Dr Chris Kelly of Cambridge University addressed a bustling Hylocomian Society on “How to change the world: Constantine and Christianity.” The talk included different interpretations of Constantine’s experience of a shining cross before the crucial Battle of Milvian Bridge, the changes that Constantine made when he converted the Roman Empire to Christianity and the potent symbolism present in the building of Constantinople.

Dr Kelly, whose works include books on ruling the later Roman Empire, Attila the Hun, and an history of the Early Church, both informed and entertained with his varied talk. The historical sources for the period received a solid critique, and contrasts were drawn between Augustus and Constantine, in their attempts to portray themselves as the favoured ones of Apollo and Christ respectively. The effect on Christianity on Britain was discussed, and there was debate as to whether Constantine altered Christian theology to suit his needs, accelerated its development, or created it entirely.

Despite the failure of Dr Kelly’s PowerPoint presentation, he vividly conveyed the cityscape of Constantinople, Constantine’s city and the contradictions it made; with pagan relics being removed from their centres and ‘Christainised.’ The talk was well received by the Hylocomian Society, and the next talk, on Sparta, is eagerly awaited.

It has been a tricky season blighted by injury, but the cross country team nevertheless retained the Goater Cup at Haberdasher’s for the 12th year in succession. The team comprises a runner from each of the first four years and two seniors. This year we were represented by Adam Thorpe (1st Form) Mark Pearce (2nd Form ) Ashok Mathur (3rd Form) Vasudev Zaver (4th Form) with Billy Collins and Euan Mackenzie running the senior legs. The two seniors ran the second and third fastest laps and the team won the race by over 60 seconds.

Two Sixth formers have received medals in the latest Olympiad organised by the UK Mathematics Trust. The six questions on the paper are extremely challenging, and at three and a half hours, sitting the exam requires stamina as well as mathematical ingenuity. Over 1300 students entered the competition nationally, with medals awarded to the top 100 candidates. David Phillips did extremely well to earn a silver medal, while David McLeod was close behind with a bronze. As the Mathematics Trust says, ‘Anyone managing to solve at least one of the problems deserves great credit. No charity marks are given, so every mark has to be earned.’