Page 61 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Summer, the season of barbeques, warm weather and an August commission, is a great time of the year. Unfortunately, those
of us in Lucknow aren’t participating in the latter. Truthfully, no one should want to be in the base- ment of Old College, and this term is no differ- ent. However, Lucknow throughout the course of this term have successfully ran and partici- pated in many events to improve and expand upon multiple relevant domains for a future officer. Individual lessons, a way for OCdts to practice delivering lessons to an audience, and receive feedback, saw deliveries on skydiving, changing a tyre, Australia’s deadliest animals, and Lake Como in Italy. Our understanding of history and diplomacy was improved with a Bat- tlefield study of the siege of Lucknow, hosted in the Indian Army Memorial Room, featuring 150-year-old maps from the British rule of India. This gave OCdts the opportunity to dig into our colonial roots. Even morale increased with the wine and cheese social; a variety of reds, whites, and ports, as well as a wide selection of deli- cious cheeses from Pangbourne, were on offer for Lucknow’s first social in over a term.
A sense of community and charity was fostered during Lucknow2Lucknow, a fund raising Bikea- thon for the HEAD UP Charity, which provides mental health support for UK military person- nel and veterans who are suffering from mental health conditions. This saw cadets tallying up the kilometres on Wattbikes over the month of June from Lucknow’s home in Old College, to the city of Lucknow in central India, a distance
OCdt Currie
of 7150km. Starting off with a row of Watt- bikes lined up outside New College, with char- ity founder Paul Minter attending and putting in some of the first few KMs, it was a good chance to hear from someone who has suffered through both physical and mental adversity, resulting in a passion to help others in similar situations.
Articulation, preparation and oration was the focus for one of the more competitive events this term, the organised debate with Slim’s Company. The propositions brought forward by Lucknow were if Climate Change was the big- gest threat to humanity, and whether experience is the most important quality in a leader. The debate saw plenty of well thought out arguments presented on both sides of the room; however, the audience saw that both propositions put for- ward by Lucknow received a greater number of votes, and Lucknow remains undefeated. Per- haps Slim’s Company will use the experience wisely and return next term for another round of debate with the reigning champions.
Physical prowess had its day with the RMAS Highland Games, organised by Capt. Hawke and the rest of the Royal Regiment of Scotland staff, and had Lucknow as the event judges whilst the rest of the Academy partook in haggis hurling, caber tossing, and golf putting. Though some questionable judging and some former platoon favouritism may have slightly skewed the results recorded, ultimately it was all a bit of a laugh and a good chance to blow off some steam. The main event was the knockout rounds of tug
Summer in the Basement
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