Now that’s what I call English by Canterbury Principal, Pat O'Donoghue

It’s hard to believe the summer is already here, but Monday morning was the beginning of our summer school and we welcomed new students from 16 different countries.

With the summer come lots of Great British summer traditions and nowhere is this more noticeable than in that great passion of the British, sport. Our number one sport, football, enjoys a rest from mid May to mid August but that just allows us to turn our attention to many other great events. If you are in the UK studying English with us this summer you may be able to experience some of the following great British sporting events.

From Tuesday to Saturday this week is a personal favourite of mine, Royal Ascot. This is one of the highlights of the horseracing calendar and it is attended every year by members of the Royal Family, including the Queen, a great supporter of the sport. This event receives a lot of Press attention and usually the racing is overshadowed by the attention paid to what racegoers are wearing. There is a strict code of dress in the Royal Enclosure, where men must wear Top Hats and Tails and the TV cameras are always out in force on Ladies’ day to report on the latest dresses and hats.

Following straight on from Royal Ascot we make the short journey up to London for the tennis at Wimbledon. British fans will be wondering whether Andy Murray can make this the year that the first Briton wins a Championship since Virginia Wade in 1977. Strawberries and cream anyone?

Midway through Wimbledon fortnight we have the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and I will be cheering on Lewis Hamilton, who studied at our sister college, CATS Cambridge.

But if you want something even more English then I invite you to tune into cricket. This summer England hosts the ‘Ashes’ series against Australia. For English and Australians alike, this is the must win series, played only once every two years, alternating between England and Australia. It’s not a quick affair; there are five ‘Tests’ (matches), each one lasting up to five days. So it’s just as well that unlike other sports which have a short half-time break of 15-20 minutes, Test matches stop for lunch and for afternoon tea! Now that’s what I call English.

 

A Walk on the Wild Side with Brighton Principal, David Burgess

David Burgess

On a fine June day there is no place I would rather be than walking on Brighton Beach. Ice cream in one hand to sustain me as I gently walk my way along this iconic strip of living British seaside history. Please come join me on my walk!

Our Brighton school is just a two minute walk from the beach.  First landmark to surprise you will be the ruin of the old West Pier. Destroyed by fire and ravaged by storms it is now home to a colony of starlings famous for their mass flight formations. There is no need to worry this is not a Hitchcock film, but seagulls will gladly fly away with your ice-cream so better hold on tight.

Leaving the old pier a must see at sunset, we pass the Victorian splendour of The Grand Hotel.  A white wedding cake of a building serving a very fine Afternoon Tea.  It was here in 1984 that terrorists tried to murder Prime Minister Thatcher. Fortunately they were not successful and The Grand continues to serve a very fine cup of tea.

Brighton Pier beckons with rides and the sweet aroma of fish and chips. It was built by the Victorians and remains one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions. A walk up and down the pier is highly recommended and we do need to walk off those calories from that large portion of fish and chips. If we had a little more time we could have a look at SeaLife, the oldest scientific aquarium in the world or hop on The Brighton Wheel and see panoramic views of the city and sea. But I must hurry us along as I am eager to show you Rottingdean home of Jungle Book writer Rudyard Kipling.  Though part of Brighton it remains firmly a traditional Sussex village. Here we will end our walk and enjoy a Cream Tea of fresh scones washed down by gallons of strong Darjeeling tea.  Our walk has ended and we are content as Kipling said:

“God gives all men all earth to love,

 But since man’s heart is small,

Ordains for each one spot shall prove

Beloved over all.

Each to his choice, and I rejoice

The lot has fallen to me

In a fair ground - in a fair ground -

Yea, Sussex by the sea!”