STOURBRIDGE OLD EDWARDIAN CLUB

ED-Words 30 Newsletter
March 2020

With several countries in lockdown, bans on air travel and various pockets of the virus in different parts of the world, we have suddenly had to change the way we all look at life and the way we go about our normal business. Over the past week I have found myself amending this text almost daily, as Government bulletins have changed. 

The ability to travel from country to country has been severely curtailed and the financial markets are in freefall. You will all no doubt have seen the Prime Minister’s latest pronouncement, effectively confining us all to our homes and including only going out for essential shopping for food and medicines, exercising once per day, measures that are unprecedented in living memory. In addition, we have been forced to close the Club for an indefinite period in order to limit the spread of this virus. I can only hope and pray that all of our members and their loved ones remain symptom free for the duration and we can all ride out this terrible storm until the threat has abated. 

On a lighter note, I have to say that up until now I have really enjoyed the first three months of my tenure as President and I have enjoyed meeting several of you whom I hadn’t met previously. At the many get togethers I have attended such as the Boar’s Head Supper, various dinners at the Club and more recently the Black Country evening, I have been impressed by the numbers present and it is wonderful to see everyone having a good time.  

Happily, we are now moving from winter to spring with the resulting (hopefully) higher temperatures and eventually, we are told, this virus will run out of steam. However, this could be over a period of several months. Until then it is hoped that the whole country will adhere to the Government’s new rules and that the NHS, who as always are doing a fantastic job in the most difficult of circumstances, will be able to manage the expected increase in patients and that the scientists are correct in their calculations thus enabling the Government to make the right decisions to manage the way forward. In the meantime, I wish you all, your families and friends the best of health with the ability to get through this difficult time. 

Rob Hill
President

In view of the Government directives, our future events plans have been decimated whilst the Club is shut. However we will introduce new events as and when the exceptional constraints are relaxed.

All forthcoming events are visible on our Events Calendar and are available to members, guests and to all genders unless otherwise stated. 

For the convenience of members, a list of All Bookings at the Club is available on the website so members can see in advance the availability of the Club.

Women’s Volleyball Triumph! (11 March 2020)

The King Ed’s volleyball team have triumphed in their latest match versus Barnet & Southgate, winning 3 – 1. The team, comprised of Jess Teague, Leah Morris, Ailsa Smith, Emily Taylor, Beth Morris and Bernie Shrestha, are very proud to be going through to the finals.

Team captain Jess Teague says: ‘We came to London thinking we wouldn’t be able to make it to the final but due to the team’s positive attitude and loud presence we managed to come out with a win! 

We won the first set 25-17 but then sadly lost the second set 20-25. Complacency had got the better of us, we seemed to have become too comfortable and consequently let the second set slide, but we realised what had happened and brought it back in the third set 25-15, finishing off with a successful win of 25-18! 

Credit to Barnet & Southgate, they proved to be tough, but we were tougher! Serving was really strong for us and even our two most inexperienced players, Bernie and Beth, got us some ace serves winning us points off the bat! We have a range of experiences in our team, from first time players to Volleyball England experience, which allows everyone to learn different skills within volleyball. Being captain, I have really enjoyed my college volleyball experience, gaining new friends and playing at places I haven’t ever played before. 

We are so looking forward to the finals and I’m sure this will be a great experience for the whole team! Not forgetting our mixed semi-finals on 25 March which will be equally as exciting!’

King Ed’s Music Students Hit All the Right Notes (6 March 2020)

King Ed’s Music students have had a varied week, starting with a high-energy gig in the River Rooms on Monday 2 March at which Jazz Band The Wolf Within, Chuck and The Space delivered well-received sets. On Thursday 5 March the students delivered a very different evening of music. The venue was St Saviour's Church in Hagley, in which String Orchestra and Chamber Choir topped and tailed a programme of solo and chamber music. There was some fine pianistic talent on display as well as contributions from Ethan on Saxophone and Callum on Tuba, two of a number of students taking up Music college places in London next year. Several students doubled up as singers and instrumentalists, soloists and ensemble players to put together a very enjoyable evening of music.

Many thanks to everyone involved!

Geology Symposium Rocks (28 February 2020)

On Saturday 22 February, our King Ed’s geology students were up bright and early to travel to the annual Herdman Symposium at the University of Liverpool to join hundreds of geologists from around the world. The Herdman Symposium has become a significant event in the North West of England attracting over 250 participants each year. 

Although pitched at undergraduate level, the excellent speakers were able to spark interest across all levels of students, academic staff, local geological society members and teachers. The theme for 2020 was climate change, and students attended talks on how deep sea corals, seafloor sediments, and the use of sound waves can tell us about past climate change, hopefully giving us some understanding of how we can best plan for the future. 

Our next generation of climate geoscientists were enthusiastic and attentive, and were excellent ambassadors for King Ed’s. 

Pictured (l-r): Harriet, Naomi, Leo, Joe, Jezz, Sophie, Sean, Faith 

Biolympians!

The King Ed’s biology department has been celebrating the success of its A Level students this year, for their achievements in the Biology Olympiad. The Olympiad challenges and stimulates students with an interest in biology to expand and extend their talents. 

This competition is run by the Royal Society of Biology and is open to A Level students nationally. The students undertake two 45-minute multiple choice papers online under exam conditions, and this year over 9,520 students participated from 668 schools worldwide. 

Eight of the sixteen participating King Ed’s students succeeded in gaining a Gold, Silver or Bronze award, with a further 6 students receiving certificates. 

Congratulations to everyone who participated. They are: Callum, Ryan, Matthew, James, Izzy, Lucie, Alix, Ellie, Oliver, Bobby, Charlotte, Ameena, Sebastian, Daniel, Nathan, and William.