The Millfield
VOICE
MAY 2015
Issue 165
NEWS
2
Sharks Swimming
By Meredith Thorpe (captain)
Students with Mr Lewis and Mrs Angelosanto (left to right): Satang Mekdhanasarn, Adam Hastings, Libby Letchford, Darren Atkins, Meredith Thorpe (captain) Alex Adams,
Gabby Scopes, Elliott Manna (captain), Jordan Moore, Dom Wilkins, Milo Hempel, Ella McNulty, Tate Jones, Lara Kuhnis, Harriet Lord.
On May 10th, the Millfield Sharks swimming
team competed against King's Bruton.
As we managed to secure two victories
against them last year, the pressure was on
to continue our winning streak. We turned
up ready to swim, buoyed up by the ever-
present enthusiasm of Mr Lewis. After a
tight start, by halftime it was a draw, with
each team on 21 points. Determined, the
Millfield squad soon pulled ahead. We went
into the last race, a 10 x 25m mixed freestyle
relay worth triple points, leading with 41
Millfield Dandys
points to 37. Our strong side secured a
smashing victory to end the gala 49 to 41.
Congratulations to everyone who took part,
and thanks to Mr.Lewis, Ms Lindsell and Mrs.
Angelosanto for coaching us this year and
organizing the gala.
Croquet Challenge
By Mr SA Kenny-Herbert
Politics has much to learn from croquet. This week has crystallised
the issue of first past the post systems in both the Dandys Challenge
and the general election. In a sport whose primary tactic is to keep
one's balls as close together as possible while trying to get them
through hoops, the partnerships of Mr Burns and Mr Kenny-Herbert,
Mr Wood and Mr Day, Mr Landrock (whose partner bailed before the
competition started and lost his deposit) and finally Mr Melly and Mr
McMurrugh go. The Challenge is one of amassing half a point per ball
per hoop over three 20-minute Association Croquet sprints.
After the end of the second
round, three teams were on the
same scores: eight-and-a half. The
quality of the final 20 minutes
was simply remarkable. There
was a late surge from Mr Woods.
Mr Landrock faded badly after
not accounting for the badger
warren obstacles in front of the
fourth hoop. Mr Burns looked
to be comfortably winning their
end. At one stage Mr. Wood’s
stalking seemed to have paid
off, but he and his partner faded
disappointedly in spite of having
larger hoops to aim at. However,
strange things happen in croquet and politics and at the end of the
final twenty-minute session we had a peculiar situation in that the
croquet Captain Mr Kenny-Herbert and his partner had won all their
three games, in spite of some serious over-arousal in the early stages
of the first game (see picture below). However, the incumbent Mr
Melly and partner did not succumb to the many polls and obstacles,
to surge and score a remarkable five-and-a-half points with their final
running of the hoops.
It was left to the paterfamilias Mr Lewis-Williams to scrutinise the
Constitution. It seemed that the result was dependent on the number
of times your balls went through the hoops rather than the number
of seats, I mean, games that you won. As anticipated the honourable
croquet Captain Mr Kenny-Herbert gracefully conceded defeat
without resigning his post.
A fantastic afternoon was had by all. There was some confusion at the
end of proceedings as to whether The Captain's team had suffered the
same fate as UKID, or had the Dandys inadvertently exposed the first
past the post system?
INTERVIEW
3
Heads of School
Outgoing Head Girl Josie Jennings interviews new
incumbent Gabriella Scopes
Who did you tell first when you found out that you were Head Girl? I was at a riding competition when the Headmaster rang me, and he
only managed to get hold of me on the third attempt. On this attempt
my parents were standing next to me, so technically they were the
first people to find out, but that doesn’t really count as I didn’t have
to say anything to them; I’m pretty sure my facial expressions said it
all, anyway. So, the first person for me to actually tell would have been
Lulu Mesquita. How was your experience as Head Girl been so far? Being Head Girl has already given me so many challenging tasks, but
it has also given me so many opportunities, where I have been able to
meet such a range of interesting people, and attend some incredible
events such as the Millfield’s 80th Anniversary. Not only has Head Girl
offered me these wonderful opportunities; it has also given me so
many memorable moments which I will always be able to look back at. Do you have any coping mechanisms to deal with stress? Providing I stay organised, ensuring that I keep a balance between my
work and my duties, I generally manage. However, my houseparents,
Mr and Mrs Shelver, have always offered me a helping hand if when
I needed it. What are your plans for next year? I am going to Les Roches, in Switzerland, to study Hospitality
Management.
What will you miss most about being Head Girl?
