VIGORNIAN
CONTRIBUTIONS
Correspondence
Acknowledgments
Head Master:
Second Master:
Assistant Masters.:
THE STAFF
F. R. Kittermaster, B.A.(Lond.).
tH. Ferrar, M.A.
tS. D. Strong, M.A.
*A. D. Franklin, M.A.
*R. C. Pedder, RA.
Miss M. C. Camp bell, L.L.A.(Art).
H. L. lWilson, RA.
N. E. Dilks, RA.
Miss L. D. Forward.
S. R. Sheppard, RA.
D. R J. McTurk, B.A.(Edin.).
H. A. Natan.
L. M. Bailey, RA.
t J. M. Cash, M.A.
*W. Thomas, M.A.
F. R. Logan, RA.
tR. D. Knight, M.A.
*P. G. L. Curie, M.A.
*J. H. Frisby, B.sc., M.A.
*H. M. Ballance, M.A.
*K. P. Bamett, M.A.
*F. S. Sutcliffe, RA.
*A. H. Aldridge, M.A.
tM. Shayer, M.A.
D. H. Crawford, RSc., M.A.
tG. D. C. John, M.A.
tRev. N. E. Wilkinson, M.A.
*R E. Dodd, RA.
Miss A. Campbell.
*D. Vaudrey, M.A.
R. West (Music).
J. R. Barrett (P.T.).
* Oxford.
t Cambridge.
Head of School
School Monitors
Heads of Houses:
School House
Castle House
The Hostel
Choir House
Chappel House
Creighton House
Captain of Football
Secretary of Football
Captain of Cricket
Secretary of Cricket
Captain of Boats
Secretary of Boats
Captain of Fives
Captain of Hockey
Secretary of Hockey
Captain of Athletics
Captain of Shooting
Secretary of Shooting
Captain of Boxing
Librarians
Secretary of Art Society
SCHOOL OFFICERS
C. A. W. lve
R. Thorn, 1. A. Dickinson, H. B. Shouler, P. A. D. Brown, D. P. G. Westgate, R. L. Rowley, H. G. Vaile, P. L. Costeloe, D. 1. Ramsey, A. J. Tinkel, A. J. Moody.
C. A. W. Ive
H. G. Vaile
H. B. Shouler
P. L. Costeloe
D. P. G. Westgate
R. Thorn
1. A. Dickinson
P. L. Costeloe
D. P. G. Westgate
H. B. Shouler
H. G. Vaile
R. D. F. Anderson
P. L. Costeloe
K. G. James
P. J. Randle
R. Thorn
R. D. F. Anderson
P. J. Barrett
R. L. Rowley
R. N. Hughes, G. M. Jones, D. P. G. Westgate, A. J. Tinkel.
P. A. D. Brown
Secretary of MusIc Society . ·H. G. Vaile
Secretary of Literary Society R. L. Rowley
Secretary of Chess Club
Secretary of Debating Society
Secretary of the Christian Union
Editor of The Vigornian
Assistant Editors
HONORES SCHOLAE
M. H. Rawlings
R. Thorn
D. P. G. Westgate
A. J. Bufton
M. R. J. Claxton
P. A. D. Brown
D. P. G. vVestgate, C. A. W. Ive, R. Thorn, H. G. Vaile.
Meeke Scholarship in History at Hertford College, Oxford.
Open Exhibition In Modem Languages at Oxford University.
THE VIGORNIAN
The Worcester Cathedral I(ing's School Chronicle
TA MEN MANGANO, TA ZHTO, TA nAPA GEON HITHl:AMHN .'
VOL. XV No. 4
EDITORIAL
WE clamber out of the midst of holly, ivy and crepe paper to present yet another edition of the Christmas Vigornian. Since the issue of the magazine in its new form the Editors have been
what one might call Vigornian Conscious. They have endeavoured to present
something better than their contemporaries. But have they succeeded? i No, they have not! Admittedly they have eliminated the unnecessary entries such as School and Library Notes but their shrinking of the Vigornian has not altered its character in any way. What is wrong? For one thing the Editors are endeavouring to satisfy two parties at the same time; both the
Old Boys and the School. It can serve one or the other but it cannot serve both. As things stand, the majority of O.V's. receive the Vigornian merely to
read the scanty O.V. and to learn how the school is faring on the Sports
field. The rest of the Magazine is designed for the interest of the present members of the school. In this direction we have put forward a proposition
and it is hoped that in the near future Old Vigornians will receive their own news letter giving details and information pertaining to the Club and its members, together with reports of interest on the school. In this way they will get a lot more for a lot less. The Editors will then be able to confine themselves to producing a magazine of interest within the school, using it as a means of encouraging literary ability more than they have been able to do in the past.
In this Vigornian we have given a report on each of the Football matches. At a glance it would appear that the school has had a poor term on the rugger field; but this is not so. The building of a team has taken time and the results are most encouraging when we look towards the future. In passing, we feel that the match against the Grammar School this year might have been a decisive victory had the team been trained on beef steak and liver !
The activities of the school are very much_alive and enthusiasm bubbles everywhere.
The Christian UnioI). is becoming a arm in the school and many are conscious of its value to the school.
Under the auspices of Mrs. Kittermaster and the tutorship of Messrs. Crawford and Sage we now enjoy the pleasures of reeling in the newly-formed Scottish Reel Club.
This edition of the Vigornian looks a healthy size compared with the magazine of previous autumn terms. A glance through the Contributions Section will show that there has been a stirring of interest. This we feel can be attributed to an effective piece of artistic advertisement that was placed on
WINTER, 1955
THE VIGORNIAN
the notice board. Its executor in his modesty' does not mention his name here-it may be found in the front of the magazine. Is this thesirnple answer to the long standing problem of creating enthusiasm? Let us hope so. The Vigornian has always been by the School, for the School. You can only get out of it what you put into it. It is up to the School to make it, at the very least, worthy of its price.
Mr. Curie has resigned from the position of Master in Charge of the Vigornian. We extend our sincerest thanks to him for his help and guidance in the arduous task of the Vigornian.
The Editors welcome Mr. Sutc1iffe to the office.
