetics and foodstufs as part
of a tour that focused on Economic Botany. Te safron
crocus was the frst plant we saw, and some of us even
got to try the stigmas (which when dried create safron),
which tasted more like orange peel than safron! We
were then shown a poisonous type of lily which looked
very similar to the safron crocus. You wouldnt want to
eat this plant, though.
We were then taken to Kews jewel in the crown
the Palm House, which is still today a great piece of
architecture. It has stood since the Victorian times, and
one particular palm is as old as the building itself ! We
were shown how the plants represent the rainforest, with
some of the palms in the canopy reaching over 50m tall!
We were shown some well-known plants, such as the
cacao and brazil nut trees, as well as the lesser-known
annatto and cycad and Neem trees.
After having lunch at Kew Gardens we walked to the
National Archives. Once inside our guide told us about
the Archives. Any member of the public can access any
document of importance over 30 years old over 14 as long
as it doesnt afect the security of the country. Next, we
were showed the Doomsday book which you could read
it through the glass cabinet. After that we had a chance
to study and handle actual sources on the table in front
of us which included a Tudor manuscript, a Victorian
prison book, the census from 1881, a poster from the
WW2 and a map of London from 1667 showing the
areas destroyed by the fre.
Richard Decker (9B) & Finnian Robinson (9C)
Lower School Biology Club
St. Olaves Biology Club opened its doors for the frst
time in the Autumn Term of 2012. It has since developed
into one of main extra-curricular activities for a host of
lower school students who attend every week to take
part in exciting practicals that lie outside of the normal
school curriculum, and receive presentations from older
students and their peers on a range of topics.
Te practical activities, selected and organised by the 6th
form students have ranged from dissections to excursions
Year Nine at Kew Gardens
Year 9s carry out a dissection as part of Biology Club

76 Olavian 2013
to the school pond. Te club started with a Brine Shrimp
project, where students were provided with a population
of new-born brine shrimps and tasked with supporting
their new pets to adulthood. Two-litre bottled were duly
flled with water and a nutrient mix, and the shrimp were
provided with their habitats. Some of the populations
were not as successful as had been hoped, but a few
survived the term to be taken home for Christmas.
Te most exciting practical by far was the heart dissection
that was carried out as part of the science week activities.
Trays of scalpels, scissors and knives were distributed to
a record attendance of younger students who made quick
work of the pig hearts. Te dissected hearts were then
examined to identify the chambers, valves and the path
taken by the blood. Tis was most students favourite
practical to date, due to the extra responsibility given
to the students and the advanced nature of the practical
work. We have also dissected mackerel, to investigate the
structure of the gills and to gain an understanding of the
anatomy of fsh.
Other investigations have included collecting organisms
from the pond and identifying them under a microscope,
and solving a crime by matching the fngerprints of the
culprit to those on the evidence. Microscope work has
been a recurring theme in the Club, with plants and
animal cells alike both being examined.
Tere have been presentations from sixth formers
and younger students alike, with younger students
using the opportunity to improve their presentation
skills and demonstrate their interest in a particular
area of Biological Sciences. Tese have included
turtle conservation in Cyprus and the heart defect
Supraventricular Tachycardia. A particular highlight
was a fantastic talk on the prehistoric underwater
predators, ranging from Megalodon to Liopleurodon
covering time periods, prey and possible reasons for the
extinction of each species. Other talks have included a
terrifying presentation on BSE and its ever-present risk
to man-kind. A presentation on the life of Fungi opened
the eyes of many students to the hidden world of micro-
organisms that exists all around us. Tis was followed
up with an investigation into bacteria and fungi around
the school. Teams of students were armed with petri
dishes and swabs and combed the school for all manner
of places thought to be harbouring micro-organisms.
Door-handles, bins and drains were swabbed, as well
as more unusual places such as the Piano Keys in the
Great Hall and the tyres of a bike. Te results were truly
surprising, with a multitude of bacteria growing in the
unlikeliest of places, leaving many of the students with
thoughts of the organisms they are exposed to each day.
Biology Club continues to grow, with more students
arriving every week!
Joe Cox & Abigail George (Lower VI)
National Biology Challenge
Te National Biology Challenge is open to students in
Years 9 and 10 and Finn Duggan (10M), Ian Chiang
(10M) and Tom Wang (10N) were all awarded Gold
medals in the competition. Well done to them and to
the seven others who gained Bronze medals.
A Level Biology Trips
On Tuesday 27th November, Year 12 biologists visited
the Sanger Institute, Wakehurst Place, the research
labs of the Royal Free Medical School and the Natural
History Museum. Tey were introduced to many aspects
of scientifc research and were able to meet scientists
working in a range of pioneering felds including stem
cell research, genomics and evolutionary relationships.
Year 12 Biology Field trip
Tis year, Year 12 A level Biologists visited pastures
new, moving from their old haunt at Flatford Mill to
Culture of bacteria from around the school
Middle School Biology Challenge Gold Medallists
Olavian 2013 77
Nettlecombe Court near Taunton in Somerset for
Biology feld trip. Seventy four students and three
members of staf spent 6 days investigating a variety of
ecosystems, from the rocky shores of the Devon coastline
to the heathland of Exmoor.
British Biology Olympiad
Seventeen Year 13 students took part in the National
Biology Olympiad on February 6th. Asher Leeks and
Mohammad Fallaha were awarded gold medals; Nikhil
Math, Stanley Ho Andrea Grillo James MacDonagh
and Aishwarya Pai, were awarded silver medals; bronze
medals went to Ella Wells, Morgan Roberts, Joseph
Barrow, Fadil Nohur, Rahul Bagga and Ben Shotnes.
Salters Festival of Chemistry
Archie Grant, Misha McFeat, Samuel Mellis and
Shachin Pratheepan (all of 7C) entered the Salters
Festival of Chemistry at University College London on
Tursday 25th April. Tey carried out fame tests and
test tube reactions on salts and fnished the day being
entertained by Professor Andrea Sela who performed
some amazing demonstrations.
Astronomy Club
Te year saw some great spectacles for Astronomers
including Asteroid 2012 DA14 making a pass within
14,000 miles of Earth. Tanks go to Dylan Abeelack
(7B), Shaun Sanu (7B) and Teo Antonov (9B) for
their contributions in the Astronomy club assembly
and James Teoh (13Q) for taking the time to image and
present many wonderful celestial objects in the club. You
can see a stunning picture of the Orion Nebula, taken by
James, on the next page of this magazine.
Year 5 Maths and Science Day
In mid-June, eighty Year 5 pupils from three local
primary schools, Chelsfeld, Highway and St. Pauls Cray
spent the day at St. Olaves solving puzzles in Maths
and Science. Te day consisted of four lessons, Maths
Carousel, Maths Quiz, Te Mystery at Inkworth Manor
(chromatography and fame tests) and Electromagnets
and Static Electricity. Te Maths prize went to Te
Brain Box team from Highway. Te Science prize went
to Maths Invaders from Chelsfeld and Highway
school were awarded the overall School prize.
Year Seven carry out flame tests on an unknown salt
Lower VI Formers on their Biology feld trip to
Nettlecombe Court, collecting data for coursework
78 Olavian 2013
The Faculty of Mathematics, ICT
& Computer Science, 2011-12
Olavian 2013 79
Operation Wallacea 2013
On Tursday the 18th of July a thoroughly kitted-out
group of Olavian sixth-formers plus Ms Marwood and
Miss Baguley convened at Terminal 1 of Heathrow
Airport to embark on the trip to end all trips - SA 2K13
(as the participants colloquially termed the adventure
later on). Te all-male cast of our student cohort
inadvertently laid the foundations for the ultimate lads
holiday experience. Whilst proceeding to the South
African Airways check-in desks we were ofered stickers
upon which to write messages of support for the critically
ill Nelson Mandela, who just happened to be celebrating
his 95th birthday on that day. Everyone duly obliged
and wrote their messages. Just before boarding we all
stuck our stickers on a specially-designated wall by the
departure gate. We couldnt help but wait for a certain
Ken Chung to even join us in the frst place, having been
hilariously held up on the way to the airport by police.
Upon making his long-awaited appearance the original
group size of 23 (21 students, 2 staf) was restored, so we
all sat back and refected on the prospect of an 11 hour,
15 minute fight.
We arrived early on the morning of the 19th of July at
O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Some of the cohort emerged sleepless, having opted for
a nine or ten hour flm marathon during the fight (when
we were also reminded via plane safety announcements
that it was forbidden to sleep in the aisles). We were
given some free time on the grounds that a group from
another school which would be accompanying us hadnt
landed. We had already been joined by three girls from
a diferent school who were on our fight. Many of the
cohort made a bee line for Nandos, others stocked up
with souvenirs. While on our own individual excursions
we couldnt help but notice that South African taxi drivers
are very keen to acquire passengers. After eventually
meeting up with the other school group we all boarded
a coach bound for our destination, and an eight hour
road journey ensued, taken by many as an opportunity to
nod of. I on the other hand used the time rather more
wisely by indulging in some birdwatching. Being the
most avid ornithologist of the group, only I appreciated
the hovering black-shouldered kite by the highway and
the fearless pied starling at our only pit-stop (named
Belfast, as it happened). A later transfer to open-top
safari vehicles signalled our near-arrival. Whilst on these
vehicles we briefy saw a few elephants just as it was
getting dark. For quite a few of us this was unfortunately
the only view of elephants we would have on the whole
trip. A while later a scrub hare zigzagged in front of our
vehicle for a few metres. When we at last reached our
destination, Struwig Eco Reserve, within the confnes of
Balule Nature Reserve, right on the edge of the Kruger
National Park, all were keen to have dinner. Following
this we were introduced to the reserve staf, split into our
groups for the week and assigned to our rooms (or tents
for some of us) and settled down for the night against the
backdrop of the adjacent Olifants River and its grunting
hippos (likened by reserve staf to a bunch of old men
laughing at a very bad joke).
Our frst full day on the reserve began early for some of
us, as we rose of our own accord while it was still dark
to catch the unmissable sunrise over the river and tried
to photograph it (with mixed success, I have to say).
Birthday boy Tim Adelani and I were also among the
few to glimpse a snake as it swiftly slithered of into
the reeds (my research has led me to believe that it was
an olive whip snake). First on the list of activities were
back-to-back talks on biodiversity and trees, delivered by
Orla and Rhian respectively, two of the reserve staf. Te
latter talk included a short walk around Struwig, where
80 Olavian 2013
we were shown many diferent tree species and were
told (amongst other things) of the diference between a
spine and a thorn (a spine is a modifed branch, a thorn
is a modifed leaf ). Our favourite plant was defnitely
the bufalo thorn, but only because we found out that
the leaves acted as natural female aphrodisiacs (note:
this was after Ms Marwood and Miss Baguley had been
coerced into sampling a leaf each). My group later had its
frst drive around the bush. Our driver, Daniela, had eyes
like a hawk and as such managed to point out the more
obscure organisms such as rock hyraxes and a ground
squirrel as well as the more obvious organisms such as
girafes, water buck and kudu, on top of that ubiquitous
antelope, the impala ( JAFI to the locals). Te birding
highlight was the striking lilac-breasted roller perched
on a low branch. On our return to base we were greeted
by warthogs on the other side of the river. Our evening
lecture was on spiders, snakes and scorpions, given by
the reserve manager, Toby, who taught us (amongst
other things) the diference between poison and venom
(poison is ingested, venom is injected). During this time
Toby also passed around a scorpion preserved in a jar
and an ultraviolet torch so that we might appreciate the
fuorescent glow of the scorpion under the UV light.
Following his talk he took a large number of us to a
certain tree inside which could be found two resident
scorpions of the family Scorpionidae (the not-so-
dangerous variety, as opposed to the potential killers in
the family Buthidae). On another invertebrate note, the
keen Olavian entomologist Asher Leeks found a large
hawkmoth inside one of the lodges.
Te next day began with a walk in the bush for two of the
Olavian groups. My group was led by a guide who went
by the name of Gavin, while the other was led by the
biggest legend among the reserve staf, Warren, with his
characteristic Hey, whats up, gangsters? catchphrase.
I might as well come clean now; I envied this other
group for their lucky sighting of a female spotted hyena.
However, my group had its own share of adventures.
Gavin and Daniela taught us how to identify various
animal tracks and dung, plus trees on the receiving end
of elephant damage, but the informative highlight was
the tale of the amazing symbiotic relationship between
fg trees and tiny fg wasps (watch Te Queen Of Trees
if youre really interested). We also spotted our frst
zebras, but for me the highlights were the birds, with
magpie shrike, greater honeyguide and juvenile bateleur
featuring on the list. On our return we were treated to one
of Orlas bird lectures, which became highly entertaining
when Jay Siregar decided to share his slightly smutty
mnemonic for the order of the taxonomic levels with
us. Our short mid-lecture break was used by me in the
standard fashion, and as such I was rewarded with views
of a Hamerkop on our side of the river and the Natal
spurfowl, a bird whose raucous call was from then on the
soundtrack to the reedbed. Later we readied our sleeping
bags, roll mats and bare necessities, for the Olavians
would be staying in bush camp that night. After we
arrived at said location we delayed none in sitting around
the camp fre. During this time we all heard a spotted
hyena and discovered that Jay could tell spontaneous
funny stories, a talent unknown to most of us. We were
accompanied by Warren, who told us about a local spirit
which he could have sworn he had seen earlier on in his
life, the Tokoloshe (I suggest you look this up, fans of
the supernatural). He also started the tradition of calling
Luke Richards Fancypants. Some of the cohort were
brave enough to have a bush shower before bed, but only
after it felt we had exhausted the number of ways in
which we could play rude versions of Chinese whispers.
We awoke the next morning for an early transfer back to
base. Tis time it was Ashers turn to have a birthday. On
our return we attended a lecture on African herbivores
(except elephants; these formed a separate talk).
Lunchtime was dreaded by my group as it was our turn
to wash up, but thanks to some military-style direction by
Miss Baguley we were done much quicker than expected.
In the afternoon the work aspect of our trip began, with
some groups heading of to conduct habitat assessments,
others game transects. Te former were conducted by my
group, and it was a fairly uneventful afair except for the
sighting of three blue wildebeest. However, on our return
Olavian 2013 81
to base we exploited the opportunity to watch wildlife
from the hilltop viewpoint, with plenty of bushbuck,
kudu, warthog and impala to keep us occupied. Te
highlight was a family of ten banded mongooses
drinking from the pond, unfortunately missed by a
group returning from a game transect (unfortunate
because had they seen them they would have broken the
record for the highest count of individual game in such a
survey). In the evening we boarded the big game viewer
for a night drive. Tis involved searching for wildlife
with the help of some big and very bright torches. Te
target species were nocturnal specialities such as leopards
and porcupines, but we saw neither of these. Te same
familiar herbivores of impala, water buck, bush buck and
zebra were the main sightings, along with a scrub hare.
One nocturnal creature we did spot was the bush baby,
its red eye shine standing out from its surroundings. Te
main stars of the night drive were two separate girafes
because of what they were doing - one was sleeping, one
was audibly urinating.
Te next day almost made up for the lack of success
the night before. While we never did see a leopard on
our expedition, it was my groups turn to try its hand
at doing a game transect. Water buck, impala and kudu
were regulars, but we also spotted a Nile crocodile a long
way from the river where we usually saw them. After
the survey work was completed we were treated to a
drive, with no shortage of birdlife whatsoever. Personal
highlights were a distant martial eagle, the striking
African hoopoe and the dark-chanting goshawk which
allowed us some very good views and chances of excellent
photographs. I was greeted by more birds on the river on
our return back to base, with sightings of African jacana,
black-winged stilt (a record breaker - the bird with the
longest legs compared to its body size) and the all-too-
familiar Egyptian goose (feral populations of this species
exist in Britain), as well as two species of kingfsher; pied
and brown-hooded. A lecture on carnivores followed
(including a showing of the amazing video clip Battle
Of Te Kruger), then an entomology workshop led by
Elm, a native entomologist and expert on beetles. It was
this experience that later bore the idea amongst some
members of the group to start an entomology society
on our return to school in September. Te evening was
a very competitive afair - at lunchtime we had been
given a debating topic (whether we should legalise
game hunting), and the evening saw this debate take
place. We were randomly divided into two groups and
allowed some preparation time, but then battle did well
and truly commence. We managed to confrm the theory
that a debate is not a debate without the vital ingredient
of Lucas Bertholdi-Saad. Te debating maestro drew
out his introduction into a full-blown soliloquy and
every time the right to speak had to go to the opposing
team he visibly squirmed in his seat, longing for the
opportunity to shoot down their argument with his
arsenal of comebacks. Yet despite his and everyone elses
best eforts, neither side was declared the winner.
Te next day began very well for me as I spotted a black-
headed oriole just after breakfast, but sadly no one else
was in the right place at the right time to marvel at this
birds stunning colouration. Te frst part of the day was
spent mounting some of the insect specimens we had
caught in traps two days before. David Giles, Asher and
I were very lucky to have caught two of the most striking
of the areas butterfies in one of our traps, the pearl
emperor and the Bushveld emperor. Te afore-mentioned
lecture on elephants followed. Te surprising fact was
that the Kruger National Park has an over-population
of elephants, yet only one group had good views of these
behemoths later on that day. During the break I found
82 Olavian 2013
and photographed a male collared sunbird at close range.
Te next talk was by Elm on insect orders (Coleoptera,
Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera etc). In the evening
there was a surprise in store for previous birthday boys
Tim and Asher - each was presented with a cake. We
were also told that the next evening we would be giving a
presentation in our groups for the week on a topic linked
to what we had been learning about in our lectures. Most
of us then attended the optional talk on stars given by
Gavin and Warren. We saw Centaurus, Scorpius and
Crux (the Southern Cross), three constellations only
visible in the Southern Hemisphere. We also saw the
Milky Way, Jupiter and Antares, a red supergiant star
within Scorpius. Using the bisector of the line between
the two brightest stars in Centaurus (Alpha Centauri
and Beta Centauri - the Two Pointers) and an extension
of the longest side of the kite shape formed by the stars
in Crux, we were told that we could locate geographic
South, by the intersection of these two said lines.
Our last full day in Struwig began with the frst and only
bird point count for my group. Many species were noted
based solely on their calls, but we did have sightings of
greater blue-eared starling and crested barbet. After we
had completed our survey at all three points we went
on a drive around the bush, where the game highlight
was a group of three male bufaloes (one with its tail
bitten of) drinking at a watering hole. We ventured in
search of lions following a reported sighting by another
group, but this turned out to be a fruitless quest. Tere
were plenty of birds to keep me busy though, with
pearl-spotted owlet, little bee-eater and white-crowned
lapwing being of note. Two more lectures greeted us on
our return back to base - invertebrates (given by Elm)
and conservation (given by Orla). During the break
between these two the most iconic raptor of the region,
the African fsh eagle, appeared, soaring and calling
overhead (the call is surprisingly gull-like). Ms Marwood
and I were also lucky enough to spot two very distant
baboons on the other side of the river which nobody else
saw. Te real drama, however, unfolded during a fnal
trip up to the hilltop viewpoint. After about only fve
minutes the shout went up for African wild dogs, and
lo and behold a pack of eleven ran through on a hunt.
Word quickly got round of this incredible sighting, thus
practically all the Olavians crowded into the hide and
stood in awe, snapping incessantly with their cameras.
With an estimated world population of only 5,700, these
animals are endangered, and their appearance was surely
unforgettable. Even a lone shooting star and glorious
sunset practically went unnoticed. Our last meal on
site was a barbecue, with a Southern African addition
of cooked mopane worms (theyre actually moth
caterpillars), which most of us tried and surprisingly
enjoyed. We also had the luxuries of marshmallows
toasted by an open fre for some extra sustenance. Te
evening was dominated by the group presentations,
ranging from a snippet of David Attenboroughs Life
In Te Undergrowth to a gospel reading of U Cant
Touch Tis, the frst and only chapter in Te Book
Of Hammer (containing the Ten Commandments for
wildlife conservation), ending a fabulous week to say the
least. Our time in Struwig hadnt passed without its fair
share of songs either. I distinctly remember one of the
cohort remarking I came here and now I know all the
words to Totos Africa. Such was the power of music,
infltrating our minds even in that remote location.
Te next day marked a week since our touchdown
in South Africa. It was also the day of our transfer to
Sodwana Bay, the site of our marine activities, all of 12
hours away by road. Most of us woke up around four in
the morning for a fve oclock departure from Struwig.
Olavian 2013 83
As we had been reminded the previous evening, the
darkness at our time of departure meant we still had a
chance of spotting some nocturnal creatures, perhaps
even those we didnt see on our night drive, given that
it would be nearly two hours until we left Balules dirt
tracks. I thought I was most unfortunate to be the only
Olavian on a full open-top jeep, while the rest of the
cohort and a few others flled up the big safari vehicle,
but an advantage of this arrangement soon made itself
clear. My jeep overtook the other jeep while the big
safari vehicle brought up the rear, putting me in the best
position for wildlife-watching. While it was still dark my
vehicle lit up a porcupine by the side of the road. Te
great rodent scarpered fve seconds later, but nonetheless
I remained the only Olavian to see this animal on our
expedition (bragging rights were obtained but not
utilised!). Just as it was beginning to brighten up later
the passengers on all three vehicles had views of a side-
striped jackal trotting along the road in front of us, but
mine were the best owing to my vehicle still being at the
front. My driver informed my temporary crew and I that
this was the rarer of the two species of jackal on site,
the commoner species being the black-backed jackal. I
hoped most for a leopard or a better view of elephants,
but neither of these wishes came true. We eventually
hit the tarmac and transferred to our coach at the same
stop as where we had made the opposite transfer a week
before. I used the brief break to go inside a shop for some
vital warmth, having foolishly worn only two layers on
the back of an exposed jeep in near-zero temperatures.
Te coach journey was fairly uneventful but for some
common mynahs on a roundabout, a brief roadblock
made of cows and the mixture of moral, philosophical
and political debates going on behind me between
Shunta Takino, Skanda Rajasundaram and Lucas. At last
we arrived in Sodwana Bay for another open-top jeep
transfer, this time to our intended campsite of Exodus.
Tere wasnt time for much that evening except for
dinner and the formality of being split into groups (all
named after South African rivers) depending on whether
we were qualifed scuba divers, aimed to qualify and had
done the pool training, aimed to qualify and had not
done the pool training or (like Ms Marwood, Lucas and
I) we had opted for snorkelling instead. Following this
we all settled down in our tents, with some (including
me) mentally cursing an early start to the next day.
Te next day we all passed by the scuba centre frst thing
in the morning. Tose without their own gear picked up
what they were renting by a man known only (and quite
degradingly in my opinion) as Hopeless (dont worry
though, it wasnt his real name). I and my snorkelling
crew had to complete some surprisingly quick and simple
pool skills before we were ready for some marine action.
Indeed the ordeal was so quick the only vivid memories
I have concern the mysterious disappearance of my towel
and elsewhere witnessing Tims attempts to photograph
Henri Hassett in a very feminine wetsuit. Te rapid
drive down to the beach on the open-top jeeps gave an
uncanny sensation of fying. Te route took us through
mangrove forest alive with sound, and there wasnt a day
when we didnt narrowly miss running over some crested
guineafowl and pass through the toll with the worst
security anyone had probably ever experienced. Te frst
boat ride in this coastal location was fairly unpleasant for
some, as the rough conditions and the power approach to
driving by certain skippers (including one with a striking
resemblance to Sir Richard Branson) combined to give
rise to a few instances of seasickness. While I too fell
into this category, I was very content at coming across a
few bottlenose dolphins during the journey and spotting
a great-winged petrel and juvenile red-footed booby. Te
snorkelling itself yielded some good views of the reef. Free
time on the beach was spent by most at the beach caf
which provided all manner of tasty snacks, including the
widely-promoted Sodwana Special, a sandwich talked
about like no other. A girl from one of the other schools
famously remarked upon frst tasting it I want to make
love to this sandwich!. She then made it her personal
duty to tuck into at least one other each day. A major
attraction was the system of rock pools exposed when
the tide went out. Te most obvious species here was the
rockskipper, a type of fsh which scampered over rocks
into other pools at the slightest hint of danger, but most
exciting was the juvenile foral moray eel I found and
photographed (then tried to show to everyone else, but
it had gone. Typical!). Each afternoon at camp we also
had a lecture delivered by one of the centre staf, Kirsty,
and upon our return from the beach we attended the frst
one, an introduction to coral. In the evening we watched
a documentary about Sodwana Bay, highlighting its
marine biodiversity.
Te next day was even busier for the snorkellers, as
we went out not once but twice. Te frst trip was
most memorable for our frst humpback whales of
the trip, with their exhaling water jets clearly visible.
Te snorkelling itself yielded some reef fsh, but the
murky conditions meant that they proved difcult to
84 Olavian 2013
identify. Te most exciting fsh were seen from the boat
when fying fsh broke the surface and glided on their
elongated pectoral fns for many metres. Tis journey
was inexplicably supplemented with the singing of some
80s classics, mostly the Human Leagues Dont You
Want Me. Te interval between snorkelling sessions
was spent at the caf, with most playing cards. Our views
of humpback whales improved further in the second
snorkelling session when we came across two individuals,
a mother and calf, perhaps only ten metres away from
our boat. Our skipper told us that that particular calf
was probably no more than a week old and would have
been born weighing nearly a tonne. During this journey
we also found a hawksbill turtle (my frst and only
critically endangered species) on the surface of the sea.
We discovered a piece of debris in the sea which our
skipper removed, only to fnd a baby octopus amongst
it. We took this tiny specimen back to shore to show
everyone else. On exploration of the campsite once we
had returned, I found a yellow-fronted canary to add
to my bird list, plus some crowned hornbills and very
noisy hadeda ibises before our lecture, which was on the
productivity of a coral reef. Tere was no documentary
that evening, so the whole cohort turned to relaxation
mode before eventually going to bed.
Te next days snorkelling was very rough. Te boats
motion over the waves was undulating like we had never
experienced before. We saw some more humpback whales,
but the snorkelling itself was very difcult, both in trying
to stay together and to see anything through the nearly
opaque waters below. Te conditions only deteriorated
after coming ashore, so much so that the intended second
snorkel had to be cancelled. An alternative arrangement
of rockpooling was undertaken, with sightings of sea
slugs, sea urchins, more rockskippers and plentiful coral
in an array of diferent types, including tree and brain.
However, if the snorkellers thought they had had a
tough time out at sea, they should have talked to some of
our divers. Although some our divers ofcially qualifed
that day, having completed their four required dives in
open water, qualifcation for others was postponed due
to complications. While one lost the rest of his group, a
few others sufered with severe ear and chest problems,
putting them out of action for at least a couple of days.
Te most exciting avian sighting was a group of swift
terns on the edge of the rockpools in the early afternoon.
