#Trinity60‍

One of the highlights of the School calendar in the Summer term was the opening of the Shaw Building—a new centre for the visual arts, design technology, and indoor sports.

After a series of speeches in Big School from Sir Douglas Lovelock (Chairman of the Court of Governors of the Foundation), Headmaster, Dennis Whitgift, Mr. Silk (President of MCC), and the School Captain, Paul Allen, I joined the party of guests being shown around the building. Mr. Silk unveiled the plaque, honouring Peter Shaw, who as Governor of The Whitgift Foundation from 1957 to 1993 and Chairman from 1991 to 1993 has taken great interest in the rich and varied life of the School.

We were then taken on a tour of the impressive new building. Immediately noticeable was its sheer scale and the extensive use of natural light. We were shown the spacious art and design, photography, and pottery studios and exhibition areas, and were given demonstrations of the sophisticated technical facilities, including new CDT workshops, photographic darkrooms, and a fully equipped video/CCTV studio.

Across a central glazed mall, we were in the magnificent indoor sports centre with its two new sports halls, three glass-fronted squash courts, and a variety of fitness and weight-training equipment—again, all within a spacious, airy environment.

Over luncheon I spoke with a number of the V.I.P.s and asked them what they thought of the new building. "Absolutely fantastic!" was how the Mayor described it. "There aren't enough superlatives. Brilliant." He believed the facilities would help provide "an even better entry into the world outside" for Trinity students and hoped that "when they are older they remember what Trinity gave to them and what they owe to Trinity."

He recalled his own school cross-country days when he and his friends would make a run for it, leap over a gate, sit behind a hedge, have a cigarette, wait for the rest of the runners to come back, and then rejoin them. He could never understand the point of the running. "But," he was keen to remind me, "this is different!" He also recalled that there was hardly any CDT when he was at school and said that the things offered to young people today were unbelievable. He urged everyone at Trinity to "seize the opportunity".

Mr. Dennis Silk was "staggered" that there were so many different things going on under one roof. He referred specifically to the "splendid work" of those demonstrating the CDT facilities.

The architect, too, was impressed—the completed building was almost exactly as his original version. He was especially pleased with the "Magic Corridor link" between the two parts of the building and the "degree of freshness" which was very much as intended. He hoped that pupils at Trinity would gain inspiration from the project.

At the time of writing, all the facilities, especially the fitness room, are being used to their full potential and the building is playing an extremely important role in the life of the school.

Perhaps this report is best concluded with the words of the brochure of the Shaw Building: "The opening of the Shaw Building ... reflects an educational philosophy which sees it to be the business of the school to concern itself with all aspects of a developing young person, so that he can leave us with a confidence and breadth of achievement that will stand him in good stead in his adult life."

CHRIS TOLMAN 6LDGU