Grey Coat Issue 15: September 2011 Parents' Guild


Welcome to all Greys, their parents and carers Apparently the word Guild has its origins in Old Norse though it is more often associated with the mediaeval world. Literally it is “an association formed for the mutual aid and protection of its members or for the furtherance of some common purpose” (SOED). And so it is with the Grey Coat Guild. It is our association of parents, carers, staff and friends who help to raise money to fund extras for the school and also organise social events. All of us are automatically members and meetings are held twice a term on the second Wednesday after the beginning of term and after half term. So do come along to a meeting or come to the social events –or preferably both.


October Barn Dance This is the first social date of the school year and very much a family affair. Led by the Ian Petrie Band, beginners and Aficionados alike are welcome to take to the floor for an evening of dancing, lasagne, sausages and mash. Why not make up a table? Encourage your family and friends to join in. So look out for the ticket order form and make sure that the 14th October is in your diaries.


Dates for your Diary


Friday 14th October Barn Dance 6.30pm, the Hall, St Andrew’s Building, (Lower School), Greycoat Place.


Wednesday 9th November Guild Meeting and AGM 6.30pm, the Chapel, St Andrew’s Building,


(Lower School), Greycoat Place. Literary society news


Literary Society has been deeply indebted to Ms Hanbury and Ms Richards for their choice of husbands. On March 17th Charles Cumming, husband of the former, signed copies of "Typhoon" and on May 5th Rhidian Brook, husband of the latter, showed an extract from "Africa United" for which he wrote the screen-play. Whilst some students had hoped to hear romantic details, both husbands concentrated their attention on the business of writing.


For Charles, a chance encounter led to his being interviewed for SIS, the Secret Service Intelligence. Whilst ultimately this career prospect did not appeal, the experience has furnished Charles with his extremely successfully spy niche in the fiction market. Glowing praise has come from fellow authors of riveting fiction such as Robert Harris:


'From the first page to the last "A Spy by Nature" has the ring of absolute authenticity' and academic writers of non-fiction including Andrew Roberts Q . Whilst {being X & Y} being lauded by the Daily Telegraph as "on earth to perpetuate the spy thriller" has been good for readers of the genre, this label skewers Charles into finding more and more historic and dramatic incidents to spark his plots. Indeed Charles has been described as the new Le Carre and Universal has bought the screen rights to "Typhoon".


Whilst from the start Charles was keen to produce novels, Rhidian by contrast moved gradually from creating advertising copy into the literary world. Success in writing articles and short stories for 'New Statesman' and 'the Paris Review' encouraged Rhidian to produce his first novel. The partly autobiographical "The Testimony of Taliesin Jones" won 3 awards, including the Somerset


Maugham and the Betty Trask. Since then Rhidian has produced the screen play for "Africa United" (now on the market as a DVD) and a recent television script about Atlantis. Also in the GCH library is Rhidian's "More than eyes can see", a moving account of the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS in Africa and India. Commissioned by the Salvation Army to record its work in damaged communities, the Brook family spent 9 months in Kenya, Rwanda, Soweto and witnessed Indian blood being sold to China.


Though these 2 writers had built their careers following different routes, both acknowledged the signal contribution made by their wives. Ms McMellan


National Pilgrimage If you are interested in taking part in the National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 15th October please contact the Canon's secretary for details. Tel. 020 7654 4805 or email catherine.butler@ westminster-abbey.org This event is free.


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