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Many congratulations to Fergus Gathorne-Hardy who came third in the 5-9 category of the 500 Words 2016 by BBC Radio 2. This morning Fergus received his award at the Shakespeare’s Globe and was interviewed live on the BBC.

http://bbc.in/1Ttqbfa (41:16)

Here is Fergus’s story:

THE SMOKING PIPE
The river smells different when it’s full or empty. As we approached the Thames, the old brick warehouses looming on either side, we caught the rusty, smudgy scent of low tide. My dad lifted me over the wall to check the coast was clear.

“I can see a way down’, I told him, and we dropped onto the stony shore. Only it wasn’t stones: under our feet lay a carpet of animal bones, broken pottery, shells and other treasures. Suddenly, I heard a crunching noise. A figure in black leather boots was moving towards us, the torn edges of his sweeping coat almost brushing the beach as he swept a metal detector back and forth, ticktockticktock, like an old grandfather clock. His head was bent low, but as he reached us, he looked straight into my face with a pair of brilliant blue eyes. ‘Mudlarking, are we?’ he wheezed. ‘Found anything yet?’
‘Er, not yet, no,’ I stammered. Fumbling with wrinkly brown fingers in a pocket, the man pulled out a magnificent white clay pipe.

‘Yours, if you want it’, grunted the man, thrusting it towards me. The pipe gleamed like moonlight against his muddy hands. I took it, and it felt smooth and cold, like a piece of fresh chalk. All of a sudden I noticed that a thin whisper of smoke had begun to curl out of the wider end. I whipped round to show Dad, but stopped in amazement. The skyscrapers and the Shard, and all the bridges had disappeared: there was just a thick, soft fog all around me, like being under my duvet in bed. And that’s when I noticed something else. The rumble of buses and taxis and planes overhead had utterly stopped. Instead, I could hear the strangest things: small splashes of water, a clinking of metal, and what sounded like horses hooves beating along. The pipe in my hand now felt warm.

‘Proper peasouper’ came a whisper right in my ear, though I could see nothing. ‘You don’t want to be out in those, all sorts of brigands and cutpurses and vagabonds about…’ A cold finger that stank of seaweed touched my cheek. I yelled, and fell backwards, and the pipe flew out of my hands. I heard the plop as it hit the river water. Pushing myself up from the grimy shore, I saw my Dad still waiting by the river wall. Behind him was the London Eye and red buses stacked at the traffic lights, and the winter sun was shining on a new office block. But there was no sign of the man in the coat. ‘Better hurry, the tide is turning’ warned Dad. I glanced back at the water, where the top end of the pipe was just poking out. Ripples were already edging up its neck. Soon, it would be covered.

The Abbey Y3 tennis team competed in the qualifying rounds of the county competition at Ipswich High School. The team was made up of Lara Zie, Georgia Pommier, Rose Jackson, Nina Chapman. With much enthusiasm the girls took on Ipswich High School in the first tie. This was a close affair with the girls playing well, and pushing nerves aside, this being their first competitive fixture. The fixture ended in a 3-3 draw but with a superior points difference, The Abbey were the winners. Next up was Brandeston in the finals of the day. Lara Zie proved she was one of the players of the day, beating her no.1 ranked opponent 10-7, after a comfortable win in the first round, and impressing the professional tennis coaches. The singles and doubles matches were close, and the girls impressed with how they improved from their first match, but The Abbey had to settle for second place on the day. With this they achieved qualification for the Y3 County Finals to be held at Brandeston in June. They showed good fitness and determination, running balls down and giving their all. Valuable experience was gained, which will be needed when they compete at the County Finals.

On a glorious sunny day The Abbey took part jointly with Y7 and Y8 and competed in an Athletics Meet at Newhall together with teams from IHS, Newhall and Holmwood House.
The results are as follows:
Y4 came 3rd
Y5 came 1st
Y6 came 2nd
Overall our team won this Athletic event. Well done to all the girls.

During the Easter holiday 29 Abbey pupils took to the slopes of the Stubai Glacier. After a long bus journey and an evening preparing our skis and boots we were ready. 3 days of brilliant sunshine followed, this made for really good conditions for all groups, beginners to advanced, to make really good progress. On the fourth day we were faced with some heavy snow that really put our skills to the test. With the help of our 3 fantastic instructors all pupils were able to tackle a wide range slopes from wide calving blues to some tough mogul red runs. With ten-pin bowling and swimming thrown in this really was an action packed trip.

