The Week ahead
Sunday 12th November until Sunday 19th November
General Events
On Sunday 12th November, we look forward to welcoming one of our governors, Rear Admiral Hugh Edleston (who, amongst other theatres of service, was involved in the Falklands conflict), to address the College on Remembrance Sunday. It is always one of the most moving and thought-provoking days in the life of the school. The collection for that week will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Whilst there is no space in the Chapel for that service, parents are welcome to attend the wreath-laying ceremony in Front Quad that start at 10:50 a.m. although even here space is somewhat limited.
Also on Sunday 12th November at 8:00 p.m. there will be a special concert in Great School for Remembrance Sunday featuring solo vocal items and readings. We hope that many of you will be able to join us on this occasion.
On Monday 13th November the world-famous baritone Roderick Williams will be making a welcome return to the Music School to conduct master-classes with several pupils from 1:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Concert Room. There will be a concert at 6:00 p.m. when the results of the afternoon sessions can be appreciated. This is a great opportunity to see one of the country's leading opera singers and composers in action and you would all be most welcome to attend the masterclass sessions and the concert. Further details can be obtained from Ros Dunmore in the Music School on 01344 444201.
On Wednesday 15th November there is the W.C.A. A.G.M. at 6:00 p.m. which is open to all parents. This is followed by a talk from Charles Goodwyn who is the Keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection. This should prove to give an interesting insight into a rarely seen collection of stamps. If you are interested in attending please contact Tarla Woolhouse.
On Wednesday 15th November and Thursday 16th December we will be holding Wellington College's first ever Talent Show in the Theatre. The show will be judged on Thursday night and prizes awarded to the top 3 acts. Tickets are only available by emailing Rob White, stating who the tickets are for and which day they are required, or by coming to the Theatre Box Office in person on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday lunchtime. Please note that tickets must be pre-booked as we are operating a system of reserved seating.
David Belton O.W. will be screening his highly acclaimed and immensely powerful film, "Shooting Dogs", on Thursday 17th November from 4:10 p.m. in the Theatre. The film draws on Belton's experience as a BBC journalist in Rwanda at the time of the genocide in 1994, and it stars John Hurt alongside many real survivors of the atrocity. Its raw documentary style and uncompromising scrutiny of human behaviour won it many awards and make it an experience not to be missed by all those interested in cinema, journalism, global politics and morality. All are welcome (and encouraged) to attend. David Belton will also speak about the genocide and the making of the Film at Food for Thought from 7:00pm.
The weekend is a weekend leave and we look forward to welcoming your sons and daughters back at 9:15 p.m. on the evening of Monday 20th November.
During the first few weeks of this term, the Chapel Choir directed by Simon Williamson worked very hard to produce a CD of Christmas Carols which was recorded in Chapel (with Oliver King, College Organist).
The CD will be with us next week and now is the time to order your copy (or copies) in good time for Christmas. It contains a fantastic selection of carols, old and new, traditional and modern, with some organ solos and some soloists from the choir. We think the CD will make an ideal Christmas present for family and friends, for OWs, and simply for inspiration in the car or at home whilst carrying out all your Christmas preparations in the coming weeks. The cost is £10 (with a reduction for choir members). Please send orders enclosing a cheque (payable to Wellington College) to: College Reception, Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berks RG45 7PU. Alternatively cash or Credit card payments can be made in person in Reception.
The Orange will soon be selling hand made Christmas cards in aid of their charity - Nabukenya Primary school, Mityana - Uganda. They will be on sale in the Orange in Mrs Raabe-Marjot's office at "visiting times" - break, lunch, p.m. and between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please consider supporting this worthy charity by buying a card or two.
Sport
We ought to start with congratulating the U14 girls' hockey team on winning the finals of the Berkshire competition. They go on to represent Berkshire in the nationals.
On Tuesday 14th November our yearlings rugby teams travel to Whitgift. Thursday 16th November sees our squash teams playing Radley and Marlborough, our rackets team playing Marlborough, our fencing team take on Charterhouse, our shooting VIII compete with Winchester, the badminiton team compete in the Berkshire League and the 1st XI hockey play the Marist.
Saturday 18th November finishes a busy sporting week with the rugby sides playing Epsom College and the hockey sides playing Cheltenham Ladies College.
As additions to the calendar , we are playing two matches in the National Schools Competition. On Wednsday 15th November we play at Charterhouse with a 2:15 p.m. start and on Wednesday 22nd November in Winchester vwe take on Henry Beaufort School with a 3:00 p.m. start at the Bereweeke Tennis and Squash Club along Bereweeke Road in Winchester.
This link will take you to the Wellington intranet where details of rugby sports' fixtures (team lists, pitch details, etc) can be found. For girls' hockey click here. To keep overall track on how the teams are doing click here for rugby and here for girls' hockey.
Further Ahead
The W.C.A. have two exciting lectures planned towards the end of November. On Wedensday 22nd November there is "An Evening with Andrew Motion - the Poet Laureate." and on Friday 24th November there is a talk by the famous mountaineer Stephen Venables.
Also on Friday 24 November at 8:00 p.m. in the Old Gym there is the Junior concert. This is an opportunity to appreciate the talents of our younger musicians - mostly from 3rd to 5th forms - featuring junior ensembles and soloists
On Friday 1st December at 8:00 p.m. in the Old Gym there is the Orchestral Gala Concert at which the 2006-7 Wellington College Symphony Orchestra will perform works by Schubert, Fauré and Saint-Saëns and there will also be items from the newly formed Concert Band, Camerata and other ensembles, with some solos. The Music School invites all parents and friends to come along to enjoy the results of some very hard work put in by the pupils involved in the orchestra and ensembles - and to share a glass of wine and a mince-pie.
On Saturday 2nd December at 3:00 p.m. at South Hill Park there is an event entitled "Wellington Music Scholars in Candlelight Recital" Tickets can be obtained by phoning 01344 484123.
Just a reminder that any parent wishing to attend the Bigside Pavilion fundraising dinner on Monday 4th December as described in Mr R Looker's letter of invitation should let the Campaign Office know in the next day or two on 01344 444023 . Do come . It promises to be a very good evening with Rob Andrew in the chair.
Contact us
This newsletter and past editions are on the Wellington College website as is a version of the school calendar with details of all activities going on at Wellington for the rest of this term.
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