A huge congratulations to the boys below, who have all successfully secured offers from Durham University.
Rhys is Driving Forward his Game
11 year old Rhys Davies is going from strength to strength in the national and international fields of table tennis.
Latest updates below:
Primary Schools Home International Competition
During the Easter holidays Rhys travelled to Guernsey to represent England in the Primary Schools Home International Competition (actual age group is Year 7 & under although England select from Year 6 & under) – teams of 4 represented England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Jersey & Guernsey. The teams played each other in a round robin format with every player playing 2 singles and doubles in each match. The completion lasted two days, with England finishing in Bronze Medal position, narrowly missing out on the Silver Medal position to Scotland, following a hard-fought draw. Ireland excelled, winning all of their team matches.
Rhys performed well, winning seven out of twelve of his singles matches, and five out of six of his doubles matches. Rhys was identified and ranked as England’s top player, which saw him compete against the top player from all opposing teams, many of which were a year older. The final day consisted of a singles competition, which saw Rhys win all three of his matches in his group where he progressed into a knockout stage, where a win would see him secure a place in the quarter finals. Unfortunately Rhys picked up an injury in the second set and was unable to progress.
Rhys pictured with his team in Guernsey
English Schools’ Table Tennis Championship
Rhys came runner-up, in the English Schools Table Tennis Championship last Saturday. Rhys won five group matches, with an impressive score lone of 3-0, competing against the county champions from; Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham, Suffolk & London North. Rhys secured the top position in his group, progressing in the last sixteen and the knockout phase of the competition. He continued his winning progress with another, 3-0 victory against the North Yorkshire champion, which put him in the quarter finals. Rhys went onto beat the Devonshire champion, 12-10 11-1 11-1, securing his place in the semi-finals. Rhys saw himself up against the Cleveland champion, which saw another impressive 3-0 victory of 11-4, 11-8 and 11-2, this victory saw Rhys not only securing a place in the finals, but an interesting final against Poww Boonyaprapa, the Nottinghamshire champion, who was not only Rhys roommate and the England Schools competition, but also his doubles partner. Rhys and Poww, had only ever played with each other before this, never against each other, with Poww being identified as the top seed for this event, and Rhys the second seed, it was sure to be an interesting event.
The match as usual was played to an impressively high standard, with Poww taking the opening set 11-9, before Rhys levelling the scoreboard making it 1-1. Although Poww started the set well, Rhys put on an impressive fight, but Poww was able to secure the third set 11-8. The fourth set had a similar play, which saw Rhys lose 11-7. This medal was the third individual medal Rhys has won at a National Competition this year, as well as this Rhys also won a trophy which he has taken into school.
Rhys father, Mark Davies, praised the School for supporting the Rhys and other boys with their table tennis as they can only enter these competitions with express support of the Headmaster or Headmistress.
Future Competitions
Table Tennis England promote 3 National Championships each year – Seniors, Juniors (U/18) & Cadets (U/15) and the 10-13 Championships – these target the best players in the country and qualification is by ranking only. This is achieved by accumulating points in nationally recognised team and individual events. Rhys has progressed very well in these competitions since the start of the season in September, winning a number of U/13 tournaments, making multiple semi-finals in U/15 events and winning matches at U/18 level in the Junior British League and whilst representing Lancashire in the Inter Counties competition. The result of this is that he has qualified in the top 32 (31st) and thereby earned a place in the Junior & Cadet Nationals which take place over the May Bank holiday weekend in Huddersfield. Whilst his expectations are not high in this event he will gain valuable experience playing in both singles and doubles. As expected he has also qualified for 10-13 National Championships where he will play in U/13 Doubles and two singles categories -U/13s (9th) and U/12s (2nd) – these take place at the end of June in Preston.
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The Royal College of Science Union’s Competition – Vyas Burra
Vyas Burra, one of our GCSE pupil’s, was chosen as the youngest finalist in this year’s Royal College of Science Union’s Science Challenge. Ever since a young age, Vyas has had a great passion for science. To satisfy this quest for knowledge Vyas has decided to pursue Medicine as a career, and, like many boys at Merchant Taylors’ has chosen maths and three sciences for his A levels. Vyas has also been completing work experience at local hospitals to acquire first hand experience of life as a doctor.
The Science Challenge is the Royal College of Science Union’s annual science communication competition. Entrants from all over the country are required to demonstrate their skills in scientific debate and reasoning. The Science Challenge encourages thought amongst future scientists; what are the problems affecting society? How can they use science to help resolve them? How can we effectively communicate science and its consequences to the wider public?
The judges this year included Aarathi Prasad (biologist and writer), Alok Jha (science correspondant at ITV News), Professor Sir Brian Hoskins (a Professor of Meterology) and Professor Sir. John Pendry (a condensed matter theorist).
