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Janus:
Winter, 1964
Contents
SCHOOL NOTES
CORRESPONDENCE
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION
HOUSE NOTES
CRICKET
OLD WOOLVERSTONIANS C.C.
ATHLETICS
SAILING
DRAMA
SOCIETIES AND ACTIVITIES
ASPECTS OF THE HOLIDAYS
ORIGINAL CONTRIIBUTIONS
EDITORIAL
Yet once again the apathetic populace of Woolverstone Hall has been besieged with pleas for articles for Janus. Yet once again the printing has had to be delayed while the editors went round the school encouraging, cajoling, begging people to write something for their own school magazineApart from the few perennial faithfuls, we had hardly anybody submitting anything without his having his arm twisted by the editor. Do you want a school magazine ? If not, tell us why not - let us hear your suggestions for improvements to the style, contents, anything. But instead of just standing around with big idiotic mouths wide open shouting obscenities at us, why not make some attempt to help your own magazine? We do not expect everybody to be a budding Shakespeare or Dickens, but for God's sake, let's see some of you having an attempt.
BRIAN WEAVER.
School Notes
At the end of the summer term we were very sorry to lose from the staff Mr. D. F. Green, Mr. R. J. Woollett and Mr. C. J. F. Harmer.
Mr. Green after six years at Woolverstone running the Art Department has taken up a similar appointment at Harlow Technical College. He will be particularly remembered here for the high quality of his own painting, and for the fine sets which he painted for successive operas and plays.
Mr. Harmer, after three years here teaching Physics, running the Electronics Club and being assistant housemaster of Corner's, has left to study theology at the Westminster Bible College.
Mr. Woollett has left us for Oxford, where he has joined the Department of Education. As well as teaching History during his two years here, and in the process helping three members of the school to get exhibitions to Oxford, he was particularly concerned with starting the Johnston Society, and altogether made a remarkable contribution to the cultural life of the school.
Every good fortune to them, and a word of welcome to their successors. Mr. J. C. Mackenzie, who has taken over the Art Department, and whose resemblance to Inspector Maigret has already been widely noted, has spent the last eight years in Kenya where he was Inspector of Arts and Crafts in the Ministry of Education. Before that he studied at the Birmingham College of Art and taught for four years at King Alfred School in Germany. He is married with three children. Mr. H. R. J. Ramsay, who is teaching Physics, comes from Chelsea College, London, where he was editor of Concetto, the college magazine, and the Department of Education at Oxford. His main sporting activity is fencing, and he is a most welcome adviser to our Fencing Club. Mr. A. P. Sadler, who joins the History Department, was at St. John's College, Oxford, and his last teaching post was at Southfield School in Oxford. Although he violently advocates lethargy, he admits having played rugby and cricket. He joins Halls' as assistant housemaster.
We were also sorry to say good-bye to the French and German Assistants, who were here for a year and contributed a lot to the place: Jean Raynal, and Fritz Weibezahn. Unfortunately we lack a French Assistant at present. Herr Siegfried Hahn has joined us for the year as German Assistant and we are happy to welcome him. He comes to us from Hamburg, where he has been teaching English.
Mrs. Cotthill has also left after eighteen months as the headmaster's secretary, and Miss J. Green has taken over from her; worthily upholding the tradition of charming efficiency that goes with the post.
Appointments
C. A. Webb has been appointed Head Boy, and also Captain of Rugby Football.
The following continue as prefects, and are heads of their respective houses: C. A. Webb (Hanson's), S. J. W. Crawford (Orwell), M. A. Pye (Berners), J. Rocha (Halls'), S. Jones (John- ston's). R. A. Salisbury was appointed a prefect and head of Corner's at the beginning of this term.
Additional appointments have since been made: A. Cowan (Berners') D. J. Lee (Corner's), S. E. Blackman (Halls'), B. Clark (Hanson's), L. A. Howes (Orwell).
Congratulations to :
Mr. and Mrs. M. Watts on the birth of a son.
Mr. and Mrs. R. J. K. Cromarty on the birth of a daughter.
S. Drain, A. Howes and P. Gait, on their distinguished A " level results.
J. Sayeed, on winning a naval scholarship.
O. Hotz de Baar, on the press coverage achieved by his chemistry experiments in the holidays.
D. Odell, editor of 'Sixth Form Opinion', conducted a National Opinion Poll on the political beliefs of sixth forms.
M. Grenyer (O.W.) on getting in to Cranwell.
2/Lt. P. A. Whittaker (O.W.) who during the tercentenary celebrations of the Royal Marines was presented to her Majesty the Queen and had a short (?) conversation with her.
R. Salisbury, K. Randle and N. Hellawell, on being awarded pilot's licences.
Speech Day.
On Speech Day, July 18th, the guest of honour was Mr. R. S. Postgate, Assistant Director of Educational Broadcasting. BBC. Mr. Postgate gave away the prizes and spoke, with a point rare on such occasions, about the future of education. We were also honoured to have with us Sir Isaac Hayward, Chairman of the L C.C., and Lady Hayward. Mrs. Irene Chaplin, Chairman of the Governors, was in the chair. The vote of thanks was proposed by the Head Boy, M. Grenyer. After the business in the Hall was over, on a stifling hot day, we moved outside for the formal opening of the swimming pool.
A new prize, the Rowland Memorial Prize, will be competed for for the first time this term. The fund from which this prize will derive is made,up,of contributions from members of the teaching and administrative staff who worked at Woolverstone Hall with the late Mr. R. V. Rowland, and from the Old Boys' Association. It will be awarded to the winner of an annual essay competition, set by the deputy Headmaster on a subject of general rather than specialised interest.
May we extend our sympathy to Mr. S. R. Corner, who has been in and out of hospital for some weeks having operations on his eyes, and wish him a speedy and complete recovery. In Mr. Corner's absence, Mrs. Allchin is gallantly contending with much of the Biology teaching.
The School Play, 'Coriolanus,' will be performed on Sunday, 13th December (afternoon), Monday and Tuesday, 14th and 15th December (evenings). Any old boys or friends of the school who do not normally receive invitations, please appreciate that you will be very welcome at any performance.
The Autumn Term ends on Friday, 18th December, and the Spring Term begins on Monday, 1lth January, 1965.
A recent innovation at the school has been that morning assemblies are now taken, a week at a time. by members of the staff and senior boys. A lot of people have taken a lot of trouble with the preparation of these short services and must be happy to know the verdict of the school ----"less boring'.
The new boys are smaller than ever (the same goes actually for the first year sixth). They may be encouraged to settle down by this view expressed in a composition by a member of the second form :
'The new boys are fascinating and they amuse me by just watching them. They are like foreigners who eat, talk and move in a different way to us.'
THE COMING OF THE POOL
When Woolverstone was first conceived as a boarding school, a swimming pool was included in the list of amenities, but was among the first to be crossed off because of the financial situation.
The Parents' Association then took up the challenge and organised a fund to build a pool.
I don't think anyone here ever thought the pool would be completed in his own school career, even when the L.C.C,. offered to pay a substantial sum themselves: and in the case of the majority of contributors to the fund, this was true.
Then the Headmaster announced that four pegs had been driven into the ground, in a place hitherto unconsidered as a site for the pool, and all hopes were raised.
However, we were told twice that work would definitely start on such and such a day, and no such thing happened. Eventually work started, watched by many of the school from close quarters, until the foreman fell in the hole.
After that we had to be content with watching from a distance; but we saw the pool gradually take shape: we saw the cementation completed, the pool painted., the surround laid; the pool filled; the surround subside; the pool leak dry; the pool and surround repaired. All this time others had been labouring to build the filter plant house and subsequently others strove to instal the filter plant at such an angle as to be in danger of grinding to a halt at any moment.
Finally the ladders and rails were secured with two-inch screws and pulled out on the first night of use. After the pool had been in use for some time it was opened on Speech Day last term (with the rails still hanging off).
Warmest thanks from all of us to all who have made this pool possible, and despite a few small shortcomings they can rest assured that their efforts have made a decisive change in the school.
KEITH YOUNG.
HEAD BOY'S LETTER
It has become clear, as Woolverstone continues to grow, that its hallmark is the liberal atmosphere and its allowance for individual tastes within the boundaries of community life. This last phrase is sometimes none too clear to some groups and individuals. As the activities and amenities expand they can only be fully appreciated and deserved if met by a corresponding maturity of outlook. Too often, the brash and empty criteria of values, cultivated by the commercial world or the casual cynic, are embraced ---on the surface at least. The resulting immature behaviour is not a worthy product of the school's potential and, often, only a result of group stimulation and not of any personal reasoning.
This is by no means the whole attitude but it is indicative of some weaknesses. On the whole people expand into all fields of activity and benefit in many ways by them. The opportunities of expansion in personality, work, sport, and the innumerable other fields, the most important, perhaps, being the taking of responsibility, all constitute the expansionist and liberal quality of the school. This should be realised and appreciated and some people should re-evaluate their judgements of the school and then its potential can be more fully expanded.
C. A. WEBB.
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
This is by no means a complete list: it comprises only the results we have heard about. Perhaps other recent graduates would get in touch with the school, so that we can build up a complete record.
R. S. Dilley, Cambridge, Geography, II.i.
N. J. Fletcher, Oxford, English, II.
J. Osborn, Newcastle, Mathematics, II.i.
N. Rock, Liverpool, Oceanography, II.i.
A. Williams, Cambridge, Geography, II.ii.
UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE ENTRANCES - October, 1964
This list includes only those who are beginning their courses this year:
D. Alexander, Brunel College, to read Biochemistry.
R. Bell, to Northampton Polytechnic, to read Chemical Engineering.
D. Cleary, to Sandhurst.
C. R. H. Cooper, to Jesus College, Oxford, to read History.
J. Couch, to Edinburgh University, to read Medicine.
T. Crosby, to Leeds University, to read Mining Engineering.
G. A. Donaldson, to Wadham College, Oxford, to read English.
G. E. Donaldson, to Bristol University, to read English.
S. Drain, to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to read Physics.
J. F. Frost, to King's College, London, to read Chemistry.
P. Gait, to Sheffield University, to read Psychology.
D. Gent, to Newcastle University, to read Geography.
M. Grenyer, to R.A.F. Cranwell.
A. King, to Leeds University, to read Chemical Engineering.
F. A. Kiy, to Leeds University, to read Chemical Engineering.
B. W. Leigh, to the Bartlett School of Architecture.
I. Lloyd, to Battersea C.A.T., to read Human and Physical Sciences.
K. Rashid, to University College, Buckland, to read French.
G. Rowles, to Bristol University, to read Geography.
N. Sansom, to Caius College' Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences.
R. Saunders, to Birmingham University, to read Medicine.
D. Woodgate, to The University of Wales, Bangor, to read Electronics.
L. M. Young, to Newcastle University, to read Marine Engineering.
A. Brackenbury to the Chelsea College of Technology, to read Pharmacy.
R. V. J. Clarke, to the Brixton College of Estate Management.
G.C.E. ADVANCED LEVEL RESULTS - June, 1964
| D. Alexander | Chemistry, Biology |
| J. Allgrove | Maths., Physics |
| P. Almond | Geography |
| R. Bell | Physics, Maths, Technical Drawing |
| M. Bond | Physics |
| R. Clarke | English, History, Economics |
| C. Cooper | English, History |
| P. Coverley | History, Latin |
| S. Crawford | English, French, Music |
| J. Crosby | Physics, Pure Maths., Applied Maths |
| G. Donaldson | English, History, French |
| S. Drain | Chemistry, Physics (Distinction), Applied Maths., Pure Maths (Merit) |
| J. Frost | Chemistry, Physics, Pure and Applied Maths |
| P. Gait | History, French, German, Latin (Distinction) |
| D. Gent | History, Geography (Merit), Economics |
| M. Grenyer | Physics. |
| L. Howes | English, French (Merit), German |
| M. Hudson | Chemistry, Physics, Maths |
| A. King | Physics, Pure Maths |
| F. Kiy | Geography, Physics, Maths |
| B. Leigh | Physics, Maths., Technical Drawing |
| J. Mackie | English, Economics |
| J. Miles | German, Economics |
| 6. Poyntz | Physics, Maths |
| M. Pye | English, Biology |
| K. Rashid | French |
| J. Rocha | English (Merit), History, Economics |
| G. Rowles | English, History, Geography (Distinction) |
| C. Webb | English (Distinction), History, Economics |
| C. Winter | History, Geograph (Merit) |
| D. Woodgate | Chemistry, Physics, Maths |
| D. Wright | French, Latin, Greek |
| Y.L. Young | Physics, Pure and Applied Maths |
Dear Editors,
As far as possible, nobody has been offered the chance to criticise "Janus" in the magazine itself. However, I think it would be advantageous for the future of it, if the chance for constructive criticism was given.
Every member of the school is automatically compelled to buy the school magazine and therefore obviously wishes to obtain good, interesting reading matter for his money, but the editors, when faced with the editing of possible subject material, eventually submit, mainly, boring, dull, nondescript poems, all containing (it is supposed) subtle truths or dreams, camouflaged by the deep mysteries of blank verse.
It is argued by the editors themselves that the reason for the thin appearance of the last edition was due to the lack of sensibly written material produced by school members for the "Original Contributions" section, but I am under the impression, and not a misguided one, I might add, 'that often, submitted material was either discarded because of the too-high standard it was judged by, or destroyed by unnecessary censorship.
Please do not regard this as a vicious verbal attack on the literary genius of Woolverstone Hall, or the school magazine's editorial board, but as an honest opinion of some managerial faults.
Still, many praises to the newly-promoted editors on their persuasive encouragement for discontented readers to improve the standard of the "Janus" production.
D. LINGARD.
Editors' Note: having taken this on the chin, may we add that while it is impossible to build up a very vital Correspondence Column in a magazine that comes out only twice a year, we would welcome further letters.
MANCHESTER LETTER
Manchester University seems to have been sadly neglected by Woolverstone Hall until last year when its ineffable ranks were swollen by no less than three Old Woolverstonians, none of whom, even then, came in direct from that honourable institution but hailed from an intervening year of varied occupation, viz: working in the Far East, working in a factory, and not working at one of the lesser Universities (with apologies to Oxford).
Tom Carter has spent a year in Israel working on a collective farm (though he refuses to tell me what he was collecting), and is now studying Town and Country Planning (This once great country . . .
I spent a year in Pharmaceutics at Burroughs Wellcome & Co., Kent, and am now studying Physiology.
Phil Bennett has been elsewhere and is now thought to be studying something.
As this is the first News Letter from Manchester it might be as well to acquaint you (in a few words) with the seat of learning itself. The main buildings of the University, ancient as they are, and blackened by the dust of ages (i.e. old and dirty), are set some way from the centre of the town, surrounded by the evidence of a modern and fast moving culture which is undoubtedly more typical of Manchester University as it is today. Peopled by some eight thousand students, the university, which has its roots among such scientific greats as John Dalton, Henry Roscoe and others, is now expanding amidst a maze of tall modern architecture. Indeed plans are afoot to make Manchester the most advanced centre of further education in the world. Unfortunately the money is not yet apocket. Be that as it may . . . we look forward to seeing more of the old school tie around this year. Soon we may even be able to start a society!
