Stanmore My time at Tonbridge Newington College drama teacher Mr Ben Williams reflects on his exchange at Tonbridge School in England. How is Tonbridge different to Newington? Tonbridge School was founded in 1553. I was honoured to be a part of Newington’s sesquicentenary events in 2013, where we quite rightly celebrated Newington’s place as one of the oldest schools in Sydney. On the other hand, it is mind-boggling to walk around a school whose ‘Old Boys’ include contemporaries of a high-school aged William Shakespeare. What have you learnt on exchange? I have learnt a lot about what is shared by schools on either side of the world, and what is not. Some students’ shirts will always be untucked, regardless of how expensive their uniform is. There will always be chewing gum under one Tonbridge School in Kent, in the south-east of England seat in the classroom, no matter how first and foremost, and members of having the safety and reassurance of long it has been banned at the school houses, sports, clubs, activities second.your old life and job waiting for you at the for. Boys both here and there have a They are fiercely proud of their school end of the 12 months. Who wouldn’t? deep thirst for knowledge and and know their school is of them. At understanding, and the ones who are Tonbridge, the loyalties are far more What does a typical day look like for contented at school are the ones who complicated—a legacy perhaps of you in England? recognise that and are able to do houses that have been competing for Alarm at 6.00am. Run in the sleety something about it. longer than any GPS competition, and darkness. School day from 8:35am until How are the students different—or boarding houses that not only your 6:00pm (which, in the winter, is about 2 similar—in each school? father but your grandfather and his and a half hours after the sun has gone Students at Newington are “New Boys” grandfather belonged to. Here, school down), which might include seven pride seems to come second to identity lessons, a cooked lunch, time for within the school. pursuits, sports, maybe a drama rehearsal. Home for dinner and bedtime ‘It is mind-boggling to for my son. Dishes, marking/lesson walk around a school prep/Netflix. Bed. whose ‘Old Boys’ include What is the most unusual thing you’ve noticed about your exchange country? contemporaries of a “All right” is said as a greeting. I guess high-school aged William similar to Australians saying, “How you going?” but not really expecting a Shakespeare.’ response. In either case I stick with a “Hi” or a “Hello”. Why did you do an exchange? What do you miss most about home? I had run out of ideas for school Drama The dry eucalyptus smell of a summer productions. Stealing them from the evening just before dusk. Or a really other side of the world seemed a good good, drenching rainstorm. Apart from plan! No, really, it is a fantastic and friends and family, of course. unique opportunity to live and work somewhere completely new and What will you take back to your home different, experience all the growth and school after the exchange? Mr Ben Williams with son Theo learning that comes with that while A sense of achievement. OPPORTUNITY| NEWS AUTUMN 2018 | 19