The Hall Newspaper Summer Term 2018

SUMMER

N E W S PA P E R ISSUE 12. 2018

JSFootball Fever! P. 41

SUMMER Activity Week P. 5-9

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙NEWS
DRAMA MUSIC PARTNERSHIP BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES SPORT SCIENCE

Contents Science Reflections on The Hall

4 Science Club 24 Rob Clarke
4 Science Museum
4 Science Day In Partnership
4 Crest Awards
25 Antarctica Day
Activity Week 26 Saturday Club
28 History: World War II
5 Year 4s in The Sayers Croft 28 Art with Richard Cobden
6 Year 5s in Devon 29 Stunning Sports!
7 Year 6s in Normandy 29 Creative Clubs
8 Year 7s Around The Country 29 Inspiring Music Technology
9 Year 8s in North Devon
Beyond The School Gates
Music
30 Salters Chemistry Festival
10 Summer Gala Concert 2018 30 The Winton Cup Competition
31 The Lion King Trip
Me andMySailing 31 Covent Garden Trip
31 Chapel Choir go to Windsor Castle
11 James Crossley 32 Verulamium & Welwyn Roman Baths Visit
32 The Crystal
News 33 Skiing Holiday in Austria
34 Iceland Trip
12 Summer Festival 35 Geography Trip to the Olympic Park
14 Alumni Tea 35 Dinosaurs in the Wild
15 MS Team Building Morning
16 Junior School Geography Day Drama
17 The National Enterprise Challenge
18 Fun Run 36 Animal Farm
18 VEX Robotics Competition
19 Junior School Poetry Week Sports
19 The MS & SS Poetry Competition
20 The Hall Triathlon Team Success 41 Junior School Football Fever!
21 Year 5s Life Drawing 42 Sri Lanka & Dubai Cricket Tour
47 Belmont Cricket Festival
A Life in the Day of 47 Bedford School Cricket Sixes
48 Sports Days
22 Kevin Dobson 51 Ski Squad News

2

Welcome!

Welcome to a bumper edition of The Hall termly newspaper.
As you can see from its size, it was a highly enjoyable and productive Summer Term.

A number of the articles relate to the various trips that took place in the Easter holidays. I was very fortunate towards
the end of the Spring Term to receive a late call-up to the Sri Lanka cricket tour. Nothing to do with my cricketing

ability or my coaching insight I fear, but due to reports of unrest in Kandy, our first destination in Sri Lanka an extra
member of staff was required. I was happy to return to a country I had first visited in the just before I started my final

year at school.
Back in that summer of 1977, two very inspiring if slightly mad teachers from my school had decided that they would
run a four week expedition to the country, travelling around the island in a rickety old bus that allegedly had originated
from Birmingham! With not a risk assessment in sight we enjoyed a marvellous freedom to explore and delve beyond
the traditional tourist sites. A genuine love for the country grew from that initial visit, and upon reflection over the years
since, I have come to realise that the teachers and the trip itself were highly influential in guiding my decision to study

geography at university and later, to enter the teaching profession.
Thankfully by the time the Tour arrived in Kandy this Easter the unrest had dissipated and the beautiful city had
returned to normality. Boys and staff all enjoyed a marvellous range of excursions, some luxurious accommodation and
most importantly, some very memorable cricketing experiences, as you will see from the report later in the paper – may

I thank the authors for such a splendid account of the trip.
The tour proved to be successful in so many ways and the accompanying adults, including the parents, could not have
been prouder of the boys as they adapted to the different and often challenging playing conditions as well as the high
calibre and competitiveness of the opposition. The boys really came together as a group and were supportive of each

other whilst relishing the opportunity to enjoy this special experience together. There was truly a great spirit!
Such ‘spirit’ was present throughout the entire school over the summer term in almost palpable ways. I could not have

been more delighted with the range of activity and standards of achievement that were enjoyed in so many areas of
school life by boys and staff alike. Equally important to me was the manner of ‘wholeheartedness’ in which the boys
went about their daily activities. I feel the pages that follow capture the essence of the’ Spirit of the Hall’, a desire to pull

together and thoroughly enjoy each and every opportunity.

HEADMASTER

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WELCOME 3

Science

ScienceCLUB

Over the summer term, the Science Club took
part in a boat building challenge, as part of our

ongoing STEM education programme.

Science Day
YEAR 3

Edward Dwyer

Crest Awards
YEAR 8

Science Museum
YEAR 6

4

Activity Week
Summer 2018

The Sayers Croft

YEAR 4

ACTIVITY WEEK 5

Devon

YEAR 5

6

Normandy

YEAR 6

ACTIVITY WEEK 7

Around The Country

YEAR 7

8

North Devon

YEAR 8

ACTIVITY WEEK 9

Music

Summer Gala
CONCERT 2018
Willem Steyn

The annual gala concert took place on Thursday 10 May. It was an evening which celebrated
the diverse music culture of The Hall School. All of the orchestras and a number of ensembles

treated the audience with a variety of music styles. The Junior School Choir entertained the
audience with a performance of Beethoven’s Wig with our own Mr Buss as Beethoven himself!
The final item of the evening also featured the impressive organ at St John’s Smith Square in an

exciting piece for organ and orchestra which was beautifully played by Mr Dean.

10

Me andMySailing

James Crossley STOP PRESS: THIS SUMMER JAMES WON THE 4.2
TOPPER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - A
Istarted sailing at the Dovey Yacht Club in WEEK-LONG SAILING COMPETITION THAT TOOK
Aberdovey, Wales when I was 7 years old. My PLACE THIS YEAR AT THE 2012 OLYMPIC SAILING VENUE
older brother, my parents and my grandparents IN WEYMOUTH.
all sailed, so it was inevitable that I should give it a
go. The boat I sail is a Topper, which is one of the club of Datchet, as well as regional events at lots of sailing clubs in
junior Olympic pathway boats usually sailed by 10 the South East. There haven’t been many weekends this year when
to 18 year olds. I did try Oppies early on, but they I haven’t been sailing. I train and race locally in the Topper 5.3 fleet
aren’t as much fun, and I soon went back to the Topper. (same boat, bigger sail), and compete nationally in the 4.2 fleet because
of my age and weight. I am currently lying in 3rd place overall in the
After a few years of club racing in Wales, often winning against older Topper 4.2 national series. As I write this, there is one more event
children and even adults, I decided that I enjoyed it so much that I in that series at Derwent Reservoir in County Durham. The Topper
wanted to do more. Unfortunately, my family only sail when we are National Championships are then held over a week in the summer at
in Wales which meant that I could only train and race in the school the Weymouth National Sailing Academy.
holidays. So, in September 2017 I joined the 20 Knot Squad (Junior
Training Scheme) at Datchet Water Sailing Club (DWSC) near Eton. I train off and on the water, working on theory, strategy, nutrition
After a couple of weeks I became the Junior Champion at the Club and and fitness on land and putting it into practice on the water. It is
was entered in the London & South-East Zone Championships. There, also important after a race to review it, seeing what you did right or
one of the RYA coaches asked me to go to a Squad Selection Day where wrong and making improvements. Racing is hard work, particularly
I was selected for the RYA London and South-East Zone Squad. This is at national events where you can be on the water for several hours at
the first level in the RYA’s training programme aimed at training junior a time, racing back to back. My greatest achievement so far is coming
sailors who have the potential to go on to compete nationally and second in the Topper 4.2 national series event at Draycott Water, just
internationally. Great Britain is one of the top sailing countries, often one point behind the person coming first. After the summer I hope to
wining medals at the Olympics, and the RYA takes its training very train again with the Zone Squad and move up to competing in the 5.3
seriously. Charlotte, who had spotted me at the Zone fleet nationally. I can then compete next summer to get into one of the
Championships, is now my coach.
national 5.3 training squads.
I trained through the winter 2017/2018 with the Zone
Squad which was very cold at times but still fun and I The best thing about sailing
learnt a lot. In February this year I entered the National is making the boat go fast and
Winter Regatta at Weymouth in the Topper 4.2 fleet pushing yourself and your boat
and was thrilled to come 3rd in my first national event! to the limit. I hope to continue
Since then I have competed in a number of national sailing for the rest of my life and
events at Grafham, Rutland, Draycote and my home look forward to taking the path
from sailing a small dinghy up to
60-foot trimarans!

ME AND MY SAILING 11

News MARQUEE

Thank you to all the families who came along to the Visual Arts
Wilf Slack Playing Fields in June to enjoy our Summer Exhibition

Festival! FRONT PAVILION cricketMAIN SQUARE

A range of Hall bands (four guitar groups, three jazz bands food
and a staff ensemble) provided chilled summer evening
PAVILION
music whilst the barbeque sizzled and the strawberries and
Pimms were guzzled and we caught up with friends and ice cream
colleagues at the end of the busy academic year.