Vyas said, “I had the chance to meet not only my judge, Dr Aarathi Prasaad, but also renowned international science figures, namely Lord Robert Winston. This was a truly memorable and humbling evening for me, and I hope this lays the foundation for future developments in science.”
Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School has just received an outstanding inspection report from ISI where the inspectors made particular comment that ‘expertise in mathematics and physics is demonstrated by pupil’s success in National Challenge events.’
‘We are extremely proud of what Vyas has achieved and thrilled with the ISI’s independent survey results”
Vyas Burra at the Royal College of Science Union’s Awards Evening
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MTJBS Charity and Community Team visit the Walton Centre
![IMG_4971[1]](https://www.merchanttaylors.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_49711.jpg)
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MTPS – Year 6 Trip to Newlands
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Percy Malpas – MTS 1912 –1918 In Memoriam
Born 2 January 1901 at Harwich, Percy came from at least two generations with connections to naval construction. His father, Emus Sidney Malpas was a marine engineer and his grandfather William Henry Malpas was a 1st Class Assistant Constructor in the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.
Percy’s father died in 1908 and in 1912, while he was attending Christ Church School, Waterloo, his mother applied for him to be admitted to Merchant Taylors’. He was granted a Harrison Scholarship on entry to the school. He clearly worked hard at his academic work. When he sat his Oxford Local Junior exams in 1916, he gained a 1st Class and was placed 1st in England having obtained eight distinctions. The following year he sat his senior exams and gained a 1st class in these also.
He represented the school in the rugby XV from 1916 – 1918, a team coached by Rev Edward Hartley who also taught English, Classics and Maths! Percy played as a forward and was described in the School Review as “thoroughly good … always putting his whole energy into the game”. He can be seen fourth from the right in the back row on the accompanying photograph. The quality of the team was high. Among his team mates were H G Periton who was awarded 21 caps for England and captained his country in 1929/30 and S B McQueen who played for Scotland in 1923.
In addition to the high standards he set himself on the sports field, he excelled in the classroom and on the parade ground reaching the rank of Sergeant in the Cadet Corps. He won the Molyneux prize for Divinity twice [in 1915 and 1916], the Montefiore Prize for Latin in 1917 and the Tyler prize for Ancient History in the same year. He was also awarded the Great Crosby Scholarship in 1918. He was a member of the Games Committee, Debating Society, Musical Society and Literary Society of which he was Secretary in 1918.
Leaving school in 1918, he went on to Liverpool University to study Medicine. While studying for his degree he was awarded the Rankin Fellowship in Anatomy, the Derby Scholarship, the Lyon Jones Scholarship and the Leith Murray Memorial Scholarship. Graduating in 1923 he became FRCS in 1926 and ChM in 1928 eventually specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology leading to his being elected FRCOG in 1937.
As his biography by the Royal College of Surgeons states: “He was appointed consultant to the Women’s Hospital, Liverpool, in 1933 and thereafter did much to raise the standards of antenatal and maternity care in some of the most depressed areas of Merseyside. In 1937 he and Bennett-Jones laid the foundations of the surgical services at Whiston Hospital, and he was much in demand after the outbreak of war. Following the war he was visiting gynaecologist to the Isle of Man and also worked in the Lake District, but, at the inception of the NHS he confined his work to the Women’s Hospital, the Liverpool Maternity Hospital and the hospitals in the St Helen’s Group.
Malpas was a past President of the North of England Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society. He wrote a book on genital prolapse and was interested in the recurrent abortion syndrome. He made a number of contributions; two notable ones were his paper on the role of the foetal suprarenal in late pregnancy, and that on the appearance of the posterior urethrovesical angle in stress incontinence in which he likened uterine fibromyomata to the knots in wood and not true neoplasms. He was a skilled and rapid operator and his humanity earned his colleagues’ affection. He died on 8 April 1980, and was survived by his wife, Anna, and children, Beryl and Richard. “
“Reproduced by kind permission of The Royal College of Surgeons of England”.
Biography of Percy Malpas – Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows – http://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/E006727b.htm
Archive research by Trevor Hildrey
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Boys’ Celebrate Excellent Inspection
Merchant Taylors’ Senior and Junior Boys’ are celebrating an outstanding Inspection Report after the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) praised the School as being ‘Excellent’ in the key categories of Pastoral Care, Pupils’ Personal Development, Curricular and extra-curricular Provision, Safeguarding, Governance, Leadership and Management.
Below are some of the direct quotes from the Report. Click to read the full Report and the Headmaster’s letter.
Report Quotes – March 2016
Academic Excellence:
- Highly motivated and enthusiastic, pupils respond well to academic rigour.
- The academic curriculum has been enhanced since 2010 and is now excellent.
- Pupils benefit from much specialist subject teaching.
