NewsThe Mill Hill Golf Team completed a memorable hat trick at the Middlesex Schools County Championships hosted by Fulwell Golf Club on 23rd June. Our 1st team of James Ellis, Chris Alexander and Sayyid Said won The Middlesex Team Championship and Josh Leader won the U16 Handicap prize. James Ellis completed the hat trick shooting a fantastic round of 66 (5 under par) to become the Individual County Champion. James in the process broke the competition record held by Ryder Cup star Paul Casey. Gerrit Becker, Fred Daeche-Marshall and Charlie Layhani also played in the competition.
Dean Halford
Director Of Golf, Mill Hill Golf Academy
Thomas (known as TJ) Brett, who has won a sought-after place at RADA, came to Mill Hill Sixth Form on a Theatre Studies scholarship. He has been accepted for the new RADA Foundation course that starts in September. Only thirty places were available and Mill Hill pupils were offered two of them, though one has decided to go elsewhere. TJ is determined to become an actor and has acted in three productions at the school: ‘Burning Tensions’, ‘Do We Ever See Grace’ and ‘Tomorrow‘ (based on ‘Waiting For Godot’). He is one of several students that have gone on to study drama and related fields in recent years. Daniel Sharman has just left LAMDA and gone straight into making a feature film; Harry Melling has completed his first year at LAMDA and is loving it; Ashley Kumar has just left Mountview Theatre School after giving a great performance as Stanislav in ‘The Seagull’ and being offered the services of no less than seven London theatrical agents. Marc Montague is studying Film at Sussex University and Adam Beckman is enjoying his Acting degree training in Bournemouth. These are all very talented students who have learnt that drama is a very strong discipline. TJ has worked hard on market stalls and elsewhere at weekends and has demonstrated total commitment to rehearsals at the same time. The drama department is very proud of him.
Come and see an exhibition of students’ GCSE, AS and A Level work in the Art Department next to the Piper Library. All welcome!
Adam Rossington achieved a score of 100 not out in a recent Middlesex U15 v. Cambridgeshire U15 match – with three balls to spare. Adam is a stalwart of the school team, making consistent progress, and he is currently being considered by selectors for the Bunbury/ESCA U15 Cricket Festival at Sedburgh School in July. This hugely prestigious schools cricket festival involves teams from many regions of the country.
As well as his cricketing success, Adam is also a talented golfer and was one of the team who represented Mill Hill in the HMC School Finals last summer.
Following the earthquake in Sichuan province in China last month, a group of Sixth Form students, helped by Mr. Luke, set up a display in the Octagon to raise awareness amongst Mill Hill pupils of the disaster. The images and stories displayed ranged from the harrowing to the uplifting as we saw the despair of individual suffering within many family units, and the occasional miraculous tale of survival. Many of those who died were schoolchildren, which had a particular resonance to our pupils. By manning the stand throughout the week our pupils were able to collect approximately £200 in cash which went to the Relief Fund at the Chinese Embassy. In addition a letter that was sent to parents requesting a donation is believed to have raised a further £1,000. Further donations are welcomed - please contact Mr Andy Luke.
James Ellis will represent the region in the England Schools Golf Association Championships at the end of June, having earned his place playing in the South of England Schools Championships during the Spring half term break. The Championships are held at The Kendleshire course, near Bristol. Only the top 12 boys and 6 top girls are chosen to represent England and so this is a tremendous achievement by James. This most prestigious event for U18’s has been running for more than 30 years and James follows in the footsteps of Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, leading English professional golfers, who both represented England at this level.
James Ellis competed in the 4th Annual St. John’s International Golf Tournament at The Sun City Golf Resort, South Africa, last year when Mill Hill participated in this invitational schools event.
Robbie Yellon has been offered a Nuffield Bursary to work with Dr. Alexandre Potocnik on the ‘effect of mouse malaria on progenitors of blood cells (stem cells) in the spleen’. He follows a distinguished line of Mill Hill biology students by gaining this prestigious summer research post at the National Institute for Medical Research.
Siddharth Kohli has also been offered a summer research post at the National Institute for Medical Research with a Nuffield Bursary working with Dr John Ward on the analysis of bacterial metgenomic libraries from bacteria living on the tongue
Mill Hill School are pleased to play host to the John Dankworth Quintet on Thursday 26 June. One of Britain’s best known jazz musicians and composers, Sir John Dankworth continues to be a player of invention and fire. Originally inspired by Benny Goodman, then by altoists Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker, he got to play with both Goodman and Parker in one year. Voted musician of the year in 1949, this was the first of many awards. He formed his first group in 1950 and has become a father figure in British jazz culminating in 2006 in being the first jazz musician to receive a knighthood.
To book tickets please go to the Mill Hill Festival site www.millhillmusicfest.co.uk.
