Planning your Gap Year - The King's School

T T
TERM TIME
MAGAZINE
ISSUE 01 MAY 2010
The Phantom-Teabag
Senior Sports Day
Planning your
Gap Year

T T
Welcome to the new
Term Time Magazine
- the magazine for the Fifth and
Sixth Form at King’s Worcester
Our country is entering a new era with the Liberal-
Conservative coalition government. Our school is
also entering a new era with a Fifth and Sixth Form
magazine. For a long time there had been limited
journalistic opportunities for the older students,
but this time is now over. We already have a strong team of reporters, but
there are still opportunities for all interested – see one of the editorial
team for more information.
In this first issue of Term Time we have a mix of current school news, a
look through the school archives at interesting events that happened in
the school’s past, reviews, sports articles, a recipe and some more lighthearted
material. Our main feature in this issue is an article on Gap Years.
This is particularly relevant at the moment, as Lower Sixth need to decide
what they want to do with regards to higher education as they start to
think about their UCAS applications, and Upper Sixth who have applied
for deferred entry start to finalise plans for their year out.
This will be an important time of the year for many of our readers, with
public exams looming. I wish everyone who is taking exams soon the
very best, although as much as we want to do very well, we can only try
our best, and we must all remember that worse things can happen than
an exam not going quite as well as it could have gone.
I congratulate all the contributors to this issue. They have worked very
hard in producing material for the magazine. Many thanks must also
go to JCV for her organisation of the magazine, LLG for her help in
proofreading all the articles, and DJA for his work in DTP and putting the
whole magazine together. Without them you would not be reading this.
Enjoy this inaugural issue of Term Time. I hope it is the first of many.
In this issue...
T T
Born in the USA! 3
Michael Hedges shows the extent by which we are
influenced by American culture
T Planning Your Gap Year 4
Charli Wilson looks at good things to do in a year
out before university
T Cookery Corner 5
Jonny Barnett teaches us how to cook something
delicious
T Term Time Review 6
Michael Hedges reviews what he feels are the best
albums of the year so far
T Learning How NOT to Drive 7
Ellie Isaacs reveals all the dramas that can be
expected during driving lessons
T When Football got a bit Messi 7
T T
Ethan Sugden explains where the best footballers in
the world come from
Senior Sports Day 8
Jed Brookes-Lewis summarises the action at the
recent Senior Sports Day
The Phantom Teabag 8
Rosie Pugh investigates an interesting incident
from the school’s past
What would you like to see in the next issue of TT Magazine?
E-mail your comments to termtime@ksw.org.uk
Jonjo McArdle
Editor
TERM TIME MAGAZINE
A publication of The King’s School, Worcester
Issue 01 May 2010
termtime@ksw.org.uk
The Term Time Team
Jonjo McArdle
Editor
Rosie Pugh
Sub-Editor
Jed Brookes-Lewis
Picture Editor
Ethan Sugden
DTP
Any views expressed within this publication are those of the contributors
and do not necessarily reflect those of The King’s School, Worcester.
Visit us on the web:
www.termtimemagazine.co.uk
COMING SOON!
REGIA SCHOLA
VIGORNIENSIS
T T
Look out for features from other team members in future issues....
Jonny Barnett
Contributor
Mike Hedges
Contributor
Ellie Isaacs
Contributor
Charli Wilson
Contributor
www.ksw.org.uk
The King’s School, Worcester: a company limited by guarantee
Registered in England. Company Number 4776324
Registered Office: 5 College Green, Worcester WR1 2LL
Registered Charity Number 1098236
Alex Rhodes Becci Linfoot Will James
Georgie Taylor Hannah Lambert Hannah Wynn
Jack Sims Jenny Simpson Lucy Robinson
Rebekah Harris Sam Greenwood Sam Woodward
Sophie Banks
... and if you would like to contribute to the next issue
please contact one of the team or e-mail us!
2 termtime@ksw.org.uk

T Born in the USA?
