THE

SHIRBURNIAN

SHERBORNE: AT THE ABBEY PRESS

VOL. XLVI

SUMMER

No. 2

1956

,

THE

SHIRBURNIAN

SUMMER

VOL. XLVI

1956

No. 2

Illustrations

Editorial

School News

O.S. News

Comment The Matthew Passion Cox and Box

CONTENTS

Inter-House Singing Competition Physical Training Competition 1956 C.C.F. General Inspection ,,, ,,, ... R.M.F.V.R. Course attended by Three Shirburnians Royal Naval Section Annual Training 1956 ... Organ Recital Commemoration The Art Exhibition The Commem. Play The Prologue

School Societies The Duffers Interpretes Green Ribbon Club ... The Alchemists Les Polyglottes The James Rhoades Society The Wildman Society The Ornithological Society The Music Club The Orchestra The Band ... Fishing Club Golf Society Philatelic Society Photographic Society

Correspondence

Literary The Commem. Dance Many Have Before The Moors Snizzly Snout In Toil of Sleep Eschatological Thoughts of a hero The Rakes Progress He was a very parfet gentle Knight A Reply for his friend .. . . .• Upon the visit of Messrs. Bulganin & Kruschev Reports Made Easy The Snake ...

Games Hockey Squash Fives Boxing The Gym Squad Cricket Athletics Tennis Shooting Sailing Club

Valete

Frontispiece i Frontispiece ii

41

44

45

47 48 48 48 49 49 50 50 50 51 51 53

55 55 55 56 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 57 57 57

58

60 61 62 63 64 64 65 67 67 68 69 70

71 72 73 74 74 75 78

... 78 79 79

80

. -- - ~

B.C.S.

Gd to your marks ... Gd set .......... . H<"y ! \\'ait a minul<".

" Ilea ting Retreat "

EDITORIAL An empty wine-bottle, two faded dance tickets, and a rapidly diminishing box of crystallised

fruits commend themselves to our bleary-eyed gaze. Here we have a still-life that the most thimble-witted of philistine art-critics could interpret. Its message is brief and poignant : Commemoration is over. It is time to write that infernal editorial. Why shouldn't we, like the Head of School, be allowed to bribe some miserable rhyme-twister in 4A to trot out pretty puns for our little prologue ? Some horrid little bespectacled sneak who really is in touch with School activities, some precocious poetaster with a finger in every School pie ? Talking of pies, we would just like to warn anyone who is thinking of trying an eightpenny one in the Toey, that the ingeniously constructed dome of pastry on top gives no indication whatsoever of the quantity of meat inside. In fact, as everyone knows, this year's Prologue was devised entirely by the orator himself. Take note, you waistcoated bureaucrats, whose efforts at self-expression on paper are at times something approaching the effect of a squad of inky-footed ants attempting the kitten-crawl, and who distinguish yourselves from each other by nothing more than a spas­modic splatter of illegible initials. Perhaps the current handwriting purge in the Lower School will blossom out into a Renaissance of literacy amongst our initialled friends in years to come. As for ourselves, on the few occasions when we find ourselves importuned by masters for specimens of our scintillating prose, we prefer the delicate metallic curves of our ancient second-hand typewriter. Fondly we imagine future generations of Sherborne's aristocracy handing in their essays on strips of tape-recording, or even baskin~ in bed during early-morning school beside their television screens, watching wretched, unshaven masters labouring frantically by their blackboards. Judging by the noises which have from time to time during the term been heard to penetrate the floorboards of Room Seven, the Modern Language group is taking big steps in this direction. Yes, there are signs that Sherborne's architectural development may well be going hand in hand with big social changes. The advent of the waistcoat will be as heartbreaking to some as the disappearance of the walking-stick and the Head of School's moustache to others. To crown it all, we hear tell of an enterprising Housemaster who not only invited a party of girls from Wingfield to play tennis, but actually had them for tea afterwards. Inevitably we recall the story of the Big Bad Wolf .•.•.•

42 THE SHIRBURNIAN

We wonder not a little at the fact that, while it has become fashionable to foster social and cultural ties with our Sister-School (hence the word" fraternise" ?), we have not yet got around, to extending our hospitality to friends in other Houses. It is perhaps a major criticism of Sher­borne, that a boy's life is deliberately organised into such channels that he seldom gets the chance to break away from a small circle of friends in his own House. From his first day, he is made painfully aware of the " chalk-line " across his dayroom ; he is permitted occasional glimpses of strange faces on the games fields, and is granted the cold silence of the classroom in which to learn what is happening to the rest of the School. By the time he has left, he finds himself gazing upon as strange a sea of faces as confronted him on his first day. Ifhe tries to break away, and is seen amongst a group of boys from other Houses, he is pounced upon for being a " School Blood".

One of the most harmful results of this restriction is a possible dangerous over-emphasis of the " House-Cult ", which, as was observed on the Rugger field on the occasion of a recent inter-House final, can lead to a total submersion of School spirit in a disgusting exhibition of prejudice. Again, when a boy leaves Sherborne, it is not as an Old Shirburnian that he tends to think of himself, but rather as an ex-member of such-and-such a House.

No doubt, the above-mentioned faults of the system are of minor importance, when one considers the quiet, unassuming young gentleman, equipped with modest social graces, which it is capable of producing. As it is, we have chosen to be tidy rather than smart, nice rather than slick, and such we are content to remain for the time being. But at all costs, let us not be afraid to give the needle a shove when the groove begins to wear too deep.

NOTEBOOK In the last few months events of world shattering importance have been crowding in on our

little community, and history has been accelerating in a most disconcerting fashion, leaving us running and gasping for breath, as if late for early morning school. Confronted by the prospect of P.T., cricket, societies, corps, examinations and the numerous other functions peculiar to the summer term, the sun-worshipping Shirburnian must plan his activities with the accuracy and foresight of a touring Monarch. By the time he reads this he will have lost weight, sleep, and most of his patience ; but, on reflection, he will probably think that companionship, discussion and exercise are more than adequate compensations.

When we returned to our cloistered existence after the exhilaration of Monte-Carlo frolics, Russian bears and English frogmen-not to mention spirited financial jokes perpetrated by an administration previously considered humdrum, the idea of thirteen weeks of competition and restriction seemed alarming. We need not have been worried. Despite the unprecedented number of School Prefects, over 50 people delayed their entry into the Chapel until after that of the Headmaster, one gentleman almost achieving a hat-trick. Scarcely had Miss Monroe announced her intentions of coming to England, than a certain Head of House rushed to the nearest barber to ingratiate himself with the fashion most likely to be recognised by that good lady. While one O.S. was engaged in exploring the atmosphere at speeds exceeding 1,000 miles an hour, the rest of us had to be content with a fleeting glimpse of a quaint erection on four wheels as it sped down Hospital Hill towards the Main Gates conveying its cheerful passenger somewhat precariously to his destination.

Much of the Sherborne scene however, retains its familiar character, unwithered by age or circumstance. The rubble and scaffolding in the courts, which has been there now for over a year, looks as if it will remain a testimonial to the British Workman for some time to come. Athletes and cricketers still indulge in their annual altercations over the relative importance of their respective sports, while those with guns and tennis rackets look on as interested spectators. The Wildman Society, that amusing old hypochondriac ever solicitous after its own health, is still with us, although we understand its treatment is to be severely altered next term. Another of our more eminent brethren has proudly handed us his Valete for the third time, and we are again speculating as to his sincerity ; however, we have it on good authority that he is this time actually contemplating financial investment in his recession.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN 43

Came Commemoration week, interfering with Royal Ascot and the Second Test instead of Wimbledon, and we drilled, sang, listened and gaped in our usual way, while we, or others, endeavoured to amuse our various progenitors. A bishop came all the way from Devon to warn us against our all too susceptible selves ; a distinguished man of politics, business and learning from London to keep us awake to the existence of America ; but some of us still entered Mr. Westlake's hallowed temple on Saturday evening, and many more refrained from throwing bottles at a few " flannelled fools " playing an outmoded game on the same afternoon.

But we are back to the normal routine now, putting off revising for exams, following the County Cricket Championship, waiting for the French challenge at Goodwood, counting the days to the end of term. Some, ourself included, will be leaving ; only to return with fast car and high­powered girl friend-amusing a few, annoying many. We have enjoyed our stay; we hope all who read this will eventually be able to say the same.

THE CENSUS Following the example of our predecessors, we surprised study-holders, fags and prefects

at the end of May with a light-hearted enquiry into the habits and opinions of our fellows. Let us make it clear from the start that we had to admit defeat ; the average Shirburnian seemed either unwilling or unable to rise to the occasion. The Green and Harper House provided the best entertainment, while Abbeylands and School House were tediously irate. Westcott House produced one set of replies which rendered anything but hysterical speech impossible for several minutes ; and Lyon House answers showed a great deal of originality.

The results may be briefly summarised as follows : With very few exceptions Shirburnians consider themselves gay, young, handsome and

debonair ; also, they are kind to animals and feathered friends .... some individuals in West­cott seemed particularly attached to birds. The majority of you appear to be dissatisfied with books in the School libraries, and consider the Chapel an interesting example of barn conversion. Nearly all who shave do so only when told to, or, as one person boldly declared, " To intimidate juniors " ; nevertheless an encouraging minority of VI Form scientists were frank enough to admit they did so only because they had seen others doing likewise. One gentleman read The Shirburnian merely to prove he had been at School during the term in question ; many were impressed with its utilitarian value as a receptacle for fish and chips ; but most were divided as to whether its purpose was to record school activities or to provide entertainment of a more enduring nature. Punch was a narrow winner from Men Only in the School's literary tastes, with The ·shirburnian placed high, and the Soviet Weekly as its neighbour. The question of School rules on Ascension Day confirmed our suspicions that they exist only to be broken ; 70 per cent of the School admitted to acts of indiscretion, generally in the region of half a dozen per individual. Several members of Elmdene complained they were given no chance to prove themselves, although one of their number managed four. A hardened 16 year old IV former was uncertain whether to put 6 or 6!, explaining, " only a fag-end ".

Messrs. Singletons and Freemans topped the poll with a substantial majority, as those cesponsible, in the opinions of Shirburnians at any rate, for doing Sherborne for the most. No such unanimity was expressed in the answers to the" tricky "question, " Who is Fons Limpidus ?" Among those so identified were : the Headmistress of the Girls' School, the owner of the sewage farm, the School Wet, Stalin, and the Dummy in the swimming bath. Again opinions differed widely as to who were the best dressed boy and assistant master. Where the answer was no! of the "Modesty forbids ... " variety, Weston seemed to have gained a slight lead over Humphreys as the best dressed boy, although " Dew on Sundays " was popular in certain sections of the community. Of the assistant masters, every single one gained at least five votes. Most prominent were : Messrs. Carpenter, Boissier, Anstice Brown, Jarrett, Bruce, and Earls-Davis. Popular targets for those armed with dynamite and matches were the Editors of The Shirburnian, " that flat-footed prefect in Westcott House", and a certain gentleman's handsome four-wheeled conveyance. A physics master's haversack would have been blown to pieces.

44 THE SHIRBUR.NIAN

And now we finally come to that well-worn Topic : the subject of the Girls' School. With one significant exception, a highly civilised Classicist, the School seems frantic. Suggestions for increased fraternisation were many and varied. From Elmdene came blunt expressions of extremely practical minds. VI th form historians were wilder, more colourful, but, we are afraid, less practical. It was generally felt that one dance a year is not enough, and that there is in­sufficient use made of opportunities provided by tennis, swimming, discussions, teas, and acting. One boy suggested that use might be made of debating and lacrosse as opportunities for fraternis­ation.

* * * * * * But enough ... we would like to end on a general note about the purpose of the census.

Some actually believed we were trying to trip them up on Fons Limpidus, and, not willing to fall into the" trap", answered," It is not a person, but a brook that flows by the VIth form door." We did not mean to fool anyone; rather we wanted to see what originality we could unearth. The census was not supposed to be taken seriously, as so many thought ; nor was it intended to anger anyone. Here we must take our hats off to the Green who rose admirably to the stick of dynamite, and generally showed what we felt to be the" right spirit". The object was simply to have a little fun, and, although for the most part people co-operated, we find that we must duly apologise to those few who were offended.

SCHOOL NEWS

Head of the School School Prefects ...

Editors of The Shirburnian

Captain of Cricket Athletics Shooting Tennis Swimming Gym

Chapel Prefect ...

SCHOOL OFFICERS

A. B. HARVIE-CLARK (a) R. N. SPINK A. C. GARROD (b) T. F. H. MERMAGEN N. C. HUMPHREYS A. F. N. DEW (c) R. W. S. HIRD A. E. H. GERRY (d) J. F. KENT C. S; CARWARDINE

P.J. WESTON. M. WHITAKER (f) P. J. C. ROWE (g) C. R. J. EGLINGTON M.MALEY P. J. WESTON (h) R. G. SMITHSON P. V. MARTYN P. C. PARSONS A. C. B. M. DAVID

P. C. PARSONS M. C. CUMBERLEGE (d) R. A. R. EV ANS P. D. TAYLOR (g)

C. R. J. EGLINGTON R. W. S. HIRD H. W. WALKER (g) R. N. SPINK A. E. H. GERRY A. R. D. NORMAN (h) N. C. HUMPHREYS

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN 45

We congratulate : The following on winning University Awards : R. A. R. EV ANS an Open Postermastership in History to Merton College, Oxford. J. J. CHADWICK an Open Exhibition in History to St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. C. C. T. HENFREY the Lincoln Old Fellows Exhibition at Oxford.

also: Mr. HART on his recent engagement. We wish him every success with his new appointment

at Shrewsbury.

O.S. NEWS OBITUARY

ABELL, Charles Francis, O.B.E. (f 1902-1906). FRINK, Frederick Cuyler (Wood's 1881-1886). ENSOR, Lieut.-Colonel Frederick Charles Curme, O.B.E. (a 1892-1896). REEKS, Peter James Frederick (c 1945-1949). NISBET, Harry Courtenay Carey (f 1906-1909). LYLE, Claude Wormald (b 1926-1931). GUYON, Charles Henry Coplestone Langford (Wilson's 1896-1898). SPURR, Norman Franklin (d 1914-1916). It is regretted that the name of Hew Lawrence James (g 1947-1951) was wrongly announced

in our issue for the Lent Term, I 956.

Colonel A. P. HODGES, M.C. (c 1910-1912) has been awarded the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre with Palms.

L. P. W. TWISS, D.S.C. (b 1936-1938) is the holder of the World Flying Speed record. I. P. TODD, F.R.C.S. (f 1935-1938) has been awarded the degree of Master of Surgery at

the University of Toronto. V. A. M. HUNT (a 1926-1931) has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical

Society. A. E. S. CHARLES (c 1923-1928) received the C.B.E. in the Birthday Honours List. Brigadier R. H. BELLAMY, D.S.O. (g 1924-1928) received the C.B.E. in the Birthday

Honours List. P. ]. SPREADBURY (d 1947-1951) has been awarded a First Class in the Mechanical

Sciences Tripos, Part 2. A. C. QUAINTON (d 1951-1952) has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship to Christchurch

College,. Oxford. · M. J. HENCHMAN (a 1949-1953) has been awarded a Melon Scholarship to Yale

University.

REEKS, Peter James Frederick (c 1945-1949) Peter died at his home near Minehead in March. He came to The Green from St. Peter's,

Exmouth. He was always retiring, and, no guile seemed to be in his mouth at an age when most boys are brutal with words. Peter was not a talented games player, but he more than held his own in the gym and showed an astonishing ability to climb trees on Sunday afternoon walks.

He was gifted with wide interests. History, especially military history, fascinated him. Archaeology led him a pilgrim to Cadbury Rings and on rambles across Exmoor. He had a genuine love for literature, poetry and music, but wore his knowledge lightly.

46 THE SHIRBURNIAN

It came as a shock to his friends, when he was passed as medically unfit for the Army and found to be dangerously ill. We were humbled, because we realised we had not made his lot at school any easier. He struggled to recover and succeeded so well, that he was articled to a firm of solicitors in Minehead. He passed his Intermediate Law exams. He was working in London for his Finals, when his last painful illness overtook him. But, he was brought home a week before he died in the countryside he loved so much, and over which he had hunted only a few months before.

J.G.Y.

PETE This is an unsolicited testimonial : it is offered in regretful farewell to the American who

knew a lot of English, and never gave up underlining proper names ; who always dressed correctly, but never grew out his crew-cut ; who played in Three Cock, but never offered to teach us baseball ; who had done a host of interesting things, but never shot a line ; who had much to give, and gave a great deal ; who had a gift of phrase, and an even greater gift of humility.