In the marquee, the MS & SS Visual Arts Exhibition provided
a dazzling celebration of the exceptionally wide range of
talent and achievement revealed in the collection of MS
and SS boys’ art and ceramics pieces produced over the
past year, including examples of the newly established
Photography course.

Our annual Band Night formed part of the Summer
Festival. The evening was opened by Gulliver Lewis who
gave a fantastic performance of When I Was Your Man,
accompanied by staff members from the Music Department.
Our four guitar groups and three jazz bands provided
excellent entertainment while parents and staff battled it out
on the cricket and rounders fields. Boys regulated their own
game of all-age football on the astro whilst others crowded
around an outdoor screen to watch the England vs Belgium
group stage of the World Cup. Huge thanks to the HSPA for
hosting this very entertaining event - what a delightful way

to spend a summer’s evening!

12

NEWS 13

ALUMNI

Alumni
TEA

The second ‘Tea at The Hall’ alumni event
was held in mid-June and it was lovely
to see many ‘old boys’ take the trouble to
make the journey from far flung places
around the country to be with us. The

Junior School boys were especially proud
to play several string ensemble pieces for
our esteemed audience and asked that on
future occasions they may be invited to stay
for sandwiches and cake afterwards too!

We found the range of former teachers and school
events that guests remembered in detail to be quite
astonishing and given that only a few of the ‘old
boys’ had ‘overlapped’ at the school, we concluded that staff
turnover must have been much slower in years gone by! Many
of the stories recounted were extremely amusing... surely
the story of Mr Wathen’s false teeth is etched in the minds
of hundreds of former pupils and never fails to bring forth a
chuckle years later! During the teatime conversations and the
walk around the school buildings there were several poignant
moments too of course, as departed teachers and classmates
were remembered.

If you are a Hall ‘old boy’ and would like to be invited to an
event back at the school, we would love to hear from you!
Please do not hesitate to be in touch: [email protected]

14

MorningMS TEAM BUILDING

In early June Years 3 and 4 enjoyed a ‘Team Building Morning’ in preparation for their time together next
academic year in the Middle School. The year groups met at Wilf Slack on a beautifully sunny morning to
work together on various team building activities with the JS and MS teachers; each of the 18 teams had
six boys, three Year 3 boys and three Year 4 boys. Even though the year groups
are small in number at The Hall and many boys were already acquainted with
each other from their time in the JS, the teachers find that such activities are an
enjoyable way of preparing for the MS years and beyond.

The idea is to engage in activities that are both fun and challenging but also have
the “side effect” of building teamwork skills that can help improve learning and
personal development. The teachers devised a range of activities that focussed
on boys’ abilities to communicate, problem solve and make decisions, requiring
adaptability and planning skills, as well as others that required the capacity to

build trust amongst groups of peers.

The boys took part in six different activities
that they rotated through before having a
chance to give feedback and share a picnic
lunch... much needed refreshment after a very
busy morning for all!

THE IDEA IS TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES
THAT ARE BOTH FUN AND CHALLENGING
BUT ALSO HAVE THE “SIDE EFFECT” OF
BUILDING TEAMWORK SKILLS...

NEWS 15

Geography DayJUNIOR SCHOOL

In mid-June the JS boys turned their attention to ‘Recycling’ as part of a
Geography Day which took as its theme ‘Caring for the Environment’.
Some of the Year 3 boys decided to write to manufacturing companies to
ask them to make use of sustainable and ethically sourced materials.

Other classes thought about how to reuse some items
that would normally find their way into the ‘junk’ pile –
some ingenious models were created, including marble
runs, castles and cars! Some boys had a go at making
their own paper!
Others made posters highlighting the dangers of
plastic and other materials in the oceans.
Boys were encouraged to use public transport for the
week, aiming to reduce the amount of pollution in the
local environment.

16

intensive day at the Wilf Slack Playing Fields back in November
2017 to launch their projects.
As well as promoting the spirit of entrepreneurialism and
transferrable skills, taking part in The Ryman National Enterprise
Challenge gives students the opportunity to meet staff from
employers such as Ryman, as well as developing key skills that are
valued in the workplace and will prepare them for life in modern
Britain.

The Hall THE RYMAN NATIONAL ENTERPRISE
CHALLENGE HAS ATTRACTED
REACHES FINALS OF OVER 450 SCHOOLS AND 200,000
STUDENTS SINCE ITS FIRST CHALLENGE
Huge congratulations to The Hall Year 8 team that managed WAS LAUNCHED BACK IN 2013.
to reach the finals of the prestigious annual Ryman
National Enterprise Challenge, the UK’s largest school’s This July our finalist team, comprising Ameya Kulkarni, Ishaan
enterprise education competition in July. Sheridan, Wilkie Dent, Felix Adler, Adrien Pajot and Hector Hills
The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge is part of the was brimming with anticipation and excitement as they joined
Inspirational Learning Group, whose aim is to provide innovative students from 160 schools at the finals which took place on
and enterprising off-timetable events for schools, colleges and Wednesday 4th July, almost the very last day of school. The teams
universities. The Ryman National Enterprise Challenge has came together at The International Centre, Telford to compete
attracted over 450 schools and 200,000 students since its first against each other, each pitching the ideas they had worked hard to
challenge was launched back in 2013. create over the previous months.
The 2018 challenges were set by supporters, Ryman and KidZania
- an indoor city run by children. The Key Stage 3 challenge tasked
students to design a new activity for KidZania’s Indoor City at
the Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, London. The
activity included creating a You Tube advert and considering how
many Kidzos (Kidzania’s official currency) it would cost. Year 8
boys competed in various rounds of the Challenge, spending an

NEWS 17

Fun Run

RECEPTION + YEAR 1

James Avery Gee

On Monday the 14th May, we had a fun run at Wilf Slack.
We got there by coach. Before we ran, we played some
games. We played a ball game, duck duck goose and
parachute games.
I liked the ball game the most. Then we did the fun run. I ran
14 laps. Each lap was 200 metres. So far we have raised £3,061
and there is still more to come. I think we did amazingly!
(Indeed you did Reception and Year 1 – you raised over £4000
for the Anna Freud Centre in the end!)

COMPETITION

The Hall held its first VEX Competitions this summer, bringing the Year 8s’
STEM skills to life by tasking teams of boys with designing and building a

robot to play against other teams in the game-based engineering challenge.
Teamwork, leadership and communications skills were put to the test over
the term as boys developed their robots and game strategies through the form

regional heat stage to the semi-finals and eventually the finals.
The Year 8 finalists were Team Rhino vs Team Declan Rice.

Declan Rice took the first leg but it was Rhino who won in the final match,
becoming our first ever Hall School VEX Champions!

18

Poetry WeekJUNIOR SCHOOL ThMeSP+oSetSry
Sarah Schofield
2018
The last week of May was our annual Poetry Festival
Week in the Junior School. Each boy memorised The annual competition was held in mid-May for the finalists of
a poem at home, and then recited it to their class, each year group in Years 4-8 shown below. We were delighted
focusing on enunciation, clarity, expression and meaning. that Carl Gilbey-McKenzie, former Head of English at The Hall
The best recitations won ‘Class Awards’. In Years 1 to 3, adjudicated upon this occasion, a task which he professed to find
these winners then went into a larger competition before very difficult given the quality of the poetry recitation this year. Well
the whole school, judged by Mr Dobbin. done to Benjamin Harley who was awarded the Poetry Cup.

