Venta 5 - University of Winchester

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West Downs is probably best known to recent graduates as home to the Student Village and the Tavern and to pre 1987 graduates as a boys prep school. In these pages we celebrate the transformation of a derelict school building into something more lavish. Lord Puttnam raises the curtain on new Performing Arts Centre Village is still a major pulling factor After two and-a-half years and at a with prospective students. cost of £6,500,000, the restored listed school building now forms an The refurbishment of the former imposing centre piece to the modern school building on the other hand, student village. has been a nightmare at times for all involved! The building had been long neglected, was riddled with rot, and close to being beyond economical repair. No less than seven feasibility appraisals were undertaken before “...The building had been long neglected, was riddled with rot, and close to being beyond economical repair ...” the idea was conceived of moving the fast growing School of Performing Despite last minute flooding a week Arts into the teaching areas of the old before, the show went ahead on 2nd Top Left: A terrified refugee, as portrayed by Founded in 1897, the School closed building and converting the May 2001, when film producer Lord a Performing Arts student, remains in char- in 1988, and King Alfred’s acquired dormitories into more study David Puttnam officially opened The acter to pose for a photo with Principal Paul the site in 1994. bedrooms. This approach West Downs Performing Arts and Light and Lord Puttnam. Above: The exterior complemented the College’s Conference Centre. There were over of the West Downs Performing Arts and Soon after its purchase, plans were academic needs during term time, 200 guests in attendance, ranging Conference Centre. Below: Third year under way for a student village and by and would accommodate the from governors and education Performing Arts student Karen Tween, who 1997 nearly 700 students were in College’s expanding conference trade officials to clergy and former pupils of wrote the music and performed a song writ- residence. There is no doubt that the during vacations. West Downs School. The day ten by Kings School pupil, James Rose. award-winning West Downs Student included a range of performing arts Mark Hichen’s book about West Downs offers some interesting insights into the teaching of the performing arts through the twentieth century. An early custom was that boys would perform the plot of a Shakespeare play, but using their words, not Shakespeare. One old West Downian has vivid memories of a performance of Macbeth: "The curtains parted and two boys emerged from opposite sides of the stage and ran into each other. One of them, acting as Lady Macbeth, said to the other: "Let’s murder Duncan." "Yes, let’s," said the other, at which the curtains were once again drawn." Taken from West Downs - A Portrait of an English Prep School by Mark Hichen Rebekah Bernstein graduated in BA Performing Arts in 2000. She shares her thoughts on the new West Downs Centre: to be invited to the opening. The project aims to inspire and encourage young people to participate in the Arts and to develop a range of skills, song, ‘Why?’ which takes an expressive look at the issue of bullying, and Daniel composed the music. and marked the beginning of a very Since graduating, I have been special relationship between the Anvil As a graduate in Performing Arts, I working at The Anvil Theatre in and schools in Basingstoke. must admit that I felt quite envious Basingstoke as an arts assistant. I still whilst admiring the wonderful have close links with King Alfred’s Sophie Hartgill and Daniel Van facilities! Sadly, we did not have such that have developed through my Leeuwen are two pupils who luxurious studios to work in and often I think that West Downs will be a work in Arts Education. participated in the project from Fort had to resort to rehearsing in a room fantastic investment for the future of Hill Community School. They were that resembled something along the the Arts at King Alfred’s, especially It was through one of our most invited by King Alfred’s to perform lines of a rather dull and dirty port-a- with the intake for the BA Performing recent education developments, ‘The their song on bullying at the new cabin! In saying that, I did thoroughly Arts course increasing yearly. Schools Opera Project’, that we came West Downs Centre. Sophie wrote the enjoy my time at King Alfred’s! 2 Venta - King Alfred’s Alumni Magazine
Above: Looking through the main entrance to the West Downs Performing Arts and Conference Centre. workshops and tours of the facilities, followed by the official opening by Lord Puttnam and a staff reception. “...high ambition combined with creativity and the latest technology ...” In his opening speech, Lord Puttnam congratulated the College on the imaginative way in which the space had been converted, he said: "We are told we should not have "fancy ideas". But we no longer live in the world of "make do and mend". You have shown high ambition combined with creativity and the latest technology to give opportunities to many young people." He watched the variety of dance, drama, art and music workshops, and commented that the Centre would give the Performing Arts students the time, space and confidence to develop their skills. He was particularly taken by a performance of a song written by Kings’ School pupil, James Rose. James has cerebral palsy and uses a head pointer attached to a computer to write. His words were set to music and performed by third year Performing Arts student, Karen Tween. Lord Puttnam described the performance as a "quintessential moment" and praised the combination of artistry and technology, which enabled the partnership to happen. He said: "It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to dedicate the opening of a resource like this. Congratulations to all the students and lecturers that have taken part in the tour and allowed us to see the purposes for which the building exists." he added "The College should be justifiably proud of the Centre and continue to use it absolutely brilliantly." The grade II listed building has always been part of a strong tradition of education within the city of Winchester. Always, that is, with exception to the duration of World War II, when it housed the Allied Command Centre for planning the D-Day landings. Director of Estates, Chris Higgins recalls: "When we started work we found some interesting documents under the floor boards including a tearstained letter from a homesick seven-year-old school boy; and partly eaten by mice, instructions from the United States Army on what to do if captured by the Nazi’s." Sue Pearson graduated in 1986 in Human Movement Studies. She explains how she came to be invited to the Opening of West Downs: I was invited to the West Downs Opening following a conversation with Janet Sparkes (School of Education) about a project that I am involved with at work (Shepherds Down School for children with moderate learning difficulties). She thought it would be great for an ex- King Alfred’s student to represent art-related activities that are taking place in the community. My project is based on Sherborne Movement, and I am currently leading a series of workshops with the parents of children who are a mixture of autistic and high dependency. I was first introduced to Sherborne Movement by Janet about 18 years ago when I came to King Alfred’s to study a 4 year BEd (Hons) course specialising in Human Movement Studies and Special Needs Janet was my personal tutor. I've practised Sherborne Movement over the past few years both here and in Romania whilst working for a charity, MUSIKA in Romania (also introduced to by Janet). Sherborne Movement is an attempt to recreate the early stimulating environment between parent and child. It is particularly important for children who for one reason or another are unable to access such essential experiences at an early age. It does this by involving the child in shared movement experiences that aim to increase their body’s awareness and to develop their ability to relate to others and gain a feeling of security and confidence in themselves. I think the new centre looks fantastic, and I would like to see it being used for classes open to the public and workshops for teachers. I hope that the public will also be invited to College performances here – in addition to school visits to see performances, exhibitions and experience workshops. We have been invited back for a tour in the summer as a 'thank-you' to the Mums and children who took part in the workshop at the opening – I’m already looking forward to it! Issue 5 - Summer 2001 3
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Page 7 and 8: Down memory lane ... Howard Horstea

Venta 5 - University of Winchester

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