In the latter part of the afternoon we sat through a
lecture on marine invertebrates, some of which we had
seen during rockpooling. In the evening we watched a
documentary about one mans quest to convince people
to save sharks, since some species are of conservation
concern due to heavy persecution and hunting.
Te next day began wonderfully: for the frst time I was
on the latest transfer down to the beach, and as such I
was entitled to an extra-long sleep! Te day itself was one
of novelty for many; while more divers qualifed after
four open-water dives those who hadnt done the pool
training on arrival in Sodwana Bay had their frst such
dive in the sea. Te latter group was the only one not
present for the shore snorkel in the morning, whereby
everyone else snorkelled around the rockpools close
to the shore. As well as having much better views of
innumerable (and unidentifable) species of fsh I was
lucky enough to be pointed in the direction of a lobster,
its long antennae the only protrusions from its crevice
hide-out. While lounging around on the beach during
our free time some of us looked out to sea at exactly the
right time to see a humpback whale breaching fairly close
to shore. When we snorkellers headed out to sea we saw
more humpbacks. Cameras snapped when our skipper
stopped the boat and we witnessed another breaching
(just when I was cleaning my lens!). We also found two
loggerhead turtles on the sea surface. Visibility for fsh
and coral was also decent. Back at camp we attended a
lecture on two very important beach habitats, mangroves
and dunes, before the evening documentary of Coral
Seas, an episode from the series Blue Planet.
Te frst beach activity of the next day was a talk on
dune ecology, whilst appropriately standing on top of
such a structure. At the end of the talk most gave in to
the temptation to run down the steep dune as quickly as
possible, while those who were less enthusiastic opted
for the more gentle amble down the ridge. With my
hope of seeing as many marine megafauna as possible,
I was very happy when we snorkellers came across a
manta ray swimming on the sea surface on our boat ride.
Unfortunately it had disappeared by the time we were
ready to go in and swim with it. We again saw many
species of fsh and coral when we did venture into the
water. A very amusing incident greeted us back on the
beach. One of the many vervet monkeys inhabiting the
mangroves snuck into the caf area, stealing a bag of nuts
of the counter when there was someone on duty. Even
more amusing was the response; one of the caf workers
came out brandishing the most formidable weapon of
them all - a water pistol! I also added some new birds
to the list: dark-capped bulbul, white-fronted plover and
Olavian 2013 85
grey-headed gull. Instead of going straight back to camp
we had the opportunity to go to the local market for some
shopping. Most if not all of us bought at least one thing,
but whether any haggling went on or not depended on
each individual. All manner of goods from hats featuring
the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, bufalo, and elephant)
to wooden animal fgures and bracelets were for sale.
Our return to camp was just in time for a double bill of
lectures, with the frst focusing on threats to coral reefs,
the second on how coral reefs can be conserved. Next
came something a little diferent, namely a quiz. From
the previous evening we had been told that we would be
having this quiz and that it would be based on what we
had learned from the weeks lectures. Te bottom team
would be on washing up duty, the only team to have to
do it twice. Needless to say, with everyone possessing the
Im on holiday attitude, as far as I know nobody had
bothered to re-read their notes (if they had any). Te quiz
therefore became a test of pure memory recall. With the
universal lack of revision I feared my team could come
bottom, but as it happened, we won, beating our nearest
rivals (a group of university students) by half a point.
Last place and hence plate and cutlery scrubbing duties
went to Miss Baguley and her team (yet the winners
never got a prize. Anyone for an inquest?).
Upon waking the next morning it dawned on us that it
would be our last day of marine activities. By this time
most of our divers who had been negatively afected by the
experience earlier in the week had sufciently recovered
to try and squeeze in their last qualifying dives on this
day. With the exception of one person, this strategy was
a successful one. Tose on shore for the morning were
treated to a talk on sea turtles by an external speaker,
with the opportunity to handle some preserved turtle
specimens - a hawksbill, a green turtle and a leatherback
hatchling. We were also shown the skulls of a green turtle
and a loggerhead to appreciate the diference between
them; the loggerhead has a much larger head. I was also
very happy to later spot an African black oystercatcher
on the beach. One diving group returned with news of a
whale shark sighting. Upon hearing this I was desperate
to see the worlds largest fsh for myself. Our only snorkel
that day and our last of the whole trip was my only
chance. During the preceding boat ride we came across
the bottlenose dolphins again, then our skipper spotted a
whale shark beneath us too. I dont really need to say that
within an instant we were in the water, swimming with
both of these magical marine organisms. Barring green
and leatherback turtles, I had thus seen the megafauna
the area had to ofer. Even one last look at the reef
didnt produce anything on the same level of splendour.
When beach time was over we all transferred back to
the scuba centre for the divers to do their necessary
paperwork. I took this opportunity to explore the lost
property and was delighted to fnd my long-lost towel.
Tere was no lecture that evening, but instead we were
treated to a singing and dancing performance by Zulu
dancers. After some initial apprehension some audience
members joined in with the dancing, although some of
this inexplicably slipped into Gangnam Style. We all
tipped the Zulu dancers for their eforts, then settled
down to eat a barbecue dinner. Following dinner each
group gave an evening presentation on a topic linked
to what we had been learning about in the week, very
similar to how we gave presentations in Struwig. Despite
a warning dating back a few days of the need to give a
presentation, some groups had clearly put in more efort
than others. Te presentations this time ranged from a list
of humorous misconceptions about sharks and dolphins
to a cross between a childrens coral reef programme and
an episode of Te Jeremy Kyle Show. Some of us then
retreated to our tents for some sleep, while others stayed
awake in the dining area all night, playing all manner
of music. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable second
week, with many sightings of spectacular marine life by
the snorkellers. Te divers reported their own sightings
back to me too. As well as the afore-mentioned whale
shark, the divers saw all manner of organisms from green
turtles to Spanish dancers, lionfsh to blue-spotted rays
and honeycomb moray eels, and a potato bass which
Tim was apparently very tempted to hug.
Te sleepers had to wake up early the next morning, since
a fve oclock transfer was again in order as it had been a
week earlier, while the all-nighters couldnt wait to make
up their lost nap time on the coach. A last transfer on
open-top jeeps was marked by the singing of Jerusalem,
which was later repeated on the coach along with I vow
to thee my country (the Headmaster would have been
proud). Yet with so many of the cohort asleep for at least
part of the journey, the near-ten hour drive was otherwise
very quiet. We drove straight past two hitchhikers with
scarcely anyone noticing. Having said that, everyone
seemed to be awake when we ran into our frst South
African trafc jam. Our driver was having none of it and
did a U-turn back the way we had come, which involved
partly driving into a feld. He then proceeded to miss a
turning, therefore needing to drive of the road to turn
around again, with many of us thinking we would be
having an of-road part to our journey. Within a few
minutes everything was back to normal and the tranquil
86 Olavian 2013
atmosphere returned to the passengers. I then had my
fnal new bird sighting of the fortnight when I spotted
two sacred ibises (so named because they were revered
by the ancient Egyptians) in a small pond. We reached
O.R. Tambo International Airport faster than expected,
leaving nearly three hours for lunch in Nandos and a
fnal stint of buying souvenirs. We later passed through
all the security hurdles and eventually boarded our South
African Airways return fight to Heathrow.
We touched down at Heathrow earlier than scheduled.
Far more of the cohort had slept on the return fight
than on the outward-bound fight, but I had decided to
have my own flm marathon instead. We descended from
the plane and boarded a bus for a ride to our destination
of baggage reclaim and security. Tere was a fnal heart-
in-mouth moment when I thought my roll mat had got
lost in the transfer, but I thankfully managed to recover
it. At this point we could go our own way as we pleased,
but not before we had presented both Ms Marwood
and Miss Baguley with a thank-you card each, both
complete with a signature from all 21 members of the
Olavian student cohort. Tere were some very emotional
goodbyes too. We had got to know the three girls from
one of the other schools very well, and needless to say
there was a lot of hugging. Perhaps more importantly,
we Olavians had got to know each other even better than
before, having spent two weeks together on the other
side of the world without our families, and there was no
less hugging among us. Te goodbyes came particularly
thick and fast for those in Year 13, since their last chapter
of the Olaves experience had come to a close.
However, it was the end of an era for all of us, the end of
the SA 2K13 era. No matter how sad we were to have had
to come home, it was on the back of a truly unforgettable
experience. A quick survey concluded that the wild dogs
at the end of the frst week had proved the most popular
sighting. On behalf of the whole student cohort I would
like to thank Ms Marwood and Miss Baguley once again
for this breathtaking journey into the unknown. I think I
speak for all of us by saying we had the time of our lives.
Now a note to the readers: if you are in Year 12 or
below and you are green with envy upon hearing of our
experiences on such a trip, then the best advice I can give
is this: if the opportunity to embark on such an expedition
presents itself to you, do all in your power to grasp it with
both hands and never let go! You will make new friends,
re-afrm existing friendships and perhaps more (Toby
knew of three instances of marriage between people who
frst met on an Operation Wallacea expedition). I admit
that there is a hefty price tag attached, but if you can
meet it then I assure you that you will return from a life-
changing experience in the same state of ecstasy as us.
Alexandros Adamoulas
English & Drama
88 Olavian 2013
The Faculty of English & Drama
T
he focus this year was to increase the challenge
and imagination in the curriculum by setting
more creative tasks linked to real audiences. Much of
the curriculum is delivered through literary texts to
encourage reading and discussion of wider themes, along
with developing imaginative responses.
At Key Stage 5 Literature is taken by approximately
40 students who study the traditional novels like Jane
Eyre and Mrs Dalloway and more modern texts like
Te Road, Enduring Love and Closer. Here there
are opportunities for re-creative writing in the style of
the original with a supporting detailed analysis. Tese
produced excellent responses; while others chose to write
a close analysis of a Ted Hughes poem from Birthday
Letters. Te Sixth Form organise the Literature Society,
led by Katie Shanahan, who received the English prize
this year. Te presentations have been as diverse as
Dystopian Literature, A Brief History of Literature in
10 Texts and Sci-f: Te meaning of Life. Our Teatre
Society continues to thrive stretching the imaginations
of our members by exposing them to such delights as
Miss Julie, Shunts promenade piece, Te Architects,
Te Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
and Rupert Everetts magnifcent portrayal of Oscar
Wilde in Te Judas Kiss.
Drama productions in school have now been frmly
established as a highlight on the calendar with audiences
growing. Cabaret was our musical, double cast to
challenge our performers and create more opportunities
to shine. Student directed pieces are burgeoning with
Fintan Calpins Te Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui in the
Michaelmas Term and in the Lent Term Jack Bradfeld
and Sam Luker-Browns Te Importance of Being
Earnest. Both were highly professional productions
showcasing talent and superb organisational skills.
Te National Teatres playwriting course allowed a small group
of students to write their own 30 minute scripts, two of which
were then performed in school. Te group saw, Te Efect and
Port at the National Teatre and took part in workshops and
feedback sessions with one of the theatres playwrights.
Drama and Teatre Studies assessed performances
produced some of the most imaginative work. Te Year
13s devised Letters an ensemble piece drawing on
diferent styles and genres of theatre that challenged
their creativity and demonstrated their talent. Year 12
performed Enda Walshs Chat Room, while our frst Year
11 cohort drew on Waiting for Godot, Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern Are Dead, Te Pillowman and Every
Good Boy Deserves Favour. With several achieving full
marks this proved a challenging evening for the students
and the audience.
English and Drama Week in April saw three inter-house
competitions: Year 7 took part in a Balloon Debate, Year
8 performed their own short stories and Year 9 their
own monologues. Luke Smith went on to perform his
monologue for our Open Morning in June and at the
Lower School Celebration in July when he enthralled
us all and created tension and drama at the horror of
war. Te week ends with a fancy dress day Dressing Up
as a Book Character Day in aid of a charity aimed at
encouraging reading and improving literacy in London.
At KS3 we worked on cross-curricular projects with the
Humanities Departments on a utopian vision of society
in Year 7 and a mock trial of a suspect in the Jack the
Ripper case in Year 8 and 9. Every boy in Year 7 was
invited to Te Globe for a production of Romeo and
Juliet in March and there were further opportunities for
them to see Private Peaceful with years 9 and 10 invited
to see Liar, Liar. We then tapped into their imaginations
in Activity Week One inviting them to choose between
trips to the National Teatre backstage tour, the British
Museum and Te Bank of England to give Year 7 a taste
of the working world.
Our students were challenged to work on their speaking
and listening skills, with two Year 9 boys, Luke Smith
and Samson Woodley competing in the local fnals and
William Adams from Year 10 representing us in the
Speak Out! Challenge in March.
Te year ended with the new GCSE Drama students
completing a workshop by an outside theatre company,
Tender on unhealthy relationships. In summary, it was a
challenging and rewarding year with our imaginations
stretched in every direction. My thanks must go to all
the staf and students involved.
Liz Goodman
S___Head of English Faculty
The Faculty of Mathematics, ICT
& Computer Science, 2011-12
English & Drama 89
School Productions 2012-13
Cabaret
Between the 19th and the 22nd of March, the Great
Hall was transformed into the Kit Kat club, in 1930s
Berlin, for the school musical Cabaret. A fabulous afair
with a wonderful live orchestra, singing and dancing, it
proved an enjoyable evening for each audience.
Based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood, the play
opened with the American novelist Clif arriving in
Berlin, and followed his love afair with the Kit Kat Club
singer Sally Bowles. Around them, Berlin changes as the
Nazis gain infuence.
Te ambitious double casting paid of with fantastic
performances from all students with particular mention
going to Larissa Schymyck and Lucy Clarke in the lead
role of the captivating and inspiring Sally Bowles. Michael
Yates and Louis Cokell were superb as the starving
author Cliford Bradshaw, and both Grace Boyle and
James Watson were certainly sitting pretty in the role of
the Emcee, complemented by the exceptionally talented
Kit Kat dancers. Te audience were unsettled by the
revelation of Ernsts allegiance - James Curling and Jack
Bradfeld and were won over by the romance between
Schneider - Charlotte Flowers and Eyiara Olugunna
and Schultz - George Mesure and Tom Hadden.
All those involved should feel incredibly proud of their
achievement and we are grateful to all who attended and
supported the show.
The Kit Kat Klub, waiting for the curtain to rise
The second EmCee
Members of the Cabaret cast
...Telephones on every table. Girls call you.
You call them. Instant connections...
90 Olavian 2013
The Importance of Being Earnest
Tis year we were treated to two fantastic performances of
Oscar Wildes Te Importance of Being Earnest. Superbly
directed by Jack Bradfeld and Sam Luker Brown, the
performance in the Chapel was hugely appreciated by the
attending audience. Laughter and applause was a constant
soundtrack, as the audience were clearly delighted by the show!
Favourite moments include Matthew Roberts terrifying Lady
Bracknell questioning Julian Wickerts Earnest to see if he is
marriage material; Larissa Schymyck and Emily OMalley
as Gwendolyn and Cecily, arguing extremely politely about
a spade; James Watsons arrival as the dapper, but imaginary
and dead, brother; his wooing of Cecily and his discovery that
Colm is her dream man; Peter Debenhams Miss Prism firting
with Fergus Macdonalds Rev. Chasuble and the exotic facial
hair of Christy Hinchlife and David Van Egghens butlers.
Tis was a very special production owing much to the mixture
of year groups involved, and the extraordinary talent of the
directors. We cant wait to see what they do next.
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Following the success of Playboy of the Western World
last year, Fintan Calpin again assumed the role of director
in a production of Brechts Te Resistible Rise of Arturo
Ui on Wednesday 19th December. Chosen by Caspar
Smart, this challenging political allegory about Hitlers
rise to power was rendered entertaining by the very strong
cast, with particular mention going to Max Kennedy for
his outstanding performance in the title role. Te play
was well supported by fellow students and parents, who
enjoyed working out the links between the characters in
the play and their counterparts in Nazi Germany.
Playwriting group
As part of the National Teatre New Views play writing
competition, Te play writing group recently went to Te
National Teatre to see Port by Simon Stephens. Gallows
Humour written and directed by Jack Bradfeld (11L) and
Samuel Luker Brown (11L) and Fintan Calpins (12F)
Kunsthal were both performed by students as part of English
and Drama week. Well done to all students involved!
Lower School Drama
Students in Year 9 and 10 performed Lord of the Flies on
Tuesday 2nd Te boys created a chilling atmosphere for
the audience as they watched them descend from familiar,
well-behaved students, into savagery and murder. Te boys
embraced their characterisation, perhaps with a little too much
enthusiasm. Tey created a very entertaining evening for us all.
Year 11 Drama
Te Year 11 Drama GCSE performances took place
this term in front of an external moderator. After
watching Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead,
Te Pillowman, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and
Waiting for Godot the moderator congratulated the
boys for performing what he described as real plays. The cast of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Lady Bracknell makes an entrance
The cast of The Importance of Being Earnest
Earnest, Gwendolyn, Cecily and Algy
English & Drama 91
OUT AND ABOUT
Theatre Society
On Tursday 27th September sixty students from Years
7 to 9 travelled to Te Haymarket to see a production
of Michael Morpurgos Private Peaceful. Tis was a
successful introduction to the theatre for many of the
younger students. In February, eighty members of the
Sixth Form Olavian Teatre society went to Te Duke
of York Teatre to see Te Judas Kiss and then saw
Te Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time
at Te Apollo Teatre, which was a truly amazing
production. In February there was also a drama trip to
take students in Year 9 and 10 to see Liar, Liar at Te
Unicorn Teatre. Te play focused on a girl struggling to
cope after her mother leaves home. Aimed at a student
audience, the play used contemporary music and audio-
visual techniques. Te students enjoyed the production
and discussed the themes and issues covered with
intelligence and maturity.
Young Writers Award 2012
Many congratulations to Jack Bradfeld (11L), who
attended the Wicked Young Writers Awards ceremony,
after being shortlisted, on Tursday 6th December at the
Apollo Victoria Teatre in London, the home of Wicked
Te Musical! Hosted by Wicked star Louise Dearman, the
prizes were presented by the renowned former Childrens
Laureate and Wicked Young Writers Award Chair Judge
Michael Morpurgo.
Shakespeare: Staging the World
Just before half-term, Year 13 enjoyed a day in London
to a preview screening of a new flm version of Te
Tempest followed by a Q&A with the Director Rob
Curry and some of the cast members. After lunch the
British Museums exhibition Shakespeare: staging the
world proved a rich source of artifacts, video clips and
stage design that enriched their understanding of the
period, its politics and adventures, as vital context.
Romeo and Juliet at the Globe
Recently Year 7 attended a modern, updated production
of this famous tragedy at the Globe in London. Earlier
in the term one of their Drama Practitioners had visited
St Olaves to run a series of workshops exploring the
language through Romeos frst speech and the later
fght scene with Tybalt.
National Theatre performance of Othello
On the 4th July a small group of English and Drama
students saw a superb performance at the National
Teatre of Othello. Rory Kinnear played Iago and
Adrian Lester Othello. Nicholas Hytner set this powerful
psychological drama in a desert army camp with the cast
in combat gear and helicopters delivering new arrivals.
Te staging was particularly impressive with a rolling set
that shifted between ofce, washroom and bedroom. Te Lower VI Formers at the National Theatre
Theatre Society particularly enjoyed the incredible
dramatisation of Mark Haddons well-known book
Olavian Young Writer with Michael Morpurgo
Romeo and Juliet updated for the modern day
92 Olavian 2013
students thoroughly enjoyed the evening with several
enthusing that it was the best Shakespeare production
they had seen!
Speak Out Challenge
Year 9 and 10 students were privileged to take part in two
SpeakOut public speaking workshops on Monday 3rd
and Friday 7th December, run by external professionals
and the Jack Petchey foundation. William Adams (10K)
then went on to represent Saint Olaves at the Bromley
regional fnal where he spoke with great passion on the
topic of celebrity. Te event was also hosted by Matthew
Roberts (11M) a SpeakOut national fnalist from the
previous year. Two year 9 boys also took part with Samson
Woodley (9C) creating an emotive vision of London and
Luke Smith (9B) delivering a thought provoking speech
exploring the dangers of fanaticism.
AROUND SCHOOL
Utopia Day
On Tuesday 13th November the whole of Year 7 took
part in Utopia Day which was a cross curricular event
jointly involving the Humanities and English Faculties.
Te day was launched with an assembly discussing the
meaning of Utopia and then forms enjoyed a rotation of
English, Classics, History and Geography before coming
together in groups across the forms to create their own
Utopian society, fag and main settlement.
Senior Debating
Raring to go at the start to the debating season, the St
Olaves senior team were keen to demonstrate their
oratorical excellence on the motion Tis house would
abolish the UN Security Council Veto. Two pairs: one from
Year 12, Lucas Bertholdi-Saad and Timothy Adelani,
and one from Year 13 Aish Pai and Oliver Hamlet at the
Cambridge Regional Final at TWIGs on Tursday 7th
Feb who acquitted themselves well but got no further. St
Olaves was also represented with two teams in the local
round of the Oxford Schools Debating Competition and
an inter-house competition in the VI Form.
Junior Literature Society (JLS!)
Sinead OConnor (12I), Camila Arias (12I) and
Cameron Garrett (12L) have been running a Junior
Literature Society for Years 7-9 in the Main School
Library. Tey have led fun quizzes and lively discussions
every week on all eight books shortlisted for Carnegie
Childrens Book Award.
Year 7 Inter-house Balloon Debate
On Wednesday 1st May, the Year 7 English house
competition took place. Tree students from each form
represented their house by delivering a speech as their
chosen historical fgure, persuading listeners that they
should be the only survivor in a hot air balloon. We
heard from a host of famous names including Charles
Darwin, Leonardo Da Vinci and Dora the Explorer,
and we were all impressed by the extensive research
evident in the speeches and the quality of their delivery.
Congratulations to all who competed!
Lower VI Formers competing at TWIGs Year 7 Balloon Debaters
St. Olave's represented at the Bromley final
English & Drama 93
Year 8 Inter-house Story Competition
On Wednesday 25th April three Year 8 fnalists from each
form represented their house delivering a short story that
encouraged listeners to view well known characters in a
new light. Tis included the truth about the Easter Bunny,
the Tooth Fairy, Rudolph the Reindeer and many others.
Particular congratulations go to 8C who won the group
prize with their fne storytelling, and to Cian Donovan
Taylor (8B) who won the individual prize with his story.
Book Character Day
On Friday 26th April we had Dress Up as a Book
Character day. For the second year, the school was full
of exciting characters from literature, with both staf and
students entering in to the spirit of the day. As well as
having some fun, we were also raising money for literacy
charities and have raised nearly 1500. Tank you to
all who took part and supported the event - now start
planning for next years Book Character Day!
Book Character day saw a vast variety of fictional personages appear - including Professor Snape, reading out the assembly notices!
94 Olavian 2013
Library
96 Olavian 2013
Library News
W
ith well-stocked libraries in such a school, you
might think that one merely sits back and lets the
pupils avail themselves of the excellent resources. Not so
quite apart from the ever-used stationery department
librarians are on hand to suggest, locate, talk about, and,
of course, buy, books, as well as running a series of extra-
curricular events. Year 7 were introduced to the library
(Its so huge!) in the customary fashion, with lessons
including the Dewey decimal system, as well as the
now-established reading bingo. Some read more than
others, but a substantial number are now to be found
regularly within the library. Both libraries continue to be
a hive of activity and are very much in use throughout
the school day, with some already using the VI Form
Library by 8am and others not leaving until required to
do so near 5pm, while the Main School Library is now
a Year 11 form room, and is used for VI Form lessons, as
well as being open to all at Break and Lunch.
Tis year saw the launch of a Junior Literature Society
for Years 7 to 9, led extremely impressively by Lower VI
Formers Sinead OConnor, Camilia Arias and Cameron
Garrett. Tey led fun quizzes and lively discussions every
week. We thrived on disagreement - when one person
loved a book, another hated it! Whilst reading through
all eight books shortlisted for Carnegie Childrens
Book Award, we uploaded reviews onto the Carnegie
shadowing website. Two days before the award was
announced, we conducted our own St Olaves vote.
Our winner was Weight of Water by Sarah Crossnan
and we waited in suspense for the judges choice. It was
controversial. Some were disappointed that Maggot
Moon by Sally Gardner was the Carnegie winner
and others were delighted. Te heated debates (and
chocolate) will most certainly return in Autumn.
Friday 16th November also saw eight Bromley schools
participating in the Bromley & Bexley Fully Booked
Literature Quiz. With Olaves having been reigning
champions for seven years out of the last eight, there was
considerable pressure on our joint Year 7 & 8 team of
Jonathan McCabe, Tomas Halton, Daniel ODriscoll,
Jordan Adesina, Alexander Martin and Rory Yeates
Riddoch. Tey did not disappoint, and, after a brilliant
performance, the boys came through victoriously to take
joint 1st Place. Congratulations to the team, and many
thanks to Mr Budds for his support. We look forward
eagerly to returning to the competition in 2014.
Celebrating World Book Day, meanwhile, was an
opportunity for a competition which saw many from
Years 7 to 11 discussing books wherever they went. How
good are you at identifying the faces of your favourite
authors? It sounds easy, but was in fact very tricky.
Authors ranged from Austen, Conan Doyle and Agatha
Christie to the more contemporary Muchamore and
Suzanne Collins. Tis called for teamwork or rather,
as people realised that the prizes were for individuals, a
certain amount of secrecy. In the end, the clever winner
was Peter Maslin (Year 10) who won a cinema token and
an Easter Egg. Two runners up, Boyan Popov & Ammar
Kisat (both Year 8) also won an Easter Egg.
In these straitened times, all departments, sadly, must
tighten their belts, and the Library is no exception to
this rule. Towards the end of the year, we said goodbye
to Mrs Sebborn, and wish her the very best in her
new job in Bexley, as she returns from Library work to
school administration. She will be greatly missed by all,
especially those who were frequent visitors to the Main
School Library. Sadly, she will not be replaced thus
saying that she is irreplaceable is literally true, for once!
as one librarian will now oversee both libraries.
In addition, as I write this in November of 2013 thus
breaking my own rule that Te Olavian should strictly
keep to the one year we have also, sadly, come to the end
of an era, with the departure of Mrs Humphries. Joining
the school in 2006 as the VI Form library was about to
open, originally under Mrs Lodge, Mrs Humphries later
rose to become Senior Librarian and will be remembered
by many VI Formers as someone to whom we could always
talk, and, in particular, from whom we could always ask for
and receive lots of advice about universities and careers
which, over the years, she had become an expert in.
After October half term in 2013, an interregnum, which
will last for a month or so, now occurs, before we welcome
the new full-time librarian from Croydon Libraries. It
must be emphasised that the library would simply not
be able to continue without its many Library Assistants
from Lower and Middle School. Helping out behind the
desk, they have been and continue to be, especially at
present invaluable. Te year 2012-13 saw a vast team of
Years 7 to 11 help as assistants, and many have continued
into the new year. Teir names are a tad too numerous to
print here, but we are enormously grateful to them all.