VALETE:
Spring and Summer 1955
Upper VI:
BAKER, M. T.-January 1948. Choir House. School Monitor. Secretary of Chess. Corporal C.C.F. 2nd IV Rowing; Colours and Cap 1955.
BULMAN, P. J.-September 1948. Capt., Chappel House. School Monitor. King's Scholar. President of Science Society. C.S.M., C.C.F. Capt. of Shooting.
COLES, J. C. B.-September 1950. Castle House. Head of School. Assistant Editor of Vigornian. Sergeant, C.C.F. Capt. of Football. 1st XV Football 1953-'54-'55. 1st XI Hockey 1955. 2nd XI Cricket 1952-'53-'54-'55.
EDWARDS, A. M.-September 1945. Capt. Chappel House. School Monitor. Secretary of Shooting 1955. 1st VIII '.303' Shooting 1955.
HANDLEY, D. C.-September 1948. Day Boy. School Monitor. L/Cpl., C.C.F.
HARRIS, J. A. M.-January 1948. Castle House. School Monitor. Librarian. 2nd IV, Colours and Cap 1955. Corporal, C.C.F.
HUNT, A. R.-January 1946. School House. School Monitor. Assistant Editor of the Vigornian. Secretary of Debating Society. Secretary of Literary Society. 1st XV Football, 1954-'55. 1st XI Cricket, 1955. 1st XI Hockey, 1953-'54-'55. 1st IV Fives, 1954-'55.
KING, J. R.-January 1950. Capt., Choir House. School Monitor. Secretary of Art Society. Capt. of Athletics. Sergeant, C.C.F. I.st XV Football, 1953-'54-'55. 1st XI Cricket 1953-'54-'55. 2nd XI Hockey 1955. 1st VIII Shooting 1953-'54-'55.
OWEN, G. I.-January 1945. Capt., School School Monitor. Sergeant, C.C.F. 1st XV Football 1953-'54-'55.
RADERECHT, D. A.-September 1945. School House. House Monitor. Librarian. L/Cpl., C.C.F. 1st IV Fives. 2nd XI Cricket 1955.
ROWE, M.-January 1950. Castle House. House Monitor. Secretary of Science Society. Corporal, C.C.F. 1st IV Cox 1952-'53. 3rd IV Rowing, 1st IV Cap 1955.
VINCENT, N. T.-April 1945. Capt. of Hostel. School Monitor. President of Debating Society. Assistant Editor of Vigornian. Librarian. Treasurer, VIth Form Club, 1953-'54-'55. Corporal, C.C.F. 1st XV Football, 1952-'53-'54-'55; Cap 1954-'55. 1st IV Rowing 1955.
Lower VI:
DREWETT, C. B.-September 1951. School House. School Monitor. L/Cpl., C.C.F. 1st XV Football, 1953-'54-'55; Cap 1954-'55. 3rd XI Cricket 1955·
DRURY, J. M.-September 1951. School House. School Monitor. 1st XI Cricket, 1952-'53-'54-'55; Captain, 1955. 1st XV Football 1953-'54-'55. 1st XI Hockey, 1954-'55.
GLEAVE, C. M. T.-September 1947. Castle House. School Monitor. President of Science Society. Sergeant, C.C.F. 2nd XV Rugger, 1953'54-'55. 2nd IV Rowing; Cap 1955·
HOPKIN, T. B.-January 1949. Castle House. House Monitor. Corporal, C.C.F. Golf Team. 1st XV Football 1954-'55.
HASTIE, I. F.-September 1947. Castle House. House Monitor. Secretary of Music Society. Corporal, C.C.F. 2nd VIII Shooting 1954.
HOLTON, P. V.-January 1952. House Monitor. Certificate" A," C.C.F.
JACKSON, J. A.-October 1946. Certificate" A," C.C.F.
}ERRAM, A. L. O.-September 1950. Day Boy. School Monitor. Assistant Editor of Vigornian. Corporal, C.C.F.
KENT, A. J.-January 1947. Day Boy. Corporal, LEES, M. A.-September 1945. Day Boy. House Monitor. The Editor of Vigornian. Librarian. L/Cpl., C.C.F.
WINTER, 1955
THE VIGORNIAN
LYNN, B. J. S. M.-September 1950. Choir House. School Monitor. Treasurer, Natural History Society. 1st XV Football 1953-'54-'55; Cap 1954-'55. 2nd IV Rowing and 1st IV Cap 1954; 1st IV 1955. 2nd VIII Shooting 1954.
LIGHTFOOT, R. B.-September 1954. American Exchange Scholar. Choir House. School Monitor. Certificate" A," C.C.F.
PICKERING, D. A.-September 1947. Choir House. House Monitor. Assistant Editor of Vigornian. Corporal, C.C.F.
PARSONS, B. R.-September 1951. Castle House. C.Q.M.S., C.C.F. Captain of '.303' Shooting. Secretary '202' Shooting. 1st VIII Shooting 1952'53-'54-'55·
RIGG, B.-September 1945. Day Boy. Lance/Cpl., C.C.F. 1st VIII Shooting 1952-' 53-' 54-' 55· .
SPIER, R F. J.-April 1945. School House. House Monitor. C.C.F.
THOMAS, T. E.-January 1946. School House. House Monitor. Lance/Cpl.,. C.C.F. 1st XI Cricket, 1952-'53-'54-'55. 1st IV Fives 1955. 3rd XV Football 1953-'54.
WILLIAMS, B. J.-September 1947. Day Boy. School Monitor. 1st XV Football 1953-'54-'55. 1st XV Cap 1955. 3rd XI Cricket 1953-'54-'55.
Upper V:
COLLING, R. L. FARBROTHER, C. E. L.
HENDERSON-NICHOL, 1. A. B.-September 1951. The Hostel. Certificate " A," C.C.F.. 2nd XV Football, 1953-'54. 3rd XI Cricket, 1955. REDDICK, D. A. T. H.-January 1950. Choir House. House Monitor. Secretary of Debating Society. Corporal, C.C.F. 3rd XV Football 1953'54-'55· 5th IV Rowing 1954-'55. SYKES, P. C.-September 1950. Choir House. School Monitor.
C.C.F. 1st XI Cricket 1954:-'55. 1st XI Hockey 1952-'53-'54-'55 Secretary of Hockey 1955. 3rd XV Rugger 1954-'55.
