Gad's supports 'Hands of Compassion'

This year at Gad’s we have been supporting Gravesend Charity ‘Hands of Compassion’ who have set up a school for orphaned and vulnerable children near Ndola in Zambia.

So far this year we have raised a total of £870 through our TAG day, Summer Fayre and various enterprise schemes developed and run by our students. We have more fundraising events in the pipeline for next term prior to our Head of Senior School, Mr. Bertwistle visiting Zambia in September. Mr. Bertwistle will join a working party who will be assisting with the construction of a new school building as well as teaching some of the classes.

For more information about ‘Hands of Compassion’ you can log onto their website www.handsofcompassion.co.uk. The charity is holding their UK launch this Wednesday -18th June at St Mary’s Church, Chalk at 7pm.


Photo 1: Students hand over a cheque to Wendy Ely - Director of Hands of Compassion and Revd. Samuel Zulu who is patron of the charity in Ndola.

The Secret Life of Charles Dickens

Following the days filming at Gad's Hill by Channel 4 we now have a transmission date for 'Dickens'Secret Lover'. The show is presented by actor Charles Dance and will be on Channel 4 at 9pm tonight and repeated on Channel 4 +1 at 10pm. The programme will look at Dickens' affair with the actress Nelly Ternan and will be in interesting insight into Britain’s most loved author, as well as a chance to spot the school !

Kent Schools Skiing Championships

The Kent School’s Championships at Bromley dry ski slope is the largest entry schools ski race in the country and this year some 190 skiers entered the event. Gad’s had teams in two categories: Under 12 Boys and Under 12 Girls. Each team consisted of four skiers. The race took the form of a ten gate slalom with each skier having two runs. The total times of the best three skiers from each run make up the total team time.

Under 12 Boys.
Our team of Jack Tierney, Christian DeGrussa, Willian Lindsay and Zac Lucas skied really well and after the first run were in 3rd place. A couple of errors in the second run cost us time and placed us outside the medals. It was a great effort from all skiers who pushed themselves in the pursuit of a medal.

Under 12 Girls
The team of Abbie Turner, Libby Horner, Honor Kingsley Smith and Imogen Kingsley Smith were superb. None of the skiers made a mistake and all skied to their very best. With Abbie the only one of the girls in Year 6, it means that all the other will be able to ski in the same event next year. Imogen was the youngest skier in the whole race. They achieved a magnificent 2nd place in the age group event and were also the 2nd placed girls’ primary team.


In the afternoon, the skiers took part in a dual slalom event and were joined by Gabrielle Horner and Harry Tierney, both only in Yr. 1. This involves a relay race of ‘side by side’ racing. The skiers are all mixed up so that there is a mix of abilities and ages in each team. It was a fun way to end what was a successful afternoon for Gad’s skiing.

The results from the day

Under 12 Boys Team: 5th in age group event
5th in boys overall primary schools.
Under 12 Team: 2nd place age group team
2nd place overall girls primary schools
(2 silver medals to be awarded to: Abbie, Libby,Honor & Imogen)


Individual Results
Under 12 Girls
Abbie Turner 4th (Missed 3rd place by 0.8 sec.)
Libby Horner 6th (another year at this age group next year)

Under 10 Girls
Honor Kingsley Smith 6th (another year at this age group next year)
Imogen Kingsley Smith 10th (another 3 years at this age group)

Under 12 Boys
Zac Lucas 8th
William Lindsay 15th

Under 10: Boys
Jack Tierney 25th