Lent Term : February 26th March 4th March 11th March 18th March 25th Summer Term : May 6th May 13th May 20th (Whitsunday) May 27th June 3rd June 10th June 17th June 23rd ( Commem. Service) and June 24th (Sunday of Commem.

CHAPEL COLLECTIONS

British Legion (Sherborne Branch) Diocesan Quota ofSherborne Abbey C.M.S. S.C.M. in Schools Dorset and Wilts. Association for the Deaf

Sherborne House, Bermondsey British Foreign Bible Society Chapel Building Fund at Lewe's County Grammar School

S.P.G. Diocesan Quota of Sherborne Abbey Dr. Barnardo's Homes Sherborne Boys' Brigade

Divided between Sherborne House and the funds of Sherborne Abbey

* * * From The Shirburnian of 50 years ago :

"The signalling section is now thoroughly organised and equipped with heliographs, etc." "P. P. Hope won the 150 yards consolation race at the School Sports."

ANON.

£ s. d.

10 10 3 12 6 2 9 13 0

10 2 11 11 8 0

9 14 5 9 6 8

12 12 11

10 9 9 9 2 8

10 13 6 7 10 1

87 11 11 71 12 2

F.C.C.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 47

COMMENT "THE MATTHEW PASSION"

In Bach's time a musical setting of the Passion was a regular part of the Lutheran Liturgy for Holy Week. He is reputed to have composed five, of which there are only two authentic survivors : the "St. John", composed in 1724, and the "St. Matthew" in 1729. Both were composed for, and first sung in, St. Thomas' Church, Leipzig, of which Bach had been appointed organist and choirmaster in 1723, a post he held until his death. The " St. Matthew " is the greater work : composed when he was 44 and at the very summit of his powers, it is by common consent the greatest setting of the Passion that we possess.

It is a very long work, and Mr. Ferry, severely limited by rehearsing and performing time, was obliged to cut it drastically ; what we heard in Sherborne Abbey on March 7th was, in fact, little more than half. His dilemma was acute, for he had to sacrifice either a lot of wonderful music or much of the narrative : I think he was wise to preserve the continuity of the narrative, for this, unlike some large-scale religious works, demands a complete presentation of a story with little or no unnecessary material, and a disconnected narrative would have meant a performance that was intellectually unsatisfactory, all the more so because this story is so well known that no break in the continuity could have escaped notice. It also had the advantage of giving most of the limelight to Mr. Eric Greene. But it was impossible not to regret many lovely arias, and particularly the two great choruses, Come ye daughters and 0 man, thy grievous sin bemoan, both of which were represented only by the treble line sung to a chorale setting. Apart from the chorales and its " interfering" passages, the role of the chorus was limited to Have lightnings and thunders and In tears of grief.

Of the soloists, the honours must go to Miss Marion Milfield for singing at all the day after breaking her ankle, and for singing well after her first aria, Jesus, Saviour, I am thine, in which she had not quite warmed up. Miss Helen Watts, the contralto, has not an entirely pure voice, but one of very pleasant quality, and she uses it very intelligently. Her singing of Have mercy, Lord, on me and Ah, Golgotha were among the most enjoyable moments of the performance. Mr.James Atkins did not sing At evening, hour of calm and peace badly, but he was very poor as Jesus. His voice has an unpleasant, sawing quality, and is innocent of inflections of feeling and variety of tone : he sang at an uniform me.zzoforte throughout, and made nothing at all of the opportunities offered by such passages as the Institution of the Sacrament. He completely threw away "Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani ", which Mr. Eric Green picked up and showed him how it ought to be sung.

Mr. Eric Green sang the part of the Evangelist faultlessly. His rendering of the Agony in the Garden, the excitement he put into the Arrest, and his perfect singing of such phrases as "yielded up the ghost " and " the rocks were rent " are only a few examples of an artistry and a virtuosity that will remain in our memories for a long time.

The chorus was once or twice a bit heavy in the softer chorales, and made an unconvincing entry at " Then open, 0 fathomless pit ", which lies awkwardly low in the compass of the higher voices, but with these exceptions it sang with conviction and, where necessary, with great zest ; the ~hort, but none the less colossal chorus Have lightnings and thunders was in the main sung with enormous spirit, and the great final chorus, which could easily be overdriven, with commendable restraint.

Mr. Ferry again managed to make his mixed bag of performers work together as if they were used to it, and must again be congratulated, although we have come to expect it of him. It was mostly due to him that the work was performed with such understanding, and that the performance was of such a high quality. It was one of which no body of professionals need have been ashamed, and will be remembered as one of the School's greatest musical achievements.

G.J.B.W.

48 THE SH/RB UR.NIAN

COX AND BOX

We, on behalf of the whole School, take this opportunity to thank Messrs. Carpenter, Runge, Cundy and Wiles, and all the "behind-the-scenes" people who helped make Cox and Box the success it was. At that stage of the term when nerves are frayed and eyesight dim, the production was delightfully refreshing. Mr. Cundy went" Rat-a-plan, rat-a-plan" (he was a military man) ; Mr. Runge lullabied his bacon to an encore ; and Mr. Carpenter hopped about to the tune of " Printer, printer, take a hinter". What impressed us most was the wonderful spirit about the whole affair; Cox, Box and the Landlord all had tremendous fun ; swinging scenery, bacon that would not stay on the fork, and "Call me Berty "-all of these became part of the show. We end this all too short discourse by repeating our thanks for a good time had by all.

INTER-HOUSE SINGING COMPETITION

After a ten-day postponement, the Inter-House Singing Competition was held in the Methodist Hall on March 9th. Coughs and colds had taken their toll throughout the term, and consideration was evidently felt for the judge, Mr. Robin Wood, in deciding not to ask him down to listen to house choirs depleted both in quality and in numbers. The postponement was in many ways a pity. Apart from the inevitable feeling of anticlimax that resulted, it was after all a competition and not a concert, and house choirs and judge alike might therefore have been expected-as in other competitive events-to accept illness as part of the general hazard.

As in previous years the competition took the form of two chosen songs-unison and madrigal. The unison song was an English translation of Brahms' "Verrat" (Treachery). This was a difficult song for a choir to interpret well. Being originally conceived for a solo voice of more than normal range, it requires throughout a subtle flexibility of tone-colour without which the song becomes dull and pedestrian. Though one or two choirs were near to attaining what was required, none of the houses were really successful in penetrating the depth of feeling that characterizes Brahms' setting. The madrigal was a four-part work by Palestrina, with the English title" When flow'ry meadows deck the year". Its origin is obscure-possibly it is from his small collection of Italian madrigals, or it may even have been taken from one of his Masses, with English secular words in sixteenth century style added later. Whatever its source it is a work that gives plenty of scope for polished contrapuntal singing and beauty of tone and phrasing. The latter qualities, so important in sixteenth century madrigal-singing, were not exhibited to a very high degree by any except Abbey House who, despite some difficulty of balance in their little choir of six, produced some of the loveliest sound of the evening.

The School was unfortunate in having to use the Methodist Hall. Besides the bad acoustics, the stage was uncomfortably cramped and in some cases singers were hidden behind the curtains. The judge gave credit to all houses for the way in which they tackled difficult songs in uncongenial surroundings. His remarks to individual houses were not easy to follow-what he criticized in one house's efforts he was equally apt to praise in another's-but his general suggestions as to methods of combatting bad acoustics with the aid of careful diction were both helpful and appropriate. His awards were :-

Madrigal. 1st Westcott House. 2nd Lyon House.

Unison Song. 1st. Abbeylands. 2nd {Westcott House.

Lyon House. J.C.R.

PHYSICAL TRAINING COMPETITION 1956

The P.T. Competition was held this year on Tuesday, May 29th, and was judged by Major Morgan and Captain O'Callaghan of the Army Physical Training Staff. The work shown by the first five Houses was good and well up to the standard of other years. I was particularly pleased with the way the Junior Squads tackled a rather difficult table and the result does their Instructors great credit.

THE SHIRBURNIAN

The result was as follows :-

House Seniors Juniors Abbey House 120 100 Lyon House 122 96 The Green 117 91 Harper House 110 96 Westcott House 108 90 Abbey lands 106 86 School House B 99 86 School House A 98 78

May 30th, 1956.

C.C.F. GENERAL INSPECTION

May 25th, 1956

49

Marks Total 220 218 208 206 198 192 185 176

M.E.K.W.

The impression is still fresh, and since it is a first impression, I feel duty-bound to set it down. The whole body of boys in their soldier outfits assembled on the Upper at 9.45, and by 10, through various military indirections had found direction out. This I would not have believed possible only ten minutes before. Suddenly the band began to beat up a tune ; and soon after, the loud and clear command of Major Buchanan had everyone saluting the inspecting officer, who arrived on time if not by helicopter. Much to my dismay no one fainted during the ensuing inspection, as Air Chief Marshall Hardman, the Headmaster and several others wended slowly through the ranks. At last this was over, and the band led the other sections around the field. At their position which they assumed in front of the reviewers, the band played the Carmen with special vigour while the rest marched snappily out. I was most impressed by the lusty drum­thumping-as were all the tiny tots in the pavilion, where the rain failed to dampen our spirits.

R.M.F.V.R. COURSE ATTENDED BY THREE SHIRBURNIANS

"You are here for one purpose only-to learn how to kill or be killed". These words greeted us in our first period of drill, and, by the end of the course they had certainly been fulfilled, as we fired the rifle and bren at various rates and ranges, the two inch mortar, an energa anti-tank grenade and had thrown hand grenades. The course lasted a fortnight and was intended to show us exactly what went on in the Royal Marines, from sleeping out in the open to entering rooms full of booby-traps, and it also gave us a good preview of national service. The course, though not physically difficult was extremely exhausting as we rose at 6 a.m. and rarely got to sleep before midnight. Our brains, however, were given a complete rest, except in remember­ing the words of forbidden songs as we joumied in trucks to Bickleigh (the command head­quarters), Poole, Plymouth Barracks and various ranges from Lympstone itself. The horrors of " bull " were met and roughly negotiated, but we encountered nothing comparable to that of the ·national service recruit-not a very pleasant thought. The little drill we did was really very interesting as it was completely different from Army drill; there was no spine-jarring stamping, instead it resembled the Navy drill with precision and speed, but that does not mean that it was any idler. The two best points of the whole course were that the pay was 11/- a day with a bounty of £7/10/- if the course was completed ; and the food was first rate with hot meals brought out when we were sleeping out or were spending a day in the field or on one of the ranges. At times boring, but mostly interesting and instructive, the course soon passed .•• for new ground always possesses a strange fascination of its own.

P.J.C.R.

50 THE SHIRBURNIAN

ROYAL NAVAL SECTION ANNUAL TRAINING 1956 Our short visit to H.M.S. Roebuck did not produce the usual stories of days at sea, with

green faced cadets leaning over the side wasting the efforts of the galley, and of ferret-like Petty Officers making bed-loving gentlemen greet the rising sun. Instead we were accommodated during a period of refit and thus experienced a few days with the off-parade Navy. Ifwe did not consider a trip around the harbour, which consisted mainly of attempting to lose contact with the mud, which so rudely held the M.F.V., as particularly instructive, we had a day at sea in H.M.S. Termagent (known to us as the" detergent"), blistered our hands with pulling and above all, we learnt to live in mess decks. Moreover our vocabulary of" non-U" terms was vastly broadened. If the general spirit maintained throughout and the respect we gained for the Petty Officer and the Leading Seamen, who were in charge of us during the training, are any sort of guides, then this period was both enjoyable and valuable.

ORGAN RECITAL by

Sir William McKie, M.V.D. (Organist of Westminster Abbey).

Wednesday, 6th June, 1956, at 8.0 p·m.

J. H. Ross.

The Abbey organ, which was rebuilt last year, was first erected in Sherborne Abbey in 1856, and this recital was given to mark this centenary.

The organ has been termed " the King of instruments ", and though this assertion may provoke discussion it is difficult to think of any other instrument in which such power, grandeur, dynamic range, colour and variety can be displayed as in the tonal resources of a large modern organ. At any rate, it is an exciting instrument and few can have left the Abbey after this recital without being stirred by at least some part of a programme of works which included Bach's Fantasia in G, his Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, Mendelssohn's first Sonata, in F minor and Frank's Pastorale, and without being deeply impressed by Sir William's superb playing and expert handling of so large and complex an instrument.

COMMEMORATION RECITAL OF MUSIC IN THE ABBEY in the Abbey, Friday, June 22nd, at 6 p.m.

R.B.F.

The neatest small item was certainly the transcription of the Gavotte in F, by S. S. Wesley (played earlier in the term by Sir William McKie in his organ recital). J. R. P. Swayne (flute) sustained an easily-flowing melodic line, and was happily supported by C. J. Robinson (oboe), R. C. Hardwick (clarinet) and R. G. Penman (bassoon).

The Trio in A minor, Op. 114 (2nd movement), for clarinet, 'cello, and piano, by Brahms, was admirably played, but the resonances of the Abbey allowed some of us to hear only the clarinet and the piano, played by C. W. J. Hanbury-Tracy and Mr. G. E. Wiles. The 'cello (C. A. J. Knott), when it did break through, sounded true and firm, but mostly it was lost.

0. J. C. Parry-Jones bravely sang a difficult Peter Warlock song, "Come Sleep". But the organ accompaniment, delicate though it was, lacked the flexibility of the more usual piano, and in consequence, the song sounded a little too rigorous. There were, we understand, practical reasons for using the organ, but it was a pity that it had to be so.

The trombone solo by J. H. Ross," In Native Worth", by Hadyn, was wholly successful in its pleasant, modest way, with Mr.J. L. Dussek's organ accompaniment.

The four larger works showed the very high standard of orchestral playing which Mr. Ferry, with his assistants of the Music Staff, has now produced. The Anthem, "Rejoice in the Lord alway ", by Purcell, provided an apt beginning, and a rare opportunity for the Chapel Choir to show its merits outside its normal functional limits. The Concerto Grosso for Strings,

THE SHIRBURNIAN 51

by Stanley, was firm, clear and nicely balanced between solo violin (Mr. F. Hart) and 'cello (C. A.J. Knott) and the orchestra, with a steady, unobtrusive continua played by M.J. Wright. The second movement of Beethoven's 2nd Symphony was again a true performance and not a School exercise ; but, as one must expect of a young orchestra, its exposed entires of wood­wind and brass were at times apologetic.

The setting of the Hundredth Psalm by Vaughan Williams came as a fitting and massive close to this delightfully chosen ·programme. At first, the orchestra seemed to swamp the choral effort ; but this may have been a local phenomenon in certain parts of the Abbey. At all events, this item gave evidence of careful rehearsal and enthusiastic performance.

F.C.C.

THE ART EXHIBITION

The three large oils which dominated one end of the room-Mitchell's extraordinarily powerful study of a gasworks, the imaginative and intriguing " Little World " of Smallwood and Rambaut's sombre picture of Waterloo Bridge-were typical of the originality of subject matter which characterised this exhibition. Among the other oil paintings, I particularly liked the handling of reflected light in Kent's picture of boats taking the mud and the accomplished technique of Arbuthnot's copies of Leonardo and Rubens. John's painting of hop poles was an interesting composition and Wadley's pictures of boats, though their texture was a little in­consistent, showed a promising sense of arrangement.

The water colours and powder colours were well balanced. On the one hand there were vivid and cheerful pictures in solid colour, such as Tyler's model railway enthusiasts and Davis's two very well handled compositions, of washing on the line and the carpenter at his bench ; and on the other some able transparent water colours of a more conventional sort. Among the latter, the very sensitive impressions of the Cathedral Close at Salisbury by Key were outstanding. McLaughlin seemed equally at home in both styles and produced a remarkable number of pictures all carried out with great facility.

Above our heads, Jennings-Bramley's mobile performed satisfying antics to remind us that there is more to art than painting in oils or water-colours. Other effective experiments in less usual media included Smallwood's adventures in the Chinese manner, Meller's very pleasing scraperboard studies and some pleasant lino-cuts in contrasting colours. Above all, there was the pottery section with its exciting shapes and colours, dominated by a fine coiled pot by Small, most effectively decorated by Cunningham. This was flanked by some clay figures, including a Washerwomen by Popov, full of implied movement and power. The composite picture of Cheap Street shop fronts was especially interesting, not only because it revived the tradition of collaboration in painting which we tend to overlook today, but also because it indicated the sort of good work that the Art School can do in preserving some sort of record of these fronts, in case any more of them are torn down and replaced by the hygienic vacuity of plate-glass.