By the way I have recently heard the maxim "It always rains in Manchester" condemned as a fallacy. This however is a fallacy. A local saying maintains that if the moors can be seen clearly from the town it is about to rain. If they cannot, why then it is raining already!
J. F. DRACASS.
OXFORD LETTER
Had any compleat angler been fishing from the banks of the Cherwell on a certain Thursday of last term, he would have seen some pretty compleat (sic) right angles as a punt lurched from bank to bank and an exasperated five-foot-eight struggled with a ten foot punt-pole weighing approximately 100 tons. He might also have observed a second figure-kneeling in the front (or back - depending on which way you view it) of the said punt praying for his life. It was, of course Nigel Fletcher, trying to introduce me to the leisurely summer pastime of Oxford. Incidentally, in case you don't know, in Oxford the pole is wielded from the 'wrong' end, which while less classic is probably safer. Any intending Oxford entrant will probably be pleased to know that the celebrated Oxford-Cambridge antipathy seems far less noticeable inside than it does out.
But, back to Old Woolverstonians . . . Nigel got a Second here last year after three years in Lincoln College which 1 know he enjoyed thoroughly. As most of you probably know he has got engaged since he has been here and intends to get married in January.
Another old boy who took finals last term is Mark Golebiowski, who like Colin Gordon, is a member of architecturally magnificent Magdalen. It is probably the most beautiful of the Oxford colleges.
Taking it easy down the High on a Friday morning last term, heading tutorial-wards, I was wont to bump into Colin, or Basil, (or both!-with apologies to Dudley Moore)-striding purpose- fully in the opposite direction. If 1 managed to stop him I would hear of a (regretfully) unsuccessful attempt to climb to power in the Liberal Club, and of the state of corruption of that society. Believe me, if Jo Grimond has not pulled it off in the election (I write before the event) it will not be Colin's fault. He is also writing for 'Isis' and 'Cherwell'-the Oxford magazine and newspaper respectively.
Between the Bodleian library and Turl Street where lie Jesus, Lincoln and Exeter colleges (as well as the Turl Tavern of course), is a somewhat shady lane. Here one day after a strenuous morning on the library steps (one needs the occasional breather), a sinister figure approached me. Russian spy or James Bond's uncle, I wondered. Neither however, it was John Aczel, heavily disguised under a pepper-and-salt moustache. John, who is reading English at St. Catherine's, is distinguishing himself in Oxford poetry circles (he's secretary of the Poetry Society) and has a habit of introducing his companion with a whispered, "He's a poet."
John's brother, Peter, our most academically distinguished old boy yet, is still at St. Peter's doing research in Mathematics. I did also spy him in one of St. Peter's boats during Eights Week.
For quite a few weeks of last term the barman of the King's Arms was one Gerald Donaldson, who with Chris Cooper will have come up by the time this goes to press., Gerald to Wadham to read English and Chris joining me to read History at Jesus.
What else does one say in a letter of this kind - were it a post card-"Having a lovely time, wish you were here" might be apt, but as it is, I hope that if any of you do come up to do exams etc., you will look me up, and if you can let me know beforehand, I should be very happy to show you something of Oxford - which is worth visiting for the buildings alone.
Incidentally I can now progress up the river in a reasonably straight line. Needless to say we are all working hard.
RHODRI HOWELL.
A "DURHAM LETTER", received just before go'ng to press, can be found on page 65.
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION
Your last issue carried a comment to the effect that cracks about the swimming pool, traditionally a means of rounding off school notes, are happily no longer applicable. Well we are happy too, since we have managed to get the pool finished, and we know that it has been a much appreciated amenity during this long and beautiful summer. There just remains an odd job or two to be completed, such as the alteration in the filtration plant, and the L.C.C. are to get cracking on fencing and beautifying the surround, but the main thing is that Woolverstone now has a swimming pool, at long last.
What now? What new project do we apply ourselves to? Maybe the time has come to help the school's current population to consolidate what we already have . . . a fine school, but are we all making use of it to the full? . . . Walking among the boys on a number of occasions, I have felt that the old and essential enthusiasm and pride of school is lacking and, believe me, one can't get the best out of anything by being of something - you must be for it as well.
Let us, then, really get together in the knowledge that in the past years Woolverstone has done pretty well. Let's all make sure that in the years to come it will do better. It's up to us.
M.D.P.
House Notes
BERNERS'
For the first Speech Day since we have been in existence as a senior house, we carried off more trophies than any other house. More unity is evident in the house than meets the eye of the outside onlooker, and this has proved to be a decisive factor in our success this year. If this unity is in evidence next year then I, for one, am convinced that we can better ourselves in inter-house competitions at least.
Thanks are due to James Allgrove, who has captained the various teams that have won the trophies. He, together with D. Woodgate, (who have both spent the post-A-level weeks patiently rearing partridges) and Jack Poyntz, our R. and B. guitar expert, leave us to go to their respective careers, and the house members wish them every success in their new surroundings. Also Mr. Green, our long-suffering assistant housemaster, leaves for a higher post in the world of Art, and his presence will be missed by us all.
R. A. PIERSON (for M. F. Pye).
CORNERS'
The most notable sporting event of the tenn was the winning of the Junior Cricket Cup, for which thanks are due to Grigor, Barron and the team, and also to Eric Coates, who dedicated much of his time to coaching them. The contest for the Sailing Cup provided an opportunity for some good sailing, but we were unluckily defeated in the final.
Being separated from the rest of the school not only by physical distance, Corner's house maintains a good deal more independence than some other houses. While this extra independence must not be neglected, members of the house have to ensure that they do not become isolated completely. In the last term or so, the level of indifference to many of the extra-curricular activities of the school has risen, with a consequent increase in restlessness and uncooperative attitudes. A great effort is required on the part of organizer and organized if any project is to succeed, and the terms ahead will provide opportunities for the house to regain a name for itself in many of the fields offered.
At the end of the Summer Term we said good-bye to Mr. Harmer, who has been our assistant for three years. We wish him luck in his theological studies in London. This term we welcome Mr. Ramsay in his place, and hope his initial keenness and concern for the house will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given.
R. E. SALISBURY.
HALLS'
One of the things that can be said for Halls' is that we always try even when things look impossible, particularly in the inter- house sports.
No major trophies were added to the Twickenham Trophy, although the Sailing Club's 'Piggy Cannon' was retained. In the senior house cricket for the Smitherman Shield the house did not reach the final, but many non-cricketers played and enjoyed it. Similarly the junior team tried hard and enjoyed their games but were unable to reach the final. On Sports Day we could only come fifth, in spite of several 'discoveries' and noteworthy efforts, particularly by the relay teams.
One of Halls' lesser known activities is fishing, particularly by the lower part of the House. Last year they always seemed to be digging for bait; this year they seemed to spend a lot of time persuading the kitchens to cook their catches.
Intellectually we have achieved more than in anything else, the prize-winners for Speech Day being too numerous for individual mention. Halls' is definitely the House for people who want to get on academically.
We all are grateful to the House Staff, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mr. Woollett and Mr. Middlebrook for all their work in the house without which our high standards could not be maintained. Unfortunately after only two years Mr. Woollett is leaving us; we are all sorry to see him go. His liberal approach, generosity, and kindness were appreciated by everybody, we hope that he enjoys his work at Oxford.
Finally I am grateful to everybody in the House, staff and boys, for making it a pleasure to be House Captain.
CLIVE WINTER.
HANSON'S
The summer term is always one of contrasts. People are torn by the delights of the sun and their consciences concerning the imminent exams. As always the first half of term was full of athletics, sailing, cricket, sunbathing and general recreation. As a result of this intensive practice we gained the Sailing Cup once more, due to the enthusiasm of "Youge" who seldom left the Hard. In the Standards Competitions the House produced a splendid effort and came out on top, but on Sports Day, largely a matter of individuals, we didn't have enough and fell to the unprecedented position of 3rd. The house cricket team enjoyed themselves.
Then in the second half of term a change gradually came over the House. Many seniors began to work and congratulations are due to them for the commendable results of their labours. This period of hard work was soon over and a reaction set in. Too many people became slack in small matters and a certain tension resulted. This has now been surmounted, along with the other trouble, and we look forward to a happy term. We must thank our staff for their continued hard work, but must not forget those who have left with their multifarious personalities and activities -"Win" Gent, hardworker and comedian., "Dough" Hudson, our only cricketer., "Poof" Clarke, guitarist and athlete, "All-Bran" Wright, classical footballer, "Youge" L., Hardworking Young Farmer; "Kouge" King, rugby player and record player; "Coops", intellectual with visions of cricketing fame; Mark Grenyer, Head of House. We wish them well .
C. A. WEBB.
JOHNSTON'S
Though we have no trophies to show for our efforts this term, I feel that the house should be congratulated on the high standard it has achieved.
Athletics, for once, seemed to be Johnston's House strong point, and though we did not win the Athletics cup we were very strong runners-up. The house acquired more Standards points than it has done for quite a while and an Sports Day had we been much stronger in field events we might have won the Athletics cup. Fine performances by Bell, Brown, Skinner, B. Mitton and by all the house's relay teams must be commended. Mention also of the very plucky effort put up by our juniors. Thanks must be given to Mr. Hyde, Mr. Eldergill, Bell, and Windle who whipped up such great enthusiasm for athletics in the house. Though we had the potential in our cricket teams, it did not shine in their respective house matches and consequently we did not get anywhere in the inter-house competitions. But again thanks to Kiy, Cracknell, and Hugh Templeton for their efforts in trying to shape up the senior and junior teams. Mention should be made here of the up and coming talent in our first form and I would like to congratulate them on getting six into the Under 12's XI Cricket Team.
While we had the Captain of Sailing in our house this year, we did not have the talent to back up his efforts to try and get us into the Sailing House Match Final.
Academically the house has its fair share of "geniuses" as well, and I'm sure that the rest of the house would like to join me in congratulating P. Gait, Copeman, Paul Templeton, M. King, Hayter, A. Mitton and Alexander on receiving prizes for their academic achievements this year.
Congratulations also to Sayeed on being chosen to go on a naval trip to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
As far as other house activities are concerned, the house is most grateful to Mr. Hyde for his presentation of a billiard/ snooker set and table and a set of golf clubs to the house, and though they have caused him much anxiety from time to time, they have been a source of constant pleasure to the members of the house.
Gardening is still the dominating hobby in the lower forms, and they should be praised for the effort they put into it. I hope this becomes a regular Johnston's House tradition.
Finally,I would like to thank Mrs. Maiden, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Eldergill, and Mr. Cox for helping the house on its happy way so efficiently, and I would also like to thank all the house prefects for their invaluable help in running the house this year.
S. JONES.
ORWELL
To say that this has been a happy term would be trying to conceal the truth. A certain resentment of what the house stands for has crept in, especially amongst the middles, this, it is hoped, is only a passing phase, and not a trend which is likely to cause disharmony in the house.
The highlight of the term was undoubtedly the winning of the Athletics Cup; congratulations to all who made this feat possible, not least Baxter and Harrison who deservedly reaped great rewards for their hard work. The juniors, surprisingly, failed in their quest for the cricket cup, the seniors, on their part, rather fortuitously reached the final, only to find themselves way out of depth. Praiseworthy is the achievement of Rush and King in establishing a menagerie of sorts, the main attraction of which has been the guinea-pigs. D. Hayes and E. Mattey also deserve mention for winning their way into the sea-cadets' All-England Swimming Championships.
As always our thanks to the house staff whose efforts are all too often taken for granted. One hopes that a greater 'awareness ' and appreciation of what is being done for the house will not be very long in developing.
M. K. RASHID.
Cricket lst XI
Results
| v. Woolverstone Park | (H) Park 56 (E. Coates 4 for 10) |
| Won by 1 wicket | School 57 for 9 |
| v. Norwich School | School 114 (Mackay 44) |
| Drawn | Norwich 105 for 7 |
| v. R.G.S. Colchester | (A) Colchester 174 for 9 dec. |
| Lost by 40 runs | School 134 (Allgrove 43) (Martin 35) |
| v. R.H.S. Holbrook | (A) School 103 (Nazeer 43) |
| Won by 40 runs | Holbrook 63 (E. Coates 4 for 17) |
| v. St. Joseph's College | (A) St. Joseph's 95 |
| Lost by 32 runs | School 63 |
| v. Felixstowe G.S. | (H) School 187 for 2 dec. |
| Won by 88 runs | (Martin 65 n.o.) Felixstowe 99 (Kiy 4 for 29) |
| v. Culford School | (H) Culford 73 |
| Lost by 22 runs | School 51 |
| v. Suffolk Club & Ground | (H) Club & Ground 150 for 8 dec. |
| Lost by 54 runs | School 96 (Martin 46 n.o.) |
| v. Wymondham College | (H) School 132 for 8 dec. |
| Match abandoned | Wymondham 2 for 0 |
| v. Northgate G.S. | (A) School 175 (Allgrove 34) |
| Won by 62 runs | Northgate 113 |
| v. Old Woolverstonians | (H) Old Boys 65 (E. Coates 4 for 7) |
| Won by 8 wkts | School 68 for 2 |
| v. Harwich C.H.S. | (H) |
| Match cancelled-rain | |
This season was more or less a formative one, thus no one felt particularly chagrined at its being a rather average one. At the beginning of the term it appeared that the batting would be far stronger than the bowling; retrospectively, nothing could have been further from the truth.
The batting, as it proved, was very brittle and failed to live up to its expectations. Martin, who surely must have many successful seasons in front of him, was the only consistent bat. Without a good start, the team failed to achieve a reasonable score, and in this respect Hudson and Snuggs had a very difficult task.
Of the bowling, the amount of work done by E. Coates was quite phenomenal and every praise to him for such a splendid and sustained effort. The young Nazeer, who has all the makings of an outstanding cricketer, appeared quite undeterred by the burden of opening the attack and bowled very well. Mackay must learn to sacrifice speed for length if he is to be at all successful.
The team generally fielded well and two who deserve particular mention are Kiy (gully) and Cracknell (2nd slip) both of whom had extraordinarily fast reactions and were thus admirably suited to their positions. The sad loss of form of R. Coates unhappily tarnished his fielding at cover, which formerly had been first-rate.
A special word of thanks to Allgrove who, although out of form with the bat, kept wicket tidily and was a very valuable member of the side.
If not successful, the season has at least been an enjoyable one, and to those returning next year may I wish good luck.
On behalf of the eleven I would like to thank Mr. Middlebrook and Mr. Mayes for their invaluable advice and coaching.
M. K. RASHID.
It is typical of Rashid's modesty that his name appears only once in the above account - at the end. His team, containing so many inexperienced players, did in fact win only one match less than last year's eleven, considered by many to have been one of the best the school has had.
After an understandably slow start a good win was registered against R.H.S. and although there were some slips against St. Joseph's and Culford, the team generally did very well thereafter. This coincided with Rashid finding his true form with the bat, affected earlier no doubt by the worries of captaincy: now he gave us some fine innings-73 n.o. v. Felixstowe, 30 v. Wymondham, 41 n.o. v. Old Woolverstonians, and 61 n.o. v. Northgate when he returned, after being forced to retire hurt, to pull the innings out of the doldrums; this was an innings of great character and quality.
His amazing catches and stops at first slip, and his bowling, which virtually sealed one end, set a fine example to the rest of the side. I am sure that not only the Ist XI but the school as a whole would wish to join me in thanking "Rash" for all he has done and wish him well for the future.
