Forward December 2015 | Page 32

SENIOR SCHOOL A fine end to an era: a tale of two Chess Captains Oliver Patton (12Sc) and Samuel Imperial (12Wb) joined the School and the Chess Club in 2010 and since then have been key figures in Guildford Grammar School Chess. They have both featured over the years in nearly all inter-school team events, both Quadrangular and PSA. It was apt therefore they should share the Captaincy of Chess, which they have done in both Years 11 and 12. Their styles of play are contrasting and neither has consistently stood out over the other in match play. Oliver is an attacking player with flashes of brilliance, particularly in setting tricky opening traps, while Samuel thinks deeply for longer and thrives in complex and difficult positions, if his clock time allows. It is significant that Oliver and Samuel have led the Guildford Grammar School teams in their highest achieving season, with the School finishing in third place in the PSA group of seven schools, and featuring wins against old rivals Hale School and Scotch College and the less experienced Aquinas College. It was particularly good to see the close team spirit, with the Captains at centre before the last must-win match against Hale. Samuel Imperial and Oliver Patton. That PSA chess result was announced on the same day as the much celebrated 1st XVIII Football triumph, last achieved in 1958 by the team that included Oliver Patton’s grandfather! The Captains’ involvement in extra-curricular activity has not been confined to chess, with Samuel coxing the 1st VIII to a historic result in the Head of the River, and Oliver a Prefect and the Captain of Mock Trials. The boys’ friendly and smooth running of the house chess competition and team training sessions, and their cheerful welcome to club newcomers of all ages, has helped bring a strong revival of interest in competitive chess in the School. We hope to welcome them back at the next Old Guildfordians match, an event which they inaugurated, and which provides vital preparation for the challenge of PSA competition. Their departure together will certainly deplete the team’s strength, but I have confidence that will be a temporary setback, given the core of talented new prospects recently attracted to chess. Captain-designate Nathaniel Harris (11Ha) is confident that he will finish the job his predecessors began and gain the edge over the top two PSA chess teams next year: Christ Church Grammar School and Wesley College. Mr Robin Shaw Teacher-in-charge, Chess Book Club In Term 3 it was our turn to host the regular joint Book Club meeting with Perth College. After having a great time at their Term 2 visit to the girls’ book club, the boys were ready to display their own skills as hosts. Members of the Junior and Senior Book Club worked together to prepare for a successful joint meeting. Book Club aims to develop students’ analytical and social skills as well as nurturing their love of reading. The topic of the meeting was a thorny one; ‘What is literature?’ a subject that has been much debated by experts in the field as well as one on which any reader will have an opinion. Does being a best seller make it good? Does it have to make skilful use of language, have great ideas or be truly original? After a short presentation by Book Club facilitators Alison and Merriwyn Spicer-Wensley, and armed with some sustaining offerings from the Guildford Grammar School kitchen, the students got down to the business of the day. Mixed teams of Perth College and Guildford Grammar School Book Club members sorted piles of books according to their view of their literary merit. Then it was time to justify their decision to their peers. Each group had to explain why they had selected certain books as having more literary merit than others. Discussion was vigorous but friendly and small prizes were awarded for interesting and well-expressed ideas. 32 Shaun Tan’s wordless book The Arrival caused considerable discussion since it could hardly be described as making skilful use of language, but many of the Book Club members thought it quite literary. There was also some interesting discussion about books based on other works which were generally thought not to be as literary as original works, but Nicki Greenberg’s award-winning graphic novel of Shakespeare’s intriguing play Hamlet ‘staged on the page’ was the exception that proved the rule. Boys and girls both cooperated, discussed and debated with energy, with everyone having an enjoyable time. Both groups are looking forward to our next joint meeting at Perth College. Alison and Merriwyn Spicer-Wensley Book Club Facilitators