Taylorian

Societies and Activities

Miscellaneous

Dungeons & Dragons Club I started the Dungeons & Dragons Club in the Spring Term of last year; we have had great fun every week since. I was surprised by its immediate popularity: twelve students came to the first session, and we had to split up into two smaller groups to make our adventures more manageable. For our first campaign we played ‘Hunt for the Thessalhydra’, which is based on the TV show Stranger Things . The campaign took the players on a King’s quest to investigate a strange monster that had been on a rampage, attacking nearby farms and villages. Once the party had found the monster’s lair, they ventured into the Upside Down to hunt a Demogorgon, which led to a dangerous and tough fight. They finally found and killed the Thessalhydra, before being showered in riches. The next adventure was delving into the ‘Dungeon of the Mad Mage’. The party had to fight their way through many levels, featuring monsters from skeletons to hellhounds, and even a lich (an undead evil wizard) riding a dragon! The campaign ended with a bang, quite literally, as their wizard’s staff exploded, killing the antagonist, and blowing up the entirety of the mountain. They escaped with nothing but the Mad Mage’s hat and extremely poor health. Henry Carpmael (5ths) Hi-Fi Society In the Autumn Term of 2022, a group of Lower Sixth students began Hi-Fi Society, a club that bridged the gap between the Music and DT Departments. Mr Tonks, Mr Wilson and Mr Hill possess extensive knowledge of both electronics and 20th century vinyl, and have therefore been invaluable in its running. The club allows students to appreciate music, respect tangible forms of media, and learn how to tinker with hi-hi equipment. Members can bring in an album of their choice to share with the Miscellaneous

group, and we have seen a wide selection ranging from the iconic Pink Floyd album Animals to performances of romantic ballads by The Muppets. The idea for the society was formed during a DT trip to Stuttgart in the October half term, and with the help of the founding few students (as well as a vinyl player from Mrs Stubbs), we had a fully operational stereo system at our disposal within two weeks. From there we began to disassemble an old player donated by Daniel Self, which proved to be quite a challenge, but we eventually got the motor working and have now begun to investigate the turntable mechanisms. All of us at Hi-Fi Society are looking forward to another exciting year and are very keen to find some younger members who would be willing to take the reins in a few years’ time. Ben Lakin (L6th) Bridge Club Personally, I would say that Bridge Club has been my favourite society this year; it is the right mix of a challenge and a social gathering. The club has grown in attendance and resources over the school year, starting with a deck of cards and ending with bridge tables, bidding boxes, and even more cards (all the gear… no idea). Mrs White is a great teacher and makes sure that everyone leaves each session with a smile on their face and a sense of accomplishment. She is excellent at teaching players of all abilities and is very inclusive, so you don’t even need to have touched a playing card before to learn and have fun. Although we’re beginners, Mrs White managed to arrange a competitive match for us against Haberdashers’. We did relatively well given our lack of experience, and we learnt a lot from the opportunity to compete against more experienced players. I am hoping that in the coming year we will be able to participate in more competitions

and learn to be more tactical. I have thoroughly enjoyed the club this year and would recommend it to anyone. Hector Lamb (4ths)

Athletic Development Since its inception six years ago, the Athletic Development programme has undergone a significant transformation at MTS. Originally, it was a programme only accessed by sports teams as a means of improving their performance. However, as time has progressed its principles have been incorporated into both the Health and Well-being programme and Fourth Form Sport Science curriculum. In addition, sessions now run every morning before school and during the Hour, ensuring that all pupils interested in enhancing their physical fitness and overall well-being can participate in a way that best suits them. Presently, Athletic Development is now the largest extra-curricular club in the School, with nearly a third of pupils attending regularly across the year. Through participation, pupils not only prepare themselves for sports, but also cultivate lifelong habits that will positively impact their long-term health and happiness. It has been fantastic to see how the programme has evolved over time, and the School’s Athletic Development coaches and Physical Education staff are committed to its continual growth and development for the benefit of all our pupils. Mr A. C. Bruce

62

Taylorian 2023