Lower V: ANDREWS, N. F. G.-September 1946. Castle House. Lance-Cpl., C.C.F. 2nd IV Cox 1953.
ARMSTRONG, A. J. BISHOP, A. BENNETT, J. H. A. BENNET, G. BLAKEWAY, R. H.-September 1948. The Hostel. Certificate" A," C.C.F. 1st IV Chess.
BLuNDELL, D. BIRD, W. M. BOLTON, M. J. CALLAN, R. D. BROWN, C. D.-1949. School House. Lance/Cpl., C.C.F. CALLAN, R. D. CLARKE, M. B.-January 1947. Day Boy. Corporal, C.C.F. COWLEY, E. B. CURNOCK, D. DAY, C. R-April 1948. Choir House. House Monitor. C.S.M., C.C.F. 1st XV Football' 1954-'55. 1st XI Hockey 1954-'55. 5th IV Rowing 1954-'55. Secretary of Boxing.
DIVE, J. EATON, R. B. A. ENTWISTLE, J. E.-September 1948. Choir House. Corporal, C.C.F. 1st XI Hockey 1954-'55. .
GASTON, J. R.-January 1949. Castle House. Lance/Cpl., C.C.F. 1st XV Football 1954-'55. 1st XI Cricket 1954-'55. 1st XI Hockey 1954-'55 1st IV Fives 1954-'55. GORDON-INGLIS, C.-The Hostel. ISHERWOOD, P. B.-September 1948. Castle House. Lance/Cpl., C.C.F. j Secretary of Boats. 1st IV Rowing 1955.
KING, D. L. KENT, P. M.
MILNE, J,-September 1950. The Hostel. 2nd VIII Shooting. Certificate "A," C.C.F. MORRIS, H. J.*
PARKES, M. J. C.-Choir House. Corporal, C.C.F. 2nd XI Hockey, 1954-'55 3rd XV Football, 1954-'54. 3rd XI Hockey 1954-'55.
THE VIGORNIAN WINTER, 1955
PIDGEON, C. L. PHlLLIPS, B. F.
SALISBURY, K.
SCHUTE, }. G.-September 1951. Choir House. Certificate" A," C.C.F. 1st Xl Hockey 1954-'55. 3rd XV Football 1954-55. SLOAN,M. W. S. SPENCER, P. R.
VENABLES, P. B.-September 1945. Certificate" A," C.C.F. 3rd XV Football 1954-'55. 3rd IV Rowing. 1st IV Cap 1955. WILSON, B. R.
Upper Remove: BALLARD, R. }. BEAUMONT, H. G.-September 1948. The Hostel. Certificate" A," C.C.F. '.202' Shooting 1954-'55. Badminton Team 1954. HOLT, D. WOOD, N. G. HARRIS, C. L.
Lower Removes: BALCHIN, S. G. BEAUFRERE, P. H. GARDNER,}. A. LEE, C. G. SIMPSON,P. N. WATKINS, }. P.
Upper Fourth: BROWNE, R. F. CARTER, R. M. DORAN, P. R. F.
Lower Fourth: BARNES, N. R. REA, G. A.
Junior School: HALLMARK, D. }. S.
1955 THE VIGORNIAN
o.v. NEWS
JOHN BLACKFORD (Day Boy 1942-'49) has taken a five years' course in Mechanical Engineering at Loughborough College, passing out with a 1St Class Honours Diploma. He is now doing his National Service and is commissioned in the R.E.M.E.
R. HITCHCOCK (School House, 1947-'51) went to Kenya as a Lieutenant in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. His Army team won the Polo cup whilst out on the Gold Coast.
J. A. H. MITCHELL (School House 1943-'47) is commissioned as a Sublieutenant in the Royal Navy and is playing a great deal of rugger in both London and Portsmouth. He is anxious to get in touch with any O.V's. in the Navy-please write to H.M.S. Excellent, Portsmouth, Hants.
P. B. THOMAS (School House 1936-'39). is in the Colonial Service and now lives in Fiji.
D. A. PROTHERO (Day Boy 1944-'52) is a Sub-Lieutenant in the Fleet Air Arm. He has travelled widely between Air Stations in America. He is now back in England.
R. B. TIDY (Day Boy 1943-'46) has been Organist and Choirmaster of the Parish Church of St. James, Cowley, Oxford, since April 1954.
J. B. UNDERHILL (Day Boy 1944-'49) is a leading steward in the Royal Navy.
P. B. WILLIAMS (Day Boy 1948-'54) passed his Civil Service Exam for the post of surveyor in the Ordnance Survey. Hecbegins training when he completes his National Service-he is in the R.A.R at present.
W. J. F. JEFF (Day Boy 1924-'31) has recently been appointed one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools.
E. J. UNDERWOOD (Day Boy 1947-'49) is second mate on the motor vessel "Gracechurch," and is sitting for his First Mate's examination this summer.
D. C. H. SPINK (Day Boy 1943-'52) has been transferred to the 7/9th Royal Scots, which is the oldest regiment of the line.
H. C. C. ALAN (Castle House 1940-'43) is still in partnership with his father: in their retail pharmacist business in Bexhill.
P. J. HENSHAW (Castle House 1942-'46) was appointed as Field Officer: with the Sudan Government. He lost his post through the new Sudan Selfgovernment Scheme and has now been appointed by H.M. Cmwn Agents for: the Colonies as Animal Super:intendent for Northern Nigeria:.
J. H. WAYLEN, M.B.E. (Castle House 1925-'30) is Deputy Governor: of Str:angeways Prison, Manchester.
D. A. RADERECHT (School House 1945-'55) is serving with the R.A.F. for his National Service. He chose to pursue a course in Chinese, and has now been accepted by the Commission Boar:d to complete his National Ser:vice at the Joint Service School for Linguists.
R. F. }. SPIER (School House 1945-'55) has obtained entry to Birmingham Univer:sity for: a cour:se in commerce.
BIRTHS
MAxWELL EDwARD NICHOLLS (Day Boy 1934-'37), to his wife, Joan, on October 4th, 1955, a son (Melville Edgar). '*' '*' '*'
ALAN HARRIs, to his wife, Bar:bar:a, on August 3r:d, 1955, a son (Peter: Chades).