THE COMMEM. PLAY

In " The Inspector General " Gogol set out to satirise the wretched provincial officials of a small and remote Russian township of the mid-19th century, and, by exploring the frailties of their natures, to expose the petty ambitions, the small dishonesties, the pathetic mental con­tortions and the self-deceptions to which men always have been and always will be prone. "What are you laughing at ? " shouts the Mayor at the height of his discomfiture. " You are laughing at yourselves ! "

Now the difficulty facing a 20th century British producer of the play is that he has some­how to establish in his audience's mind a society and way of life of a century ago, and a way of life, to outward appearances at least, incredibly different from its English counterpart ; instead

52 THE SHIRBURNIAN

of the well-ordered, old lady environment of Cranford, with its " elegant economy " and quiet gentility, Gogol presents us with an altogether cruder world, peopled by a more primitive and naive community, with bribery and corruption rife, geese in the anterooms, and peasant-like officials reeking of vodka. And the trouble is that the audience will laugh at these coarse externals whilst failing to see that they merely hide the eternal truths of human nature. The audience, in fact, will take the play out of the producer's hands ; they will see in the mistaken identity plot the sort of farcical situation Goldsmith introduced them to in " She Stoops to Conquer " ; they will recognise in characters, such as Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky or the Charity Commissioner, well established stage " types " ; and they will relish any incidental actions, such as Hlestakov's drinking bout or his borrowing of the roubles, as subsidiary farcical accompaniment.

Gogol himself feared such reactions even from contemporary Russian audiences and warned his cast, " The main thing to guard against is caricature. There must be nothing exagger­ated or trivial ... in the characters ... The less the actor thinks about being funny, the funnier his role will be. The humour will be measured by the seriousness, the absorption in his own affairs, which each character shows in his face. Each of them is anxiously, bustlingly, even ardently bound up in his own affairs, as if they were ~he most important thing in life. Only the spectator sees how trifling are their anxieties. But the characters themselves never joke, and indeed they never dream that anyone might be laughing at them." Fine words and admirable advice for actors in any age ; but how hard to achieve !

Gogol, then, wished the play to be played as a satiric comedy. But Mr. Melvin, a shrewd old hand in catering for Commem. customers, realising that on a large out-door stage broad farcical effects are comparatively easy to achieve and subtle comedic implications very difficult, obviously decided that, despite Gogol, farce was what the customers wanted and farce they would receive.

And farce they got. It began in the first minute when the School Superintendent (James Rowland), a starry, wide-eyed, wild-haired individual, suddenly began turning somersaults a la Richard Hearne and with that artist's same bemused silence ; it continued with the Judge (Paul Whitehurst) and the Charity Commissioner (Robin Crichton) caricaturing with a ven­geance; it became almost knock-about when Dobchinsky (Richard Ryder) and Bobchinsky (David Collins) appeared in identical clothes and proceeded on a chatter-patter act aided by Naughton and Gold gesticulations ; and it continued with tremendous zest and pace throughout the evening with the actors obviously enjoying themselves enormously and the audience catching their infectious spirits, until the end of a boisterous entertainment had arrived, at least for your reviewer, all too soon.

As the Mayor, Roger Hird bore the main heat and burden of the fun ; he contrived an accent, which was usually successful, and had an admirable Sergeant-Major bark. The character of the Mayor should have real depth : " I can see only pig's snouts, instead of faces, nothing more," uttered in his first disillusionment, is the cri-de-coeur of a man who has suddenly seen Hell on earth, a sort of Hieronymus Bosch devil-vision, and occasionally Hird achieved this depth-one remembers, in particular, that last squaring of the shoulders before his final exit. But by and large he was fighting a losing battle against the farcical vision of the play. His wife, played by Hester Jesson, did not appear sufficiently provincial (the whole question of accents was rather baulked) and should surely have had an older and more coquettish make-up ; but her elocution was a model for the younger members of the cast and her sense of stage-movement was excellent. Maureen Flindell, who played her daughter, somehow contrived to bring sin­cerity to a most unrewarding part and her diction also was admirable. The School is fortunate to have two such excellent and decorative actresses willing to assist on these occasions.

And what of the supposed Inspector General himself, Ivan Alexandrovitch Hlestakov, played by Christopher Robbie? Gogol laid down that the part required" a ..• shallow young man ; he is incapable of sustained attention to anything. His speech is staccato, and the words come out of his mouth quite unpredictably." He should also, I think be Non-U (accents again !), for much of the amusement of his imposture should lie in the provincial officials being fooled by someone whom the audience can detect as being an obvious whipper-snapper. Robbie appeared too debonair, too much Administrative Grade, Foreign Office, instead of Executive Grade, Board of Trade ; nor was his speech sufficiently staccato or unpredictable-he gave the

THE SHIRBURNIAN 53

impression of planned rather than spontaneous lying. Yet his performance had many virtues ; he never over-acted and remained consistently true to the vision of his role as he evidently saw it, that of a smooth, selfish dandy. His movements were natural, his sense of timing good, and he displayed remarkable poise and balance.

It was obvious that there are several actors of distinction among the more junior members of the cast. Crichton may have caricatured but he did it beautifully and with a real sense of theatre. Collins, too, showed the range of his ability ; from Yasmin to Bobchinsky in two pro­ductions, need one say more ? Paul Ward, as Michka, was a "natural" and gave a delicious performance ; his scene with Yosif (] ohn Venning) had a sudden ring of truth about it. Ryder supported Collins admirably, and Hugh Johnson, as the Postmaster, perhaps succeeded in the difficult final scene in coming as near to Gogol's requirement of the actor being absorbed in his own affairs as did anyone in the whole evening.

With the exception of the Mayor, who was insufficiently lined and toughened, and of his wife, the make-up, by Bert's father, was quite brilliant and did much, in conjunction with the costumes, to create the characters. The lighting, as is usual in these Commem. plays, touched the stones and.stage to a wonderful warmth ; and the set exactly fulfilled the producer's require­ments.

J.D.B.

THE PROLOGUE I am the prologue-this confession Hails year by year a new digression Upon old themes. So please excuse The well worn cliches that I use. My hair is long ; I always strive Aesthetic'ly to keep alive ; I study Eliot, and thin Exclusively on mescalin. Alas ! The gods did not decree Poetic genius for me. The metre's old, the jokes are older. The scansion couldn't leave you colder. I am a complex-ridden poet, My id and superego know it. So you must play pyschologist, And from discouragement desist. Just let me blow off Freudian steam ; Sit back and comfortably dream How once your little Willy's pimples Did not obliterate his dimples.

Now, all and sundry, welcome here ! You'll see that since this time last year The builders have been in full swing Upon the new Big School-a thing They should have finished, but they drink Too many cups of tea. We think Our working hours might bring success To them-at least they'd not do less. For Sherbome, a tea-drinking clique ; For them, a Lyon House ginger week.

But now towards the guests I turn, For they begin to show concern.

Well known in ministries and banks, We welcome first Sir Oliver Franks. Once you were made, they tell me, sir In Washington ambassador. But congress didn't think you should Move embassies to Hollywood. We first invited Band K To do your function, sir, but they Desired to meet the British workman, And as there's no such thing in Sherborne, Portraits of Stalin never peered From art school wall, and no-one feared The outfitters would have to raise their Price for red stars on our blazer. Do not too quickly under-rate Our loyalty. The ship of state Is safe enough. It seems more cool For frogmen in the swimming pool. You honour us, sir ; after all Your reputation is not small. In Varsity days you had to face Philosophy at " the other place " As some derisive call it, who Wear clothes of bilious light blue. EWE yEVoiµ.7Jv· Would I were An Oxford-reared philosopher ! For then, with Berkeley, I'd insist It's Cambridge which does not exist. (And though at Lloyd's, it's hinted darkly You've quite an interest in Barclay.) Talking of banks, I ought to say That schools, like them, can't work all day.

54

Why no half-holidays this term ? The legendary stork is firm : No more new entries can be brought To Sherborne staff just yet. The thought Has saddened some. But others know Cupid is handy with his bow ; At times like this he acts his part, At least one arrow found its Hart. And so congratulate instead Two masters who are getting wed. Correct me, sir, should I be wrong­My mathematics are not strong ; But into one term.divide two staff, Clearly the answer is a half.

Another visitor could aid Our purposes in this crusade. Lord Bishop of Exeter ! Your Grace ! Surely you have the means to face The powers that be upon this matter. (Your qualities I need not flatter.) Mondays and Fridays after noon Begins our persecution. Soon In Stygian classrooms we're confined To torture the unwilling mind, Whilst on the fields, long hours to squander, The worm-devouring ravens wander. Claim halves, sir, and you'll prove as keen For Sherborne's welfare as your Dean.

Lastly, the Governors' delegation I greet en masse. My inspiration Despite the diction'ry, could not Devise a rhyme for Medlicott.

Esprit de Corps still dominates Our life. The military Fates Have smiled on Field. Day exercises, But we, o'ercome by their surprises Have laughed outright. For who could stay His mirth in Battle's fierce array, To see, like Mars, the C.O. storm, Let loose a thunderflash, transform The operation instantly Into a scorched earth policy.

The R.A.F. contingent claim No more to play the Monday game Of cricket. Now, a greater sport, To Air Force gliders they resort To gain their wings. But some have soared No higher than the diving board On Field Day ; and no-one could stop The Flight Lieutenant's belly-flop.

THE SHIRBURNIAN

Nor should we without thought dismiss The aerobatic Peter Twiss, O.S. to all save Chief renowned, He flew at twice the speed of sound. But Chief dislikes the fast machine -It interrupts his T.V. screen. The sky's the limit ? Rather please The Clouds· of Aristophanes. (Ah ! Chief looks angry. He supposes For buttonholes we've pinched his roses.)

How shall my stumbling Muse compare With Sherborne's Aphrodite fair ? The brown-robed Girls' School still remains Our firm ally, and this explains . The summit talks which welcome greeting At tennis match or history meeting. For social joys, green ribbons are Our diplomats' insignia ; While those whose appetites are not

. So large, invade Les Polyglottes. Of course, we keep the treaty rules, Our Geneva spirit never cools. And only juniors usually Prefer secret diplomacy.

If you peruse the daily papers, You'll read about the expensive capers Of scientists, who think the nation · . Will.prosper under automation. Down here, we love the welfare state, And progress is right up to date. One master thinks it quite in order To teach us-with a tape-recorder. The rest hope this will be the rule For use in early morning school. Each morn we'll hear this theme anew "Big brother's listening to you."

Enough light Muse ! By now it's time To stem this flow of doggerel rhyme. I have in too verbose a way Detained you, and on Saturday Detention is a dismal story, As is well known to all in IVe, Who memorise this warning line-" Don't bait Hey while the sun doth shine."

Thus, having welcomed everyone, I take my leave. My task is done. And as the oil prospectors cry, When the source of their success runs dry, "It is no good your fate deploring ; The obvious answer is-stop boring." P.J.W.

THE SHJRBURNIAN 55

SCHOOL SOCIETIES THE DUFFERS

We are indebted to Mr. Gourlay's hospitality for the good omens with which the second meeting of the Lent term commenced, when in the Oak Room-and this was itself a precedent in the Society's history-we gathered with considerable enthusiasm to hear Mr. James Reeves deliver, through the medium of Mr. Bruce's voice, like Apollo through the priest of his oracular shrine, a paper entitled" Poetry-A Mug's Game." Not only was the paper itself a completely satisfying experience, but suppcrted by the unassuming authority of Mr. Reeves in dealing with our problems, it stimulated the company to great interest and eloquence, which was curbed by nothing but the regrettable limits of time. Seldom, if ever, have present members enjoyed a meeting so much as this convincing declaration of a poet's creed.

The last meeting of the term witnessed A. B. Suckling declaiming an impressive treatise on" Visions of the Future" in the comfortable retreat provided by Mr. and Mrs. Melvin at Harper House. The Secretary will not venture to give a detailed appraisal of the paper here, but suffice it to record that its quality was confirmed by another spate of mental and rhetorical activity on the part of members, and that Orwellian nightmares were with us for some time afterwards.

So far this term we have heard one paper, from Mr. Norman Wymer on "The Birth of a Book." The reader himself being a professional biographer, he had much of practical interest to impart to us about the writing, publishing and printing of a book under present day conditions ; this proved a useful background in which to set the more theoretical information on literature which the Society has of late been given. The evening's enjoyment was made complete by the warm welcome extended at Greenhill House from the Rev. and Mrs. Field. That it was the Rev. Field's eighty-fourth birthday contributed even more to the atmosphere, and we take this opportunity of congratulat­ing him publicly. Two more papers are still before us. R. A. R. Evans will speak on "Psychology and Art" and M. C.' Cumberlege will deliver inspired utterances cloaked beneath the title of" A Broken Bundle of Mirrors." For our spiritual prosperity we are, as usual, grateful to the Chairman.

P. J. WESTON, Hon. Secretary.

INTERPRETES During the latter half of the Lent term we met to hear S. P. Tindall on" Orphism ", and at the Headmaster's

house for a paper on " Greek Psychiatry " from R. C. \V. Malim, which was followed the same evening by a not inconsiderable session in front of the television set. The hospitality of the Headmaster and Mrs. Powell was much appreciated by all.

This term we have heard Col. Green expound on" Juvenal", and a much billed and eagerly awaited event came to pass, when A. C. B. M. David discoursed with characteristic lucidity on "Greek Oracles". \Ve have aho had a visit from Mr. Hawthorn of Bradfield who gave an excellent paper on the legality of political procedure during the latter years of the Roman Republic. The Society is at present anticipating a visit from Professor Page, and the Int. Max. is thinking of a way to produce an "apologia pro vita sua" at the end of term. \Ve are indebted to the Logothetes and Mrs. Macdonald for their industry and kindness.

P. J. WESTON, Int. Max.

GREEN RIBBON CLUB

Since The Shirburnian went to press last term we have held five meetings. At the end of the Lent term we heard a competent paper from a leaving member, M. Zimmerman, who spoke on" 1929 and the New Deal" ; and also from an Oxford lecturer, M. Foot, M.A. The latter entitled his talk" War and Politics 1914-1918 '', and overwhelmed us with his amazing grasp of detail, leaving us more knowledgeable, if not wiser, about his topic.

This term two of our speakers have been Americans and the first, Miss D. Addams of Winconsin University, had no difficulty in holding our's and the Chairman's attention when she spoke on " The Historical Interpretation of Southern Literature." Mr. A. C. Quainton, who had sampled English education at Harper House for a year, talked on" The Impact of the Russian Revolution on Europe." At this meeting our sister society was in attendance, and it would be impossible to pass on without mention of the ample refreshments and hospitality tendered so graciously by Mr. and Mrs. Melvin. At the third meeting of the term we heard from A. B. Suckling on " The Catholic Inter­pretation in History." This was a paper of characteristic lucidity and forthrightness which, by reason of its wide title, induced some criticism of the speaker's principal thesis.

Later in the term we hope to hear from the retiring Chairman on the subject of his choice. Mr. Hart's energy and enthusiasm for the Society since its inception, has been unceasing ; whether acting as intermediary with the Girls' School, securing outside speakers, or filling the gap in conversation, he has always possessed enviable tact. We have every confidence that this tradition will be ably maintained next term by Mr. Gibb.

R. A. R. EVANS, Hon, Secretary.

56 THE SHIRBURNIAN

THE ALCHEMISTS Our thanks are due to the Chairman for arranging in the earlier and less crowded part of the term two of the best

Alchemist meetings I remember. On May 21st Dr. Cundy and R. S. Simpson gave us a theoretical dissertation and practical demonstration concern·

ing Electronic Computers. This revealed how simple is the basis of these devices, and how amusing the feats they perform.

G. I. Hendrie, Esq., came down from London on June 14th with slides and a colour-film and spoke on the Research Aspects of the Agricultural Chemicals Industry. This concerns chiefly the battle against insects and insect· borne diseases, fungi, and the like. My most vivid recollection is of horrifying figures : 100,000 more mouths to feed every day-millions of insects to every single human being on the globe-10 million acres of arable land eroded every year-one death from Malaria at ten second intervals!

R. w. s. HIRD, Hon. Secretary.

LES POLYGLOTTES We began the term with a most interesting talk by the President on Nuremberg, amply illustrated with slides.

At this meeting we were delighted to have some members of the Girls' School with us, who also attended a meeting to listen to an excellent recording of Goethe's " Faust ".