No, but we may as well have been...
Mike Hedges considers the impact of American culture on British society
Above me is a California-blue sky, and I am sitting in the glorious sunshine
listening to the ‘next big thing’ out of the States. I am not the only one
enjoying the sun-kissed guitars of some typically happy-go-lucky East
Coast band of bleach-blonde twenty-somethings. All the guys are here
with me, each with one of those red cups of Bud that always somehow
materialise at anything like this – the football players, the cheerleaders,
the bad-asses, the funny kids and the nerds. Because that is everyone
in high school, right? Almost an authentic American Teen experience.
Almost. Except it is early March in the UK, and I am wrapped up in a
hoodie, jacket and jeans – my shorts will have to wait a few months yet
– and I am imagining all of the above except the music. I don’t think it is
an end to this nightmare winter I am yearning for. I think it is much more
than that. Take a look at anyone’s music collection or their favourite films
and TV shows and it is obvious. We are all becoming more American –
especially us teenagers. I am sure I am not alone in thinking this.
been very selective about which part of our lives we have allowed
America to saturate – even if we have indulged ourselves in what we
have adopted with appropriate American gluttony. I don’t think any of us
will have a problem epitomising the British Teenager when England face
the USA in the World Cup in June. We will respond in a suitably drunk and
disorderly manner when our lads do ‘em over. British youths of old will be
proud. At least the elder two years of our teenagers will be getting drunk,
unlike their American counterparts – still waiting, are they?
And what about grammar and spelling? It is remarkable how many
times I have heard someone around school get genuinely irritated by a
missing ‘u’ here and a rogue ‘z’ there. Yet they devote their evenings to a
TV show where they all speak this sub-language? Well, aren’t they quick
to criticize? The British people’s stubborn nature does drive me up the
wall, but at least it is doing its bit in keeping Britain British.
But who can blame us? The ‘American Dream’ really has saturated our
lives. Any teenager who tells you that they don’t know what ‘Glee’ or
‘90210’ are has either had their head in the ground for some time or
can’t bring themselves to admit how hopelessly obsessed with these TV
shows they have become. Or if you think that any song written about
London today could be half as good as Jay-Z’s anthem-like ‘Empire State
of Mind’, and how it paints a picture of New York, I am afraid you would
be wrong – and it does hurt me to admit that. There is no tangible reason
for this – it is just so. Try telling that to The Clash, and see what they would
have thought of this idea thirty years ago. What started with Holden
Caulfield way back when has led to the American Teen being declared
the undisputed Prom King of our race. This personification of what it is
to be a teenager remains faceless – it could be the quarter-back of the
Football team or Jim from ‘American Pie’ – the States has every one of us
covered.
But with typical British spirit, our generation is not doomed to lose our
nation’s cultural identity in a haze of Proms, Superbowl parties and
lyrics about Ivy League schools, beach houses and peanut butter jelly
sandwiches none of us can really relate to, no matter how much we are
convinced otherwise. Due to the fickle nature of our country, we have
termtime@ksw.org.uk
As you can tell, I have given the idea of the Americanisation (‘s’ or ‘z’? Oh,
who cares, right?) of British teenagers much thought – probably far more
than it merits. I came to my final conclusion a few weeks ago, when I met
a wonderful girl from Ohio. The first half an hour of conversation only
convinced me further that the British Teenager as a unique entity was
dead, as I showed off my inappropriately detailed knowledge of American
Football before discussing a mutual love for ‘Lost’ and Baltimore band
Animal Collective with Jen. ‘Oh great,’ I thought. ‘All that sea separating us,
and we are the same person.’ Until, to my endless surprise, she informed
me of her passion for ‘Fawlty Towers’. ‘I have seen every single episode!’
she told me with much excitement. No big deal, there are only twelve, but
I gave her the benefit of the doubt considering she had even heard of it.