B.M.
Leading Ist XI averages:
| Batting: | Innings | Not out | Runs | Highest | Average |
| K. Rashid | 11 | 3 | 248 | *73 | 31 |
| J. Martin | 11 | 3 | 222 | *65 | 27.75 |
| J. Allgrove | 9 | 0 | 109 | 43 | 12.11 |
| A. Mackay | 9 | 0 | 93 | 44 | 10.33 |
| A. Kiy | 9 | 3 | 61 | *20 | 10.16 |
| Bowling: | Overs | Mdns. | Runs | Wkts. | Average |
| K. Rashid | 93.4 | 23 | 196 | 25 | 7.84 |
| E. Coates | 181.3 | 61 | 251 | 31 | 8.09 |
| N. Nazeer | 82 | 21 | 166 | 15 | 11.06 |
| Catches: | R- Cracknell 9 | K. Rashid 7 | C. Snuggs 5 | M. Hudson 4 | |
| Wicket-keeping: | J. Allgrove - 12 victims (8 caught - 4 stumped) | ||||
Results
v. Norwich-Drawn
v. Colchester-L,ost
v. Holbrook-Lost
v. St. Joseph's-Won
v. Wymondham-Abandoned
v. Clacton C.H.S.-Drawn
v. Northgate--Lost
Played 7-Won 1., Lost 3, Drawn 2, Abandoned 1.
The 2nd XI had its traditional undistinguished but fairly enjoyable season. Defeat came usually because the batsmen failed to show the concentration and initiative necessary for consistent high scoring. The, bowling lacked penetrating power, although King, Weaver, Colley and Roberts were all able to do great damage in short spells at one time or another. The fielding fluctuated - generally safe but rarely inspired.
Our thanks to Messrs. Mayes and Middlebrook for all their help and encouragement.
C. R. H. COOPER.
COLTS XI
Played 8-Won 3, Lost 3., Drawn 1., Abandoned 1.
Results :
| v. Norwich | (A) | Norwich 102 | (Lingard 5 for 6) | Won by 78 runs | School 180 for 3 dec. | (Jones 32, Hindle 104) |
| v. Colchester | (A) | Colchester 117 for 8 dec. | Draw | School 51 for 7 | ||
| v. Holbrook | (H) | School 33 | Lost by 6 wickets | Holbrook 34 for 4 | ||
| v. St. Joseph's | (A) | St. Joseph's 50 | Won by 8 wickets | School 51 for 2 | ||
| v. Felixstowe | (A) | Felixstowe 24 | (Simpson 6 for 7) | Won by 9 wickets | School 25 for 1 | |
| v. Framlingham | (A) | School 66 for 8 dec. | Lost by 6 wickets | Framlingham 69 for 4. | School 136 for 7 dec. | |
| v. Wymondham | (A) | (Hindle 28, Templeton 26) | Abandoned due to rain | Wymondham 15 for 2 | ||
| v. Northgate | (A) | Northgate 66 | (Simpson 6 for 17) | Lost by 11 runs | School 55 |
At the beginning of the season the First XI took Nazeer and it seemed as though the team would be without a reliable batsman. This was proved wrong by the team scoring some good totals.
Templeton and Mattey enjoyed "swinging their bats," often successfully, while Bartlett, Jones and Wardell took their time scoring their runs. The problem of the team was to find an opening bowler to partner Simpson: the answer was never really found. Simpson bowled reasonably well, topping the bowling averages. In the outfield Lingard was safe while Cleverley took some spectac- ular catches in close. Perhaps the unluckiest batsman was Copeman who excelled in the nets but never found form on the field.
The team would like to thank the Headmaster and Mr. Mayes for their help during the season.
The following represented the team:
Jones, Cleverley, Simpson, Neale, Temt)leton, Rose, Copeman, Mitton, Wardell, Radford, Mattey, Davies-, Daish, Bartlett, Lin- gard, Lee, Rayner and Hindle.
G. HINDLE.
UNDER 14 XI
Results:
| v. Colchester R.G.S. | (H) | School 104 (Cottrell 41) | Won by 2 runs | Colchester 102 | |
| v. Holbrook R.H.S. | (A) | School 69 | Lost by 72 runs | Holbrook 141 (Norcott 5-29) | |
| v. St. Joseph's College | (H) | School 194-5 (Cottrell 78) | Tie | St. Joseph's 194 | |
| v. Framlingham College | (A) | School 29 for 2 | Won by 8 wickets | Framlingham 28 (Roberts 4-8) | |
| v. Wymondham | (H) | School 95 | Abandoned-rain | (Radford 44, Roberts 33) | Wymondham 24 for 1 |
| v. Ipswich School | (H) | School47 | Lost by 4 wickets | Ipswich 48 for 6 | |
| v. Northgate G.S. | (H) | School 108 for 7 dec. | Drawn (Cottrell 43 n.o.) | Northgate 62 for 4 |
A number of close finishes has been the main feature of this season's matches, the most exciting being against Colchester and St. Joseph's. The win against Colchester was quickly followed by our heaviest defeat by the Holbrook team. Poor bowling by both sides was the main reason for the high scoring match against St. Joseph's although Cottrell's innings was most enjoyable to watch. Some good fielding enabled us to beat an inexperienced Framlingham side easily. After the premature finish to the Wymondham game through rain, the team had their first experience of playing on Berner's against Ipswich. Nervous batting was the reason for the low score but some tight bowling saved us from heavier defeat. Another good innings by Cottrell assisted by Shadbolt and Norcott gave us a reasonable total against Northgate, but our bowlers were unable to break a fifth wicket stand and the match ended tamely.
Thanks are due to Mr. Mayes for his assistance, and preparing wickets, also to Radford who captained the team well.
R.W.B.
UNDER 13 XI
The Under 13 XI, whilst always promising well, didn't in fact have, as far as results went, a successful season. The first game was won easily against Norwich but after that the bowling was not powerful enough nor the batting reliable enough. Cottrell was outstanding as Captain and performer. Harber, Miller, Soutter and Goodman.all bowled well on occasion. The fielding was always quite good. There is a lot of talent in the team and next year we must hope for more evidence of it.
Results:
| v. Norwich | School 89 for 8 | Norwich 86 |
| v. Ipswich | School 54 | Ipswich 125 for 2 decl. |
| v. R.H.S. Holbrook | SchooI 56 | RHS 111 for 9 decl. |
| v. St. Joseph's | SchooI 53 | |
| v. Ipswich | Ipswich 131 for 3 decl. | School 63 (Laughton 24*) |
UNDER 12 XI
Results:
| v. Northgate G.S. | (A) | Lost by 26 runs | Northgate 55 | School 29 |
| v. Northgate G.S. | (H) | Won by 2 wkts. | Northgate 38 | School 42 for 8 wkts. |
There has been much that is encouraging both in the school matches and the house matches in the performances of Rayner, Swarbreck, Summerbell, Harber, London-Williams, Dodgson, Lacey, and Harrison, to mention but a few of those who were in, or almost in, the team.
B.M.
HOUSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Senior:
| League One: | Winners-Orwell | |
| Orwell v. Halls' | Halls' 65 for 8 | Orwell 107 (Rashid 36, Mackay 37) |
| Orwell v. Corner's | Orwell 59 for 7 | Corner's 54 for 6 |
| Halls' v. Corner's | -rain | |
| League Two: | Winners (on run aggregate)-Berners' | |
| Hanson's v. Johnston's | Hanson's 56 | Johnston's 64 |
| Johnston's v. Berners' | Johnston's 68 | Berners' 81 for 5 (Allgrove 36) |
| Hanson's v. Berner's | Hanson's 74 for 7 | Berners' 58 for 4 (Roberts 30) | Final |
| Orwell v. Berners' | Orwell 92 | Berners' 95 for 1 wkt. (Rashid 31, Hindle 5 for 15) (Allgrove *53, Nazeer *33) |
| League One | Winners-Corner's | |
| Orwell v. Halls' | Orwell 86 for 9 | Halls' 47 (Cottrell 39, Soutter 4 for 9) |
| Orwell v. Corners' | Orwell 55 for 8 | Corner's 59 (Barron 5 for 18) (Cottrell 5 for 7) |
| Corner's v. Halls | ' Corner's 76 for 8 | Halls' 37 for 8 (Grigor 32, Soutter 4 for 7) (Shadbolt 4 for 7) |
| League Two | Winners-Berners' | |
| Hanson's v. Bemers' | Hanson's 55 for 8 | Bemers 95 for 4 (Beresford 4 for 7) (Davies *47, Rayner *31) |
| Johnston's v. Berners' | Johnston's 87 for 7 | Berners' 118 for 7 (H. Templeton *42) (Radford 56) |
| Johnston's v. Hanson's | Johnston's 61 | Hanson's 68 for 7 | Final | Berners' v. Corner's | Berners' 76Corner's 77 for 7 (Shadbolt 5 for 16) (Barron *27, Radford 4 for 9) |
Writing last year of this competition D. Dibbin described it, quite rightly, as lacking in interest and excitement due to the use of negative tactics - not least by the winners of the senior competition. In an effort to rectify these faults, and looking to the County Knock-out competition for guidance, it was decided to put a limit on the number of overs any player could bowl.
Partly as a result of this new ruling-and I hope this is not wishful thinking on my part - partly due to the school's cricket talent being now more evenly distributed, and partly due to the well organised practices conducted by house cricket captains, this years competition was a very lively affair both at senior and junior level. On the field each game was keenly fought with rival captains plotting and scheming, switching and changing their bowling and batting order. On the boundary the antics, valuable advice, the cries of triumph and anguish, would have done credit to any West Indian crowd.
In the senior competition it was fitting that the two finalists should be led by the captain and vice-captain of cricket. Orwell had to rely largely on Rashid and Mackay, with Harrison and Dury giving good support, and they only just defeated Corner's. Berners', although they too had their worrying moments, notably against Johnston's, had greater depth, for Allgrove and Nazeer were supported by Hellawell, Hunter, Hindle and Wardell. In the final they were by far the better team, particularly in the field, where Cowan showed that he can still play cricket as well as hurdle. The game ended fittingly with Allgrove reaching his fifty with the winning hit.
In the Junior competition Grigor's enthusiasm and his team's batting won the day against Berners' superior bowling and fielding. Here it was pleasing to see younger players making useful contri- butions, notably Beresford, Rayner, and London-Williams for Berners' and Austin, Cannon, and Summerbell for Corners. The real match winner here however was Barron, who, when the game seemed lost, took the Berners' bowling by the scruff of the neck and thrashed it to pieces.
B.M.
OLD WOOLVERSTONIANS' CRICKET CLUB
January 1964 saw the formation of the first regular Old Woolverstonians' Cricket Club. There were many problems, but due to the enthusiasm of many willing cricketers who saw themselves going through the summer without a game, except for the annual one against the school, a club was eventually formed.
The first problem was to find somewhere to play. Luckily, Terry Carr, working for Mobil Oil Company Ltd. as head groundsman, approached the company and obtained the use of the ground for ten Saturdays and one evening a week for nets.
Problem number two was a most pressing one - cash. This had to be found in quantity fairly quickly. The Old Boys' Association kindly lent 25 which paid for the majority of the ground hire, and annual subscriptions of 3/3/0 covered the cost of equipment. Our thanks here are also extended to the school for help.
Officers were appointed
Captain: Brian Workman
Vice-captain: David Dibbin
Secretary/Treasurer: Terence Carr
Fixtures were obtained through the Club Cricket Conference, but several of them are not as strong as we would like.
The side has had, to date, an excellent season. It would be unfair to quote any particular individuals except perhaps M. Taylor and D. Dibbin who were responsible for our first century opening partnership. The bowling has been evenly shared by all the team, even our wicket keeper W. C. Coutts who saved us from defeat in our first 'beer' match by taking two wickets in three balls.
Any cricketers leaving school this summer only have to contact the secretary and they will be readily accepted (provided they pay their 3 gns sub.). It matters not whether you are a Ist, 2nd, or any other eleven cricketer, we guarantee you enjoyable games, good socials, and a generally good time.
TERENCE CARR, Secretary/Treasurer O.W.C.C.
Athletics
The term was one of great activity and good results. One of the most pleasing features was the number of people, who, though not in the school team, spent a great deal of time training and often came to the fore in the school sports. There was, of course, the stimulus of the Standards Competition and this was very closely fought. The almost professional approach of some houses produced the highest totals ever, without excluding the enjoyment of the average person at achieving these standards. Hanson's eventually emerged the winners with 56 points gained by the proportional equation, A=2 x n/t x 100. and Orwell were a close second with 50 points, though Hanson's were quite sure of their own infinite potential.
The more serious athletics began with the first stage towards the All-England Championships, which was followed closely by two other meetings.
SUB-AREA SPORTS - 25th May
As a team the school did well, gaining twelve "1st" and seven "2nd" places. This was only the Junior and Intermediate trials but some good results were evident using County and National Standards as a criterion:- Davies, (Jun.) Ist 100 yds., 10.8 secs, Neale, (Jun.) Ist, Mile, 5 mins. 7.4 secs; Clarke, M. (Inter.) 1st, Weight, 46 feet, Lockett, (Inter.) 1st, 880 yds., 2 mins. 10 secs., Brown, A. (Inter.) 2nd 880 yds., 2 mins. 11.1 secs, Windle, (Inter) 1 st, 100 yds., 10.7 secs.
AREA SPORTS - 28th May
This was the second stage in the trials for the County Team. Again many good performances were seen and by now it had become a habit for Woolverstone half milers to break the tape 1st and 2nd. Lockett and Brown A. in the Intermediates and Wild and Mattey in the Juniors must be congratulated on their front running but must realise their potential and set their sights higher earlier in the season next year. The smooth running of Neale who was never seriously challenged and the plucky running of D. Hayes were also features of the meeting. Again, using County or National Standards as a criterion, the following did well :- Clarke, R. (sen.) 1st, Long Jump, 20 feet 4 inches, Webb (sen.) 1st Weight, 47 ft. 10 ins.; Webb (sen.) 1st Discus, 127 ft. 8 ins., Clarke, M. (Inter) 1st Weight 44 ft. 5 ins., Cowan (Inter) 1st, Hurdles, 15.5 secs., Lockett (Inter) 1st 880 yds., 2 mins. 8.2 secs., Brown, A. (Inter) 2nd, 880 yds.. 2 mins 8.2 secs., Wild, (Jun.) 1st, 880 yds., 2 mins. 18.1 secs; Davies, (Jun.) 1st, 100 yds., 11 secs; Lover, (Jun.) 1st, Weight, 39 ft. 4 ins.
SUFFOLK A.A.A. CHAMPIONSHIPS - May 30th
We had never ventured into these before so we sent a small, select team along to Bury St. Edmunds. The results were encouraging and seem to point to a far larger team for the future. In all, much to everyone's delight, the team gained four gold, two silver and three bronze medals; this material recognition seemed to make it all worthwhile to some of the team as could be seen by the glitter in their eyes as they saw the " precious" metal! The results were as follows :-Johnston, 3rd, Long Jump, 17 ft. 5½ ins., Clarke, R., 1st, Long Jump, 19 ft. 6 ins.., Webb, 1st, Weight, 46 ft. 5½ ins.., Clarke, M., 3rd, Weight, 41 ft. 10 ins.; Webb, 2nd Discus, 122 ft. 7 ins.; Clarke, M., 3rd. Discus, 115 ft. 9 ins.., Cowan, 1st, Hurdles, 18.5 secs., Lockett, Ist, 880 yds., 2 mins. 9 secs.; Brown, A., 2nd, 880 yds., 2 mins. 9.1 secs.
