Downe House
- web site: www.downehouse.co.uk
- telephone: +44 (0)1635 200286
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ST. PETERSBURG - an unforgettable experience in a cold climate
First Impressions
On arrival at the airport we felt as though we were on the set of a sixties film, expecting the spy who came in from the cold to materialize at any minute. The faces staring down at our passports were somber and did not return a smile as they met our gaze. The process was painstakingly slow as every visa was checked carefully. Armed guards looked on and young lady immigration officers in khaki mini skirts and strange head gear shepherded us along. As we drove into town we were struck by the number of building projects in progress. St. Petersburg is struggling to develop and take its place among the modern cities of the world. You can almost reach out and touch the effort!
Included in this effort was our hotel-invisible from the front- as the façade was boarded over and access to reception was gained by walking the plank across numerous layers of duckboard! Once inside, past the doormen in oversized black suits, we were surrounded by marble, comfortable leather chairs and a large reception area. The refurbishment would improve the facilities and offer guests a greater degree of comfort. It was very warm- many buildings we visited especially the museums and cafes are superheated against the cold outside so, layers of clothing are the only solution. Cloakroom space needs to be massive to accommodate all the coats and jumpers! The cold is different from anything I had experienced, piercing, almost burning in its intensity and this was a mild season. Everybody wears a hat and gloves. The effect of the intense cold makes people's faces set in a mask of determination and purpose. In Rome we were surrounded by smiles and eternal laughter, not so in St Petersburg ! This city knows what the fight for survival means and beyond wars and conflict the greatest enemy is the cold.
You Represent Freedom
When Mr Cain chose St. Petersburg as the venue for the Senior Centenary Tour we knew that it would be remarkable, challenging and memorable. The venues chosen were beautiful Lutheran churches across this magnificent city, often called the Venice of the North. We sang to large groups of people for most of the services. Mozart, Rutter, Faure, Rees- the choir melted many hearts, brought a smile of pleasure to many faces and provided us with some of the most powerful memories of the trip. The music was powerful, beautiful, moving- it is always a miracle – the way in which Mr. Cain, accompanied by Mr Sliwka on the organ, can create such a sound, often from a short rehearsal or, no rehearsal time at all in situ! Many thanks from all the staff and parents who accompanied this tour and, many others, to Mr Cain and for sharing his talent with so many of us. A love of culture, especially Music and Art, is very evident in the city. We had a special recital in one of the beautiful palaces overlooking the river, part of which was still frozen. At the end of the first concert we gave, an old lady who had survived the siege of Leningrad came up to us and thanked us for coming to Russia as we represented freedom and democracy. She had known life without those elements and her comments challenged us to review what we took for granted every day of our lives and to consider that our own freedom had been won at a great price.
Fantastic Mr Fox, Vodka and Amber!
For the dedicated Downe House shopper, St. Petersburg offered a new dimension! The outdoor markets were full of beautifully made ornaments, boxes, jewelry and furs. Street sellers outside the Hermitage Museum had a fabulous display of hats. It was not long before virtually the whole group was sporting a fox fur hat-arctic fox-thick lustrous fur, lined with silk and able to be tied tightly against the biting wind with a tiny ribbon hidden on the edge of the hat! Very warm and very practical! Amber, of every hue from cherry to pale honey and ivory was everywhere to be seen and many of us bought ear rings and necklaces. Russian dolls were a popular souvenir also, brightly painted in reds, yellows and pinks! Hand painted boxes depicting the magnificent churches we visited were also tempting souvenirs. In complete contrast, the supermarkets were a revelation. None of us will forget the aisles of vodka under armed guard alongside the meat counter offering just twelve chickens! Good bottled water was more expensive than the cheapest vodka and the number of discarded bottles lying in the streets and on the frozen canals told their own story of a growing social problem.
City of Contrasts
The magnificence of the Hermitage in St Petersburg , the churches lined with gold and precious stones together with Catherine's Palace outside the city at Pushkin underlined the strange juxtaposition of wealth, opulence and beauty alongside extreme poverty and hardship, surrounded by grey, faceless Stalinist blocks. There is so much to see in terms of painting and architecture one could spend forever in just one of the rooms at the Hermitage just gazing at canvas after canvas. The rebuilding of Catherine's Palace exactly as it was is singularly remarkable when one considers the fate of the occupants. The canals give the city a Venetian feel, casting long shadows against the buildings and offering interesting perspectives to the many painters working in the city. The food was a curious experience. Each meal was exactly the same in content and presentation. Mrs. Nash and I often got confused as to which meal we were exactly eating. Fish and meatballs for breakfast are different fare from the usual yoghurt and cereal which were also on offer.
And Finally
This tour was probably the most challenging yet, but for all of us a unique experience that we would not have missed. The struggle against the cold, the music, the beauty of the city and the fascinating conversations we had with our guides and audiences will remain with us all. That one of the girls was able to speak Russian and convey our thanks to everyone marked a perfect ending to each event and made this tour a special celebration of our centenary and all that has been achieved.
Alison Gwatkin
Dan Cruikshank - 'Adventures in Architecture'
Dan is a leading expert on architecture and historic buildings and a regular presenter on the BBC. He is best known for his popular series Britain's Best Buildings and Around The World in 80 Treasures; and for his appearances in Under Fire and What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us. Dan's latest series, Adventures in Architecture has recently screened on BBC 2.
Pupils from Downe House have walked the 300km (200 miles) from Downe House to Salcombe in Devon to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK's vital research. The girls arrived wet and tired, but triumphant, after a gruelling 16 day march which took them acorss fields, rivers and along the coastal path.
The competition is open to all students in Year 12 and essay titles are set by Corpus Christi. Poppy will be attending the Prize Giving on 3 July.
Annie entered her design for her AS Level Product Design Resistant Materials coursework and has been selected as one of the 20 finalists. She will take her project and portfolio to the Finals, which will be held at Dulwich College in London on 20 June 2008.
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Performances at 11am and 6pm at 'The Dell', the outdoor performance space in the RSC Centenary Gardens, bordered by the river and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Bring a picnic, all welcome!
2nd - 4th May in the Performing Arts Centre
‘Times' writer Mary Ann Sieghart gives Summer Term Medley Lecture
Newbury's MP, Richard Benyon, visited Downe House on 25th April speak to thePolitics Society about his work in the House of Commons and the constituency.
Congratulations to Emma Powell (U5) who was selected for NYT's highly acclaimed acting course.
On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March, Downe House hosted a charity fashion show. The events were organised by Rosie Fortescue, Georgiana Haig and Celia Thursfield, in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, raising a total of just over £5,500.
Gillian Clarke, renowned poet, who has written poetry and prose for children and adults, visited Downe House on Sunday, 16 March. Her poetry reading began with her first publsihed poem 'The Sundial' and the audience were immediately impressed by her passionate and erudite ideas......
Diane Louise Jordan, businesswoman and one of the most popular presenters of BBC One's Songs of Praise, gave a talk and answered questions about how her faith influences the way she conducts her own business life and on matters relating to business ethics and corporate social responsibility more generally.
If you missed House Drama, or would like to see your daughter's performance again, a professional Double DVD recording by Kingsbridge AV Limited of all five productions will be available to order at a cost of £22.50 each.
Click here to find out how to order
This Trust was established in November 2006 as part of the agreed resolution of the OFT's recent investigation.
The objects of the Trust are to:
There are three criteria for eligibility:
For further details go to <Joining Downe> and click on <Scholarships>