When I realised that a girl who had essentially grown up on the set of
‘Desperate Housewives’ was such a fan of something that I thought was
purely a British institution that other countries regarded with ignorant
contempt, my entire ethos on what it means to understand where you
come from, while still appreciating the wider world, was flipped, turned
upside down. The grass is always greener on the other side, and it doesn’t
matter on which side of the Atlantic you stand.
3

T T
Term Time’s Guide to Planning
Top 10 Countries to Visit
Australia
Peru
Canada
Singapore
Fiji
Thailand
Mexico
UK
New Zealand USA
by Charli Wilson
You may not think that planning a gap year really affects you at the
moment, or that you have no time amidst the pressure of school work
to research what’s on offer. You may not even know whether the call of
university will entice you away from a year out of education. Or perhaps,
like me, you are just too lazy to know either way. As for the latter, a decision
like this should not be undergone lightly, after all was it not Sydney J. Harris
who said “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret
for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” In light of the great
journalist’s maxim I have outlined below some of the varied choices that
are available to students considering a gap year.
One of the main concerns of parents when informed of their son or
daughter’s wish to take a gap year is finance. Travelling is never going to
be cheap, but have no fear - there are many ways in which a student can
fund a year out without dipping too heavily into the ‘bank of mum and
dad’. Why not consider working full-time for a few months prior to your
travels to earn your own way around the world? It is a good idea to always
take more money than necessary and along with this it is advisable to earn
the money beforehand, as coming home after your amazing trip to earn
back the money you have spent is morally bashing along with financially
unadvisable. If a stint mopping floors in Tesco doesn’t catch your fancy,
why not get the best of both worlds by earning money on your travels.
The CCUSA (www.ccusa.com) offers gap year students the opportunity to
spend 9-11 weeks working at their Summer Camps in the USA. The well
paid work as a camp counsellor for children aged 7-16 is a great way to
have fun, travel, earn and add to that vital CV. With 30 days at the end of
your employment to travel around the USA, you will undoubtedly get a
chance to see some amazing sights along with getting, let’s face it, that all
important tan.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous, however, perhaps a spot
of volunteering work may be more up your street. Volunteering in your
gap year can take you from orphanages in Thailand to Coastal Ecosystem
Mapping in Tobago (exciting!) for those who wish to do something caring
with their time. Websites like www.gapyear.com/volunteering can give
you hundreds of choices on working with the young, the old, animals
or general community projects in all seven continents. Why not learn
another language while helping some of the poorest people in the world,
and gaining those lucrative life skills so sought after by employers and
universities alike.
Summer/Adventure Camps - CCUSA
www.ccusa.com
Become a camp counsellor in an American Summer camp. Work for 9-11 weeks
over the summer and then have 30 days to travel in the USA.
Paid work experience with children aged 7-16.
4 termtime@ksw.org.uk
Volunteering
gapyear.co.uk
Volunteering/teaching/orphanages/community work/wildlife care.
Year in Industry- YINI
www.yini.org.uk
The UK’s leading student placement experts.
Jobs in engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and
logistics.
Travelling- Adventure Tours
www.gapadventures.com
Amazon Riverboat Adventure
Tanzanian Wildlife Experience
Flights
STA: seems popular, gives discounts to students; also gives advice on countries
you wish to travel to and tailors your flight plans for budget and dates.
RTW: round the world tickets.

Your Gap Year
Cookery Corner
T Looking for experiences a little closer to home, or interested in furthering
your career prospects? Then perhaps a year in industry would interest
you. A year in industry can not only give you a head start in the world
of work but also introduce you to like-minded people who are also
enrolled in a similar course as yourself. The Year in Industry (YINI) offers
students placements in successful industries across Britain in areas such
as engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and
logistics and works in collaboration with companies such as Shell, Rolls-
Royce, QinetiQ, British Energy, L’Oreal or AstraZeneca. The year involves a
9-11 month work placement in a location suitable to you, with the option
to travel for the remaining months of the year. Best of all, you could be
earning £9,000 - £14,000 annually; a great input towards your drinking - I
mean university - fund.