Yet again we saw Lockett and Brown take first and second places and this time they had photographs in the local papers. As a result of the meeting as a whole, Webb, Clarke R. and Cowan were invited to compete for Suffolk v. Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, in an Inter-Counties Match.
The final selection for the County Team came on June 20th at the County Sports at Felixstowe. The East Suffolk South Team was almost all Woolverstone and altogether we had nineteen in the team. It was a dismal day and the track was very wet and sticky which probably spoiled some people's chances at good times. As it was such a good team effort it would, in this case, be invidious to mention only a few people's performances and therefore the whole results are listed.
Juniors:
Skinner, 1st, 220 yds., 25.9 secs; Lover, 1st, Weight, 39 ft. 10½ ins.; Davies, 1st, 100 yds., 11.2 secs.; Wild, 1st, 880 yds., 2 mins. 13.3 secs., Mattey, 3rd., 880 yds., 2 mins. 18 secs.., Neale, Mile. Ist. 5 mins. 5.9 secs.; Inness, High Jump, 8th, 4 ft. 8 ins.; Harris, Javelin, 3rd, 116 ft. 3 ins.
Intermediates:
Windle, 4th, 100 yds., 11.6 secs.; Martin, 3rd, 220 yds., 25.6 secs. Cowan, 1st, Hurdles, 15.2 secs.., Lockett, 1st, 880 yards, 2 mins., 7.2 secs.; Brown, A. 880 yds., 3rd, 2 mins. 10 secs.; M. Clarke, 2nd, Shot, 42 ft. 4 ins.
Seniors:
Webb, Weight, 2nd, 46 ft. 10 ins., Clarke R. Long Jump, 2nd, 19 ft. 10½ ins.; Bell, 440 yds., 2nd, 56 secs.
As a result of these Championships, Webb, Lockett, R. Clarke and Davies were selected to represent Suffolk in the All-England Championships at Hendon on July 17th.
The culmination of school athletics came on Sports Day which was held on the Monday and Tuesday of the penultimate week of term. This was graced by relatively fine weather and proved to be an enjoyable meeting. The overall picture was that Hanson's, plus badges, had a small lead after the first session but finally sunk to 3rd place, with Orwell coming 1st and Johnston's 2nd. There were many fine performances and I can really only relay some impressions :- Cottrell's Cricket Ball throw of 201 ft. 3 ins., a new record, the tense intermediate High Jump when three athletes, Inness, Sullivan J. and Templeton, Peter or Paul, equalled the record of 4 ft. 10½ ins.; the fine all round performances of Laughton S., and the spirited running of Ahmad, Lewis, Morris and Harrison., the discus throw of M. Clarke, 120 ft. 1 in., just missing the record again; the 46 ft. Shot Put of Webb, a new record; the strength of Poyntz's Javelin throw, 164 ft. 6 ins.; the powerful running of Davies, setting up records in the 100 yds. and 440 yds., respectively, 10.7 secs and 54.9 secs; the fine run by Wild in the 880 yds. and Davies' heroic attempt to catch him - a fast time too, 2 mins. 9.8 secs.., the exciting reversal of the Lockett and Brown A. feud in the 880 yds., the consistently fast running of Skinner in the 220 yds., 25.3 secs., the excitement of the Relays and the final supremacy of Orwell thanks to the fine efforts of their Juniors and Intermediates. This was only an impression - an informed one of course and I apologise for any omissions. In all this was a very good meeting and thanks are due to all the staff, especially Mr. Evans who has put in so much work during the term.
Finally those who went to the All-England found themselves off-form or outclassed. But a good time was had by all and some good performances were seen in the match v. the Old Bovs the next day. Webb, Davies and Clarke redeemed themselves slightly in their own eyes by three good performances - an unofficial 48 footer in the Weight, a 53.3 secs. 440 yards, and a 19 ft. plus Long Jump. The first two were good enough for places in the All-England and Lockett also managed to win again in the 880 yards. The result of the match as a whole was a victory for the school and it was an enjoyable, informal rneeting. Thanks are due to Bentley, Walmsley, Bailey, and the others who always support these occasions. If the school continues to improve as it has this term it should reach a very high athletic standard in years to come.
C. A. WEBB.
Sailing
For the first time during its history, the club first team won all its matches, and thus the work of the previous seasons reached full fruition. Results were as follows:
| v. Norwich | (H) | 45½ | 33 |
| (A) | 40¼ | 34¼ | |
| v. Greshams | (H) | 44½ | 31 |
| (A) | 38 | 36½ | |
| v. Felsted, | (H) | 42¼ | 35¼ |
| (A) | 41¼ | 37¼ | |
| v. Brightlingsea, | (A) | 41¼ | 37¼ |
| v. Ipswich, | (H) | 42¼ | 34¼ |
| v. Framlingham, | (A) | 34¼ | 27 |
| v. Old Boys | (H) | 39¼ | 37¼ |
2nd team results:
| v. Norwich, | (H) | 41½ | 36 |
| (A) | 22¼ | 22¼ | |
| v. Felsted | (H) | 47½ | 31 |
| v. Waldringfield, | (H) | 39¼ | 38¼ |
| v. Old Boys | (H) | 39 | 39½ |
The inter-house competition was very uneven, Corner's being invincible in their division, gaining maximum points, and Hanson's scraping through in theirs. The final was clean and closely fought, with Hanson's emerging as winners by 40¼ - 37¼.
The P. G. Cannon was won by C. (Fred) Winter from Clark, and the Novices' Plank, with a record entry of 14, by Drake, from Campbell-Wright. Finch and Collis. Both winners were dealt with in traditional fashion.
In conclusion I must mention the happy keen atmosphere this season, which has played its part in the club's success. This was due in no short measure to the line example from the seniors, to Mr. Allchin's expert team coaching, and a general willingness to accept discipline and advice. 1965 will be a hard season, we must make it a good one.
M.A.R.P.
TENNIS
The 1st VI had 2 matches, both of which were disastrous in their outcome. Again lack of practice proved to be the thorn in the team's side. Encouraging, however was the win of the Under 16's against Northgate, it is hoped that their progress will be maintained so that in the future the matches against the staff will not be so one-sided.
Our thanks to Mr. Shakeshaft for arranging the fixtures and giving us sound advice.
M. K. RASHID.
FENCING CLUB
Results:
| v. St. Felix | (A) | Won 15-14 |
| v. Mills Grammar School | (A) | Won 6-3 |
Ipswich Open Competition:
B. Clark 2nd, P. Finch 5th., I. Daye 6th.
Matches were harder to come by during the Summer term, but the Junior Team had an away match with Mills which they won, and a three team match with St. Felix produced some very good fighting and a close result.
Though we missed our usual fixture with the High School we had a chance to fight against them in the Open Competition. P. Hayes, J. Peaple and B. Clark helped to put on a display at St. Monica's School, Clacton, and there is now another addition to the fixture list.
Our fencers were busy too over the Easter holiday with P. Finch and B. Clark attending the "Personal Performance Improvement course." This was held by the A.F.A. and taken by three "Professeurs d' Escrime" including Prof. R. J. Anderson, the national coach, who gave us scaled down Olympic training, designed to produce the "Fencing Athlete". These two members are also part-time members of the "Salle Paul" fencing club, and hope to join The London Fencing Club.
We should like to congratulate James Dickson who is in the Newcastle University Fencing team.
Our gratitude is extended to Mr. Woollett who has been our president for two years and is leaving us now: we wish him luck.
By the time this edition is in print, we hope that Mr. Ramsay -who won a fencing blue at university- will be our new president.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank all the full-time members of the club - all of whom have represented the school, in matches, displays and tournaments - in the persons of :
P. Finch (secretary), N. Darling, R. Dickson, D. Staff, I. Daye, D. Neale, J. Sullivan, P. Hayes, J. Peaple, P. Sullivan, A. Robinson.
BARRY CLARK
ARCHERY
The highlight of this term was undoubtedly the visit of a coach from the Association for Archery in Schools. He was extremely interesting and demonstrated to us the overhead draw, which the club has now adopted. I think that most boys will agree that their shooting has improved as a result of this visit.
The response this year has been very good in the senior school, but not quite so good amongst the middle school, although the archery did clash with the Sea Cadets on Monday. It was also rather difficult to accommodate too many boys at the beginning of the term, owing to lack of arrows. This state of affairs has now been remedied to some extent.
The weather has been kind to us this term and we were able to shoot nearly every week. Not much competitive shooting has been done this term since the stress has been on accuracy in grouping. It is to be hoped that this accuracy will yield some high scores next year. We have, however, entered a team for the postal league of the Association for Archery in Schools and it will be interesting to see how the team fares in Division V. I should also like to enter a junior team for the competition next year.
I.H.C.W.
Drama
THE KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE
Performed on the Masters' Terraces, 18th, 19th, and 21st June. The programme note warned us that "The Knight of the Burning Pestle" when it was first produced was "utterly rejected" by the audience because they did not understand "the privy mark of Irony about it." For us, too, the subtler humour was sometimes elusive. What came over magnificently, however, was the powerful characterisation of the Third and Fourth Form actors. Colin Mackie as Mistress Merrythought, Neil Cloake as Humphrey, and Jeremy Peaple as Luce all acted effectively. Patrick Sullivan as the Citizen, Stephen Read as his wife and Jeremy Sullivan as Ralph the Apprentice gave perhaps the outstanding performances. Oswald Hotz de Baar, too, seemed very much at home as the bibulous Master Merrythought, and the rest of the cast from Princess Pompiona to the Morris Dancers had a life and energy that made for an excellent evening's entertainment. Mr. Patrick Hutton's production was largely responsible for the rollicking pace of the play and he made some interesting use of entrances from unexpected angles. The costumes of Miss Shaw and her helpers were sumptuous and these helped enormously with the period atmosphere, sometimes difficult to achieve with the negative surroundings of an outdoor theatre.
Altogether, it was a pleasure to see this unusual play, and unusual to see such a play so well done by such a young cast.
N.C.
The Woolverstone Festival
By utilizing the theatrical, musical and visually artistic talents to be found at Woolverstone we hoped to transform what might have been a bathetic week into a worthwhile period. We think we succeeded. We hope to be bettered next year.
J. MACKIE.
JAZZ CONCERT
Wednesday night of the 'Woolverstone Festival' saw a tremendous 'R 'n' B' concert. The new-style 'In-sect' proved a superior and up-dated development of last year's 'Ravens,' with some excellent arrangements and 'atmospheric' vocals. Ample support came from the Feetwarmers' at their best yet-it is hoped that music of this kind will continue to be played in the school; two folk groups completed the programme with some well-sung modern folk songs from the pen of Bob Dylan, songs in a lighter vein, and some traditional numbers.
P. EMBERSON.
THE CARETAKER
This play, viewed with scepticism by some and scorn by others, was an ambitious component of the Woolverstone Festival. With only two weeks to produce it, build the set and learn the lines, the task seemed impossible but the finished product, though not polished, was an accomplished and interesting piece of drama.
The set was extremely well done and the junk, the 'variegated' wallpaper, the bucket and the dreaded gas stove conveyed a suitable atmosphere of confused desolation. It was powerful enough to convey a kind of aimless apathy but was not so powerful that it appeared unreal. The acting was, on the whole, sensitively done. The subtle characterization of Mick, Aston and Davies was a little too difficult for them in such a short space of time. Crawford conveyed a very powerful character in his role as the aimless, dreary, slightly mad Aston. His soliloquy was tremendously gripping and was enhanced by the one spot-light centred on him which produced an almost hypnotic atmosphere. Pye was perhaps too much like himself in the role of Davies but he held the play together well in his character as a frightened, bewildered old man. The scenes concerning the shoes and the bucket were very good and his association with Mick, played by John Mackie, came out well as a typical erratic human relationship.
Some of the timing was clumsy and there was a liberal dose of "ad-libbing" which sometimes drowned the subtleties of meaning and produced an atmosphere of continuous reiteration. In such a play conventional dramatic effects are sacrificed for this word play which builds up tension. This was often lacking but was probably due to the misunderstanding of the audience and their response -not their fault! But in spite of this, Pinter's main themes of the impossibility of human communication and the never fulfilled wishes of humans were relayed powerfully to the audience. The proposed luxury flats, the woodshed, and the journey to Sideup, none of which would ever materialise, gave a note of futility to the play but this was tempered by a certain amount of humour. In all, this play was a magnificent attempt in so short a space of time, and thanks and a tribute are due to the three actors, not least John Mackie who produced it.
C. A. WEBB.
JAZZ AND POETRY
There has been a vogue for Jazz and Poetry recently but I doubt whether it has been much better done elsewhere than the very satisfying evening John Rocha, John Mackie, Simon Crawford, and the Jazz Group gave us at the end of term. A lot of the poetry came from work produced at Woolverstone over the years - the jazz, on the whole, from Traditional sources. In this sort of production. lighting, timing and pace must be faultless-and they were. The variety of effects achieved, in fact, was even slick. The performance set a standard which it will be hard to beat; but I hope, in future years, some people will feel it is worth trying.
N.C.
Societies and Activities
SEA CADETS
Most of our activity this term has been outside and full use has been made of our boats. Possibly the most noteworthy achievement is that we have sailed the A.S.C. dinghy., if everything had been correct when the equipment arrived, we would have been able to do so a lot more, but we can now look forward to next term's sailing. Training cruises appeared to be unpopular as not one of the three planned in fact took place. In sport we won the District swimming championship again despite much more opposition this year, and although exams prevented the seniors from going on to the Midland Area, five juniors did so, D,. Hayes winning his backstroke event and thus qualifying for the National championship at Ganges. E. Mattey won the junior diving but is not available for the National.
The District Pulling Regatta was going to be held by Felixstowe unit in Harwich Harbour but conditions proved to be very bad, and after holding one event, the rest was cancelled. In order to achieve results, names were drawn out of a hat and we will represent the District in the 14-16 age group.
This holiday we will be competing in the Roter Cup once again, and in the Midland Area Sailing Championships at Birmingham; finally there is the Area Pulling Regatta at Surbiton. Several cadets will he attending courses and L/S Sayeed has been chosen to go on the R.N. exercise called "Rock Haul" to Gibraltar.
Finally to show that we do well in other things besides sport, we were placed 3rd in the Area Seamanship Quiz out of 53 units, our best place ever.
A.P.A.
S.C.C. National Regatta
On the Friday before the beginning of term, B. Clark, D. Hayes and I went to the S.C.C. National Regatta, held at Whale Island in Portsmouth. We were bedded down in the drill shed, and in the end there were about 270 cadets there in all.
On Saturday morning we had to get up at 5.50. Then after breakfast we all went down to the Command Sailing Centre to be allocated our boats, and as in the area championships we had a leaky one, so D. Hayes can say he bailed his way round the nationals. When we had sorted out the rigging we set off to sail the first race, and after a reasonable start came 7th mainly because we sailed into the lee of an aircraft carrier. By the afternoon the wind had gained in strength and we managed 4th place. Then that evening we went into Portsmouth, and Clark promptly got us lost.
