Winchester Weekly

Guest editor

Magnifying our personal impact

Moving into the Head of Geography role this year has been a great opportunity to update my subject knowledge. The climate emergency was top of my list.

It isn’t an abstract issue for me. In my previous work, monitoring glaciers, it was a serious practical problem even a decade ago. Equipment was routinely destroyed as the glacier we were studying was losing 3m of ice a year, vertically. There is no longer any point in the education we provide the boys focusing purely on the science or knocking back the latest denialist arguments. We’re past that point. Instead, in Geography we’re focusing on the practical implications of decarbonisation on society. The boys need to know about the action being taken in the industry, energy and finance sectors, and how that will impact their careers and lifestyles.

At Winchester we’re in a privileged position as not only does the College have the resources to react to the climate emergency and do our bit but we also have the opportunity to help the boys navigate this future appropriately. This magnifies our personal impact. Having some agency to address the emergency has helped me stay optimistic.

Alex Clayton, Head of Geography

Messages from the Second Master

Dear Parents,

Despite the restrictions placed on this weekend’s exeat, those boys who remained in school had a wide variety of activities to choose from, ranging from creative writing, sports, drama workshops, volunteering for the RSPB, Danish longball for curious JPs and a particularly successful indoor cricket tournament. Thank you to all those colleagues who put on additional activities over the weekend.

Sundays out

This Sunday 29th November will be the turn of MP and V Book (years 2 and 3).

Please could all MP and V Book parents indicate whether they plan to see their son this weekend by completing and returning this form by Thursday evening.

Parents who are seeing their sons over the weekend are kindly requested not to come onto the campus itself.

The year groups for Sunday 6th December will be JP, VI Book 1 and VI Book 2.

Arrangements for the end of term

The last day of term will be Friday 11th December and staggered pick up times will be as follows:

VI Book 1 – 11am
VI Book 2 – 12pm
JP – 1pm
MP – 2pm
V Book – 3pm

Pre-flight testing

Pre-flight testing is available at a cost of £250 per test, which includes the test itself and the pre-flight certificate. Parents are responsible for meeting any requirements for each flight and destination and for determining the appropriate time for the test. To book a test, please use this link.

Parents are reminded that if in the pre-flight testing their son tests positive they will be responsible for organising their isolation accommodation. Unfortunately, there will be no accommodation at Winchester College for boys in this position.

An important point: Flights on Mondays and Tuesdays cannot be catered for because this would involve analysing the results over the previous weekend.

With best wishes,

Mr Nicholas Wilks, Second Master

Recita

Standout performances

The final of Recita, Winchester College’s recitation event, was held on 19th November. The focus of the competition is on conveying and interpreting the meaning of the text. Congratulations to recent 6th form entrant, Adedeji Adesida on winning the Queen's Silver Medal for English Speech, with his moving performance of Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise', and to Peter Marsden who won the Lower School competition, with Isaac Rosenberg’s ‘Returning, We Hear the Larks.’

Christmas Card to Support the Homeless

An active participant in the school's Community Service programme and talented art student, Felix Beddow wanted to use his skills to support the Winchester Churches Nightshelter.

His design has been selected for their Christmas cards this year, with all the profits going to people experiencing homelessness locally.

The Quiristers Record At Abbey Road

Earlier this month the Quiristers travelled to the world-famous Abbey Road Studios to record the music for the annual Carols by Candlelight service, usually held at St Luke's, Chelsea. The event will raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and features readings from Dame Judi Dench, Damian Lewis and others. The service will be broadcast on Thursday 17 December and tickets are £10.