ENGAGEMENTS
MICHAEL EDWARD DAVID LEE, (Day Boy 1943-'49) to Judith Ann Dorrell.
MARRIAGES
ROBERT BLAKELEY BARKER (Day Boy 1944-'50) to ESTHER MARY WILSON, at Worcester.
CLIVE CARTWRIGHT (Day Boy 1944-'50) to ANN MARGARET DENY, In September 1955, at Worcester.
ANTHONY GEORGE HICKING (Castle House 1943-'46), to ANNIE MARY MCQUARRIE FLEMING, on December 3rd, 1955, at Airdrie, Scotland.
ANTHONY NIGEL LEAHY (Castle House 1944-'49) to MARLENE MYRNA LATHAM, on October 8th, 1955, at Worcester.
EDWARD JOHN UNDERWOOD (Day Boy 1947-'49) to JUNE CLARK, in September 1955 at Bristol.
IAN TAVERNER (Day Boy 1943-'50) to JACQUELINE CAROL CULLEN, at Worcester.
DEATHS
ALBERT ALEXANDER BAILY (1887-'90) died in 1952.
REGINALD ELSWORTH OGLE HALL (Castle House 1917-'19) died on July 21st, 1955, aged 53.
CHRISTOPHER MUNRO HUMPHIRIES (Castle House 1908-'16) died on January 13 th , 1956, aged 58.
The Rev'd. OSWALD G. O. LARR, M.A. (1899-19°5). Vicar of North Collingham, near Newark, Notts.; son-in-law of Canon W. H. Chappel, at one time Headmaster of Worcester Cathedral King's School, died in the Nottingham General Hospital after a short illness, at the age of 68.
GUY WESTCOTT MUMFORD (Day Boy 1917-1919) died in Australia in 1954.
Major HENRY PATRICK EDWARD PEREIRA (School House 1921-'24), Curator of the United Services M\1seum, Edinburgh, died at Edinburgh Castle last year, aged 49.
CAMBRIDGE LETTER
Dear Sirs, So long a time has elapsed since our last letter that we approach this task with some diffidence. Moreover we are uneasily aware that correspondence from a seat of learning such as ours will be subjected to vigorous criticism from members of the school. Naturally as individuals we have hardly had time to make our mark. J oe Rippier rows all day and plays the fiddle at night. After a modest display of disinterest he shows signs of making himself an influential personality in Cambridge music circles.
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
Eddie James is also musically minded and he has spent a considerable part of his time in other colleges making himself heard by the right people. He displayed originality and courage by deserting his faculty after a m6hth's introduction and turning to a more congenial subject. He maintains the sporting tradition by playing table tennis for his college and performing particularly well in the match against Girton. Mike Scoular plays rugger regularly and will become a bore, given the opportunity, by gloating over his rude good health.
J ames Rowley follows the tradition of his college by reading Law. He rows on the Cam where he and Rippier scowl at each other from opposing boob.
Tucked away in Jesus College are two very studious O.V.'s reading Medicine. We have not seen very much of David Redwood and Alan Edwards but we know that David is a man of considerable experience since he is now in his second year. He made a praiseworthy attempt to arrange an O. V. gathering and, for those of us who attended, provided a very pleasurable proctor-raising evening. Peter Bulman spends his time poring over his six Maths books-or is it seven? He varies his daily programme by giving lavish tea parties for which he issues beautifully worded invitations. He has been seen stealing out of Cambridge to take part in the activities of the Gliding Club.
Richard Griffiths came up to Cambridge with many great plans for taking the University by storm; It appears that he relinquished most of them rather quickly and spent the first half of the term auditioning for various dramatic societies. He has also taken up Squash with much enthusiasm but, as he confesses, with little skill.
With these few words we will close.
Yours sincerely, " CAMBRIDGE."
SPORTS
RUGBY FOOTBALL 1955
Compared with the success of last season the tenn's rugger proved disappointing. However, we do not attribute our failure to a lack of enthusiasm so much as to a lack of skill. The team was a very young one, with only four " Colours" from last year's side. The majority of the matches were fired with spirit and gusto but there were times when the game became demoralised. The experience derived this tenn should kindle fresh hope for the next season.
CHARACTERS
GRIEVES, P. D. (full back).-He has improved very quickly into a safe full back, though he is a bit slow. His kicking and falling are of a high standard but he tends to hold on to the ball too long.
H. (left wing).-Started as a scrum half. He has a sound defence and has saved a great number of tries but has to have openings made for him in attack. He comes down rather easily.
JAMES, K. (centre) (vice-capt.).-His experience has been invaluable in the i line where he is the only old colour. He has a good break but often nullifies this by holding on too long. He has not come up to expectations.
HAzLEDlNE.-He has played in most positions behind the scrum and never played a bad game. He is a bit slow off the mark but very steady in attack and defence.
BROWN, 1. C. (centre).-At times he looks very good. His positioning has been very weak but he has played several good games at full back. When in position he is a strong tackler.
BRETHERTON, D. F. (right wing).-He runs hard when given a chance but does not get up to his man quickly enough in defence.
SKEATES, N. P. (fly half).-He usually gets his line moving quickly. Against fast breaking wing forwards he tends to run back into the scrum. His touch kicking is well j'udged.
RANDLE, P. J. (scrum half).-A steady scrum half with a good pass but he must learn to mark his opposite number. His place kicking has been safe and accurate. He should be useful next year.
HARRISON, G. (prop).-A slight but fast forward always well up with the play. He uses his feet well and is always thinking of the game.
MOODY, A. J. (hooker).-His hooking has speeded up as he has gained experience. He is very fast in the loose and backs up well.
FLETCHER, J. L. M. (prop).-A fiery forward with a bit of devil. He works himself hard in tight and loose but is inclined to lose his temper.
lVE, C. A. W. (second row).-He has added weight and experience to the pack and can be relied upon to work himself to the full.
EVERTON, C. H. (second row).-Is a good line out forward and usually in the thjck of things. He doesn't think much when playing but has had some good games.
ROWLEY, R. L. (wing-forward).-Has improved with experience. He has a strong tackle and his defensive covering is good but he could back up more in attack.
