"an English Speaking Board international approved school"

Annuual Report 2009

Here we are again preparing for the start of another exciting year with our Wings of Eagles pupils in September. Before we do start the 2009/2010 term lets report on last years events.

Not mentioned in our 2008 report was the fact that the 2008 summer concert held at the Rockcliffe Centre, Carlisle, in June raised over £150.00 for the Tumaini Fund for widows and Orphans in Tanzania. Also omitted from that report was the fact that our Wigton branch took part in the Wigton Carnival in June, marching with flags waving through the town and then performing songs and dances on a pitch in the Carnival field. We were also delighted that John’s nephew’s daughter (his Grandniece?) came along and sang two songs which was lovely. Apologies for not mentioning this.

The autumn term 2008/2009 started with preparations for the English Speaking Board and London Academy examinations, finding out who wanted to do what and choosing their poems, monologues and projects to learn.

January 2009: We were approached by the production manager of a show called “Stardust” to ask if our pupils would like to take part in the show as a backing group to the professionals and to also perform a couple of their own songs and dances. Naturally this created great excitement and rehearsals immediately got under way. The show comprised three professional singers who sang many songs from the musicals with a compere/MC who was also the comedian and link man. The performance took place at the new Buccleuch Centre Theatre in Langholm and was a great success. All of the Wings pupils taking part wore colourful T-Shirts with the “Stardust” logo and lists of all the tour dates which they had to purchase. They sang songs from Joseph and his technicoloured Dream coat and others all of which were much appreciated by the capacity audience.

February 2009: One of our junior pupils Beth Thompson entered a BBC poetry competition with Daffodils by William Wordsworth this was a great experience for her and has prompted her into writing her own songs and poetry.

March 2009: The Wings of Eagles pupils were invited to contribute ideas and drawings of inventions of toys that they would like to see produced. The drawing of one of the juniors,

Isabel Leitch was selected for publication in the “Toy Fantastic” book which delighted her and of course the rest of the pupils. Beth is in the red sweater and Isabel in white on the right of the photo.

May 2009: Alex Magill, one of our senior pupils auditioned with 6500 other hopeful young actors and gained a place with just 29 others in the next term of the National Youth Theatre. This was no small achievement when you think he was competing against so many young actors and actresses from all over the country. A feather in the caps of both Alex and his drama teacher, Wendy.

June 2009: All of the pupils were studying hard for their entrance into both the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and English Speaking Board examinations. Excellent results were obtained by all of the pupils in both examinations with a high standard of Merits, Merit Plus, and Distinctions in the LAMDA exams and I quote here the ESB examiner who says “All the senior candidates have achieved DISTINCTION 100%! All (bar one, who got a very creditable merit) junior candidates passed with HIGH MERIT or DISTINCTION. Congratulations Wendy!”

July 2009: Before the end of term break for the summer we held our parents night concert where the pupils recited, sang, presented projects, or otherwise entertained us with their pieces learnt for the LAMDA and ESB exams. An excellent evening enjoyed by all of the parents and I am pleased to say the sum of £70.00 raised from donations was sent to the Tumaini Fund.

In July Wendy also heard the results of her Congregational Federation of Churches final exam for the Foundation course and she was delighted to find out she had passed in all sections. This will now allow her to commence the three other levels of her Theology studies at Winchester University. Wendy is now preaching on a regular basis every 4 or 5 weeks. Back in February Wendy traveled down to Ware in Hertfordshire and performed some Christian Drama for the Rev’d Mary Dow’s church. Mary has passed Wendy’s name onto other London churches for drama workshops. In addition Wendy has approached the Congregational Federation to enquire about the possibility of teaching students in the Ministry, public speaking skills. When she has obtained her own church/building she hopes to establish a Christian Theatre incorporating workshops, productions and other Christian events. Coupled with all the work she does with Wings of Eagles and of course her drama teaching work at Austin Friars School in Carlisle she is one very busy lady.

We sometimes hear from pupils who have left Wings of Eagles, grown up and gone off to lead their own lives. We heard recently from Kerry Thornton who was one of our early pupils when we were in Cockermouth. She emigrated to New Zealand and returned to visit her family this month telephoning Wendy to say that she had started up a Christian Theatre in New Zealand called “Magenta” and that they were doing extremely well producing and performing over 20 plays a year. Another of our ex pupils, and ex teachers, Claire Mattinson told us she had been awarded the Aspatria Community Prize for her work with her performing arts group “Harlequin”.

It really is wonderful when we hear that ex pupils are going on to further not only their own acting careers but also establishing organisations based on the Christian principle that Wings of Eagles hold dear.

Don’t forget that we are still open to recruit more pupils both junior and senior and we would also welcome enquiries from adults who would like to learn more about public speaking, drama, or communication skills.

On a personal note. John & Wendy traveled to Guernsey and then on to the island of Sark in the Channel Islands to celebrate the wedding of their youngest daughter Alison to a lovely Irish man, Neil Black. Rain was forecast but did not arrive. The morning dawned bright and clear and resulted in a glorious sunny day. As there are no cars in Sark everyone traveled to St Peters church in horse drawn carriages. The wedding itself was lovely the bride looked wonderful, the vicar officiating had a nice sense of humour and the hotel outdid itself to provide a wonderful reception. This was followed by a dance in the evening so all in all it was a perfect day with the newly weds traveling to the Maldives for a three week honeymoon.

Contact us at any time on our web site www.wings-of-eagles.co.uk by e-mail on info@wings-of-eagles.co.uk, by telephone on 013873-81884 or write to us as Clifton, 3 Hillside Crescent, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, DG13 0EE we are always available and will be pleased to here from you.

John & Wendy Le Huray

22.8.2009

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