If you have your mind set on travelling it would be sensible to shop
around for the best deals, especially where flights are concerned. A
popular company for booking student flights is STA travel, as they offer a
discount to students under 26, and free information of your destination
along with giving flexible flights for budgets and date restrictions. When
thinking of continent hopping a ‘round the world’ (RTW) ticket will
probably be your cheapest option. This allows you to hand tailor your trip
across the Globe and (presuming you aren’t adopted by the natives) back
again. The most popular route from London across to LA, Fiji, Australia,
Singapore and then back home will set you back approximately £729,
but different routes will vary. Be careful not to be sucked in by the sites
offering you flights FROM so much as often you will be disappointed by
the outcome.
So the general consensus? A gap year can obviously be an amazing
experience with some unforgettable memories, but only with the right
amount of planning and consideration. Only the soft of head would
enjoy being hundreds of miles from home when a serious problem
occurs. While a gap year is about developing as a young person, being
too reckless can be dangerous, so remember, planning does not have
to prohibit spontaneity. Warnings aside, a gap year is about having fun,
enjoying being young and making a contribution to those at home or
somewhere more exotic. Don’t let money/anxiety/laziness persuade you
against something you will regret later in life; after all, university isn’t
going anywhere. As for me, well, I might have persuaded even myself.
Marzipan Baked Apples
Recipe by Jonny Barnett
This recipe is a favourite of mine, and it helps that it is quick and simple to
make, since time and hassle is something we all try to avoid when coming
home after a hard day at school/work. It makes a perfect winter warmer, yet
is also startlingly refreshing on a spring or summer’s evening. If you really
want to impress your friends or relatives when they come around, this will
definitely leave them wanting to come back for more of your cuisine! Serve
with a decent amount of good quality ice cream or cream, and don’t forget
to spoon the sweet sugary syrup, which has collected in the bottom of the
dish, over and around each of the apples to make the perfect finish to this
dessert. Enjoy.
termtime@ksw.org.uk
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 apples, each about the size of a cricket ball
80g dark brown sugar
100g marzipan, broken into pieces
8 walnut halves
2 tbsp raisins
75ml double cream
2 tbsp butter
Vanilla ice cream or double cream to serve
Heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6. Remove the core of the
apples in one piece. Make a slit in the skin of each one right around
the equator of the apple (this will stop it exploding in the oven). Put
the sugar in the bottom of a small ovenproof dish, just large enough
to contain the apples. Place the apples on top, then layer the marzipan,
nuts and raisins in the cavities - any extra can spill out of the top. Pour
over the cream, then dot the tops evenly with butter. Put in the oven
and bake for about 35 minutes or until the apples are soft and the
juices are bubbling. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then decant into bowls.
These are fiendishly rich, but that’s no reason not to add a blob of ice
cream or cream.
5

T T
Term Time Review
by Mike Hedges
Vampire Weekend – Contra
The preppy anti-rock stars return with a chart-topping album that rivals
their 2008 debut for fun, and surpasses it musically. African rhythms move
with extra bounce, the melodies stick
in your head after one listen, and the
introduction of more strings and electro
add a whole new element to their sound
– beautifully bizarre and educated lyrics
come as standard. What will undoubtedly
provide many with the soundtrack to
their summer this year doesn’t skimp on
poignancy. There is a lovely undertone
addressing growing up and moving on.
Key Tracks: White Sky,
I Think Ur A Contra
Beach House – Teen Dream
The third full-length album from Baltimore’s Beach House still sounds as
chilled as their previous releases, but Teen Dream has far greater intent
from the start. Victoria Legrand’s voice sounds glorious throughout – with
most tracks featuring rich harmonies, most notably on Lover Of Mine. The
arrangements float and soar with guitars that chime and keys that sound
like old video game soundtracks. With a title like Teen Dream, the lyrics
suitably consist of vague descriptions of
lust and relationships, but what is most
impressive is the social issue set to affect
just about every teenager tackled in the
final track Take Care – ‘I’ll take care of you,
if you ask me to’ is sung dozens of times
– a reminder of the responsibilities that
face us all when our teen years come to
an end.