Preparations for next year’s trip have already begun and I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am. Finally I must say a huge thank-you to Miss Theobald, Mr French and Matron for all their help on the trip.

“It was better than any school trip I could have dreamed of” Caitlyn Maggs

“The best holiday I’ve ever been on” Arun Nayar

Mark Fernley

We are very excited to announce that Fergus Gathorne-Hardy has reached the final of the competition.

123,400 children took part and submitted a story. The first round of judging narrowed the field to 4,500 and then there was a further judging panel that resulted in only 50 stories being put through to the final.

Fergus’s story was entitled “The Smoking Pipe” and it was based on his experiences of mud larking.

The live final takes place at The Globe Theatre on 27 May.
Well done Fergus and we all wish you every success in the final.

You can click on the link to hear Fergus’s story or read it below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4Kn6c4746XcrhYVNq1KtvJX/top-50-stories-2016-age-5-to-9

Here is Fergus’s story:

THE SMOKING PIPE

The river smells different when it’s full or empty. As we approached the Thames, the old brick warehouses looming on either side, we caught the rusty, smudgy scent of low tide. My dad lifted me over the wall to check the coast was clear.

“I can see a way down’, I told him, and we dropped onto the stony shore. Only it wasn’t stones: under our feet lay a carpet of animal bones, broken pottery, shells and other treasures. Suddenly, I heard a crunching noise. A figure in black leather boots was moving towards us, the torn edges of his sweeping coat almost brushing the beach as he swept a metal detector back and forth, ticktockticktock, like an old grandfather clock. His head was bent low, but as he reached us, he looked straight into my face with a pair of brilliant blue eyes. ‘Mudlarking, are we?’ he wheezed. ‘Found anything yet?’

‘Er, not yet, no,’ I stammered.  Fumbling with wrinkly brown fingers in a pocket, the man pulled out a magnificent white clay pipe.

‘Yours, if you want it’, grunted the man, thrusting it towards me. The pipe gleamed like moonlight against his muddy hands. I took it, and it felt smooth and cold, like a piece of fresh chalk. All of a sudden I noticed that a thin whisper of smoke had begun to curl out of the wider end. I whipped round to show Dad, but stopped in amazement. The skyscrapers and the Shard, and all the bridges had disappeared: there was just a thick, soft fog all around me, like being under my duvet in bed. And that’s when I noticed something else. The rumble of buses and taxis and planes overhead had utterly stopped. Instead, I could hear the strangest things: small splashes of water, a clinking of metal, and what sounded like horses hooves beating along. The pipe in my hand now felt warm.

‘Proper peasouper’ came a whisper right in my ear, though I could see nothing. ‘You don’t want to be out in those, all sorts of brigands and cutpurses and vagabonds about…’ A cold finger that stank of seaweed touched my cheek. I yelled, and fell backwards, and the pipe flew out of my hands. I heard the plop as it hit the river water.  Pushing myself up from the grimy shore, I saw my Dad still waiting by the river wall. Behind him was the London Eye and red buses stacked at the traffic lights, and the winter sun was shining on a new office block. But there was no sign of the man in the coat. ‘Better hurry, the tide is turning’ warned Dad.  I glanced back at the water, where the top end of the pipe was just poking out. Ripples were already edging up its neck. Soon, it would be covered.

Huge crowds; hundreds of expectant children from across East Anglia; so many schools represented.  Woodbridge School’s second hosting of this major regional event on the sporting calendar was if anything even more brilliantly slick than last year’s triumph.  Mr Lubbock, Mr Goddard, Miss Sanders, Mrs Richardson and their wonderful team of staff, parent and pupil volunteers spirited up a glorious day of endeavour and achievement, making light of the relatively grey skies, and the attempt at drizzle –nothing was going to dampen proceedings!

Each race went off at blistering pace, the thunder of the feet rolling down the initial slopes into the valley.  And then the woodland hill… but even here the attack of the athletes was great to behold.  No quarter given to mere gradient.  One lap, two laps, Tollers or not depending on age or gender… everyone had a course perfectly matched to their experience and strength, and the challenges posed gave the fastest just the right amount of time to demonstrate their skill.  Medallists were almost invariably medallists by a good few metres and not by heartbreaking widths-of-singlets; and teams won their honours thanks to consistently outstanding performance and not through the agony of others’ distress.

