The past year has been a great one for North in terms of House spirit: a positive atmosphere and success in a number of House competitions and sporting events. The first main highlight for the House came in the fourth week of the Michaelmas Term in the annual House Performance where each House produces a IVth Form dance, masterfully choreographed for North by Stuart Meaker, Chris Stanczyk, Katie Nordgreen and Pippa Mitchell. Houses must also come up with a part-song: superbly arranged by Lucy Cronin, North performed the seductive Nina Simone classic, ‘Fever’. On the night, the dance was electric, with what appeared to be a sea of floating, luminous heads and hands tanks to the cleverly-designed costumes and the U-V lighting. The moves, the visual effects and the energy levels were unbelievable and the IVth Form put on a truly psychedelic show, which ended spectacularly with the brandishing of five enormous placards with the following letters in fluorescent, vivid paint: N – O – R – T – H. Then came the part-song. All went to plan, and the North singers felt they had nailed it; the atmosphere was great and the audience seemed to love it. The winner of the competition was announced and the ‘North corner’ of the Speech Hall erupted.
As the term continued to progress, North were victorious in several House sport competitions, including the senior rugby and senior water polo tournaments. James Worlidge led the water polo team with tenacious power to a nail-biting final against Loveday. Many of the North VIth Form were involved in the rugby, including James Halton, Tom Garrett and Harry Wilson. The determination throughout the year groups in North was uplifting and really encouraged the House as a whole to put maximum effort into all the events over the year.
The North House Evening was another highlight. that involved many members of the House and gave anyone who wanted to, the chance to perform in front of a large audience. George Griffiths wowed the ladies with his solo from rock gods Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and Tom Garrett played a medley of modern chart-toppers including tracks from Coldplay and Keane on the piano with flawless precision and style. ‘The John Thompsons’ (Sam Mason, Alex Oldroyd, Adam Jolly and Jake Ryan) played the hard-rocking crowd-pleaser ‘Chelsea Dagger’ by The Fratellis, which got the audience clapping. Then something bizarre happened. Mr. Haynes took the stage as … well… himself (although he used his stage name, Bruce). He had with him a barbeque and can of Fosters. Mr Burnett was an afro hair-styled bodybuilder called Merv (complete with handlebar moustache), Sam Mason fulfilled his duties as House Captain by appearing as ‘Kylie’ – Bruce’s babe, and most alarmingly of all, Mr Peter Kemp was ‘Mushtaq’ a middle-eastern snake charmer with face paint and sequined waistcoat. Some comic script work followed by the music, ‘Land Down Under’, and a strange dance proved to be a crowd-pleaser and the comedy was in full flow. What evening of entertainment would be complete without a drag act? Yes, the UVIth decided it would be awesome to perform a catwalk in some very tasteful women’s clothing. In the words of Edmund Blackadder, James Halton was “the least convincing drag act since Tarzan went through Jane’s handbag and ate her lipstick.”
The year continued and North continued to win several House competitions, including swimming with a fantastic effort from Callum Ewing and also Adam Lawrence, who came first in his race. James Worlidge’s power and pace in the pool won the competition for North as there was only one point in it for the final race. Hockey and football were other areas of victory for the House, the trophies for which were placed proudly in Matron’s room with the others. James Lea led his team of debaters, the brave Angus Peters and Zeno Agnew-Davies, to glory with his fiery wit and knowledgeable arguments that made his opponents weep. He is very much a young Margaret Thatcher.
For the UVIth, another event to remember was the North House dinner where each young chap invited a girl from the School to attend a sumptuous feast prepared by the boys (with much assistance from the Matrons). The House room was transformed into a classy restaurant with black and white balloons and all the lads were groomed and buffed, like an army of ‘James Bonds’ looking top-notch for the lucky ladies…the girls looked all right too. The food was incredible and the mood was happy.
Happiness has been the general feeling in North over the last year. A special mention must go to the two magnificent Matrons, Mrs G and Mrs P, whose devotion to the House and care for the boys is truly admirable. With so many people achieving and enjoying so much in the House, North is definitely considered by all House members and staff a good place to be.
Sam Mason