- The inspection endorsed the school’s aim to ‘enable pupils to reach the highest possible levels of personal achievement and academic attainment, inside and outside the classroom’.
- Expertise in mathematics and physics is demonstrated by pupil’s success in National Challenge events.
- Pupils throughout the school have a very positive attitude to learning.
- The post-16 curriculum offers pupils an excellent range of subjects.
Extra Curricular:
- Extra-curricular opportunities are excellent.
- The breadth of the extra-curricular and enrichment offering is also a strength of the school.
- The school successfully encourages all pupils to take part in the wide selection of cultural and sporting activities. Pupils value these opportunities not just in terms of enjoyment, but also in the chances they provide to represent the school, and to take on leadership and management roles.
- There are over 200 music lessons per week.
- The ethos of the CCF develops integrity, loyalty and respect for others.
- The ability to be self-reflective and ambitious is something that runs as a constant throughout a pupil’s time at school with a view to developing skills of integrity, compassion and resilience.
Pastoral:
- The personal development of pupils is excellent.
- They are self-confident without a hint of arrogance.
- They have a purposeful strength of what they want to do next and are ready to meet the challenges of adult life.
- Pupils benefit from excellent systems of pastoral support, including careers guidance.
- A welcoming and friendly community. Pupils are courteous and kind and show respect for those who teach or care for them.
- Pupils’ self-discipline and calm purpose are evident through excellent behaviour both in class and as they make their way around the school.
Posted in Junior Boys News, Primary School News, Senior Boys News, Senior Girls News
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Liverpool City Drinks 2016
Liverpool City Drinks 2016 was held at OhMeOhMy in Water Street, Liverpool City Centre on 23rd March, and what a lovely venue it was.
This is fast becoming a very popular event amongst past pupils, so please look out for details of next year’s arrangements.It was a chance to catch up with old friends and new in an informal atmosphere.
People were invited to pop along between 5 and 9 for as long, or as short, as they were able to. They were greeted with a free drink on arrival, and nibbles were provided throughout the evening.
There were 47 attendees with alumni representing cohorts between 1963 to 2012, and a small group consisting of current and former teaching staff, Governors, former parents and staff from the school office.
Mrs Robinson said a few words, and told us to watch out for some exciting events in 2020 as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Merchant Taylors’ Schools.
I would like to thank Doreen Iddon and Kate Thomas for their help in arranging the evening, for collating list of attendees and preparing all the name badges. I would also like to thank Michaela Riches for being photographer on the night, and here are a selection of the pictures for you to view.
And thanks to all those who attended and made this a memorable evening. Hope to see many more of you there next year.
Sue Owens – President 2015-2016 – Merchant Taylors’ Old Girls Association
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OBA -Scottish Dinner Report 2015
The annual Scottish Old Boys’ Dinner was held on Saturday 28th November at the Royal Overseas League on Edinburgh’s Princes Street. It is a small and comparatively informal gathering. Amongst the nine attendees we were delighted to have David Holroyd (representing the Old Boys’ Association) and his wife, and Bob Simpson (representing the School). After a most enjoyable meal both David and Bob spoke briefly. All present were delighted to be brought up to date with developments at School. Both Old Boys and Old Girls and their partners are most welcome to attend our annual Scottish Dinner.
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Gabriela Sofia Kivi (Leaver 2008)
After leaving MTGS with excellent GCSE and A level results, Gabriela attended Cardiff University to study French with Business Studies. After one term she changed her course to Accounting as she was not enjoying the French content as much as she had done at Merchants with Madame Mistry. She made some lasting friendships at University and achieved a first class honours degree in Accounting. Her first job interview resulted in her moving to Wimbledon SW19 to work at Domestic and General in the International Underwriting team where she subsequently met her now fiancé Robert Kendall after 18 months. Gabriela continued to study and passed the exams to become an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Gabriela and Rob started to plan and save for a gap year in Australia and Thailand and, after giving in their notices in the UK, the company asked them to complete an 8 week contract in Melbourne where they had an office and offered accommodation and flights which they gladly fulfilled. Then their travelling commenced from October 2014 to March 2015 covering Melbourne to Cairns by road plus flying over to Perth, Vietnam, Bangkok and the islands, then back to the UK via a Dubai stay.
After having decided Melbourne was the city they wanted to settle in, they returned to Australia where Gabriela landed excellent employment as a business analyst at a company called Ansvar where she is studying for further professional exams to become an Actuary. Their permanent visas were issued within four months, so now a cute Cavapoo called Teddy has become a member of their family.
Gabriela still keeps in touch with school friends and has holidayed with Simal Thind, Ciara O’Donnell, Nadine Iskander and Catrin Hobbs as recently as this year in Paris in March. She is hoping they will come over to Australia for her wedding (not until September 2017).
(Lindar Kivi)
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