SHOULER, H. B. (No. 8).-moved from the second row with success. His covering in attack and defence is fairly good and he jumps hard in the lines out.
COSTELOE, P. L. (No. 8) (Hon. Sec.)-Was unfortunate in not being allowed to play through injury for most of the season. His line out work and loose play has been of a high standard throughout.
DICKINSON, I.-has played some great games, at times carrying the rest of the forwards. Had the team he commanded played as hard and intelligently as he has, the results would have been much better.
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
xv v. WARWICK. L. 6-12.
This was a very bad game by the School on a slippery surface, which we lost despite having the opposing scrum-half off after half time. The School were leading 6-0 at half time through penalties by RANDLE and lYE. In the second half the school relinquished any advantage they held with the result that Warwick scored two tries, a penalty and a drop goal.
xv v. MAGDALEN C.S. L. 11-5.
This game started off at a fast pace and Magdalen soon scored a goal when a centre broke through for a try under the posts. The School immediately fought back and MOODY scored a try which RANDLE converted. Because of weak defensive tackling by the backs Magdalen scored two more tries.
xv v. W.R.G.S. L. 8-·3.
This match supplied the stimulant required to bring out the best in the team. The W.R.G.S. were heavier and their only try resulted from a shove over. They were soon 8 points up when a penalty was kicked. In the second half the school got on top in the loose play but were not able to break through a stem defence. Our re-arranged ! line showed more determination in attack and defence. The School score came with a pepalty' from RANDLE.
xv v. CHRIST COLLEGE, BRECON. L. 11-12.
This was played on the school field in excellent conditions. The game,. however, was very scrappy. The Brecon pack was much heavier than ours and they gained repeated possession in the tight and line-outs. K. JAMES opened the scoring when he collected a cross kick from P. GRIEVES. SHOULER kicked and converted a penalty. JAMES also went over for the second try. Brecon replied with 2 tries and 2 penalty goals, winning the match in the last minute with a penalty.
xv v. DEAN CLOSE. L. 14-18.
The School started off badly, being 10 points down in the first 15 minutes, due to two defensive lapses. Just before half time SKEATES dropped a goaL The School took the lead through tries by J AMES, DICKINSON and COSTELO:g; RANDLE converted the second. Two more defensive blunders late in the second half cost the school a game they should have won.
xv v. HEREFORD C.S. W. 19-3.
We met a team inferior to ours in back play but with a fairly stro'ng pack. The three quarters, with the ball coming quickly from the forwards, were able to take advantage of weak tackling in the centre. MEADOWS (2), JAMES and ROWLEY scored tries after good movements. RAND LE converted 2 and kicked a penalty goal.
xv v. ELLESMERE COLLEGE. L. 11-19.
Ellesmere were the best side ;we played this term. They moved the ball " quickly and scored two good tries when our three quarters were slow up in defence. BRETHERTON scored first after a good movement. DICKINSON scored a try which was converted by RANDLE, who also kicked a penalty. Again the School forwards did not fight for possession against a smaller pack.
xv v. O.V.'s L. 0-6.
The school met an O.V. team weakened by injuries but were unable to take advantage of it. The first half was very scrappy and produced few movements of any note. The O.V.'s took the lead early in the second half with a try by Beckett. They increased their lead with a try by B. WILLIAMS after DRURY had. tried his customary drop goal. The school gained repeated possession after this but the pack's efforts were nullified by the centres holding on too long.
THE VIGORNIAN
WINTER, 1955
The following were re-awarded colours for season 1955:K. G. James
C. A. W. Ive
P. L. Costeloe
The following were awarded colours for season 1955:H. Meadows
P. J. Randle
A. J. Moody
R. L. Rowley
H. B. Shouler
R. J. Hazledine
J. L. M. Fletcher
SECOND XV
N. P. Skeates
I. C. Brown
G. Harrison
C. H. Everton
PLAYED 7 : WON 2: LOST 5.
A bad start gave way to a fine win at the end of the term in the defeat of K.E.S., Birmingham. They had exceptionally' fast wings but the three quarter " line was very weak. The fOFWards were, on the whole, good and contributed most of the skill to the matches.
UNDER 15 XV
PLAYED 7 : LOST 5 and WON 2.
Although the scores were close the team never really developed its tactics. Those in the team ought to have been good-there were high hopes at the beginning of the season-but they did not materialise. Bad tackling and poor teamwork provided a disappointing season.
UNDER 14 XV
PLAYED 5 : WON 4 : DREW 1.
They had an extremely good term's rugger. Heavy forwards, good tackling and an alert three-quarter line combined to give some very good matches. There was apparent superiority in skill over th<;ir opponents.
BOXING NOTES
Since MR. JOHN took charge of the Club, boxing has gone from strength to strength. So much so that this, -term we were able to organise a fixture, against Dean Close School. nightly training periods per week proved'
satisfactory in moulding a team strong enough to meet the Cheltenham school and the match was fixed for the 1st December. Credit can be given to MR. JOHN for turning out a team that was a hundred per cent fit. Particularly -worthy of mention were ROWLEY, R. L. and JONES, B. E., both of whom finished their bout within two rounds, being too strong for their opponents. The fitness of the team proved the decisive factor in this fixture and the school won by 9 bouts to 2. The scoring, however, was much closer than the result suggests. The team was RICHMOND, HAMBLIN, GREGORY, WILKINS, USHERWOOD, JONES, B. E., STUCHTEY, COTTON,WILDING, MAULL, and the Captain R. L. ROWLEY.
J. C. HAYWARD also was selected but was unable to compete due to injury. We look forward to many more fixtures with Dean Close. 179
THE VIGORNIAN
BADMINTON
The club is flourishing well in the school and has been enthusiastically supported this tenn.
Unfortunately it was impossible to arrange any matches during the tenn as the calendar was already overcrowded. Several have been arranged for next tenn.
It is hoped that the club will be able to hire a suitable hall in Worcester so that it will be possible to play home matches.
We should like to thank MR. CRAWFORD for the time he has spent looking after the club and ensuring its finn footing.
C.C.F.
CAMP
At the end of the Summer tenn the annual C.C.F. Camp was held at Castlemartin, and proved to be far better than either of the last three, not -only because of the efficient training arrangements, but also because it was felt that "someone high up" was concerned with the cadets general well being. This was apparent chiefly in the food, which was excellent.