Floreat Bibliotheca!
Peter Leigh
Student Assistant Librarian
Music
98 Olavian 2013
A Year of Music
A
fter what seemed like a whirlwind two years at St
Olaves, we had to say Farewell to Mr Matthew
Cook. (I hope it was nothing I said!) With energy in
abundance, he took on the St Olaves Choir and steered
them through some exciting and challenging music.
Outside Music, he also threw himself headlong into
the life of the school in other ways, becoming Head of
Year 8 and continuing to coach and support in sporting
activities. His enthusiasm for both teaching and the
students at the school was appreciated by his colleagues
and his pupils, and I thank him and wish him well in
his promotion at Sevenoaks School. Tis year also saw
Mr John Castle conduct the Symphonic Wind Band one
fnal time after 23 years of service. I am sure that he
will maintain his links with the school, following such
a sustained and distinguished contribution to Olavian
musical life, and we are indebted to him for all he has
done in his time.
Despite these departures, the Music Faculty here has
had another impressive season, both at home and away
this year. Much-loved hardy-perennials such as the
Christmas Concert, Mid-Term Concerts and Samba
workshops returned again on top form. Much of the
credit for making these events so successful should go
to the newest member of the Music Faculty dynasty, Mr
Jonathan Geoghegan. With him he brought a wealth
of experience as a choral scholar himself, a talent for
organ playing and his own brand of sardonic wit! Since
arriving at the school he has stepped seamlessly into the
busy role and been a great support in the work that we do.
It was a quite unbelievable privilege to attend the
Diamond Jubilee commemoration arranged at the
Queens Chapel of the Savoy in the presence of Her
Majesty. A new stained-glass window had been
commissioned and installed in the Chapel, along with
a commemorative plaque on the wall, with Te Queen
and the Duke of Edinburgh present to see it ofcially
unveiled. With the Wakeham Choristers singing for this
special occasion, both Mr Geoghegan and I were invited
to share in the celebration and even to meet Te Queen
at the reception afterwards. Te choristers represented
the school immaculately, as singers and ambassadors
alike, and the occasion was truly memorable.
Te other major highlight of the musical calendar
for me was the Drama and Music Departments joint
production of Cabaret. Beforehand, I have to confess, it
was a show about which I knew relatively little. Kanders
music is cleverly crafted to compliment the spectrum
of emotions on the journey through the work. With a
cast and orchestra made up entirely of Olavians, it was
an achievement of which all involved should feel very
proud. Te experience of preparing, rehearsing and
staging a production on this scale across multiple nights
is a very intense and enriching one; one which I hope all
participants will remember for a lifetime.
Year on year, the music-making at St Olaves continues to
unearth impressive individual and ensemble achievements
in our students. Tough we have unfortunately to bid
farewell to a number of our talented musicians annually,
the baton passes on and, without fail, the next generation
is ready to pick it up and run at least as fast. At the close
of another year, I hope that each musician in the team
is looking back, refecting upon some great successes.
Tose whose careers carry on with us next year are, I
hope, revving engines with excitement at the prospects
of what is in store.
Matthew Price
S___Director of Music
Music 99
Autumn Mid-Term Concert
Te Mid-Term Concert, held on 15th November, once
again showcased the wide-ranging talents of the schools
soloists and ensembles. Parents, friends and teachers
gathered in the chapel and were treated to an impressive
array of performances from all involved.
Given the difculty of mastering string instruments, it is
most encouraging that two of the outstanding performances
came from cellists Dominic Jelf and Eric Leung. Tere was
a range of ages and a diversity of instruments from Year 7
Sachin Balajis Mozart Piano Sonata, to Year 13 Dominic
McDonalds mature Guitar solo. Good playing was evident
in two Piano Duets, one from Mr Price with Abhishek
Patel (his 2nd performance of the week) and the other from
Hoan Truong and Calvin On. Other notable performances
came from the Junior Jazz Band, Cristiano Da Cruzs violin
solo, and vocal duets/trios from Jonathan Leech and Alaric
Belmain, and from a smaller-than-usual Cantores (Oscar
Ridout, Tomas Bridges and Oliver Morrell). Well done to
everyone involved.
Wakeham Choristers
On Tursday 8th November the Wakeham Choristers
had the pleasure of singing in the presence of Her
Majesty Te Queen and HRH Te Duke of Edinburgh
at a special Service of Dedication to commemorate the
Queens Diamond Jubilee. Tey then had the honour of
singing in a service to celebrate the life and work of His
Majesty King Michael of Romania, in the presence of
Te King and Teir Royal Highnesses Crown Princess
Margarita and Prince Radu. And then on Wednesday 14th
November, the boys were called on for a third occasion to
sing, in the presence of HRH Princess Anne, at a Service
of Dedication for new members of the Victorian Order.
Christmas Lights Switch On
Despite the appropriately arctic weather to complement
Orpingtons electric answer to the aurora borealis, our
students drowned out the storm and warmed the festive
spirits of a brave but audibly appreciative crowd. Te
band played a fun selection of lively Christmas music that
was enjoyed by all, making good on MP Joe Johnsons
promise of a splendid yuletide extravaganza.
Christmas Concert
Tose who turned out on a freezing cold Wednesday
5th December were treated to a sparkling Christmas
Concert this year. Under the fuent baton of Mr Price,
the Symphony Orchestra started of with impressive
renditions of extracts from Griegs Peer Gynt and
Elgars Nimrod before the Chamber Choir tackled,
with great accomplishment, three beautiful a-cappella
carols by Taverner, Stopford and Lauridsen.
Te Jazz and Brass bands were both confdently led
by Martin Bunce and really got the Christmas spirit
The complete Savoy Choir, Spring 2013
Christmas Concert:
Saxophonists and Oboists in Symphony Orchestra
Christmas Concert:
Upper VI soloist
100 Olavian 2013
buzzing with up-tempo Rudolph and Bare Necessities,
and a tight Christmas medley. It was good to see Mr
Geoghegan masterfully directing the full forces of the
Choir, including the 450 parent Choir, in a powerful
performance of Pergolesis Magnifcat.
You would rarely hear such mellow strings in a school
concert as Douglas Blews Chamber Orchestra playing
Schiassis Weinachts Symphonie, before John Castle
and the Symphonic Wind Band rounded of the evening
with a riotous Hollywood Milestones. Solo items
from two of our most talented Year 13s, James Watson
and Peter Leigh, elicited well-deserved applause, and
enhancement by several of our recent leavers, friends and
peripatetic players was greatly appreciated.
With some seasonal readings interspersing the musical items,
and mulled wine and mince pies to cheer the palate in the
interval, the whole evening was a perfect start to Christmas.
Music Workshop
On Monday 28th January, the AS and A Level Music
students travelled to the Queen Elizabeth Hall at
the South Bank Centre to attend a workshop and
performance of their set work Prlude laprs-
midi dun faune by Claude Debussy. Following an
enlightening talk contextualising the work in relation
to musical trends of the late 19th century, the students
enjoyed a sparkling performance of the piece performed
by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Norman Trotman Winner
Not one but two of the seven fnalists in BYMTs
Norman Trotman Competition were Olavians this
year, Stefan Beckett (13W) on percussion and Tomas
Hadden (13W) on saxophone. Te entire evening was
an impressive display of seven of the most talented
musical performers in the borough and, in the climax of
a fabulous evening, Stefan was awarded the First Prize
and the Norman Trotman Trophy for a performance that
was both sensitive and technically fawless, keeping the
whole audience spellbound.
Cabaret
Te St Olaves performances of Cabaret in March were a
huge success. With the Great Hall laid out as the KitKat
Klub, the audience was truly drawn into the performance,
in the most efective 3D visual experience that can only
be achieved in live contexts. Te clever construction of
the show, which transitions gradually from the pleasures
of the decadent Berlin social scene through to the demise
of society under Nazi rule, was portrayed in turn with
elegance, fair and grit by the double stage-cast. Te
glamorously bedecked orchestra rose to the challenges
of being the KitKat Klub Stage Band. Te playing was
mature, authoritative and sensitive and completed the
picture of the perfect evening for all involved.
Christmas Concert:
School Choir singing Pergolesis Magnifcat
Christmas Concert: Symphony Orchestra
VI Former in the Norman Trotman Competition
The Cabaret Orchestra
...even the orchestra is beautiful...
Music 101
Spring Concert
For a number of Olavians, the Spring Concert was
a fantastic ftting fnale to their season of music at
the school. Te evening was an opportunity both to
showcase a wealth of high-quality musicianship and to
say farewell to the Year 13 students who have supported
music-making at the school, some for as long as seven
years. Tere was an atmosphere of warm appreciation
amongst the audience members, and of happy memories,
as the performers pulled together for the fnal major
event of this years musical calendar.
Te night lived up to the high standards set by previous
concerts, whilst the audience were treated to ensembles
and solos from a wide variety of musical traditions.
Lyrical vocal solos were given by Sebastian Cook (12L)
and Richard Decker (9B) and dexterous playing was
exhibited by Karen Mortby (12H), Stefan Beckett
(13W) and Elliot Beagley (12H) on oboe, marimba and
violin respectively. We reminisced over the wonderful
performances of Cabaret, as fve numbers from the show
were specially resurrected for the occasion. Te Brass
Band, Chamber Choir, Guitar Group and Chamber
Orchestra all had their moments to shine. Also, the 450
Choir went a cappella for the frst time, singing three
items with skill and conviction. Special mention must
fnally go to John Castle who, after an impressive 23 years,
is stepping down as Director of the Symphonic Wind
Band. In their last performance under his leadership, many
former students returned to join the current cohort to wish
Mr Castle well and send him of with fond memories of a
terrifc rendition of a work by Malcolm Arnold.
Jazz Night
Te annual Jazz Night was a treat for those who attended
including impressive solos from Tomas Hadden (13W)
on both sax and vocals; Stefan Beckett (13W) provided his
usual top quality on percussion; there was some sensitive
keyboard playing from Samuel Wootten (10K) and the
highlight of the evening came from special guest Simon
Bates which was rounded of by the Senior Jazz Band.
Samba Workshop
During Activity Week, Year 8 had a Samba day and were
introduced to a range of percussion instruments and to a new
style of music. Te instruments we used comprised maracas,
drums, cowbells, agogos, ganzas and more! All these were
beaten or shaken in various rhythms, creating an extraordinary
sound together. We each had a turn on all the instruments;
but it was clear everyone was aiming for the big drums! Te
teacher blew an apito whistle (a whistle with two holes to
sound both low and high pitched noises) to give signals to
the class, along with hand signals. After a short break, we
started to develop a performance unique to the class, such
as chanting We will rock you or having a call-and-response
pattern. Overall, it was a brilliant day that all enjoyed we
would defnitely take any opportunity to play Samba again! 8L learn the art of Samba, led by Mr Geoghegan
Spring Concert: Symphonic Wind Band, directed by
John Castle for the fnal time
Chamber Orchestra playing in the Spring Concert
Nick Beston & Jazz Band at the ever-popular Jazz Night
102 Olavian 2013
Her Majesty the Queen greets the Savoy Choristers
Image - and that on p.99 - printed with pemission from Te Queens Chapel of the Savoy/Duchy of Lancaster
Modern Foreign
Languages
104 Olavian 2013
Modern Foreign Languages
The Department of French
_
Comme dit le proverbe les voyages forment la jeunesse!
T
he French department has grown from strength to
strength this year and students experience of the
language has gone beyond the classroom for each year
group. From visiting lInstitut Franais to spending a few
days en Normandie and Paris, the French-speaking
world was within reach and students have had a taste of
the culture, arts and food of this neighbouring country.
Nous avons fni lanne en beaut Ten came August
and exam results. Our GCSE students did extremely
well this year and should be commended upon their hard
work and efort. At A Level, boys and girls saw their
passion for the French language being rewarded with
excellent grades.
Te year ahead will see our students going on trips and
putting into practise the skills they have developed in
the classroom speaking the language is essential, as,
challenging as it may be, le jeu en vaut la chandelle!
European Day of Languages
On Wednesday 26th September the European Day
of Languages was launched in an assembly entirely
designed and presented by Sixth Form students. At break
and lunch time, students enjoyed taking part in activities
in French, Spanish, German or Italian, ranging from an
obstacle course to word games and watching flms. Tere
was also the opportunity for our boys to sample some
European food available from the canteen.
Year 7 trip to Institut Franais
On Tursday 14th March, boys from 7B and 7C made
their way to South Kensington to spend the day at the
French Institute. While this was an opportunity for all
to learn about the history of the institute, we also had
a chance to experience comics in French and learnt
about characters such as Titeuf, Spirou, Astrix and
Tintin. During lunch, we enjoyed chatting to the French
students of the nearby lyce franais, and, at the end, as
a little treat provided by the Institut, there were trays of
pains au chocolat waiting for us!.
During our afternoon at the French Institute, we all
watched an animation flm called LIle de Black Mor, which
was about a 15-year-old boy named Te Kid who manages
to escape from the orphanage where he is held captive. His
only possession is the map of a treasure island that fell from
the pages of a book about Black Mor, a notorious pirate.
Te Kid lives many adventures while travelling towards the
Treasure Island. Quest-ce quon sest amuss!
Year 12 Paris Trip
A group of 14 Y12 students spent 3 days strolling
around in Paris in October half term in 2012. Blessed
Marjorie Delage
S___Head of MFL & French
Lower VI French pupils in Paris
7B in the library of the Institut Franais
Olavian 2013 105
by a gorgeous sun and mild temperatures, they visited
many of the most famous monument of the capital city
of France la Tour Eifel, le Centre George Pompidou,
le Sacr Coeur, la Sainte Chapelle amongst others. As
challenging as it may have been, they went to see a French
flm in the original version at the cinema. Tis trip would
not have been such a success if we had not had lunch at
the most popular bistro restaurant of Paris Chartier
Bouillon. Tere students sampled some escargots and
crme de marrons! Comme de vrais parisiens!
French Film Society
On Sunday 21st October, a number of Sixth Form
language students travelled to the Cin Lumire at
lInstitut Franais in South Kensington to enjoy a
showing of Vous Navez Encore Rien Vu (or You Aint
Seen Nothing Yet) providing an opportunity to practise
their language skills and broaden their cultural horizons.
Later in the term they returned to see De Rouille et
dOs (Rust and Bones), a dramatic and moving tale of
love, family and passion.
Year 13 French students attended the British Film
Institute in London on Wednesday 14th November to
see Occupied France on Film. Students were shown
short clips from various flms, which raised such issues
as the extent to which French people collaborated with
the Nazis and the treatment of Jews in occupied France.
After lunch they watched Un hros trs discret which
depicted a young Frenchman who pretends to have
played a heroic role in the Resistance movement.
Lille Christmas Markets Trip
Early on Friday 14th December, 79 boys from Y9 and
8 members of staf gathered at Saint Olaves to make
their way to France. Te programme of the day included
a visit to a wafe shop and factory, where our boys learnt
about all the ingredients and the techniques to prepare
these Flemish delicacies. Te highlight of the visit was
without any doubt when the boys tasted the wafes
before purchasing some for their families.
Despite the rain, we then headed to Lille, to visit the
Christmas market and its central square with its big wheel.
Boys thoroughly enjoyed trying out their French while
sampling some of the treats on ofer and making further
purchases for their families. A good day was had by all and
many thanks to all the teachers who accompanied us.
Year 10 Trip: The Normandy Experience
As part of their French enrichment programme, 44 year
10s embarked on a week of immersing themselves in the
French language and culture in Normandy. Students
rose well to the challenge of undertaking the majority of
activities in French, including interviewing local residents,
purchasing their lunch in competitive groups, navigating
their way carefully across the notoriously treacherous
fast moving sinking sands in order to reach Le Mont
St. Michel pictured in the background. Among other
highlights were the high ropes course and a visit to the
very enthusiastic Monsieur Martins goat farm! Snails and
mussels were braved and enjoyed by most. A good time
was had by all and we returned to school more confdent
and better prepared for the year ahead!
Year 8 Boulogne Trip
Bright and early (too early for some!) on the morning of
Wednesday 2nd May, the whole of year 8 arrived at school eager
to embark on their trip to France. After an uneventful journey
via the Channel Tunnel we arrived at the top of the town and set
of on a tour of the walls and ramparts, visiting the historic heart
of the town. Tis included a visit of the Basilica, an impressive
church with a large dome which we had to try and draw.
We then carried on down the hill to the bustling market
place, where we were allowed to roam and practice
our French when making purchases. We bought the
customary souvenirs and presents for our family, but the
most popular items were sweets and an assortment of
head gear. Next we walked down to the front, past the
Year 10 at Mont St Michel, Normandy
Year 8 wait for the Sea Lion display at Nausicaa, Boulogne
106 Olavian 2013
The Department of German
T
he German department is one of the smaller
departments of the school, yet it is a vibrant, lively,
enthusiastic department and ofers a lot. German can now
be chosen in year 8, and this year there are two groups in
that year. We usually have two GCSE groups and groups
of varying sizes in the 6th form. One of our strength is
that we run a number of trips every year; a year 9 trip to a
Christmas market in Germany, either an exchange with
Starnberg in Bavaria or a trip to the Rhineland for year
10 students; and a 6th form trip, alternating between a
cultural trip to Berlin or an exchange with Heidelberg.
And theres lots more going on, of course
fshing port and on to the beach front, where we could sit
and enjoy our lunch in the warm sunshine. After lunch
we all went to Nausicaa, an impressive sea-life centre
with all sorts of fsh and sea creatures, ranging from
the beautiful, vibrant colours of the tropical fsh to the
impressive sharks and their razor-sharp teeth. Te visit
was concluded with a sea-lion show, highlighting their
agility and intelligence.
After the visit we had a chance to enjoy games and fun on
the large sandy beach. Some chose to play football or cricket,
whilst others just enjoyed running and fooling around,
building castles or burying friends! Te day concluded with
some last minute shopping at Cit Europe, a large shopping
centre with lots of shops and a massive hypermarket, our
fnal chance to spend our remaining euros and buy yet more
sweets, chocolate and biscuits. We arrived back at school at
8pm, tired but happy after an eventful and enjoyable trip, with
lots of memories and photos of our day trip to Boulogne.
Year 13 Primary School Visit
It was a day of colours, animals and Heads, Shoulders, Knees
and Toes for Year 13 French Students on a visit to St. Pauls
Cray Primary School. After enjoying the stress of lesson
preparation, we arrived bright and early on the morning of
Friday 8th February equipped with packed lunches, various
multi-coloured pieces of paper and, in some cases, pom poms!
Te group was split into pairs and each pair had been given a
year group that they would be teaching for the day, so at 9:00
we went to meet our groups and start the activities. Te pupils
got involved in lots of diferent events, from learning French
words for colours to sampling croissants in the French Caf.
Many of us soon realised the challenge of teaching, as not
only did we have to make the lessons informative, we had to
make them interesting as well and make sure all the children
were fully engaged in learning French. It was also a bit of a
jump switching from being the pupil to being the teacher
as there was no room for errors! It was really fantastic to see
the children get involved in the activities we made, however
and we all got a sense of pride when the students learnt and
remembered something that we taught them. Although
challenging at times, we all really enjoyed the day and wish
all the pupils at St. Pauls Cray luck with their French!
Hanna Cooley
S___Head of German
Year 10 exchange to Starnberg, Bavaria
From 6th July to 13th July 2013, 14 of our year 10
German students were in Starnberg, south of Munich
in Bavaria, on our return leg of the exchange, We
travelled by plane ant train and arrived in Starnberg at
a reasonable time in the evening. Some of us went to
a welcome party but most just settled for a meal and
a decent sleep. Te Sunday was spent with the host
families and we did various things, from rafting to
sightseeing in Munich and the Alps.
During the week we met up at school in the morning
and then left for our programme of the day: two days
in Munich walking and climbing a lot and seeing a
huge variety of famous and not so famous sights: the
Marienplatz with the Neue Rathaus and the ever-
popular Glockenspiel, the Viktualienmarkt, the Alte
Peter, the university, the Englische Garten, the Olympia
Park all in good weather we love Munich!
We also spent two days in the Alps; one on a superb, if a
little taxing, walk through the spectacular Partnachklamm
and up through the woods to the Eckbauer (where we
appreciated the rest and the refreshments), then down in
cable cars and of to the water experience at the Trimini,
to two hours of jumping, diving, sliding, laughing and just
having a great time enjoying ourselves. Te second trip to
the Alps was a joint trip with the girls from Newstead
Wood to the famous castle of Neuschwanstein, which
did not fail to impress even the most cynical of us, as it is
magnifcent both inside and out.
We spent one morning at school, shadowing our partners,
although we found that at the very end of the school
year, there are lots of activities going on there other than
lessons probably a universal phenomenon. We enjoyed
the relaxed feel without uniforms and also our boat trip
on Lake Starnberg in the afternoon.
Olavian 2013 107
When it was time to say good-bye on Saturday, we really were
quite emotional and even tearful. Invitations were plentiful,
and many of us shall return! We had such a superb time!
Year 10 Rhineland Trip
From the 8th to the 12th of July 2013, a group of year
10 German students went on a trip to Boppard in the
beautiful Rhineland area of Germany.
Having been travelling for eight hours, we arrived at the
Hotel LEurope on Monday just as the sun was beginning
to go down. We unpacked our equipment before going for a
walk around the historic town of Boppard. We were greeted
with some spectacular views as we watched the sun set over
the river and we admired the centuries-old architecture as
we strolled around the cobbled paths of the town.
Tuesday was our frst day of activities. We began
proceedings with a leisurely late-morning river cruise,
basking in the splendour of the warm July sunshine. When
we departed the boat, the coach took us to Rdesheim-
am-Rhein where we ascended the sides of the valley on a
cable car. Te views across the Rhine were nothing short
of spectacular; if there was anything wrong with the cable-
car ride it was the fact that it had to come to an end! Te
cable car ended at the scenic Niederwald Landscape Park
where we were able to observe the Niederwalddenkmal, a
memorial to the Franco-Prussian War and an impressive
leviathan of a structure by all accounts. Te fnal activity
of the day was a visit to Marksburg Castle, a mediaeval
fortress that sat high atop the valley. It was a defensive
castle as opposed to a residential one and is the only
castle in the Middle Rhine never to have been destroyed.
We were taken on an informative tour of the castle and
we had the good fortune to view the mediaeval torture
instruments in the torture chamber.
Wednesday took us to the town of Cochem. Like many
of the historic Rhineland towns, Cochem is flled with an
eclectic variety of shops and eateries and it was a difcult
task not to slowly drain the contents of ones wallet!
Once we had satisfed ourselves with the town centre we
climbed the steep ascent to the Reichsburg Castle. Te
castle was in ruins until it was rebuilt in the 19th-century
in the fashionable romantic-style. Although the current
building does not have as much history as Marksburg, it
is quite a spectacle behold and the many ornate details
make it a fascinating building from an architectural
viewpoint. We spent our last hours in Cochem cooling
down in the outdoor swimming pools and making good
use of the water slides and diving boards. We returned
to the hotel for our evening meal and then the day
came to a close as we drove to a leisure centre for a very
competitive game of bowling.
Te whole of Tursday was taken up by our visit to the
Phantasialand theme park. We tried a variety of thrilling
rollercoasters that tipped and twisted and turned us
upside-down. In just one day we were able to go from a
Colorado mine train to riding on the Black Mamba in
the African rainforest!
On Friday we were sad to say goodbye to the captivating
Rhineland and we reluctantly began our journey
homeward. After a stop at a Belgian chocolate factory
we made our way to the Euro Tunnel where we left the
continent and returned home.
Although we were only there for fve days, we were able to
gain a great appreciation for German history and culture
and put our linguistic skills to the test in the shops and
cafs we visited. All in all, everyone had a thoroughly good
time and if you asked one of the students whether they
would like to return to the Rhineland, you would almost
certainly be met with a resounding reply in the afrmative!
Year 10s on the German Exchange resting in front of the
Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten, Munich
Year 10s on the Rhineland Trip in the Reichsburg, Cochem
108 Olavian 2013
German Trip to Berlin
On Sunday, 17th February, we met at Gatwick airport
to set of on our trip to cold, wintry, yet very hospitable
Berlin; we were six year 13 and ten year 12 students
accompanied by Mr Henley and Frau Cooley.
We had a very packed programme for each of the fve days
we spent there, starting on Sunday night, shortly after we
arrived at our hostel, with a walk along the old East Berlin
Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust
Memorial and a short preliminary visit to the unique Sony
Centre with its unusual roof which changes colour!
Monday saw us at the Bernauer Strae, with its relic
of the wall, at the Topographie des Terrors, the Nazi
headquarters of the Gestapo and SS, and then at the
amazing Jewish Museum designed by Libeskind; in the
early evening we had a fascinating guided tour through
the Bundestag by a most erudite and witty German lady
with a superb command of the English language. In the
evening we all gathered at the hostel to celebrate Louis
birthday with a lovely cake!
Tuesday started of with a walk through the freshly fallen
snow to the Russian memorial in the Treptower Park,
dominated by the gigantic statue of a Russian soldier
holding a child and having smashed a swastika with his
sword, representing the liberation of Berlin from the
Nazis in 1945. Ten to the heart of the Stasi machinery,
its former headquarters, where we had a guided tour by a
German whose standard of English did not quite match
that of our Bundestag lady.
Te sobering experience of the Stasi HQ was eclipsed
by the visit to the infamous former Stasi Prison, where
many a political prisoner was kept, tortured, traumatised
for life or, as many did, perished. Te utter cruelty of the
Stasi regime, related to us by a Zeitzeuge, a witness of
the time, a former prisoner, horrifed us, and her plea for
young people to be politically aware and involved and to
defend democracy was deeply moving.Te evening was
free, but most of us gathered at the hostel and spent the
evening together, relaxing.
Te Wednesday was a much lighter day. We greeted
Marx and Engels on the way to the famous Pergamon
Museum with its spectacular Pergamon altar, the Ishtar
gate, the market gate of Miletus and the remnants of
the Mshatta palace to name just four of the invaluable
treasures of this fantastic museum which, soberingly,
presented us with the most unfriendly people we met in
Berlin who were guards there arrrgh! We managed to
recover from these ofcials as the immense beauty of the
old buildings displayed impressed us deeply.
Of to the bus and a trip to the former West Berlin
and the hollow tooth a church ruin which is kept as a
reminder of the horrors of war, and its new neighbour,
an extraordinary church building with a simple, striking
symbolism of form and colour. Ten followed an utterly
pleasant experience: we were invited to Tim Stickings
18th birthday celebration in the exclusive caf on the top
foor of the KaDeWe, where we sat under the glass roof
and by the window, at lovingly laid tables with fowers
and bows: Tims father had invited us all to cake and
cofee and we appreciated it greatly, doing justice to the
enormous pieces of exquisite gateaux.
