Tower and Town, November 2016

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Editorial: The Old Lie

This month’s edition of Tower & Town is a somewhat solemn one. However, I feel it is one of the most moving compilations that we at St John’s have ever put together.

As ever, I wanted to give the students free rein over the style and direction of their writing. Inspired by their study of World War I literature during their first term of Year 9 (13 to 14 year-olds), I found that this year I had no need to cajole, or prompt, or even to advise. I received sixty four pieces in total, and the task of narrowing them down was as hard as it has ever been.

This time – in a break from previous tradition – the choice of title was entirely their own. Notable suggestions included, ‘Shell Shock’, ‘The Legacy’ and, perhaps as a nod to one of the most memorable poems studied this term, ‘Futility.’ But it was another great Wilfred Owen poem that eventually gave this edition its title, ‘The Old Lie.’

My special thanks go to Emily Copplestone, who – in addition to penning the spine-tingling poem ‘Jerusalem’ – produced the artwork for our front cover this month. Thanks also go to all our wonderful contributors: to Ted Warner, Charlotte Walker, Natasha Englefield, Lily Jackson and Charlie Melbourne for their thought provoking narrative works, and to Ross Beesley, Katie Hayward, Caitlin Lowe and Izzabella Coombes for their poetry.

I want to take this opportunity to thank these tremendously talented young people for all their hard work, to praise them for their vivid and artful crafting of language, and to commend them for the genuine and thought provoking compassion I have seen shining through in all of their work.

I hope you enjoy reading their work as much as I have.

Georgie Hibberd