The presentation skills of the boys was quite YEAR 4
extraordinary, and everyone was very impressed - it was Marmaduke Constance: Strict by Michael Rosen
a lovely afternoon. The ‘Year Award’ winners, along with Theodore Constance: Homework, I Love You by Kenn Nesbitt
both Reception winners, went on to recite before the Giles Empson: Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face by Jack Prelutsky
parents in Special Assembly. They were very brave! All the Nicolas Popp: Working from Home by Phil Johnson
boys in the school worked very hard on these important Ned Van Steenis: A Boat beneath a Sunny Sky by Lewis Carroll
public speaking skills, and they should be very proud of Cassius Yechiel: Have a Nice Day by Spike Milligan
themselves for remembering a poem!
YEAR 5
Lui Kato: Witches’ Chant by William Shakespeare

Bob Murray: Crocodile by Roald Dahl
Salomon Snijders: Like to the Grass anon
Kai Szerkowski: Excuses, Excuses by Gareth Owen
William Travis: Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

YEAR 6
Kush Chandaria: Paper People by Harry Barker
Dougal Graham: The Mother Bird by Walter de la Mare

Luqmaan Markar: Pig by Roald Dahl
Zach Tydeman: Death anon

Saul Zimdahl: Crocodile by Roald Dahl

YEAR 7
John Arbuthnott: The Song of a Man who has Come Through by D H Lawrence
Noah Basden: Do Not Stand on my Grave and Weep by Mary-Elizabeth Frye

Benjamin Harley: Duce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen
Musa Hashmi: What has Happened to Lulu? By Charles Causley

Darshy Pandey: Down vith Children by Roald Dahl
Jacob Shapiro: Be Glad your Nose is on your Face by Jack Prelutsky

YEAR 8
Arjun Badhuri: Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Wilkie Dent: My Parents kept me from Children who were Rough

by Stephen Spender
Joe Katzenellenbogen: Hair Today, No Her Tomorrow by Brian Patten

Evan McDermid: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
Milan Pretorius: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Ben Heyes: Chocolate Cake by Michael Rosen

NEWS 19

TriatThHlEoHnALTL eam

SUCCESS AT BLENHEIM PALACE

In early June, on the day of the third triathlon at Blenheim Palace in
which The Hall Team has entered a team, the temperatures soared into
the thirties – great for the many spectators who came along to support,
but really challenging for the participants. Nonetheless, the thirty-strong
team comprising parents, staff and friends, with at least half competing in
their first ever triathlon, admirably rose to the challenges. Some had been
training for months, swimming in open water, tearing around Regent’s
Park or further afield on their tri-bikes and running around various athletic

tracks or the streets of Hampstead even during the bitterly cold months of
January and February, where the snow and ice were enough to deter all but

the most resolute… Others joined the team later in the season. Everyone
gave of their best and the whole team finished the event without major

injury – some even achieved their best-ever times!
Sponsorship for the Team’s fantastic efforts raised over £20,000 for The
Anna Freud Centre, a charity that provides a range of specialist types of
support for children and families who are in distress resulting from mental
health challenges. Hall boys raised much of this through participating in
in-school events. A further £4,000 was also raised for The Alzheimer’s
Society. A huge ‘thank you’ goes to all participants and supporters for giving
their time and energy to support the work of these wonderful charities.

If you are interested in joining The Hall Tri Team in 2019, please do be in
touch with the External Relations team at The Hall (020 7744 1832)

20

DrLaIFwEing
Art, Year 5

Bob Murray Eli Hayim Jeremy Ching

Year 5 enjoyed a life figure
drawing workshop in May.
Armed with all the necessary
equipment and under the
expert guidance of professional
artists, the boys learned how to
sketch a live model. It was the
first time this had happened
at The Hall and judging by the
palpable air of concentration in
the room, was enjoyed by all.

Julian Herbst Nicholas Taylor Paolo van der Lubbe Zeeshan Coles

NEWS 21

A Life in the Day of

Kevin Dobson ‘You have brains in
your head. You have
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL feet on your shoes. You
can steer yourself any
Assisted by Dr. Seuss direction you choose.’

I grew up in Harrow with my parents and my younger sister Jackie and attended the local Catholic primary and secondary school
before going to St Dominic’s Sixth Form College next to Harrow School. It was here that I decided that I wanted to be a teacher and as

I always said I wasn’t going to teach anyone taller than me, primary education it was! I then went to St Mary’s in Twickenham
where I completed my teaching degree. It doesn’t feel that long ago but this year I will have been teaching for 21 years!
Where did that time go? The children in my first class will now be 30 years old and I know that at least five of my
past pupils have gone on to become teachers themselves, which is really nice to hear.

Istarted my teaching career in Ealing, where I stayed for two and a half today with the skills and qualities that they will need to succeed in the 21st
years before going back to teach at my old primary school. This was a Century, essentially future proofing them! Knowledge is now available at
little strange to start with, especially as there were two teachers still the touch of a button and therefore is not as necessary to keep ‘in one’s
there who had taught me (I hope that doesn’t happen to me!). After eight head’ as it has been in the past. Having a skill set that includes flexibility,
years there teaching children from Year 3 to Year 6, I left to become Deputy resilience, individuality, empathy and personality are becoming more
Head at Grimsdell, where I stayed until joining The Hall at Easter 2018. and more fundamental than ever before. This of course does not mean
‘It’s better to know how to learn than to know.’ abandoning our curriculum but making subtle changes that provide the
boys with greater opportunities to develop these skills.

Sometimes when you walk into a school you get a good feeling about I have been asked to describe a ‘typical day as Head of the
the place and this was never more so than at The Hall. Everyone was so Junior School’ which is an extremely difficult task, as I am
friendly and you could see how happy, enthusiastic and driven the boys not sure that it exists! So far every day has been different
were. Mr Godwin took some time out of his day to speak to me and I soon and I am sure if you asked any teacher they would say the
realised that we shared the same philosophy along with Dr Seuss and that same.
The Hall was where I needed to be! I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term
and am already looking forward to next year. ‘THE MORE THAT YOU READ, THE MORE
THINGS YOU’LL KNOW. THE MORE THAT
‘You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll YOU LEARN, THE MORE PLACES YOU’LL GO.’
join the high fliers who soar to high heights!’
You never know what
I know that being the Head of the Junior School is a real honour. I feel might happen when
extremely lucky to have been given this opportunity and will work you walk through the
tirelessly with the fantastic Junior School staff team to continue to deliver door. Probably the
an excellent foundation for the boys’ learning. There are exciting times strangest thing I have
ahead with some changes and additions that I trust will really enhance our had to deal with was at
current provision. I believe it is important that we equip our young people my last school, when a
swan decided to land
in the playground at
the end of break time.

22

You honestly don’t realise how big they are until you get really close to Whether it be scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef or watching the
them. Thankfully we managed to usher it out and it soon took off. sunrise over the Temples at Angkor Wat, seeing different cultures and
Regular items on my agenda would be spending some time in each learning how different people live has always fascinated me. There are
classroom working with the boys and supporting their learning, leading still many places I would like to visit, particularly The Americas as I have
assemblies, having various meetings with different members of staff across only seen a small part of them. Both my wife and I would love to do a road
the whole school as well as parents, having different break duties in the trip in the United States but we will probably wait until the children are a
playground and sending and responding to emails – oh so many emails! little older.
‘Its opener out there in the wide open air.’
Growing up I always loved to read
Six years ago I was given the books, the first two I remember
opportunity to become a Forest reading were Two Village Dinosaurs
School practitioner. Being a lover and The Owl who was Afraid of the
of the great outdoors, I snapped at Dark. After that I was gobbled up
the chance! What is Forest School? by Roald Dahl and his wonderful
Forest School is an inspirational books that took you off to weird
process, which offers ALL learners and magical places. I didn’t really
regular opportunities to achieve discover Dr Seuss properly until I
and develop confidence and self- started teaching and we used his
esteem through hands-on learning books as a topic theme one term.
experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees. Teaching You will see I have used many of his
Forest School to pupils from 3-13 really opened my eyes to the impact quotes as headings for this article.
that outdoor learning has on an individual and not just from a wellbeing He always sent such important messages in his stories that have stood the
perspective. All children develop incredibly over prolonged time spent in test of time, which is truer than true!
the woods, their ability to problem solve, work together, be imaginative
all improve and they also learn about the natural environment around Most of my reading now usually revolves around education. The last book
them for good measure. Other colleagues often commented that children I read was recommended to me by Mrs Bonham-Carter and was called
were calmer and better behaved after our Forest School sessions. This is ‘Daring to be Different’, a truly inspiring book about memorable learning
something I am currently investigating for us here at the Junior School, and its impact in the classroom. When I get the chance I like to read crime
so watch this space! dramas; Jo Nesbo has been an author I have returned to again and again.
‘You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.’
Most of my spare time is spent with ‘Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it
my family in Potters Bar with my becomes a memory.’
wife Lucy and our two children Lily
(9) and Jack (2). We all enjoy the Football has played a huge part in my life (my wife would probably agree)
outdoors, so we like to go for walks and I have been involved in teams from the age of 10. I think it helped
together usually in the woods or to shape the person I am today - being part of a team and a collective
National Trust sites. The children develops key skills that can be put to use in everyday life as well as
keep us pretty busy, especially Jack! providing the opportunity to make friends. I am still good friends today
My wife is also a teacher, so it is with many of the boys seen in the picture! (A black and white picture? It’s
lovely that we get the school holidays from a newspaper honestly!)
together. We are regular visitors to
Suffolk where it is really nice to get away from everything and have some I played for various teams over the years and enjoyed a moderately
valuable family time, something that can sometimes be difficult during successful semi-professional career with Northwood and Hanwell Town,
term time. We have yet to venture abroad with Jack - something possibly where I had the opportunity to play against some fantastic players, the
for next year when the thought of a few hours on a plane is a little less late David Rocastle (ask your dad) Paul Merson and John Terry, the most
daunting! noteworthy. I still play regularly, but slightly less competitively and still
‘If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is get the same buzz from being part of a team.
good.’
I have always enjoyed seeing new places, so after qualifying as a teacher,
and with the generous summer holidays available to me, I used the time
to travel, mainly around South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

