Voices of
The Perse

A collection of prose, poetry, video, photos and art from students, staff, parents and alumni, to celebrate our 400th anniversary

March 23, 2016

A Captain’s Address

England Test cricket captain Alastair Cook was our special guest at last weekend’s 400th anniversary sports showcase. With children he talked tactics in a batting masterclass; with guests at the dinner he shared insights into the life of a sports person at the very top of their game. Find out more about the festival here. Cricket is the sport with […]

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March 11, 2016

Appreciation of Art

Article for the Art Newsletter, June 2015 Have you ever stood in the middle of an art exhibition and just wondered how all of the amazing pieces were produced by human minds? That’s exactly how I felt whilst in the midst of Year 11 GCSE art pieces, and I felt daunted that soon I would […]

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February 10, 2016

Winter Sports Expedition, 1958

Article by Angus for The Pelican, March 1958 On April 1st, a party of boys left Victoria for Switzerland. Our destination was Melchsee Frutt, a small skiing centre near Lucerne; we were accompanied by Messrs. Perry and Cotes. The fun started before we reached Victoria when a small group was mislaid on the Underground and […]

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January 27, 2016

Travelling to the Prep

Travel writing evokes a sense of wonder, creates insightful vignettes and allows the imagination to wander to distant times or faraway places. It is known for exploring ‘otherness’ or ideas which are unknown to the reader – what a Moroccan market might smell like, what snow might feel like to someone who has never felt […]

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December 10, 2015

A message about code

This term alone, there were 1867 bookings for the Upper’s ipads, chromebooks, mac suite and ICT rooms. Students literally have technology at their fingertips any time they need to use it. But in 1962 if you wanted to use the technology, you had to build it first. Here are two extracts from The Pelican to remind […]

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December 4, 2015

Perse Rugby Song – 1921

Still three all, but there’s time to score! On to the ball now – one try more! Taking your passes on the run That’s the way that the game is won!   Gather your passes on the run; That’s the way the game is won. Sweeping and swerving and swinging along Who’d be a passenger? […]

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November 25, 2015

400 – a poem

My school is 400 years old this year – a very big number to me. It makes me think of ancient times and Greek mythology. I think of decaying buildings full of carvings, beams and cracks, Of fearless knights and a dragon with a sword stuck in its back. I think of an old man […]

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November 19, 2015

My father’s time at The Perse

My late father, Sir Arthur Marshall, started his education at a small private infants’ school near his parents’ house in Milton Road and then went to the Perse Preparatory School in Bateman Street.  He used to go by open-top bus from the top of De Freville Avenue and later by bike, and sometimes walked the […]

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November 12, 2015

Coping with teenage stress – and stressed teenagers

This blog is adapted from a speech given by Bella and Christian at Speech Day Stress is a subject close to our hearts. But why would we feel it more than others? Well science. Our bodies are changing; we are seeing and dealing with the world in a new way. On top of that we […]

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November 5, 2015

“Education is happiness…if the life is there”

My dear Missen, This is going to be a long letter, and dull. But I think you will read it, because I know you. You are one of my sons – all the OPs are my sons – and you will listen to pa because you ought. I am now rising 83, and I can’t […]

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March 11, 2016

Appreciation of Art

Article for the Art Newsletter, June 2015 Have you ever stood in the middle of an art exhibition and just wondered how all of the amazing pieces were produced by human minds? That’s exactly how I felt whilst in the midst of Year 11 GCSE art pieces, and I felt daunted that soon I would […]

Read more

January 27, 2016

Travelling to the Prep

Travel writing evokes a sense of wonder, creates insightful vignettes and allows the imagination to wander to distant times or faraway places. It is known for exploring ‘otherness’ or ideas which are unknown to the reader – what a Moroccan market might smell like, what snow might feel like to someone who has never felt […]

Read more

December 4, 2015

Perse Rugby Song – 1921

Still three all, but there’s time to score! On to the ball now – one try more! Taking your passes on the run That’s the way that the game is won!   Gather your passes on the run; That’s the way the game is won. Sweeping and swerving and swinging along Who’d be a passenger? […]

Read more

November 19, 2015

My father’s time at The Perse

My late father, Sir Arthur Marshall, started his education at a small private infants’ school near his parents’ house in Milton Road and then went to the Perse Preparatory School in Bateman Street.  He used to go by open-top bus from the top of De Freville Avenue and later by bike, and sometimes walked the […]

Read more

November 5, 2015

“Education is happiness…if the life is there”

My dear Missen, This is going to be a long letter, and dull. But I think you will read it, because I know you. You are one of my sons – all the OPs are my sons – and you will listen to pa because you ought. I am now rising 83, and I can’t […]

Read more