Recently 1,450 14 and 15 year old mathematicians took part in the Maths Challenge Olympiad. We are very pleased that both Simon Bai and Haruka Morita were amongst those who were the top performers and as such Haruka was recognised with a certificate. Simon’s performance was outstanding; he received a Distinction and a gold medal for finishing in the top 100. Simon’s medal was presented to him in a school assembly by headmaster, Dr Dominic Luckett.
Simon Bai rounded off his successful year for the chess club by winning his age group and coming second overall in the Middlesex section of the UK Chess Challenge. This is the biggest competition of its kind in the world, and Simon has qualified to play in the Southern regional final at Wellington College in July.
Mill Hill’s swimming teams have enjoyed a successful year. Highlights have included a triumph at Charterhouse where we won every race in the Gala, a feat repeated by the junior girls at the Haileybury and Bedford Gala. Both the intermediate boys and junior boys also did very well at this event. Our latest impressive performance was at the Stowe Relay Championships, where once again the girls performed to a very high standard. The junior girls came second in the freestyle relay and our intermediate girls came third in the freestyle relay. This is a really big accomplishment considering the depth and talent of the opposition schools.
Junior Girls Swimming Team: Nicole Harvey, Rachael Morton, Natalia Miller and Georgia Wildman
Many congratulations to all Mill Hill’s swimmers – the talent of our swimmers, particularly at the junior level, bodes well for the future.
Swimmer of the Season: James Creager
Most Improved Male Swimmer: Seb Balcombe
Most Improved Female Swimmer: Layken Senior
You’re invited to enter the competition for the new style Mill Hill School Magazine, to be published this autumn.
Our new style School Magazine will be up to date, and in line with our new prospectus and other school publications. It will be a lot more visual than previous editions, and with this in mind we’re planning to feature a piece of artwork from each House. The artwork will reflect life in your House, and can be a painting, collage, photograph or sculpture. The finished pieces will be printed at approximately A5 size (upright).
Please photograph your entries and submit them to your House Master / Mistress on a CD with a brief explanation (up to 20 words) by Monday 16th June.
Our designers Lawrence & Beavan will decide on an overall winner, and prizes will be awarded to the winning individual and House. The winner will also have his/her work framed and displayed in the Octagon for a year.
If you have any questions about the Competition please contact Ms Ward in the Admissions Office. In the meantime, start creating and we look forward to receiving your masterpieces!
Which are the most frequently borrowed books in our Library? We’ve just posted the up-to-date list, and you may be surprised... take a look!
Mill Hill’s boys and girls tennis teams are having a fantastic season – undefeated in all matches and progressing well through several important competitions. The girls are striving towards becoming area champions in the Year 10 Nestle Competition for the sixth year running and they have reached the area semi finals of the Aberdare Cup following a nerve-racking victory last week against Berkhamsted Collegiate. Further to a 3-3 draw in rubbers, the match went to a deciding 10-point tie-break, which was eventually won by pupils Gabriella Kleimberg and Olivia Brown. The team, which also included Tabitha Mainstone and Harriet Cotton, now face St Albans Girls School. The girls also recently beat South Hampstead High 5-1.
The junior boys are also on target to become area champions in the Junior Nestle Competition, and have had victories over a number of competitor schools including Aldenham, Highgate and Harrow. The senior team also recently beat Highgate.
Many of the pupils continue to compete in tennis competitions outside school, while Year 9 pupil Michael Cohen represented Hertfordshire in the U14 County Cup team.
On Tuesday 20th May the Design & Technology Department will be hosting an Open Evening and Exhibition featuring student work across all year groups, and showcasing this year’s GCSE and A2 coursework. You can also see working demonstrations of the newly acquired laser cutting machine with sample products available as mementoes of this special event. The event will start at 4.00pm and close at 8.00pm. On behalf of the pupils at Mill Hill School we would be delighted to welcome and your family you to our department to see what we have been up to 2007-8!
Our Summer Concert got off to a fast and furious start with the Samba Band filling the Large with their rendition of the Samba Battacuda, ably led by Duncan Burton. Not to be outdone, the Jazz Band treated their audience to Miles Davis’ classic Milestones.
Meanwhile, our Harmony Choir beautifully contributed the songs Something Inside so Strong and Out of Reach. It is exciting that a committed group such as this should progress so far in a relatively short period. Their talent and enthusiasm for the music is clear.
Out of the wide selection of performances, Ben Glassberg’s interpretation of the Rain Drop Prelude by Chopin should be noted for its maturity and sense of passion.
The second half featured Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, accompanied by cello and organ and performed in the striking atmosphere of the Chapel. This piece requires technical assurance as well as sensitive musicality, and our Choir did not disappoint. With fine chorus singing, Hannah Luder, Chanel Huang, Katie Bobroff and Katie Woodrow were free to soar as soloists.