I will miss the organisation of different events around school and, of
course, will miss working closely with Head Boy Kit!!
Is it what you expected? To be honest, I’m not sure what I was expecting as it was a shock that
I even became Head Girl. Despite the hard work it has definitely been
so much fun. Outgoing Head Boy George Maylam interviews new
incumbent Kit Meguer
Who did you tell first? Well my parents weren't around and I had to tell someone, so I just
told my gran, although I think she forgot about it later on.
What do you hope to get out of being Head Boy? Skills that I could use in a managerial position, hopefully. I'm intent on
getting as much out of this as possible.
How have the first couple of weeks been?
Hectic with having to help organise the open day (that happened to
clash with the confirmation service) but after that it was just plain
sailing (albeit on choppy seas).
How are your other commitments going, such as sport and work? Well as far as work goes, pretty well: I'm spending the same amount
of time on that, making sure it's not being impeded. But with sport it's
not going too well: my bike's been broken and I haven't had the time
to fix it, so I think that's the only downside at the moment.
Being Head Boy, what has it had the most impact on? My free time mostly - everything else has settled back to normal. I just
don't get as much time to do nothing as I used to, but that was always
going to be the case with exams coming up.
How has the partnership been with Gabriella so far? It's been pretty good seeing as we were already the dream team from
tuck shop, so it's made the transition to Heads of School quite a bit
easier.
Best and worst thing about being Head Boy? Well the best thing about being Head Boy is, having spent 12 years
here trying to earn a good reputation with staff, through behaviour
and actions, I feel I'm finally there; it's just quite a nice feeling. Apart from the workload, I'd say the worst thing (or hardest thing) is
getting people motivated to help out during such a busy term.
Future aspirations? Well, aside from university (mechanical
engineering at Plymouth or Exeter), I'd
love to make my way into the bicycle
manufacturing industry, and eventually
find myself in a managerial position.
Any inspiring words for the younger
pupils? You can quite happily go through
the entirety of your school life with
standard effort, achieving standard
grades, and then leave and never look
back. But if you want to make the
most out of Millfield and look back at
the school with pride and a sense of
achievement, then throw yourself into
it, make the most of opportunities
given to you, and volunteer for
everything. And if you make a mistake
along the way and you’re given a
second chance, make the most of it.
Having retaken lower-sixth myself, I
made the most of the opportunity and
put as much effort as possible into
Millfield, and I got to where I am today.
4
LIBRARY
The Carnegie
Shadowing in
the Library
By Library Man
The Carnegie Book Award is the premier award for young adult
fiction in Britain. Past winners include such classics as Watership Down,
The Machine Gunners, His Dark Materials and Maggot Moon, as well as
controversial choices like last year’s winner The Bunker Diaries and
previously Melvin Burgess’ Junk.
This year Millfield is participating in the Carnegie Shadowing scheme;
led by librarians Heather Lunn and Jane Peel, students have been
Triss awakens with an insatiable hunger and
finds her family are keeping dark secrets
from her about her true identity.
Fastest Boy in the World by
Elizabeth Laird – The story of Solomon
from a poor Ethiopian village who dreams
of emulating Ethiopia’s great Olympic
athletes.
Buffalo Soldier by Tanya Landman
– Charley has been granted her freedom
after the American Civil War but only when
she enlists as a “boy” to fight the Apaches
does she discover true freedom.
Middle of Nowhere by Geraldine
McCaugheran – Comity has to come
to terms with being abandoned in the
Australian Outback until she meets Fred, an
invited to take part in reading the books and
making judgements on the likely winners.
English classes as well as the junior academic
society, The Owl Society, have visited
the library to give their opinions on the
shortlisted titles.
The shortlisted titles are
When Mr.Dog Bites by Brian
Conaghan – The story of Dylan Mint, the
Tourettes sufferer who discovers he has just
a year to live.
Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan –
Apple’s mother returns after leaving home on
Christmas Eve 11 years ago and Apple has to
learn to re-build her life.
Tinder by Sally Gardner – A fantastical
yet historical re-telling of the Tinderbox
story in which Otto Hundebiss must battle
between love and death.
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge –
NEWS
Baroness Cox
By Gabriella Scopes and Kit Meguer
On Friday 1st May Baroness Caroline Cox visited Millfield to speak to the
Upper 6th about the work of her organisation, The Humanitarian Aid Relief
Trust (HART).
HART works on behalf of groups suffering from oppression, exploitation
and persecution who don’t have access to major aid organisations and are
off the radar screen of international media.