Similarly loved was the shopping time afterwards and the
meal in the Kartofelkiste, where each students joyfully
accepted a contribution of 10 from the trip fund. Te
waiters here were really helpful and friendly, and clearly
enjoyed the pleasantness of the visitors they served. We
got back to the hostel quite late yet managed to spend
some time together on this last evening in Berlin.
On our last day we visited the Hedwigskirche with its
beautiful organ,then the Gendarmenplatz with the
Franzsische Dom (French Cathedral), Deutsche Dom
(German Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus with the
statue of the famous German playwright Schiller, where
we had one of our last group photographs taken.
Due to public pressure, we went the chocolate shop once
more and then took the U-Bahn to the Potsdamer Platz,
where we visited the Filmmuseum with its unusual
arrangements of mirrors refecting us into endless
heights and depths, which was quite disconcerting!
We returned to the Alexanderplatz for our last lunch and
shopping time, before collecting our luggage from the
hostel and setting of for the airport, where we arrived
far too early due to the seamless connections of the
underground trains and the bus.
Tired and happy, we arrived back in England, perfectly
on time and without any hitches or delays. We had such
a good time and many thanks are due to all parents
who have allowed their children to come on the trip,
the students for being so wonderfully well behaved and
pleasant to each other, and Mr Henley for accompanying
us and giving up his half term. Te group and the trip
were absolutely great!
Olavian 2013 109
110 Olavian 2013
The Department of Spanish
S
panish is still a growing subject at Saint Olaves, and
is now taught in every year group. We have recently
started teaching the subject in year 7 to half the year group,
with the other half studying French. Te present year 8
students, who followed this pattern of study last year, will
be the frst to undertake the new three year key stage 4
programmes a real luxury in a foreign language, and we
look forward to including many elements of South and
Central American culture along with the usual GCSE
material. We are also expanding our educational visit
programme, with a new Year 7 visit last year and a new
year 8 visit planned for this year to add to our successful
year 10 residential trip to Murcia. In the sixth form, we
are travelling to Andaluca for the frst time this year.
Year 7 trip to the Europa Centre
On the 13th March 2013, at 8:40am, 7H departed with
Ms Gardiner and Mr McCurrach to the Europa Centre
in Havering. We were all quite nervous as we would have
to speak Spanish to native speakers, and we werent quite
sure what theyd think!
We got to the centre very quickly, thanks to some nifty
coach driving. We were shown into a classroom where
the fve ladies that were working with us introduced
themselves. We then went into the centre itself, ordering
what we would like from the caf. Lips were licked in
anticipation. Te lady working with our group was called
Carmen. Some of us had difculty telling her how to
spell our names in Spanish!
We then walked round the centre. We had been given
booklets with various quizzes and information to fll
in. We also had to ask the shopkeepers for information
about a missing person that we were looking for. Tis fast
became the most hotly contested quiz after we found out
that the prize was a free cruas n (croissant) from the caf.
Te classs terrible fashion sense was revealed after
several of us bought assorted handbags from the shops,
using the (paper) credit cards that wed been given.
Other attractions around Villaguisante were la farmacia
(pharmacy) la panaderia (bakery) and la ofcina de
turismo (tourism ofce).
All too soon, it was time to go. We thanked the women
for making such an interesting experience and boarded
the coach, in time to return for a Spanish lesson.
James Blackwood (7H)
Foreign Film Society
Tis society has recently started up again with our
enthusiastic new Languages prefect team running it.
A small but select audience (not all linguists!) came to
see the frst part of Machuca on Monday lunchtime in
room 13. Tis Chilean flm is in Spanish (with English
subtitles) and deals with young people coming to terms
with political change in their school and meeting people
whose lives are very diferent to their own. Viewers found
the flm easy to understand and it helped them to realise
how extreme politics can impact on the everyday lives
of young people. Tere was humour as well as a serious
message, and we are all looking forward to part 2, and
future flms in a variety of languages.
VI Form Spanish Work Experience
During February half term, I had the opportunity to
undertake some work experience in Salamanca, Spain. It
was a chance to learn more about the world of work and
improve my Spanish.
Being the only person to travel from St. Olaves at that
time was daunting at frst, but my nerves were quickly
calmed by other students travelling on the trip.
My work placement, YMCA, was a charitable organisation
that helped the vulnerable. Tey helped immigrants and
children with difcult family backgrounds. My job there
was to speak to and teach the immigrants some Spanish
Gillian Gardiner
S___Head of Spanish
7H & hats at the Europa centre:
perhaps not a good combination?
Olavian 2013 111
and make them feel at ease, as well as helping the
children with their homework and giving them a break
from their home life.
My colleagues were lovely, the town was beautiful (see two
beautiful examples of the architcture below), my Spanish
improved and everyone was extremely welcoming all
in all, I had an amazing time and I would thoroughly
recommend anyone who is doing a language to do the
same.
Tolu Majekodunmi (Lower VI)
Year 10 Trip to Murcia
During Activity Week 2, those from Year 10 taking Spanish
made a trip to Murcia, Spain. We had a fantastic time, and
the uncivilised fight times meant we had extra time to relax
in the sea and on the beach during our visit, as well as having
lessons and educational visits. Amongst other things, we
visited the mud baths, which are part of the Salinas de San
Pedro nature reserve. Te environment is very fragile, and
once the mud had dried on the boys skin (it is stinky and full
of chemicals which are supposed to be good for you, as well as
very salty) they had to wash it all of again in the same part of
the lagoon as they got it from, before having a proper wash in
the sea. Te boys were able to relax and behaved well, using
Spanish quite naturally to the monitors and teachers by the
end of the week, and a great time in the sun was had by all.
Impressively, some students were specially commended for
the quality of their Spanish by the organisers. Eddie Tolmie
and Jeevan Ravindran have provided a fuller report on the
trip, in (naturally enough!) Spanish:
Un Viaje al sur de Espaa
Salimos del aeropuerto de Gatwick a las seis. Llegamos a
Espaa a las nueve. Fuimos a la playa y nadamos en el Mar
Menor. Es un mar muy salado.
Cada da jugamos al ftbol, y Comimos en el comedor.
Al da siguiente, por la maana estudiamos espaol. Hicimos
deportes acuticos como la vela y el windsurf. Era muy difcil
mantenerme en pie! Adems remamos era ms fcil. Por la
tarde algunos de nosotros cantamos karaoke.
El mircoles por la maana, fuimos al parque natural de
San Pedro con nuestro gua Carolina. Vimos famencos son
pjaros muy raros. Despus, jugamos en la playa y enterramos a
David en la arena. El mismo da, fuimos al teatro romano en
Cartagena, una ciudad muy histrica, y vimos grafti estupendo
all. Luego, fuimos a la feria y comimos churros deliciosos.
El jueves, estudiamos espaol de nuevo y despus fuimos al mercado
compramos caramelos, por supuesto! Hicimos baos de lodos. Eran
muy divertidos. Qu guay! Por la tarde, tocamos percusin. Ms
tarde, escuchamos msica cubana, y bailamos, por supuesto.
El ltimo da: qu triste! Fuimos a la playa por la ltima
vez. Compartimos pizza all. Despus, visitamos el
centro comercial. Luego tuvimos que volver al aeropuerto.
Estbamos muy cansados. Lo pasamos bomba!
Salamanca: a beautful setting for work experience
112 Olavian 2013
Humanities
114 Olavian 2013
The Faculty of Humanities
W
here 2011-12 had seen much upheaval in the
Humanities Faculty, 2012-13 saw the foundations
laid for its continued and future success. Mrs Beard,
Miss Dunlop and Mr Lake joined the faculty and were
instrumental in the strong exam results enjoyed by all
its subjects. Te faculty was sad to see the departure
of Mr Booth, a stalwart of the Economics department
since end of the 1990s. Te reports from each of the
faculties departments highlight the quality and diversity
of provision made both within and beyond the bounds
of the curriculum.
Daniel Espejo
S___Head of Humanities Year 8 Jack the Ripper Humanities Day
Year 7 Utopia cross-curricular day
The Faculty of Mathematics, ICT
& Computer Science, 2011-12
Olavian 2012 115
The Department of History
Remember, always give your best. Never get discouraged.
Never be petty. Always remember, others may hate you. But
those who hate you dont win unless you hate them. And then
you destroy yourself.
P
resident Richard Nixon uttered the words above as
he addressed White House staf for the fnal time in
August, 1974 following the Watergate scandal. Nixon,
appropriately, graced the cover of the fourth edition of
the History Society magazine entitled Scandal. Te
professionally produced magazine featured contributions
from students throughout the school and was ultimately
put together by Dr Wallace, Tim Stickings and Luke
Watkins (both Year 13). Te History department enjoyed
another successful year in 2012-13 combining excellent
public examination results with a wide range of extra-
curricular trips and activities which challenged pupils to
develop their knowledge and understanding of a range
of topics.
Te department returned for the frst time since 2008 to
the World War 2 battlefelds in Normandy. Year 9 pupils
had the opportunity to explore a range of sites which
were focal points during Operation Overlord in June
1944. Tese included Pegasus Bridge and Omaha Beach
which saw the US armies assault German defences
which was later immortalised in the flm Saving Private
Ryan. As the generation that provided the participants
in WW2 sadly dwindles, 2014 will see both Year 8 and
9 visit Ypres and the Somme as preparations begin for
the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 in
2014. Tese visits, alongside other day trips, will be the
highlights of the departments extra-curricular provision
in the academic year 2013-14.
Te department has been enhanced by the additions
of Sarah Beard and Tom Martin to its fold. Both have
brought with them enthusiasm and a range of exciting
new teaching ideas. Mrs Beard has served as Head of
Year to Year 8 and in this role led the organisation of the
new cross-curricular day which asked pupils to decide,
Who was Jack the Ripper? Year 8 pupils were helped
by Year 13 drama students who took on the roles of the
main suspects before they enjoyed History, English and
Chemistry lessons which furnished them with a range of
evidence before they conducted a trial of Walter Sickert,
the eccentric artist who was one of the men accused of
the Whitechapel murders. Sufce to say there was no
consensus on who the identity of the Ripper.
2012-13 was an action packed year for the History
department, but 2013-14 promises to match or even
exceed it!
Daniel Espejo
S___Head of History
Year 9 Battlefelds trip: Normandy
Upon arrival at Normandy on Wednesday 22nd May we
visited Pegasus Bridge, which for me demonstrated the
ingenuity of our military in spite of limited resources of
World War 2. Te combination of the engineering of the
gliders and the expert use of the element of surprise were
fantastic examples of how the British military achieved
a tactical victory.
Te St Mere Eglise museum was fascinating as it
contained the uniforms and the weaponry used by
diferent troops deployed in Normandy. Also that day we
visited Omaha beach. It was interesting to see the actual
site of such a chaotic battle. It was a peculiar feeling
standing on the calm, peaceful beach where just under
70 years ago thousands of men fought and many died.
After that we visited one of the three US cemeteries in
Normandy. It was a massive cemetery containing over
9000 graves. It was a beautifully decorated cemetery, a
worthy resting place for the fallen American soldiers.
Finally, we visited the Longues sur Mer gun battery
which showed the true extent of the battle between the
allied navy and the German artillery.
On Friday 24th we visited a 360 degrees cinema which
created a great sense of atmosphere that allowed you
to immerse yourself in the footage of WW2 shown.
116 Olavian 2013
We also had a look at the mulberry harbour, a harbour
hastily put together by the British to accommodate the
larger ships of the British navy to allow them to supply
the army following the D-Day landings. Ten we visited
some of the British beaches and saw the wide variety
of equipment used to successfully take them. Finally
we visited the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at
Ranville. It was a very moving experience as many of the
British troops buried there lived not too far from where
I live and one soldier there was only 16 when he died.
After a short remembrance service at the cemetery we
were allowed to place a poppy at a grave of our choice
to allow us each to remember one of the men in the
Cemetery. It was a good end to an educational trip.
Luke Smith (9B)
Jack the Ripper Day
On Monday 8th July, Year 9 took part in Jack the
Ripper Day attending Chemistry, English and History
lessons to try to establish who Jack the Ripper was
before conducting a mock trial of one of the suspects,
Walter Sickert in the afternoon. Tey were confronted
with the problems the police faced in 1888 and began to
understand how forensic techniques can be used to help
solve crimes. Tere was also the opportunity to study the
letters purported to be from the ripper sent to the police
and to make links with ink and handwriting analysis.
Year 9 summarised the court procedings:
On the 8th July 2013 as part of Jack the Ripper Day we
witnessed the trial of Walter Sickert, accused of the murder of
Mary Jane Kelly. He pleads innocent to the charge of murder.
Te prosecuting lawyers from 9B started by calling forward
John McCarthy, the owner of the property Mary lived in.
Tey described how the organs of the deceased were laid out
in an organised fashion. Te defence lawyers (9H) countered
by saying he would have to be educated to have such a good
knowledge of human anatomy. Te prosecuting lawyers then
called forward George Hutchinson, the last person to see Mary
alive. His description of the murderer was not very similar
to Walter but the prosecution lawyers argued that Walter
was well known as a master of disguise. Te defence lawyers
then called forward their frst witness: James Wicker. Walter
was an art protg of James in America. However, James
struggled to answer the prosecuting lawyers questions and
proved to be a poor witness by contradicting himself. Ten
the defence lawyers called forward the defendant, Walter
Sickert. Walter Sickert started by contradicting the statement
he made before the trial. He then went on to confrm that
he uses the same ink Jack the Ripper used in his letters to the
police. Te fnal witness the defence called was a prostitute.
She supported Walters alibi but the prosecution lawyers
tried to tarnish her name and reputation to invalidate her
evidence. Following their deliberations the jury came to a
unanimous decision that Walter was guilty.
National Army Museum
A group of Year 10 students travelled to the National
Army Museum this year to learn more about the diversity
of historical battles from diferent parts of the world,
including the 17th century English civil war, Indias fght
for independence and the 20th century Korean War.
Te highlight of the trip for many came when students
were able to examine weapons and clothing used by the
British army.
St Laurent Cemetary, Normandy
Upper VI Formers set the scene for Year 9s Ripper day
Year 10 at the National Army Museum
Olavian 2013 117
History Lecture Trip
A group of Year 12 historians attended a lecture on
Wednesday 6th February at UCL given by Professor
Mary Fulbrook entitled A Small Town Near Auschwitz:
Ordinary Nazis and the Holocaust. She provided an
insightful look at the lives and attitudes of the Nazis
working in party administrative positions as well as an
explanation of the skills she had used in researching
the book. Overall, students found the lecture to be not
only a new and exciting experience but also one that was
enriching and thought-provoking.
History Society Magazine
Te fourth edition of the History Society Magazine,
entitled Scandal, included articles from students through
all years and even Old Olavians. Te scandals reported
included the Reichstag Fire, the Princes in the Tower,
Operation Menu and the Hillsborough Disaster.
118 Olavian 2013
The Department of Geography
G
eography is a fascinating study of places, people
& their interactions. It is truly synoptic, and is
always relevant and changing from the local to the
global and this is refected at St Olaves. Geography
is everywhere we live in an amazing, awesome, but
delicate physical environment that needs our care.
Trough understanding the interactions between it
and human activity, geographers can fnd sustainable
solutions to wide-ranging problems.
In this spirit, many were inspired about the world and
people around them through the fascinating talks in the
new Geographical Society set up in 2012 by Mounif
Kalawoun and Adelia Rakhimova. Sixth form students
were able to attend stimulating lectures given by the
Geographical Association during the Autumn term,
discovering where new research is taking the subject.
Te department once again achieved excellent results
across the key stages, with 13 students choosing to
continue their pursuit of Geographical understanding at
Universities across the country.
Rachel Garswood joins the Geography Department
this year. She studied BSc Geography at the University
of Exeter, where she also continued on to complete
her PGCE teacher training. She loves to travel and to
enjoy the outdoors which is what led her to specialise in
Physical Geography, with a particular interest in coasts.
Department for International Development:
Shape the Future Competition
Since their creation in September 2000, the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) have encouraged the many
countries committed to them to work towards meeting
the needs of the worlds poorest people. Te target date
for the MDGs is 2015 so beyond that, a new set of goals
will be required. Te Prime Minister, David Cameron, is
Co-Chair of the United Nations High Level Panel that
has been tasked with making recommendations on these
new development goals, and he wanted to hear via the
Department for International Development Shape the
Future Competition what young people in the UK think
needs to be included. Year 9 Geographers at St. Olaves
study Development, and all year 9 students prepared
group presentations to discuss, formulate and submit
their own proposals for post-2015 development goals.
Te 9H group led by Alexander Leggatt with Joshua
Goulbourne, Kayo Kufeji, Jamie Macdonald and
Charlie Peck was chosen to represent St. Olaves in the
Department for International Development Shape the
Future Competition. Teir presentation covered issues
surrounding the eradication of extreme hunger and
poverty, promoting gender equality and empowering
women, diseases, infant mortality and global partnership
goals. Tere were 114 entries to the competition from
schools in all parts of the British Isles. Alexander,
Joshua, Kayo, Jamie and Charlie were congratulated on
the excellent standard of their work and in recognition of
the quality of their entry were awarded with a Certifcate
of Commendation signed by the Secretary of State for
International Development, Rt. Hon. Justine Greening.
Victoria Watson
S___Head of Geography
Year 8 collecting data on the Ashdown Forest feld trip 9H shaping the future of the world
Olavian 2013 119
Year 7 Geography and RE feld trip:
Farningham and Eynsford
During our frst Activities Week, Year 7 was taken on a
walking feldtrip to a number of locations in the Darent
Valley, Kent. We visited the villages of Farningham and
Eynsford, the hamlet of Hulberry and the Roman Villa
at Lullingstone. Whilst the day was primarily based
upon our studies for Geography and RE, we also saw a
lot of history and got a clear insight into how the area
has changed over time.
Te aim of the RS part of the trip was to visit and
learn about parish churches and the role they play in
the local community. During the course of the visit,
we visited the parish church of St. Peter and St. Pauls
in Farningham and the parish church of St. Martins
in Eynsford. On arrival at St. Peter and St. Pauls, we
were given a small booklet with questions regarding the
churches to complete over the course of the day. Some
of the questions required us to observe the features of
the church and grounds, others asked for thoughts and
opinions. A Norman building, the church had various
elements particular to it such as the interesting stained
glass windows showing, amongst others, King Charles
the Martyr - very rarely found depicted thus. We also
visited the Lullingstone Roman Villa containing one of
the earliest dated Christian chapels in all of Britain. All
in all, it was a tremendous (though exhausting) day.
Ashdown forest: Year 8 feld trip
On the 21st May Year 8 braved a windy spring morning
to visit Ashdown Forest, an area of stunning beauty and
home to many interesting geographical features as well
as the River Warren. Although Ashdown is still a forest,
we were surprised to discover when we arrived that many
of the trees had been cut down for lumber in the past,
leaving large areas grass and scrubland.
After sketching and observing this spectacle, we then
proceeded down towards the more wooded areas of
the forest where we found the River Warren itself.
After lunch, at the river we divided into our groups and
performed various tests that we had planned in class such
as measuring the velocity, gradient and width of the river.
Admittedly, several of us got more than a little soaked
whilst doing this! Finally worn-out, Year 8 walked back
to the coaches to conclude a fun and thought-provoking
trip to Ashdown Forest.
Year 12 feld trip: Malham Tarn
Year 12 geographers spent four days in the Yorkshire
dales as a part of their AS level course. After our arrival
in Yorkshire and a short minibus journey, we arrived at
our frst geographical feature of note, Malham Cove.
Tis 260 foot high, natural limestone structure was not
only evidence of the last signifcant period of glaciation
in the UK, but also gave the group a beautiful view over
the surrounding area. We then walked the short distance
to Malham Tarn House, which, as its name suggests, is
located adjacent to Malham Tarn the highest river in
England. Tis beautiful lake was the backdrop to our
three night stay, and after a short period of exploration,
we retreated to our rooms.
Te following morning, after a brief by the staf at the
feld study centre, we left the house and soon arrived
at our frst of three feld sites on the small Cowside
Beck River. At each of the sites, members of the group
would wade into the river, in order to measure a variety
of variables, such as width and depth, which would be
essential in our later assessment of the river as a whole,
and whether hypotheses could be deemed valid. After
an exhausting yet rewarding day, which involved a near
vertical climb at one of our sites, we returned back to the
House and after attempting to dry our sodden clothing,
gratefully went to bed.
Our fnal full day of the trip saw some get up before
sunrise to visit Goredale Scar, a limestone ravine a mile
or so from the centre of Malham. Our early awakening
didnt go unrewarded, as a small group of us witnessed
and safely navigated two waterfalls and peered over
the edge of a 100m high limestone clif yet another
eye-catching reminder of the power that nature possesses.
A fascinating and constructive venture for all involved.
Jordan Fisher
7L under the lychgate of Ss. Peter & Paul in Farningham
Lower VI Geographers in Yorkshire
120 Olavian 2013
The Department of Classics
R
es Novae was the Classical Term for revolution.
Te two words as you will recall actually mean
new things. Tings indeed will be new frst teaching in
September but frst let me reminisce on mos maiores, the
way of our ancestors. Very sadly last year Rosemary Lukas
died. Many of the older readers will remember her given
that she taught at the school for many years and was one
of the very few female members of staf in the early days
at the Goddington Lane site. She was an outstanding
teacher of both Latin and Greek whose results year in
year out were impeccable. When I joined the school
on a full time basis in 1989 bringing the department up
to team of three, Latin was still compulsory for all boys
up to the end of Year Nine. She fought ferociously for
a subject she valued most highly. She was a specialist
in grammar and to be fair to her she did not express a
great deal of interest in the Classical Civilisation course
which today is so enthusiastically embraced. She was
not an innovator but a traditionalist and she could do the
one thing was required of all us .She could teach. Her
reputation for teaching was second to none and she did
not restrict herself to Classics. Generations of boys will
have been coached by her and her diary was always full.
She did not advertise since her reputation for excellence
was known. She will be both remembered and missed.
One can gauge ones longevity when a number of staf in
the common room are ex-pupils and indeed some who
have been taught by you right through to A level. Tere
are now three in my case and I gather the number will be
rising next year. One of these is Mr Lake, who has been
the Head of RE now for a year and has joined forces with
me to start a new initiative of taking Year Nine to Saint
Pauls and the City of London Museum. In the latter we
taught the boys a great deal about Roman London, its
layout and its cult religions. One of the problems faced
by teachers is fnding suitable places for enrichment
locally which can house whole year groups. While for
example the British Museum is entirely wonderful it
is always very crowded. Tis is not the case with the
Year Seven visit to Portchester which as ever was very
successful and we had the whole site to ourselves. Te
trip which I believe must be in its tenth year now has
taken on a new dynamic with the Maths Department
doing some excellent work on trajectories and for this I
have to thank Mr Gyford. Te big trip continues to be
the one to Greece of which you can read a full report
below. Tis will be run for as long as possible given the
nature of the Art and Architecture Module taught in the
Lower Sixth.
Numbers at both GCSE and A level continue to be
strong with many students continuing to go to the best
universities to read Classics. I hear excellent reports
of past achievements notably Mark Darlings First at
Cambridge and George Jenkyns on- going success at the
same university. Te department faces new challenges in
the coming years with the new arrangements of language
options and the new confguration of the Key Stages. We
will rise to these challenges with determination. Already
new enrichment material has been produced and the
department has been working on new in-house booklets
on the Iliad and the Art and Architecture of Classical
Greece. My colleague Mrs Latcham has been totally
superlative and in the tradition of Classics department
has naturally coached and umpired cricket. She has also
taught Greek, spent some of her weekends on DoE and
attended the Chapel Weekend in Carroty Wood. We are
very blessed to have her here in the school.
David Craig
S___Head of Classics
Year 7 visit to the British Museum
As part of a creative writing project Mrs Latcham and
Mr Craig took a group of year seven boys to the British
Museum. Te idea was that by looking at the mythology
behind artistic objects the pupils would be inspired to
compose a story of their own imagination. While Mrs
Latcham concentrated on the myth surrounding Teseus
through the medium of pithoi, Mr Craig explored the
notion of the other through the study of the Parthenon
metopes.
The 2013 Classics Trip to Greece
At the time of writing an opportunity for jingoism has
occurred. In the past few weeks a Scotsman has won
Wimbledon, a combined British Lions team has beaten
the Australians, the English have so far won two test
matches against the Australians and an Englishman has
won the Tour de France. Not naturally given to displays
of enthusiasm for banner- waving and indeed in its
extreme form a detester thereof, I mention these victories
by way of introducing the reader into the Classical world
of agon.
I want to explain what this means from the outset. It
is a term that implies that in every walk of life a man
must be competitively better than anyone else and it is
an idea that appears in the earliest Greek epic that of the
Iliad. To not be better than anyone else brings shame
Olavian 2013 121
to the individual, to his family and the community or
deme in which he or she was raised. By contrast to win
is to bring glory to that individual, to his family and
to his community. Tat glory will be taken to his grave
and he or she will be spoken of with honour for ages
to come. We are a great deal diferent today. We will of
course remember Andy Murray winning Wimbledon in
2013 but will he be remembered in the Greek sense. I
think perhaps not. Will he be remembered in Dunblane?
Te possibility is more likely especially if some statue
is erected in his honour. But will Andy Murray be
remembered in the same way as Leonidas the Spartan
general at Termopylae who died fghting the Persians
in 480BC and fell in the very place in which Heracles
his ancestor was born or Miltiades the Athenian general
who fought and defeated the Persians at Marathon in
490C. Te Greeks seem to have an ability which is alien
to us to allow such memories to drench the psyche and
permeate their aesthetic.
Te students on this trip saw much evidence of the
aesthetic agon especially in Athens , a city of statues
carved out of marble or in some cases bronze. Te
ancient Greek city is the city of monuments which
permanently engage the viewer with the need to refect
on past achievements. Tey are to be seen in the round,
viewed at diferent times of the day and to be a source of
encouragement to greater things. Te students also saw
the replicas of the Parthenon frieze in the New Parthenon
Museum and the stunning exhibition displaying to what
extent the fgures on the pediments were painted as were
the korai that forested the Acropolis. Te buildings on
the Acropolis, the Propylaea, and the Temple to Athene
Nike, the Parthenon itself and the Erechtheum were
not pure pentellic marble but highly painted in vivid,
almost gaudy colours; they were in modern parlance
rather bling. All these sites in Athens were explored by
the students and some others too notably the theatre of
Dionysus.
Each year we go Greece I try to slip in something new
which by my own confession is somewhat worrying
and has not always paid of as in the case of Tegea last
year. Tis time however we did extremely well with our
frst visit outside Athens to Rhamnous, an Athenian
fort overlooking the straits of Euboea. It had two ports
which were vital during the Spartan occupation of Attica
during the Peloponnesian War of 431-404. Given that
the ancient fort of Decelea had fallen into Spartan hands
and the slaves had been freed from the silver mines in
Laurion, the fort overlooked the corn routes from the
east. Rhamnous has two small temples, one to Nemesis
and one to Temis but descending over a very hazardous
and rocky glen the valley opens up with the remains of
a superlative fort complex with massive gates and wall.