A LIFE IN THE DAY OF 23

Reflections on The Hall

Rob Clarke

25 AND OUT. RETIRED WELL.

The long tradition of Staff v Parents cricket matches at The Hall Year 5 sharing the cramped Senior School
dictates that a player must retire if he/she reaches 25 runs when building. We needed more space and new
batting, thus vacating the crease and making it available for another Head Paul Ramage oversaw the acquisition of the site for the Middle School,
batsman. Having spent 25 years at The Hall as Head of French, I have which eventually allowed space to be freed up below and above for a less
elected to invoke this practice in a cross- curricular way and as I write, I sardine-like existence all round. It is a strong statement of the school’s
am on the cusp of carrying my bat back to the pavilion. ambition to provide the best possible facilities that we stand yet again on the
verge of another construction project.
As a prospective pupil or member of staff, The Hall is a difficult place to get Games sessions have always been an important part of my profile. I took
into but also a difficult place to leave. I have seen countless boys and parents the 1st and 2nd XI Football teams for many years, as well as Cross Country,
in tears over the years at Leavers’ Evenings, bereft at cleaving themselves Athletics and Senior Tennis groups. In the days before the Wilf Slack
away from a school, which has offered, supplied and afforded so much and Memorial Ground, this entailed walking to Regent’s Park and Parliament
for so long. With staff, too, moving on is rarely a straightforward, clinical Hill or taking the Underground to the London Transport Sports Ground
procedure, with so many academic, sporting, social and personal links to at Wembley Park. The comfort and safety of Marshalls Coaches is a recent
break. After a quarter of a century, this is my reality and such are my chains. phenomenon!
Perhaps the two areas that have evolved at the greatest pace over the years
A tenure of this length suggests either a remarkable lack of ambition on my have been education outside the classroom and digital learning. I introduced
part or that the school has been in a state of constant flux and has annually the French Exchange programme in 1994 and it has run on an annual basis
presented me with different roles and responsibilities. As Head of Year 8, ever since. The current Activity Week in June has its roots in 1994 also, when
Head of Purple House and Activities Co-ordinator, I have certainly had the first Year 8 Activity trip took place at Calshott Spit in Hampshire. Ski
plenty to keep me busy. One of the constants over the span of my time here trips, football tours, Classics cruises and trips to Normandy followed and
has been the boundless enthusiasm of the boys and the willingness to take we now have stamps on our biometric passports from Iceland, South Africa,
part and throw themselves into different ventures. Spain, Sri Lanka and Dubai, to name but a few. We travel very well!
Although there was a computer room in the early 1990s, it certainly wasn’t
AS A FUTURE OF TRAVEL AND GOLF BECKONS, I cutting edge, nor, I think, was there any real suspicion of just how quickly
RECALL THE TRADITION OF THE STAFF V PARENTS this area was set to evolve. The days of paper registers and hand-written
CRICKET MATCH AGAIN. THE PLAYER WHO HAS reports were certainly as functional as the Garamond point 12 era and
RETIRED HAVING SCORED 25 RUNS, RETAINS THE RIGHT possibly had more soul but as the revolution took hold, many of the school’s
TO RESUME HIS POSITION AT THE CREASE, IN THE EVENT processes began to look strangely outmoded and there is now hardly an
THAT ALL HIS TEAMMATES HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT. aspect of school life, which does not possess its own digital footprint. Tel est
le progrès!
I was appointed to the position of Head of French on a wet February day in As a future of travel and golf beckons, I recall the tradition of the Staff V
1993. An interview with the interim Headmaster, Dickie Dawe, went well but Parents cricket match again. The player who has retired having scored 25
what sealed the deal was that, as I left, Mr Dawe remarked that we had the runs, retains the right to resume his position at the crease, in the event that
same raincoat. It had to be a sign. all his team mates have been bowled out. Surely, that couldn’t happen here!

Redevelopment of the Junior School space followed, with the Chair of
Governors, John Ritblat, who also happened to be the Chairman of British
Land, overseeing a building programme, which was completed over the
summer holidays, giving 30% more teaching space. A very quick turnaround.
Throughout this period, Year 4 boys were based in the Junior School, with

24

In Partnership

ANTARCTICA

A group of Year 3 children were invited from Christ Church Primary
to join in the Junior School’s annual cross-curricular day in late June.

The focus was on Ernest Shackleton, his men and his dogs’ famous
journey to Antarctica. The children learned about the Antarctic,
sea travel, polar landscapes and a range of animals that inhabit
the coldest climates on Earth.
Through drama, art, music and poetry, working in small groups,
the Year 3s used glockenspiels and percussion instruments to
create atmospheric soundscapes in music and learned and used
new vocabulary in describing snowscapes. In art the children

explored a variety of materials and techniques in building their own
polarscapes and had fun re-enacting the Shackleton
journey using drama and storyboarding.

IN PARTNERSHIP 25

SATURDAY CLUB

Our pilot scheme ran over four Saturdays across the summer term. It was so exciting to be able to finally put faces to the
names of the twenty two Year 4 and Year 5 participants selected by the Headteachers of four of The Hall’s partnership
primary schools back in January. In no time at all the children bonded into a group of friends, enjoying the football and
climbing wall out in The Yard as much as the laboratory experiments and classroom activities.

The overarching goal of the Saturday Club is to offer transitions are challenging in many ways – and the underlying goal
something special to these clever children who enjoy learning of our Saturday Club is to provide a platform for these children as
and can be stretched further not only in their acquisition of an ‘early preparation’ for the next steps of their education and for
knowledge, but just as importantly, in skills such as articulating life.
their ideas, working with others, analysing problems, creating We learned lots about the organisation and running of a series of
solutions and organising themselves to achieve their goals. learning events. We are launching the ‘proper’ Saturday Club for
Hence the Saturday Club subjects and themes in English, Maths,
Science and The Arts are designed to lead the children to develop
skills in communication, problem solving, self management and
collaboration. We believe that supporting the development of the
Saturday Club children’s social
and emotional faculties (eg. self
awareness and confidence) will be
especially helpful ahead of Year 6
when they will make a transition
to a secondary school. Such

Huge thanks to all who took
part in this ‘experiment’ and for
contributing to the wonderful sense
of purpose and cohesion amongst
the children and indeed, their
families and primary schools.

26

twenty four children from Edith Neville, Richard Cobden, I’ve been meaning to write just to
Rosary Roman Catholic, Christ Church CofE and Fitzjohn’s thank you all so much for giving
Thank you to everyone Primary Schools in mid September; we look forward to seeing
involved who has made again the thirteen Year 4 children from the pilot scheme who R and so many other children
are now in Year 5, as well as welcoming fourteen new Year 4s. the chance to experience Maths,
all these activities Alongside the English / Drama, Maths and Science sessions English, Art and Science at another
level of discovery. R absolutely
happen over this last run by Hall teachers, the new year will see the partnership loved her 4 sessions at The Hall.

academic year. children benefitting from a Photography course run by a The latest session was always
explained and boasted to all who
group of artists from the The Sir Hubert von Herkomer Arts went camping with us, when she
Foundation (a registered charity ‘inspiring a generation of young people by offering them a and her dad joined us on holiday
gateway to the arts’). Peter Blundell (artist) and Debbi Clark (photographer) and a small
team of arts professionals will offer a ten week course over the academic year. Through this summer!
the Photography course the children will work towards an Arts Award as well as having Thank you too, as a governor in
the opportunity to display their work in a real art gallery in Mayfair at the end of the Christ Church School, for all your
course (June 2019), to which their parents and perhaps primary school Head teachers school’s input, including that of the
Year 8 boys, in visiting our school
and building a bridge between

us. The CC kids are incredibly
fortunate to have benefitted from

the relationship now building
with The Hall and giving them
aspirations and a desire to learn
outside of their current context.
Thank you to everyone involved
who has made all these activities
happen over this last academic

year. It really has made a
difference. And don’t forget it’s not
just the children you encourage - it
really boosts the teachers and staff
too, so your help ripples outwards.