They raise awareness and appeal in places of influence such as the House
of Lords and in the media, and they also deliver targeted aid-work. HART
believes that aid must mainly involve the local people it wishes to help,
so the projects they fund are always seen as belonging to the people that
benefit from them. As Lady Cox said, “we can be a voice for those who
have no voice”.
Baroness Cox’s humanitarian aid work has taken her on many missions
to conflict zones, witnessing first hand evidence of the human rights
violations and humanitarian needs. The sixth form students enjoyed
listening to the fascinating stories of some of the stickier situations she
has been in, including being shot at in a helicopter, and leaving a country
under fire. As Mr Lewis put it “she experienced vertical take off in a jeep,
thanks to a near miss with a rocket propelled grenade”.
Following her talk, Baroness Cox had lunch with some of the Upper sixth
students and staff, before taking a tour around the school.
Thanks go to Mr Lewis for organizing such an inspirational and informative
talk.
aboriginal boy in need of a friend.
More than This by Patrick Ness – Seth starts the book
drowning, only to awaken to a strange deserted world where
he must make sense of both the past and the present.
In the library the Carnegieometer is charting the
popularity of the books as pupils feedback their views with
Patrick Ness’ More than This currently leading the way.
In the photographs, Mrs Byrne’s English class can be seen
discussing the Carnegie books with librarians Mrs Lunn and
Mrs Peel
5
Inspirational talk for
Upper Sixth students
LANGUAGES
6
Italy
By Charlie Melly
In the last week of the Easter holidays, nine
Italian students (La Squadra) flew out to the
relatively unknown, yet charming northern
coastal town of Imperia. On arrival we met
up with our host families in the main square,
a nerve racking moment for all the students,
as it was the first time our ability to speak
understandable Italian would truly be put to
the test.
The first weekend was spent with the
families. Seeing as all the students were split
up, a huge array of activities took place,
whether that be visiting the local beach or
going on an excursion to the surrounding
mountains, or visiting the city of Genoa.
where students observed
local history and culture with
a keen interest. Not to forget
the well needed rest day at the
beach where students met up
with their hosts and enjoyed a
calm relaxing day, with games
played, jokes cracked and, in
even some cases, romance
flourishing. One afternoon we
hired some bicycles and rode
along the cycle path which hugs
the coastline and where they
will soon be staging a leg of the
Giro d’Italia (the Italian version
However, one thing you can be sure of is
that every pupil was completely submerged
in the Italian language and, for all of us, this
meant our language skills rapidly improved.
After the eventful weekend was over, the
lessons began first thing Monday morning
in a local language school in the heart of
the vibrant city centre. These three hours
were an educational haven; all students
greatly appreciated the teacher's advice, as
they knew that over the following days they
would need to remember every last bit of
grammar and vocabulary so that they could
keep up with the native speakers.
During the week, trips were made to the
local towns of San Remo and Albenga,
of the Tour de France bicycle race). We also
spent a few hours in the Olio Carli shop
and sampled the different varieties of oils
and wines on offer. We spent an evening at
the cinema, played six-a-side football against
some very competitive Italians and on the
final evening had a wonderful dinner with all
the host families, followed by bowling.
This was a great trip and it was thoroughly
enjoyed by all. A huge thanks must go to Mr
Bishop and Mrs Bowring for coordinating
such a well-run and entertaining educational
holiday. I'm sure it will live long in the
memories of everyone involved.
LANGUAGES
7
Spain
By Charlotte Williamson & Ophelia Knight
On the 25th March, A-level and GCSE students made their way to Granada
with Miss Garcia and Mr Avis. As soon as we left the school grounds ALL
English was banned and we were only to speak in Spanish for the next
week.
After a trouble-free journey we arrived in Granada and met the families
we would be living with during our stay. All of our houses were within
a 5-10 minute walk of each other and, after unpacking and adjusting to
our new homes whilst speaking a different language; we took to the
experience quickly.
Of course the main reason for the trip was to better our Spanish as well
as to have a great time, so almost every morning before we went off to
enjoy Granada we had three hours of lessons, during which we were
able to work on areas of our Spanish that we needed to improve and to
continue to speak in Spanish. This was extremely beneficial as we had our
exams so soon after the trip.
Our time in Granada was packed with lots of activities and, apart from
most importantly benefiting our Spanish, the trip was really fun. We
experienced a lot of Spanish culture during our time, which helped us
learn more about the language we were speaking. We ate ‘Churros and
Chocolate’, watched Flamenco dancing and even learnt how to cook our
own paella.