Nine towers exist alongside a theatre, a gymnasium
and a shrine to Aphrodite. We had the whole site to
ourselves and indeed the attendant looked somewhat
bemused by the idea of a coach full of English pupils
wanting to see the remains. From there we drove up the
coast past the site of Marathon and onto Orchomenos,
the capital of the Minyans. Te site was excavated by the
ubiquitous Schliemann betwee1880-1886. Here there
is a huge bee-hive tomb comparable with the so-called
Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae .Although the roof has
largely disappeared the stones are impressively enormous
especially the lintel of Levadeia marble on the entrance.
Of the main room there is also a small square chamber
made from green schist decorated on its ceiling with
beautiful foral motifs. Adjacent to the tomb there were
the remains of a rather dilapidated 4th century theatre.
From Orchomenos we drove through the mountains up
to Delphi on the day of the Wimbledon fnal. Under the
auspices of my wife, a very keen tennis fan, a small group
of boys went to watch the fnal in a local inn with Skye
sport while I kept watch at the hotel. How many boys
will be able to say that they saw a Wimbledon fnal in
the shadow of Mont Parnassos at Delphi won by Andy
Murray! Te heat at Delphi was as ever extreme drawing
to attention to the boys the horrors of travelling there,
the dust, the unmade roads, the hazards of sea voyages
and the sense of pilgrimage. Te Roman section has been
closed now to visitors though we were able to visit the
tholos and the treasury of the Greeks from Marseille.
In our minds we bathed like Byron in the Castalian
spring, ritually purifying ourselves like the ancient
traveller before entrance to the sanctuary itself. We saw
the evidence of agones with the various treasuries, the
theatre and the dromos at the top of the hill. In the
museum we delighted in the friezes from the Siphnian
treasury and of course the Delphic charioteer. Delphi
never fails to impress.
Te journey to Olympia from Delphi is long and
I would welcome any feedback from a reader who
has any suggestion where we could visit. Olympia
itself was as wonderful as ever and I perhaps begin to
understand more each year about the site. Tere was a
good deal of excavation work in progress around the
palaestra and perhaps next year we will be able to see
the results. Te site was not busy and this gave us more
time to linger especially at the Roman sections and the
remarkable Leonidaion. Te pupils particularly enjoyed
the workshop of Pheidias and its position in relation to
the Temple of Zeus. For any enthusiast of the Classical
World a visit to the site museum is essential and not
to have seen the pediments from the temple of Zeus,
Praxiteles Hermes and Dionysus and Militiades war
helmet from Marathon would be a travesty.
We went up to Bassae the following day to see Iktinos
experimental temple of Apollo Epikourios. Te coach
driver said that he had never been there before and indeed
122 Olavian 2013
became lost but the scenery in the area is so magnifcent
that we gained rather than lost. Tis year we had a talk in
situ from an archaeologist who seemed delighted that any
school party would visit. He explained that the thinking
about the position of the temple was that its elevation
was in part due to its relative proximity to Sparta. He
believed that the outlying community of the Phigalians
gradually planted their small communities in the Bassai
or ravines further up the hills to protect themselves from
Spartan attack and descended into the valleys to farm.
Although interesting I am not sure how far this helped
in explaining the curious orientation of the temple, its
odd side walls and the anionic Corinthian column in
the cella. Its bronze statue to Apollo was removed to
Megalopolis and later replaced with an acrolithic statue.
Tis visit was as ever marked by some spectacular beetles,
bugs and grasshoppers.
We stopped at Andritsaina a ramshackle village on the
way down for lunch. Tis was not to everyones taste but
it had a remarkable village square where water from the
mountains was channelled through plane trees. It also
had a rather splendid folk museum with a great deal
of traditional Greek costumes and photographs of the
current queen of Spain.
Between Olympia and Napfion there is very little
archaeological which can be visited though we did try
to see Megalopolis which boasts the largest theatre in
Greece but as with last year the sites was closed. Te
fnal few days of the trip revolved around the sites of
Mycenae, Tiryns, Argos and Epidauros. At Argos Seb
Cook, a member of the National Youth Choir gave a
stunning recital of an aria by Pergolesi, thus following in
the tradition of Peter Leigh and James Robinson.
Te trip went perfectly and the girls and boys who
accompanied me and my wife were absolutely delightful.
Teir behaviour was immaculate and never at any
moment did they give cause for concern. Some amused
me especially with their enormously expensive ward
robes, some confounded me with a vastly complicated
card game, some had my wife in hysterics with a rendition
of a song outlining my teaching practise with the refrain
of irregular Latin imperatives and all made the visit a
complete delight.
David Craig
The Charioteers
K.
Beautiful and good, how
Do we begin to be
Beautiful and good?
So it goes
Trough gates whiter than ivory, or horn,
And the passages passed together
(Are these ivory or horn?)
Where the two do meet
Te spear of Pisa, Hippodamias brazen gaze
Only the centre of the universe
For a weeks voyage.
Te breeze that carries in Mycenae
Exactly as we heard it.
K.
A fne evening
To chase the echoes of the old days heat
Towards a modern love.
Pierced by those
Two crossed knives
Hidden for seven years:
Build. Sail. Revelation.
Te distant battle
Te patient love
Stretched across the horizon;
Hold still, Atlas. Hold. Still.
So I straddle two lands
Mixing memory and pouring
Pleasure into the cruel glass of summer
Pausing in the palaestra.
And the breeze that carried in Mycenae
Exactly as we heard it.
So I say
K
K
Goodnight. In the morning.
Te weak heat of the morning
Good night.
A weeks goodnight.
Fintan Calpin, a Lower VI pupil on the Greece trip, and
increasingly known Olavian poet, wrote the poem next to
this, inspired by Greece, the Greeks and the trip.
Olavian 2013 123
124 Olavian 2013
The Department of
Religious Studies
T
he academic year 2012-2013 was one of substantial
change in the Religious Studies department, much
of which would have been unnoticeable to those outside it.
As in previous years, Year 7 and 8 were ably taught by
staf from other subject areas. Rochelle Maxwell and
Tom Conway began the year, and Les Padfeld covered
for Tom during his illness, from which we wish him a
speedy recovery. Te curriculum, however, was almost
entirely revamped for 2012 to give a greater emphasis
on creativity and thinking skills. Year 7 formed travel
agencies and pitched their personalised Hajj pilgrimages,
while Year 8 formed detective agencies and investigated
the death of Jesus.
Te weather smiled on the Year 7 combined RS and
Geography feld trip to Farningham and Eynsford,
which involved an enjoyable and interesting investigation
into historic church buildings. Many thanks go to the
chaplain for his turn as a tour guide.
Year 9 brought inquisitiveness and a fair for debate
to their GCSE course. Creationism, the relationship
between Church and State, the rights and wrongs
of church schools, and the balancing of rights in a
multicultural society were just some of the topics that
sparked fercely-contested discussion.
In Activities Week 1, Year 9 flled a train for the combined
RS and Classics trip to St Pauls Cathedral and the
Museum of London. Te trip fell right in the middle of
our class discussions on the relationship between Church
and State, and with the sheer mass of national history
entombed or enshrined in this magnifcent building no
student can fail to have noticed the role of St Pauls as a
physical embodiment of this relationship.
For the frst time in recent memory at St Olaves, the
Short Course Religious Studies GCSE was the only
qualifcation entirely completed in the summer of Year
10. Te year group were naturally nervous about their
frst real exam, but returned a very pleasing set of
results and students have now gone into Year 11 with
their confdence buoyed for the rest of their subjects. A
special mention is owed to 10J, who managed a perfect
100% A / A*.
Years 13 were the frst year group to complete the
new-to-St Olaves OCR A Level syllabus. A heady mix
of Philosophy and Ethics, the course evaluates big ideas
from Aristotle and Aquinas to Wittgenstein and Wiles.
Very few philosophers have names beginning with Z.
Te small but very likeable class of 3 students, Anna
Chadwick, Lucy Clarke and Bea Shepherd, worked
extremely hard all year and were justly rewarded with
some excellent results. Congratulations in particular to
Bea Shepherd, who achieved an A* and has gone on to
read Philosophy at Cambridge.
2012-2013 was a busy year for the department (also-
mentions include a visit to A Level students by Bishop
Lindsay Urwin and a philosophy conference at Newstead
Wood attended by a select cohort of Year 10 students),
but it was not hectic all the time. Also new on the
syllabus, under Year 8 Buddhism, is a tonic for the over-
active student that I am sorely tempted to introduce from
time to time in other year groups: silent meditation!
Year 9 trip to St. Pauls Cathedral
and the Museum of London
On Monday 20th May Year 9 visited St Pauls Cathedral
and the Museum of London as part of a combined
Religious Studies and Classics Departments Study
Day. Students had the opportunity to consider the role
of the cathedral and the life stories of some of those
buried there. At the London Museum they were given
the opportunity to examine artefacts on foreign deities
introduced into the Roman province of Britannia by the
resident army and explore the Roman army through the
grave monuments and statues of several soldiers.
Year 10 Philosophy and Ethics Conference
On Friday 8th January, 15 Year 10 students attended
a Religious Studies conference at Newstead Wood
School. Tere they took part in a carousel of 4 sessions
on a range of philosophical and ethical issues, facilitated
by 6th form students from Newstead Wood.
After some initial shyness at being quite considerably
outnumbered, the Olavians quickly showed themselves
to be every bit as articulate and perceptive as their
female counterparts. On topics as diverse as the merits
of Utilitarianism and evidence for/against the afterlife
they demonstrated an impressive ability to deconstruct
and assess an argument, with David Van Egghen and
Tomas Miller in particular more than holding their
own in debating the issues. Following the success of this
years conference, plans are already afoot for next year.
Andrew Lake
S___Head of Religious Studies
Olavian 2013 125
126 Olavian 2013
The Department of Economics
I
t has been another successful year for the Economics
Department in 2012 2013. Te department achieved
yet another successful set of examination results with 95%
of A level students achieving A*B. Te department was
elated that 7 students were ofered places at Oxbridge in
2013 for related course in Economics. As per normal the
department has been involved in a number of scholarship
opportunities which help to deepen and extend students
understanding of the World Economy including the
Bank of England, Target 2.0, Politics and Economics
Society and the annual visit to Washington and New
York. At the end of the academic year Mr Booth who
has taught Economics at the school for 17 years left
to become Deputy Headmaster at Townley Grammar
School. Te department has been joined by Mr William
Haines who has already proved himself in his proactive
involvement in Political economy society.
Lower VI Trip: Washington and New York
In activity week 27 students visited Washington DC and
New York. Te Trip encompasses visits to both Economic
Political and Historical landmarks and organisations.
Te highlights of trip involve visiting Te World Bank,
US Congress United Nations, Federal Reserve and
Wall Street. Tese visits provide the students of both
Economics and History A level with real contextual
examples in relation to key events and world economic
policy. In particular the visit to the World Bank and
Te United Nations provide an excellent launch pad for
the subject of Development Economics which is studied
in Year 13 Economics. Te visit also includes visits to
many tourist landmarks including the White House,
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, and Te Liberty Bell
in Philadelphia, Empire state building, Te Rockefeller
centre and statue of Liberty in New York.
Political Economy Society
Te thriving Political Economy society has seen a range
of talks and discussions throughout 2012-2013 by
students. Te highlight of the year came about when the
society welcomed Paul Mason Newsnights Economics
editor pictured below, with Gavin Benson and Teo
Cliford. He delivered an excellent talk about the impact
of austerity. In addition to this talk, the society welcomed
Madision Pirie of the Adam Smith Institute and Johnny
Glennie from the Guardian.
Young Writers Competition
Te school recently received a letter from the Baillie
Giford & Financial Mail Young Writers Competition
congratulating Teo Cliford (13T) on his selection as a
fnalist in the 16-18 section. His essay on When do you
want to retire and how do you plan to fund this? won
50 of book tokens for the school in addition to some for
his personal use.
Careers Information Talks
In the spring term, there has been a series of careers
information talks which took place at the end of the
school day. Talks included Accountancy, Medicine,
Journalism, Engineering and Investment Banking. Tey
provided a valuable insight into careers in these areas
and were delivered by Old Olavians and school parents.
John Greenwood
S___Head of Economics
Politican Economy Society - Paul Mason of Newsnight
Olavian 2013 127
Young Enterprise
Te Young Enterprise Company Exponential ended this years
competition by being runners up in the Bromley Borough
having. Te team produced a range of products including
calendars, mothers day gifts and a series of personalised gifts.
Economics Conference
On Monday 3rd December Year 13 Economists attended a
conference in London to enjoy a range of presentations by
Ed Balls MP (Shadow Chancellor), Hugh Pym (Economics
Editor, BBC), Tim Harford (Author of Te Undercover
Economist, BBC and the FT) and various economists.
Bank of England - Target 2.0
On the 26th February the Saint Olaves Monetary Policy
committee represented the school in the Area fnal. Te
competition involves the students analysing Economic
data and making a recommendation as to what the Bank
of England should do to achieve the infation target of
2%. Te team opted to incentive banks to encourage
more lending in the economy. Te team unfortunately
did not win through to the national fnal but they would
like to thank everyone for helping to fll in their surveys.
Work Related Learning & Enterprise Days
As part of their work related learning, Year 10 visited
the Bank of England including a talk giving valuable
insight into why it is essential to manage infation in the
economy and what constitutes economic stability. Te
day also included a business game which all enjoyed.
The St. Olave's Grammar School Bank of England Target 2.0 Team
Washington & New York - Lower VI Economics and History Trip
128 Olavian 2013
Sports
130 Olavian 2013
The Sports Faculty
S
port continues to fourish at St. Olaves and we are
very proud of all that our students accomplish. Te
Sports Prefects have made a signifcant impact on the
volume of clubs that are run and help us push towards
our goal of every student fnding at least one activity that
they wish to continue with once they leave the school.
As always the PE department is also indebted to those
members of staf who voluntarily give up their time to
support us by coaching teams, driving minibuses and
arranging matches. Well done to everyone who has got
involved, at whatever level and in whatever capacity.
Sports Prefects
Tere are many activities which the students enjoy and
many of these are facilitated by the sports prefects. With
a new cohort just starting it is appropriate at this stage
to thank their predecessors for their support of sport at
St Olaves. Clubs in basketball, squash, badminton and
table tennis for example ensure that many pupils can
take advantage of what these sports have to ofer. Te
table tennis teams have also played competitively and
we recently took eight players to the South London
individual championships where fve players progressed
through to the second round.
Cricket Leadership
Te school continues its association with ofering
cricketers in Years 9 and 10 the opportunity to become
cricket leaders in association with Bromley cricket. Tese
leaders undertake sessions on coaching, ofciating,
groundsmanship and frst aid before volunteering to lead
sessions both in school and at their local clubs.
Sports Celebration Evening
On Friday 10th May, the PE department hosted the frst
Sports Celebration Evening which replaced the previous
rugby and cricket dinners. Guest speaker and Old Olavian,
David Akinluyi, proved inspirational and presented
awards for in a multitude of activities in recognition of the
hard work and dedication of the students.
New Fitness Suite
It was with a great sense of excitement and gratitude that
the PE department were able to open the ftness suite
this term and which has already proved to be a valuable
and popular resource. Particular thanks go to the Parents
Association and parents who donated equipment and
funding to enable the suite to be flled with a range of
ftness-related equipment.
RUGBY
1st XV Rugby
Te 1st XV this year has had a successful season, which
culminated in reaching round six of the Daily Mail Vase
competition. Te season began with an encouraging start
with notable wins against Colfes, Reigate and Hayes
before sufering some disappointing losses during the
bad weather and examination period. Te squad this year
has shown resilience as no less than thirty fve players
have experienced 1st team rugby showing the strength
and depth of the squad.
2nd XV Rugby
Tis years squad fnished the season as one of the
most successful team in the school, winning ten out of
thirteen matches. Tere were big wins against Ravens
Wood, Colfes and Coopers Coborn. A major factor that
pervaded through the season was the heart that the team
showed when under huge amounts of pressure, especially
in defence. Tis came to fruition particularly during the
8 7 victory over Trinity, and 29 28 win over Chis &
Sid, characterising the squads successful but hard fought
season ably led by Captain Michael Yates (13O).
Andy Kenward
S___Director of Sport
Sports 131
Under 16 Rugby
Tis has been an extremely successful season for the U16s,
winning nine out of their eleven of their matches. Several
of these victories were close but the team worked extremely
hard for one another and developed the ability to close out
matches. Notable wins over Dartford, Judd and Brighton
College were particular highlights and particular thanks
goes to Teddy McAleer (11K) and Joe Cordery (11K) for
their leadership of the A and B teams respectively.
Under 15 Rugby
Te U15 A and B teams both made indiferent starts to the
2012-13 season, failing to carry the momentum forward
from their impressive U14 campaigns. Injuries throughout
the squad led to the introduction of new players who made
major contributions in many matches. Both teams form
improved as the season went on, with the A team recording
impressive wins against Wimbledon College and Brighton
College. Te B team improved similarly and capped the
season with a fne victory over London Oratory.
Under 14 Rugby
It has been a tough year result wise and the U14s have
struggled to win against some very large and skilful sides
despite some very spirited performances. However their
time will come but not without some hard work and
some growth powder! Well done to the chaps who have
been led by the irrepressible Henry Edwards (9C) in the
As and Charlie Peck (9H) and Ciaran Twomey (9L) in
the Bs. A big thank you to Mr Martin who has worked
tirelessly with the B Team this season.
Under 13 Rugby
Te U13s experienced numerous successes on the rugby
pitch this season with convincing victories over strong
rugby schools such as Skinners, Reigate and local rivals
Chislehurst and Sidcup. Led excellently by skipper Finn
Macpherson (8C) the rumbling pack were often dominant
in the scrums with the likes of Sam Bullen (8L) and Temi
Talabi (8B) throwing their weight around. In the backs,
Charlie Stocks (8H) and James Tate (8C) dictated the
teams patterns efectively, enabling the outside backs to let
loose with the likes of Tom Whichello (8C), Joshua Joseph
(8B), and Adrian Ize-Iyamu (8L) running in the tries.
U12s Rugby
Te U12 rugby squad have improved steadily over the
season gaining impressive wins over St. Dunstans College
and Reigate GS. Te A team have been captained extremely
well by Sam Eldridge (7L). Te B team have been well
run by Mr Gyford and Captain James Blackwood (7H).
Rugby 7s
Te rugby 7s squads trained busily in preparation for their entry
into local, county and national competitions. Te U16 came 3rd
in their pool for the county competition, while the U13s reached
the semi-fnals of the Judd 7s, narrowly losing to the hosts.
Under-16 XV, 2012-13
Under-15 A, 2012-13
Under-14 A, 2012-13
Under-13 A, 2012-13
Under-12 A, 2012-13
132 Olavian 2013
South America Rugby Tour
Tis summer a cohort of 30 players from the current
Sixth Form embarked upon a once in a lifetime rugby
tour to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Te team were
accompanied by 1st XV coach Mr. White and Director
of Sport Mr. Kenward, as well as Mr. Espejo and the
returning Mr. Harding.
Te groups frst destination was Chile, where they
trained on the beach to the entertainment of the locals,
who were not accustomed to seeing people playing rugby
wearing vests during their winter. Te team then moved
from their hotel in the city of Vina Del Mar to the capital
Santiago to play their frst game against Craighouse
School, with the mountains providing a scenic backdrop
for the match. Alas, the team lost, but for a frst outing
against an established school team they were pleased
with their performance.
Te team then moved onto Mendoza, Argentina. Here
the team were fortunate enough to experience white
water rafting over the freezing rapids and zip-lining
across the river. Tat evening, the boys also got their frst
taste of the fabled Argentine steak. Tis was certainly
the main reason Mr. White had come to South America,
and everyone was thoroughly fed in preparation for the
games against Los Tordos A & B teams the next day. Te
B team game was frst, and was a closely fought battle,
with Olaves going ahead frst. However, Los Tordos
fought back and the game was lost narrowly. Te A game
was a similar afair, with Olaves playing some excellent
attacking rugby, and ferce defence against a much larger
opposition. Despite a hat trick from Will Searle, the
boys were unfortunate to lose a tight game 24-17. Te
disappointment was soon forgotten though, with the
post-match hospitality being of an unrivalled standard.
Plate after plate of red meat was provided for us, and the
team went home for a second night with their stomachs
bursting.
After Mendoza, the team travelled to Buenos Aires.
Whilst there, the group visited the Don Silvano
gaucho ranch, where we were greeted by the hosts with
empanadas, just in case people werent full enough. It
seemed clear why our oppositions were always so much
bigger than us; they dont stop eating! At the ranch
the team took part in horse riding, watching a gaucho
display and looking around the farm at all the animals.
Te day was topped of with a music and dance show,
which was of course accompanied with vast amounts
of food. Some of the boys were fortunate enough to be
asked to go and dance, and everyone went on stage to do
a rendition of Jerusalem for our hosts. We then had to
recuperate for our game against Belgrano the next day.
Te boys as ever expected a physical battle and that is
again what they got. Despite the teams best eforts, they
were not able to end their losing streak but what was key,
again was the way they fought against such large and
skilful opposition. Te food was delicious as usual, and
the group then went onto watch the Belgrano 1st XV
play in one of their National League matches. Of course
the team were supporting Belgrano, who were victorious.
Te cohort then crossed borders again when they got the
ferry over to Montevideo, Uruguay. Te sole purpose of
this journey was to play the Uruguayan National U18
team. Everyone was excited to be playing in a national
stadium, especially one where England had played
CONSUR XV weeks before. Te spirit of the team
before the game was high, realising the implications
of beating a national team. Te game started well with
Olaves going 3-0 with a penalty from Alex Weeks.
However, the game went somewhat downhill after that,
with the team losing 71-3.
Te team then headed back to Buenos Aires for their
fnal match against St. Albans. Tis game followed the
pattern of the other games where despite some excellent
play from Olaves, the opposition was simply too big
and powerful. It was unfortunate to end their games
without a victory, but looking at the bigger picture, the
team having realised how far they had come as a group
of players, hoping to take the bond formed between the
diferent year groups forward into this season. Te tour
was rounded of by a fnal few nights in Iguazu. Here
the team visited the great Iguazu Falls, viewing them
from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Whilst
in Brazil, the group got to experience a super-carnival-
variety-show-extravaganza, where again the food was in
plentiful supply.
Te team and coaches then prepared themselves for the
long journey back which included three fights stopping
at Buenos Aires, Madrid and London. For many, the tour
was one of the greatest adventures they had ever been
on and are ever likely to go on. Te cohesion between
the two year groups and preparing for the season ahead
were the main aims of the tour, and they were certainly
fulflled, with any year 12/13 barrier completely broken
down. In this regard, the tour was an absolute success
and the team are excited to get the new season underway.
Ben Cole, Tour Captain
Sports 133
CRICKET
U15 Cricket
Te U15 XI has had a successful season, reaching the
fnal of the Bromley Cup. As current holders, they faced
Langley Park at the end of term. During the season, they
claimed a notable victory over Skinners. Te bowling
attack has been ably spearheaded by Captain Prabu
Sathananthan (10N), well supported by James Reed (10L)
among others. James WagstafHall (10L) and Connor
Quick (10K) have excelled with the bat and in the feld.
All the team have contributed signifcantly at times, and
have proved a very capable and hard to beat group.
U14 Cricket
Te U14 squad have had a mixed season. After good early
wins against Rochester Maths and Tunbridge Grammar the
squad faced a tricky frst round Kent Cup tie against Eltham
College. Unfortunately a narrow loss in a competition that
previously had seen the team win and come runners up was
a huge blow. However the team have turned the corner in
recent weeks, culminating in a Bromley Cup victory over
Langley Park!
U13 Cricket
After a successful season last year the squad were brought
back down to earth though with a loss in the frst game
against Tunbridge Wells. However this sparked their
season into life and since that match the team has been
undefeated. Tey won the Bromley Cup by 8 wickets and
also managed to win the Kent cup courtesy of a record
211 for 2. Captains Matthew Lane (8H) and Sohayl
Ujoodia (8C) have led from the front both with their
batting and their organisation of the team but in truth
the results have been a tremendous team efort.
U12 Cricket
It has been an excellent season for the team, with a series
of good results culminating in seven wins and one loss.
Indeed, the Year 7s managed to get through to the fnals
of both the Bromley Cup and the Kent 20/20 Cup,
though unfortunately narrowly losing both matches.
Kent Cricketers
Cricket has always been a successful sport for the school
and this trend looks set to continue with three players being
chosen to represent Kent in the summer, Sohyal Ujoodia
(8C), Prabu Sathananthan, (10M) and Angus Dalgleish
(12N), the leading run-scorer for Kent U17 last year.
Devon Cricket Tour
During May half term, Year 8 cricketers travelled to Devon for
their annual cricket tour. Tey managed to play three matches,
winning the last two against Paignton and Torquay, whilst only
losing to Shaldon having given them one of the Schools star
players who took a fantastic catch and scored ffty runs for them!
Under-15 XI, 2013
Under-14 XI, 2013
Under-13 XI, 2013
Under-12 XI, 2013
Under-13 Squad, 2012-13
134 Olavian 2013
FIVES
Te huge St Olaves Fives team enjoyed its strongest season
ever. Top Open Christopher Self (13P) & Sanjay Kundu
13Q), U16 Leo Henderson (10K) and William Phillips
(11K) and U14 Tom Gallagher (9B) & Kosi Nwuba
(9B) were amongst the highest seeds in the National
Championships. Te U13s Nationals took place and was
dominated by St.Olaves with an all-Olavian fnal won by
Kieran Walton (8L) and James Tate (8C), who defeated
Kameron Swanson (8L) and Sohayl Ujoodia (8C) in the
deciding set. Over twenty fve matches have been played
and won, as well as players entering adult and regional
school competitions. Congratulations to Kosi Nwuba (9B)
on becoming the U14 National Champion in Rugby Fives.
Rugby Fives
Tis year St. Olaves entered the U13s and U14s Rugby
Fives National Championships at St. Pauls School which
culminated in all Olavian fnal with Kameron Swanson
(8L) beating Sohayl Ujoodia (8C). James Tate (8C) won
the singles plate which saw St. Olaves take frst, second
and third place in the Singles competition and Kieran
Walton (8L) and James Tate winning the Doubles.
Senior Fives
Te U18s Squad have played well this season with School
wins against Harrow, Eton Berkhamsted, Shrewsbury,
and Westminster. Christopher Self (13P) partnered
Old Boy Sebastian Cooley (1991-1999) and regained
his Turnbull Trophy title where they beat Berkhamsted
School 3-0 in the fnal. Te Schools Girls pair has
played well this season and have played matches against
Berkhamsted and Westminster School and played
with the Old Olavian ladies team in the Black Cup
Competition, improving throughout the season.
