Downe House
- web site: www.downehouse.co.uk
- telephone: +44 (0)1635 200286
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Shortly after arriving in Venezuela, we set out on a trek across the Henri Pittier National Park, which would take us right to the coast.
Being Downe House, the news that a group ahead of us on the trek had had members hospitalised barely made a dent in our hugely misplaced optimism. Neither did the mocking grins of our Venezuelan guides when they saw us with our shiny new kit, cheerfully belting out ABBA hits. However, the mood began to change and feet began to drag after we had been walking for a few hours in the blazing heat at high altitude.
The transition from happy to horrified was complete when the first scorpion appeared, and the guide admitted that we had probably made camp on top of a nest. We retired to our sleeping bags very subdued.
The first couple of days of hard climbing paid off with a spectacular walk along the ridge of the mountain, with Caracas below us in the distance. We were completely alone, apart from a few embarrassing collisions with locals when we went in search of a suitable lavatory spot outside of camp. Unfortunately, our slightly incredulous guide told us that none of the animals he had expected for us to see had made an appearance because of our collective volume, the likes of which he had never experienced.
Of course, food was a key part of the expedition for us, and the cooks each evening were under considerable pressure to satisfy the group (us only having 3 meals a day out there, compared to the 6 that an average girl gets through at school). A slip in standards did have a very negative effect on group morale in a way that sunburn, sickness and tiredness did not.
Not for our guides the Downe House Dawdle. On looking back, I can hardly believe that we did in fact break in to a run at one point while crossing the rain forest – until certain members of the group sat down and refused to move any further. However, we are the proud record holders for the speediest trek yet (and yes, that does include boys schools).
The third day was tough, with a 15 hour trek through extremely humid cloud forest and the pressure to make camp before nightfall. We needed all of our concentration to avoid tree roots and rocks, as well as the low-hanging branches and vines. The mosquitoes also seemed immune to the cloud of repellent that surrounded us – some poor souls were far more victimised than others, to the extent of scratching in their sleep… The hardest part was on reaching camp and being unable to relax, as the dried food needed to be soaked and tents had to be set up. Morale hit rock bottom on that day.
The main topic of conversation for the entire month – the one that occupied our imagination even when we weren't talking about it – was what we would eat when we got home. There was also a collective craving for coca cola after drinking iodined water for the entire time. On reaching the deserted Caribbean beach at the end of the trek, we therefore devoted ourselves to eating, drinking coke and swimming. As the memory of our less enjoyable moments faded, we couldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.
By Vivienne Le Quesne
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>