To take our Spanish beyond the classroom we had a fantastic experience
of venturing into the old Arabic streets of Granada, trying to barter in
Spanish for the merchandise on offer. This really tested our ability to speak
the language. La Alhambra, an Arabic Palace, was next on our list. It was
amazing to be able to look around the historic site that was still fit for
royalty today; not to forget that our whole tour was in Spanish!
To our delight and disbelief the temperature in Granada reached 30
degrees, so there was no surprise that the announced visit to the beach
was fully welcomed by everyone, including the teachers! Our last day came
round so quickly and no one wanted to leave, especially with the fabulous
weather and ending the trip with a relaxing spa day. However, after a great
time we headed for the airport where we were welcomed by a four-hour
delay. But after such a fantastic time nothing could take away from what a
brilliant experience we’d had.
On behalf of everyone who attended the trip we would like to thank Miss
Garcia and Mr Avis for putting in all the time and effort to make this trip
so amazing. It really paid off and we all had a fantastic time. We’re sure our
Spanish exam results will prove this!
Adios!!!!
8
ATHLETICS
ATHLETICS DAY 2015
ATHLETICS
ATHLETICS DAY 2015
9
UPPER VI
10
THE BIG GIG
By Harriotte Preston
This year our Big Gig was in the theme of
Grease, which for the girls made finding an
outfit both easier and harder than the ball, as
we did not have to search through hundreds
of ball gowns, but we did have to watch
Grease a few times to gain ideas. Not having
to dress overly fancy made the getting ready
more fun and slightly less stressful, as we all
By Cat Curbishley
had a great time back at house getting ready
together. The girls went for a variety of looks,
from 50s-style dresses to jeans and shirts,
whereas the boys went for the classic John
Travolta look!
Mrs Bowring truly outdid herself with this
event. We had a variety of rides from the
bumper cars to the Ferris wheel and of
course the amazing fireworks, all of which
were so much fun. Even though it did rain
throughout the majority of the time we spent
Looking down at my bare
legs, rain drops running
down them, I began to regret
wearing shorts. To be honest, I think the majority of 'Sandys' were
regretting the floral patterned skirts, over-the-shoulder tops, and
summery shirts that were on show. The sky barely resembled the hot
summer evening of 1978. In fact, the sky barely resembled the sky at all;
just a curtain of clouds, angrily glaring down at us.
However, the 50s melodies like “You ain't nothing but a hound dog”
from the various rides, ringing in everyone's ears, muffled out the
sound of the never-ending shower. The glittering lights, brightening up
the dull sky, were enough of a reminder that this was going to be the
last bit of fun we were going to have in a long time before our exams
kicked in.
After a while, dripping hair, ruined mascara, and soaking clothes were
covered up by smiles and laughter. The music blaring through the
speakers made the spinning wheel just a bit more sickening, the Ferris
wheel churned the stomach, and the teacups span your head: the nonalcoholic beverages guaranteed a lack of sickness for which we were
grateful!
By the end of the evening the black, gloomy sky was replaced with a
blanket of colours: explosions of light that would have put any New
Year’s party to shame lit up night. The euphoria was enough to give us
a buzz alcohol would never have been able to achieve.
To be honest, I think Miss Bowring definitely found herself, after many
years of studying and working to become a teacher, in the wrong
profession. However, it's never too late to follow your dreams, Miss!
on the rides, I think this made it more fun, as
we were constantly moving around to have a
go on all the different things and did not have
time to stop and think about it. I think the
bumper cars were the best, especially when
Mrs Woods had a go on them and everyone
decided to aim for her. There were other
stalls there where you were able to win
prizes and get food and drink.
The whole event went perfectly with the
Grease theme and was amazing fun.
UPPER VI
By Charlie Felstead
A Boy’s Perepective
The lead up to the event was very tense and
I didn’t really know what to expect as I had
only seen the rides arrive in their lorries. I
knew, from being a waiter at last year’s gig,
the capability of Ms Bowring to put on an
amazing show and a thoroughly fun-filled
time was expected, so it was just a matter of
waiting. As per usual, the boys and I paraded
around house showing off the choice of John
Travolta style of attire we were wearing and
we set off on our way up to the carnival
atmosphere. We arrived in good time and
as soon as we got there felt the impact of
the entertainment ahead. Fire breathers and
jugglers met us alongside Grease characters
on stilts. In the distance were game stalls, a
variety of different rides, food stalls, popcorn
and candy floss stalls: I was overwhelmed!