For the first time since Pirbright Camp in 1951 there were no Officer Cadets. Consequently there was more work and practical experience for the 'Senior N.C.O.'s
Perfect weather made training much more pleasant than usual and enabled us to go on a long and realistic night operation which ended in a dawn attack.
After the Church Parade on Sunday there was a march past and the 'salute was taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire, who congratulated Colonel Sheppard personally on the marching of the contingent which, he said, was the best on parade.
When we left on the following Wednesday it was agreed by all that 'Castlemartin had changed beyond all recognition-for the better of course !
Winter Term.
This tenn, out of thirty-five cadets who took the Certificate « A" part
>one examination, only six failed, and out of twelve who took part two all but one.
Field Day took place on Friday, October 14th, at Bromyard Down in good weather, although there had been signs of rain previously.
On Remembrance Sunday a contingent of N.C.O.'s and senior cadets represented the school at the Church Parade in the Cathedral.
.22 SHOOTING
As most of last years VIII left school at the end of the Summer tenn an .almost completely new VIII had to be fonned.
The selection of the VI II took up the first two weeks of the tenn. It did not, however, comprise the same people for every match, as the lower scorers fluctuated in their accuracy and several of the 2nd VII I fired for the I st VIII >on different occasions.
Matches under both « Country Life" and N.S.R.A. rules were shot this term. Of the N.S.R.A. matches only one was lost. The « Country Life" matches began half way through the tenn and only one out of the four matches
was lost.
We did not enter the " Junior Winter Competition" this year as it involved exchanging the nonnal blade foresight for the aperture foresight .and this we were not prepared to do.
On the whole the 1st VIII has done well this term. The results of the matches were:
We They Result
Sebright School 7 65 733 Won
Gresham's School 761 77 6 Lost
King William's College, LO.W. 754 737 Won
K.E.S., Binningham 767 762 Won
Dean Close School 7 6 5 761 Won Elizabeth College 763 Won '" Country Life" Matches.
EUesmere College Won
Bloxham School 69 2 Lost
R.N.C., Dartmouth 688 Won Wrekin College Won
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
SCHOOL ACTIVITffiS
LITERARY SOCIETY
On Sunday, October 9th, the first meeting of the School year was held in the Headmaster's drawing room. James Elroy Flecker's "Hassan" was read and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
At the next meeting members became entangled in the intrigues of Lady Sneerwell in Sheridan's " School for Scanda1." The evening was notable for , DICKINSON'S rendering of "Here's to the maiden " I On November 20th the Society gathered once more to read" Henry IV,. Part One" by William Shakespeare. The part of Falstaff was played admirably by C. A. W. IVE.
MUSIC SOCIETY
Four meetings of the Society have been held this term. The first of these' meetings took the form of a "Record Evening." The programme was introduced by MR. R. H. WEST, and included compositions by Sibelius, Bach,. Verdi and Beethoven.
At the second meeting MR. C. BARBER entertained us very ably on the .'. piano. MR. BARBER was to have performed later in the term, but he kindly agreed to take the place of the S.A.M.A. Chamber Orchestra who could not " play at this meeting because of an illness.
MR. K. P. BARNETT gave an illustrated talk on " Mozart" at the third meeting. This was so impressive that he was asked to give another talk at the next and last meeting of the term. The talk this time was on " French Songs " and was very interesting.
We thank MR. R. H. WEST who has worked hard in arranging the term's. programme and look forward to another term of meetings under his guidance.
THE ART SOCIETY
At our first meeting MR. TURNBILL gave us a talk on "Design." The subject was the relation of the design of an article to its functional purpose .. The talk was admirably illustrated with slides showing, amongst other things, household articles and their efficiency in function whilst being pleasing to the eye.
MR. GREENWOOD of the Worcester School of Art provided an admirable· evening's entertainment by painting a watercolour for us. He showed us the various stages of applying colour to the best effect and informed us of the steps to take in the event of a catastrophe-such as upsetting the pallet on the carpet.
The last meeting of the term was Members' Night. We had a wide selection of pictures ranging from Mediaeval frescos to Contemporary art and the ensuing criticisms were very good.
DEBATING SOCIETY
During the winter months of the past year only three meetings of the Society have been held due to a rearrangement of the school calendar.
The first meeting of the term took the form of a Hat Night at which the Officers of the Society were elected for this year. It has been decided not ta. elect a chairman but to have a member of the school, nominated by the conunittee, to fill the office at each meeting. MR. JOHN has kindly accepted the position of President of the Society. The motions produced from the hat for the evening's debate were rather disappointing. The only two that
THE VIGORNIAN WINTER, 1955
were well debated were those concerning the Teddy Boy and " that a net is a lot of holes tied together with string." The best speech of the evening for the proposition of the last motion came from MR. C. A. W. lVE.
Our second meeting a mock trial was a great success and a record .attendance of 125 was recorded in the Minutes. The defendant, MR. H. B. SHOULER, appeared on a charge of stealing the remains of King John from the Cathedral. His defence was cleverly conducted by the HEADMASTER and MR. lVE. The Prosecution, MR. FERRAR and MR. P. A. D. BROWN, aided, one feels, by JUDGE PEDDER'S summary, succeeded in obtaining a verdict of " guilty." We would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those members -of the staff who gave their valuable time in coming along and making the meeting the success that it was. Let us hope that the standard of future debating will be raised by this excellent example.
Finally, for the last meeting, the motion before the house was "that Hope is a greater force in the world than Fear." The motion was proposed by MR. LANGSTONE and MR. TINKEL who considered the matter at three social, national and personal. MR. TINKEL took examples from history to show that reason and hope follow fear. For the opposition MR. THORN spoke of different types of fear, and of man's civilization being his hope. MR. JONES said that people live in hope because of fear, fear being the stronger ,of the two. When thrown open to the House, speeches were forthcoming from MR. DANIELS, MR. BYRNE and MISS FORWARD. When put to the vote the motion was carried by a large majority. This motion had been debated in Malvern the previous evening and had been defeated.