At the moment we are finishing Marcel Pagnol's comedy" Topaze ". Exams. later on in the term will make meetings difficult, but we might embark on a German play, or indulge in French and German poetry reading sessions. One or two recalcitrant members, who have so far dodged the issue, might also be persuaded to read us a paper before the term ends. ·

As always, we are grateful to Mr. Baker for his hospitality. B. L. CROWE,

Hon. Secretary.

THE JAMES RHOADES SOCIETY We have met twice this term-the first occasion being on Sunday, May 20th. This was a very enjoyable informal

meeting at which members read from their own choice and the Chairman introduced us to and read us an extract from" The Long Walk".

On June 3rd we made a change with" Reluctant Heroes". This was a successful, and at times hilarious, reading. This term is particularly crowded, and I feel we are all the more thankful to the Chairman and his wife at Lenthay

Fields for giving us the chance to spend sue~ relaxing evenings in their home. J.P. L. TORY,

Hon. Secretary.

THE WILDMAN SOCIETY As reported in the Stop Press of the last Shirburnian, the Society's future was doubtful at the end of the Lent

term, following a deplorable debate on the motion that " this house considers the Intellectual is a menace." This term a committee meeting was held to decide on a course of action, and it was accordingly proposed at the first full meeting of the Society that its constitution be altered in the following manner : in future, debates will be open to the whole of the fifth and sixth forms, and those who attend will not automatically belong to the Wildman Society, but new members will be elected from those who speak well and show enthusiasm during the debates. Main speakers will be chosen from the Society elected in this way. This proposal was carried without opposition. Two snap debates which followed at this meeting were productive of an encouraging energy and activity, which, one hopes, will continue hereafter. By a narrow margin of votes the Bulganin-Krushchev visit to this country was condemned, and it was agreed that " This house should play a larger part in the government of the School." One more meeting will be held this term on a motion as yet undecided. For patient care and resuscitation of the Society's fortunes we owe many thanks to the Chairman.

P. J. WESTON, Hon. Secretary.

THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY As is usual in the Summer term, there have been no lectures. Little ringing of birds at the nest has taken place,

but several interesting species have been seen by the more active members. Three small Grebes nests were found ; two at the Sher borne Lake, and the usual one at Silver Lake. A Hobby-whose nest has not yet been found-has been seen in the Park, and at Trent Wood a Sparrow-Hawk nest containing four eggs was found. There have been the usual number of Buzzards and Kestrels about the area. A Blackcap was also seen at Nether Compton, in fairly dense undergrowth. It is hoped to rear and train some young Sparrow-Hawks later on in the term. ·

R. D. F. ALLAN,

Hon. Secretary.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 57

THE MUSIC CLUB In the latter half of last term the Club had two meetings ; at the first the Hon. Secretary gave a paper on Mozart

in celebration of the bicentenary of his birth ; the second was our usual informal concert at which Mr. Ullman proved himself a most able guest artist. This second meeting was held at Westcott House and we owe our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. King who gave us such a warm reception. So far this term we have had two meetings ; the first at which C. W. J. Hanbury Tracy gave a most interesting paper on Hugo Wolf; the second meeting was divided into two parts­R.J. Bentley gave a short summary of Max Bruch's !st Violin Concerto and then played the work to us on the gramo­phone, and T. M. T. Key provided a Musical quiz. At these two meetings we were respectively welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Ferry and by Mr. and Mrs. Wiles for whose kind hospitality we are most grateful.

A. c. GARROD, Hon. Secretary.

THE ORCHESTRA This term the Orchestra has been preparing for the Recital of Music in the Abbey at Commem. The principal

work for full orchestra is the last movement of Beethoven's Second Symphony, which, although not taken at full tempo, is generally agreed to be most enjoyable and satisfying to play. In conjunction with the Musical Society, the orchestra will also perform Vaughan Williams'" Hundredth Psalm", a stirring work and typical of its composer.

The strings alone have been preparing a Concerto Grosso by Stanley with continuo, solo violin and 'cello. They will also accompany the choir in Purcell's" Rejoice in the Lord alway".

Our thanks are due to Mr. Ferry for his enthusiasm and patience in training us. c. A. J. MOTT.

THE BAND By the end of Camp the Band will have puffed and squeaked its way through inspections, displays, concerts

and services with varying success and great enthusiasm. The Brass section is perhaps the best the Band has ever had and many marches have now become distinctly recognisable. It must however, be remembered that any successes which the Band achieves are due entirely to the unflagging zeal and help given by Mr. Ullman.

P.J. c. ROWE, Staff Sergeant.

FISHING CLUB After some disagreement with the Yeovil Angling Association over certain leases of the river Wriggle, an arrange­

ment has been reached and stocking will be started next Spring. As the coarse fishing season has only just started, there has been little fishing to date, but the river is in good condition, and a good season is expected.

J. D. PETER-HOBLYN, Hon. Secretary.

GOLF SOCIETY The standard of golf throughout the School has been very high this term and members of the team have had

some excellent scores, especially R. M. \Vhite, who, at the beginning of the term, was round in 69. On Ascension Day a medal competition was held and Allan returned a good score of 72 to win the competition.

The School team have only played one match, as yet, against Downside ; other matches have been arranged against Millfield, the O.S.S., and the Town. In the match against Downside the School gained an overwhelming victory, winning by Bl-! ; Downside found the Sherborne course difficult and no doubt local knowledge was a great advantage to the home side.

I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Buchanan for taking so much interest in the Society and for spending so much of his time in transporting players to and from the course.

P. M. KEMP, Hon. Secretary.

PHILATELIC SOCIETY At the end of the Easter term the Society held its general exhibition. There were some 30 entries from twelve

competitors ; all were of a high standard, and the judge, C. J. P. C. Jowett, Esq.-to whom we are very grateful­had a hard task. Prizes were gained by A. R. D. Norman, A. C.R. Scutt, C. G. A. Clay and the Secretary.

The Society's grateful thanks are due to the Chairman, Mr. Hey, whose unfailing support and advice contributes so largely to its success.

R. C. W. l\1Awr, Hon. Secretary.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY The good weather at the beginning of the term encouraged many members to outdoor work ; but \\ith its

deterioration and also the approach of the annual competition and exhibition, there was a fervour of activity in the darkrooms. ·

The competition was judged by D. 0. Stewart, Esq., who is Chairman of the Town Photographic Society. Many prints of most creditable standard were submitted : as usual they were all exhibited at Commem.

B. c. SIMMONDS,

Hon. Secretary.

513 THE SHIRBURNIAN

CORRESPONDENCE Dear Sir,

Both those who heard the Head of School's oratory in the Big School and those who only heard of it will be delighted that you are publishing this year's Prologue. But the brilliance of the wit must not convince us of the justice of the strictures on those engaged in building the enlarged Big School. Latterly, from before the close of early morning school-even from before the departure of the Sixth-formers from their classrooms-until well on into the second hall, these builders could be seen at their work. They have a mid-morning break for tea (for which they clatter past my classroom) like all of us ; but in their case there is no straggling back to work after the clock. In spite of all the interest of School life passing below them they never stand around and gape, while last term in the coldest weather they could still be seen wheeling barrows or wielding trowels.

Those of us who live near by have had opportunities of watching and talking to these men, and feel that their industry and genuine enthusiasm for the job in hand should not be denied or ignored.

Dear Sir, _

Yours, etc., L.E.C.B.

I realize and fully appreciate that next term begins the rugger season. Does this necessarily mean that we must have scrumming practice every day on the Chapel steps ? In the future I would prefer to enter the Chapel under my own steam.

Yours, etc., " PEANUT ".

(We believe steps are being taken to remedy the situation ; but perhaps people could arrive earlier ? Ed.).

Dear Sir, When I go to the Music School in games clothes I seldom carry a pencil with which to fill in the practice book.

Would 3d. really make a big hole in the director of music's account ? Surely a pencil could be attached to said book.

Yours, etc., P. M. SMALL.

(Surely some generous student could make a donation ? Ed.).

Dear Sir, Being an antiquarian-minded Shirburnian, I feel I should bring a recent disgrace to the School's attention. It is

this : the town has uprooted the old gas street lamps which added so much to its quaint atmosphere. These lamps have been replaced by ugly, pseudo-modernistic, cement ones, which are the scorn of all self-respecting dogs. The replacement is a moral crime, and whoever is responsible should be truly ashamed.

· · Yours, etc., KING ALFRED.

(You mean old Shirburnian, don't you? Ed.).

Dear Sir, . To_ follow up the letter published last term concerning the deserved promotion of jazz in this School, we would

like to state the following events since then in the jazz world. The great Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong was invited to the Palace to visit the Queen _and the Duke on a Sunday during his recent tour ; this he did two days after Princess Margaret had been for the second time in successive days to see the Maestro playing in concert. Previous to his arrival in England, the Third Programme devoted a whole hour of records to him, whilst the Observer wrote two short biographies to extol his merits.

Surely this obviously shows that jazz is now not a weird brand of music to be scorned by the "Classical Aristocracy ". Let's wake up out of this classical snobbery and broaden our outlook.

"From the ' Modernists' peals forth that old undaunted cry, Jazz shall be recognized, and we'll all be glad and wise."

Yours, etc., P.FARMER H. w. P. JAMIESON A. R. MOYNAHAN A. C. ScUTI'.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN 59

Dear Sir, My article," MATRON, I •• ", printed in last term's edition of The Shirburnian caused one or two repercussions

in the matron circle. This was not my intention ; the article was strictly a figment of my imagination. The matron involved in it bore no intentional resemblance to anyone I know. I do now formally apologise for any misunder-standing that may have arisen. ·

Yours, etc., P. c. PARSONS.

Dear Sir, With reference to the letter written by " Anon " in the last issue, I would like to point out that there has been

little remedy in the state of affairs in the lobby outside room I. At present a bicycle still resides daily there, surrounded by a menagerie of boxes, which apparently house musical instruments; these, no doubt, will disappear after Commem., but the bicycle will remain. It looks as if it has rested in its daily abode for several years now, and has a neat groove in the saddle where it rests awkwardly against the stairs. I beg you to try and trace the owner of this machine (does he exist at all ?) and ask him to place it elsewhere. One can put up with band-boxes, cricket bats, sweaters, mackin­toshes, travelling bags, and brooms ..• but not bicycles.

Dear Sir,

Yours, etc., ANON.

I feel it is about time that someone from the House took the opportunity to ask all members of the choir to keep tolerably quiet when coming out of the Chapel from their practices. Their loud jabbering upsets the entire train of thought of those attempting to do hall in the School House studies. Could these Cantate Dominos therefore exercise a little more restraint until they reach the Main Gate ?

Yours, etc., A. c. R. SCUTT.

(The Choir has had two practices in the Chapel this term, the rest being held in the Music School. Perhaps you mistake for practices their Friday night visits to the Chapel for books. At any rate, the situation is being remedied. Ed.).

Dear Sir, I have one Divinity period per week.

Yours, etc., R. A. R. EVANS.

Dear Sir, Having several times this term attempted to play tennis on small ploughed fields (which are euphimistically

called school tennis courts) I feel strongly that some drastic alterations should be made in the immediate future. They are used as rugger pitches in the winter terms ; they are too small ; and furthermore their netting is thoroughly delapidated. Letters written last year had no effect, but may we please have some tennis courts by next year.

Yours, etc., M. w. HEATON.

(This matter has been referred to the immediate authority, who states that the courts are of the correct size, and that further resuscitation of the ground and equipment must depend on the priority given by the higher authorities in their plans for modernisation. We trust your protest will not pass unnoticed. Ed.).

60

LITERARY THE COMMEM. DANCE-PART I

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"*

THE SHIRBURNIAN

In spite of her frenzied beauty preparations, in spite of her assiduous attendance at every local event, sometimes coy, sometimes demure, she had still received no invitation. Then one fateful June morning while she was toying with a piece of fried bread, the letter came. From then on, every morning she devoted half an hour to slimming exercises, and every evening half an hour to manicure and hair conditioning.

At last the great day came. He was to pick her up at half past seven, so she began to· get ready at five. Dressed and waiting, surrounded by a crowd of gaping juniors, she stood on the doorstep. Half past seven came and went. He had forgotten her, jilted her, gone to the dance with someone else ! At twenty minutes to eight a car drew up, and an immaculate figure leapt to the ground. The juniors nearly fell out of the windows with delight at this paragon of masculine beauty. Dutiful as always, she took him up to the drawing room to be introduced to her house­mistress. This duty done they drove merrily away.

When they arrived at the dance it was already in full swing. She was escorted from the car to the door by a handsome green umbrella. The path was illuminated by flashes oflightning, and as she made her dramatic entry the music was drowned by a clap of thunder.

In the gym there was whirling colour and gaiety against a most artistic background of coloured lights, streamers, and of course, the fountain. Outside the air was cool and plea~nt after the storm. When they came back into the room she was slightly surprised to see various bearded gentlemen taking the floor. She was, however, relieved to learn that they were only actors who had returned from the School play.

It seemed that they had only just arrived when she realized with a shock that it was ten to twelve. The story of Cinderella was being repeated. She had to say goodnight to her house­mistress by quarter past. Under the full moon of Midsummer's Eve they walked home and took the traditional leave of one another under the shadow of the trees. (*With apologies where due). H.H.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN

THE COMMEM. DANCE-PART II What, no glass slipper ?

61

The Yank sat back on his chair in the study. He stared dismally at the decorated walls. The calendar showed it was Saturday the 23rd. Flowers on the window sill reminded him it was Commem. dance day. The silence of the usually boisterous house was clear sign that all its inhabitants were out. He looked at a copy of Coriolanus sitting on his desk ; with a limp arm he pushed it onto the floor.

He sat as if dazed, staring dumbly at the window. It began to grow dark. Suddenly, how­ever, a light, ever increasing in brightness, approached the study. There was a tapping on the pane, at which the startled Yank jumped up. Fear kept him from opening the window until he heard a S'"".eet voice beckoning.

"I am your fairy godmother," said the voice in reply to his question. "Because of your excellent behavior this last month I have come to help you. You may have two wishes." He blushed at the undeserved compliment, but not wishing to lose an opportunity which had swum into his hands he said : " I would like very much to have a date for the dance ; I would also like to have a tuxedo to wear to it." Noticing the fairy's visible confusion at this last request, he translated it into a request for a " dinner jacket ".

The Good Fairy waved her wand at a crumpled grey suit lying on the floor. Before his eyes it was transformed into an immaculate monkey suit, hung neatly on the door.

As for the date ... that was a more subtle matter, even for the fairy godmother, but after a minute's thought she had arrived at the solution. She vanished in a twinkling.

Half an hour later the rumbling of carriage wheels and the clatter of hoofs announced the arr~val of a strange vehicle. Around the drive rolled a pumpkin coach, complete with fairy Princess and liveried coachmen. In a flash they were off to the dance ... but not before the fairy godmother warned them " Only till twelve, and no later ".

All night long they danced and reeled : eightsomes, dashing-white-sergeants, charlestons and rare dances kenn'd only by pert fairies that trip the light fantastic rounds. It was a grand night ; so grand, in fact, that no one seemed to notice the clock creeping in its petty pace till suddenly ..• "To the Queen". Through the music they heard the abbey bells striking one ... two ... three... ·

The Yank and the Princess dashed out of the gym. Eight •.• nine •.. ten . . • He put her into the coach just as twelve struck. Down the street rumbled the pumpkin. From out its window could be seen a dainty hand waving at a boy now dressed in crumpled grey suit.

It began to drizzle. And all was quiet except for the couples drifting silently, happily from the dance.

MANY HAVE BEFORE

As many have before, and many will again, \Ve sat: not in a shaded bower, nor yet beneath The pale beams of a silken summer moon ; we twain Were lovers in an age when fields of streets bequeath, And oak and beech dare not their leaves, their trunks profane Amid this realm of circling smoke, of long gray stacks And longer, grayer windowed-walls in cul-de-sacs.

We sat. I glanced behind : these walls...,-what did they hide ? Behind some, dying men, lungs lined with clogging soot ; Behind others, Lust ; behind all God denied. \Ve sat : the seat grew hard. I drew my lover close For warmth ; I kissed her lips (how often they had lied, Not hers alone, but mine-how thin a mortal vow !) . " I come again,'' said Christ ; 0 Christ ! Please come here •.• now !

O.M.D.

62 THE SHIRBURNIAN

THE MOORS

The heather bells rung to the morning sun, Alive with dazzling dew.

The gorse bush shone in his morning coat, And everything looked so.new.

The deer looked up from the crystal pool And bounded over the hill.

The redstart hopped to a slender twig, Cleaning his delicate bill.