The atmosphere was unforgettable. Walking
in with my house - my family - to our last
function was quite an emotional experience
and the setting was perfect and very fitting
for our send off. Getting on the bumper
cars first was an achievement because it was
packed with a mob of excited people flooding
in within a second of the cars stopping. I
think the morning after was the point where
everybody had the same bruise on the inside
of their left knee from the steering wheel, but
nobody cared; being part of the experience
overruled any injury that was sustained! The
spinning ride was also another very popular
11
and extravagant ride which gave the satisfying
feeling of floating in the air, which at times
was quite confusing! Now, with the big
wheel, seen from miles away, most of Street
and Somerset could possibly mistake this
for a proper theme park! This was the best
ride in terms of just getting stuck at the top
for a few minutes and considering Tom and I
both have a slight fear of heights, it was just
fantastic! On a serious note, the view and
living in the moment was very memorable.
After a couple of manic hours, it was time
to wind it down and we all headed to the
golf course for our little surprise. I say ‘little’:
fifteen minutes of mesmerising fireworks was
more than I think most of us were expecting
and could have wished for. This was the
moment in the night that brought the whole
of the year together and it was something
that will stick in our minds for a very long
time. It was an emotional kind of setting,
when most of us came to the realisation that
we were actually leaving the school soon and
that we would become the Class of 2015.
Thank you, Ms Bowring: you’ve done Millfield
and yourself proud!
OSCARS
12
Media Oscars
By Catalina Curbishley-Esnaola
The beginning of an array of summer
evenings felt like a blessing, as the sun set low
and the warm summer breeze filled the sky
with laughter. An air of excitement buzzed
over the crowd gathering around the Head;
glasses of bubbly in their hands, tuxes and
heels on show.
Although the promised “red carpet” was
a mere 1.5m long, the nominees had really
gone the extra mile and dressed to impress;
striking red gowns, immense heels, canes and
bow ties… I almost collapsed in awe from
all the beautiful people that surrounded me,
perfect from head to toe.
But moving on, apart from the spectacle
of elegant contestants before me, I almost
forgot that there was actually a bigger reason
as to why they were all here: the Media
Studies Oscars. The nominees had trekked
down and travelled from the likes of Walton,
St Anne’s and Southfield House to be a part
of this historical event. Producers awaiting
an award included the famous Klim Kazakov,
the charming Seb Munnik, the talented Josh
Lewis, the accomplished Alexis Gonnet, the
stunning Kathryn Morley, and the brilliant
James Ward… among many, many others.
Speculations and tension rose for who was
going to win; “It’s a hot contest” exclaimed
Mrs Howell, “all the students show a lot of
creativity in their film studies”.
“Josh Lewis and Matty James (who focused
on close-ups) have a chance, in my opinion”
said Seb Munnik, who later on aspires to
become an actor. Kathryn Morley, who also
aspires to become an actress, believes her
time doing Media Studies has given her the
skills in order to tackle whatever job is
thrown at her in the future. Media Studies
at Millfield School serves as a path for many
to their prospective careers, and helps them
achieve their future goal. Justine Vilgrain,
who’s eager to join the advertising industry,
in her opinion believes that “what [she] has
learnt so far at Millfield school is going to
help [her] in [her] future career”, and has
thoroughly enjoyed her time here.
So, as the sun finally set on the golden replica
of the Millfield Oscar, the excited crowd
hurried inside to obtain their much-deserved
awards. Tables were set out with white
cloths, popcorn was freely available, and the
cinematic vibe loomed over everyone. A
hushed silence hovered through the audience,
and as the curtains drew open I had to make
my goodbyes, knowing that this was going to
be a night to remember.
