Work Experience

The Cabinet Office

When, on Wednesday 25 March, I first entered the Cabinet Office, I had no idea what to expect. No one I had asked knew what went on behind the doors of 70 Whitehall. Thus, having been abandoned by my mother in favour of the gym, I approached the building with a combination of trepidation and importance, the latter rapidly dispelled as soon as I entered and came into contact with 'Security.'

My name is Alex de Jonquieres. I have been told by many people that it is a wonderful name, but they have obviously never tried getting it understood, especially through a thick sheet of bullet-proof glass. The name of the person I should ask for was Geoffrey Adams. My brother had been shocked when he heard that I was doing work experience with the leader of Sinn Fein, and I had dreamed about being approached by a bearded Irishman after having asked for the wrong guy. Having been reduced to written communication, however, I eventually justified my presence, and was grudgingly accepted into the lobby and thereby passed this, the first test of my civil service career.

From then on life improved, in fact, it improved to such a point that instead of 'work experience, I now believe I could describe my time there as simply 'experience.' From the intensely warm welcome from Geoffrey Adams (who, as far as I know has not a trace of Irish blood in him) to when I yelled my name at Security for the last time, I was welcomed and guided through every section of the building, passing freely by signs screaming KEEP OUT, and reading documents with PRIVATE DO NOT READ scrawled across the top. I was shown round the offices of such publicly renowned and loved figures as David Clark (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) and Peter Mandelson.

I truly enjoyed my brief experience of the Civil Service and the inner workings of government, and would leap at the chance to repeat it. One thing I recommend, however is that all Civil Servants return briefly to school every year. Having heard complaints about the loos, the cafeteria and the technological capability of their office, I investigated all three, and all I can do is invite them to visit Westminster School - they don't know how lucky they are.

Alex de Jonquieres (Rigaud's)

Whizz-Kids in Grant's

In the second half of the Play Term 1997, the idea of a Grant's House Charity Fund was suggested by Caroline Edwards, wife of David Edwards, the Housemaster. It was taken up with great alacrity by the House and a committee formed, ably chaired by the Head of House, Peter Cole and Edwin Cook, Head of Hall, became Treasurer. Other particularly active members were Mark Lanyon, Ben Jarman, Tom Browne and Anthony Aiken in the Sixth Form, and Jonathan Randall and George Bitar in the Lower Shell. The Fifth Form proved extremely good at stuffing envelopes!

A House Christmas Card was designed by Will Stevens, and sold to parents and old Grantites, and almost the entire House went singing in the local area. Their musical talents were hugely appreciated by most local residents, but sadly failed to impress the inhabitants of Vincent Square (now voted the meanest in Westminster), or Scotland Yard!

Tom Gentleman had the brilliant idea of hosting a black tie dinner for Grant's parents. Gardner Merchant generously provided the food at cost. Sue Balding, the Grant's Matron, helped supervise a team of amazingly efficient waiters/waitresses from the Remove, coached by Peter Cole's elder brother. Wonderful musical interludes were provided by Edwin Cook, John Hampton and Olivia Tebbutt.

In three weeks, Grant's raised £2,500 for Whizz-Kids, a local charity raising money for mobility-impaired children. This was enough to buy a specially adapted wheelchair for Michelle, a sixteen year old girl with cerebral palsy.