provides us is a kind of carnival mirror in which to reflect “western civilisation”. One of Socrates’ greatest improvements: the progression week to week, month to month and year to year. And yes, there is the sensa-
contributions to the history of thought is his notion of generality. To understand love and attraction, for example, tion of moving together with my crew, in a boat that’s planing across the water, which has been beyond satisfying.
he advises to begin with an understanding of base eroticism, and then to “scale the ladder” towards the ultimate However, ultimately, it is in the not-fun quality of rowing where the reward is found. You feel this no more than as a
goal—that is, to witness beauty in itself rather than in representations. I believe that Classics gives us that ability crew, towards the end of a year-long project, when the boat you’re now rowing in feels nothing like it did six months
to generalise. It allows us to step out of our own contemporary cultural mindsets, and begin to ask, with a grea- earlier. So here’s why I row: I’ve not found another sport where I have formed such empathy for and reliance on my
ter transcendentality, just the same questions of the complexities of gender, familial relations, class, politics, and teammates as well as on my coaches. Sticking through something which can be so mentally and physically draining
luxury (to name a few) which plagued those more than thousand two years before us. with all the people I have been lucky enough to train with in my time at WCBC has been the most defining aspect
of my time at Winchester College.
Why I pray: Billy Blanchard (F)
The joke is made amongst those of us in our final year, who have been at Boat Club from the start, that if
we hadn’t already committed so much of the last four years to rowing, we would be out the door. But honestly,
Until I was asked the question, I had never really thought about why I pray. I am neither very religious nor
very spiritual. I suppose I use prayer as quiet time, a time of reflection and thought. Life is so hectic that I never
the choice is there, and despite varied success in the sport and variable motivation, we’ve all chosen to keep at it.
Although, there are only four of us left…
find time to slow down during the week and set aside a moment for reflection. So when I do come to pray in
Church every Sunday, the moment has more significance and allows me to be completely focused on speaking
with God. A part of what makes conversations with God so pleasurable is that they are completely confidential. I
Why I sing: James Osborne (E)
trust God more than I would trust my closest friend. Yet, I’d be lying if I said that I did not ask things of God. For Amongst the myriad of different reasons which I could give to answer the question, “why do I sing?” one
example, a more recent request was to guide Arsenal back to Champions League Qualification. Sadly, God has remains constant and it is the one which compels me to continue: singing heals. Whenever I am stressed or feeling
been rather quiet on that front! down singing affords me an escape and an opportunity to regain control. I cannot overestimate the value of singing
as a buffer against the slings and arrows of, if not outrageous fortune, then the academic demands of life at Winches-
I'd also say that whilst keeping the silence of prayer has certainly taught me to listen out for a response, it is
ter College which sometimes push the unsuspecting pupil to the edge of reason!
not my expectation or the reason why I do it. Simply believing that God is listening to what I am saying is really
Being in different choirs from the age of eight I have been able to forge many enduring friendships and have
enough for me.
been introduced to many talented and committed musicians. Singing is both a privilege and an obligation. It never
Above all, I find that prayer is comforting. Being able to confide in God over issues that are troubling me is ceases to astound me how a sequence of notes and dynamics can draw from the listener a set of emotional respon-
very reassuring. It gives me confidence to make decisions on problems that urgently require a solution and allows ses which they may not surrender to so readily in any other place. In response to the music we sing I have seen both
me to refresh my mind at the end of each week. I hope that after I leave Winchester I am able to find the time, joy and tears of deep emotion from strangers. This profound bonding experience between singer and an audience
whether it be every week or every other week, to go to Church and confide in God. is one that I will never tire of.
Why I row: Alfred Holder (H)
Unlike all the other sports I’ve been lucky enough to take part in whilst at Winchester I do not row because
Singing brought me to Winchester College as I was attracted to the superb music department and opportuni-
ties available to develop further my singing ability. I am currently a member of Chapel Choir and Cantores Episcopi
and I will sit my Diploma in Singing this spring.
it is fun. One of the few memories I have from JP is of sitting on the Itchen in a boat, accurately dubbed “The Blue
Brick”, with eight other people, names unknown, oars in chubby cold-stiff hands with a distinct, burning ache I am very fortunate and grateful that the rewards through singing have been so much greater than any sacri-
across my back. I cannot say this was the feeling which has led me to pursue the sport for the best part of five fice. This does not mean that there haven’t been times when, no matter how many hours I’ve spent practicing, no
years. In that time I have discovered numerous other unpleasant feelings that come along with the sport: the unen- significant improvement was made. However, throughout the past ten years I can confidently say that the prac-
ding soreness, torn blisters, the searing pressure of the build-up of lactic acid towards the end of an ergo. Moreo- tice and my experience in choirs and from solo performance have been worth it because I have grown both in my
ver, whilst putting up with all these pains doing the actual rowing could be deemed a sacrifice, a far greater sacri- singing capability and as a person.
fice is showing up every afternoon, and some early mornings, year-round to spend hours apparently pursuing
these feelings.
While writing this piece I have tried to imagine, with little success, how different my life would have been
without singing in it. Perhaps I might have found another outlet as an escape. This raises the question: would I be
And I freely choose to commit myself to doing this.
in a better or worse position by its absence? I’m not sure, but all I know is that singing and I are now inextricably
linked.
Why?
In my Community Service I sing at a residence for people who have dementia. It is an honour to reawaken
Well, perhaps my opening sentence wasn’t entirely true.
through singing the memories in others which they may have lost: bringing a moment of healing, much as singing
helps heal my own anxieties and worries. Ultimately this is what singing has done for me. Rather than convey
Part of me rows to be competitive, which is easy, although not always successful, when comparison is domi-
meaning it has become my meaning.
nated objectively by numbers, scores and times. So another part of me enjoys the reward of making
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The wykehamist
WHY I . . .
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