Category
Nominee 1
Nominee 2
Nominee 3
Nominee 4
Nominee 5
Winner
AS Individual Effort
Elliot Manna
Jessica Burn
Edoardo Cristiani
Zoe Strong
Ffion Hopwood
Ffion Hopwood
AS Group Effort
Elliot Manna, Ffion
Hopwood, Matthew
James
Jessica Burn and Chica
Lambert
Angus Linekar, Lachlan
Cottee, Henry Gardner
Issy, Lucy, Freya
Alice Hannan and Meg
Albon
Alice Hannan and Meg
Albon
AS Portfolio
Elliot Manna
Ffion Hopwood
Lucy Alexander
Issy Symonds-Willmott
Alice Hannan
Ffion Hopwood
Muse Award for
Creativity AS
Zo Ee Liew for make-up
Oscar McMurrugh and
Henry Carrick for
WHITE LIE
Edoardo Cristiani,
Murry Davies & Hamish
Gillams for (Page rip
part in) ELEVEN
Lucy Alexander,
Issy Symonds-Willmott,
Freya Garfield-Bennett
for DEAD END
AS Acting
Henry Carrick
Issy Symonds-Willmott
Lucy Alexander
Hamish Gillams
Henry Carrick
Lucy Alexander,
Issy Symonds-Willmott,
Freya Garfield-Bennett
for DEAD END
A2 People's Choice
Award (Millfield
vote for favourite
film)
Jack Stone & Henry
Carling Parkinson for
THE WATCHING
Jessica Burn and Chica
Lambert for GIRL'S
WORLD
Elliot Manna, Ffion
Hopwood, Matthew
James for MENAGERIE
Lucy Alexander,
Issy Symonds-Willmott,
Freya Garfield-Bennett
for DEAD END
AS Film Opening
Lucy Alexander, Issy
Symonds-Willmott,
Freya Garfield-Bennett
for DEAD END
Elliot Manna, Ffion
Hopwood, Matthew
James for MENAGERIE
Abi, Asher and Proud
for ENTITY
Oscar McMurrugh and
Henry Carrick for
WHITE LIE
A2 Individual Effort
Seb Munnik
Josh Lewis
Hannah Wills
Lucy Matthews
Kat Morley and James
Ward
Otilia De Royer Dupre,
Lulu Mesquita, Joe
Newton
Alexis Gonnet, Josh
Lewis, Connor Martin
A2 Group Effort
Emma Keen, Alice Kent,
Gabby Scopes
Zo Ee Liew for make-up
Student names for BEA
B STREET
Elliot Manna, Ffion
Hopwood, Matthew
James for MENAGERIE
Gabby Scopes
Hannah Wills
Kat Morley and James
Ward
Best Digipak
Seb Munnik
Gabby Scopes
Lucy Matthews
Matt Dodds
Viren Aggarwal
Seb Munnik
Best Poster
Alexis Gonnet
Harvey Olszowski
Seb Munnik
Josh Timmins
James Ward
Alexis Gonnet
Kat Morley
A2 Portfolio
Ariane Freebody
Josh Lewis
Seb Munnik
Gabby Scopes
Muse Award for
Creativity A2
Alexis Gonnet, Josh
Lewis, Connor Martin
GET WHAT YOU GIVE
Best narrative: Jasmin
Mitchell and Anna
Taylor for RUN
Klim Kazakov and
Conor Forster AMBER
PACIFIC
Justine Vilgrain for
digipak art
A2 Acting
A2 People's Choice
Award (Millfield vote
for favourite film)
A2 Music Video
Film of the Year
Harvey Olszowski
Justine and Annoushka
for WE ARE THE
PEOPLE
Klim Kazakov and
Conor Forster AMBER
PACIFIC
MENAGERIE by Elliot
Manna, Ffion Hopwood,
Matthew James
Seb Munnik
Alexis Gonnet, Josh
Lewis, Connor Martin
GET WHAT YOU GIVE
Lucy Matthews
Ruby Olive
Alexis Gonnet
Josh, Alexis, Connor for
GET WHAT YOU GIVE
SAFE AND SOUND by
Ariane Freebody
Cem Bilgin, Mo
Demerdash and Camilo
Rey for SURE THING
Harvey Olszowski
Ariane Freebody for
SAFE AND SOUND
Seb, Ollie and Viren for
FORT KNOX
Kat and James for
DANCE
Klim Kazakov and
Conor Forster AMBER
PACIFIC
AMBER PACIFIC by
Klim Kazakov and
Conor Forster
Lucy Alexander, Issy
Symonds-Willmott,
Freya Garfield-Bennett
for DEAD END
SAFE AND SOUND by
Ariane Freebody
Klim Kazakov and
Conor Forster AMBER
PACIFIC
Seb and Co for FORT
KNOX
SAFE AND SOUND by
Ariane Freebody
OSCARS
13
CHARITY
14
Project Kokrobite
At the end of this term we are
asking people to please donate any
old uniform, games kit, shoes, and
casual clothing to send to the
Kokrobite Children's Centre in
Ghana. This happened for the
first time last year and we are
now trying to make it an annual
process. The Centre is a great
organisation which works with
children and their families to
enable the children to attend
school and gain an education.
Outside of school hours the
children are provided with
additional support with learning
and the opportunity to take
part in sports and art activities.
The clothing we send can be
used by the children for sports
activities, church, and school.
This year Holly Jackson and Juliet
Rustom will be in charge of the
collection, and we hope that this
will become an annual process passed on each year to new people
with fresh ideas.