The buzzard dropped down from the wizened pine And rose in the sunlit sky.

There he poised on pinioned wings Emitting a cat-like cry.

The lark climbed up with unceasing song. The fox looked out of his den :

But sprang to life with sudden surprise, For the hounds had arrived again.

Through the wooded valleys, across the rolling moor ; Over ploughed field and stream.

Again he doubled back upon the beaten track, But they followed like ghosts in a dream.

He turned at last to the oncoming pack, Knowing his end had come.

But in his little heart, he knew that he Had saved his kin at home.

When the sun sank low beneath the hills, The huntsmen went their way.

The birds flew home to their welcome perch, And night succeeded day.

(This poem wins the Lower School Prize).

Shades of St. Pancras

P. D. KING-FRETIS.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 63

SNIZZLY SNOUT

All thru the woods was a plaig ; not the kind with sick folk an all that, but it was one anyhow. The white headed old ones set around on rockin chairs all day, jest remembering what it used to be like ... animals making noise, childrin a-laughin and a-hollerin ... and the leaves even used to seem greener. Now the whole place was kivered by a dead blue silence.

Nobody did nothing nomore; they set an moped ... like people do on hot days ... laze around. Except one day right in the middle of all this laze, away off in the woods they heard a booming voice. It was the first voice a body'd heard in no one remembered how long. It was so loud and cheery that it scared them. This gret noise kept coming closer and closer till finally everyone ran into their houses and gathered the little ones close.

Down the long arch of willa trees (some called it lover's lane but now it was overgrown with perryshutes an other ornery things), came this voice and its owner. When it rounded the bend down by where the brook babbled so good, they all saw it was a gret big bare. He was the biggest bare that was never seen in them parts, and for plain snizzle he couln't be beat. His teeth was the biggest and sharpest of any bare, and every time he wrinkled up his olc snout to laugh they snizzled and snizzled right at you. A body jest had to laugh 'cause there was a real good feelin about him.

But most of the old folk took scairt of him, especially Ma Possum who took up agin him from the very start, and, 'cause she was so affiuential, she had a big backing. " No good aint gon come from thet snizzly ole snout " ; and the others jest kinda nodded their lazed heads and looked real wise.

With the chilren it was differnt ; they was always aroun him, speshly when he'd tell stories about his 'ventures in the woods. It was the way he'd tell those tales and then jest wrinkle himself all up ... and they couln't help but laugh.

It sounded mighty good for a change; even the brook would babble like it used to, and the blue dead air would get lighter, like as ifit was tryin to turn green agin.

When the old folks saw that Snizzly Snout was goin to stay on they wasn't too pleased. Thet sleezy possum woman, not to slur all possums but jest thet one, snuk aroun an told the others thet the " meely mouthed " bare was out to kidnap their chilren, and lead them to Damnation with his " lood " stories. Thet's what she said. The simple woodsfolk did a little positive thinkin of their own an saw that she was nacherly right.

So one night they all snuk into Ma Possum's house ... one by one so it would look the most nacheral thing in the world to sneak into her house all tip-toey and dressed in black. Ma Possum said she reckoned they all knew why they was " assembled " there, and they answered yes, yes, and nodded wisely at each other. Then she took off into her speech. It was a fire and broomstone one about that" Iood, nasty, dirty, kidnapping ... old ... old ... snouzly sneet !" Everybody knew she meant snizzly snout, and were pretty riled up even if she did say it wrong.

Early thet night thare were another meetin goin on, only it was a bit more peaceful. The bare set under the biggest, weepingest willa and the little ones crouched around him. They was listening real tense now, and he said he had to leave them awful soon, but they dint have to worry 'cause they hadn't forgot how to laugh, and that was the main thing. He said for them to take good care of their parints cause they dint mean any harm really. Someday he'd come back when things was more acceptible, and he woulnt get nobody riled, like what hapend this time. So the moon come out and the willas shook like mama hens and went to sleep with the rest of the forest.

Finally the old folks come up with torches, a-shovin an a-pushin, and saw that Snizzly had done gone. At first they was bilin mad, but when they heard how still everythin was they got a little wondery and scairt. Then they heard away off in the woods a big booming voice. Finally they ran into their houses and gathered the chilren aroun, and outside it was real quiet a gin.

So you see, it wernt the kind of plaig youd think of, with sick folk an all •.. but it was one anyhow.

64 THE SHIRBURNIAN

IN TOIL OF SLEEP

She, not here, is here. I hold Her going in my dreams. My arms have caught her fast, and fold Her close. 0 she is mine at last, it seems.

This object here I hold, this child Sweeter than sleep in pain, Has set imagination wild And fed the hungry prisoner of the brain.

And she has set before my eyes A cup that shuts up care In Reason's empty cell. The skies Have wrapped her iri a cloak of brighter air.

She is whiter than Troy's old boulders. Helen was not so fair. She carries heaven on her shoulders, And she must die unless I enter there.

* * * Away, out in the rose-rain, Heather and torn white breast. Colder than snowdrop, or soul's pain Pale figure to my own side closely pressed.

Knew not, sinner, love was savage ? Sensed not kiss of knife ? Know now, white with crimson ravage, There is a love that is too strong for life.

Here, where the sharp-thorned rose Unfolds its petals sweet and wild, Here comes young life to its swift close. Say not, I did not love you dearly, child.

ESCHATOLOGICAL THOUGHTS OF A HOBO

We take off hats our to:-

· When I go up to Heaven To be tried before the Lord, I'll tell Him each and all my &ins And with His speech be bored. He'll send me down to hell, I know, But I wont be forlorn, 'Cause many a friend shall I see there, In that land where there aint no dawn.

l\'1. C. CuMBERLEGE.

The would-be corporal who, after asking if his section were spastics, said that their knees should be at least five inches off the ground.

The small boy who said : " A physicist is a man who tests fizzy drinks." The boy who said: "That fast bowler should have more full stops." The master who, when talking about a boy's parents, said his mother was a tall man. The master who complained of the difficulty of contacting his colleagues in the three minutes between 11 o'clock

and five past.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 65

THE RAKE'S PROGRESS: A SCHOOLMASTER

1f 1. Aged six-wins prize for essay on "Alfred-and the

cakes" ... presented by Prof. H.J. L*sk•.

3. *xf*rd. Shaves. Becomes Nihilist. B.A., meets M. H*rt.

+~~ ~ -~ .. .... . . ~·-·····.-................. .. .. • ...

2. Spends period of military service reading M*rx, L*sk*, *ng•Js, *tc.

~/

4. Accepts p~st_as_ aSsistant master at Sh*rb*rn*. Thesis accepted by "H*st•ry T*d*y ". Best French

accent in school. Congratulated by *s*** B*rl*n.

66

5. Faculty jealousy. "Advised " to accept post of cultural tutor to Gr*c* K*lly. Catches sight of

stewardess' ankle.

7. Accused of betraying bachelorhood. Receives white feathers. Takes to drink.

6.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN

6. Gets browner. Plays chess with Prince R*n**r. Marries stewardess.

8. Thrown out of exclusive Monaco club for telling suggestive psychological stories. Dies of suspected

disillusionment.

THE SHIRBURNIAN· 67

"HE WAS A VERY PARFIT GENTLE KNIGHT" An editor and I were sitting in the truncated end of the firing range conducting experiments

with tea and milk. I suggested I should write an article for The Shirburnian and, when I had passed him the sugar, he agreed. I gathered that all the perennial jokes about the dance, The Green, the Headmaster's assistant and other literary aunt sallies had been exhausted, so I was reduced to recounting an ordinary meeting, not even written in verse a la Dylan Thomas or in erudite Greek dialogue. However, to give my plain fare a flavour acceptable to the editors, I have garnished it with progressive americanisms, poetic verbiage, and horsey allusions.

During the vacation, I was laboring in a London hotel in the job 'of assistant storekeeper. My work was lowly in pay and position. I was a swetting prole in a damp, warm, badly lit basement, swept with an unfailing lack ofregularity by a Teddyboy.

He was tall and genuine. His hair was six inches long at the back and moddled with skill worthy of a horse groomer and with a similar smell. Expecting an answer in terms of years, I asked him when he had last had his hair cut. His reply was in weeks. His sidelights were long and his tie cut short, looking as if the lower half had provided a satisfactory meal for an under­nourished rat. His cut-away collar he had found at an exclusive shop, the only one in London where such sartorial scintillations could be bought.

He tried to sell me a suit which he said was too small for him. I was asked what size I liked the area around the turn-ups, and as I had not the vaguest whiff of a notion that they were different sizes, I had to hedge. In the end I refused on the grounds that he was six foot and I, at a generous estimate, five feet seven. He frequently took French leave, failed to turn up until midday, signed his pay receipts " Mr. Patrick Spinner", and sang,

" Zambesi, Zambesi, Zambesi, Zam ", all hours. He had

appeared on Television with his girl friend as a typical newsworthy Edwardian. He said, " What do you do at night ? " I said, " Sleep ". " What, all night?" " Well-yes." "You don't go walking or visiting the' flix' ? " " No," I said, feeling I had missed the spice of life. He was impervious to irony. I told him I hated girls, never spoke to any female except my

mother-and he believed with amazement. When I went to say goodbye to him, he spat on his hand, told me to put it there and gave me the strongest handshake I have ever received other than from Sir John Harding. Some guy.

A REPLY FOR HIS FRIEND

Ask me, if your patience bears, How she walks, and what she wears. On questions such as these I would put you at your ease. Ask me if she cares-But do not ask her name.

That's a favour I must choose, Though it hurt you, to refuse. Do not press me overmuch On a theme I dare not touch­Love's knots, you know, work loose. So do not ask her name.

" SPONGE ,, •

MARC.

68 THE SHIRBURNIAN

UPON THE VISIT OF MESSRS. BULGANIN & KRUSCHEV

Incredible as it may seem Ream upon ream

They did write and compose On the visit of these foes,

So, spurred on by a few bob, I blunt my pencil for the job,

And join the composers' throng, For this was the advert's song :­

" Concerning the visit of B & K The Shirbumian wishes YOUR muse to play."

K, smiling like a tubby bear, B, resplendent with too much hair.

Only Oxford gave them splendid welcome, For Englishmen are very seldom

Demonstrative, Nay rather remonstrative ;

Which leads us to remember Poles and Letts and a noisy number Of scholars and a Mr. Brown who

Did slightly more than boo. ('Poor Old Joe

Tovarich Generalissimo').

Write it not in the History books, But we know an Englishman brooks

No arrangements from Serov police com.,

But greatly appreciates Malenkov, (That genial canteen-girl kisser

Gave no hints how to uncover The sex-life of Ulanova)

And with a rousing welcome lifts the roof off To greet Mr. Oleg Popov.

IN MEMORY OF •..

Hewson, Tuson and Symes Came to Skole of olde tymes, And there, upon an oaken door, Enshrined their names forevermore.

M.

P. c. PARSONS.

The French master who thought Davy Crockett was a frogman ; and on hearing of his mistake, replied " I'm a bit old fashioned."

The P.T. Instructor who told his squad to follow their heads round with their eyes.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 69

REPORTS MADE EASY

I have long been worried by the strong, and hitherto inexplicable, vein of bitterness that seems to run through my terminal reports. I accordingly consulted my conscience to see if there was in fact any blemish in my fine moral character-but apart from a slight tendency to over­work we were unanimous in recording that not a stain was to be found. The only remaining conclusion was that some worry or annoyance had caused them to neglect my extraordinary talents, and instead cover their allotted slip of paper with the most malicious libels that came to mind.

It was my conscience that eventually stumbled on the answer. I was so shattered by his suggestion that I had to eat three large slices of chocolate cake and half a tin of fruit to steady my nerves. " Do you really mean to say " I stuttered, " That it is the labour of writing reports that puts them into a bad humour ? " " I am afraid so," replied my conscience sadly between mouthfuls. At first my unsuspicious nature was stunned by this revelation, but gradually the dreadful truth dawned on me. It all made sense now ; the lined foreheads, the bleary eyes, the piles of uncorrected essays and the tendency to drop off in early-morning periods. At first I was overwhelmed by the injustice of it all, but before long my generous nature reasserted itself. " If the prospect of working gives these poor men sleepless nights and bitter thoughts," I said," then it is up to me to remove this burden."

It was these noble reflections that led to the publication of my well known work, " Reports Made Easy". In the first chapter I dealt with my own case ; this was in fact an easy job, and then after scouring through my dictionary for synonyms of' brilliant', ' outstanding' etc., I was able to provide a range to suit every taste. In future my Geography master need not chew his pencil, and scratch his head,and glare at his mark book; he can just turn up the appropriate section to find:-

" He works well ; throughout the term I have wondered at his industry, which can only be matched by his intelligence and neatness. I have learnt a lot from him this term."

Indeed if he is pressed for time he can simply say " See para Sb in 'Reports Made Easy' ".

The later chapters dealing with my class-mates, however raised a number of problems. In many cases I was bound to admit that masters had been quite right in condemning some faults which were only too obvious amongst my companions. Ponsonby's habit of cribbing all his work from his nextdoor neighbour is to a sensitive person like myself most depressing. I also dislike the distrustful way in which he hides all his answers from me. In such a case it would be wrong to hide the.truth from Ponsonby's parents. " I dislike his cheating" seems a fair comment.

Of course a certain wit is needed when writing reports. A few scathing remarks for that swot Brownrigg for instance : " A very industrious boy-keeps me in fire-lighters for days " or the famous three-term joke : "Trying-still trying-very trying". It is a sad truth that nobody loved Brownrigg, and it seemed a little wrong to join with the crowd of boys who disliked his industry, and masters plagued by his questions-still, one must keep one's sense of humour even if Mr. Brownrigg has no aptitude for the joke.

Briggs on the other hand is an excellent chap, somewhat brainless-but an excellent chap. He doesn't remember when he lends you money and he'll witness faithfully that you worked late all last week for the benefit of angry masters. Something like " not the cleverest member of his class but a great trier" would fit the bill for Briggs. On the whole then, "Reports Made Easy" is a very useful little hand-book for the struggling master : And, Oh ! I nearly forgot-in case anyone gets ideas-any departure from the text is strictly forbidden by copyright.

H. D. SPURR.

70 THE SHIRBURNIAN THE SNAKE

Dark the day that dawns without the silvered sun To suck the moisture from the miry mists, sedges and slush. He glides through the black-bog water, the silent serpent Idles, slowly sidles in undulating seams of scales. Or when the infinite whisper of the bees binds the ear, Filling the ash-white aspens shimmering in the sun, He slides, gliding through the cressy water meadows ; Or reposeful round a trunk, he himself entwines. In Summer when the leafy trees in brambly woods can hardly stir Pigeons purring in the dancing heat, I've seen him, His black body shining from the new shed slough, coiled and Then with majesty, this uncrowned king of darkness eyed me. His tongue flickering, like two black shades of night, Over his straight hard lips, turning, sliding slyly, His scaly sides slithering through the unmown grass, Like some string pulled along, rippling on uneven ground. Then in my human horror, seizing a stick, struck hard. He writhing rose, back-broken, like the spring of a broken toy. He lashed his tail, tying himself into twisted masses : Drawing back, I struck at these ungainly loops of life. This time he ceased to writhe, just gently wriggling, died. His day of life was short, and I had made it so, and why ? Because I am human, red in hand and mind, like all Delighting in destroying Nature's masterpieces that walk or fly or crawl.

J. F. RATCLIFFE.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN 71

GAMES HOCKEY

REVIEW OF 1956 SEASON

"Write for The Shirburnian" order the posters, bluntly. "Please can we have something about Hockey ? "asks the editor, rather more politely. Yet, whether the approach be blunt or tactful, the victim is only too well aware that, whatever he writes, nothing can conceal the bleakness of the results of School matches, at all levels. A record of four matches lost, with one drawn, by the !st XI, paralleled by the performances of the other teams, will suggest to the future historian that this was indeed a bad year ; yet there are a number of points which are not revealed by the mere figures. Sherbome Hockey is always at the mercy of the weather, and the pressure of events in the Spring term means that the effects of a late start can never be made up. The loss of a fortnight at the beginning was par­ticularly unfortunate this year, as Carwardine, the captain, had no other old Colours round whom to build a team, and the first match was played after only two days of practice.