After over two hours of racing, one event seamlessly proceeding to the next, it was time to regroup in the Dome for delicious cakes, sandwiches and hot drinks (very welcome indeed!).  Mr Brett welcomed and thanked, Mr Lubbock and Miss Sanders praised and distributed: and it was a great day for Woodbridge School: overall team champions! Overall boys’ champions! Overall girls’ champions! Under 11 boys’ champions! Under 12 boys’ champions! Second in under 12 girls, under 13 girls and under 10 boys! Ruby Vinton won U10 girls’, Henry Dinwiddy won U11 boys’, Kit Evans-Lombe won silver in U12 boys’, and Will Frankin (U12B), Edward Rufford (U11B) and Bea Thomas (U12G) all won bronzes. Brilliant stuff.  Many congratulations to all the athletes, wherever you placed – everyone counted in the team event – and what a team we were!

East Anglian Prep Schools CC Championship 2016 20_3_16-2607East Anglian Prep Schools CC Championship 2016 20_3_16-2686East Anglian Prep Schools CC Championship 2016 20_3_16-2607East Anglian Prep Schools CC Championship 2016 20_3_16-7306East Anglian Prep Schools CC Championship 2016 20_3_16-7057

Woodbridge School organised the 20th NSEA Inter Schools Annual ODE at Poplar Park on Sunday 20th March over the Poplar Park BE XC courses for 80cm, 90cm & 1m classes.  As ever, the day was a great success, and our sincere thanks go to Ms Theobald and her brilliant team of helpers.

The 80cms class was run as a Hunter Trial for children 13yrs and under. This was won by the Woodbridge School Junior Team of Ada Marson (4th individually) riding Rolly Rascal, Neve Walker (9th individually) riding Heritage Zena and Fleur Ludgrove (10th individually) riding Aston My Time of Warleigh. This was a very fine performance as all three riders were making their Cross Country debuts on new mounts.

The 90cms was very well supported with eleven school teams competing with 41 individuals. Woodbridge’s team of Tabitha Wilson-Smith riding Ruby Queen of Diamonds, Lydia Sida-Page riding Corrin Hill Clover (6th individually)) & Georgie Warren riding Autumn Gold (7th individually) took seventh place overall.

The 1m class saw a brilliant double for Woodbridge’s Lye sisters; Zara Lye won her section riding Jana de Cavaignac & Tessa Lye won her section riding Dawns Glen. Bella Regis riding Forever Unique secured a fine second place in her section, to round things off in excellent style, helping the team to a convincing win overall.

Poetry came alive at The Abbey on Monday morning, as the week began with the annual verse speaking competition. Finalists from each year group recited poems from memory, ranging from humorous rhymes by Roald Dahl to darker, introspective verse from the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Charles Causley. The audience was treated to fantastic performances from all of the finalists. Particular mention should go to the year 2 children who came up to The Abbey to join the competition and whose confidence and enthusiasm was absolutely outstanding.

The winner of the year 2 competition was Edward Saunders, who recited ‘The Alien’ by Michael Miles and really made it his own. In year 3, the winner was Beatrice Liddy, who performed ‘The Pig’ by Roald Dahl and told the story of the clever pig beautifully, really drawing the audience in. Year 4’s winner was Charlotte Hattan, who took Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Jabberwocky’, with all of its tricky nonsense words, and made us understand it perfectly.

In year 5, with a clean sweep for the Saunders family, the winner was Evelyn Saunders, who recited ‘The Dark’ by James Carter; her performance was beautifully dramatic, but at the same time kept a sense of the poetry and gave us a very personal response in the recitation. The year 6 competition was a real treat, with a huge range of poems chosen. The winner of the year group was Henry Dinwiddy, with his powerful and musical performance of Banjo Patterson’s ‘Song of the Artesian Water’, which he communicated rhythmically and convincingly. The overall winner of the whole competition, and winner of the Poetry cup on Speech Day, was Olivia Max with her evocative recitation of ‘The Summer Day’ by Mary Oliver. She captivated the audience and had us hanging on her every word.

A huge thanks must go to Mrs Alex Davis, who provided insightful and inspirational feedback to every single finalist and who drew the whole competition together in a poignant closing quotation from the poet Jean Sprackland: “Taking a poem into your heart makes it part of you. Saying the poem aloud makes you part of its life in the world.” As Mrs Davis said, despite the fact that many of the poets have been dead for a long time, their poems gained new life in this competition at The Abbey.

Chapel Choir came together on Thursday March 10 to sing Compline, an ancient form of night prayer using plainsong. It was a very spiritual moment of reflection in a busy day, and everyone benefited from the tranquility of this very special service.