CHESS CLUB
The Winter term saw the entry of the School Open Chess team into Division I of the Worcestershire Schools' Chess League, after gaining promotion from Division 2 last season. Results, to date, with some matches 1:0 be played in the Spring Term are:
v. Hartlebury Grammar School (won 5-1).
v. Worcester Royal Grammar School (drawn 3-3).
v. King Edward's School, Stourbridge (lost 2!-3i).
Two friendly matches were played also. The first was against Bromsgrove School which the team won (4!-1!), and the second, now becoming an annual fixture, was against the Staff. The School" Open" side won (5!--4t).
Tl-.e School 2nd team and Vnder IS'S each played two friendly fixtures. Results: 2nd's. v. Sacred Heart, Droitwich (drawn 3-3).
v. Worcester Royal Grammar School (lost 31-4!).
V.IS'S. v. Sacred Heart, Droitwich (won 3!--21).
v. Hartlebury Grammar School (won 7!-3!).
l For the new season D. P. G. WESTGATE was appointed Secretary.
iDuring the term M. DAY and S. C. GRAHAM both played successfully for the County team against Warwickshire.
A number of boys have entered for the Worcestershire V. I5 Championship which will be finished next term.
_ The award of the individual Chess Championship Cup for 1955-6 was
, divided between M. DAY and S. C. GRAHAM who drew with each other in the Final.
May we take this opportunity to thank MR. H. M. BALLANCE for his -continued encouragement and support.
DANCING
Great interest has been shown this term in the dancing class which has been divided, as it was last year, into two groups. The first consists of beginners who receive an excellent grounding in the basic steps, so important to reaching a high standard of performance. The second consists of dancers of varying merit, but a feature common to both is the enjoyment that we have derived
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
from this satisfying art. All credit is due to the patient teaching of MISS GLAZZARD who has sympathised with our efforts and produced a marked improvement in the skill and enthusiasm of both classes.
The climax of the term is, of course, the School Dance which was a great success, without doubt due to the music of Denis Wheeler's band and the first class arrangements of the committee. Here, as in so many school functions, our thanks are due to MRS. KITTERMASTER and to MISS CAMPBELL for their direction and assistance. Let me conclude by offering the thanks of all concerned to MISS GLAZZARD and the ladies who attend the classes.
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY
The activities of the Society this term, though few, may be said to have attained a pitch of excitement.
Mter the enthusiasm vested in its inauguration, the Society has been launched on the second stage of its metamorphosis, during which it is expected to ripen to a full and lasting maturity.
One of our intentions for the coming season is the commencement of a long-term project entailing the identification of the flora of a piece of country to the west of Worcester. This is part of a nation-wide scheme. Solely in our own interests, we shall, in the course of this work, build up an herbarium. In conjunction with this project will go studies in other branches of Natural History over the same territory.
Finally, though assuredly not as a formality, our thanks are extended to MR. LOGAN for his assistance and encouragement in the work of the Society.
SCIENCE SOCIETY
The Science Society has gained rapid popularity and the number of members has been trebled.
The first meeting of the term took place in the College Hall when three interesting films were shown. They were :
The 1951 Monte Carlo Rally; The Cathode Ray Oscillograph; The Hallade Track Recorder.
We were very grateful to MR. R. S. BROWN for obtaining the following very interesting films for our second Meeting.
The Steel Industry; Scrap Steel; the Electric Furnace.
The last meeting of the term was the usual visit to the industrial field. This time a party of senior members of the school visited the famous Worcester engineering firm, Heenan and Froude Ltd. They saw the manufacture of their principle products, Dynamometers and Water Coolers.
Finally we should like to thank MR. FRISBY for all the time that he has f devoted to the Society throughout the term.
CHRISTIAN UNION
At the beginning of this term the Christian Union celebrated the first birthday of its foundation. This occasion was marked by the invitation on ! Monday, October 3rd, of an Old Vigornian to come and speak to us. He was MR. F. J. HAYSMAN of Guildford and he spoke on the position and responsibility of a Christian in the School.
The second meeting of the term was held on Monday October 24th, when the speaker was MR. W. H. CHERRY, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Ceylon and India General Mission. He spoke to us of the work for Christ his mission was doing in India, Pakistan and Ceylon among Mohammedans, Hindus and members of other religions.
tTHE VIGORNIAN WINTER, 1955
The third meeting of the term was held on Monday, November 14th, when we received another visit from the Rev. L. J. LAWREY, the Travelling Secretary of the Inter-Schools Christian Fellowship. At this meeting we had an interesting discussion on the' Fact and Faith' film, ' Dust or Destiny' which he had shown to the whole school that afternoon.
The fourth and final meeting of the term was held on Monday, December 12th. The speaker was BISHOP STUART, the Assistant Bishop of Worcester. By his kind invitation the meeting was held at his home in College Yard.
During the term, attendance at meetings has been very good and has averaged about twice as many as in the last school year.
Once again we would offer our sincere thanks to MR. H. M. BALLANCE for his continued help and guidance throughout the term.
We would like to thank MR. and MRS. KITTERMASTER on behalf of all the Societies, whose activities take place in the comfort of their drawingroom, for their unfailing support and hospitality.
WINTER HOLIDAYS ABROAD
This winter it proved possible to collect a strong party which set out for Tschiertschen the day after Christmas. It will be of interest to those boys, who like to come another time, to know that one of the party had earned the full amount of money necessary for the trip through his own work as a fruit picker during the summer holidays. He felt proud enough to refuse any monetary assistance from his parents. Such a praiseworthy attitude should serve as an example to those whose parents cannot afford the cost of a winter trip or are only willing to spend a fraction of the sum total on such a venture.
We left England during a pretty grim gale. The weather report for the Channel read, " Very Rough." So it was, but none of the party felt the need to pay tribute to Neptune.
The journey to Switzerland was uneventful. We were lucky to obtain couchettes in the new French coaches, which proved very comfortable. In Chur we had to change into an Alpine Motorbus, which brought us finally to Tschiertschen. It is a charming village in the vicinity of Arosa and offered snow conditions which were generally better than those in most parts of Switzerland. The Hotel proved to be the best we had ever stayed in. Its owner used to work as a chef de cuisine in a famous Zurich hotel. What he cooked was excellent in quality and quantity. For the first time since we undertook this trip, there was not one single boy who refused any dish.