U16 Fives
Tis has been a great season for the U16s with Ross
Henderson (110) and William Phillips (11K) playing
with the Old Olavians in the Adult league, causing a
real upset in the U18s by defeating the seeded Highgate
second pair. All players worked hard this season and this
was rewarded with wins over Berkhamsted, Harrow,
Eton College, Shrewsbury and Westminster School.
U15 Fives
Leo Henderson (10K), Harry Russell (10N), Billy Belsham
(10J), Will Edmonds (10J), Connor Quick (10K), Miles
Dutton (10K) and Nathan Lewis (10L) formed the back-
bone of the U15s team. Leo and Harry were the most
improved players, achieving some spectacular results
against very highly ranked players from other schools.
Teir performance in the Nationals was their best of the
season which saw them reach the third round.
U14 Fives
Tis season the U14s squads have recorded wins against, Eton,
Shrewsbury, RSG High Wycombe, Berkhamsted, Lancing,
Emanuel and Westminster School. Top pair of Tom Gallagher
(9B) and Kosi Nwuba (9B) have only lost one match this
season and were amongst the highest seeds in the Schools
National Championships. Tom Gallagher and Vishwakrith
Shetty (9H) teamed up with the Year 8s to win a prestigious
three pair team event at Harrow and Kosi Nwuba reached
the fnal of the Rossall U15s Singles Championships. Tom
Gallagher won two regional U14s individual competitions
as well as John Hawk (9H) and Anik Roy (9L) reaching the
main plate fnal of the Midlands Championships.
U13 Fives
Te U13s squad has done extremely well this season
with Kameron Swanson (8L) and Sohayl Ujoodia (8C)
Under-14 Squad, 2012-13
Senior Fives players, 2012-13
Sports 135
winning the Midlands School Championships beating
Rydal Penhros School in an epic fnal. In the U13s
Schools Nationals St. Olaves reached the fnal with
both frst and second pairs to make it an all Olavian
afair. St.Olaves also won the Rugby Fives Nationals at
St.Pauls school, with Kameron Swanson (8L) winning
the Singles and Kieran Walton (8L) winning the
Doubles the frst school pair in history to win both
Eton and Rugby Nationals!
U12 Fives
Te squad has taken part in matches against Berkhamsted
School, Shrewsbury, Emanuel and Highgate School. In
the U12s National Competition the Schools top two
pairs qualifed into the main knockout stages.
Netball
Te netball squad have had a good year. A very successful
match was played against Trinity, with two games
securing Olaves convincing wins. Morale was therefore
high and performance has certainly been enhanced
due to the external coaching from Sue Ellis. Te girls
have worked well together and many thanks go to Ellie
Goodman (13P), Lucy Allat (13S) and Katie Shanahan
(13Q) for their support as Netball prefects. We look
forward next year to new leadership from Katie Hunt
(12J), Megan Collet (12M) and Bumade Agbaje (12N).
Football
Te football team has continued its good form from 2012
into 2013. Te team has seen an excellent run of results
with notable wins against Bexley Grammar and Christ
the King in 2013 and looked set to achieve their highest
ever placing in the North Kent Division 1.
ATHLETICS
Te athletics season has seen some outstanding individual
performances in a range of events. For the juniors, Harry
Rennolls (8C) and Joshua Joseph (8B) both scored
thirty points or more in the English Schools Cup, with
Vinothan Sureshkumar (10M) and Leo Henderson
(10K) doing likewise. In the Bromley Minors the team
performed very impressively with Year 7 coming third
and Year 8 coming second.
Sports Day 2013
Sports Day is traditionally a day where the schools
best athletes can showcase their talents but also where
many students can represent their House. With the
Celebration Band spurring on the athletes there were
many performances to marvel at and be impressed by.
Competition within the year groups, as well as for an
overall winner, was ferce and it was great to see sporting
rivalry between the boys upheld in the right spirit.
Special mention goes to Kosi Nwuba in 9B for winning
the Junior Victor Ludorum as the most successful Year 9
athlete on the day.
Cure won in Years 7 and 8, with Harvard winning Year
9 and Bingham winning Year 10. Congratulations to
Bingham who were overall winners of the Sports Day
trophy. Final placings were: 1st Bingham, 2nd Cure, 3rd
Harvard, and 4th Leeke
London Marathon
Well done to William Ruiz (12F) and Gavin Benson
(12N) who ran the London Mini Marathon representing
the Borough of Bromley, running 3 miles in 16:46 and
18:19 minutes respectively.
Netball Team, 2012-13
Football 1st XV, 2012-13
Sports Day 2013
136 Olavian 2013
Sports Day 2013
Discus
Javelin
Olavian 2013 137
1st: Bingham 2nd: Cure 3rd: Harvard 4th: Leeke
Shot put
High Jump
Hurdles
Triple Jump
John Castle directing the Celebration Band
Te results are in (left) and are processed by the scoring team
(above) of three capable Olavians
138 Olavian 2013
Cross-country
It is good to see our students doing well in the recent
Kent Schools Cross Country Championships. For the
juniors, Charles Davis (9B) fnished 17th overall and 3rd
in Bromley, with Joshua Davidson (9H) coming in 28th
overall and 5th in Bromley. Congratulations to them
both and, most particularly, to William Ruiz (12F) who
came an impressive 5th overall in the seniors and was the
fastest competitor in Bromley. Tis has resulted in his
selection to run in the English Schools Cross Country
on Saturday 2nd March.
Tennis
Tis year the School entered the Year 8, 10 and senior
championships this year with mixed results. Year 8 ended
their season with an impressive 5 1 win over Ravens
Wood and Year 10 showed good promise and some new
players gained valuable match experience.
Badminton
Having both won the Bromley competition last term,
the Junior and the Intermediate badminton teams
travelled to Wilsons School to take on the best teams in
South London. Te Juniors performed well in their pool
and fnished runners up, including a notable win over
Whitgift, before beating Graveney School to fnish third.
Te Intermediates also played some excellent badminton
to come second in their pool but were unable to emulate
their younger peers, fnishing a highly respectable fourth.
Hockey
Te St. Olaves 1st XI mixed hockey team played their
traditional summer game against Burnt Ash on Tuesday
11th June at Chislehurst and Sidcup AstroTurf. Te
students worked very hard and came together as a team
winning 3-2.
Swimming
Tis term has seen huge success for the schools
swimmers. Following swimming victories over Colfes
several students won medals at the Kent Schools
Championships including Teo Haslam (10K), Michael
Jacobs (9L), Matthew Ruiz (10L), Harry Rennolls (8C)
and Alexander Song (7C).
Ski Trip
Tis years ski trip took students to Salt Lake City in
Utah. Over the course of the week all students had up to
six hours of tuition every day, went to see the Grizzleys
play (Ice Hockey) and had the chance to enjoy American
cuisine and various all American activities.
Long distance running on Sports Day
Te Junior and Intermediate Badminton teams
Hockey 1st XI, 2012-13
Ski Trip to Utah, February 2013
Art, Design &
Technology
140 Olavian 2013
Art, Design & Technology
The Department of Design & Technology
Te department of Design and Technology continues to
progress from strength to strength as the subject changes
and adapts in response to the shifting UK curriculum.
With the re-launch of the National Curriculum for
D&T, which will see schools teaching 3D printing and
potentially cooking with insects from September 2014,
and the announcement that schools UK wide will be able
to use GCSE qualifcations as part of its 8 A*-C grade
league table fgures, D&T at St Olaves Grammar School
is set to maintain and grow in stature at the school.
With no changes in staf and an increase in the range of
activities available through the department, D&T at the
school is better than ever.
Results
In September 2012 the department were honoured
to publish its latest exam results. GCSE Design and
Technology remains a fantastic subject studied by boys
across the school, and with all but one student achieving
an A* or A grade at GCSE level, the department have
once again performed above expectations. Despite the
challenge becoming harder year on year to achieve the A*
and A, students continue to perform well and have been
pushing the boundaries of what can be designed and made.
Exceptional work from the Year 11 students included
products by James Gibb who designed a chopping board
system, Gihan Fernando who produced a beautiful cricket
bat stand, and Akkilash Raveenthiran who developed a
unique Apply style wooden MP3 player.
At AS Level, Product Design sufered a drop in exam
performance despite exceptional continued performance
in the coursework aspect of this frst sixth form year.
A national trend of marks dropping 2 or more grades
has resulted in disappointing grades for the cohort,
and despite the active challenging of the exam board to
review the sudden shift in the way the mark scheme
is applied to assessment, the department have sadly
not been able to move the marks. In response this year
students taking on the AS course in September 2014
will be able to study AQA Product Design instead of
OCR Product Design. Tis new course will ofer a much
easier transition from GCSE to AS Level, and alongside
a traditional exam will see students design and make
a quality product, which will now form a new feature
of the AS course. Despite the disappointment in exam
performance, there was exceptional design work from
the group which included Jing Lus handy cheese grater,
Dasha Veyseys childs self-powering torch, and a mean
looking barbeque fan from Keir Bowater - all great
concept designs and worthy of note.
At A2 level the performance was as expected with all
students achieving their target grades or going above
them. Christopher Self continued to excel in the subject
with the only A* the department has ever seen at A2, a
testament to his hard work developing a builders Acro
as part of his major Year 13 project. His work developed
a unique geared system for supporting collapsing roofs,
which was worthy enough to be sent as evidence of
excellence in engineering to every single school in the
country by the Young Engineers Engineering Solutions
programme. Michael Odufsan and Max MacDonagh
go on to Loughborough University to study Industrial
Design on the back of success in the subject, whilst
Sam Rix has earned himself a prestigious place on an
Architectural course at UCL. Tomas Heslop has gone
onto continue his creative studies at University, whilst
Tanmoy Banerjee has earned a place on a Mechanical
Engineering course. William Dalton goes on to study
outside of the creative industry, to round of a very
successful year for A-Level Product Design, and we look
forward to the work our current Year 13s will go on to
produce this year. A growing trend of students choosing
design and engineering related courses having studied
Product Design is exactly where the department want to
progress, so we are very excited to continue to support
the future progression of excellent students who study
at our school.
Projects
Last year students saw a revamp to the projects at Years
7 to 9, with the inclusion of food at both Year 7 and 8
for the frst time, the introduction of end of year exams
for each year group using online self-assessing tools, and
three new exciting projects at Year 9 in anticipation of
the new three year GCSE courses, which will include
lighting, clocks and robotics. As part of the development
of the subject the department are exploring the ofer of
Product Design at GCSE, Graphic Products at GCSE,
and the potential of a Robotics GCSE in the future (from
2015). Work at every level, from Year 7 to 13, has seen
dramatic change as staf push students to go above and
beyond the norm and be as creative as possible without
fear of failure. Excellent work was evident in Year 9 as
students designed unique articulated robot characters,
students applied Dye Sublimation to clock designs, and
Philip Holton
S___Head of Design & Technology
D&T 141
Te Toyota Stem Challenge once again saw Year 10
students building a solar powered car to support the
learning around Sustainable Design. Tis year students
negotiated the early knock out stages to be pitted against
the top 10 schools in the South of the UK at a regional
fnal at the Imperial War Museum in Cambridge. Te
boys performed exceptionally well and enjoyed the day.
Despite not making the fnal, there was a lot learnt about
how to work as a team, build and develop a product, and
take ownership of a new technology. We look forward to
seeing the competition next year and widening the age
groups who take part.
VEX Robotics
For the frst time last year, students began to study and
work with robotics. One group of Year 10 boys represented
the school at the Big Bang Show Event at the London
Excel centre. Over a three day event, boys built from
scratch a robot that would compete head to head against
robots from schools who would have had nearly a year to
prepare. Te boys performed exceptionally well, beating
schools from across the country, but only managing to
negotiate up the score board enough to ensure they were
not at the bottom, and not high enough to progress to
the top 24 knock out stage (of 34 teams). Te group were
awarded the Judges Award for exceptional work and
efort over the three days, gifted the robotics kit worth
800, and were invited back next year to compete once
more for the prize to fy to California to attend the
World competition. Te winning team, a girls team from
East Barnet, went on to represent the UK in California,
but we hope to be there instead next year.
On the back of a successful entry to the VEX National
competition, the department launched an internal
robotics league, with teams from year 7 to 10 fghting it
out every Wednesday in a VEX Robotics league called
Sack Attack. Te winners, a team from Year 9 called the
Machines won the league to earn a paid place in the
National competition next year. A further knock out
competition cup style event saw another Year 9 team
win 100 in VEX kit to develop their robot. We hope
Autodesk Inventor software slowly fed its way into the
everyday design work of students.
Food
Food technology continues to grow in D&T. Last year
saw more students than ever take part in a food club,
whilst two regional competitions, the Kent Young Chef
and the Springboard Food Competition, saw students
design unique dishes to cook for a judge to taste. Rishil
Patel in Year 10 performed exceptionally well cooking a
two course meal in a professional kitchen alongside some
of the regions best chefs. Te competition as always was
ferce, and sadly Rishil did not make the fnals despite
cooking a great meal.
Year 12 continued to develop their life skills by all studying
and passing the Level 2 Food Hygiene certifcation. Tis
will grant all students opportunity to work in a kitchen
when they leave school, to handle and prepare food, and
also to sell their own food as an entrepreneur if they wish
too. We hope none will end up working a McDonalds!
Trips & Competitions
Te department continues to develop the designers and
engineers of tomorrow, and trips organised last year
were aimed at the provision of D&T learning outside
the classroom. A visit to Brompton Bicycles, a UK
manufacturer and exporter or fne handmade bicycles
was a high for students, who were privileged to see frst-
hand the welding of frames, the product development of
3D printed product solutions, and the business model
for marketing globally a very British product. Te sheer
pride of being able to stamp Made in Britain on each
and every bicycle was the clear reason the company had
such success since launching in 2004. Students applied
the learning directly into coursework back at school
by preparing marketing presentations for their own
products, and designing their own brands and website.
Te Design Museum, as part of the Design Ventura
competition run for another successful year by Ms
Hawley, was host to a fantastic workshop for Year 9 to 11
students. Into our third year of the competition in which
we have previously fnished in the top 5 in the country,
expectations were high again this year in anticipation of
our boys developing even better conceptual products for
the museum shop. A group of students from Year 10,
who developed a sustainable belt from a used bicycle
tyre, was chosen to represent the school at the National
competition. Te boys again achieved success, earning
them once more recognition with a certifcation and
nomination for Sustainable Design, but sadly not the
top prize. Te growth in interest in the competition is
refected in the success of the department, who for three
years are the only school UK wide to reach the fnal 10
for every year the competition has ran.
Olavians visit the home of Brompton Bikes
142 Olavian 2013
new trends. In the new Arkwright room students have
access to not one but two new 3D printers, allowing
them to print out virtual models they have designed.
Students have managed to develop tools, fxings, toys and
characters to print, and in doing so are learning about
a world changing piece of technology that will beneft
everyone one day. As part of the department becoming
a Digital D&T centre of excellence, the department has
access to the latest technology and software to support
students in their learning. Next year the department
will become a Teach Design Tech Centre, and a VEX
Robotics Centre of Excellence, in response to their work
with VEX Robotics and 3D printing. Te department
will also receive a further 4 3D printers to grow this
technology into more everyday workshop activities.
the growth and interest of our boys in robotics in the
department will see students studying GCSE Robotics
in the future, or developing an interest in AS Product
Design Electronic Products, or entering the World
Skills UK competition in which sixth form students
can design and make robotic solutions against the best
in the country. Exceptional work as a team resulted in
VEX boys raising 600 from Hexbug sales to buy more
kit and materials for the club, and we hope to expand
next year to ofer a Year 7 only club to enhance what the
department ofer.
The Arkwright Scholarship scheme
Once again the department achieved a fantastic result
in the Arkwright Scholarship scheme. Despite more
candidates from more schools applying for the scheme,
and less scholarships nationally being available, the
department continues to see success, with 4 new scholars
joining 5 existing scholars at the school. Each will be
awarded funding throughout sixth form and will have
opportunity to work at the very highest level in design,
engineering and industry leadership. Students this year
have mentors at fantastic local and national companies
which include BAE Systems and the MoD.
On the back of last years success, staf in the department
reftted the classroom D3 with new fooring, tables and
equipment to turn it into a fantastic study room for
sixth formers of D&T. Te room also provides a quiet
space to study, design and make, and pupils beneft from
comfortable seats and space to spread their projects out.
Next year we hope to have equal success in the Arkwright
Scholarship scheme, which will run alongside a new
Crest Award scheme to credit students studying D&T
with a D of E equivalent award for UCAS applications.
All students next year taking part in the VEX club will
earn a Silver award.
3D Printing has arrived
Whilst budgets continue to tighten, modern technology
moves on and the department continue to keep up with
The Design Ventura team with their commended product
The Arkwright scholars
Year 11 at the Saatchi Gallery
Art 143
The Department of Art
Te Art department has been a hive of creativity this year,
with students continually pushing the standard of work.
Every year group has contributed to the departments
highlights. In the lower school, Year 7s produced
imaginative human sculptures, Year 8s created Identity
themed Totem Poles and Year 9 animated stop-motion
flms, often with humorous results. Our KS3 students
also won the prestigious Bromley Schools Digital Art
Prize. GCSE students took trips to the several London
Galleries, collecting inspiration for their projects. Te
sixth form Art trip to Amsterdam was a huge success,
with students having the opportunity to visit the Van
Gogh Museum, Te Rijks Museum and Anne Franks
house. Te most admirable areas of the department are
the clubs and societies, run by the students themselves.
Tis year Art History Society came into being, boasting
a wide range of high quality talks and a loyal cohort.
Te Art prefects have given a new lease of life to Art
club, running fun and engaging activities for the lower
school including sculpture projects and spin art. Te year
culminated in a breath taking sixth form exhibition held
in the chapel. Tis showed a wide range of inspirational
work, much of which demonstrated sophistication and
skill well beyond the years of the student. It was in the
beautiful, and often emotional, flm work that the students
really epitomised the strong link between technical skill
and creativity that the department is always striving
towards. Congratulations to all the students and staf for
a truly fantastic year.
Year 11 Art Trip
On the Tuesday 23rd October Year 11 Art students
visited London as part of the preparation for their current
Controlled Assignment entitled Great Britain. Tey
visited an interesting contemporary exhibition and talk
at the Saatchi Gallery just of the Kings Road followed
by an open-topped bus tour of sites and attractions.
Year 10 Art Trip
On Tuesday 2nd October the Year 10 Art group went on
a visit to London and a variety of galleries and museums.
Te day started at the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe with
a fascinating talk about the frst ever tunnel under a river
in the world. Te group then walked along the Tames
river bank, stopping and discussing the changes in London
and the way the river has been used. Tere is still plenty of
historical evidence in the old cranes, docks, buildings and
views of the history of the river. 3000 ships at the height of
the British Empire on the Tames at any one time.
Te group also visited an American artists show at the
White Cube gallery in Bermondsey Street, just behind
Siobhan Heraghty
S___Head of Art
Photos from the Year 10 trip to London
144 Olavian 2013
the old St Olaves school in Tooley Street. Further
walking then followed past the Globe and along to
Te Tate Modern. Te Turbine Hall was the site for
a conceptual piece where members of the public are
approached and engaged in conversation about peoples
stories. Several of the group were thus engaged.
Te purpose of the visit was to record people and
environments in London, to be used back at school for
Art project work. Tanks go to Miss Heraghty and Mrs
Smith for accompanying the group.
Year 10 Maritime Museum Trip
As part of their introduction to GCSE Photography the
year 10 artists visited the National Maritime Museum in
Greenwich to be inspired by the photography of Ansel
Adams. Displaying a huge range of epic landscapes in
his distinctive dynamic style, students were impressed
by the iconic and beautiful images of American nature.
A highlight of the exhibition was the documentation
of water in its varying forms; ranging from exploding
geezers, to still, refective pools and churning seas.
Students had a chance to leave their mark on the
exhibition by leaving comments on how Ansel Adams
had inspired them. Tere was just enough time to take
photographs of the newly restored Cutty Sark before
returning to school. Many thanks to the staf involved.
Royal Academy of Art Life Drawing
On Tuesday 5th February, the Year 12 and 13 Art
students spent the day in the Pavilion attending a life
drawing class arranged by the Royal Academy Outreach
programme, with a model and tutor.
It was a very intensive day spent exploring various ways
to portray the human fgure. Working on the foor, on a
wide variety of exercises and in diferent media, the idea
was to widen the perception and approach to drawing.
Life drawing is probably one of the hardest challenges
and this was the frst time that some of the students had
attempted this task. It was a tiring day, both physically
and intellectually, but all students worked very hard and
produced some excellent outcomes.
Bromley KS3 Art Exhibition
Tis years Bromley Key Stage 3 Art exhibition was held at
Hayes school on Tursday 7th March ofering all schools in
Bromley a chance to showcase their Key Stage 3 Art work. As
in previous years, the visually stimulating artwork, including
those submitted by St Olaves students refected the talented
artists in the Key Stage 3 cohort and we were thrilled to win
the prize for the best digital artwork in the Borough.
Year Eight Totem Poles
Taking inspiration from contemporary imagery and
tradition methods, Year 8 produced a series of fantastic
Totem Poles during an extra-curricular day. Each student
carved and painted their own block of wood which were
then attached together to create striking sculptures. Well
Done to the entire year group for all their hard work.
Art Exhibition
Tis annual event was again typifed by the quality and variety
of art work produced by Year 12 and Year 13 artists. Tere were
paintings, sculptures, reliefs, graphic designs, photographs,
flms and timelapse and the external examiner commented on
the wide range on show. A few pieces have been chosen for
the Creative Work section of this magazine, and can be found
towards the front.
Students taking part in the RA Life Drawing workshop
Students enjoyed a short visit to the fully restored Cutty
Sark after travelling to the National Maritime Museum
Students of 8L with their newly-designed Totem Pole
Olavian 2013 145
VI Form Trip to Amsterdam
Te 6th Form art group spent Activity Week 2 enjoying
the cultural delights of Amsterdam. We visited a wide
variety of galleries- not just the famous ones. Te newly
refurbished Rijs museum for older artworks, including
Rembrandts Night Watch, delightful gems by Vermeer
and many other famous artists. Te Van Gogh museum,
with the accompanying audio tour taught us all a lot about
his techniques and life. Te Stedelijk modern art gallery
was probably the most popular with a huge variety of
modern works displayed in the recently opened extension.
Other delights were the Cheese Museum, Te Fluorescent Art
gallery or Electric Ladyland and the Foam photography and
David Bowie exhibitions. A canal tour and various markets
completed a varied and stimulating visit to a fascinating city.
Many thanks to Mrs Smith for her organisation and patience.
146 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
Old Olavian
148 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
CONTENTS
Editors Notes
Chairmans Report
Annual General Meeting
Annual Dinner

Till all our fight be fought
StOGS in the Fifties - Part Two
Clubs and Societies
Old Olavians Lodge
Cricket Club Tour 2013
Eton Fives Club
Old Boys Notes
1950-2012
In Memoriam
149
150
151
153
153
154
14
155
155
159
160
162
Chris Harris
Chris Harris
Eric Hibbs
Megan Ford
Peter Leonard
Robin Dadson
Peter Hudson
Lance Giles
Howard Wiseman
John Brown
149 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 149
Editors Notes
I
was very surprised to realise as I sat down to write
these notes that this is my twentieth year trying
to cobble together the Old Olavian section. Twenty
years! Tats longer than any of the students at the
School have been alive. Twenty years seems such a
long time while you are still at school, but everyone
realises eventually that it is an all-too-short period of
time.
Te magazine itself has seen many changes in those
twenty years: from what was a comparatively thin
publication, it has blossomed into what can only be
described as a magazine of high quality, a quality
which refects very well on the staf and pupils who
are responsible for its content and appearance.
When I started as honorary editor of the Old
Boys section in 1993 I could rely on a regular fow
of contributions, often quite short, from old boys
from all eras from the twenties to the present day.
Now, it seems, technology has changed the way we
communicate with each other, and I never well,
hardly ever receive notes from ex-pupils of any age.
Just occasionally my pleas are heard by some kind soul
and I am sent a longer piece to share with what seems
to be a dwindling band of readers.
I am, therefore, especially grateful to Robin Dadson
(1954-59) for the second part of his memories of
his days at the School in the late ffties. His recall
of places, deeds and personalities from those days are
especially vivid, and I am sure that all old boys from
that time, some ffty years ago, will read them with a
mixture of pleasure and nostalgia. Te editorial team
at the school has so enjoyed this article that they have
asked that it should be transferred to the earlier pages
of the magazine. Tis means that readers will have to
turn to the appropriate page in the school section.
Robin Dadson joined the school six years later than
me, but there is much in his memoirs that rings
many bells with me. I am reminded of the rehearsal
in the school hall with Benny Hill when the cast
had arranged to stop whatever they were doing at
6.45pm precisely and lala-ing the signature tune to
Te Archers yes, that radio programme was already
well-established in the early ffties we all enjoyed
our producers reaction, and I think he enjoyed it too.
Tere must, surely, be others who could describe their
days at St Olaves, whether it be in Tooley Street or
Orpington, others who would almost certainly enjoy
reliving those mostly happy, comparatively carefree,
days from their youth. I was an enthusiastic member
of the Fives club when the school moved from the
Bermondsey dockland to the much greener site in
Kent and I volunteered to visit the new site to inspect
the new courts. When I arrived everywhere was
locked, so I climbed a fence and, feeling somewhat
guilty, was able to see the excellent new facilities and
report back to the regular playing members of that
time.
Tere must be so many of my readers who can recall
incidents such as these from their all-too distant past,
who only need a nudge to put them down on paper
(or, better still, by email) as you read this, please take
this as that nudge dont put it of do it now! Please!
As always I give thanks to Jane Wells for her help and
forbearance throughout the year. Tis year, in particular,
she has been successful in attracting a few last-minute
contributions from those few OOs with a conscience!
John Brown
Editor, Old Olavian
150 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
Chairmans Report
C
ompared with my previous years as Chairman,
this one has been relatively quiet, mainly due to
my inability to attend some functions, and possibly
due to getting used to the routine of it.
Te school Remembrance Service, which took place in the
Great Hall on 9
th
November 2012 was attended by Old
Olavians, including Mr Michael Walter, Captain Daniel
Betts, Mr Graham Milne and me. It is good to see Old
Olavians attending, especially from Te Old Olavians
Lodge who are always represented at this service. Tis
service, included the reading of an Old Olavians letter to
home in the event of his death, which referred to friends
made at school. Tat was particularly moving. I would
encourage those local enough to attend, to try to come
along in 2014. Te date is announced quite early in the
winter term, and it will be in the newsletters and on our
Events Calendar.
