Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

J.R. wrote:Thanks Richard ! Yes - I've caught up.

Saw the ad. twice on Channel 4 last night. (Had to check 'The Films they wanted to Ban', didn't I ?)

Errrm - Excuse me, but exactly WHO is this aging American heavy metal rocker, and exactly what is his connection with C.H. I take it he must be of the Ozzy Osbourne ilk, but can't say I can place him.

Who's brain-child was this program ? Wouldn't have even got off the drawing board in my day. 'Bill' Bailey must be turning in his grave !

Gene Simmons achieved fame and enormous wads of cash as a member of 'Kiss'. I suppose you could say he's in the Ozzy mould, but I think Black Sabbath were MUCH better than Kiss.......

He's also famous for having a very long and active tongue.

Anyway, here's a nice piccy of Gene in his work clothes :

DavebytheSea wrote:Did anyone understand the eaxtraordinary ad for Rock School in Saturday's Torygraph magazine?

Can't say that I saw it !

Wasn't even a mention in 'The Sunday Sport' !!!

Nearly 2 pages in T2 today, they didn't really seem to have an opinion about whether it was good or bad though

I saw the ad today.

My kids might like it, at least they have heard of Kiss.

Unfortunately it clashes with CSI

There's an article in the Grauniad today about it:

click

not overly flattering of the school!

makes them sound like a bunch of posh kids, wearing tunics (?) and parading into school each morning (?).

and whoever Josh Bell is, he probably hopes none of his school mates read that he's an 'Elvish-muttering oddball'!

Well, Eloise, I think he is going to have to get used to this! On the programme his isolation from the rest of the group is obvious - there is a physical as well as an emotional distancing throughout. He is described by the other children as weird - "not the most popular person in the school" and told to his face that he is arrogant, that he can't sing, that he can't keep in time and is likely to make the band a laughing stock! It is to their credit that, in later episodes, they recognise his commitment and contribution to the success of the venture.

Mary Ireland (deputy head) expresses her concerns about Josh to Gene Simmons on the programme but on the other hand Josh himself seems pleased that he will be asked to sit with ohers in Dining Hall not because he is to be the butt of their humour and a laughing stock but because he is "Josh Bell, Emperor".

I am told (elsewhere on this forum by one who knows him well from scouting) that one need have no worries about Josh who will not be fazed by any of this and will turn it all to good account. My son, Jonathan, is in the same house as Josh (Peele A) and knows him well but, having arrived only as a new dep this year, did not realise until just the other day that he was about to become famous through a television series. That says something for Josh's calm acceptance of Rock School and its impact and that he is not unduly pushing about it all.

ok, I've yet to see it. I guess Elvish is a useful language to have if you find a ring ...

eloisec wrote:
and whoever Josh Bell is, he probably hopes none of his school mates read that he's an 'Elvish-muttering oddball'!

I know Josh quite well from helping to run scout camps etc... he is certainly an eccentric but he will be one of the most able to cope with this, although he does speak elvish...

Does he really speak Elvish? As in the language invented by Tolkein, or another, imposter "Elvish"?

Fair enough, I suppose it's marginally less inviting of a good kicking than learning Klingon (not a kicking from me of course, I'm a bit of a geek but not that bad, but there are those who feel threatened to their core by anyone speaking something as ... well ... geeky as Klingon.) There was a lad on my year who spoke Klingon, who shall remain nameless in this post. Unfortunately he was on the receiving end of a few fists in his time but he was (probably still is, haven't seen him for a few years) one of the brightest people I've met.

As fair as I know, it's the Tolkein 'elvish' which Ibelieve is mostly welsh anyway...

Tim wrote:There was a lad on my year who spoke Klingon, who shall remain nameless in this post. Unfortunately he was on the receiving end of a few fists in his time but he was (probably still is, haven't seen him for a few years) one of the brightest people I've met.

Only one I can think of might have the initials MP? Do tell!

Good for Josh.

I have a son like that, he will try anything even if he is not the best at it.

He joined a drama group to give him something to do away from his twin sister, who is very good at everything and makes sure he knows it.

He is not a great actor, dancer or singer, but he puts his heart and soul into it, and is the nicest lad you can imagine.

Last year he was rewarded with 'Student of the Year' which came as a big surprise to him, but not to anyone else.

Eloise,

MP

You said it...

Tim

Jonathan phoned me tonight and among other things said that Josh has his own fan website.

I have not been able to find it yet (I will place it here when I do), but I have found these rather touching comments from his mum(?) in reply to "what do his parents think of it all?" on

http://www.vh1.com/interact/boards/main ... =0&index=3

"Josh has ALWAYS been his own person even when he was small so in a way I am used to other children making fun of him and so is he. He has never wanted to deny who he is just to be accepted. Children can be very cruel but it is only when they mature that they realise that it is OK and even good to be an individual. That is why so many teenagers adopt very exagerated styles of clothes (take Goths for example). No, I have never felt like punching the manager (Rodney). You just have to put it down to a lack of understanding on his part. It is strange to know that Josh is on TV but you have to remember it hasn't aired here yet so the parents have only seen the first 2 episodes (at a private viewing). I don't know what it will be like when it goes out here in a couple of weeks time. Kiss were never very big here in the UK so I didn't really know who Gene Simmons was. He could have been anybody. I don't know Gene Simmons well enough to say whether I like him or not. I have to say though, when he came to our house he was extremely pleasant. (I dont know if that has been included in the programme though)."

and

"I was extremely proud of Josh when he sang "Wild Thing" as I had never heard him sing like that. Yes he does have friends here at home but most of his friends are at C.H. with him. I know very little about anyone else in the cast.
Josh cant write to you on these message boards because he is back at school now and is unable to access any message boards on the school computer network.
Josh is very happy about himself on a reality TV show. With Josh, what you see is what you get. There is no pretence with him. And yes, he is a great son and I am VERY proud of him. You take care also "

and

" I think Josh and all the rest of the cast were sad when the show ended, but also relieved that they had acheived their objective. By the end of it all they were all pretty tired as well."

As the headmaster and "Deputy Ireland" (in Gene Simmons parlance) said, the experience has almost vertainly, and on balance, been a positive one for the children. My 12 yr old Oliver would have given his eye teeth to have had that opportunity!