PARENT

will be invited!

IN PARTNERSHIP 27

CROSS CURRICULAR LEARNING

HISTORY: WORLD WAR II

In planning a cross-curricular event for in London and in particular how many
Year 8 boys from The Hall and Christ bombs were dropped in our local area,
Church Year 5s, Mr Soskic from The including near the children’s schools.
Hall and Mr Hartman from Christ Church The Year 8 boys supported small groups of
came up with the idea of highlighting the children with researching through textbooks
ways in which various groups of people and online resources the roles that were
in Britain contributed to the effort to win taken by women during the war years. They
WW2. They thought the children would created posters that described the different
find it interesting to look especially at the types of roles and each group presented
roles of women during the war years and their research to everyone.
to investigate how the Germans developed The children then went on to learn about
and used the Enigma machine, and how the Enigma machine and the development
the mathematicians and problem solvers of secret coding during WW2. They looked at
at Britain’s Government Code and Cipher the different ways that the staff at Bletchley
School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park finally Park tried and then finally managed to break
broke the Enigma cypher. the code. To finish off the event, the Year 5s
The Hall’s Year 8 boys each researched and had fun creating their own codes and trying
prepared a teaching session for 30 Year 5 to break each others’!
students from Christ Church. The event
began with a look at the effects of bombing,

ART WITH
RICHARD COBDEN

Thanks go to Abbie Luck for inspiring children in the higher
year groups at Richard Cobden to fashion some beautiful
creations for their new school art installation based on the

theme of Habitats. Using wire and tissue papers, the children
designed and constructed some colourful fish to decorate
the Head Teacher’s corridor.

28

STUNNING SPORTS!

Sports Day for Richard Cobden Primary School, held up at the
Wilf Slack Playing Fields in late June was a hot but happy occasion!
Our Year 7s did a great job in supporting the sports teachers and

encouraging the children in their endeavours.

INSPIRING
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Huge thanks to Mr Kaine for
providing a series of stimulating
Music Tech lessons for a group of
Year 6 children from Hungerford
Primary School over the summer
term. The students became very

engaged in creating their own
musical pieces using Ipads.

CREATIVE A group of children from The Winch came up Eton Avenue every
CLUBS week across the summer term to join in an exciting series of Art
sessions run by Abbie Luck in The Hall’s Art Rooms. The children were
delighted to explore and experiment with all sorts of materials and

techniques at leisure over the term.

Likewise thanks go to Julia Guido-Josephson, The Hall’s Actor in Residence
from The Central School of Speech and Drama, who ran a Drama &

Performance Club at The Winch over the term. The group of girls staged
a mini-production of Annie for their parents and other members of the

community at the end of term, which brought the house down!

IN PARTNERSHIP 29

SBcheoyoolndGatthees ThCeoWmpinettoitnioCnup

Salters Chemistry STOWE SCHOOL
FESTIVAL
2018 Sun, stairs and philosophical
conversations
Well done to the Year 8 boys who took part in the Salters
Chemistry Festival in April. The Hall’s team finished In late April, fourteen Prep Schools competed in the annual
second in the University Challenge. The festivals provide humanities competition, The Winton Cup, at Stowe School.
the opportunity for enthusiastic young students to spend a day in A team comprising selected boys from Year 6 took part from
a university department and to take part in practical chemistry The Hall. The idea of the day is to inspire and stimulate the
activities which are fun! exploration of humanities subjects and challenge participants
to consider how to think creatively and critically, to reason
and to ask questions. The competition was named in honour of
Sir Nicholas Winton, MBE, a humanitarian who organised the
rescue of 669 mostly Jewish children from German-occupied
Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War in an
operation later known as the Czech Kindertransport.
Following a keynote speech by Speaker John Bercow MP, the day
included sessions on Philosophy and Religion, Politics, History,
History of Art and Geography. Each session involved a range
of activities related to a central theme of Western Democracy.
Pupils were challenged to participate in debates about
Bentham’s utilitarianism, representative democracy, the greatest
historical threats to Western Democracy, the case for staying
in or leaving the EU as well as an activity based on the British
Worthies.
The Hall’s team finished 5th in a hotly contested affair. It was
a thoroughly enjoyable day and we look forward to next year’s
event.

30

THE LION KING

As part of the music curriculum, all boys in Year 4 attended
a performance of the Lion King in the West End on Wednesday 20
June. We were all completely dazzled by this vibrantly colourful and
energetic performance. We trust that the boys managed to convince their
parents to take them to the theatre over the Summer holidays!

Covent Garden
TRIP

Boys in Year 7 who were not in the school play visited
the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on Tuesday
26 June for a very informative tour of the backstage
facilities. We spent some time in the actual theatre before
visiting the costumes department, orchestral pit and the
ballet rehearsing studios where the ballet company were
busy with their morning class. After our picnic lunch in
the church yard of St Paul’s, Covent Garden we went to the
National Gallery where Mr Dobbin led a very interesting
discussion on some paintings from the romantic era.

ChapelCHOIR

GO TO WINDSOR CHAPEL

The Chapel Choir impressed the congregation at St George’s
Chapel, Windsor on Wednesday 23 June only four days after
the Royal Wedding! The singing was of a very high standard
and the boys enjoyed spending time in the chapel which had

been highlighted in the news in the preceding days.

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES 31

RV&eormWulaaenlmwBiyuanmths The Crystal
VISIT Year 5
Robert Grant
The Crystal opened in 2012 as a global
At the beginning of the summer term, Year 6 had the chance to visit the hub for debate on sustainable living and
remains of the very important ancient city of Verulamium (within the bounds development. Since opening, over 100,000
of modern day St Albans). It was a busy and enjoyable day with fine weather, people each year have visited the interactive
after our original date for the visit had been postponed due to snow. All the students exhibition and thousands of meetings and events
were based for most of the day in Verulamium Park, in St Albans, which is the have been hosted in the sustainable events venue.
home to the Verulamium Museum and also several remains of the ancient city Year 5 boys enjoyed the exhibition featuring
within the grounds of the park itself. At the start of the day, while exploring the interactive exhibits, films, and animations
remains in the park, there was a chance for all to see parts of the Roman city wall that allowed them to explore a range of issues
and, in particular, a marvellous mosaic floor which is still in its original position and including city trends, urban planning, smart
houses beneath it a Roman Hypocaust system (under floor heating). After this, the buildings, safety and security, energy, water,
students had some time to explore the galleries of the Verulamium Museum itself healthy lifestyles, environment, and mobility.
which is full of artefacts and information about daily life in the area two thousand
years ago. The final part of our time in the museum was then dedicated to an object In particular, the urban planning exhibition,
handling session where students had the chance to see some artefacts up close featuring case studies from cities around the
and to ask questions about their history and usage. The handling session was really world prompted the boys’ thinking about how
enjoyed by all and the students also really had a chance to show their knowledge cities might look in the future. Here they are
also. coming up with and presenting their ideas...

Our final stop of the day, en route back to school, was at the Roman Bath House
at Welwyn. This well hidden gem is what remains of an ancient private bath house
that would once have been adjoined to the villa of a wealthy family. It gave us a great
opportunity to see this rare site at first hand and to find out more about what sort of
people would have used it. It was a fascinating stop with which to finish the day.