On Sunday we were again up at 5.50, when we got out of church we went down to sail in the last race. In a force 3 wind we managed a 3rd place. Overall we came 3rd out of 40 boats. After lunch we had to wait while Admiral Sir John Eccles distributed the prizes. Then we all packed up and went home. On the whole it was an enjoyable weekend.
D. J. PEARN
Y.F.C. NOTES
To conclude a successful year we bought four pigs at the beginning of the summer term. There were worries at one time when they suffered from overfeeding, which was followed by semi-famine, but on the whole they prospered. The highlight of the term was the completion of the direct pig feeder, designed and built by. . . . and associates.
Halfway through the term we held our perennial barbecue, and for the first time ever the weather forced us into the hall, where we had a successful dance.
Unfortunately only a few people were able to attend the County Rally at the Suffolk Show, but those who did so enjoyed themselves. We now have ample supplies of first-class manure for those who intend gardening during the following months.
L. M. YOUNG.
MUSIC NOTES
Musical activity was concentrated at the end of term, apart from a visit to the Ipswich High School's production of "Noye's Fludde", and a visit from the "London Singers", who sang a number of part-songs.
There were two concerts: at the first, on Speech Day, the Male Voice Choir repeated two spirituals, the school choir sang two anthems, the Junior Orchestra performed, and the Senior Orchestra played the first two movements of Mr. Salmon's piano concerto, with Neil Cloake as soloist. At the chamber concert on the Sunday following a large proportion of the school's musicians performed. Both concerts were part of the Woolverstone Festival Week.
SIMON CRAWFORD.
Music Circle Concert
Last term's Music Circle Concert was more successful than expected, although a minority of the audience left during the intermission, A new look was added to the concert. This was the group known as the "Cellarmen". They were followed by an excellent but unlucky clarinetist. His instrument "broke down" after the first few bars. Howes played his 'cello, and there was a group of singers which was immensely appreciated. The second half began cheerfully with a piano duet from Mr. Salmon and Cloake. There were two madrigals sung by an eminent bass, namely Forster. They were followed by another duet, this time for clarinets. This was played by Snuggs and Finch. The concert ended with a fine piece of music played by a sextet led by Crawford. I would particularly like to thank on behalf of the participants, the organiser of the concert, Simon Crawford, but most of all, the audience (for being so patient).
JEAN-ALAIN ROUSSEL
PRINTING SOCIETY
The summer term has been a good end to a financially successful year. We have become fairly proficient in the printing of programmes, mainly due to the work of D. Rayner, and we printed the programmes for most of the Woolverstone Festival items. Next term we hope to move house to a larger room, from which we should expand our activities and our knowledge. Thanks are due to Mr. Green, who has encouraged us to become the society that we now are.
R. A. PIERSON.
THE TRANSPORT CLUB
This summer has not been as colourful as in terms gone by. There have been many evening activities so it has not been possible to arrange regular meetings. There was to have been a trip to Cambridge mid-term but this was postponed due to lack of support. Instead this trip will take place during the autumn term.
It was announced during the term that Mr. Green, who has acted as our treasurer and chairman since the club's formation, would be leaving us. All members of the club wish him the best of luck at his new post.
D. O. P. LAUGHTON.
CHESS CLUB NOTES
This season, the Chess club once again had an extremely satisfactory record, despite its very small membership.
The Suffolk Schools' championship was won for the second time by the team of P. Gait, J. Frost, D. Alexander, F. Kiy and G. Rowles, with a series of easy victories, culminating in a 4-1 win over Northgate G.S.
Gait, Frost, Alexander, Rowles and Drain also represented the Suffolk team which beat Essex 12 - 6.
The team would like to thank the captain, Paul Gait, for all that he has done for the team, and Mr. Middlebrook for his services in transporting the team to and from matches.
J. FROST.
Aspects of the Holidays
FRANCE ON A SHOESTRING
There are three necessary ingredients for a successful holiday abroad - money, a small but adequate quantity of luggage and a great deal of luck. The two of us found that while we had the first couple the latter usually evaded us. With no more idea of directions than that we had to reach the sea and turn right we eventually arrived at Newhaven on July 29th. Having eaten two very large and very English steaks we boarded the car-ferry 'Falaise' bound for 'La France'. The smoking-room appeared to be the most comfortable saloon and also the one nearest the bar - it was here we camped down in two huge armchairs. A quick inspection of the ship revealed little of specific interest with the exception of Miss A.A., 1964, with Miss R.A.C., of the same vintage.
At 22.00 hours (by the new B.R. timetable) the ship left port.
Sleep soon became out of the question as we had felt sufficiently 'gallant' to surrender first one and then the second of our comfortable seats to a very frustrated mother and her four buxom daughters. We then encamped on the floor. We had assumed that a ship holding 200 cars would be a hitch-hiker's dream come true - not so; visions of a single lift right through to Bordeaux rapidly vanished but we managed to get an offer of one to Beauvais which we gladly accepted.
Dieppe at 3 o'clock in the morning is cold; an open car at this hour is very cold and an open sports car at 80 miles per hour is very cold indeed., add to this the fact that the driver drove all of 4 feet behind his companion on an unknown road, the journey was one I am unlikely ever to forget.
Beauvais is not an unattractive town but at 5 in the morning it is not an appealing one either, by nine, however, we were in Paris and we proceeded to spend a pleasantly uneventful day in that beautiful city. That evening we seized a compartment in our train and managed to concede only two fellow sufferers for the coming journey. The train itself is worthy of mention. It is evident that a great deal of thought went into the design and construction of the French train 30 years ago. the seats are just too narrow to permit the 'train traveller slouch' and at the same time they are just too short to enable one to put one's feet up. Furthermore if a combination of the two is attempted a specifically located hook embeds itself in one's right ear, and it becomes painfully obvious that sleep is right out of the question. Reading, too, is impossible -'lights out' on the S.N.C.F. is at 21.00 hours. The only alternative is to visualise the 586 kilometres of French 'paysage' as it speeds past the dirty window.
Agen (heart of the prune district) was reached ten tortuous hours later. After a further few hours we arrived at our ultimate destination. This was the agricultural 'Iycee' where we were to stay for the following three weeks. For anyone wishing to forget their troubles I can suggest no better way of spending a few weeks. Working in the orchards from 8 to 12 in the morning and again after siesta from 2 to 7 picking and consuming voluminous peaches, unripe pears or, least pleasant of all, 'les prunes' leaves little or no time for much else. After a welcome shower and meal at the end of a day, bed is the next logical step. Anyone out to earn a vast sum of money (such as myself) will, however, be disappointed - no pay is forthcoming.
At the end of our sejour ' Michael and I decided that it would be more interesting if we returned by different routes. To my relief I discovered that hitch-hiking is neither the formidable task, nor the crime, it is made out to be. It was thus that I reached Bordeaux the same Tuesday night from Villeneuve-sur-Lot where the farm was situated. That same night was spent on a railway waiting-room bench, my most uncomfortable sleep on record. Excruciatingly stiff and incredibly tired I left the station at 5 the next morning and after a small nourishing breakfast found the International Youth Foyer where I was to spend two luxurious nights. The great thing I noticed was the absence of 'les moustiques' who had viciously curtailed my sleep for the previous three weeks.
Bordeaux is of sufficiently high architectural interest to warrant two days sight-seeing; it was thus not until Friday that I was on my way again. The mode of transport was a very small scooter laden with a huge pile of luggage and driven by an English nurse who despite her complete ignorance of French road signs got the two of us intact to Poitiers. For the second time since my arrival I found myself being quick-frozen in transit. Poitiers consists of many narrow and tortuous streets dominated architecturally by its beautiful cathedral which lacks, so fortunately, the over-ornateness which tends to obscure the beauty of so many French cathedrals. The Youth Hostel here is up to hotel standards of comfort. The following day I was offered a lift from the hostel again, this time to Tours, in one of those incredibly sprung monsters-the Citroen Deux Chevaux. After an extensive amble round the unappealing town of Tours, I paid a visit to the chateau of Chenonceaux where there was 'Son et Lumiere'. This was an unforgettably beautiful experience at very reasonable cost. The night was spent once again in modest comfort at the Youth Hostel there which, I believe, is the largest in Europe and has everything but the pleasant character of a really primitive hostel. Being in the Loire valley I thought it worthwhile seeing a few more of the locally abundant Chateaux. Visits to Amboise and Chanteloup were next on my agenda and well worth the necessary foot-slogging. After these to Blois where again there is a very fine chateau. My next target was Chartres, which I had to reach or spend a further night on a bench, as hostel density was becoming critical. However, at 4.30 the next day, Sunday, after many intricate misdirections I reached yet another newly completed hotel type Youth Hostel, which offered a magnificent view of the cathedral. Having spent the next morning admiring the glorious stained glass there I left Chartres at noon and two hours later was in the centre of Paris, which was in the middle of liberation celebrations. That night was spent in barrack conditions in a temporary Youth Hostel somewhere in Paris. It was run by the most bureaucratic and anti- English warden I had the pleasure to meet.
The following day after a lift to Beauvais and various types of public transport I reached Dieppe. Having spent several hours in waterfront cafes listening to some delightful local music I boarded the ship at. 2 a.m. for home. As I walked aboard my thoughts were that the preceding four weeks had been the most stimulating I had ever spent. Carefree travel on a minimal budget with just one small duffle bag is an experience not to be missed. It must be repeated-soon.
DAVID ODELL (Upper Sixth).
THE SCILLONIAN VENTURE
Burning sun, freezing water and an almost total lack of cars met us as the rusty S.S. Scillonian disgorged us onto the quay of Hughtown. St. Mary's. But these were only three of the many attractive things about the Isles of Scilly. All the natives were friendly at all times of the day and seemed completely unchanged by tourism. There was one small milk-bar and the smallest cinema I have ever seen to provide night-life and three or four hotels, which began the season when they wanted to. We camped on a shady site near our own beach. The camp became a good home to return to after a trip to other islands and we dined royally every night with a four-course meal. Even the whitest of us got tanned after constant outdoor activity pottering in rock-pools, exploring smaller islands by canoe and motor-boat and visiting the seals near the Bishop Rock lighthouse. Mr. Woollett grew a very scraggy beard and Read persisted in wearing his Butlins hat despite our efforts to get rid of it.
The whole affair was a tremendous success and these sub- tropical, Mediterranean-like islands are really worth visiting as Mr. Wilson will tell you.
R. D. DAVIES (Fifth Form).
A MORNING CLIMB IN ADEN
In traditional "mad dogs of Englishmen" spirit a mixed group of about fifty teenagers. myself included, converged on one of the shanty towns which surround Aden's old business centre of Crater.
The town is situated in the centre of a huge extinct volcano and our intention was to climb one of the volcanic mountains, the highest in the whole Aden region, that lies nearby.
A steep, tortuous, dusty, but passable track eventually wound itself to an old observation platform (overlooking Aden harbour), which was built on the summit over a century ago. Thus, little mountaineering ability was called for but in case the heat (temperatures were in the nineties for much of the climb despite a 7 a.m. start), and the exertions required were too much for any of the party, members of an R.A.F. mountain/desert rescue team were positioned at various points on the mountain side.
We eventually set off in a long crocodile up the slope of the 2,000 ft. mountain under the disapproving eyes of the local Arabs, sitting in the shade of their tumble-down shacks.
We first had to climb up a steep kind of natural embankment and when we eventually reached its top, somewhat breathless and already dripping with sweat, we eyed the two or three miles of undulating plain that we had to cross before reaching the mountain proper, with obvious dislike. However, we eventually got over it, the sickeningly fit members of the party, who did not include myself among their ranks, already being far ahead of the remainder.
The temperatures were by now way up in the nineties and, to use an understatement, the main climb which now followed was hard work. In fact, one girl collapsed and had to be carried down by the rescue team.
However, the rest of us pressed on and at last, perspiration pouring off us, and with almost empty-water bottles, we collapsed too (at the top). Eventually though, we realised that what goes up must come down, so in small groups we set off down the opposite side.
On this face of the mountain there were no paths to follow so things were a bit harder than during the ascent. However, with some assistance from the R.A.F. team over the trickier parts we eventually trekked into a " base-camp " at the bottom, where transport was waiting. This took the party down to the forces beach where the remainder of the morning (it was now nearly 10 a.m.) was spent either lying in deck-chairs, in the sea, or in the two adjacent swimming pools.
R. STAFF (Lower Sixth).
MALAYA AND BACK
The slight jolt in my back told me that the plane had started to move. It taxied to the end of the runway, turned and rapidly picked up speed, flashing past the hangars, waiting lounges and workshops. Then the nose lifted. the wheels came up with a bump and the aircraft resumed a smoother note. I had left England and looked forward to the prospect of a sunny holiday in the Far East.
The plane touched down at Frankfurt, and Athens, where the hydraulics broke down and the passengers spent the night in a luxury hotel (all free of charge). Morning revealed the beautiful city of Athens in all its magnificent splendour. The deep blue sea contrasted strongly with the white buildings and the red hills above. We took off again and stopped at Cairo where Nasser was having a reception and we were privileged to see him. On again to Karachi, then Calcutta, arriving at Singapore about 8.30.
Here we were greeted by two hundred armed troops, lorries, transport buses and landrovers. This was because of serious rioting resulting in many killed and injured. Three boys, I included, were escorted home by half-a-dozen lorries and landrovers all covered with wire mesh and armed with a guard, driver and officer. At every corner, road blocks had been set up) and by the roadside large concentrations of Malayan and British troops were on the ready. It was only as I got home that I was told a curfew had been imposed, relaxing for an hour every morning. 1 was literally 'home today and gone tomorrow' for after spending only one full day at home we drove up to Penang, the pearl of the Orient, and here had such experiences as going up a hill of one in four on a cable railway, or visiting the Snake Temple where cobras lie draped, sleeving round the light or on a table. (This is not as incredible as it seems because of an incense that was burnt to make them sleep.) From there we went up to the relative cool of the Cameron Highlands of Northern Malaya, where the temperature is about 60. F.
After a pleasant stay there we returned to Singapore. Here I did nothing noteworthy except sailing, swimming or playing bad- minton, but the Indonesians did. A few days after our arrival back in Singapore, a band of forty of them landed fully armed on the coast of Johore, South Malaya. Their key jobs were to disrupt Malaysia, assassinate anyone in authority and terrorize the area. It was a failure and all but a very few were either caught or killed. However, this was not the end. At the beginning of September, thirty Indonesian Paratroops dropped near Serenbar, a large city in Central Malaya, among them six nineteen-year-old girls sent to incite the village-dwellers. These too were rounded up, but there are still a few on the loose.
Shortly after this more rioting broke out and again a curfew was imposed (The last one was lifted gradually).
Then came the 13th of September and I looked forward to the grim prospect of coming back to school.
A. GOULD (Fifth Form).
MY HOLIDAY
It was the last two days of my holiday. I was staying in a household comprising two adults, five children, four cats and one dog.