Te AGM was held in March, and the minutes are below.
I would like to see more of the Old Olavians attend, and to
have a say in what goes on.
Sadly there was no 40s Lunch this year. However, it is
intended that it will take place in 2014, and Jane Wells has
volunteered to arrange it. So please let her know if you
are interested in attending. I know some of you already
have done.
Old Olavians have been meeting up on the morning of the
annual Commemoration Service to relive memories of days
spent in the Tooley Street school buildings, and for many
years to act as guides to lower school pupils. Tis year, the
old school premises were not accessible, and the organised
reunion and usual lunch did not take place. However, this
did not mean our numbers at the service were any less.
We will continue to try to gain access to the buildings, as
planning restrictions mean that the Great Hall and other
parts including the Governors room are protected.
You may recall from last year I reported that only one
master from my time remained. Mr Archer decided to
retire this year and an invitation to former pupils was
circulated to allow them to say farewell at one of our local
hostelries. Although unable to attend myself, I am told it
was a wonderful, memory-laden afternoon/evening. Mr
Archer, though, seems unable to let the school go, and he is
still seen in and around the sports department, and is joint
form tutor to 7B (or my old form, 1B, in old money).
In July we brought together a number of recent Heads of
School/School Captains for a meal at the Calcutta Club
in Polhill, to foster the encouragement of recent leavers to
come back to the school. Te aim was to get them to
network with their contemporaries, who would share their
experiences with current sixth formers of choosing a degree,
choosing a career or attending a University Interview. As a
result, the school was able to put on a programme of related
activities at the beginning of the school year with the help
of Old Olavians.
Also, in September it was good to see a similar attendance
to two years ago at the Old Olavians reunion at the RAF
Club in Piccadilly, although there is always room for more
diners. We had Old Olavians attending who spanned
nine decades of the school. From Eric Bickerdike-Hibbs,
who joined the school in 1937, when the headmaster was
Henry George Abel, to Kit Harris and Raphael Fischer,
who both left in 2011, under the current headmaster, Aydin
na. Mr na is also our President and only the fourth
headmaster since Henry Abel. Replying this year to the
Headmasters toast to the Old Olavians, our guest speaker
was Les Padfeld. He has taught at the school a number
of times, having retired from teaching. His recollections
from his interview with the then headmaster, Tony Jarvis,
and the arrangements re mobile phone usage in his classes,
as examples, kept our attention and kept us laughing. He
was very entertaining and left the audience wanting more.
It is likely that we will return to the RAF Club in Piccadilly
for the 2014 reunion in September. Please keep an eye out
for the date, which will be posted in the newsletter, and on
our website.
And so that brings us to the beginning of a new year.
2014 will see the world remember the outbreak of the First
World War 100 years ago. Peter Leonard (1970-77) is
writing a new book, which will tell the story/ies of Old
Olavians sacrifces. Te society has agreed to fund the
publishing of this work, and will receive income from a
share in the profts. Please look out for further details in the
months to come (there is further information/recommendation
a few pages further on Ed).
Te Old Olavians Society, and ultimately the school, are
grateful to those who remember this great institution in
their own wills. No matter the amount, the funds can
always be put to very good use.
Last year the society donated about 15,000 to the school,
including bequests, specifc donations and excess funds.
Te uses to which these funds are put enable the school
to continue to support the pupils in ways that many state
schools are just not capable of doing. One only has to read
the Olavian to see the breadth of student activities.
Did you know that Old Olavians is a group on LinkedIn,
and that you can add a link to your LinkedIn profle, your
151 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 151
Twitter account and your Facebook page on your personal
details page on the societys website - www.webalumnus.
com/wa/userLogon.aspx?oid=40023
And fnally, I would still like to know what else you would
like from the Old Olavians Society, preferably with a
suggestion of how it can be achieved. Write or email
via our administrator at the school, Jane Wells at jwells@
saintolaves.net.
Looking forward to serving, and hearing from, you.
Chris Harris (1970-77)
_____Can be contacted via OOs Administrator
jwells@saintolaves.net
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OLD OLAVIANS SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING 12
th
March 2013
1. Minutes of Last Meeting
Agreed
2. Matters Arising
2.1. AGM later than aimed for again
Te AGM has to be held within 6 months of
the societys fnancial year end (30
th
September).
November had been the target month, however due
to late account completion again, the chairman had
delayed the meeting to now. It is also important
that a date is set that a quorum can be attained,
given the low numbers expected to attend.
2.2. Investment costs
Te cost of holding the funds with our current
broker has been set at 500 per annum. Tis is
now an execution only service, which appears to
be no change to the service that the society had
been receiving in recent years. Te funds will be
moved to Lansdowne & Hargreaves in the coming
months.
2.3. Benevolent Fund
I met with the Head to discuss a range of topics,
including a suitable use for the Benevolent
Funds, and he wished to have a set amount each
year to use to top up the funds available to meet
hardship requests. Whilst this seemed to meet
the defnition, it does mean that control passed to
the school. Nothing further was heard about the
proposed amount or how it would work.
2.4. OORFC funds
Tere have been some banking hold-ups with
transfer of funds to the Society from OORFC.
Tese are being addressed. Te society will
maintain the funds, and these will be available to
assist with the setting up of a new OORFC. If
that has not occurred by 2037, then the funds will
be available to another OOs sports club, or to the
school to support sporting activities.
3. Chairmans Report
3.1. Membership
Old Olavians on Web Database 7188, of which
2237 have provided their email addresses. 457,
including 24 sponsorship members, have paid full
membership of 20, entitling them to the Olavian
and a discounted price for the Reunion Dinner/
Lunch.
3.2. Society Administration
Tis continues to be managed entirely by the
schools OO Administrator ( Jane Wells).
Audit, Magazine & Reunion managed by the
committee pro tem.
3.3. Magazine
2012 edition of Olavian distributed to 485
members and contributors thanks again to the
OO section editor, John Brown.
4. Finance Report
4.1. Accounts
2012 2011
General Fund Income 16,612 18,204
Expenditure 16.462 25,523
Proft/(Loss) 150 (7,319)
Balance Sheet 36,363 36,213
Benevolent Fund Income 1,928 2,677
Expenditure 0 0
Proft/(Loss) 1,928 2,677
Balance Sheet 60,447 58,519
152 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
4.2. Notes General Fund
Income Subs and sponsorship were down 340,
and investment income was also down by 350.
Te Reunion lunch was subsidised to the extent of
600, after paying a donation 500 to the school
Rugby Tour Fund, in exchange for the teams
supplying the waiters for the event.
4.3. Donation to School
It was recommended and agreed that the donation
to the school would be the same as the previous
year, 9,618, which includes the sponsorship
subscriptions of 1,808.
4.4. Hidden assets
We have in stock 35 pairs of cufinks and 95 OO
ties.
4.5. Notes Benevolent Fund
Tere were no requests for funds acceded to during
the year. However, with the benevolent fund
objects in mind:
TO ASSIST NECESSITOUS OLAVIANS,
WHICH TERM SHALL INCLUDE BOTH
CURRENT AND PAST PUPILS AND
STAFF OF SAINT OLAVES AND SAINT
SAVIOURS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, BY
PECUNIARY GRANTS OR IN SUCH
OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE DEEMED
APPROPRIATE, it was proposed and agreed
that 5,000 would be given to the Headmaster.
Tis is to be used in cases of hardship, and the
Society will expect a letter from the headmaster
confrming that its use met with the funds objects.
5. Functions Report
5.1. Reunion
Te reunion lunch was held at the school on
Saturday 22nd September. It was attended by
almost 80, with some attendees coming early
enough to watch some Rugby. Te school senior
prefects provided guided tours of the premises.
Sir Roger Sims was the guest speaker. Te flm
of Tooley Street school life was also on show in
the library, and some members have expressed an
interest in owning a copy. Lessons were learned by
the Chairman All drink should be purchased on
sale or return, even if that means no draught beer,
and future meals should be more heavily subsidised
if necessary from subscriptions.
Tis year it is anticipated that we will return to the
RAF. A date has been provisionally booked Friday
20
th
September 2013.
6. Club Reports
6.1. Cricket Club
Ian Giles apologised for missing the meeting, and
asked the Chairman to give the very briefest of
reports.
It was hoped that everyone had seen the tour
report in the 2012 Olavian. Te tour was, as ever,
a success.
Ian Giles and Chris Swadkin attended the school
cricket Awards dinner, addressing the boys and the
parents. Tey will be following up, to capitalise on
the interest generated, for the July friendlies and
the 2013 summer tour.
Te club would welcome a 500 donation to assist
with tour costs. Te donation was approved.
6.2. Rugby Club
Te club continues to exist in its hibernated state.
7. Election Of Ofcers
7.1. Tere were no resignations, and the Committee
members were re-elected to ofce:
Committee
Chairman Chris Harris
3 Ex-Ofcio Members Paul Ouseley
Bill Prouse
Trevor Read
8. Other Business
8.1. Promoting Old Olavians Society
Following the previous AGM the Chairman met
with the headmaster. Te school are very grateful
for the support by way of funds, and the headmaster
made it clear that he would welcome assistance from
OOs to provide careers advice, work experience
places and in other, as yet unqualifed, ways. It
is likely that the Chairman and the headmaster, in
153 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 153
his position as our President, will be writing to all
members for their assistance.
8.2. Tooley Street school life
It was agreed that the society should arrange for
copies of the Tooley Street flm, shown in the
library at the reunion lunch and previously at the
450 year exhibition, to be available to members for
a fee. Te society will have to buy the rights to
copy it frst.
8.3. Till all our fght be fought Te Olavian Fallen
and the Great War 1914-1918
One of our members, Peter Leonard (1970-77)
previously wrote a book about the Olavians who
lost their lives in WW1. Peter has proposed to
the society that he rewrites a new edition, which
with the advances in media will, for a small outlay,
see a more professional book published. It was
proposed and agreed that the society pay the
expected amount to get to publication. For each
book sold, whether through the society or the
publisher, the society will receive a small royalty.
It will be published to coincide with the 100 year
anniversary of the outbreak of war.
Chris Harris (1970-77)
Annual Dinner
On the evening of Friday 20
th
September 2013 I attended
the Annual Reunion Dinner of the Old Olavians Society
at the RAF Ofcers Club in Piccadilly, London. Having
attended the School in the days of Dr Abel in the
mid-1930s I was not surprised that there was nobody there
that I recognised. However I was soon gathered in and
introduced to the Headmaster and by him to the six seniors
from the pupils, among them the head boy and head girl.
To say that I was impressed would be an understatement
for they immediately showed me their ability to make me
realise that the stature of the school, as I had known and
remembered it for over seventy years, had not changed.
I was invited to sit at the top table for the dinner with
the head girl next to me and it soon became very obvious
how the current pupils feel about St Olaves. Te meal
was served and dutifully despatched; speeches followed
and the evening rounded up by the singing of Olaf to Right
the Wrong which brought back memories of prayers in the
main hall, of presentations by visiting speakers, orchestral
performances by the school orchestra, and a play performed
on the hall stage called Te Bishops Candlesticks. I wonder
if any of those who took part in the play may read this and
remember.
After the dinner I wended my way back to the Union Jack
Club (a forces club at Waterloo) of which I am a member,
to rejoin my wife. We stayed there until Monday morning
when we entrained at Marylebone station for our home in
Henley-in-Arden, West Midlands. During the weekend
we visited a gentlemans club in Mayfair called Te Fox for
afternoon tea, met a party of ladies staying at the Union
Jack Club, who had all seen service in the WAAF for as
many as twenty-fve years at home and overseas, and who
held a reunion on the same date every year. Recognising
that I had served in the RAF during the War, photographs
were taken which I may be able, some time in the future, to
see in print in Te Olavian.
Eric Hibbs (1937-40)
Our chairman asked Alex Allen, head boy in 2007/08 who
had made up a table of eight from his year to attend the
annual dinner, to provide a report on that event; he, in turn,
persuaded Megan Ford who was one of that select group to
produce the following contribution:
A great evening was had by all at the Old Olavians Summer
Dinner, held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly. With ages
ranging from 89 to those of us who were experiencing our
frst Old Olavian dinner since leaving School fve years
earlier, it was a fantastic opportunity to reminisce about our
school days. For the frst time the full senior prefect team
also joined the old boys and old girls. Tis meant we could
both quiz them on what the school was like now and ofer
them advice on what life was like after St Olaves. It was
also lovely to hear from the current headmaster, Mr Onac,
about the recent achievements and activities at the School.
A highlight of the evening was, of course, the guest speaker,
Mr Les Padfeld. Having taught as a semi-permanent
supply teacher at St Olaves on no less than six occasions,
he decided to share with us some of his experiences at the
School. Tis was hugely entertaining and very funny,
especially for those of us who were lucky enough to have
had him as a teacher!
It was a lovely opportunity to celebrate our school years
with friends and teachers, and to meet new people with
whom we have St Olaves in common.
Te Old Olavian tradition promises to expand, with year
groups setting a challenge for 2014 to see who can achieve
the most populous attendance! Let us see if we can make
this event an annual reunion across the whole Old Olavian
community. We look forward to the next dinner and our
next rendition of Olaf to Right the Wrong. Well see you
there!
Megan Ford (2006-08)
154 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
Till all our fght be fought The Olavian
Fallen and the Great War 1914-1918
insert
Cover of book
I found this book a fascinating read. Having read many
accounts of fallen from particular schools or professions, I found
that this work had the extra edge of a passionate relay of the
details, passion that is often lacking in many more prosaic
accounts. I truly felt that I got to know many of the warriors
so adroitly described and therefore felt the impact of the sadness
when their all-too-common fate arrived. I loved the way the
work was punctuated with poems and pertinent quotes which
added a subtlety to the accounts. I believe there is a uniqueness
to this account which allows the names of these fne, brave men
to live on forever more.
James Turbin Author Teir Father Lied
In spite of the topic, I found the book neither mawkishly
sentimental nor morbidly curious. I found it to be a stirring
tribute to the Olavians who died in WW1, acknowledging their
heroism and sacrifce. Te book was obviously meticulously
researched and written in a straightforward manner, concise
yet not truncated. I thought the interpretations of the theatres
of operation to be accurate and thoughtful. Altogether a fne
literary efort.
Father Kenneth Eade: St Barnabus Church, Atlanta,
Georgia, USA.
Tis book forms a piece of research which brings together an
important chapter in the School s history and which will be an
essential part of the archives.
Anthony Jarvis, Headmaster St Olaves Grammar
School
I read this book with the greatest interest, it afords a
fascinating insight to the response of a non-military school to
the call to arms of World War 1. I have sent this book to the
librarian of Eton College as they possess a very comprehensive
library devoted to the study of that confict.
John H W Silberrad Trustee of the St Olaves and St
Saviours Grammar School Foundation.
About the Book: Peter Leonard
Te idea behind the book has been to interweave the
biographical stories of the many boys and men who had
attended the School in Tooley Street, with the dramatic
story of the events of these infamous four years of war,
which happened nearly a century ago, but still resonate
with us, through literature, video, poetry, flm and through
many other cultural channels.
It seems incredible now how some of the ideas, attitudes
and morals that were held by our recent ancestors have
changed in the intervening period, partly as a result of our
reaction to their loss. Both the amazing and terrifying
technological developments of this short time period
are refected by Olavians who served and sufered in
these branches of the armed forcesfrom submarines,
dreadnoughts and Sopwith Camel bi-planes, to deep trench
mining and bombing, poison gas and munition shells all
aspects of the war touched St Olaves, Bermondsey and the
schoolboys who went there.
Te new book will have 23 chapters,163 pages, 22
pages with all 192 mens portraits and nearly 30 pages
of appendices and indexes. Some chapters describe the
role of Olavians in the major campaigns and war theatres
captured in our national imagination, names like Ypres,
the Somme, Gallipoli, Cambrai and Passchendaele; other
chapters attempt to show what life was like in diferent
parts of the war efort from the medical corps, the
engineers and artillery to the navy, tank corps and air
force; Some histories focus too heavily on the Western
front only, whereas here are chapters on the exploits and
adventures of Olavians in the Balkans, Salonika, Palestine
and also on the Home front; and fnally, despite being an
old London-based School, many of the Olavians had links
throughout the empire and fought the war as Canadians,
South Africans, Anzacs and even in the French Army.
People who buy a copy of this book are actively sending
a message: to support their old or current school by
understanding the nature and value of its history and
educational culture; to use this as a way of educating our
children and young people as to the futility of war, but also
to inspire them with stories about bravery, self-sacrifce,
morality, hope, loss, selfessness, and helping others before
ourselves; and to commemorate and remember what the
annual service at the Cenotaph really means.
155 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 155
Lets fnish with some words from Headmaster
Rushbrooke..
Armistice Day 11
th
November 1930:
Te School Hall Tooley Street:
We hear that pitiful long list of names of Old Olavians
many of them boys, going from School into the
war-machine. It makes one hate the injustice of it all,
those lads, mere schoolboys, radiant, full of hope, upon the
threshold of the outer world, swept out of life, killed on the
battlefeld.
Te solemn reading of their names recalls their faces as
we knew them in the School, linked with some tone or
glance, some incident of classroom, or the Corps, or cricket
feld. Te name recalls the features: one by one, seen as of
old, they pass before the mind, a living gallery of pictures,
dearer made by pity, for the wanton sacrifce of their young
lives to cruel wars demands.
Soon, it may be, the list no longer read, will rest, a vellum
roll, within a drawer, mute witness of their willing sacrifce.
But while the youthful fgure, sword in hand, calls through
the years, our youth to take their stand, with heart ablaze
to fght against the wrong, may these forgotten names
live to declare to future generations of the School, the
cruel injustice, senseless sacrifce of life, the misery, the
desolation, wrought by war.
Te new book is to be published in August 2014 to
commemorate the centenary of the Great War.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
Old Olavians Lodge No. 5051
Te Masonic lodge associated with our school was founded
75 years ago and is still going strong.
When asked the question, Why does freemasonry still
exist today? my answer is Primarily to raise money for
charity. Tis is something our Grand Charity does with
remarkable efciency. It is said that only the National
Lottery raises more funds for such purposes in the
UK. Funding for medical research, for a huge range of
charitable organisations, big and small, in this country
and support for appeals from organisations ranging from
hospices to crumbling places of worship are all within our
remit. Funding from us is sent to disaster appeals world-
wide within days of the appeals launch. We also sponsor
important prizes at St Olaves annual awards ceremonies.
Our branch of this world-wide organisation was originally
set up for former pupils, staf and governors of St Olaves.
Parents were always welcome as well. Nowadays friends
of members, or people just interested too so no-one gets
turned away, but our old school is still vitally important to us.
We meet four times a year in Central London. We are
involved in traditional Masonic ceremonial of course, but
this is always followed by an excellent dinner.
Any enquiries from readers interested in freemasonry
and, of course, maintaining links with St Olaves can be
addressed to me, Peter Hudson:
Secretary of OOs Lodge
9 Downs View Close
Pratts Bottom
Orpington
Kent BR6 7SU
Peter Hudson
Old Olavian Cricket Tour -
South Devon 2013
One of the fnest feelings every year on tour is rolling up
around midday at a nice country pub and spying old friends
that you may not have seen since the year before propping
up the bar or relaxing on a bench in the sun, as well as
meeting new tourists who will almost certainly become old
friends very shortly. Te pub this year was the Dolphin
in Bovey Tracey as we were playing at that towns very
picturesque ground again after a gap of several years.
After lunch, OO captain for the day, Lance Giles, had the
pleasure of tossing up with the most attractive skipper in
Devon, Sophie Whitlock, who was in charge of the home
team. Given Boveys premiership standing the tourists
decided to send their big guns out frst, and so Tom Parsons
and Rob Williams strode to the crease aiming to get us
of to a good start, with Dave Golbey primed in the silo
at number three. Fours started fying immediately, but
unfortunately in the third over so too did Robs stumps as
he was faced with a rotten shooter of a delivery. Deterred
neither by this nor the frst of many hamstrings to be
pulled during the week, Golbey joined Parsons in sending
the ball around the park. Te Bovey line-up included a
few promising colts but it became obvious that they hadnt
selected any of their frst-team bowlers, and after blasting
his way to a fast ton Tom Parsons (eventually) got himself
out, followed by Dave the ball after reaching his ffty.
Lawrence Roots hit 24 and Peter White, an Old Olavian
on his frst tour, got a nice 26 during our total of 263 in 40
overs. One other notable feature was that Ray Michael
and Chris Swadkin only just missed batting together,
which may well have been the frst such occurrence since
the 1960s when they were at school together.
156 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
P White, a batsman who keeps wicket, found himself
opening the bowling due to a start-of-the-week seamer
shortage, and settled into a nice line and length straight
away and got a wicket in his second over. Ian Giles and
another new tourist, Chris Ruddle, got three wickets
between them with their swing and spin, and Robbie
Williams made amends for his swift batting exit with eight
overs of good bustling left-arm tweakers and two more
wickets. However, bowling honours went to Swaddy for
the incisive fgures of 3.3 overs, four wickets for six runs,
including one wicket from an awesome diving one-handed
catch by Parsons T. Te OOs won by 110 runs and tour
was of to a winning start.
We were greeted at Sidmouth by glorious sunshine the next
day, and the famous ground had never looked better. Since
Sidmouth had a batting order stacked with frst-teamers,
including the Devon skipper J Bess (many of whose family the
OOs have encountered before) we generously let them have a
bat frst. Jay Patel took the frst over and set the tone well,
with good nip and a bit of bounce, and Golbey courageously
braved his wailing hamstring to send down three quality overs
from the other end. Batsman A Dibble unwisely tried to take
a quick single behind point to felding machine Tom Parsons,
who stuck out a large mitt, pirouetted and hurled down the
one stump he could see to run out Bess by a good yard for ten
runs, and so making the all-important frst strike. Skipper Ian
Giles brought himself on, and took his customary early wicket,
courtesy of an excellent running catch from Alex Dombrandt
(16 years old going on 35, and on his frst tour). Te batsmen
Dibble and L Bess then settled down and began to hit back. Pete
White came on at an awkward time and held things together
well, including an unlucky dropped catch. Mike Mitchell, who
had sprained his wrist the day before tour playing football (can
you believe it?) replaced Ian Giles and broke the partnership
in his second over, as Jay raced around the boundary to pluck
a certain six from the air in the most casual of fashions. N
Gingell came in and started hitting fours and sixes to the short
pavilion boundary while Rob Williams did his best to contain
him without much luck the ball landing in space and a couple
of catches going down. Ten Gingell middled another ball
straight at the pavilion, where Sanjay Ranasinghe was stationed
on the edge of the boundary. Our man leapt straight up in the
air and took it nonchalantly with one hand. We were all far
too happy to knock him much for not attempting to use his
other hand as well, and anyway it might just got in the way. Ian
brought himself back for one over and drew Dibble down the
wicket to be stumped by Lawrence Roots; Jay returned to bowl
out two batsmen and Alex got another Roots stumping before
Sidmouth declared on 252 for 9 in 44 overs.
It was an imposing total, but with one short boundary and a
quick outfeld the OOs had every intention of going for the
win. Tom Parsons certainly had no doubts and was seeing
it like a beach ball. He raced to 42 of 21 balls and the
chatter from the Sidmouth felders had decreased markedly
when suddenly the game was marred by a controversial
incident. With the score on 47 Tom middled it into his
pads, the Sidmouth felders gave up on their appeal for
LBW, and the Sidmouth umpire leaned forwards and up
shot his fnger in determined fashion. Tom paused in
stunned surprise, before walking dejectedly back towards
the pavilion. Te home skipper apparently spoke to him
on his way, saying, We know you hit it, but were not going
to call you back because the umpires new and it would
undermine his confdence. Sufce to say this did not go
down too well with the tourists and fuelled by the injustice
of robbing their man of a possibly match-winning knock,
the OOs yet to go in to bat sat a little straighter in their
seats and watched the game through narrowed eyes.
Williams was out shortly afterwards from a good ball,
but then the hobbling Golbey (30) and the towering
Dombrandt took the attack to Sidmouth, hitting several
lovely boundaries and sixes. One of the sixes landed rather
unfortunately directly in Terry Smiths full pint glass as he
sat on a bench in front of the pavilion, shattering it into
a thousand pieces. He took it very philosophically. Jay
Patel (31) replaced Golbey and carried on the good work
before he was out. Sanjay came to the crease and held one
end up well while Alex struck more imperious blows as the
Olavians got ever closer to their target while also keeping
the run-rate in check. Dombrandt was looking so secure
that the tourists were beginning to breathe a little easier
when Sidmouth brought on a quickish young bowler called
Mansfeld with a dozen overs left of the game. Alex hit
his frst ball for four, before being surprised by some extra
bounce and was caught in the slips for a classy 78.
With 44 runs still to get and Mitch with his sprained wrist
there was still plenty of cricket left in the game as Lance
Giles took guard. Missing his frst ball by quite a margin,
the new batsman was surprised to hear a hysterically
elongated appeal from Mansfeld. Giles told him to stop
being silly and get on and bowl it. Mansfeld seemed to
take exception to this, and followed it up with a bouncer
miles over the batsmans head and then pitched one up
which Giles managed to hit through extra cover for four.
Tis didnt do anything for Mansfelds humour, which
aided the OOs cause as he subsequently sent down two
leg-stump full-tosses which Sanjay despatched behind
square with aplomb. Te momentum had returned to the
OOs, and despite losing Sanjay to a skied drive Giles was
able to hit a few more fours and efectively end the game
with a six past the pavilion of L Bess, who had rather
bizarrely, or possibly sportingly, been brought on to bowl
spin from the short boundary end.
Te very satisfying win from an excellent team performance, with
fve and a half overs still remaining of their allowed 41, led to a very
157 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 157
convivial atmosphere in the White Horse pub after the game.
Sandford were one man short on Tuesday, so Chris Ruddle
kindly agreed to play for them. Te Olavians batted frst,
and Rob Williams continued his run of bad luck as he was
bowled frst ball by an absolute stinker of a shooter that
cut back. To improve Robs mood even more, the bowler
then came of after his second ball due to a side-strain.
Te other bowlers were performing well, though, and the
run-rate was initially cautious. Parsons joined Williams
back in the hutch before Pete White and Alex Dombrandt
put a good partnership together, both hitting some soaring
sixes and managing to counter a very cagey spell of spin
from Chris Ruddle in the process. Both then fell in quick
succession to Ashplant, and Swadkin and Golbey took
up the mantle, Dave in particular hitting some big shots
on the way to a very important 54 runs. Jay, Sanjay and
Lawrence all hit a few more quick runs toward the end
of the innings and the OOs ended up on 211, which we
thought was defendable but maybe slightly under par.