32

Ski ng Holiday
IN AUSTRIA

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES 33

Iceland2018 The next day was action-
Sam Grosz packed again. Our first stop
was Seljalandsfoss Waterfall,
On Wednesday the 21st of March we had an early start, setting off followed by the Eyjafjallajökull
from Luton (fuelled by a nutritious breakfast of Krispy Kremes) then Visitor Centre; next, we went to
getting on our flight to Reykjavik, the capital and largest city of Sólheimajökull Glacier and hiked
Iceland. There we hopped on our luxurious coach to our first destination around it, even getting to taste some
- Þingvellir National Park! Here we got our first taste of how wild and of the ice broken off it by our picks. Thirty
beautiful Iceland is - sea to our right and a peaceful green stretch in front boys armed with ice picks must have been a
of us, with small streams running through it. This park was the original site pretty terrifying sight for our teachers, but
of the national parliament of Iceland, which met here as far back as 930. nobody lost a limb and soon we were all on
After taking a short walk along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge - we were literally board the bus again, heading for Vík - our
walking along the boundary between the Eurasian and North American chance to buy souvenirs. By this time many
plates - we headed back to the coach and set off to our next stop, Gulfoss of us were sporting Icelandic headbands and
waterfall. considering moving here permanently. Our
final trip of the day was to Reynishverfi beach;
On the way, we stopped off at a dairy for some ice-cream! It was delicious famous for its black ‘sand’ and hexagonal
and a great experience to meet the makers of it - the cows! Gulfoss is basalt columns - this was a beach like no
phenomenal - this colossal two-tiered waterfall is so powerful we could other. Quite eerie and beautiful.
hardly hear ourselves over the roar of it. Our last stop of the day was the
Geysir Geothermal Area, we didn’t hear it coming, we smelled it! As we The obvious highlight of our trip was the last
made our way over to the geysir, we were hit by a cloud of mist, and the day. Bathing in the Secret Lagoon was an unforgettable experience - even
smell of eggs, emanating from a trembling patch of water, which had the most talkative of the boys fell silent as the soothing waters lapped
bubbles steaming out of it. Then, out of nowhere we heard a tremendous around us. It was hot, calm and the water so clear that we could see our
rumble and a huge plume of water erupted from deep in the ground, flying feet as if we were looking through a window. But as soon as we had hopped
high into the air. There was a gasp from all the boys and we rushed in to try out of the water, we were thrown into an activity of the opposite kind - the
to catch a photo; we waited and watched in total two more eruptions, each Super Jeep Adventure! I guess we should have expected it from the name,
one never failing to amaze us. but the Super Jeeps were even more gigantic than we imagined. The tyres
were as big as ¾ the size of the average boy on the trip! We drove over some
That evening we came to our final destination - some picturesque cottages rough terrain but undoubtedly the most exciting point was when we drove
in a valley in Fljótshlíð. After dinner, as we stumbled back to our cabins down an entire river - the water almost reaching the windows! We stopped
on a full stomach of pasta carbonara, we took in the wildness of it all, the off at a variety of locations including one which was used as a set for Game
amazing view and the stars above us. The air was fresh and a break from
the polluted atmosphere of London. It was so still. As soon as our heads Of Thrones and another which was used by a
touched the pillow, we were asleep. local robber as a hide out! And as we rumbled
back the boys realised there was an intercom
WE STOPPED OFF AT A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS between the Jeeps - so one ‘Kalinka’ and a few
INCLUDING ONE WHICH WAS USED AS A SET FOR performances of ‘La Bamba’ later we were back
GAME OF THRONES AND ANOTHER WHICH WAS to the coach.
USED BY A LOCAL ROBBER AS A HIDE OUT!
The next day, on our return home, we were sad
to say goodbye to Iceland and an amazing four
days. Thanks to Mrs Johnson, Miss Buchanan,
Mr Buss and Miss Baschiera for organising
such a wonderful trip that all of the boys
enjoyed thoroughly.

34

GEOGRAPHY

OlympicTRIP TOPTHaErk

The Year 7s enjoyed some beautiful sunshine on the
day of their trip to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park. As part of their Geography course the boys have
an opportunity to produce their own piece of field work
whether it be with a physical, human or environmental bias.
The trip not only provides an overview of the development
of the Olympic park and the transformation of the
environment but also allows the boys to experience different
field work techniques in readiness for their own personal
study.

Timothy Scannell and Ishaan Nigam

In June 4D had the amazing Afterwards we got to look at Look
experience of going to Dinosaurs in the Dark Dinosaurs but one left
in the Wild. When we got there we with a blood stain on the wall and a
were put into a time machine and broken cage. Later, we looked at baby
brought 65 million years back to the Dinosaurs and the eggs.
dinosaurs. We managed to see a lot
of dinosaurs including a t-rex. Then it was off to the gift shop!!!

Then we got to look at blood, poo
and a t-rex arm. We also saw an
Alamosaurus heart, a carnivore’s
tooth and an ancient fly.

BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES 35

Drama

Four legs good, two legs bad? The allegorical aspects of Animal Farm are well known. Old
Major (Lenin and Marx) instils the spirit of revolution in
Anthony Buss the animals of Manor Farm (Russia); Snowball (Trotsky)
and Napoleon (Stalin) lead the overthrow of Jones (Czar Nicholas
Beasts of England! Beasts of Ireland! II); Napoleon uses the dogs (secret police) to consolidate his
Beasts of land and sea and skies! power, while Moses (the Russian Orthodox church) attempts to
Hear the hoofbeats of tomorrow! capitalise on the initial revolution. Pilkington (Great Britain)
initially seeks to overthrow the pigs but eventually makes an
uneasy alliance with them.

There is much discussion early in the story about distinguishing
evil Man, walking on two legs, and oppressed Farm Animal,
walking on four (with heated debate about birds and wild animals).
In performance this presents a challenge – should the majority
of the cast crawl on hands and knees throughout? Should they
use crutches to remain upright while maintaining four points of
contact with the ground? The former is too visually unsatisfactory,
the latter too reminiscent of Anthony Sher’s Richard III. In the end,
it is upon the imagination of the audience that we chose to rely.

Orwell’s story is one of a corrupted vision. If possessing a copy
could land you in prison, would Old Major’s utopian dream
still inspire hope? Alexandre Dumas’s Count of Monte Cristo,
Christopher Bruce’s Swansong and Stephen King’s Different
Seasons (the basis for The Shawshank Redemption) all offer creative
representations of that point where oppression and freedom meet.
We tried to frame Animal Farm in a similar way.

36

Otto Terry

I was given the chance to work backstage at the Animal
Farm production. I didn’t really know what to expect
because I had no experience, but it turned out to be a
great job. Initially we set to work making props, writing
signs and spray painting the Animal Farm flag.

Mr Buss chose myself and three other boys to do the
lighting and sound effects. These are the things that
the audience never thinks directly about, but they really
make a difference to the experience of the play. I had to
make explosions and time the farmer’s gun shots to the
action. The lighting boys had over 50 cues which meant
they had to keep focused, while Xander did an accurate
job on the spot light.

I learnt a lot about working backstage at Animal
Farm and would definitely recommend it, especially to
someone wants to be involved but doesn’t want to act on
stage.

DRAMA 37

THE PRODUCTION OF ANIMAL FARM
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ACTOR

Benjamin Harley/Snowball

DAY 1
A slightly hectic start, with all sorts of people showing up late, but we
eventually settled down and came to the stunning realisation that we would
be pulling off a full play in just five and a half days. Mixed emotions all around,
some relished the challenge, while others looked decidedly nervous. After a
rousing pep talk from Mr. Buss, we set off into the Great Blue Yonder of the
first act. With scripts ready, we started, excited for the challenge we were
undertaking. It was all going swimmingly until Mme Stones turned up with
some lovely catch-up booklets filled with French Conditional verbs, (tears).
DAY 2
An interesting start, with us turning up to realise that there were a bunch
of kids from the Junior School rolling around on mats in our rehearsal area.
This led to an interesting rehearsal in the Yard, with slightly less acoustic
potential. With the cold winds blowing this day, we went home with slight sore
throats and colds. However, it was one of the most enjoyable and productive
rehearsals of the week.

38

WE WERE ALL NERVOUS WITH THE DAY 5
ANTICIPATION OF THE PERFORMANCES Our first full rehearsal were we actually got to see the stage we
THAT LAY IN OUR FUTURE. would be performing on. This was an important day, with the actors
getting used to the space and movements within it. Today also saw
DAY 3 the addition of the props, which really made the play seem just that
A productive rehearsal, with Act 2 really starting to come together, more legitimate.
(even though I was not involved). This is where Mr. Buss’ experience
and patience really started having results, even though we were still DAY 6
unsure on our movements across the stage. This was one of the first After the long break there was a bit of rust-removing going on, but
rehearsals where everything just seemed to come together, which there was major excitement among the cast. Our stage was set,
was a wonderful feeling. It was incredible to see so many boys form literally and figuratively. A lovely beige colour, variegated with black
such a cohesive unit. We went home happy. streaks. The lighting started off without a hitch, but later developed
DAY 4 a slight problem with the light rotation for the windmill. That out of
A very important day, we had a tiring all-day rehearsal, but again, it the way, we started. It was not a day of acting, but slowly getting used
wasvery productive. There was a type of name-and-shame going on, to lighting cues and other technical formalities.
as we were supposed to be “off-book”, and know our lines by heart,
which really got the play going. But it was just incredible to see how DAY 7
far we had progressed from that nervous Monday morning. The first day we were all allowed to enter and exit from the wings.
The lighting was run by the boys. Everything was painted, we had a
flagpole and everything was just so. The only things that were not
there were the costumes, expertly crocheted by Mrs. Grant. We all
agreed that Molly’s headgear was by far the most impressive, and I
am sure you do too.

