It's that time of year again, when the summer begins to wind down and pupils flock back to school.
But for Dubai English Speaking School this is no ordinary back to school – this year marks the institution's 60th anniversary.
Remarkably, Dess has been around for longer than the UAE has been a country – long enough that there was a time when children arrived not in cars and buses, but on boats and camels.
Dess was established in a villa on the shores of Dubai Creek in 1963, when there were only about 20 schools in what was then called the Trucial States. As Dubai's first English language school at the time, Dess didn't have a set curriculum, and the first group of 10 British and American students were taught by some of the parents and a British serviceman, Flt Lt F Loughman, from the Royal Air Force Educational Corps.
Harry Atkinson, who was eventually appointed the school's first full-time teacher, previously told The National that prior to joining, "I couldn’t even find an atlas that mentioned Dubai" but sensed “something was going to happen and Dubai was going somewhere”.
Four years later, Dubai's Ruler at the time, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, granted the school a piece of land in Oud Metha, where it remains to this day. In 1969, Sheikh Rashid granted a charter that gave a number of subscriber companies the right to elect a board of governors.
Throughout the 1970s, the school continued to grow and by 1974 it had four classes in each year group, running from reception to Year 5.
Ann Fulcher was a parent who ran two school fetes to raise funds for new facilities, one in 1976 and then in 1977, when Bernadette McCarthey took over from Dorothy Miles as head teacher.
"The first one paid for the swimming pool, and the second an Arabic teacher and classroom, also some percussion instruments. This ensured a better all-round education," Fulcher tells The National.
Before the new pool was built, pupils had swimming lessons at the British Forces pool in Sharjah, and later at a private Emirati residence on the Beach Road.
"I had a committee of mums. We stipulated the money raised would go to finance a swimming pool, which it did. This meant no more using the British embassy pool, thank heavens. We had great fun getting prizes. The Arabs and major companies were unbelievably generous," she adds.
Like many parents, Fulcher has fond memories of McCarthey, who served at the school for 20 years until 1996, and died in 2015.
"Bernadette was delighted with the idea of Arabic lessons and music," Fulcher says. "The education was more rounded with Bernadette."
Shirley James also sent her son to Dess, and has "so many memories of Bernadette McCarthy".
James says: "She was a brilliant lady. I remember sports day, when Bernadette would write on a chalk board who was in the lead. [It was a] clever trick to start writing the results to look like a certain house won, but then to magically flip her figures to display the true winners."
In the 1980s, the school built Latifa Hall, which would go on to host assemblies and school productions. An administration building was built in 1987 and inaugurated by Princess Anne.
Today, the school has more than 1,000 pupils, as well as a secondary school, Dubai English Speaking College, which was established in 2005. To mark its 60th anniversary, Dess has compiled 90-plus interviews and 400 photographs for a coffee-table book, honouring the students, parents, and teachers who have passed through its storied halls.
Among those featured in the book is Halle Orchestra violinist Victoria Stephenson, who traces her prolific career back to Dess.
Looking back to her time at the school, she says: “I was desperate to start playing the violin but kept getting told I was too small – there wasn’t a violin small enough. So instead, I joined the recorder club and choir with Miss Belsey; who later taught me music theory.
“I finally started group violin lessons with Mr Kudsi in a room at the back of the music room and remember running around and hiding behind things when it wasn’t my turn because I got so bored. All I wanted to do was play music.”
Having started playing violin at seven, while at Dess she became leader of the UAE Children’s String Orchestra before leaving in 1998 to take up a scholarship place at the Chethams School of Music in Manchester. Since, she has performed in London West End shows such as Les Miserables and Hamilton, as well as a David Bowie tribute at Glastonbury.
Keen to pay it forward, she has also staged concerts to raise money for Dubai children’s charities and Unicef, and leads outreach projects for Merton Concert Orchestra and String Busters.
“I can’t imagine not being a musician,” Stephenson says. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever doubted where I wanted to head since spending time with the Dess music teachers and Mr Kudsi.”
Reflecting on the school’s rich history and the generations of children it has educated, head teacher Catherine Dando says: “From school runs on abras and donkeys to swimming galas in a school parent’s pool, the book will be crammed with quirky memories and tales that have waited patiently for up to 60 years to be told.”
Meanwhile, school and college principal and chief executive Andy Gibb looks forward to building a better future: “It’s such a privilege to be able to watch tomorrow’s creators, thinkers and pioneers as they work out how they want to make their mark on the world.
"We’re fortunate to have so much history and so many bright and talented youngsters to build an equally bright future."
England-South Africa Test series
1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London
2nd Test South Africa win by 340 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London
4th Test August 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m
5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
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Barbie
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
England squads for Test and T20 series against New Zealand
Test squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Dominic Sibley, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes
T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E353hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E500Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh408%2C200%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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