This process first started in 2013 after Millfield changed the junior
girls’ uniform. I decided to collect the old uniform with the aim of
sending it to a school or centre elsewhere in the world.This task was
not as easy as I had first hoped. To begin with I contacted organisations
such as UNICEF, Oxfam, and Save the Children to see if they would
like to accept the collected clothing. Due to transportation expenses,
though, none of these organisations were interested in the collected
clothing, for it is cheaper to buy clothes in the foreign countries.
However, Save the Children suggested the organisation 'Global Hand'
to me. 'Global Hand' is a website which helps connect charities
and communities in need all over the world. To do this you simply
create a profile, listing the items you have, after which you can find
organisations in need of the type of items you have. This was brilliant,
for I found numerous organisations across the world in need of what
I had to offer. However, once again the transportation costs were a
major obstacle. Having found a
school in Uganda in need of my
collection, I faced the problem
that sending the clothing out
there actually cost more than
just sending them funds to
buy new clothing. I contacted
organisations such as British
Airways and DHL to see if I
would be able to be given any
discount for the clothes to be
sent, but, because the school
was not a registered charity in
Britain, they could not give me
any discount. Therefore, in the
end the operation was simply
not feasible and I had to start
again.
One year later, I still found
myself with all this clothing
stored at home. The men's
suits I had managed to
donate to a young people's
organisation in London called
LEAP. This organization helps young men prepare for job interviews to
save them from unemployment. It was brilliant to be able to support
an organisation close to home. However, the old girls’ uniform and
old school kit was still useless for the time being, until one day I was
introduced to Jane Zohoungbogbo who works in the enterprises
department at Millfield. Every summer, Jane comes back to England to
work to help support the Kokrobite Children's Centre she runs with
her husband Martial, and collects things such as books and clothing to
take back with her.
I hope we can develop the relationship between the Kokrobite Centre
and Millfield school, and that the pupils of Millfield donate to this
brilliant organisation. parents paid for their education. Even when living
in mud hut villages, they could still set aside money for their children’s
education, which shows how much they valued it. It made me realise
how lucky I was. This dedication from the parents was mirrored by
their children’s excitement and passion for their studies. I couldn’t,
however, go easy on them when we played football. Being from
England, everyone had high expectations
of me (I have no idea why: we’re dire) and
nearly all of the kids were Manchester
United fans. Sickening. Splitting the teams
into the clubs supported, it was conclusively
Arsenal vs Man United. The opposing team
of course tried to cheat their way to victory
with every bit of foul play in the book typical United - but Arsenal held their own.
As a volunteer, you work from Monday to
Friday. This entails a large range of activities,
from finding and demolishing poacher traps
to cutting a new road through the bush.
This ‘work’, although hard work, was always
great fun and educational. I, incidentally,
learnt how to track animals, and you leave
the programme with a whole new world of
knowledge bequeathed by the expert local
workers and guides. Weekends, on the other
hand, are reserved for your free time, and
there’s a huge lists of activities to choose
from. Every Saturday I was out in Zimbabwe,
my friends and I went on a “Sunset Booze
By Olivia Allin
NEWS
Cruise” along
the Zambezi
river. My name is
now up in lights
on the top of
the leader board
for “Number of
Pints” consumed
within the two
hour frame. I am
forever spreading
the renowned
name of Millfield
in good and
exemplary
fashion. White
water rafting, I
have to admit,
was my favourite
activity, but other excursions, such as the “Devil’s Pool”
were also superb. The “Devil’s Pool” is a little gully on
the cusp of Victoria Falls. The current of the Zambezi
had crafted this pool and we were literally swimming and
sitting two metres from this 108-metre waterfall. It was
simply spectacular. The white water rafting was a great
fix of adrenaline. The six hours of rafting along the gorge
of Victoria Falls was amazing. There were some “Level
5” rapids that our guide said are 99.9% likely to make us
capsize. With sheer elation and a bit of trepidation we
attempted to tackle these rapids and be that 0.01%, the uncapsizeable elite. We weren’t, and I lost both of my shoes.
We did at least attempt these rapids (unlike the German
group that bottled it) and it was pure, unadulterated fun.
Without sounding too much like a clichéd “Gap Yah”
muppet, I cannot stress to you enough, not only on how
exceptionally fun this programme is, but also how your
hard work ultimately contributes to a great cause. I was
pushed to my limits but I would not have had it another
way.You meet some amazing people and my only regret,
apart from getting urinated on by a poisonous beetle,
accidentally picking up a snapping turtle and my foolish
backings of Arsenal in bets at the backpackers’ bar, is that
I couldn’t stay for longer. I do feel that this adventure has
grounded and changed me for the better. Nakavango is
always looking for new volunteers, so if this appeals to
you, honestly, just give it a go.Visit their website; www.
