Category: Woodbridge News
ON Tuesday 24 November, we had our second Lunchtime Recital of the term. A warm and appreciative audience were treated to twenty- three performances. Everyone performed well, and it was a lovely interlude in a busy day at the Abbey!
Congratulations to Chapel Choir who rehearsed so thoroughly to give the first Evensong of the academic year. They sang settings of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Geoffrey Burgon, and it was a lovely, reflective way to end a busy day.
What a breath-taking descent into the realms of the conscious and sub-conscious, of alienation within love, and of the collapse of reason.
In a staging as stark and uncompromising as the plot, and with a visceral nod to an unreal reality, the Sixth Form worked its magical spell (more Voldemort than Weasley) upon an absolutely enthralled audience.
Flora Douglas’s Gregor Samsa was extraordinary: not just for the physicality of her performance, but for its forlorn sense of the inevitability of Gregor’s condition. No walls on stage – but the imaginary walls between Gregor and his family ever more firmly built as they scuttled away from him so much more than he ever scuttled from them. His distress and our anguish on his behalf… but would we have done otherwise, if we had been father, mother, sister? Even Greta. Even Greta, so long the bastion of love, defeated. And even a mother’s love unable to compete with the physical repulsion; not forgetting a father simply unable to cope at all – with the clerk, with lodgers, with his own family (thank goodness for a moment of light relief).
Terrible; mesmerising; punishing. The message for me? Do all you can to avoid alienation: metaphorical, metamorphic or otherwise. It’s not a bad message for the world today.
Many congratulations once again to the drama department, to Sixth Formers, who must have been exhausted by both the physical and mental demands of such a show, and to the directors and stage crew for the vision and the ambition to bring off so spectacularly well this most demanding of plays.
Woodbridge School pupil William Emery is celebrating a string of successes after achieving multiple awards for his young musical talent, including securing a place in the National Youth Orchestra.
William, who is currently in year 11 aged 15, plays the viola at Grade 8. After achieving a series of local awards, including the Suffolk Festival Senior String Champion Music Committee Cup and Woodbridge School’s prestigious Louise Livett Trophy, William’s talent was recognised nationally and he has been offered the significant honour of playing with the National Youth Orchestra.
William was presented with his awards at the school’s Gala Concert, held at the Seckford Theatre earlier this month.
Woodbridge School headmaster, Neil Tetley, said: “William is an excellent musician and the school is supporting him as much as we can in furthering his potential. We are all very proud of his achievement in being selected for the National Youth Orchestra, which is a huge accolade.”
Congratulations to Henry Dinwiddy, Oliver Laxton and Isla Richardson who, along with Georgia Dawson from the Senior School performed magnificently in the St Mary’s Church Prom concert on Sunday afternoon. It was lovely to perform for such an appreciative audience and the performers all gave confident and convincing performances.
On Wednesday the 11 The Junior 1st Hockey Team played an enthralling match against Culford. With three key players, including the goalie, missing Woodbridge embarked on the game with resolute determination to remain undefeated. The game started well right from the beginning, all the Junior First’s adapted quickly to how the new teammates played.
Using the wings Woodbridge made perfect transitions to keep clear out of trouble. Positional play and decision making were exemplary. Because of this a quick ball was received by Ianthe Hill at the top of the ‘D’. Ianthe out skilled all the defenders until face to face with the goalie; she took a powerful flick at the far right corner resulting in an early lead to Woodbridge. Another goal for Woodbridge was scored shortly after by Olivia Buchanan. Taking the ball down the right wing with speed, eliminating their defenders. She reached the top of the ‘D’ and with no one in the vicinity to help the stranded goal keeper she unleashed an unstoppable slap, boosting the team even further. Clara Simpson scored a brace as a result of excellent positioning and Ianthe Hill matched her with a brace of her own using great individual skill. By half time the score was 6-0.
Culford by no means we’re about to suffer an ignominious defeat. The Woodbridge defence were playing equally as well as the attack, reducing pressure on the new goalie for the day, Hope Jerstice. Annabel Yates and Minnie Wayman communicated well in defence changing channels to create space. A slight misunderstanding in defence, however gifted Culford in a goal. Woodbridge then scored the last and a phenomenal goal from Ianthe Hill. She was later awarded player of the match for her amazing skill and decision making.
A captivating game Woodbridge, One of the best this season, well done!
The Under 12A team entertained Culford at home in with a good display to gain an excellent win.
Early exchanges set the game up to be a tough one against the unbeaten Culford side. Woodbridge started off stifling a number of attacks with some good tackling and covering defence. Culford spotted Woodbridge were defending narrowly and used their runners well attacking the wide channels.
Despite the Culford early pressure Woodbridge combined well for Tom Turner to score out wide after his work by Mak Zie. Culford faught back to level the score.
At this point Woodbridge improved considerably and attacked with real venom and exposed a number of gaps in the Culford defence. Henry Waldron broke free and after a trade mark run scored to put Woodbridge ahead for a 10-5 lead at half time.
The second half started well for Woodbridge who enjoyed the slope putting Culford back into their half. Will Franklin extended the lead after a break from close range but Culford clawed back with a fortuitous try out wide. With just 5 points slaying the teams Woodbridge raised their game again and returned to the original lineup. Mak Zie scored a deserved try after good play by Freddie Simpson, Jack Ward and debutant Prem Pohl. With seconds remaining Culford were dealt a killing blow with another Waldron try near the posts. The 25-10 scoreline was deserved but made hard work of gaining at times. Captain Seb Gifford should be proud of his charges.
Woodbridge School 36 : Thomas Mills 12
The Third match of the season was away and we were fired up. Woodbridge received the kick and attacked ferociously with awesome handling. Committing each player, before offloading to Lorry Bertram who finished despite multiple tacklers. Woodbridge weren’t rucked off the ball at the breakdown meaning the backs could run. While fly-half Oliver Bacon, distributed well and recognised the need to shift the focus of play out wide. This led to a series of impressive midfield phases with offloads that would have made New-Zealand. By half time, we had scored another try but also conceded one too.
In the second half the Woodbridge team kept shape, as we scored four more brilliant tries. The fearless tackling never wavered, despite us winning convincingly the effort never dropped. This is a Woodbridge team that is learning what makes a great team and demonstrated it, notably Harry Brett how was always in the action and scored a great try. Unfortunately they broke the line meaning they got a try in the second half but we kept going. Dom Ellice-Freeman scored three tries all of which were amazing to watch. James Eaton used his strength to get over the line and James Phelan did a try saving tackle on one of their biggest players. Ben Harper played extremely well for any player especially a new one, his running lines and commitment was brilliant.
Man of the match: Dom Ellice-Freeman
Tries:
- Harry Brett
- James Eaton
- Lorry Bertram
- Dom Ellice-Freeman 3
The Swing Band performed at the Seckford Almshouses last Tuesday. The residents were entertained in great style. After the previous visit last summer the residents had asked Mr Shepherd if the band could play some music by Glenn Miller and the band obliged with three numbers by the great Swing band leader of the 30s and 40s who disappeared in mysterious circumstances in a presumed air crash over the Atlantic during the second world war. This culminated in a performance of his greatest hit “Moonlight serenade” with Josh Cole starring on the clarinet solo part. The band also played later music by Dizzy Gillespie and the theme track from the 60s cartoon of Spiderman.