DAY 8
The last day of rehearsals, in preparation for the upcoming Dress
Rehearsal on Friday was over. We were all nervous with the
anticipation of the performances that lay in our future. We did a
full rehearsal,
with music
and sound
effects - a first.
We fine-tuned
the props and
movements
across the
stage, and with
a minor kink
in Act Two, we
felt prepared.

DRAMA 39

AnAANcItMoArL,sFRAReMview

Toby Gordon Clark

I was asked to write up a review of Animal Farm from an what I could gather (when I was not learning the conjugation of the
actor’s perspective. This has been more difficult for me French past tense) Animal Farm was about the global uprising of
than expected, as having been dressed in black for the farm creatures, but with the overriding message, that the leaders
performance and mistaken for the stage curtain by my of any organisation in the end betray you for their own needs. Was
this a political message about Brexit, or were we, the pupils, the
parents, I’m not sure I qualify. Still, here goes... animals of Hall Farm, being encouraged to rise up against nepotism,
favouritism and ultimately fascism in our school environment?
Having watched the years before us perform plays such as
Bugsy Malone, and Wind in the Willows, many of us were keen Despite the slow start to rehearsals, I managed to finish all my
to continue our acting careers at the Hall. The journey began school work at the same time as everyone else learnt their lines
mid-way through the first-half of the Summer Term, when following and their stage cues. As is the case with all theatrical masterpieces,
an opaque audition selection for the play “Animal Farm”, the long- it came together on the night. And, despite the number of hooves
awaited casting list went up. Once we all knew our roles, major and and trotters on the stage, no one appeared to break a leg. In short,
minor, the frantic Amazon ordering began, as 30+ Animal Farm Animal Farm was a huge success, and many parents thoroughly
scripts were ordered, so that rehearsals could begin promptly after enjoyed it, mine included. At the end of the show, they rushed up
Activities week, the following half-term. to me, beaming with pride, and commended me on my brilliant
performance as a stage curtain!
After the first rehearsal, things weren’t looking optimistic, as we all
realised that school work would continue albeit on the floor of the
theatre rather than at our desks – our great ploy to avoid lessons
for the second half of term, appeared to have been thwarted! From

FROM WHAT I COULD GATHER... ANIMAL
FARM WAS ABOUT THE GLOBAL UPRISING
OF FARM CREATURES, BUT WITH THE OVERRIDING
MESSAGE, THAT THE LEADERS OF ANY
ORGANISATION IN THE END BETRAY YOU FOR
THEIR OWN NEEDS.

40

Sports

Football Fever!JUNIOR SCHOOL

The soaring temperatures could not diminish the JS boys’ football
fervour in early July, when Mr Dobson suggested the Junior School boys

could hold their own World Cup! There was some great football and
even better sportsmanship on show! And the winners were ‘Senegal’!

SPORTS 41

Cricket TourSRI LANKA & DUBAI
Joshua Brecker and Rafa Hashmi
22nd March - 02nd April 2018

Sri Lanka is a country that is most well-known for its production of tea, its cultivation of rice, fruits and vegetables

and its cricket. It was the latter that in earlier years had lured the likes of Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar,

Inzamam Ul-Huq and their respective teams to the lush pitches, kind people and beautiful weather that can only be

found south-west of India, and it was for the same reasons that the Hall School decided that

Sri Lanka would be the ideal location for their Easter 2018 Cricket Tour.

Ever since the confirmation of the tour and the disclosure of the owned by a prince and a roughed-up bungalow home to a scourge of
location everyone had something to say. Every single person had mosquitoes on the same street. We became however quickly accustomed
thoughts on what the trip would be like, where we would be staying, to great venues; such as our first accommodation, The Gloria Hotel, and
who would be picked and more things along those lines. The chatter our practice nets - which were situated inside the official ICC training
started as much as five months ahead and from there it was just a matter complex.
of time. The wait certainly got more painful with time and there were
definitely moments where boys doubted the trip’s very existence. But at
last, as we all congregated at Gatwick Airport on Thursday 22nd March
after a two hour car/train journey the wait ended and a new feeling was
born from the ashes of nervousness - excitement.

We certainly all felt that feeling of excitement as we passed through
security and baggage drop, our friends in tow, and boarded the plane for
the seven hour flight to Dubai. After some movies and sleep, we arrived
at the magnificent city of Dubai. We all remarked that the city was very
contrasting; as it wasn’t an unusual sight to see a fifty-floor skyscraper

42

After checking into our hotel and dropping off any excess baggage all 23 of oohs and aahs as the jeeps raced up and down the dunes and everyone was
us (get better soon, Sam Perry) boarded the bus and travelled to the training upset when it ended. But our sorrows were drowned as we all disembarked
complex in order to get back into a cricketing mindset and give the coaches to enjoy a delicious barbecue with the bedouins in the evening before
an insight into what every one of us was capable of. After the rigorous two checking in to the plane to the biggest airport in Sri Lanka - CMB, in
hour net session we saw Surrey CCC competing in their warm-weather Colombo.
training. We all felt exhausted from the cricket and the heat, so we opted It was another overnight flight again, so we arrived in Colombo early in
to finish the first day off at the beach and then eat at a noodle bar, located the morning. We then transferred to Kandy where we were to play our next
within the accommodation, for dinner. two fixtures. The day progressed with another two hour net session and
The next day we were up early because we had our first tour match against
the ICC academy team known as The Warriors. The 1st team had an
earlier nine o’clock start so they boarded the bus (it’s a shame Marshalls
don’t have a headquarters in Dubai) very groggily after a hearty breakfast of
omelettes and hashbrowns. The 2nd team, having a later match, were lucky
enough to have the opportunity to explore the pool and leisure facilities
before coming to watch the end of the 1st’s match right before their match
commenced just after lunch at midday.
The 1st team fielded first under the captaincy of Jacob Bor, who led the
team with resilience against a strong opponent with a deep tail. The Hall
started very well with two wickets in the first two overs but after some
brilliant power hitting, and poor lapses in concentration in the field, the
Warriors were able to post a massive total of 195-5 off their 20 overs.

WE CERTAINLY ALL FELT THAT FEELING OF
EXCITEMENT AS WE PASSED THROUGH
SECURITY AND BAGGAGE DROP...

This was a tough total to chase down, but The Hall started slowly and some relaxation in our new hotel, The Grand Kandyan. We found it to be
methodically with an opening partnership of 35. But after Jacob Bor and very nice and also very easy to find our way around. The night proved t0
Aryaman Varma got out in consecutive balls, The Hall were struggling with be uneventful and everyone settled down quietly for a nice, long sleep - we
160 runs to get in 14 overs. In came Joe Beagles, whom with Rory Walter were exhausted.
put on a brilliant partnership of over 90 with both batsmen reaching 50.
Unfortunately though, the total proved too much for the Hall, who finished
on a very decent 160-3.
In the 2nd team fixture The Hall also fielded first and did well to hold the
Warriors to 120-5 off their 20 overs, with the fielding much tighter than
that of the 1st team game. After lunch, some methodical performances
from the top order, including various scores in the double figures, led the
2nd team to victory with two whole overs to spare. This proved to be a
great base for the 2nd team to build on come the rest of the matches in Sri
Lanka.
Then it was Sunday, a day which was action-packed and due to that
we ironically got absolutely no rest. Sunday’s net session was largely
built around our fielding, which was poor in the first game. We also had
the pleasure of using the outside nets which, although hot, was a great
experience, as they were staged to replicate the wickets we would later get
in Sri Lanka.

Eyata pasu (“after that” in Sinhala) we checked out of our rooms, and rode
to the desert where a dune safari was waiting for us. There were a lot of

SPORTS 43

of two overs) but Aryaman Varma and Darshy Pandey steadied the ship and
The Hall recorded the first victory of the tour - by six wickets.

In the 2nd team match, the Hall got over 200 (a school record) batting first
with Louis Ezra going one better than Rory and reaching 100, the highest
score so far. It was the first time that a Hall School boy has achieved a
century in a competitive cricket match and a very rare thing for someone
of his age. However, he couldn’t have done it without a slow, steady and
methodical partnership from Maahir Puri at the other end - supporting

THIS MEANT THAT THE HALL COULD ONLY
TAKE THREE WICKETS AND BOWL A MERE
TWENTY-FIVE OVERS BEFORE THE OPPOSITION
FINISHED THE GAME.