Both in this first game, played at Bruton in steady rain (lost 0-2) and the following week, when we lost to Bryan­ston (0-4), it was disturbing to find that lack of practice was not, except in rare flashes, compensated by a display of real fire and determination. It was the lack of this (a weakness far less easily excused) which, even more than in­experience, accounted for the team's poor showing. There were signs of improvement in the match against the Oxford Occasionals, whose fast-moving forward line dominated the game and, owing to slow covering by the defence, exposed an over-worked Wilson in goal to a bombardment, in which, in spite of the score (1-10) only three goals were scored from a direct hit. Against the Old Shirburnians (lost 1-3) sluggishness was still the main enemy against a strong side. If the forwards had made more of their chances, a draw, at least, might have been achieved. It was only at the very end of term, when the side played Canford three weeks exactly after the first Upper game of, the season, that there were signs of what might have been. Canford arrived with the reputation of being their best team for several years ; but the School, after withstanding a prolonged onslaught for the first twenty minutes, and playing, at last, with real determination, managed to force the opposition out of their stride and to end with a very creditable draw (2-2) in a match which might even have been won, had the chance to score off a penalty bully been taken.

The heartening consequences of this will to win suggested what might have been achieved in a full season ; and, by comparison with the earlier matches, they showed how necessary it is to overcome the attitude, prevalent at all levels, that Hockey is a gentle form of relaxation after Rugger. The comment might here be made that Hockey, properly played, can be just as exhausting as Rugger, for there is never a moment's respite, and it is a fatal weakness if any member of a side is ready to stand about waiting for the ball to come his way. By the end, this criticism almost ceased to apply to the !st XI, but too many members of other teams failed to realise its importance.

72 THE SHIRBUR.NIAN

Even at the end of the season, however, there were a number of weaknesses still to be found in the School side. Of these, the most notable were the slowness of the forwards to recover, and a frequent failure to press home an advantage ; and, among the defenders, the lack of constructive passes gave the forwards far too few chances, while slow.covering led to many dangerous moments. Individually, all the players had their merits, but were sometimes seemingly unable to make the most of them. In goal, Wilson brought off some fine saves, especially against Canford, but was slow to clear. Mermagen and Weston were fine hitters, but the former was inclined to commit himself too far, and the latter was rather slow. Of the halves, Rowe was a great, if rather unscientific, trier ; Henfrey, although fairly constructive, never dominated the game in the centre, and his positioning in defence was unreliable ; while Barkshire, perhaps the best natural player in the side, was handicapped by slowness. At inside left, Carwardine improved greatly, and became a useful stick player and did his best to show what could be achieved by tirelessness. Outside him, Norman was fast, but rather clumsy ; the same was true of the other wing, David, who lost a number of opportunities through playing too far up the field. Eglington, at inside right, had some constructive ideas, but was not sufficiently thrustful. Martyn came into the side late, but proved himself a vigorous centre forward who, given the chance, could score goals, and gave needed strength to the line.

In general, therefore, it must be accepted that the 1956 side was a weak one ; but in all the later matches, there were moments of really good hockey. The 2nd XI, as always, suffered from having an unsettled team, but did well to beat Crewkeme 1st XI. Both Colts and Junior Colts gave useful experience to a good number of players, and both sides had two or three very promising members ; the general standard, however, was uneven, and results, although not an indication for the future, were disappointing.

The following received !st XI colours :-P. M. Wilson (c) ; T. F. H. Mermagen (b), P.J. Weston (h) ; P. J.C. Rowe (g), C. C. T. Henfrey (f), C.R. Barkshire (h); A. C. B. David (h), C. R.J. Eglington (g), P. V. Martyn (h), C. S. Carwardine (d) (captain), A. R. D. Norman (h).

Summary of results :-Played Won Drawn Lost

1st XI 5 0 1 4 2nd XI 3 1 0 2 Colts 3 0 1 2 J. Colts 2 0 0 2

In the House matches, Westcott and Lyon played a goalless draw in the Seniors final, when the generally more skilful Westcott side were never allowed to settle down by a determined opposition ; the standard of this match was notably below that of recent years. In Juniors, Westcott, with a number of promising players, beat the Green in a hard-fought final 3-1. ·

SQUASH

From every point of view 1955-56 was an extremely successful season. In spite of a considerably strengthened fixture list five of the eight official matches were won-including all three inter school fixtures and five unofficial matches were played, the School winning them all. The only losses suffered were against the two county sides and against the Mercurians, who included two of the Somerset team. Particularly meritorious wins were recorded against Marlborough (for the first time ever), against a g.ood Downside team in their own strange, concrete courts, and against a Pilgrim's side that included several experienced players. These paper results are often meaningless but in this case they are a fair reflection on the quality of the play which was high, the chief feature being the taking of the early ball, the retrieving and the judicious use of the chop and lob.

The main reasons for this season's success were firstly the new charter for minor games in the Lent term and secondly, the astonishing improvement in the play of the second and third strings. ~· S. Carwardine and D. M. Summerscale each lost only one match throughout the season. R. A. H. Fletcher, havmg to play first string at the age of sixteen, had a hard season and often became discouraged, but he played some beautiful squash and should be a fine playe.r next year. C. C. T. Henfrey '.ind R. N. Spink were some way behind the o.thers but played with immense determination and had many valuable wms.

Next season only Fletcher will be here, but there are a number of promising juniors and the outlook is by no means bleak. There are however some improvements that could be made. Most House captains could do more to coach and encourage their younger players, and a fuller and less silent gallery would be a great help to the players.

During the Easter holidays five boys took part in competitions, Fletcher got through one round of the Drysdale Cup (the junior amateur Championship for those under 19 years) and created a favourable enough impression to be seeded for the Surrey Junior Championships where however he, like Carwardine, was beaten in the second round. The real glory belongs to Sherborne II (N. A. Davis and A. C. Evans) who reached the semi-finals of the Public Schools Doubles, a very good effort indeed.

Summary of results, 1955-56 :-The team: R. A.H. Fletcher*, C. S. Carwardine*, D. M. Summerscale* (Captain), C. C. T. Henfrey* and

R. N. Spink*. Also played : N. A. Davis, M. D. Murray, A. J. Rugg-Gunn, A. C. Evans and A. P. L. Turner.

(*Awarded squash badge).

THE SHJRBURNIAN

Team matches :­v. Dorset S.R.A. v. Sherborne Pilgrims v. Somerset S.R.A. v. Marlborough v. Clayesmore v. Downside u. Yeovil S.R.C. v. Mercurians S.R.C.

Competitions :-

Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Home

Lost 1-4. Won 3-2. Lost 2-3. Won 3-2. Won 5-0. Won 4-1. Won 5-0. Lost 2-3.

Senior-Winner: R. A.H. Fletcher. Runner-up: C. S. Carwardine. Junior-Winner: R. C.R. Cotterell. Runner-up: A. D. Edelsten. Novices-Winner : C. R. S. Pook. Runner-up : C. C. Picton. Inter-House Winner : Harper House. Runner-up : Lyon Howe.

FIVES

73

At the beginning of the Lent term the prospects seemed better than for some seasons as there were four old colours and several other competent players to fill the gaps.

It was therefore something of a disappointment when the first match, against Marlborough, was lost, although the margm was smaller than last year. There then followed a run of four very good matches with wins against Bristol Univer­sity, the O.S.S. and the masters, and a tie with Kelly who had beaten the School by more than a hundred points in the previous season. The last two matches, against an Oxford University team and against Canford, were both lost, but on each occasion it was impossible to put a full team into the court. The games arranged against Blundells and Clifton had both to be cancelled.

The greatest disappointment however came during the Easter holidays. Two pairs were entered for the Schools' Fives Competition held at \Vhitgift School, Croydon and results were abysmal, not a single game being won in either the singles or the doubles and the four singles players collecting only ten points between them. The doubles were a little more successful.

In summary it can be said that what should have been a good term failed to make the necessary improvement, and this was largely because there was no master who could play regularly and set a higher standard than that at which the team was already playing.

Summary of Results, 1955-56 :-

The Team : J. S. B. Price (Captain), B. N. Haywood, P. J. C. Rowe, P. R. Whitehurst, A. B. Harvie Clark, H. W. Walker.

Also played : R. Webb, M. F. S. Prince, and Zimmerman.

Colts pairs : R. M. Morgan, G. Taylor, Q. N. G. Seddon and S. P. Johnson.

Match results : v. Marlborough v. Bristol University v. Kelly College v. o.s.s. v. The Masters v. O.U.R.F.C. v. Canford

Away Home Home Home Home Home Away

Lost 182-237. Won 14-0-135. Tie 150-150. Woo 111-89. Won 98-88. Lost 71-116. Lost 101-157.

Competitions : Senior House pairs-\Vinner : Lyon House. Runner-up : The Green. Junior House pairs-Vvinner: Harper House. Runner-up: Abbey Howe. Senior Singles-Winner : P. J. C. Rowe. Runner-up : B. N. Haywood. Junior Singles-Winner : R. M. Morgan. Runner-up : S. P. Johnson.

74 THE SHIRBURNIAN

BOXING. LENT 1956.

School v. Clayesmore. At Sherborne. Tuesday, 6th March. Result: Won 5-4. We were very pleased to have this additional match, and look forward to meeting Clayesmore again next year.

Our boxing was marked by lack of experience, and an almost universal slowness to start. Brown lost to Steven on points. Beeston lost to Wilcox Stopped in Round 1. Hill beat Miller on points. Pool beat Kendall on points. Moberly beat Bothwell on points. Humphrey beat Pagilla on points. Kennedy lost to Hodgson on points. J. S. Robson beat Crawford on points. Nicholas lost to Arnold Stopped in Round 2. Colours were warded to M. C. Moberly and H, M. Humphrey.

School v. Clifton. At Sherborne. Result":·· Lost 2-6. Our inexperience was again shown up by a side which had reached a peak of training a week previously for their

four-sided competition. Jerrom lost to Brown lost to Beeston lost to E. R. Rix lost to M. C. Moberly lost to R. B. Molesworth lost to J. S. Robson beat M. V. Taylor beat

White Sand Miller Croucher Lloyd Sutcliffe Hunn Chinn

on points on points Stopped in Round 1. on points. on points. Stopped in Round 3. on points. on points.

School v. Kelly College. At Sherborne. Saturday, 17th March. Result : Lost 3-6. Another new fixture this term. This match showed a remarkable improvement in the team, very largely due to

Baker, who besides coaching and training the team very efficiently, had instilled a much greater will to win. Harris lost to Yonge on points. Braithwaite beat Walker on points. Chesshire lost to Seale on points. Haines lost to Anthony on points. M. M. Humphrey lost to Fox on points. M. C. Moberly beat Bray on points. R. B. Molesworth lost to Harrel on points. J. S. Robson beat Hampton on points. I should like to thank all those masters who devoted so much time to judging, and Baker for training the team

so well. E. R. Rix,

Captain of Boxing.

THE GYM SQUAD

An early start to the season, at the beginning of March, gave the squad time to familiarise itself with the new trampette and to practise bar work. This opportunity was not taken and, though the first run-through of the full bars programme gave grounds for optimism, staleness set in, and the final Commem. display lacked finesse.

We never fully mastered the trampette and a slight error of judgement causes a considerable difference in boost ; however, with more experience this failing should be rectified. The horse work at Commem. was rightly described as the worst part of the display, but next year, with some members of the squad already familiar with the trampette, it could well be the best. The groundwork slightly paled against the efforts of the chair tricks team, but, if undis­tinguished by startling work, it was at least unmarred by mistakes.

It has often been a criticism of the gym squad that its work never varies ; the trampette and the increased tempo of performance are a partial answer to this, but it is impossible to change the general structure of the show and in the details we are working to the limit of our ability.

The team was : A. R. D. Norman, J. S. Robson, A. C. Garrod, B. C. Simmonds, R. P. Thompson, C. R. Barkshire, R.J. H. Bentley, C. A. C. Field, C. W. Bertram, C. B. Hudson, D. A. Scott, M. E. Quick, D.R. Cameron, M. D. Heal.

A. R. D. NORMAN, Captain of Gym.

THE SHIRBUR.NIAN

CRICKET

CLUB MATCHES

5.5.56 v. Sherborne Town C.C. Match drawn. School 158 for 4 (Mermagen 61, Eglington 65). Town 131 for 6 (Tindall 3 for 39).

12.5.56 v. Free Foresters. Won by four wickets. Free Foresters I I 7 (Maley 6 for 44). School 118 for 6 (Carwardine 34).

19.5.56 v. Dorset Rangers. Won by five wickets. Dorset Rangers 126 (Robbie 6 for 40, Tindall 4 for 44). School 128 for 5 (Carwardine 31, F. King Esq. 3 for 13).

23.6.56 v. O.S.S. Lost by three wickets. School 138 (Eglington 47, Gillespie 4 for IO). O.S.S. 139 for 7 (Cowell 35*, Wilson 33*, Maley 4 for 64).

75

The first three club matches included two good wins against the Free Foresters and the Dorset Rangers. Maley with 6 for 44 in the first game, and Robbie with 6 for 40 in the second, bowled well. Carwardine made 34 and 31, and most of the other batsmen scored runs, which seemed to augur well for the school fixtures.

ScHOOL v. CLIFTON. Home. Lost. 26.5.56

Eglington won the toss, and put Clifton in-a wicket slightly damp on top leading to this decision. At lunch they were 80-6, Robbie bowling with considerable life and hostility, and being well supported by Maley and Tindall. Things were allowed to slip in the afternoon, slack fielding and catching being too prominent ; Clifton were eventually out for 193. The School batting never really got going; Hill and Walker resisted for a while, but a total of 85 was no more than the side was worth. The real trouble was a very bad start-5 for 3 appeared on the board at one stage. Clifton, however, were undoubtedly a very good school side ; the pity was that the attacking cricket by Sherborne in the morning was not followed up.

CLIFTON SCHOOL J. R. Bernard, b Robbie 16 l\fermagen, b Bernard 4 D. J. Carter, c Price, b Maley 13 Price, run out I R. W. Mathias, b Robbie 0 C. R.J. Eglington, b Whitty 0 D. C. Mills, c Dew, b Robbie ... 65 Walker, b Whitty 27 C. J. U. Coates, c Hood, b Tindall II Carwardine, c Coates, b Bernard 6 C. H. Pickwood, run out 0 Hill, b Bernard 8 M. F. King, b Robbie 6 Dew, b White IO N. A. M. Calvert, b Robbie 12 Hood, b Bernard 0 A. H. Witty, not out 31 Maley, not out ... 13 A. J. E. Hollows, b Tindall 9 Tindall, c Whitty, b White 0 P. E. C. White, run out 9 Robbie, lbw, b White 0

Extras 21 Extras 16

Total ... 193 Total ... 85

Bowling Analysis : Bowling Analysis : 0 M R w Av. 0 M R w Av.

Maley 13 I 35 I 35 Whitty ... 12 5 20 2 IO Robbie 23.2 6 45 5 9 Bernard 16 7 40 4 IO

. Tindall 28 5 74 2 37 Mills ... I I Hood 8 3 15 White 3.5 8 3 2.7

SCHOOL v. WESTMINSTER. Home. Drawn. 1 and 2.6.56

Westminster won the toss, and batted. Once again the School bowlers played their part; the fielding showed considerable improvement, and by mid-afternoon the innings closed for I 43. The School's reply was very slow indeed, 30 runs coming in the first hour. The Westminster fielding and bowling was no more than reasonable, but cautious and even timid batting made it look almost impossibly difficult. 133 was the eventual total, and in the hour remaining Westminster lost 3 wickets for 40.

On the second day their batting was on top, and, for the first time during the season, the School bowling became somewhat slack and untidy. Their declaration left the School 246 to win in 3 hours. A wicket fell in the first over, and thereafter, in the face of accurate bowling, the runs were never really on. A fine 98 by Eglington-which followed two n~mghts in succession-provided an excellent consolation prize.

76

1st Innings J. F. Mortimer, b Maley J. Myring, b Robbie ... P. G. K. Saunders, b Robbie A. Naylor-Smith, b Maley D. J. Delmotte, b Tindall R. H. Brown, c Eglington, b Tindall R. G. M. Spry, c Curtis, b Tindall M. J. Hyam, c Dew, b Tindall A. G. Gordon, b Robbie N. C. Roope, not out G. Lewis, c Dew, b Tindall

Extras

Total ...

0 Maley 8 Robbie 18 Tindall 16.5 Curtis 7

M 2 5 5 6

!st Innings Mermagen, by Hyam Price, run out

R 31 42 58 4

C. R. J. Eglington, c Mortimer, b Hyam Curtis, c Lewis, b Hyam Carwardine, lbw, b Delmotte Hill, c Saunders, b Naylor-Smith Dew, c Saunders, b Hyam Maley, b Hyam Tindall, c and b Hyam Robbie, not out

Extras

Total ...