The first day my host and her children and dog were going away on holiday and in the morning she took the children shopping with her. Unfortunately they had kept it a bit late as the packing was not done. Consequently half-an-hour before the coach was due to leave everyone was rushing around the house like a number of heated molecules. After ten minutes of this the children were sent upstairs after the youngest, aged two, had packed two bowls, a spoon and a packet of cornflakes, then sprinkled talcum powder over everything inside the case. At last everything was ready with five minutes to spare. No wonder people gaped when first a dog then a crowd of people rushed down the hill leading to the coach. They caught it but only just.
Next day I had to take the four cats, (a mother and three kittens) down to the boarding kennels. But the only mode of transport I could find for them was an old shopping basket with a pillow-case over the top. So like that I set off. I only got as far as the end of the road before pitiful mewing noises started coming from the basket. Then the pillow-case had contortions and before I knew it a cat had jumped out. There was I running around a busy shopping centre looking for the blasted cat while people were killing themselves with laughter. I eventually rescued it from a group of mangy toms who had converged on it. She travelled the rest of the way draped round my neck.
While I had been dealing with the mother two of the kittens had dropped to the bottom of the pillow case and were struggling about half suffocated.
After that I gave up trying and arrived at the kennels with the mother on my shoulder, two kittens in the pillow-case, and one being held by the scruff of its neck. No wonder I got a strange look from the 'matron' at the kennels.
J. PEAPLE (Fourth Form).
MAROONED ON AN ISLAND
It was a holiday that I don't suppose I shall ever forget. It started off with an idea on the spur of the moment, and the next day found us at Waterloo station ready for a brief holiday on the Isle of Wight.
Unfortunately we had arrived in the middle of carnival week and as we had not booked any place in advance, we could not get in anywhere. So at 11 o'clock that night we were at Shanklin without anywhere to sleep, and soaking wet from a storm. Having noticed a large shelter half-way up a cliff we decided to lodge there for the night. However, as we arrived there, we noticed that the shelter was occupied by various courting couples, so trying to act natural and inconspicuous, we carried on to the top.
Arriving at the top we burst out into laughter, though whether we were hysterical or just amused by the whole predicament I cannot tell. The only other alternative left to us was to bed down in the open shelters on the sea-front., fortunately the rain had left off, but it was bitterly cold.
It was quite an experience though, for we clad ourselves in newspaper, stuffing it under the socks and into the trousers. The hard wooden seat was less than a foot wide but I managed to get a few hours' sleep though my mother didn't.
We were awake and got up by four o'clock and moved on to the now vacant enclosed shelter on the cliff where we managed another hour's sleep. We washed ourselves in the sea and it seemed that all my mother complained of was not being able to see the sun rise over the sea, as it was still very cloudy. However, I was to find later on that I had lost some paper-money.
We found a small workers' cafe open at 6 o'clock and had our early morning breakfast. It was when I went to pay the bill that I discovered I had lost some money so I went back down to the shelter. I did find a 10/- note amongst some newspaper that had dropped down the back, but the rest had most probably blown away. However, it was some comfort that I had retrieved some of my lost money.
The weather cleared and we felt confident that we would find accommodation further on at Ventnor. But the phone-calls and enquiries were to no avail. and the evening was once again with us.
I was by now thoroughly fed-up and irritable and the last straw was when my mother suggested we would have to go to the police station. But I argued that if it came to that we might as well go back home, so we boarded a bus and travelled back to Ryde.
Outside the station my mother had the brilliant idea of asking a taxi driver whether he would know of anywhere we could put up for the night. The young man told us to climb in his rather old and battered taxi, and he drove us to the top of the town and parked outside a public house. Fortunately for us, the landlady could put us up in a vacant room that she had. Apparently the lady, with two young children to look after, ran a mobile butcher's service before she was married and now ran this large pub by herself, to fill in the time while her husband was away on business. Yet this unusual character could not get over the fact that my mother enjoyed walking round the countryside. The carpet in the room was scattered with comics and crunched underfoot for which she apologised immensely, "but the crafty blighters have been at the crisps again." All we wanted though was a bed to sleep in.
Refreshed by a good sleep and a hearty breakfast we left that morning and managed to locate a "B & B" place that had vacancies. It seemed that nothing could go wrong now in the few remaining days. The Friday was a lovely clear day and we decided to go swimming. To record the event I took along my camera. Unfortunately the camera fell out of its case while I was bending down in the water.
Tomorrow would be the last day and we had decided upon a game of golf in the morning. Mother was dressed in her slacks for the occasion and after a mediocre drive on the eighth hole she bent down to pick up the tee. There was a ripping noise and my mother looked up with an aghast face and burst out laughing.
I was shivering without my jersey, but my mother lost the ball on the last hole anyway.
With a bill for £9 for the camera, it wasn't exactly an ideal holiday, but I think we have had much more pleasure reminiscing about it than anybody else.
D. CROWTER (Fifth Form)
ITALY FOR SCHOOLS
We were in Calais by 3 o'clock and off to Italy on a French train by 3.30. My diet for the next three meals consisted mainly of sandwiches. consequently I was not very hungry by the end of the journey, not being able to face another sandwich. I found that I wasn't able to sleep in a crowded compartment so I sat up all night on a seat at the end of the carriage. We arrived in Florence at about 3 on the second day and went immediately to the Youth Hostel and then went into the town to look around. We didn't have time to see much but we did see the Ponte Vecchio which is the only bridge in western Europe that still has shops on it.
The next day we went to Sorrento, a quite popular seaside resort on the Mediterranean coast, where we stayed for two days. On the first day I went swimming and because I did not take care or any sun-tan lotion I was considerably sunburnt. On the second day we went to Capri; the boat trip to the island took about two hours and when we arrived there we boarded another boat to go and see the famous 'Blue Grotto'. This is a narrow cave in deep water but the sunlight on entering is refracted by some natural cause and the water in the Grotto is of a light-blue colour. We stayed in Capri till 3 and then came back on the boat. On the fifth day we went to a small sandy resort called Sperlonga. We made a stop in Naples to have a look round the town which is famous for its slums, but after an hour and a half spent looking for them in the blistering sun we went up to the top of Naples on the funicular railway and caught a bus back to the station. The fact that the station was about three miles away was not of great importance as bus fares in Italy never amount to more than sevenpence for any journey however long.
We spent 21 days in Sperionga bathing in the morning, resting after dinner till about 4 o'clock to escape the worst of the heat, and bathing again afterwards. There was a fair of sorts in the town consisting of dodgems and two rifle ranges. We frequented this place quite a lot during the late evening and became acquainted with some of the local inhabitants.
The last day of our holiday we spent in Rome. This, unfortunately, was the day on which my digestion chose to go to pieces and so I had to spend the day in bed in the Youth Hostel. But as we did not leave till half-past two on the next day I managed to have a look round St. Peter's Cathedral although I did not have enough time to see the Coliseum. The train for Calais started at three o'clock and we were in the same train for the next twenty-five hours. It was a relief to board the boat for Dover, which we did at 4.30 on the next day. We were in Dover by six and in Paddington by eight and I went to bed that night tired, aching, but satisfied.
R. CYSTER (Lower Sixth).
RICHMOND '64
To spend three nights on a blanket in Richmond Park, Surrey, is not everyone's idea of a well-spent weekend. But to R. & B. and Jazz fans August 7th was the time to pack up their bags and hit the road. For it was then that the 4th National Jazz Festival began at 7 p.m. with several R. & B. groups including the Authentics and the T-bones, and ended at 10 p.m. with. the Rolling Stones of whom some of you may have heard! As they came to the end of their seemingly inexhaustible repertoire, I noticed police and St. John's Ambulance men doing frantic stretcher work. By 11 o'clock we had found a place to bed down for the night and were soon rocked to sleep by long haired Ban-the-Bombists, strumming guitars and seeming determined to keep an all night watch over us.
After an afternoon of quartets and the superb Jimmy Witherspoon we were treated to a mixture of R. & B. and Jazz. The Jazz was provided by such people as Alex Welsh and Chris Barber with Ottilie Patterson while the R. & B. came from Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie men, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Witherspoon again and Manfred Mann, with Paul Jones and his wailing harmonica, the latter brought the house down, as the saying goes; but as we were in the open air . . . !
Sunday began with the National Final of the Guards' Second National Amateur Jazz Contest and the afternoon ended with Humph Lyttelton selecting the bands to go forward to the European Contest.
At 6.30 p.m. four men stepped onto the stage and gave us nearly an hour of authentic R. & B. Graham Bond and his Organisation were magnificent. They were followed by the Yardbirds and then Georgie Fame with a fine performance by his African bongo player, Mose Allison, that great blues piano player of "Parchment Farm" fame plus Humphrey Lyttelton, and Kenny Ball also appeared but in a side tent. Georgie Fame and Graham Bond amalgamated and a large section of the crowd drifted across to them. Two organs, three drummers, two saxophonists and two guitars make a dynamic ending to three days at Richmond.
J. D. GODFREY (Lower Sixth).
THE NORTH WALES CAMP-JULY 1964
On the last day of the Summer Term, a party of thirteen 5th and 6th form geographers left the school under the care of Mr. Hyde, Mr. Allchin, and Mr. Hanson for a ten day camp in North Wales, in preparation for the five week expedition to Norway next year.
The first part of that morning had been spent in loading the bus with provisions and equipment for the camp. One of the main objects of the trip was to try out the diet, containing several dried or concentrated foods: several of us found an addiction to Ryvita, most an allergy to two lots of 'HFS Food Bar' in quick succession. Uninspiring as this may sound, the menu in fact remained interesting and very acceptable throughout the ten days.
The main camp was on the farm of one 'Williams bach' in the Nant Ffrancon Valley. The immediate scenery, the somewhat bare valley itself and the looming peak of Tryfan, was wild and woolly, though in some ways more attractive than many other spots we visited, which were at that time of summer full of other visitors.
The first evening, supper was bought from an excellent fish and chip shop in Bethesda, our last civilised meal for ten days. The second camp was established beside Ffunon Llugwy, a small lake 800 feet higher than camp 1. The two groups into which we were divided were to spend 48 hours each there, during which time maps were to be drawn, and data collected on geology, natural life and so on. As I was in the second group, our stay up there did not begin until Saturday mid-day. Low cloud and rain prevented our beginning our work schedule until Sunday afternoon, but we still managed to complete most, working until dark. In almost whichever direction one looked there were no signs of human life except for our camp, and the dam at the outlet of the lake; idyllic if you like, but very lonely in winter, I should imagine. Norway will be a testing ground for our ability to live with each other.
On three of the evenings at camp I was able with a few others and Mr. Hanson to try my hand at some rock-climbing on the slabs behind the farm. We were all new to it, and enjoyed it very much.
In addition to our work at the site, we managed to use the bus on several occasions to visit such places as Llandudno, Carnarvon, and Beddgelert, to name a few. The last day was spent in climbing Snowdon via the Pyg track from Penn y Pass. The weather was again cloudy and damp, and although visibility was practically nil, it was one thing we wanted to do before leaving. The journey back was started that evening; we slept between the the hours of 1.30 and 5.30 in a lay-by outside Worcester, and continued our journey about 7 o'clock, arriving at school at 2.30 that afternoon.
On behalf of the others in the party, I would like to thank Mr. Hanson for his speedy driving and smooth camp organization, Mr. Allchin for his speedier driving and instant wit, Mr. Hyde for his efficient administration and extensive on-the-spot knowledge, and all those who had any part in the camp.
P. EMBERSON (Upper Sixth).
THE FIGHT
. . . After lunch we hired a taxi to Madrid's bullring. When we got inside we found it was packed, and built like a Roman amphitheatre. It was very hot sitting in the sun waiting for the first bull. First there was a parade of gaily dressed matadors, picadors and all the other fighters. Then the first bull charged out and trotted round the ring. After that the picador, which is a man on a horse with a stick with a metal point on the end, came up to the bull and stuck it in him several times. this was only like a pin- prick to the bull, although it would have been fatal to us. Then they teased him with the cape for a while, then a man with two sticks, short pointed gaily coloured ones, waved them at the bull. This made the bull charge at him: at the last moment he jumped aside and as the bull came past him he stuck the sticks in it. More men did this in the same way. The bull got weaker and weaker. Then it charged at the cave once too often and as it went past the matador stuck the sword in it. it staggered weakly and fell to the ground. As it was still alive, to put it out of its misery one of the matadors stabbed it with a dagger in the back of the neck to kill it. The crowd's reactions were fantastic, and as the matador walked round the ring flowers and wallets of money were thrown at him, all this time he was being cheered. I personally did not cheer him for I thought it was a very cruel and bloody sport. After four bulls had been killed we had to leave, it was such a terrible sight.
R. WALKER (First Form).
SID SAILS
"0.k. lads, here are your hammocks, sign for them. You'll find Defender the other side of the basin. It's about a half-mile."
I was absolutely bemused. Carry a hammock, bedding, matress, box of tropical gear and a heavy case for a half-mile. Impossible !
Somehow I made it, stained blue by the dye in my square-rig (the normal rating's uniform) and feeling like a masticated dog's dinner. And there she was, my ship.
I staggered over the gangway, neatly dropping my case on my two aching feet as I saluted the quarterdeck and looked for the quartermaster.
Oo are you?" He said, when I found him.
"A Sea-Cadet."
"Yes but oo?"
"Leading Seaman Sayeed."
"Oh! Oi Smudge! show this bloke 'is flat. Ee's a Sea-Cadet."
"0.k. George. This way mate. There y'are mate, down that 'ole."
I thanked "Smudge", dropped my burdens down the hatch and clambered after them.
My feet had ceased to ache and had slipped into a tormented coma. It was Saturday afternoon and as we left Plymouth I stood like an automaton presenting arms when ordered while my mind thought of the day I came aboard which felt more like an hour ago than a day, time slipped by so quickly. Tomorrow would be Saturday and we would be off Ushant rendezvousing with the 10th Squadron Minesweepers. On Sunday night we were in the Bay of Biscay. The winds were gale force 11 and the mess-deck below was so full of sick people that I had been forced to sling my hammock on the emergency bridge so as not to join their unhappy band. No one seemed to mind, they all were too ill to worry about me!
During the night we turned back to pick up a damaged mine- sweeper and had to tow her at about four knots. Every half-hour the 'sweeper would shoot off at a tangent as her quartermaster felt queasy.
Over the bay at last. We passed La Coruna on Wednesday night and sailed down the Portuguese coast. The sight of the flotilla looked like a picture from a war comic. The frigate ahead with the admiral's flag flying was flanked by twelve 'sweepers, the damaged one by then mended though still showing her battle scars on her wooden hull.
I did not have much time to waste. I was on watch in the engine rooms. Very pleased to have landed the best job, I was anxious to be punctual. I slid down the ladder wondering what I would be taught today. I had "done" steamjoints, auxiliary diesels, centrefuges, hot water systems, and there could not be anything else except . . except the steam turbines themselves.
I had asked to work in the engine rooms and on gaining permission was very pleased to find that the E.R.A. (Engine Room Artificer, a senior N.C.O. specialising in engineering) was a - very nice person of 26 who had been to Holbrook and knew many of the old boys from Woolverstone very well. The stokers, after overcoming their original animosity when they heard I hoped to become a pig (officer), turned out to be really decent as did all the ship's company.
There was one disadvantage in working in the engine rooms. I had to work normal watches which meant working 4 hours on, 8 hours off around the clock as opposed to the rest of the cadets who could be on watch from 4 in the morning to 10 at night in various periods of duty.