Mitch had obviously been chatting over the sumptuous
Sandford tea with skipper Tom Parsons, as he came tearing
in for a surprise frst over of his long run-up in a most
un-spinner-like way, with his wrist bandaged up like a white
left-handed Malcolm Marshall. He beat the bat a bit too,
but couldnt fnd the consistency a regular pace opening slot
would have given him and so stopped after four overs to
save the rest of his quota for his usual spinny darts. Jay
bowled tightly at the other end, but the frst wicket didnt
fall until L Giles foated one up outside of which the
batsman obligingly smacked into the captains safe hands
at cover. Swadkin and Williams then combined in a long
stint together that kept the run-rate down and Swaddy
claimed another wicket with an absolute pearl of a caught
and bowled of one that was drilled back at him. However,
the OOs were fnding it hard to beat the bat, aerial shots
were dropping into space rather than onto felders, and
Sandfords two overseas batsmen chipped away at the total
very professionally. Jay returned for one last charge and
bowled one of them out, leaving seven runs required of the
last over. Patels frst ball of the last over was sent into the
sheep-feld for six which took the pressure of the batsmen,
and the home team won back the Stan Newell trophy with
three balls remaining. It had been another in a long line
of good close games with fun banter against Sandford, and
you couldnt hope to fnd more friendly or sporting hosts.
Torquays new groundsman decided to leave the covers of
that night to let the grass beneft from a foretold night-
time shower. He obviously knew he wasnt down to
open the batting the next day, and I dont think Torquays
opening batsmen would have patted him on the back
for his horticultural consideration as balls spat from a
length of Jay Patel and Mike Jones at the start of play on
Wednesday, and Jay got a wicket caught in the gully of his
second ball. Mike had just arrived for tour by train. He
was itching to get stuck into some proper bowling and was
absolutely hitting the spot in his early salvo, and so was
most aggrieved when Torquays overseas batsman Bourke
started complaining that the track was dangerous. After
some discussion, and not wanting to generate any bad
blood in a friendly game, the tourists relented and it was
agreed that no-one could bowl pace that day. Since Mike
then had to fnish his over bowling of-spin, Bourke rather
took advantage of the situation by hitting a full-toss for six
over the short leg-side boundary and losing it in the road.
Chris Ruddle and Ian Jonty Giles came on, and Jonty
especially bowled well in taking two for 21 since the ball
quickly became very slippy to use due to the damp outfeld,
and Chris took a good catch at midwicket to dismiss the
other opening batsmen. Skipper Rob Williams brought
himself on fourth change and proceeded to take fve for
20 from six overs which kept the brakes on the Torquay
batting well. Mike Jones returned to bowl more spin
and got sweet revenge on Bourke by bowling him for 80,
and Ruddle returned to take the last wicket. Torquay
fnished on 158 all out from 33 of their 35 overs in the
rain-shortened game.
In the OOs reply Pete White opened the batting and hit a
fne 30, but wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end.
Dave Collof, fresh from Singapore via Italy, was appearing
for just two days on tour this year, and Mitch, crawling
his way up the batting order as his wrist slowly improved,
steadied the ship. Both played lovely attacking innings,
which wasnt easy given the wicket and the slow outfeld.
Janet and Amanda Collof, who had just joined tour that
day, observed that Dave was doing much better than last
year. Sadly both batsmen perished in quick succession,
and the rest of the team werent able to rediscover their
mojo as they succumbed to the pressure of the mounting
run-rate for 139 with two overs left. Rob Williams,
selfessly batting at number 11, was left not out without
facing a ball and probably should have batted a little earlier.
After renewing our friendships at the bar with the home
team we all returned to the annual tour quiz, created and
conducted masterfully once again by tour stalwart Terry
Smith. I cant remember who won but since it wasnt our
team thats scarcely important.
Many of the team managed to squeeze in a quick visit to
Starcross golf course on the Tursday morning before the
game against South Devon. It was pouring with rain on
the way there, but as we pulled into the car park the clouds
parted and the sun appeared and stayed for the rest of the
day. Te long, hot summer had resulted in Starcross being
drier than anyone could remember before, and several times
we were able to fnd balls that would normally have been
158 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
lost in the middle of reed-flled ponds. Tere were still
plenty of hazards, however, and as he contemplated them
Jay was heard to remark, Actually I prefer team games.
Golf is a very lonely game. I think I could get quite lonely
in a bunker. Ian Giles, full of consideration, replied, Well
well send someone over for a chat next time youre in one.
Te tour party was reinforced at Newton Abbot by the
arrival of the Nayanah-Rajh family - friends and old team-
mates of Lances from Bristol. Since none of them had
twanged hamstrings, unlike most of the players already
on tour, Sagren and his sons, Prevan and Rashalen, were
immediately put to good use and went straight into the
team, and Sharon, their mother, only escaped by locking
herself in her car.
Te Olavians batted frst and South Devon were two
players short, so the tourists contributed two substitute
felders for most of their innings. Sage and Prev opened
the innings and were soon propelling the ball to all parts
of the boundary with regularity. Prevan liked to stroke
the ball into space and Sage preferred to welly it into the
adjoining football ground, but since both methods were
highly efective the race was on to see who would reach
their century frst. Prev got there in the nineteenth over
and retired out, while Sage launched one up in the air a
few overs later and was caught at deep square leg for 94,
stopping the pair claiming the record of being the only
related tourists ever to score centuries on their debuts in
the same game.
Not having been faced with walking to the crease with the
score on 175 for one before, the rest of the OO batting order
didnt appear to have a clue how to handle the situation.
Barring a decent knock from Mitch (29), nobody else got
more than twelve (Dombrandt got his 12 from the last
three balls of the innings), but we still set them 293 to get
in 40 overs.
Conrad sent out his best bats frst in reply, and they started
well, hitting some good fours. However, Grant Ward was
bowling very accurately and giving away little, and Alex
didnt do a bad job of opening the bowling from the other
end with pace rather than his usual spin. He made the
breakthrough by getting a wicket with the last ball of his
spell, which was incidentally his worst one, being a high
full-toss outside of-stump. Shortly afterwards South
Devons overseas bat was run-out by their number three,
attempting to take a quick single to short-ish extra-cover
(or barbecued by C Corby as Jay described it in the
scorebook), and from then on the result was never in doubt.
Te wickets were shared around the bowlers and Rash, who
was only 13 years old, looked a natural behind the stumps
and took a nice stumping. Te home side fnished on 155
all out.
Tursday night featured the regular tour dinner back at
the hotel, smoothly presided over by Brian Cantle who
gave his usual comprehensive run-down of the weeks
cricketing achievements and handed out the awards for any
particularly humorous gafes that had occurred.
Friday dawned and was greeted by the tourists with the
usual combination of relief after a tiring week and regret
that it was coming to an end. Lunch at the Ship in
Teignmouth preceded the trip to Kenn, where we found
the ground bathed in unaccustomed sunshine and looking
very attractive indeed. Prev and Alex, with a combined age
of thirty-two, opened the batting and their difering styles
complemented each other very well as they both reached
50 before being dismissed. Te rest of the batting order
didnt fare so well apart from Sage, who hit six sixes on his
way to retiring for 66 and who shared a nice partnership
of forty-fve with his youngest son Rash who hit a couple
of nice fours of his own in his ten not out. Te only thing
really missing was a crowd-pleasing cameo from Stephen
Parsons, who was sadly confned to umpiring duties due to
breaking his hand in a fall a few weeks previously.
Te tourists had reached 262 from their 40 overs and
thought this was probably enough to defend, but Kenn
came out all guns blazing. Apparently all the teams in
the 40-over league that Kenn play in play their cricket as
if it was twenty-20 cricket, which led to short but exciting
innings from most of the batsmen. Jimmy Gosling blazed
a quick-fre 26, P Boot smashed 37 and R Parsons struck
42 not out. All of these were very promising young
batsmen which bodes well for Kenn and who Im sure the
OOs will see many times in the years to come. Vinny, the
overseas player, came in at number four, and the long week
was beginning to tell on the Olavians as we dropped him at
least fve times (honourable mention must be made to Sage
here, who threw himself around the feld and took two
catches on his own), which proved the deciding factor in
the end. Vinny fnished on 106 not out and Kenn cantered
to victory in 34 overs. Since theyre such nice chaps we
didnt begrudge them the win at all, and it was very pleasant
to have a celebratory pint with Pete Murfn and the rest in
the bar after the game.
2013 had been another vintage tour, if not particularly for
results, then certainly for the style of cricket, team spirit
and general camaraderie from everyone on board. It was
terrifc to see so many new tourists enjoying themselves,
and hopefully they will all be down again next year, both
the players and Rosemary, whom Ed Davey brought along
for the frst time and who ftted in with everyone so well.
Special mention must also be made to the other ladies not
featured so far - Pennie Giles, Penny Cantle, Linda Bolter,
Jo Swadkin, Jackie Childe and Laura Pangbourne - for
adding so much to the week beyond the boundary ropes.
159 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 159
Finally a big vote of thanks as ever must go to Stephen
Parsons and Tom Baterip for umpiring so well and without
a murmur of complaint all week and for being such good
company, and thanks also to Sanjay for handling the tour
fnances while he was there.
If any Old Olavian is reading this and pondering whether
they may enjoy a few days cricket in Devon in 2014, cease
your pondering and just drop me an email or have a look at
the Old Olavians Cricket Club page on facebook.
Results:
Sun 11
th
August v Bovey Tracey (40 over game)
WON by 108 runs
OOs 263 for 8 (T Parsons 116, D Golbey 50, P White 26)
Bovey Tracey 155 all out in 33 overs (C Swadkin 4 wkts for 6 runs)
Mon 12
th
Augsut v Sidmouth (timed game)
WON by 4 wickets
Sidmouth 252 for 9 in 43.2 overs ( J Patel 3-31, I Giles 2-29)
OOs 253 for 6 in 35.3 overs (A Dombrandt 78, T Parsons 42, J
Patel 31, D Golbey 30, L Giles 27 no)
Tues 13
th
August v Sandford (40 overs)
LOST by 7 wickets
OOs 211 for 8 (D Golbey 54, C Swadkin 28, P White 25)
Sandford 212 for 3 in 39.3 overs
Wed 14th August v Torquay (35 overs)
LOST by 22 runs
Torquay 161 all out in 33 overs (R Williams 4-5, I Giles 2-21)
OOs 139 all out in 33 overs (M Mitchell 31, P White 30, D Collof
28)
Turs 15
th
August v South Devon (40 overs)
WON by 134 runs
OOs 293 for 8 (P Nayanahrajh 100, S Nayanahrajh 94, M Mitchell 29)
South Devon 159 all out in 35 overs (M Jones 3-7, M Mitchell
2-10, P White 2-30)
Fri 16
th
August v Kenn (40 overs)
LOST by 4 wickets OOs
OOs_262 for 7 (S Nayanahrajh 66, P Nayanahrajh 57, A
Dombrandt 55)
Kenn 265 for 6 in 34 overs (L Giles 2-34, I Giles 2-43) ____
Lance Giles (1988-95)
Old Olavians Eton Fives Club
Te Old Olavian Fives club had another very busy season.
Te introduction of a Saturday morning club session
during term time was a real success. It enabled regular play
for those who cannot make it to league matches during the
week and it provided many people with the opportunity to
pick up the gloves for the frst time in a number of years.
Most people that played throughout their schooling at
St.Olaves are very keen to continue playing as adults; it is
just a matter of having the right opportunity!
A large number of recent university leavers came back to the
game this year as well as a number of older players who have
been absent from the game for many years.
Tere were many highlights in the season. Te most
important team event in the adult game is the Barber Cup.
Te Old Olavian Fives team won this again making a tally
of ten wins in the past eleven years and a grand total of
twelve in our proud history. Te winning team on this
occasion was James Toop, Howard Wiseman, Sebastian
Cooley, David Mew, Matthew Wiseman and Sanjaya
Ranasinghe. Te fnal was played at Eton College where
the Old Olavians defeated the old Harrovians 2-1.
Sebastian Cooley had another great year, winning the
Kinnaird Cup for the Mens National Open championships.
He also won the Northern Championships, the London
Tournament and the mixed Championships with his sister
Charlotta Cooley, who played extremely well in partnership
with her brother. Charlotta Cooley managed also to
crown her Fives season by winning the ladies National
Championships after a gap of some ten years since she last
won this event as a schoolgirl at St. Olaves.
The Richard Barber Cup winners -
three Old Olavians and three current school pupils
160 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
Te Old Olavians Ladies team took part in the Richard
Black Cup which was held at Eton College. Tey reached
the fnal where their excellent run of form ended. Also in
that ladies team was Marrianne Rees who had a particularly
good season. Marrianne reached the National Ladies fnal
where she played brilliantly, helping her to achieve a 2-1 lead
in the fnal. It did seem as though Marrianne was likely to
win the ladies nationals for the frst time but in the end she
lost two sets to three in what was a really fantastic fnal.
Olavians competed as usual in the adult league in both the
frst division (felding two teams) and also in the second
division. Whilst we have dominated the frst division
in recent years, this year the league system was used as a
training ground for new up-and-coming players. Chris
Self, Sanjay Kundu, Will Phillips and Ross Henderson
from the school were regular members of the frst team
who were able to partner, on a regular basis, top nationally-
ranked players from within the Old Olavian team. Tis very
strong link between the Alumni and the school team was
brought to its climax in the Richard Barber Cup, which is
a three-pair tournament in which three old boys compete
in partnership with three present school players. For the
second year in a row this was won by the Olavians. So many
of the school players become used to playing adult league
and friendly Fives before they leave school. As a result, it
is very natural for them to continue playing as adults when
they leave university and again have easy access to the sport.
In a year in which young Olavians won national titles in
Rugby Fives (U 14 Singles and U13 Singles and Doubles) it
was great to see an Old Olavian also continuing to dominate
Rugby Fives in the adult game. James Toop won the National
Rugby Fives Singles Championships for the ffth year in a
row. Tis has only been achieved once before and James
achievements in Rugby Fives have now established him as
the second most successful player in the history of the Sport.
Many Old Olavians continue to play a prominent role in
the England Team - competing on the international stage
through the neutral code of One-wall Handball. Peter White,
Peter Cohen, Luke Stradwick, David Mew, Anita Ganguly
and Marianne Rees have all represented their country in
recent times and many of them took part in the World
Championships in the USA.
Te Old Olavian Fives club is a really wonderful set-up.
Just as at the school, any player, no matter what their
standard of play may be, is most welcome to take part. We
have great players. We have terrible players! We all get to
share this great sport together and have a lot of sociable
enjoyment together. It is always the best excuse to meet
up with old friends in such a busy life!! Anyone reading
this who would like to play Fives again, or indeed try it
for the frst time, can simply e-mail the Old Olavian Fives
Secretary (Howard Wiseman) on: hwiseman@aol.com.
Tere have also been several Old Boys who have requested
to come and watch some school and Old Boys matches.
Anyone will be most welcome!!!
Howard Wiseman (1980-87)
OLD OLAVIANS NEWS
OLAVIANS 1950-2012
Ron CORK (1962 to 1968) wrote in May 2013 to express
disappointment that he had not heard from any of his
contemporaries in response to his invitation in the 2012
edition for them to contact him. Perhaps some of them
will make just that little extra efort this year. Ron had
visited Te Shard building near London Bridge, and made
the ascent to the viewing area on the 74
th
foor. He reports
that this is a fantastic place to view Tooley Street and the
site of the old school.
He took a photograph of our old site this clearly shows
the building work which was going on at the time, and it
reminded me of those long ago days of my youth when I
used to play cricket with my form-mates against one of the
dockland walls.
Ron tells us that the old building is to become Te Lalit,
a boutique hotel in a beautiful Grade 11 listed building
including a destination signature restaurant and fashionable
bar and it is due to open in 2014. He suggests that the
OOs might arrange a visit once it has opened.
161 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 161
Geofrey HALL (1949-54) in response to a request from
Jane Wells, Geofrey submitted the following contribution
entitled Blitz Boy to Barrister:
Having survived the Blitz as a non-evacuee in South
London, I was admitted to STOGS, Tower Bridge in
1949. My father went to this school and Id like to
follow, was the dithering response in an admission
interview with headmaster Dr R C Carrington! Did this
family connection, perhaps, dissuade him from rejecting
me outright?
In retrospect the age seems a gloomy time. Bomb sites
everywhere. Rationing of food, clothes and petrol was being
lifted, but not sweets. Tat would not come until 1953.
Arriving in the playground with other new boys a salutary
warning began to circulate: If anyone says: Come into the
toilets and see the school tadpoles, Dont go! Te reason
was not provided, further increasing our anxiety.
As a result, when an assembled 1A was asked by elderly form
master Mr H G Wright - who had actually taught my father
to call out their names, my own nervous mutter drew the
curt response: What dye say boy? Hull? Hole? Holly? To
the merriment of my fellows a nickname was bestowed: Olly.
Te daily journey to school, whether sun, rain or snow,
involved a mile walk to New Cross station, a 20-minute
ride to London Bridge in a smoke-flled carriage packed
with coughing commuters, a steep descent into Tooley
Street and the rancid fumes of a greasy spoon. Ten a long
walk past docks, doss-houses, and dingy warehouses.
Sports day, Wednesday I think, required a bus journey to
Dulwich where two changing sheds awaited us: rugby for
the ft and hearty; a run round Dulwich Park for the others.
Neither there nor at the school gym were any showers
available. With our ancient geyser at home operated
only on Sunday evenings one joined a weekly crocodile of
towel bearers, which, once it had passed the whify tannery
of Tower Bridge Road, appreciated the watery frolics at
Grange Road Baths.
Over the ensuing years, the gloom faded. Te Festival of Britain
in 1951 helped, but the Queens Coronation in 1953, my
penultimate year at school, was the start of an astonishing age.
Tanks to the perseverance of my teachers, good GCE
results enabled me to get a job at Lloyds of London. But
in those days any career plans were subject to another
wartime relic: National Service.
My own as an air radar mechanic was a godsend.
Taking daily responsibility for the navigational radar of a
B29 Superfortress does a lot for ones self-confdence.
As a result, once demobilised, I began reading for the Bar
being called in 1963. Te following decades were hectic: legal
publishing and conferences in the UK, United States and Far
East, fnally founding a family business in 1980 which is still
carried on, via the web, with my daughter in New Zealand.
A close friend at school was David Beaman - each of us
best man at the others wedding. Any information on
David appreciated: geof.hall@ntlworld.com.
Constantinos PHANIS (1987-89) has written from
Cyprus to tell us of a recent UNESCO publication which
he has produced this year. Dr Phanis attended the Imperial
College of Science, Technology and Medicine University of
London where he earned the following qualifcations: BSc
in Microbiology (1993) and PhD in Molecular Biology
(1996).
From university he spent a month teaching biology at
St Olaves before becoming a biology teacher at the
English School of Nicosia in 1998; after two years here
he moved to work at the Cyprus Government Schools on
the National Biology Curriculum, while for the last fve
years he has been the Biology Advisor for the Ministry of
Education and Culture of Cyprus. Amongst many other
responsibilities he is the Cyprus National Coordinator for
162 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
the South Eastern Mediterranean Environment Project
(SEMEP) of UNESCO.
He has also been a university lecturer and he is a regular
setter of examination papers in Biology in Cyprus.

Constantinos reports that the aforementioned publication
is a frst collection of SEMEP good practices entitled,
Bridging Culture through Science for a Sustainable
Environment. He has also published an eco-biology
unit for the ESTABLISH project (European Science and
Technology in Action: Building Links with Industry,
Schools and Home), which is a four-year (2009-13) project
funded by the European Commissions Framework 7
Programme for Science in Society. Te overall objective of
this project is to facilitate and implement an enquiry-based
approach to science education for second level students
(age 12 to 18 years) on a widespread scale across Europe
by bringing together, within a collaborative environment,
the specifc stakeholders in science education. Te aim of
ESTABLISH is to create authentic learning environments
for science education by bringing together and involving
all the key communities in second level science education.
Te ESTABLISH group of over 60 partners from eleven
European countries are working with these key communities
including science teachers and educators, the scientifc and
industrial communities, the young people and their parents,
the policy makers responsible for science curriculum and
assessment and the science education research community.
He goes on to tell us that SEMEP is an interdisciplinary
environmental education project focusing primarily on the
south-eastern Mediterranean sea region. Member countries
include: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel,
Italy, Jordan, Malta, Palestinian Authority, Romania, Slovenia
and Turkey. Te project promotes environmental education
through science and intercultural dialogue in the region.
SEMEP involves students at the upper primary and
secondary levels in both formal and non-formal sectors. It
provides an opportunity to consider environmental issues
which are of common concern to countries in the South-
Eastern Mediterranean region. Within the framework
of the existing school curricula, the project encourages
a multitude of science and technology educational
approaches in favour of sustainable development, such as
problem identifcation and problem-solving, hands-on
activities and determining decision-making parameters.
SEMEP is a platform for dialogue and cooperation
among students that reaches beyond the school to the
community. Intercultural dialogue in the whole region has
been promoted in particular through the development of
student exchanges between SEMEP countries.
Every year a meeting of the national coordinators is
organised, where participants can discuss country reports,
best practices and future development of the project.
IN MEMORIAM
We have recently learned of the death at the beginning of
September of Barry Langley (1956-63). A fuller note about
his life will appear in the next issue.
Michael John ELLIOTT (1966-73): Michael A Hunt
(1964-71) wrote with great regret in July 2013 with the sad
news of Michael Elliotts recent death following a short
and nasty battle with prostate cancer. Mike was a staunch
member and supporter of the OORFC and OOCC. He was
a talented fy-half and an excellent batsman and spin bowler,
representing Kent in both sports whilst at school and playing
for North Wales while at college in Bangor where he gained
a degree in Education specialising in PE and Creative Arts.
On leaving college, he embarked on a successful teaching
career at several schools, including a period at one in France.
At the time of his untimely death, Mike was a Year-4 teacher
at St Olaves Preparatory School in New Eltham, where he
was very popular with staf, parents and children. He will be
missed by many there, as well as by his fellow Old Olavians
who have many fond memories of him.
Richard Kenneth MARLOW (1951-57) died on 16 June
2013. A very full obituary appeared in the national press:
there follows a summary of that which appeared in the
Daily Telegraph on 1
st
July. We are grateful to Ron Cork
for brining this to our attention. Richard Marlow was one
of the few choral directors of modern times also to pursue a
full academic career; he served as musical director at Trinity
College, Cambridge, for almost forty years, and was a pioneer
in bringing womens voices to the fore in cloistered choirs.
As a composer and arranger, notably of settings of the
psalms and descants, Marlow was a great talent; among his
best-known works are Veni Creator Spiritus, a motet for
Whitsun, and a popular evensong setting.
Although Trinity has a choral tradition dating back several
centuries, it was not until 1982 that female voices were
heard regularly there. Te mixed-voice ensemble proved
to be a success for Marlow, and over the next 24 years
he released more than 30 discs with the Choir of Trinity
College as well as taking them on many overseas tours.
His style of direction was clear and incisive, drawing a
clean, beautiful and vibrato-free sound from his singers,
regardless of sex, and putting paid to the belief that sacred
music is the exclusive preserve of the male voice.
Richard was born in July 1939 in Banstead, Surrey, the
son of an electricity board worker. He failed his 11-plus,
163 Old Olavian Olavian 2013 Olavian 2013 Old Olavian 163
but judicious lobbying by his father won him a place at
St Olaves. (At the age of 11, Richard went to my fathers
school, Archbishop Temples, near Lambeth Palace, and I still
remember my fathers pride when Richard was promoted to St
Olaves, the school which I was attending at that time - Ed).
While a choirboy at Southwark Cathedral he sang for the
Coronation in 1953, after which the boys were invited for
tea at the Lords. Marlow recalled how he and another
boy ended up at the wrong reception and, while trying to
fnd their correct group, came across an unattended royal
carriage and climbed into it.
He won an organ scholarship to Selwyn College,
Cambridge, where, after taking a First in his fnals, he was
awarded a research fellowship.
After three years lecturing at Southampton University,
Marlow was appointed to Trinity College and soon set up
the Cambridge University Chamber choir. He disbanded
the group in 1989 to concentrate on the mixed-voice
Trinity ensemble. On several occasions he was invited by
Benjamin Britten to conduct one of the Bach Passions at
Aldeburgh, with Peter Peers singing the Evangelist.
Although he retired in 2006 Marlow remained a Fellow of
Trinity and continued to teach there. He had a passion for
steam trains, volunteering on heritage railways. His Hornby
model railway, which was laid out in the loft of his home in
Cambridge, ran to more than a mile of track. In later life he
learnt to swim, eventually covering more than a mile a day.
Marlow is survived by his wife Annette, whom he married
in 1964, and their two sons.
Brian MONKS (1947-54) died on 4
th
June 2013 at the
age of 77. His wife, Judy wrote with the sad news. She
tells us that, after his school days, on which he looked back
with much afection and gratitude, Brian went for teacher
training at Chester College. Tere followed a successful
career teaching in secondary schools in London, Berkshire
and Hampshire. He was also involved in work in Christian
education nationally, being for a time the chairman of the
Association of Christian Teachers.
His time at St Olaves expanded his horizons, and gave
him a love of music, a meticulous approach to all his work,
and thoroughness at all times.
Judy sent the news on a card showing a painting of the
locomotive, Te Cornish Riviera, and she explains that she
did so because railways were always close to his heart, his
father having been a railwayman working at Kings Cross
Top Shed, until very seriously injured by one of the locos
on which he was working.
THE OLD OLAVIANS
HONORARY OFFICERS 2013
PRESIDENT
Aydin na, Headmaster
Te Headmasters House, St Olaves Grammar School,
Goddington Lane, Orpington, Kent BR6 9SH
Tel: 01689 820101
CHAIRMAN
Chris Harris,
chris.r.harris@ukgateway.net
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Bill Prouse
Paul Ouseley
Trevor Read
EDITOR OF THE OLD OLAVIAN
John Brown, 60 Te Lawns, Rolleston-on-Dove,
Stafordshire, DE13 9DB
Tel: 01283 813976 e-mail: johnmbrown60@gmail.com
SECRETARIES OF AFFILIATED CLUBS AND
SOCIETIES
CRICKET CLUB
Lance Giles,
c/o 44 Harwood Avenue, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3DU
Tel: 07891 725488 e-mail: lancegiles@hotmail.com
FIVES CLUB
Howard Wiseman, 7 Genoa Road, Anerley SE20 8ES
Tel: 020 8778 0752
OLD OLAVIANS LODGE (No. 5758)
Peter G Hudson OBE
9 Downs View Close, Pratts Bottom
Orpington, Kent, BR6 7SU
Tel: 01689 858583 e-mail: hudsons91@btinternet.com
RUGBY CLUB
Phil Grayson,
57, Byrne Road, Balham, London SW12 7JB
Tel: 07971 878750
HOLYOAK ROOM
St Olaves School, Goddington Lane,
Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SH
Tel: 01689 830744
164 Old Olavian Olavian 2013
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