Full credit must go to Music Director, Richard Allain, for his tireless enthusiasm in nurturing the Choir and for making the most of their diverse talents.
The first in a series of Friday concerts in aid of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain takes place this Friday 16th May in the Music School. Organised by Millhillian and NCO member Ben Glassberg, the concert features Anna Sideris singing Mozart, and pianist David Alexander who will be playing Beethoven and Rachmaninov, and is the first of a planned series. Ben says:
“The NCO is a wonderful organisation, providing children with amazing opportunities in music. They allow them to meet people with similar mindsets, play with a proper orchestra and be tutored by some of the top musicians in the country. But without funds, they cannot afford to keep the organization alive.”
Please come and enjoy the music – and please give generously! 1.05pm in the Music School. Free tea, coffee and biscuits.
The Lecture Series for the coming academic year has been finalised. We start in October with Professor Donald Sassoon who will deliver the Queen Mary University Lecture on the subject of the Mona Lisa.
We are delighted that this lecture will be followed by Anita Wallfisch, Professor Tim Luckhurst and Dr Hugh Montgomery.
There will also be seven seminars, full details to be confirmed.
Dates and booking details for these free events will be released in September.
Mill Hill’s third annual Junior Open tournament attracted 54 players from our feeder schools. The tournament was held on Friday 1st May at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City.
The competition was in round robin format with the winner of each group progressing to the final stages. As in previous years the competitors all played with enthusiasm and it was exciting to see some new talent on display. The eventual winners of the tournament were James Vogel from St Martins, Northwood, and Lucy Booth, Newberrries.
Upcoming tennis talent George Coopland, who trains at Gosling, joined us for the afternoon and ran a series of fun drills for the players who did not get past the initial stages.
Still on the tennis theme, we’re delighted to say that Mill Hill’s tennis teams are unbeaten this season.
Mill Hill’s Gala Charity Fashion Show held on April 26th was a huge success – with an excellent evening’s entertainment raising much-needed funds for our Partnership Projects in India and Nicaragua.
The Show was the brainchild of 6th Formers Paula Sanchez and Kodzo Williams, and was planned on a grand scale! A huge range of fashion was on show – from cutting edge teenage styles to imaginative recycled outfits made and modelled by Grimsdell children. A constant stream of models was sent down the runway to the delight of a full-house audience who clearly enjoyed every minute. The Charity Shop Challenge (funkiest outfit for less than £20!) prize was awarded to Upper 6th Former Sam Lewis by Oscar winning costume designer Jenny Beavan, one of our recent Lecturers.
The audience were kept on the edge of their seats as the show started with a breathtaking drumming routine and the fashion runs were interspersed with exciting choreographed dance routines ranging from Street Dance to Belmont’s Asian Fusion. In total, more than 200 pupils from all three Foundation Schools took part as models, dancers and helpers.
So far, we estimate that the event has raised up to £4000 for the Partnerships, and donations are still coming in. We are extremely grateful to everyone for their generous gifts, and every penny will be sent to our Partner Projects. Trevor Chilton and Trisha Newsome showed the audience just how important our help is – from building new classrooms to providing bus fares for trainee teachers to get to their classes – and also how important the experience of working on the projects is to our Mill Hill 6th Formers. Everyone benefits.
The evening would not have been possible without an enormous amount of hard work by pupils, staff and parents. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed their time and expertise – and especially:
Show concept: Paula Sanchez and Kodzo Williams.
Show organisers: Jane Sanchez (Deputy Head, Mill Hill), Carol Adler (Deputy Head, Belmont), Adrienne Attree (Deputy Head, Grimsdell), Trevor Chilton and Trisha Newsome (Overseas Partnership representatives), Munisha Sevani (Belmont), the Walker House team (notably Roger Axworthy and Bob Taylor), Mike Gibson (Foundation catering manager) and Adele Greaves (Mill Hill Enterprises). Sue Pope, Fran Watts and Chan Vi offered vital support, and many staff from all three schools helped out on the night.
An appeal to parents to help with collections of clothes, raffle prizes or key skills such as hair and make-up brought a fantastic response and really made the show possible. Special thanks to the following parents who provided collections: Mrs Christostomou (teenage clothing), Mrs Hadjisymeou (Karen Millen and Anoushka G)), Mrs Kyriacou (Image), Mrs Collins (Only Hearts), Mr Salimian (Go 2), Mr and Mrs Lester (Fila/Russ Athletic and Precis Petit), Mrs Jelen (Tiddly Winks and Ben’s of St John’s Wood), Mrs Dickson (Frank Usher), Mr and Mrs Franks (Landmark Fashion).