Because of the damaged 'sweeper we were 36 hours behind schedule but the Rock was only 12 hours away and by Friday I would be ashore.
Lectures on Gibraltar and a warning from the Medical Officer over, I got ashore for a conducted tour around the Rock. It felt peculiar ashore; trying to balance a non-existent roll produced a slight feeling of dizziness.
I had seen the Barbary Apes, the awesome caves and nearly all the paraphernalia associated with Gibraltar except Main Street. Then we were there. Main Street in Gibraltar is about a quarter of a mile in length and contains nearly every shop on the peninsula. The road is about 5 yards wide in most places except in front of the very colonial Governor's palace where its width is about 10 yards. Opposite the palace, conveniently in the middle of the road stands a sergeant in command of the 2 man guard.
From the street vendors selling cheap hijacked watches to the managers of the dirty dives just off Main Street, the Gibraltese pervade an air of hate for the British who are only tolerated for their money.
But we had to leave Gibraltar, I had seen Spain and on Tuesday I was to see Lisbon.
We eased out of port unescorted and this time although my feet had long ago slipped into the land of nod my mind was not in the stupor of before and my eyes watched the gambolling porpoises just aft of the ship.
"When you are dismissed, Cadet Leading Seaman Sayeed, report to the Captain."
Apprehensively I knocked on the captain's day cabin and was told to enter.
"Ah! Come in lad. You Sayeed?"
"Yes Sir."
"Got any people in the navy?"
"Yes Sir."
"One an admiral?"
"Yes sir, my uncle."
"I was in the war with him at the Phillipines. Thought you'd be his kin, unusual name."
"Yes, sir, it is rather unusual."
"The sea-cadet officer tells me you are going to Dartmouth." "If I pass the necessary exams sir."
"Good lad. By the way, would you like to come to a reception in Lisbon? You would, that's good. Well you had better get back on watch now. Hope you are enjoying yourself. Goodbye."
In my spotless tropical square rig I sat with the captain in the Rolls especially loaned for the duration of his stay in Lisbon. We drove to a magnificent dinner at the embassy and at 3 in the morning I retired sleepy, full and happy.
A wonderful time in Lisbon, the hot beaches of Estoril, the bull-fight at Poli, were now all memories. Portugal was far away and Chatham near. There had been something wrong with the cruise. There was a modicum of instruction, we were not shown around the ship when we arrived, only one other person apart from myself worked in the engine rooms, the rest learnt a lot washing decks and polishing brass. I was lucky enough to see what life was like for the officers of the ship when I dined with the captain, the other cadets hadn't the faintest idea how the hierarchy lived. These are the main grouses but the assets of our insight into naval life, the companionship that one can quickly find in people who would otherwise be aliens, and a brief but fascinating look at people and places that would have otherwise been dreams, easily compensated for these defects.
J. SAYEED (Lower Sixth).
Original Contributions
A KIND WORD
"Mornin', Flo."
"Mornin', dearie."
"'ave a good night?"
"Shockin'!"
"Again?"
"e never stopped groanin' all night!"
"What's wrong with 'im?"
"I dunno."
"e' ought to see a doctor."
"e's going today in the lunch-break."
"It's not fair on you."
The milk factory required principally two women to supervise the automatic bottle-filling machine: one to watch the bottles filing past on a conveyor belt on their way from the steriliser, and to ensure that none of them were cracked; the other to see that in the final stage, the bottle-topping machine had not made any mistakes. The two women sat side by side, facing opposite directions, and the empty bottles were carried past one, before disappearing into the machine itself. Here they were dried, filled and capped, returning along a second belt, running parallel with the first, for the inspection of the second woman.
It was Flo's job to see that none of the bottles had become damaged in the washer. Flo found her job fascinating.
Ethel had to check that all the bottles had caps. She hated it. "See the tele' last night?"
"What, the play?" "Yeah."
"Daft, wasn't it?"
"As if people spoke like that!"
Flo's left eye was permanently half-shut to keep out incessant cigarette smoke. She adjusted her hair beneath a sterilised cap.
"Got Women's 0wn?"
"Yes, dear, some nice knitting patterns."
Ethel reached up and depressed a switch. The conveyor belt jerked forward, the machinery in front of Ethel banged and scraped as three mechanical arms fitted silver tops onto empty air, somewhere beyond the wall facing Flo the swish of water and chink of bathing bottles began. The first bottles marched out on the belt, damp and dignified in their watery armour.
"Just look at that!" cried Flo in delight. The first bottle was split neatly down the middle. "It always does that, the first bottle. I don't know how that machine manages it." And she lifted the pieces delicately off the belt and dropped them into the bin at her feet. Her day had begun. Ethel's day began twenty-seven seconds later. The bottles disappeared through a hole in the drier. A dial showed the temperature of the air inside. Slurp, slurp, and another dial began to register the number of bottles filled. The ineffectual rattling turned to more solid pounding as metal arms met bottle tops, and a moment later the first full bottle appeared, its cap tilted daintily over one ear, like a beret. "Blast it!" said Ethel. "Always the same with the first bottle." And as it glided past she lifted it off the belt, adjusted its cap, and slipped it into her shopping basket. Ethel's day always began like that.
Both women had worked at the factory since its opening. Only once had the routine been broken when a tall man with a thick beard and dark glasses rushed in on them, screamed a long stream of something at them in what they later decided was German, smashed a bottle of milk from Ethel's side on the concrete floor, and then rushed out again. Both women agreed that he was undoubtedly a maniac. Flo was sorry for him, and kept wondering whether he ever got back to Germany. But Ethel was practical and dismissed him as dangerous with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Did you see that ventriloquist? "No."
Flo watched the rainbow bottles shuffling past.
"You couldn't see 'is mouth move at all, 'cept once." "That the one that was on the Palladium?"
"No, but I think it's 'is brother." Bottle after bottle. Pint after pint.
"Bus fares are going up after Christmas."
"Fancy, I waited twenty-five minutes for a one-three-seven this morning."
Six hundred and seven, said one dial.
"Cigarette, love?"
A hundred and twenty chipped degrees, said the other.
"Did you know Marion's engaged?"
And then the machine stopped.
Never have two women been more surprised. Neither could speak. What to say? They just gaped at each other.
Ethel spoke first.
"What do we do?"
Flo shook her head, They knew what to do when the topping machine ran out of tops, when the milk flow went wrong or the drier got too hot. But this was unforeseen.
"Power cut," said Ethel, but the light worked when she tried it.
"Fuse," she suggested, but the fuse-box disproved it. "Well, something's wrong!" and she frowned viciously at the machine.
"We'd better see the supervisor." The supervisor made a phone call and a man came round.
"Trouble is," said the man after a brief inspection, "your armature's gone."
"Oh!" said Flo.
"Can you mend it?" said Ethel.
"O yeah," said the man, with professional unhaste. "Thing is, it's not so much the armature as the washer underneath. Wears out very quickly."
"Can't you just replace it?"
"Well, the difficulty is, you see, you've got to find the pivot bolt."
"Where's that?"
"Varies from model to model, you see. Modern machines, they fit your pivot bolt above the camshaft, you see, makes it easy to get at. This looks a bit out of date, though. Your pivot bolt's probably fitted under your camshaft."
"Does that matter?"
"Well, you'd have to take out your whole camshaft, you see. Then you can unscrew your pivot bolt to get at your armature and fit a new washer."
"But surely the whole machine wouldn't stop just for a washer?"
"Well, you can't be sure, you see. If it's not that, it could be your idler wheel." Ethel gave up at this point, overpowered by superior knowledge.
The man crawled under the machine and began to tinker. In the course of three quarters of an hour a fascinating assortment of levers and cogs appeared on the ground beside him. Flo and Ethel sat and read knitting patterns.
After an hour and a half the levers and cogs had disappeared again. The man emerged legs first.
"Will it work?" asked Flo.
"Should do."
"What was wrong?" asked Flo.
"Your brushes were worn."
He flicked the switch, and the machine began to move. "Seems o.k. Any more trouble, let me know." And he went.
Flo and Ethel stood for some time watching the bottles ambling in and out of the machine.
"I'm so glad it's mended," said Flo, and she sat down to watch the newly washed bottles.
"Why?" said Ethel.
"I don't know. Bit like havin' someone in hospital: I wanted it to get better. Felt sort of sorry for it."
"Sorry for that thing?" said Ethel. "It can blow up for all I care."
And it stopped again.
S. J. W. CRAWFORD (Upper Sixth).
Now the silence of a tomb,
Lasting for eternity,
Deep down in the earth's womb
No longer a deity.
No more high priests' one-tone chant,
No more men will sing it.
They're too lazy, say they can't
They won't learn to sing it.
But one day the pipes will shrill.
Then those men will fear.
Sending up their spines a chill,
This laziness is dear.
Now the silence of a tomb,
Not quite an eternity.
Deep down in the earth's womb.
A deity to be.
BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES?
'Will England win the Americas Cup?' this was the big question posed by all the newspapers. The headlines proclaimed that we had the best chance of winning it ever. When there was no other news the fact was proclaimed all over the front pages, pictures of the launchings appeared on television and various facts on the crew were published. As the time came for the boats to leave for America news items appeared with startling regularity. When the boats were in America we were bombarded with up to date training routines, how the boats were going and our chances of winning. The trials began and we were informed of tactics and how the trials were getting on. The cup was definitely top value in news circles. However, the last week before the actual contest with the boat already picked, the reporters seemed to have doubts about us actually winning the contest. A well known popular daily sadly proclaimed that the only chance of Sovereign winning was in heavy weather. How these doubts entered the heads of the journalists, one will never know, but the doubts were expressed more strongly as the date of the first race drew near. The opening race was proclaimed on the headlines of several papers. However, with the race over and a defeat in no uncertain fashion for Sovereign the story slipped from the headlines to a column on the front page, which was admittedly of some length. The second race was sailed, Sovereign was beaten by a record distance and the press's reaction was to turn decidedly hostile, as we were told it was like losing 15-0 at football. The third race was completed with Sovereign beaten again: the story occupied even less space, being tucked away safely by most papers on the foot of page one. The fourth race was hardly noticed by the press, passing with hardly a murmur, in fact one paper even gave more room to a cartoon of the event than to the report which was safely placed in an out of the way section on page one. But still, who wants the Americas Cup? After all it's only sailing, and anyway there are many more stories to put on the headlines.
A. BROWN (Lower Sixth).
Across the glassy mountains,
And over the wide blue sea,
Near the lively fountains,
There is a little tree.
In that tree there lives a man,
As happy as can be,
He cooks his food in a frying-pan,
And there is none as funny as he.
He is small, but fat,
And loves to swim in the sea,
He wears a high black hat,
That funny old man in a tree.
(alternatively entitled How I was Forced into Writing for Janus).
The election race is on,
All the friendliness is gone,
In order to get votes,
They're at each other's throats
Their smiles are disarming,
Their speeches are alarming,
They plug each other's faults
(A follower exults)
The rivalry is bitter
(Did I hear someone titter?)
They make pathetic jokes
(There's rumour it's a hoax!)
With whistle-stop campaigning
(Especially when it's raining)
The auditors are few
(He sees their point of view.)
With months of preparation
There is no reparation
And nor is there remission:
Five years in opposition.
As I stand apart and see
In retrospect that shell of me
I call my name in dreadful fear
That when the words are spoken
To form some most strange token
The words will not fall on my ear.
Or worse by far than this device
My body will turn at the sound of my voice
And I will see inscribed on my face
The dreadful scars that being a man
Has inflicted till death end my life-span
And my real body will rise to the surface.
BRITAIN IN THE AIR
In the aeronautical world the fruits of British genius have, it seems, amounted to nothing but an impressive lot of failures. As the government was very unwilling to finance any schemes or ideas just after the war no headway was made in Britain at all. Using their own resources the British aviation companies had managed to stay some five years ahead of the nearest rivals in technical ability and "know-how". This "leeway" was all lost by three simultaneous Comet disasters, but still the government would not finance any companies. In 1951, with modest beginnings, aid was however granted for both civil and military advances in the aircraft industry, but unfortunately there was much ground to be made up.
Now, at last, it seems that there is a chance that Britain may once again take the lead in the aircraft world and so retain a little of her quickly weakening power. There is a chance, which is by no means new, that politics will manage to strangle this venture. The Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance aircraft, the B.A.C. TSR2, is now in an advanced state of production although the prototype has not yet flown (21st September, '64). Unfortunately Intelligence would indicate that Russia is now capable of easily detecting and destroying our latest bid for power. Not unnaturally the government has shown discontent in the rather large bill of 240 millions for one type of aircraft. The T8R2, which is longer and heavier than the 70 seat Viscount with a smaller wing span than the Spitfire, is a completely new aircraft and as such must be expensive. The new Russian developments have, however, cast a large shadow, which would seem to indicate that we do not expect to attack and get hit back at. If this attitude had been adopted during the war no aircraft would ever have left the ground and the government would still be arguing under German guard.
It is not only the TSR2 which may be, in true British style, scrapped but also the new supersonic, and super-expensive Anglo/French Concorde. Are we to spend some of our money to retain some of our power, or are we to save our money and sink into the background?
I. J. WOOD (Lower Sixth).
ESCAPE
The guards were dozing off in the warmth of the bright camp fire, Barry Stephens and his brother were ready, the war was well under way now and how well they knew it. Their old 1970 rocket fighter had been shot down on the third day and now they were in the mobile prison trucks and on their way to the prison camps on the outskirts of Moscow. The fire was dying down. Soon the lack of light would operate the photo-electric cells in the robot guard's "brain" (these robots were not used all the time because of running costs). Now was the time to go. Norman Stephens was just crawling under the "magic-eye" when a night fighter suddenly roared over the camp awakening the guards. After that everything happened at once, a guard saw and shot at them, the robot guards swung into action, Barry grabbed a gun and shot a thin squirt of acid at the robot. A long metal arm reached out and grabbed Barry by the arm, Norman was still spraying the guards with an autoshot short range machine gun and other prisoners were grabbing guns now.
Guard after guard fell under their furious fire, but prisoners fell too. In the end only one man was left along with Barry and his brother and he was fighting to free Norman and Barry from the same robot (Norman had been captured by this one remaining robot during the fight and this was probably the only thing that had saved him from death).
A moment later the robot stopped dead and dropped them. At last that acid had done its job! goon after they landed at one of their own bases in the reconnaissance plane and were soon the proud pilots of a brand new 1976 fighter.
J. YOUNG (First Form).
AN UNUSUAL PROFESSION
Go to the shops around the corner. Buy a pound of Ementhaler cheese. What is the first thing you notice about it, apart from the "WD: Consume before March, 1923" stamp? The answer is of course, the large and regular holes in it.
Now, the Swiss are very clever at many things, of course, such as making Ementhaler cheese, but the one thing they cannot do is to make the exquisitely shaped holes that characterise it. And that is my occupation: the making and selling of holes for the cheese industry.
Anybody who knows London will be able to tell you that the most interesting and off-beat shops of the City are to be found behind or near the Middlesex Hospital. So, if you want to see Marie Lloyd's pet linnet, or if you need a fundubulator, or a hookah with nine mouthpieces, you are almost certain to find it in this area.
