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Staff, pupils, old boys and parents all played their part in celebrating the Christmas season at Queen Elizabeth’s School in 2017.

A packed programme of festive activity embraced the traditional, while also incorporating a few modern touches and elements reflecting the very diverse School community.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “This has been a long, busy and productive term, capped by a very enjoyable and well-executed festive programme. I send my best wishes to all members of the School community and hope they will enjoy a happy Christmas holiday and a peaceful New Year.”

One innovation in the programme this year was the introduction of a drinks-and-canapés reception for Old Elizabethans and other special guests immediately prior to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in the parish church. This was held in the nearby Tudor Hall – the historic home of the School until it moved to its present site in 1932. The venue was filled to capacity, with 60 guests spanning all generations of OEs, including several who were in London from abroad (including the US and Canada). The prominent feature of the building’s ‘whipping post’ proved a talking point.

At the service across the road, the classic combination of traditional carols and biblical readings was accompanied by highly accomplished performances from the School Choir and the Chamber Choir – with the Anthem, And the Glory of the Lord, from Handel’s Messiah a particular highlight. The Mayor of the Borough of Barnet, Cllr Brian Salinger, was present at both the reception and the service. The Bible lessons were read by boys from Years 7–11, with the final readings given by senior staff and by the outgoing School Captain, Oliver Robinson. The Headmaster then read the famous beginning of John’s gospel before the congregation sang Charles Wesley’s Hark! The herald angels sing to Mendelssohn’s soaring melody to finish the service.

The other major musical highlight of the run-up to the end of term was the Christmas Concert in the Shearly Hall, where the School’s choirs led the audience in favourite carols and QE’s leading instrumental ensembles performed music from Bach to Irving Berlin. The Symphonic Winds (a new name for the former Concert Band) produced one of the highlights of the evening, their Selections from Home Alone refreshing memories of what has become a Christmas film classic, while the Senior Indian Ensemble also evoked joy with their rendition of Vilayaadum Pillaikal (The Joyful Children) by Madhurai Mani Iyer.

Between the concert and the carol service, the School site itself became a festive scene, thanks to an early snowfall. Hard work by the staff ensured that no School days were lost.

As the term rolled to a close, boys and staff gathered in the dining hall to enjoy Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. On the final day, classes were dismissed at lunchtime and boys left to begin their winter break.

The Christmas 2017 Draw was recently held and the fortunate prize winners and their prizes are detailed below.

If you would like to be part of the 200 Club and have a chance of winning prizes which are  drawn twice a year whilst raising Funds for the Memorial Playing Fields and the School please contact Martyn Bradish at mb@bradish.co.uk for a standing order form.

Good luck to all our 200 Club members in the next draw to be held at the School on Founder’s Day.

It is with regret that the Association announces the recent death of Alan White.

A leading figure in the world of legal academia inspired boys interested in pursuing a career in the Law when he returned to the School to give a talk to senior pupils. Old Elizabethan Ishan Kolhatkar (1989-1996) is Deputy Dean of Education Services at BPP, a top private university dedicated to Law, business and other professions.

After studying Law himself at BPP following a degree in Computer Science at Queen Mary, University of London, Mr Kolhatkar’s career began at the Bar, before he returned to academia to the Bar Professional Teaching Course (BPTC). In addition to writing content and validation documents for a course to help BPTC students bridge the gap between the BPTC and the pupillage, he teaches advocacy part-time and takes on pro-bono work.

He spoke to the boys of the importance of asking questions, of mastering detail and of seeing the “bigger picture”. “Asking questions is the best way of learning,” he said. “Be the ‘brave one’ and ask questions in a learning environment. You will gain from it and so will the room, but you’ll also be the one directing where the discussion goes.”

He explained that being able to see the bigger picture is what sets the best apart. “You might be an expert in a narrow part of the law, but you need to be able to understand how things fit together, and understand the overall process.”

He told the boys that he himself had been attracted to Law because he loved talking and he advised them to practice the art: “Seek out people with different opinions; be willing to debate in the knowledge that they might not change their minds. Keep focussed on the issues – don’t just resort to shouting.”

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Ishan was an inspiring and engaging guest. The boys undoubtedly gain from the opportunity to hear from leaders in their fields. He touched on many of the themes germane to our boys: inquisitiveness and curiosity, intelligent debate, the development of a rounded personality and a desire to contribute to the wider community.”

In addition to his teaching role, Mr Kolhatkar is an External Examiner in advanced criminal litigation for The Bar Standards Board. This work takes in a number of BPTC providers, including City Law School, Cardiff University and Manchester Metropolitan University. His role is to ensure that assessments are properly set and marked in accordance with the intended learning outcomes of the module and the BPTC as a whole. He also speaks regularly at Middle Temple students’ events, on topics such as examination technique on the BPTC. (Middle Court is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers.) In his spare time, Mr Kolhatkar writes a blog for aspiring lawyers.

Year 13 pupil Dhruv Kanabar attended the talk and said: “Mr Kolhatkar provided a detailed insight into becoming a successful and effective advocate. It was particularly useful to hear his views on looking at the Law in the context of a bigger picture and how different elements are inherently linked.”

With good numbers in attendance, excellent food and memorable speeches, this year’s formal dinner for alumni was by common consent one of the best in recent memory, according to the Headmaster.

Guest of honour Robert Rinder (OE 1989–1994) brought both TV glamour and the sharp insights of an experienced international barrister to the 122nd annual dinner of The Old Elizabethans Association, while alumni spanning the generations enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with each other and make new friends.

Headmaster Neil Enright said: “It was a terrific evening. The attendance represented an increase on previous years and Rob delivered an address that was not only characteristically entertaining but also rather profound.

“It was excellent to see so many of our ten-year leavers (those who started their final year in 2007) back with us. They helped make it a truly memorable occasion.”

Formed in 1886 as an informal dining club, the association took on its present form in the 1920s. Its current President is Ken Cooper (OE 1942-50).

In his speech, Rob Rinder reflected on what he has taken from the School, while thanking QE for the “gift” it had bequeathed to him. He especially thanked his Headmaster Eamonn Harris, who was in attendance, together with my immediate predecessor, John Marincowitz.

He praised QE’s burgeoning alumni network, urging that it should be nurtured and utilised: all old boys should get involved to help pay back the “debt” that each owed to the School, he said. QE had, after all, provided them with a “public school education” for free!

Some recalled that when Rob appeared on BBC TV’s Room 101, the pet hate he had consigned to the basement torture chamber as the worst thing in the world was “school reunions”.  The Headmaster remarked: “I trust that his experience at the dinner – his first-ever reunion event at our School – went some way to changing his mind about this!”

In his own speech, Mr Enright took considerable pleasure in highlighting the fact that the academic year thus far has been notable for the large number of alumni reconnecting with the School, many coming to visit for the first time since leaving. &l dquo;They have uniformly offered support to the boys by volunteering advice, interview practice, work experience placements or sponsorship.

“It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and engagement of our old boys; it is something we hope will only continue to grow as we pursue our aim of building a strong and active network of alumni, focused on supporting each other and, crucially, the boys currently at the School,” said Mr Enright.