0 M R Hyam 29.3 12 58 Naylor-Smith 6 23 Mortimer 21 11 32 Delmotte 2 1 8 Roope 2 15 Spry

w 2 3 5

w 6 1 1 1

THE SHIRBURNIAN

WESTMINSTER 2nd Innings

0 3

11 4

49 41 0 0

23 4 0 8

b Robbie b Robbie b Maley b Robbie s Dew, b Curtis c Dew, b Curtis did not bat not out s Dew, b Tindall not out did not bat

Extras

... 143 Total (for 7 wkts. dee.)

Bowling Analyses : Av. 0 M 15.5 20 5 12 19 4 11.6 25 4

9 1

SHERBORNE

R 60 45 82 34

2nd Innings 14 lbw, b Hyam 15 run out 0 b Naylor-Smith ... 0 lbw, b Mortimer

19 not out 30 I

b J Did not bat 12 21

7 Extras

... 133 Total (for 4 wkts.)

Bowling Analyses : Av. 0 9.7 21

23 9.4 32 15 8 31

2 2

M R 10 20 2 28 3 65 1 11

12 9

w 1 3 1 2

w 1 1 1

6 10 12 16 68

4

12 42 51

14

... 235

Av. 60 15 82 17

6 18 98

1 22

15

... 160

Av. 20 28 6.5

ScHOOL v. WINCHESTER. Home Drawn 9.6.56.

The School played well in this game, against what was undoubtedly a better side. Once again, though, slow and cautious batting prevented any chance of a win ; and this in spite of a very generous declaration by Winchester, which gave the School 163 minutes to score 195. The School outcricket and bowling was good, and another promising start was made. At lunch, Winchester were 90 for 6, Tindall having bowled well. The sixth wicket put on I 00 during the afternoon and had it not been for some very accurate bowling by Robbie, the batting might well have become right on top. The School innings began with what appeared at this stage to be the almost inevitable run out with the first ball of the innings this time ; and the 50 minutes before tea produced a score of 18 for 2. In the remaining time Eglington, Hill and Carwardine all batted well, but the School were on the defensive, and a draw was all that could be expected. Mention should be made of the Winchester fielding, which reached a very high level.

THE SHIRBURNIAN

WINCHESTER

G. Dean, run out A. E. Seager, c Mermagen, b Tindall D. E. D. Cambell, b Curtis Pataudi, st Dew, b Tindall P. R. Stevens, b Curtis J. J.B. Rowe, c Brookes, b Tindall G. W. Richardson, not out D. C. le F. Edwards, not out ...

M. E. K. Steward Did not bat P. M. S. Allan }

D. W. S. Dunlop · Extras ...

Total (for 6 wkts. dee.)

Bowling Analysis : 0 M R

Maley 22 5 47 C. J. A. Robbie 19 7 32 Tindall 18 2 67 Curtis 12 3 43

Av.

3 2

8 15 17 20 17 7

57 48

6

... 195

22.3 21.5

SCHOOL

Mermagen, c Rowe, b Cambell Price, run out •.. C.R. J. Eglington, b Cambell Hill, c and b Seager Carwardine, not out Brookes, not out ...

g~~is } Maley Did not bat Tindall C.J. A. Robbie

Extras

Total (for 4 wkts.)

Bowling Analysis : 0

Dunlop 11 Stevens 10 Cambell 25 Edwards 13 Richardson 3 Seager 5 Allan ... l

M R 5 21 7 11

11 40 4 22 l 11 2 6

3

SCHOOL v. RADLEY. Away. Drawn. 15 and 16.6.56

w

2

77

6 0

52 31 22

3

6

... 120

Av.

20

6

The second day of this match was completely washed out-this was particularly disappointing for, although the scores do not look promising, in fact it appeared likely that Radley could be out played. At lunch on the first day, after winning the toss, Radley were 123-3, the feature of a rather desultory morning's performance by the School being an extraordinary catch at short leg by Brookes, who hung to a full forcing shot. In the afternoon the bowlen applied themselves with much more determination, and the remaining 7 wickets fell for 80 runs. In the half-hour before tea, the score reached 33-1-the batsmen had once again failed from lack of experience. Carwardine played well after tea, and his 43 was worth a good deal. 85-2 at the close, and everything to play for-and then came the rain.

RADLEY

F. T. A. Hole, c Brookes, b Robbie N. A. Slocock, b Tindall P. H. Raby, not out .. . A. R. Duff, b Maley .. . T. W. Morkill, b Robbie J. J. S. Wilson, st Dew, b Curtis N. E. 0' Shaughnessy, c Maley, b Tindall P. J. Mackeown, b Curtis M. D. Wigley, b Robbie R. A. N. Lane, b Robbie M. J. P. Jenkins, c Eglington, b Robbie

Extras

Total ...

Bowling Analysis : 0 M R

M. Maley ... 17 2 57 C. J. A. Robbie 23 5 55 S. P. Tindall 22 7 47 Curtis 14 3 16 Rowe 4 17

w l 5 2 2

28 26 63 36 25

4 l 0 5 l 3

11

•.. 203

Av. 57 11 23.5 8

SCHOOL

Price, c Wigley, b Duff •.• C. R. J. Eglington, c Wilson, b Duff Hill, retired hurt C. S. Carwardine, not out

~q:.:ot ""'}· .. Did not bat

S. P. Tindall C.J. A. Robbie

Extras

Total (for 2 wkts.)

Bowling Analysis : 0 M R w

Wigley ... 13 6 17 Mor kill 14 3 29 Duff ... 13 5 16 2 Lane 4 8 Mackeown 2 lO

10 I 5

48 16

5

..• 85

Av.

8

78 THE SHIRBURNIAN

ATHLETICS The season for 1956 has opened in favourable weather, neither so dry as to make the track a succession of pot

holes, nor so wet as to make the pits pools and puddles. So far we have had two matches, both away ; the School sports have been held ; and the inter-house relays run

off. We have a further five matches after Commem.-two at home and three away. On May 17th we had a very pleasant trial match against H.M.S. Heron, the Naval air station at Yeovilton.

We were allowed to take a large team of possibles, and we hoped to find some unknown talent. We lost the match by seven points, and discovered that our time for the 440 yards was very slow ! However, Wright emerged as a thrower with the ability to improve that has enabled him to win the Javelin against Marlborough and come second in the Discus in the School sports.

At Marlborough apart from Wright's effort we had only two other successes in the senior match. Norman won the Long Jump, and J. H. Dolman the Mile in the excellent time of 4 minutes 39 secs. (0.8 secs. outside the present School record). The junior team redeemed us : Kennedy won the 800 yards : Neame and Paterson had our only first and second of the day, in the Hurdles, and we won the relay. The scores were :

Seniors : Marlborough 74, Sherborne 37. Juniors : Marlborough 39, Sherborne 38. In the School relays held on June 14th, Abbeylands kept the cup they won last year. They took new records for

the Junior and Intermediate 4 X 100 yard shuttle : Lyon House, with great spirit, established a record for the 16-a side relay of 3 minutes 25.2 secs.

In the School sports Abbeylands scored another success by winning the Junior and Intermediate cup. Harper House were second and The Green third. At Marlborough R. \V. Kent, the School's young but promising high jumper, had been outclassed, but had managed a gallant 5 ft. 4 ins. : it was a great pleasure when he jumped 5 ft. 4! ins. during the sports and thus gained the Intermediate record.

The Senior cup was won in an exciting finish by Westcott House, with The Green four points behind and School House " A " third. A single change in place in the last two events would have reversed the result : a situation in which the nerves of the respective captains became a bit frayed !

For the smooth running of these two potentially hectic days we are particularly indebted to an army of fags ; more, to A. B. Suckling who arranged the timetables and lists ; yet more to all those masters who gave up their time to act as officials. A special word must be said for Mr. Runge who, with his customary kindness, arranged a very efficient loudspeaker system for us at twenty-four hours notice, for which we are extremely grateful. Finally, we thank Mr. Gibb for his energetic supervision of our athletics, and Mr. Hart for running the Junior team and coaching our high jumpers.

R. w. s. HIRD, Captain of Athletics.

TENNIS 1956 There have been two unusual events this term. At the beginning of May, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Mottram held their

Coaching " Clinic " at the School for two afternoons. Thirty people were coached in all, in two groups. The Mottrams played a short exhibition game, discussed the basic principles of the game, and then coached people individually on the forehand, backhand and service strokes, ironing out many faults. Because of rain, the gymn was used on one of the afternoons, providing us with an admirable indoor court. The technique the Mottrams adopted contributed largely to the success of their visit, and it is hoped they will come again in future years.

The other rare occasion was the visit to Bristol of a party from the School to see the first day of the Davis Cup match against Chile, where both singles provided much enjoyment and food for thought.

After the customary weeks of uncertainty, the VI has sorted itself out, and at the time of going to press five matches have been played, four of which have been won. The second VI have three or four fixtures, which will provide good experience, while with some very good juniors, and more people now playing tennis, prospects for the future seem good.

We are grateful, as always, to Mr. Roupell's patient coachin~, and to Col. Holmes, whose exp«irt advice is invaluable. And lastly, our sincere thanks to Mr. Hart, who is leaving us this term for Shrewsbury : since he took over the tennis five years ago, he has done unaccountable good, coaching, encouraging and playing with anyone in the least bit interested : the tennis owes much to him, and he will be greatly missed.

The Team: R. N. Spink (Captain) and L.B. Turner; R. G. Smithson and A. C. Garrod; R. Hoop«ir and C. J. Lankester.

Results of matches to date : 1st VI v. Millfield

Canford R.N.C. Dartmouth Blundell's o.s.s.

Lost 1-8. Won 8-1. Won 7-2. Won 8-1. Won 6-2 (one game unfinished).

R. N. SPINK, Captain of Tennis.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 79

SHOOTING

Junior Shooting last term was won by Lyon House, with an average of 74.24. Harper House was second with 71.94, The Green third with 68.83, and Westcott House fourth. The standard was noticeably higher in Houses where coaching had been given, and for this reason Junior Shooting next year will be done with slings and no rests.

The Miniature Range House Pairs Competition was won by Harper House, represented by M. C. Cumberlege and Stone. The score of 163 was much lower than last year's, but with Lyon, Westcott, School House "B" and Abbey House all within five points of the winners, it provided an exciting finish to the term. In the postal matches under " Country Life " conditions the VIII put up some good scores, to win 29 of 40 matches. In the competition itself, however, we came down badly on the Landscape, to finish 33rd out of some 120 schools.

The usual practice at Bisley in April was attended by 28 people, and provided a valuable start to the season, as well as much entertainment of a lighter nature. The results to date of this term's side-by-side matches on the Open Range are:

May 17th v. Bruton (home) Lost 487-490. May 26th v. Blundell's (away) Fourth 474-497.

Allhallows 491. Exeter 489.

June 2nd v. O.S.S. (home) Won 488-483. June 9th v. Marlborough (away) Won 504-486. June 16th v. Blundell's (away) Lost 484-504. In future, the date of the match against the O.S.S. will be published in the Lent term edition of The Shirhurnian,

so that Old Shirburnians will have no excuse for not knowing the date, and who to contact. I would like to thank R.S.M. Alden for the patience with which he has handled the VIII and Cadet Pair, and

for his efficient and cheerful organization ; Col. Green for giving up so much of his time to encourage us and arrange our matches ; and finally, D. A. Lloyd, Esq., for all the trouble he took in gathering a team together (although there were only seven of them) to shoot against us.

Colours have been awarded to : 26/5/56 M. C. Cumberlege (regained) ; 9/6/56 R. J. Torontow (regained), J. L. Monro ; 16/6/56 R. D. Lloyd.

H. w. WALKER, Captain of Shooting.

SAILING CLUB

This season the Club has six Y. W. Cadets, and the new G.P.14 in commission. What was a bare hull is now a completely finished dinghy waiting for a light breeze to stretch its new sails ; for this the Club is indebted to the Commodore, who has worked so hard during the winter months with so little help. Also this year members have brought their own dinghies to the Poole Harbour Yacht Club, including a National 12, a Firefly, a Heron and three Y.W. Cadets.

To date we have had four fixtures : on May 20th Clayesmore beat us decisively in two races but the following week-ends we beat Millfield (29-16), Bryanston (25!-161) and Clifton (25!-171). Fixtures against Canford and Bruton are still to come. The following have sailed for the School : R. M. Salkeld, Thornback, Jones, Chamberlen, Davis and Salkeld A.

The third and last round of the House races for the Edmund Cup is still to be sailed.

We congratulate the following on winning School colours :-

26.5.56 3.6.56

10.6.56

17.6.56

26.6.56

!st XI 2nd XI

C.J. A. Robbie M. Maley (regained) S. P. Tindall

(regained) C. S. Carwardine

A.F.N. Dew D. B. Hill J.A.D.Curtis M. C. Brookes

Martyn

Hood Hughes

Shirley Cassidy, D. Pegg Walker, H. R. J.

R. M. SALKELD,

3rd XI Wyatt-Smith

Rugg-Gunn

Captain of Sailing.

Colts Morgan Brown, E. Yeldham Cotterell

Sir, We would like to express our thanks to Dovey and his groundsmen for keeping the grounds in such good order,

and also to the many masters, who give so much of their free time for the organisation and coaching of cricket, tennis and athletics.

C. R. J. EGLINGTON (Captain of Cricket). R. N. SPINK (Captain of Tennis). R. W. S. Hum (Captain of Athletics).

80 THE SHIRBURNIAN

VALETE SCHOOL HOUSE

A. B. HARVIE-CLARK-came 19513-VI (Group 1)-Head of House; Upper Sixth; 3rd XI Cricket '56; Fives Team '55, Badge '56 ; P.T. Instructor Class B with Badge; Member of Duffers, Interpretes and Wildman; Sgt. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section)-To Army and Keble College, Oxford.

R. N. SPINK-came 195l3-VI (Group II M.L.)-School Prefect; House Rugger Colours '56; 2nd XI Hockey '56 ; Squash Team '55, Badge '56; Tennis Colours '53, '54, '55, Capt. '56; P.T. Instructor Class B with Badge; Member of Polyglottes, Wildman; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

B. C. SIMMONDS-came 19518-VI (Group Illb)-House Prefect; 3rd XI Cricket '55, Capt. '56; Gym Colours '54, '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Wildman ; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

R. M. SALKELD-came 195l3-VI (Group Illa)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; P.T. Instructor; Member of Duffers, Alchemists, Wildman; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section)-To Royal Marines and Merton College, Oxford.

P. M. JOHNSON-came 19513-VI (Group 1)-House Prefect; 3rd XV '55; P.T. Instructor; Member of Wildman; 1st Class Cdt. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section-To Accountancy. ·

H. M. J. WARD-came 19518-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House Prefect ; House Rugger Coloun '56 ; Boxing Team '55; P.T. Instructor; Member of Wildman; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Stock Exchange.

E. R. Rix-came 1952-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; 3rd XV '54, '55; 7-a-side Team '56 ; Boxing Team '52, '53, Colours '54, '55, Capt. '56 ; P.T. Instructor ; Member of Green Ribbon Club ; Sgt. in C.C.F. (R.A.F, Section)-To Army and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. ·

J. J. MARSHALL-came 195l3-VI (Group Illa)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; House Rugger Colours '56; P.T. Instructor; Member of Music Club, Duffers, Alchemists, Wildman; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and New College, Oxford.

G. C. MrrcnELL-<ame 19518-VI (Group Illa)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; P.T. Instructor; Member of Alchemists, Daubers; State Scholarship '55; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and New College, Oxford.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 81

G. C. W. SMITH-came 19513-VI (Group Illa)-House Prefect ; Upper Sixth ; P.T. Instructor ; Member of Alchemists; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Engineering.

C. A. SMALLWOOD-Came 19521-VI (Group IIIb)-House Prefect; P.T. Instructor; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Royal School of Mines, London University.

R. J.B. HEASMAN-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-P.T. Instructor ; L/S. in C.C.F. (Naval Section)­To Royal Navy and Law.

P.R. HuxHAM-came 19522-VI (Group II H. & E.)-P.T. Instructor; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Worcester College, Oxford.

P. E. SYMES-came 1952"-VI (Group II H. & E.)-A.B. in C.C.F. (Naval Section)-To Navy and Business. C. J. ROBINSON-came 19522-V (M.S. B)-Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business. S. EVERED-came 1952"-VI (Group Illa)-Member of Alchemists; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Bristol University. R. M. WHITE-came 19523-VI (Group II M.L.)-Member of Polyglottes ; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business. A. P. DowNs-came 19523-VI (Group II M.L.)-L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business. M. C. MOBERLY-came 19528-VI (Group IIIb)-Boxing Team '55, Colours '56 ; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army

and Agriculture. R. B. MOLESWORTH-came 19531-V (Group III)-Boxing Team '54, '55, Colours '56 ; A.B. in C.C.F. (Naval

Section)-To Further Studies.