Key Tracks: Silver Soul,
Walk In The Park.
Strong Arm Steady –
In Search Of Stoney Jackson
2010’s slickest release so far by a mile. Made up of Soul and Motown
samples, bone
crunching beats,
sharp guitars
and clever verse
after clever verse,
In Search Of
Stoney Jackson
sounds current
and relevant
while tipping its
hat at the music
of the past that
inspired it. If there
is one criticism to
be made of the
Californians, it is all
very similar. But if
you have a winning
formula, why
change it? Without a doubt, my favourite hip-hop album since Outkast’s
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below of 2003. If this isn’t playing at every party
around school after this review, I really haven’t done my job properly.
Key Tracks: True Champs, Bark Like A Dog
6 termtime@ksw.org.uk
Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This
ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: THIS IS THE PERFECT HOMEWORK ALBUM.
Get ready to lose yourself in an efficiency trance induced by the featherlight
beats, swirling textures
and blissful vocals on display
from Carolina’s Chazwick
Bundick. An album that
works so much better in full
than as individual tracks is
becoming increasingly rare
in today’s mp3 generation,
but listening to Causers
Of This in its entirety is a
joyful experience. For fans
of Passion Pit, MGMT and
listening to music while
doing homework but still
getting it in on time.
Key Tracks: Blessa,
Lissoms
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
On first hearing, Astro Coast is a very good guitar album. After several
listens, it is so much more than that. Every track is blessed with a classic
riff, as any good guitar album should, but every track bar the incredibly
catchy instrumental Neighbour Riffs is also blessed with the simply
brilliant vocals of John Paul Pitts. I know, a guitar band with a singer who
can actually sing! Now do you see why I am excited by them? The leak of
the potentially iconic debut single Swim
last year threatened to destroy Surfer
Blood, as the hype that surrounded the
release of Astro Coast became ridiculous.
Although Swim is undoubtedly the best
track, it is just one of many, many good
songs here. The irresistible afro-infused
minute-and-a-bit jam at the end of Take
It Easy has got to be the best section of a
song 2010 has yet seen.
Key Tracks: Swim, Anchorage
Four Tet – There Is Love In You
WOOHOO!! A British artist on the list! I do apologise for the obvious US
dominance of my best of 2010. I wish it were different. Anyway, back to
the album. Four Tet’s latest release succeeds not only in reminding us
that there is indeed love in us, as anyone
who doesn’t feel something from at least
a couple of these tracks isn’t human,
but also that there is love in him and his
sublime music. Because of the eerie cutup
female vocal samples, the intricate yet
in places brutal rhythms, and the overall
atmosphere to Kieran Hebden’s work, I
am going to make a few suggestions on
how to make the most of this album. First
of all, try and find a decent sound system
to play this on. There are things going on here that iPod headphones just
don’t pick up on. Secondly, once you feel like you know the album, let
Four Tet guide you on a walk through an urban environment or keep you
company on the last bus home. Not since Burial’s 2008 Untrue has there
been a better album to explore the city with.
Key Tracks: Angel Echoes, She Just Likes to Fight

Learning How
NOT to Drive
by Ellie Isaacs
Stepping into my driving
instructor’s car for the
first time was, admittedly,
rather nerve racking. I’d
had no experience of
driving before (unless you
counted the slightly illegal
spin I’d had in an empty
car park one night) and
was worried my instructor
would turn to me at the
end of my first lesson and
say “I’m sorry, I just don’t think I’m qualified to teach someone
of your capabilities.” Luckily for me, he didn’t.
