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Twycross Times
SENIOR 3 VISIT TO THE STAFFORDSHIRE
REGIMENTAL MUSEUM
What does ‘having a chat’ mean?
What do you do in a gas attack? Where
are the toilets in a trench? Why are the
trenches not in straight lines? These were
all questions Senior 3 could answer after
a visit to the Staffordshire Regimental
Museum.
We were taken through the trench system
and introduced to the horrors of life in a
trench during the First World War. Some
pupils tried on uniforms and handled
weapons (de-activated of course!). The
kit they carried weighed 60lbs! Later we
used documentary evidence to unearth
what happened to four soldiers who had
served with the Staffords in the Great
LICHFIELD INSPIRES
The Form 5s were amazed at the scale of
Lichfield Cathedral which they visited last
month. During the morning they watched
a master stonemason carving new faces for
some of the worn gargoyles, watched the
nave altar platform being raised and
lowered (Lichfield is one of only two
cathedrals in the world to have this
facility), studied the carving of the famous
Lichfield Angel and wondered at the
penmanship of the Gospel scribes. The
Canon Precentor led us in prayer and
talked to us about the role of prayers and
petitions in our lives. He then
demonstrated the sounds heard in a
mediaeval cathedral and sang a little of the
litany in the style of churches from
different parts of the world.
After lunch we paid a visit to Dr Johnson’s
House and looked at the original dictionary.
We learned that words change in meaning
over the centuries. For example, the word
'toilet' used to mean simply sitting at a
dressing table sprucing up one's
appearance.
Our final visit was to the Garrick Theatre
where we saw the stars’ dressing rooms,
went on to the set of the current
production, ‘Run For Your Wife’, and
learned of some of the problems of
running a theatre in terms of production
costs and keeping both actors and
audiences happy. Then back to school
after a long but rewarding day.
A V Trickett
War. It was a hectic morning but we were
able to learn so much more about the
realities of life in the trenches than we
could in the classroom.
The answers to the questions
– ask Senior 3.
Mrs J Powell
SKELLIG
An extract of an account by Callum
Wordsworth S2Y
On 16th October the S2 group attended
the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham to see
a production based on the book ‘Skellig’,
written by David Almond and directed by
Phil Clark. The production stayed very close
to the book.
The story begins when a boy, Michael,
played by the talented actor Iain Ridley,
discovers a mysterious man at their house,
in the garage. As the story progresses he
tells his new found friend Mina, played by
exuberant actress Jill Regan, about the
mysterious man. Michael is also worrying
about his baby-sister who is fighting to
survive. The two friends soon discover a
secret about the mysterious man, played by
the actor Neal Foster, that no-one else can
know about.
Some of the actors were playing
instruments during the play, which created
a strong mood. The lighting also helped to
create an atmosphere: when Michael and
Mina were going to the strange man the
lights were on very low.
Overall I thought it was a strong
production, making you use your
imagination for much of the play. I would
watch it again. An added bonus to the
evening was the fact that the author of the
book David Almond was there. He was a
really friendly person and signed some of
our tickets.
NATIONAL
INTER-SCHOOLS
SHOW JUMPING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lucinda Roche, Philippa Thirlby and
William Thirlby flew the flag again for
Twycross House in late November when
they took on 15 other teams in the
team-jumping competition at Keysoe.
After some beautiful riding in the
categories of show-jumping and crosscountry
fences, the team came a very
creditable third with particularly high
scores for their style. Lucinda came
second out of 60 in the individual
section and Philippa took the National
Individual Championship.
Congratulations
to all three
children and their
trainer, Mrs
Victoria Thirlby,
on a highly
successful
first year.
Mrs S. Roche
INTER-SCHOOLS
SHOW-JUMPING
Twycross House took on Dixie G.S. at
the opening of the indoor school at
Grendon Equestrian Centre in August.
A number of Challenge Cups were
eagerly competed for by our school
teams which consisted of Lucinda
Roche, Philippa Thirlby, Katie Garland,
Annabel Palmer, Harriet and Alice
Gilman, Rebecca Evans and William
Bainbridge. The school came first
and second in the 2 ft 6 and 2 ft 9
classes and took all three places in
the pairs class. Congratulations to
our talented riders!
TWYCROSS HOUSE SCHOOL | THE GREEN | TWYCROSS | NEAR ATHERSTONE | WARWICKSHIRE | CV9 3PL | T: 01827 880651
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