ABBEY HOUSE A. C. GARROD-came 19513-VI (Group !)-Head of House; Upper Sixth; Gym Colours '54, '55, '56 ;

Tennis Colours '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor Class A with Badge ; Hon. Sec. Music Club, Member of Duffers, Inter­pretes, Wildman; School Junior Piano Prize '53; C.S.M. in C.C.F.-To Royal Marines and St. Edmund Hall, Oxford.

T. F. H. MERMAGEN-came 19513-VI (Group IIIb)-School Prefect; 2nd XV '54, '55 ; 2nd XI Cricket '54, '55, !st XI '56 ; 2nd XI Hockey '55, 1st '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Wildman, Music Club ; Sgt. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section)-Flying Scholarship to R.A.F. College, Cranwell.

N. C. HUMPHREYS-came 1951"-VI (Group II H. & E.)-School Prefect; Upper Sixth; House Rugger Colours '56; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Wildman, Duffers, Green Ribbon Club, Music Club; C.S.M. in C.C.F.-To Army and New College, Oxford.

R. R. Hou1E-came 19513-VI (Group IIIa)-House Prefect; House Rugger Colours '56; Trebles '56; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Alchemists ; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Natal University.

J. F. BERRY-came 19503-VI (Medical)-House Prefect; P.T. Instructor; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To London Hospital Medical College.

J. H. PAUL-came 19513-VI (Group !)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; P.T. Instructor; Member of Wild­man, James Rhoades; L/S. in C.C.F. (Naval Section)-To Navy and Magdalene College, Cambridge.

A. A. CAssIDY-came 19523-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House Prefect; !st XV '55; Athletics Team '53, '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Music Club, Wildman ; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business.

R. C. W. MALIM-came 19513-VI (Group !)-Upper Sixth; Member of Interpretes; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.­To Business.

T. F. Cox-came 19513-VI (M.S.a)-Cpl. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section)-To R.A.F. C. K. H. CUFF-came 19521-V (Group II M.L.)-3rd XI Cricket '55, '56; Boxing Team '55; Member of

James Rhoades-To R.A.F. and La Sorbonne. D.R. WILLIS-came 19521-VI (Group II H. & E.)-L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business.

THE GREEN A. F. N. DEw--came 19503-VI (Group IIIa)-Head of House ; Upper Sixth ; 3rd XV '54, 1st '55 ; 2nd XI

Cricket '54, Capt. of 3rd '55, !st '56 ; 2nd XI Hockey '56 ; P.T. Instructor Class A with Badge ; Member of Duffers, Alchemists, Wildman ; Junior Plumptre Prize for Mathematics '51 ; Senior Plumptre Prize '53, '55 ; State Scholar­ship '55; C.S.M. in C.C.F.-To Magdalen College, Oxford.

R. W. S. HIRD-came 19513-VI (Group IIIa)-School Prefect ; Upper Sixth ; Athletics Colours '55, Capt. '56; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Alchemists, Wildman, Christopher Warren Prize '53 ; Alan Turing Prize for Physics '55; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Cambridge.

C. J. F. SPRY-came 19513-VI (Group IIIa)-House Prefect; 2nd XV '55; House Cricket Colours '56 ; Gym Colours '55 ; Trebles '53, '54, '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Alchemists, Music Club ; Christopher Warren Prize '54; ,Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Further Studies.

R. J. H. BENTLEY-came 19513-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; Gym Colours '55, '56; P.T. Instructor; Member of Duffers, Alchemists, Music Club ; Ridout Prize for Medical Studies '56 ; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section) -To Clare College, Cambridge.

D. A. SCOTT-came 19513-VI (Group IIIa)-House prefect; Upper Sixth; House Rugger Colours '56; Gym Colours '56; P.T. Instructor; Member of Alchemists; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Leeds University.

A. B. SucKLING--Came 19523-VI (Group II H.& E.)-House Prefect ; Upper Sixth ; Athletics Team '54, '55, Hon. Sec. '56 ; Boxing Team '54, Colours '55 ; P.T. Instructor ; Member of Duffers. Green Ribbon Club, Al­chemists, Wildman ; Wildman Latin Prose Prize '54, Junior Longmuir Prize '54 ; History Essay Prize '55, Senior Langmuir Prize '56; Sgt. in C.C.F. ; Scholarship to Queen's College, Cambridge-To Army.

P.R. WHITEHURST-came 19521-VJ (Group 1)-House Prefect; 2nd XI Hockey '55, '56; Fives Team '54, Badge '55, '56; Athletics Team '56; P.T. Instructor; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

82 THE SHIRBURNIAN

HARPER HOUSE A. E. H. GERRY-came 19513-VI (Group II, H. & E.)-Head of House; Upper Sixth; 3rd XV '54, Capt.

'55 ; Boxing team '52, '55 ; 2nd Shooting VIII '54, '55, '56 ; Captain of Swimming; P.T. Instructor with badge, Class B; Member of Duffers, Wildman, Green Ribbon Club; C.S.M. in C.C.F.-To Royal Marines, Trinity College, Cambridge and Canada.

J. F. KENT-came 19513-VI (Group IIIA) ; School Prefect; Upper Sixth; 2nd XV '55; Athletics Team '55, '56; P.T. Instructor with badge Class B; Member of Duffers, Alchemists, Wildman; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Royal Marines and Brasenose College, Oxford.

C. S. CARWARDINE-came 19513-VI (Medical and Group II, H. & E.) ; School Prefect; Upper Sixth ; 2nd XV '54, lst '55 ; 2nd XI Cricket, Capt. '55, lst '56 ; lst Hockey '55, Capt. '56 ; Squash colours '54, '55, Capt. '56 ; P.T. Instructor with badge ; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section)-To Navy and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

R. G. OLIVER-came 19513-VI (Group II, H. & E.) ; House Prefect; 3rd XV '54, 2nd '55 ; P.T. Instructor Class Bwith badge; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To R.M.A., Sandhurst.

R. A. R. EvANs-came 19522-VI (Group II H. & E.a) ; House Prefect; Editor of The Shirburnian; Upper Sixth ; Fencing team '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor Class B ; Member of Duffers, Wildman ; Hon. Sec. Green Ribbon Club; History Essay Prize '54; Cpl. in C.C.F. ; Postmastership to Merton College, Oxford-To Oxford and Adventure.

C. J. LANKESTER-came 19521-VI (Medical) ; House Prefect; Tennis Colours '56; P.T. Instructor Class B; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To University of British Columbia and Forestry.

J. M. PARK-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.a) ; Upper Sixth ; 3rd XI '56 ; Member of Green Ribbon Club; P.T. Instructor; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Pembroke College, Oxford.

J. K. HAINES-came 19522-VI (Group IIIb) ; 2nd XV '55 ; Boxing team '56 ; P.T. Instructor ; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Navy and Agriculture.

C.J. B. G. STUART-came 19522-V (Group Illa) ; Cpl. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section) ; To further studies. M. C. CUMBERLEGE-came 19523-VI (Group II M.L.)-Editor of The Shirburnian; Upper Sixth; Shooting

Colours '55, '56; Member of Duffers, Polyglottes, Green Ribbon Club, James Rhoades; Deb. Sec. Wildman; Martin Smithwick Prizes '53, '54, '56; James Rhoades Prize '53, Senior Longmuir '55 ; Prize Poem '55, '56; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.; Exhibition to St.John's College, Oxford-To Agriculture.

M. R. N. GooDDEN-came 19523-VI (Group II M.L.) ; Member of Polyglottes, Music Club; Aston Binns French Prize '55 ; Lister German Prize '55 ; L/Cpl. in C.C.F. ; To France and Business.

M. T. IRELAND-came 19523-VI (Medical) ; House Cricket Colours; To Accountancy.

ABBEYLANDS M. WHITAKER-came 19521-VI (Group II H. & E.)-Head of House; Upper Sixth; 1st XV '55; 3rd XI

Cricket '55, '56 ; 2nd XI Hockey '56 ; P. T. Instructor Class B with Badge ; Member of Jam es Rhoades, Wildman and Green Ribbon Club; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

C. D. L. CAMERON-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House P~efect; Fencing Team '55; P.T. Instructor; Member of Wildman, Duffers; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Journalism.

J. J. THORNBACK-came 19513-VI (Group Illb)-House Prefect ; Boxing Team '53, '55 ; P.T. Instructor ; L/S. in C.C.F. (Naval Section).-To Cranwell.

R. J. C. WILSON-came 19511-VI (Group II M.L.)-House Prefect; House Rugger Colours '54; P.T. Instructor; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Royal Navy.

T. G. GROOME-came 19521-V (Modern Studies)-House Rugger Colours '55 ; A.B. in C.C.F. (Naval Section) -To R.N.V.R. ·

A. J. HARrusoN-came 195ZS-V (Modern Studies) ; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business. A. C. NEWMAN-came 19531-IV E ; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business. C.H. KlNNERSLY-came 19532-IV C.-To Business.

LYON HOUSE P. J.C. RoWE-came 19521-VI (Group II H. & E.)-Head of House; Upper Sixth; 2nd XV '54, 1st '55 ;

2nd XI Cricket '54, '55, '56 ; 2nd XI Hockey '55, 1st '56 ; Fives Team '53, Badge '54, '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Duffers, Music Club, Wildman, Green Ribbon Club ; Bowen History Prize '54, Junior Long­muir '55; Band Staff Sgt. in C.C.F; Scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford-To Royal Marines.

M. MALEY-came 19513-VI (Group Illa)-School Prefect; Upper Sixth; 2nd XV '55; Seven-a-side Team '56; lst XI Cricket '55, '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Wildman; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army, Jesus College, Cambridge.

C. R.J. EouNGTON-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-School Prefect; Upper Sixth; 2nd XV '54, '55; 1st XI Cricket '55, Capt. '56; 2nd XI Hockey '55, 1st '56; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Wildman, Green Ribbon Club; Cpl. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section)-To Army and Business.

THE SHIRBURNIAN 83

R. D. F. ALLAN-came 19503-VI (Group IIIb)-House Prefect; 3rd XV '54, '55; P.T. Instructor, class B; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

C. W. J. HANBURY-TRACY-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House Prefect; P.T. Instructor; Member of Music Club ; Harley Wind Prize '55, '56 ; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To La Sorbonne, Army and Business.

B. N. HAYWOOD-came 1951 2-VI (Group IIIa)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; House Rugger Colours '56; Fives Badge '55, '56; P.T. Instructor; Member of Alchemists; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army, Christ's College, Cambridge and Engineering.

J. S. B. PRICE-came 19513-VI (Group IIIb)-House Prefect; 2nd XI Cricket '55 '56; Fives Badge '55, Capt. '56 ; P.T. Instructor ; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Royal Air Force.

S. P. TINDALL-came 19513-VI (Group 1)-House Prefect; 2nd XI Cricket '54, !st '55, '56; Member of Duffers, Wildman; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Christ's College, Cambridge. ·

R. D. LLOYD-came 19522-VI (Group IIIb)-Fencing Team '54, Colours '55, Capt. 56; Shooting Colours '56; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Business.

WESTCOTT HOUSE

P. J. WESTON-came 19513-VI (Group 1)-Head of School ; Head of House ; Upper Sixth ; Editor of The Shirhurnian •552, '553, 561 ; 2nd XI Hockey '55, !st XI '56 ; House Rugger Colours '56 ; Athletics team '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Hon. Sec. Duffers, Wildman, Int. Max. Interpretum, Member of Green Ribbon Club, Al­chemists ; School Greek Prize '55, School Latin Prize '56, Alan Palmer Prize '55, '56, Senior Longmuir '56, Fletcher French Prize '56, Whittingdale Medal for Classics '56; R.S.M. (Drum Major) in C.C.F. ; Scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford.-To Royal Marines.

R. G. SMITHSON-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-School Prefect; Upper Sixth; 3rd XV '54, '55 ; 3rd XI Cricket '55 ; Tennis Colours '56; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Duffers, Wildman, Green Ribbon Club, Polyglottes ; Sgt. in C.C.F.-To Law.

P. V. MARTYN-came 19513-VI (Group II H. & E.)-School Prefect; Upper Sixth; 2nd XI Cricket '55, Capt. 2nd XI '56 ; Capt. 2nd XV '55 ; !st XI Hockey '56 ; P.T. Instructor with Badge ; Member of Duffers, Wild­man, Polyglottes ; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section).-To Royal Marines and Lincoln College, Oxford.

A. C. B. M. DAVID-came 1951 3-VI (Group !)-School Prefect ; Upper Sixth ; !st XV '55, Seven-a-side Team '55, Capt. '56; !st XI Hockey '56; Boxing Team '52, '53; Athletics Team '55; P.T. Instructor with Badge; Member of Duffers, Interpretes, Wildman; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section).-To Jesus College, Oxford and the Bar.

P. C. PARSoNs-came 19553-VI (Group II H. & E.)-School Prefect ; Upper Sixth ; Editor of The Shirburnian; 3rd XV '55 ; Trebles '56 ; P.T. Instructor ; Member of Duffers, Green Ribbon Club, Wildman-To Yale.

B. L. CROWE-came 19513-VI (Group II M.L.)-House Prefect; Upper Sixth; House Rugger Colours '55; P.T. Instructor ; Member of Duffers, Wildman, Daubers, Hon. Sec. Polyglottes ; Lister German Prize '53, Junior Longmuir Prize '53, Aston Binns Prize '55; P.O. in C.C.F. (Naval Section).-To Army and Magdalen College, Oxford.

C. J. A. ROBBIE-came 19521-VI (Group II H. & E.)-House Prefect; 2nd XI Crick'et '55, !st '56; Boxing Team '55; P.T. Instructor; Member of Wildman; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business.

C.R. BARKSHIRE-came 19521-V (General) House Prefect; !st XI Hockey '56; 3rd XI Cricket '55, 2nd XI '56 ; Trebles '53, '54, '55, '56 ; Gym Colours '55, '56 ; L/S in C.C.F. (Naval Section).-To Navy and Civil Aviation.

E. M. VINE-came 19521-V (Group Illb)-House Prefect; House Rugger Colours '55; P.T. Instructor; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Business.

R. G. L. PALMEs-came 19511-VI (Medical) ; P.T. Instructor.-To Navy. A. R. CAMPBELL-SMITH-came 19513-VI (Group IIIa)-Upper Sixth; Shooting VIII '54, '55'56; P.T.

Instructor; Member of Alchemists; Bdr. in C.C.F.-To Army and Cambridge. R. F. RAMBAUT-came 19522-VI (Group !)-Member of Daubers.-To further studies. G. GREGORY-SMITH-came 1952"-V (General)-3rd XV '55; 3rd XI Cricket '55, '56; L/Cpl. in C.C.F.­

To business. R. J. TORONTOW-came 19523-VI (Medical)-House Rugger Colours '55; Shooting Colours '55, '56;

Trebles '54, '55, '56 ; Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Trinity College, Dublin. J. W. F. ROBINS-came 19522-V (Medical)-Cpl. in C.C.F.-To Army and Agriculture. R.H. CARDEw-came 19523-VI (Group Illa)-Member of Alchemists; Cpl. in C.C.F. (R.A.F. Section).­

To R.A.F. Henlow.

(The Editors regret that they cannot include distinctions gained after the closing date).

CONTEMPORARIES

The Editors of The Shirbumian would like to acknowledge the receipt of many other school magazines.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

All Letters and Articles intended for publication should be sent to the EDITOR, Sherborne School, Dorset.

The Annual Subscription is 13/6 (including postage). The Shirburnian is published three times in the year, once each in the Lent, Summer and Michaelmas Terms.

Subscribers changing their addresses are requested to communicate at once with the PUBLISHERS, as otherwise

The Shirhurnian cannot possibly be forwarded to them. This applies especially to subscribers entering or leaving the Universities.

If an article is to be continued in successive numbers, the whole is to be sent in at once.

No contribution will be inserted which is not the bona fide production of some one who is, or has been, a Member of the School or Staff.

We decline to hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our contributors.

Contributors are requested to write legibly, and only on ONE side of the paper.

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All Business Communications with regard to The Shirburnian should be made to the Publishers at The Abbey Book Shop, Ltd., The Parade, Sherborne, Dorset, 'Phone 67, to whom alone Subscriptions should be sent.