After stalling a few hundred times (I genuinely lost count), I
was surprised at what I had achieved in those first two hours:
a top speed of thirty, and returning me and my instructor
safely home. What was more surprising is that my instructor,
Pete, wasn’t horrifically scared at the possibility of death
at any point during our two hour lesson, but was actually
serenely calm. At one point, driving down a road as narrow
as my little finger with parked cars on both sides, I almost
crashed straight into a lorry, but instead of letting out a highpitched
scream or even raising his voice, Pete merely said
“Just towards me a fraction”, whilst applying the dual control
brakes firmly. This was the only near death experience during
my first lesson, and I thought that just one in two hours is
definitely something to be proud of.
So after pulling up outside my house at the end of that initial
session, Pete noted down what I had accomplished (bit of
clutch control, emerging left, emerging right etc.) and told
me to give him a ring to book some more lessons. I, still
surprised by his calmness and lack of fear, nodded and said
I’d give him a call.
So after more lessons (I’d only stopped stalling on about
the 12th) my driving was definitely improving. There was,
however, the incident with the windscreen wipers. During
one lesson, a little gentle rain started falling, so Pete told me
to get the rear windscreen wipers going. This immediately
took my attention away from where it should have been,
the road, and instead onto the rear window. After flicking
the switch up once, I realised that the wipers were on the
wrong setting and this is where the problems started. I
was intent on getting them to the right setting and so, it
appeared, was Pete (who had also – rather worryingly –
taken his eyes off the road). And then, both of us focused on
the windscreen wipers, didn’t notice that my steering had
taken us dreadfully off course and that we were heading for
the kerb. An unexpected bump brought our attention swiftly
back to the road and I managed somehow to get us back on
track with a rapid turn of the steering wheel, whilst my face
flushed magenta with embarrassment. Pete remained silent
in the passenger seat. [But he did tell me later not to worry:
“It happens to everyone.”]
Now, on my 18th – yes, 18th – lesson, I’ve mastered how not
to stall, crash into lorries on narrow roads or veer into the
kerb. I still have some things to perfect before I am ready to
take my test, but I just wanted to let anyone who is yet to
have a driving lesson know that it won’t be as scary as you
think. And if you do make a mistake, I’m sure your instructor
will have seen/experienced a LOT worse (especially if he’s
called Pete and teaches in Worcester).
When football
got a bit Messi
termtime@ksw.org.uk
by Ethan Sugden
T Recently, a young Argentinean footballer proved to the world why he currently
holds the European Footballer of the Year award. When he received this award,
there was a certain feeling, especially from the British press, that he was not the
best player in Europe. Some have been raving about Messi for the last few years,
but for others the award came as a surprise, especially at a time when Cristiano
Ronaldo graced the Premier League; however, Messi fever has now well and truly
hit the UK after that performance against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Perhaps it is the narrow mindedness of the British press that stopped them
from being able to see the incredible talent of Lionel Messi. I think this because
the media do not spend much
time watching other European
leagues, as they believe the
Premier League to be the best in
Europe, and probably the world.
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario,
Argentina in 1987. He started
playing football when he was
five for a club which his father
coached, then moved to local side
Newell’s Old Boys in 1995. When
he was 11, he was diagnosed
with growth hormone deficiency
(GHD). Sporting director of FC
Barcelona at that time, Carles Rexach, heard about the young Messi and arranged
a trial. Barcelona then signed Messi and agreed to pay the $900 per month for
GHD treatment on the condition that he move to Spain with his family.
At Barcelona, Messi trained at the academy known as La Masia. This is perhaps
one of the most famous youth academies of all time. Messi trained daily with
two players also respected on the world stage – Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard
Pique. It may well be here that Messi became so good at the beautiful game.
What goes on at La Masia is very secretive, but Barcelona has every right to keep
their well-practised training techniques a secret. Firstly, they work very well,
with some players going on to play in the Barcelona first team, such as Puyol,
Xavi and Iniesta, but what goes unrecognised is the contribution of La Masia to
the Spanish leagues in general. Some of these players have also made it to the
Premier League, such as Liverpool ‘keeper Reina and Everton midfielder Arteta.