Mrs Christostomou and Mrs Hadjisymeou worked with pupils all week, and Mrs Kyriacou and her daughter Amalia prepared the girls from their shop, Image, on Mill Hill Broadway. Parent Sabina Heggarty paid for professional make-up artists and helped design the set, while Mrs Prostamo and Sev Redif provided hair and make-up on the night.
We are also very grateful to Professors of Sound (lighting and sound), Fat Face of Brent Cross (clothes collection), Tux ‘n‘ Tails of Edgware (evening wear for the boys), Finchley Nurseries and Black and Cook (plants for the Octagon), parents Mr & Mrs Ward and Bonusprint (programme printing), Lawrence & Beavan Design Consultants (programme design) and TopShop for the goody bags.
A warm welcome awaits prospective pupils and their families at our Foundation Open Morning on Saturday May 10th. All three Foundation Schools – Grimsdell (pre-preparatory), Belmont (preparatory) and Mill Hill – will be open between 9.30am and 12 noon. No appointments are necessary – please come and meet Senior Academic staff and tour the Schools. Parking will be signposted for each School from The Ridgeway.
Exciting developments for hockey at Mill Hill have been announced. Eden Park, the well known clothing company, have agreed to sponsor both girls and boys 1st teams for the next academic year, so their logo will appear on the teams’ shirts from September. We are very grateful to parent Mrs Relf who has worked hard to achieve this excellent link.
We are also pleased to announce that Mr Jamie Kingstone (pictured in action here), Master in Charge of Hockey and current captain of National League Club Old Georgians, has been signed to play for top South African Club Dut Rovers during the summer holidays. Mr Kingstone’s Durban team-mates include ten current or past members of the South African national team, and he believes that this experience – and the different style of play from our own – will benefit his own game and the coaching that he can pass on to Mill Hill students.
Wednesday 19 March 2008 saw the official opening of the changing room building and the switching on of the floodlights by Old Millhillian Mike Corby (Winterstoke, 1958), one of this country’s most successful sportsmen. Mr Corby represented England and Great Britain on more than 250 occasions playing hockey and squash, including two Olympic Games.
Dr Dominic Luckett addressed nearly 100 guests during the opening ceremony and highlighted the School’s past and present sporting achievements. He introduced Mike Corby who spoke of his pleasure and honour at being invited to perform the ceremony.
Guests, who included Mr Corby’s old school teammates, Old Millhillians, parents of the current 1st XI hockey team, past members of staff and a representative from Southgate Hockey Club, then enjoyed a closely-fought match between the 1st XI and an Old Millhillians Club Hockey XI. While the final scoreline seemed somewhat one-sided, the game was extremely competitive with the current 1st XI having the edge when it came to finishing a move. The evening finished with a reception in the Refectory at which Jamie Kingstone, Master in charge of hockey, and James Fleming, Captain of the 1st XI, spoke.
Thanks go to everyone who made the evening so successful. A plaque on the wall by the entrance to the changing rooms commemorates the occasion.
Ollie Bass broke the lap record, while fellow Sports Scholar Katie Ardrey logged the fastest time in the girls’ race.At the start of the race the sun shone, the band played and there was a frenzy of heightened positive emotions in anticipation of what turned out to be a remarkable day of “House Spirit”, courage and the making of heroes!
Honourable mentions to members of the Common Room, male and female, who ran stoically. Particular mention should go to Mr Illott and Mr Turner who both ran below 5 minutes 20 seconds. Only two Houses beat the men, while for the second year in succession the staff female team are unbeaten.
This year’s winner of the Mortimer Trophy – with a new world record time of 5 minutes and 2 seconds – is Oliver Bass of Burton Bank. The Mortimer trophy is named after Mark and Gavin Mortimer, both from Burton Bank, who loved this competition. Mark (who left the school in 1985) held the world record for the fastest lap at 5 minutes 11 seconds for a number of years, Gavin, the younger of the two, equalled the record in 1988. Most recently the record holder was Nathan Richardson – also of Burton Bank – with a time of 5 minutes and 3 seconds, which he achieved in 1993.
The final team placings saw School House – last year’s winners – come in third place with a time of 1 hour 2 minutes. The top two houses were very close in performance and dare I say “House Spirit and good old fashioned inter-house rivalry”. The outcome was in doubt until the very last lap when, coming up Wills Grove, Oliver overtook Jack to make a decisive move. It is a testament to both of these teams that they each broke the 1hour barrier for the race, a feat that hasn’t been matched for over ten years. So, in second place with a time of 59 minutes and 34 seconds, was Ridgeway House, while overall winners of the Ten Mile Cup for 2008 in a time of 59 minutes and 25 seconds was Burton Bank.
Mr H Barnes