The next morning we arrived at the Peradeniya University Cricket Ground him like a true friend would. As the 2nd team walked out to lunch, they
and were surprised to find out there wasn’t much ‘pitch’ in the ground. must have felt that the game was more or less in their hands - but it was
Grass was scarce and most of the outfield was sand, so most normal not to be. Enter the openers...
cricketing rules went straight out of the window. Both openers of the opposition scored 50, one of them actually going on to
The 1st team elected to field first again, which was a wise choice, as it do a ‘Louis’ and score 100. This meant that The Hall could only take three
got hotter during the day particularly in a forty over match. Again they wickets and bowl a mere twenty-five overs before the opposition finished
started very well, with the rapid opening bowlers (Joshua and Darshy) the game.
picking up some early wickets. The spinners played their part too as they The following day both teams had another match; this time the 1sts at
reduced the hosts to 50-6. But a good 7th wicket partnership and 12th the old test ground, the Asgiriya Stadium, and the 2nds at the university
man Joe Katzenellenbogen going off injured hindered our progress as ground - or the ‘beach wicket’ as we liked to call it. The 1sts bowled first
RSA (not South Africa) school took their total beyond 100. However some yet again and started well. The opposition opened with an enormous boy
quick consecutive wickets and a couple of good catches meant that the who looked like he must have bent the rules to be eligible for U13 squad
hosts reached 121 all out off 23 overs - Joshua Brecker and Darshy Pandey selection. He sent Joshua Brecker’s first ball over his head for four, but the
finishing with 3 wickets apiece. very next ball left the middle stump on the ground and everybody sighing
The opening pair started things off well with another start of 30 before with relief. The 1sts continued the great start with five more wickets for
a debatably debatable lbw decision broke some hearts. Then Joe Beagles just few runs leaving Dharmarajah College on 55-6 thanks to two brilliant
and Rory Walter, forming a close bond on tour, put on yet another great catches by Ayman Raja deputising for the 1st team and three wickets
partnership of over 80 before both were out caught, Rory achieving his from Darshy Pandey. Like the last match there was a good 7th wicket
second 50 of the tour. There were a few scares when quick wickets fell, and partnership taking the hosts to 120 before the fall of another wicket. Some
we went from 110-1 to 113-4 (Rory, Joe and Rafa all getting out in the space collective strokes from the lower order gave them a respectable total of 146.
The Hall’s innings started strangely with another opening partnership of
40 but only 12 runs coming off the bat. Yet again there was another mini-

44

collapse when Jacob Bor ran himself out for 8 and then Aryaman Varma as much as everyone adores the sport, we were thankful for a day of rest.
was caught for 2. Joe Beagles came in at 4 to partner Rory Walter, who with Along the way we stopped off twice - at the Ceylon Tea Plantation learning
Joe had been batting so well together. This time Rory played the supporter how the tea is made where we got to try some beautiful Sri Lankan tea and
with a patient innings of 36 off 70 balls whilst Joe went on the attack and also at Pinnawala were we had lunch overlooking the elephant sanctuary
took The Hall to victory with a four off the last ball, narrowly missing out watching the elephants and regarding their features close-up. Then we
on his 2nd 50 of the tour finishing on 49 not out off 40 deliveries. Their continued our journey and arrived at our hotel, called the Mount Lavinia,
partnership lasted for most of the game leaving Darshy Pandey and Rafa in Colombo - the capital - where we would be for the next two nights of the
Hashmi roasting in their respective Aero and New Balance pads and the tour.
rest of the team napping in the pavilion. The next day we went for our first match in Colombo. The 1st team played
Meanwhile the 2nd team won the toss and opted to bat but found at the Bloomfield Cricket Ground, the ground of one of the strongest clubs
themselves 15-5 thanks to possibly the fastest bowler anyone in the team played against on previous tours and where many famous cricketers had
had ever faced. However, Louis Ezra scored another big score of 52 and put also once played. In typical Hall School fashion, they fielded first and took
on a 100 partnership with Zaki Hashmi with a useful innings of 41, which early wickets; reducing Wycherley CC to 51-6. As it seemed in all matches
meant that in the end The Hall were bowled out for 150. Opening bowlers in Sri Lanka there was a big partnership taking the score to 110 before the
Maahir Puri and Benjamin Goldberg took six wickets between them with 7th wicket. But Darshy Pandey took 2 wickets in an over, aided by a catch
four wickets and two wickets respectively - but alas, it was not enough from Louis Ezra, and the innings finished on 151 - a tough total to chase
to contain the opposition who knocked the total off with three wickets to down but very much possible.
spare. That evening we enjoyed the cultural show on a rooftop where we The batting innings started well with a 50+ partnership before Jacob Bor
saw traditional Sri Lankan dancers and fire-eaters. was out for 15. Rafa Hashmi came in at 3 and after 3 ducks, his first runs
The next day was Thursday and we were to make the long trip to Colombo. on tour were greeted with a mighty cheer. He played well for 10 before
The travelling and sightseeing meant that it was a no-cricket day - and being out LBW. Louis Ezra, making his debut, was stumped second ball

SPORTS 45

which left the 1st team 80-3. Lucas Payne
gave Rory Walter support as he was retired for
yet another 50 and Joe Beagles came in and
quickly finished off the game with a fast 16.
In the 2nd team match, The Hall faced a very
strong side who posted 315 after 40 overs. This
meant that the opposition were scored at an
extremely rapid 8 an over, which meant that
The Hall would have to bring more than their
A-Game to the match. However, it was not to
be. The Hall had a rocky start, with Alexander
Benson retired hurt and specialist batsmen
falling to stupid shots. But a good and steady
sixth wicket partnership of over 50 between
Hector Bruce (25) and Musa Hashmi (27) saved
The Hall from further embarrassment as we
finished on a highly respectable 150 all out off
39 overs.
The next day was the last match on tour for
both sides and both wanted a win to end
the tour. The 1st team requested to bowl
second - a first for the team who had excelled
at chasing. Alas, that was the cause of their
downfall as regular wickets fell with top
scorers Rory Walter (46) and Aryaman Varma
with a methodical 22. This match proved a

AND FINALLY, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH TO
MR STRINGER, MR CHAPMAN, MR WILLIAMS,
MR PERRY-PARKS AND MR GODWIN FOR MAKING
THIS TRIP SUCH A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE.

step too far, as none of The Hall’s bowlers bowled that well and the hosts attitude. The stand out player was Rory Walter with 232 runs and five
reached their target of 145 for the loss of a mere single wicket. wickets with a batting average of 77. But also Joe Beagles with helpful
The 2nd team also ended on a disappointing note as they were bowled out wickets and 137 runs at an average of 46. Another special mention went to
for 55 - with top scores from Musa and Zaki Hashmi of roughly 10 each. Louis Ezra for his century; a mind-boggling achievement. In the field the
The opposition made little of the total - knocking it off in 7 overs but the stand out bowlers were Joshua Brecker and Darshy Pandey with 9 wickets
umpires conferred and due to how quickly the game was over they chose to apiece. And finally, thank you so very much to Mr Stringer, Mr Chapman,
have a second innings. Mr Williams, Mr Perry-Parks and Mr Godwin for making this trip such a
In twenty-five overs, the opposition racked up a humongous 230 and memorable experience.
then it was The Hall’s turn to bat again and chase that down. Captain
Benson rallied his team and told the 2nds to play for the draw, evidently
not realising that we were playing limited overs. But helped by some solid
shots and safe choices, the team kept their wickets and managed to bat out
until the end; achieving the so-called draw that Alex Benson had at first
been aiming for.
And so ended our fantastic tour of Sri Lanka. An award (a brand-new
cricket ball) went to Otto Terry for perseverance in the field and a good

46

CricBkEetLMFOeNstTival
2018

In mid May, The Hall 1st XI participated in the Belmont Cricket Festival.
It started well for us in our first game with a victory over St John’s, in
which we scored over 100 runs.
Next we faced Merchant Taylors’. A good performance against MT put us
in contention for first place. Our hosts, Belmont, were the next match and
they batted first... finishing on 71 runs. A couple of great wickets were taken
by The Hall.
Defeat in our final match meant 1st place in the festival came down to
overall runs scored. The Hall’s 250 over the three matches was enough to
confirm we had finished as Champions!

Cricket SixesBEDFORD SCHOOL

This is the second year in a row that The Hall
have won the 12 team tournament!

The Year 6 Cricket team competed in the tournament in early
June. The boys performed excellently, reaching the Final in

dramatic fashion, with a last minute ball! In the Final, they faced
Aldwickbury School. The match ended spectacularly, with The

Hall hitting a 4 to win the game, and the tournament.
Well done, boys!

SPORTS 47

Sports Days
JUNIOR SCHOOL

48

MIDDLE SCHOOL

SPORTS 49

SENIOR SCHOOL

50