Nakavango.com for a far greater insight (that beats my
tripe) on Nakavango’s programme. It is incredible.
15
Dr
Jones
retires
from
Millfield
How long have you been Millfield’s medical officer?
Since September 2002, but I’ve been providing medical services at MPS
since 1991.
How has the school changed in your time here?
So much has changed. Medically, there has been the same remarkable
increase in expectations and workload that the rest of the medical
profession in the UK has also experienced. The most noticeable thing
for me in the school is the swimming pool and the new boarding houses
around Chindit Avenue, which have replaced acres of green fields. But one
thing that hasn’t changed is my passion for the work I do here.
What does the job involve on a daily or weekly basis?
I run daily surgeries at both schools throughout the academic year as well
as providing medical cover for the sports on Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons in the winter terms. Along with the rest of the medical team,
I provide a service that is a cross between general practice and a minor
injuries unit. So we manage everything from everyday minor illnesses,
such as seasonal viral infections, to emotional problems and emergencies,
including acute trauma. The work is varied, interesting, often demanding yet
always rewarding.
How do you cope with the responsibility that inevitably comes with your
role here?
Responsibility comes with any professional role. I am very fortunate to
work in happy, supportive and professional teams at both schools.
Have you ever regretted a professional decision you’ve made in your role
here?
Good question! Medicine is not always a precise science. It is therefore not
unusual for medics to look back and consider situations that could have
been handled differently. But ‘regret’ is certainly not a word I would use.
What will you miss most on retirement?
I will miss my colleagues, the medical and the academic staff alike. But it is
the pupils I will miss most. I have followed many from the age of eight all
the way through their Millfield life to the age of 18. There is an infectious
enthusiasm and energy that gives Millfield a real buzz. It has been an
exceptional place to be associated with for all these years and I will miss it
greatly.
What are you most looking forward to doing on retirement?
I am not ready to hang up my stethoscope just yet and I’m not retiring
from medicine completely. But with more flexibility of time, my love of
sport, particularly sailing, will hopefully play a larger role. I was lucky enough
to sail across the Pacific 15 years ago and now I’m looking forward to
taking part in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and sailing across the
Atlantic later this year. After that, who knows… but I’m going to carry on
being a doctor for a while longer yet.
PROFILE
16
Mr Morris
Firstly, how long have you been here and
in which roles have you served?
Since September 2012. Simply
Economics. Also, I used to be part of
the evening boarding programme, but I
retired.
What were your first impressions of
the school, and how have they changed
since?
The dining hall – cracking food (and I’m
not just talking about the crackling!).
Also, I remember the school being very
hard to get to – I cycled to my interview
from Castle Cary, had my interview, and
then cycled back to Castle Cary (with
my blazer in my rucksack).
What was your school like, the one you
attended as a boy?
Tough state school, in the Black
Mountains of Wales. Classes of 30.
Having to sweet-talk the dinner ladies
for some extra grub.
If the current teacher you were teaching
the fifteen year-old you, what would
your report be like?
A real character in the classroom.
“Homework” (as we use to call it in
mid-Wales) always in on time.
If you had your time again at school,
what would you do differently?
I would have asked out Rhiannon.
How do you feel about the election?
Fine, although I wish people voted for
the party they ACTUALLY liked rather
than voting tactically.Your vote is not
going to make a difference anyway (no
candidate is ever going to lose by a vote)
so why vote for someone who is not
your favourite?
What’s your idea of a relaxing evening
during term time?
I like to go through hell on the squash
court with Joe the tennis coach. A little
more relaxing is tennis with Mr Thomas
from Maths, although
this is still a pretty
fierce, gladiatorial battle.
What did you think of
the last film you saw?
I have seen Wild,
Second Best Marigold
Hotel, Whiplash and
Birdman recently. For
me, Whiplash was the
best.
Have you ever read a
book more than once?
If so, can you please tell
us a bit about it?
Bear Gryll’s Survival
Guide to Life is brilliant
and inspires me to be
a better person every
time I read it. Also, and
my kids will laugh at
this, but Rhinoceros
Success is undoubtedly
the greatest book ever
written!
If you could go on
holiday with anyone
(except family and
friends) who has ever
lived, where would you
go and what would you
do?
I would cycle around
the world with the
following people:
Bear Grylls, Graham
from the Strength
and Conditioning
Department, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, John
McEnroe, Gareth
Edwards, Jessica Ennis, Beyonce, Nelson
Mandela, Charles Darwin and, as
mentioned earlier, Rhiannon.
Finally, what’s the best piece of advice
you’ve ever been given?
‘Always do the right thing’.