From strength to strength - Bishop Thomas Grant School

He speaks with passion
Paulina Katolska was still in Year 12 when she attended a
conference led by Lord Winston last July, just before the end of
Summer Term. She was interviewed by our reporter:
“I am most interested in Human Biology, and in our studies
we often address ethical issues, especially medical ones, for
example when we ask the question about whether we are right
or wrong to test on certain animals or tissues.
How do doctors make choices? I now know more about this
after listening to Lord Winston.
When he speaks you can hear the passion for the subject in his
voice, and see it in his face. He deals with all issues very fairly,
both general and specific.
He spoke in particular about decisions on which patients should
receive expensive drugs. Who should make them? Should it be
doctors, or patients or politicians?
Should the government set boundaries which can not be
crossed here? Who is the most in need?
I have watched his TV programmes on child development, so I
knew some his opinions before I came.
At the end of the conference, there were plenty of
opportunities for the students present, who were from various
sixth forms, to ask questions and to voice their thoughts.
My main focus at this moment is chemistry, especially
biochemistry.”
Lord Winston (Robert Winston) is
a professor, a surgeon, a scientist,
a politician and a well-known
television presenter.
He is Professor of Science and
Society at Imperial College, and
gives about thirty public lectures
each year on scientific subjects.
Among the television programmes
and series which he has presented
are The Human Body, The Story of
God and Walking with Cavemen.
He also took part in Jamie’s
Dream School.
LORENZO: ‘Blazing Star’ is about two
children who don’t know they are
brothers, who are put into an orphanage.
They are then adopted by people in two
different countries. When will
they meet?
DIOGO: ‘Spy Dog’ is about a medicine
that can cure dogs of their allergies. The
evildoers in it are kidnappers who want
people to become ill because of dogs. I
usually read comic stories.
JEMIMA: I have just read ‘Frankie Foster’
by Jean Ure, which is about a boy called
Frankie who likes to help others, but it is
not always the right kind of help. I often
read stories by Jackie Wilson.
I like stories like that
Pictured here are five of the Year 7
students who have been taking part in a
sponsored read, organised by Ms Scott-
Goodfellow – Adriana Paiva, Lorenzo
Lobo, Diogo Mendonca, Jemima Boka
and Taiwo Adenuga.
They told Nuntius about what they have
been reading:
ADRIANA: I am enjoying ‘The Name of
the Book is Secret’ because I am still
waiting for the name to be revealed. I
usually like stories about naughty girls.
TAIWO: I recommend ‘Beast Quest’
stories by Adam Blade. It’s a series.
The hero in most of the books is a boy
called Tom, who has a magic map. Along
with his horse, a jet-black stallion called
Storm and a wolf called Silver, he is on a
quest to fight evil wizards. I like stories
like that.
The charities supported are The Salesian
Sisters (Matthew), Special Care Baby
Unit at Mayday Hospital, Croydon,
(Mark), Spires charity for the homeless
(Luke) and Kids for Kids, which helps
children in Darfur, Sudan (John).
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