This begs the question: would Lionel Messi be as good had he not gone to La
Masia?
Sadly, it is something we will never know, but many clubs are now trying to
develop their youth academies more to compete with Barcelona. One idea which
the Barcelona scouts use is looking at young players’ mental attributes before
their physical. This clearly shows great confidence in their ability to get the best
out of a player and it also leads to an interesting trend. Most of the players that
join La Masia are strikers or attacking players, as it is this role that requires the
skill needed to play for Barcelona. These skills include mental alertness, speed,
ball control and many more. Some of these players are converted to become
defenders, but they will always have that striker’s instinct, which can be very
useful.
Josep Guardiola, Barca legend and current manager, also keeps his training
methods away from prying eyes. He may now employ some of the techniques
used when he was brought through the ranks at the club. What is known,
however, is his extreme attention to detail. In a recent training session, which
was seen by some of the press, players were split into groups of two, and one of
the exercises was to chip the ball into an upturned stool, once with each foot,
before being allowed to take a shot at goal. There is no doubt that it is this, along
with other methods, that makes Barcelona an unstoppable force.
Messi already has more winners’ medals than the player he is forever compared
to, Diego Maradona. Critics are now saying that Messi must prove himself by
winning the World Cup in the summer when he teams up with Maradona; in my
opinion, he is already the best football player ever to grace the planet.
7

T T
Senior Sports Day
Jed Brookes-Lewis reports
It’s that time of the year again. From looping discus throws to strenuous
sprints, the extravaganza that is senior sports day is one of the can’t miss
events in the school calendar. On a surprisingly chilly May afternoon, the
Fifth and Sixth Forms decamped from normal lessons to the Nunnery
Wood Sports Centre for an event which some say is as prestigious as the
Olympics themselves. You would be forgiven for thinking that you were
back in Beijing too after some of the performances that were put in on
the day, although few records were broken. Harry Nuttall (Oswald) and
Seb Jamous (Kittermaster) both gave Usain Bolt-like feats to take 100 and
200 metres sprint doubles for Fifth and Sixth Form boys respectively. In
the field events Alex Stefanou (Wulstan) impressed, taking victories in
both the long and triple jumps for Fifth Form boys. Alex Roberts (School)
took the long distance double, with wins in the 800 and 1500 metres,
while on the female side of things Emmie Le Marchand put in a stellar
performance, winning a number of events. With her help, among other
good showings, Chappel won by a comfortable margin, with Creighton
in second, Kittermaster third and Wulstan in fourth. A narrow second
place in the triple jump together with her victories ensured Emmie Le
Marchand pipped Lizzie Bennett to be 2010 Senior Sports Day Victrix
Ludorum, whilst Harry Nuttall’s victory in the shot putt and Seb Jamous’
in the long jump along with their sprint efforts made them 2010 Fifth
Form and Senior Boys Victor Ludorum respectively.
The Phantom-Teabag
Rosie Pugh reports...
In 1990, a few secretive sixth formers pulled off one of the most
well-orchestrated pranks of recent years. As the then Headmaster
Dr Moore gave his end-of-year speech in final assembly, a huge
banner – set off by a clever mechanical system – slowly descended
over the back wall of College Hall. Its message – “PHANTOM-
TEABAG STRIKES AGAIN, HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY EVERYONE”.
And the best part? Every excited pupil and horrified teacher in
College Hall noticed … all except for the unwitting headmaster.
The ‘Phantom-Teabag’ conspirators had told no one about the
trick, and had enlisted the help of the maintenance staff to rig
up the banner before final assembly. Someone helpfully snapped
a picture of the banner, so we can all appreciate the genius of a
good prank for years to come. Kudos to the masterminds, from
the Term Time team!
8 termtime@ksw.org.uk