My shop is one of these odd establishments. In a small back room is the apparatus which puts into practice the secret which Einstein could not discover, how to make a portable and detachable hole. The shop is really a company, with one shareholder - me. Every July I hold an Annual General Meeting, with a speech by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President of the Company, its Vice-Presidents, and its directors - me. The company has its own journal, the Holesale Catalogue.
Once made, the holes are transported in containers made of a special plastic into which the holes cannot make any impression. Delivery is made on all days except Sunday. Christmas Day, and all public Holey Days. The finished holes are taken by underground train to one of the main stations. One of the lesser known facts of London is that it is crisscrossed by a vast network of subterranean stairways and corridors which are so complex in their layout that when entering them our special agents always unravel a ball of string behind them. so as to be able to find their way out by this method which never occurs to the unwary uninitiated. This explains, of course, why one often sees people walking into doors marked 'No Exit' on platforms, and also why one rarely sees anyone walking out.
But, someone will say, why not commercialize these portable holes ? The answer is, of course, that they work just as well on walls and safe doors as they do on pieces of cheese. Besides, they might he very dangerous if they were to come into contact with the body, although I have never plucked up enough courage to experiment. Basically, the holes consist of an electrical field so tightly concentrated that it gives the appearance of solid matter. The holes can be removed from the cheese with a magnet; try it sometime. However, once the holes have come out of the cheese do NOT attempt to touch them, hold them, or guide them: using your magnet, give them a slight upward tug and they will float up through the ceiling and roof and will, if you live in England, become attracted to the nearest television transmitting aerial causing the multitude of white flecks which sometimes obscure the picture on the screen.
The method and materials for the construction of a hole- making machine are hidden on pieces of payer in various places in London: in the nose of one of the lions in Trafalgar Square, in the main clock at Waterloo station, and there is one copy tightly rolled up and placed in the right hand of the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus.
My trade has a complete monopoly. No other person, to my knowledge, has ever succeeded in constructing a holemaking machine. I therefore believe that cheeses with my holes in will continue to be made for many years to come, and I assure you that this account is the truth, the hole truth and nothing but the truth.
A. FISK (Fourth Form).
Countless castles slip slowly back,
To their former level. As water
Spills on sands, so people overflow
Into the sea:
A sea that knows no whys or wheres,
Fores or shores:
It therefore rolls in futile search
Perhaps in restless meditation
Tossing sleep:
Foaming anger - deep salt cold.
Now venturing wash, wrathing
Fierce against timeless soil
Or toiling vessels, vassals
To the tide of human struggle:
Dark, white.
Fierce night.
Ever heeling keel, ploughing
Furrows . . . slow to heal.
THE END OF THE ROAD
Felix Morney lazed back in his chair behind his desk, which was littered with papers and telephones. A blast from a ship's siren woke him up. He raised his eyelids slowly and peered out of the window of his office which had an excellent view of the harbour, as it was nine floors up. He looked at the calm blue water, and the hot tropical sun reflected in it; the magnificent passenger liner caught his eye, and that reminded him of Francisco, who had arrived Qn it two days previously. He glanced out of the other window, to see nothing but the desert and a couple of distant mountains on the horizon. Nothing obstructed his view, as there was no other office block with more than six stories in this town. Suddenly there was a buzzing coming from under his desk. Swiftly he delved into the mass of papers on his desk, and found a switch, which he flicked back. "Francisco to see you," said a voice behind a speaker, placed on the far side of his desk. Morney gave the switch a sideways flick. " Send him in," he said, flicking the switch back to a neutral position. The door opened, and in strode Francisco, a giant of a man. "Yes, and what now?" demanded Morney.
"Oh, nothing. I just came to visit you," said Francisco, in a Spanish accent, smiling a set of yellow teeth at Morney.
"Look. I told you not to come here unless you had something to tell me," said Morney peevishly.
"Oh, but I have," answered Francisco, flicking a speck of dirt off the sleeve of his white suit.
"Well, be quick and tell me then," snapped Morney.
Quickly Francisco's grin was wiped away. "You owe me 10,000 pesos," he said aggressively.
"I told you, I can't get it right now."
"But you'll just have to," sneered Francisco, "if you want to keep on living. I'm going to New York, clearing out."
"But you can't do that; not at this stage." Morney knew Francisco was serious; he had seen him like this before, just before Francisco had, with one blow, killed a customs officer, who had stumbled on their smuggling racket.
"But I am. I'm fed up with you, and your set-up. All I ever get is promises of great wealth." Francisco gazed pensively out of the window. "Hey, come to think of it, I haven't got that 8,000 pesos you owed me from the job before last," he said, darting a vicious look at Morney, who opened his mouth, but could find nothing to say. "What's the use," said Francisco. "I'll never get it." He paused, and then said, turning towards Momey suddenly, "so I'm going, catching the next boat." He turned and walked to the door, and then stopped. "Oh yes," he said without turning.. "They've got Maria, the police. They caught her with those stolen necklaces you gave her, the expensive ones. She'll talk easy. She doesn't know my name, but she knows yours." He opened the door slowly, and went.
Morney didn't know what to do. His first idea was to catch a boat, but they'd be guarding them. Quickly he got up and searched through all his cupboards and drawers for anything incriminating. He was just diving into his last set of cupboards when the office door was flung open. He spun round to see the towering figure of Francisco stumble in, and to hear him gasp, "the police, downstairs. Quick! Down the fire escape." They both scuttled down the iron stairs which wound round the building. Both were utterly exhausted at the bottom. Francisco could now see Morney as he had never seen him before. He could see that the robust-looking carcass, that usually sat behind a desk in a 9th floor office, was in reality quite plump. "Well," gasped Morney. "Where are they?"
"I was just getting out of the lift when I saw these two police- men talking to the man at the desk. "Which is Mr. Morney's room?" they ask. "He's not in," says the man, like you told him to say. Then they say, "Well which is his room? We have a warrant for his arrest, and for Francisco don Valdez." I think Maria must have known my name. So I get in the lift and come up to you."
"Well, we'd better try and get out of this town. My motor boat is ready to leave . . ."
"No!" interrupted Francisco. "They'll be guarding the harbour. We'd better go out there," he said slowly, lifting his finger, to indicate the desert.
"Maybe you're right. But neither of us knows what is out there."
"It doesn't matter. Get your car." They crept to Morney's garage where a large blue automobile stood in the sun.
Quickly both got in and they drove to the outskirts of the town. Suddenly Morney stopped the car. "I haven't noticed that road before " he said, pointing to what could be considered a moderately good road 'that led off to the horizon.
"I'll ask someone where it goes to," said Francisco, stepping out of the car. He noticed a man lazing against a wall, his wide- brimnied hat tilted over his eyes. He reminded Francisco of visions of 19th century Mexican bandits, only this Mexican's clothing was torn and ragged, but that was only to be expected as this was the peasants' quarter of the town. "Hey!" shouted Francisco. The Mexican looked up and said "Si signor."
"Do you know where this road leads to?"
"Si signor." The Mexican lifted his hat showing a brown face, jet-black hair, a few yellow teeth in a smiling mouth, above which was a thick black moustache.
"Where then?"
"Well, it's a long time since I been there. I was then only very little."
"Hurry up," said Francisco, gritting his teeth menacingly.
"Well . . ." but the Mexican was cut off as a bullet glanced the pavement near Francisco, who grabbed the Mexican roughly and bundled him into the back seat of Momey's car. Quickly Morney accelerated up the road, followed by two more bullets from a policeman standing on the corner of a street.
After a few minutes Francisco spoke: "Well, where does this road lead to?"
The Mexican cringed fearfully into a corner. "I know who you are," he said. "You are the smugglers who all the police want." He paused. "Also, I know that they wanted you for killing a customs officer . . ."
"Shut up!" cried Morney. "Shut him up, Francisco."
"No," said Francisco, turning back to the Mexican. "Now where does this road lead to?"
The Mexican tried to back further away at the sight of a knife Francisco had taken from his pocket. Francisco moved near him. "Where to?" he demanded.
"Okay, okay. At the end of the road is a wonderful city, as big as great continents. It is so vast, yet so quiet and peaceful," he described dreamily. But suddenly he turned to Francisco and said viciously, "but you will never, get there. This city isn't meant for murderers and thieves. You will never get there. Never . . ." Francisco's fist struck him, and he slumped to the floor of the car. "I wonder what he meant," said Morney in an incidental tone.
"Probably just an ordinary city. These peasants think that anything bigger than the town we've just left is enormous. It can't be very far away."
They drove on for another few hours, until darkness fell, when they slept, and drove on next day, until, in the inid-aftemoon ' the car spluttered to a halt. "What's up?" questioned Francisco.
"No more petrol," came the reply. "I have none spare either." All three got out. Francisco went to the boot and got out a bottle of water. He began to gulp it away when the Mexican approached him. "Please signor," he said pitifully. " Could I have just a little? My mouth - it's so dry." Francisco brought the bottle down from his mouth, regarded the Mexican's wretched face, and condescend- ed, handing the bottle to him. However, Morney walked swiftly up and snatched the bottle from the Mexican's parched lips. "What do you think you're doing?" he said, turning to Francisco. "We need all the water we've got." He wiped the rim of the neck of the bottle and took an over-adequate mouthful. Then he handed the bottle back to Francisco. "Now," said Morney addressing the Mexican. "How long will it take to get to the city?" "I told you," said the Mexican, looking up at Morney with narrowed eyes. "Men like you will never get there. Never."
The three walked on through the never-ending desert, until night came. By mid-day next day their abandoned car was out of sight lost ill the sea of sand. Morney's vision was blurred and his thou hts were very nebulous. Every few yards the Mexican fell, and while Francisco pulled him to his feet Morney took a mouthful of water which cleared his brain for a few minutes, before his next mouthful. He thought of how he had lost a lot of stolen goods in a conflagration over a year previously, of how he had always managed to fool the police. But his brain was constantly harassed by the indelible memory of the customs officer lying dead in a corner, in a pool of blood, after Francisco had killed him. He couldn't forget that, no matter how hard he tried.
It was on one occasion, in the early afternoon, that Morney looked back, as he was taking his mouthful of water, as Francisco was lifting the Mexican from the ground, and saw a small speck on the horizon. He drew Francisco's attention to it, and as they gazed, it grew bigger until it took the form of a police car. Morney got out a gun; Francisco did likewise. They waited until it got near enough and then opened fire. The car screeched to a stop and five police- men got out. All got out revolvers and retaliated. Francisco fell and the Mexican crouched behind his body. Quickly Morney ran out of bullets and put his hands up in the air.
The policemen walked up and searched him. "You are Felix Morney, and this is Francisco don Valdez?" Morney could only nod. He was put in the back of the police car with the Mexican and two policemen. On the way back the Mexican said quietly to Mor.ney, "Signor, I told you you would not get there. I went when I was a little boy. I went in a dream. If I am executed, if they think I was working for you, then I will go there, forever. But you, when you are executed; you will not go there. Nor will your friend. I do not mind dying. as long as I go to the city at the end of the road. Signor, that road leads to Heaven."
A. DARVILL (Fourth Form).
EVERLASTING AGONY
Here we were standing straining our necks to try and see what was happening to the others. There were a lot of brave faces but I knew most of us were either nervous or dead scared. We had been waiting for quite a while but you know what those kind of people are like. We had to stand there and watch as the others slowly went. No-one dared to run because they knew what the consequences would be. They watched the next people going, they all shuddered. I did not watch: I preferred not to. I wasn't as sadistic as they were. Then we gradually began to move forward. All the faces were gaunt including mine. And then it was my turn. I'd got my seat for the most thrilling event at the fair, the Switchback.
R. ROGERS (Third Form).
THE COTTAGE
It stands, overlooking the bleak East Anglian Heights. From the attic window one sees to the east, Ferrets Wood; to the west the grim outline of the missile base, standing on the old airfield, once the home of 10 Bomber Group, Lavenham. The cottage has a musty smell about it, and when one walks about upstairs the floorboards creak and groan like a man in agony.
The cottage was built in the fourteenth century by a more prosperous villein than the rest. There were other cottages too, but the only remains of them are the odd brick turned over by the plough, and perhaps the charred skull of an unfortunate tenant. The garden, once beautiful and cared for, is a mass of weeds and tangled briars. Fallen apples, mouldy and rotten, litter the ground. The cottage was once owned by a smallholder: at the bottom of the ditch running through the garden lies the skeleton of a pig, and in the shed at the bottom of the garden lie sacks of chicken feathers.
But if you wait till first light you will see the cottage looking just as it did before last night, all its windows intact and the early morning sun lighting it up, giving it a cheerful appearance.
Since the murder of its last tenant (he was found hanging half- out of the window with his face badly lacerated and his throat cut), none of the villagers will go near the cottage. Dubbing it "The Accursed Abode," they say that a villager was cycling home one night past the cottage, when the gate opened, apparently by itself. The terrified man got off his bicycle, ran screaming down the lane, blurted out his story to the first person he saw, and fell on his face, dead.
It was not hard to find the cause of the unfortunate man's death. His face was badly lacerated and his throat was cut.
The cottage has not been used now for three years, and probably never will be, for every prospective tenant gets a dose of the house's macabre history, and it is true that no-one has ever passed by the cottage at night since the last tenant's death without finding on arrival home mysterious cuts over his or her face.
A. SOUTER (Third Form).
Though brazen wrath and boiling blood
Make crimes of bleary nothings, lay the blame
For unintended wrongs, and brood
On dim revenge, for harms not worth the name
When rage is calmed, resentment stayed,
These dragon deeds recede; a calmer light
Reveals the transient blur that made
This seem so magnified, which is so slight.
DURHAM LETTER
Despite the efforts of Woolverstone's two ambassadors in Durham to dispel the rumoured, though in fact non-existent, ecclesiastical gloom of this ancient city, the new session saw no new O.W.'s to join Messrs. Charlie Page (Grey) and Jack Lonergan (Hatfield). With the University expanding so fast that even last year's Freshers can talk of things as they were, intimate and friendly, one hopes that Durham still remains for most people the very attractive place it is. Durham is one of the three European towns with both Cathedral and Castle on the same hill (the others are Prague and Vienna). In this case, however, there are also the Union Society and the University Library buildings between the two. This is all surrounded by a horse-shoe bend in the River Wear. The river banks, steep in places, are still unspoilt, and provide very pleasant scenery, ancf walks only yards from the town centre.
In the life of the University, Jack and Charlie do make some impression: sport is in the capable hands and feet of Charlie - he's in the college team and the University 4ths. (Rather like the Woolverstone 3rds really). Talking is done vociferously by Jack, as Secretary of the Union, and running the college Debating Society. Naturally their depth of musical talent is fully used: Charlie has disbanded an embryonic clarinetty-jazzy-poppy group, and Jack, in the orchestra, is very content to play second fiddle to two good freshmen trombonists. Dramatic Society have inexplic- ably, though sensibly, ignored him since the first term, so he may have to end up doing some academic work-something which you can be sure Charlie manages. He did boast of being a wow with the birds . . God help the deluded ornithologist!
Of our Newcastle friends little is seen or heard, save Paddy Prendergast's script for a 'musical entertainment', and James Dickson's sign of poverty, his Wolseley (18 . . . it looks).
Perhaps next year will see more O.W.'s in Durham., they would enjoy it without a doubt, and Durham would certainly be glad to have them (Well, you gotta have someone . . . )
J. P. LONERGAN.