I am inclined to think that it was, perhaps, the best party that has been out. It will interest past generations of the School, which are inclined to criticize the general behaviour of the younger generation, that I was often complimented on our boys' excellent manners.
From a sporting point of view, the trip was more successful than ever before. Eight boys managed to win the Bronze Badge of the Swiss Ski Federation. They had to undergo a test of skill, efficiency and endurance, which is not to be sneezed at. The Swiss have set a high standard for this test, which is competed for by the Swiss as well as by foreigners. Though
our die-hards might doubt it, the passing of this test, which contains three classes of increasing difficulty, amounts, in my opinion, to the award of 'colours.' The ski-lift proved a great attraction. It speaks well for the local school of ski instruction that all beginners were fit to use the lift after four days of initial training.
Our sporting exploits were successfully balanced by those on the dance floor, in the bar and with the weaker sex. New Year's Eve celebrations saw King's School on the top of their form. I must concede that I retired first from the revels, which went on to a time when the first bus left for the valley. The vitality of the party was tremendous. Nobody ever rested during the day-time. Whether it was ski-ing, tobogganing, table-tennis, meringues with whipped cream" en masse" or dancing and playing cards, the word , exhaustion' did not exist. Every ounce of enjoyment was ardently snatched up. It was a first-rate party. Vivant Sequentes • H.A.N.
THE VIGORNIAN
CONTRIBUTIONS
QUEENSLAND'S LAST BUSHRANGER
The death of James Roper of Nanango at the age of 88 and Jim Barbour's death in the neighbouring township of Esk at the age of 74 break the last surviving links with the famous South-East Queensland bushranger, cattle thief and Royal Mail robber ... Tommy Dodds, the mystery of whose final end and death has never been solved. .
Tommy started life on a farm, drifted to Brisbane town and learned the trade of brick-making. Soon he tired of that and drifted to New South Wales Colony where he learned the profession of bush ranger. Later, coming back to Queensland and the district of the Brisbane River valley, he was fully efficient and trained in "lifting" from any squatter such surplus stock as could be stolen. The Royal Mail horse-coach on its way from the coast through wild and dense scrub country made a profitable side-line some sixty years ago.
J ames Roper, who has just died, was a likely looking young man when Tommy Dodds came up from New South Wales and was invited by Tommy to join him in " business" as a cattle thief. Roper did not, and in later years took part in the hunt and chase for the man who had offered him partnership.
Jim Barbour, the other link with Tommy, was the son of the Police Sergeant who finally caught Tommy Dodds.
Tommy lifted a big mob of horses from near the small settlement of Crow's Nest some sixty years ago. It was his last" job." Sergeant Barbour got word that Tommy was hiding along the banks of the Stanley River just over the ranges from the Brisbane River. With a constable, the Sergeant :set out to catch the pest. Once in the dense forest and scrub of the D' Aguilar Ranges, the horses could be drafted slowly to the coast for sale.
A long hard ride at last located the stolen horses well hidden in the bush -there was no sign of Tommy, but he could not be far away. About two miles from the hidden horses on a flat open stretch of land along the river bank stood a small farmlet and here it seemed that Tommy would be likely to hide. He would need some rest after driving that mob from Crows Nest and the small farmers liked Tommy. In such a farmlet he could get all the latest news on the" bush telegraph" as to the police movements.
It was no use approaching the farm in daylight so the two policemen hid themselves in the scrub with their horses near and saddled. With field glasses they could recognise Tommy's horse tied to the verandah rail. Nobody at the farmlet had seen Sergeant Barbour and the mounted constable arrive. Barbour was too good a bush-man for that.
Nightfall brought no move and no food for the hungry police and no fire against the night chill. They made up plans but waited for the " luck of the law" that Tommy would make a mistake and he did.
Just after dawn, the bushranger came out of the farmhouse and unsaddled his horse into the small house pasture. Evidently he was satisfied from his " bush telegraph " that there were no police within miles. His friends were preparing breakfast so he decided on a swim in the river only a couple of hundred yards away. He strolled across the open grass, watched by two excited policemen. When too far to run back to his horse, the two police burst from the scrub and galloped at him. Tommy heard the horses, looked round, and ran to the river hoping to swim across and escape into the bush and scrub. He was too slow. Sergeant Barbour was a good and powerful swimmer and dived in after him. He caught Tommy by his long unkempt hair, dragged him out and snapped the handcuffs on. Tommy Dodds was at long last a pnsoner.
With Tommy chained to the stirrup irons, Barbour rode back to Wyvanhoe Police Station twenty miles away, a long, slow, weary journey. Lodged and locked in a small cell-house and given a meal the prisoner was left alone with young Jim Barbour.
Tommy Dodds had a pleasing way with all youngsters and soon persuaded Jimmy to get him a nice thick slice of home made bread well spread
THE VIGORNIAN WINTER, 1955
with lovely beef-dripping just like Mum used to make. Tommy's active brain was working at top speed. Jimmy left him looking at the beef-dripping. It was near dark Tommy took off all his clothes, greased himself with the dripping and started to worm and ease himself through the bars that were set widely.
Even a bad man must have supper and Sergeant Barbour came out to the cell-house with a good feed for him only to find Tommy almost out. The rest of the night was spent in handcuffs and legirons. What happened to young Jimmy is not told in history books, but he was probably a bit sore when he sat down.
In the morning under a rainy sky, the Police Sergeant with Tommy Dodds handcuffed and chained to the stirrup irons, set out for the township of Wanando, the nearest courthouse with a Magistrate and a nice jail. It would be a three days journey. The streams and creeks were running high and deep with. the rain but they could be forded at places only knee-deep. Tired and wet they reached Cressbrooke Cattle Station. Here the prisoner was locked up and guarded by stockmen. There was one more full day's journey ahead.
A dawn start was made with rain still pouring down. Sergeant Barbour rode and Tommy walked humbly chained to the stirrups. The first two creeks were forded, but the next was a different problem: it was fast and deep. This is where Tommy played his ace.
There was a law in Queensland, still a separate colony in those days, that the Government property, especially mails were never to be taken by pack-horse across any stream or river if the water reached the saddle-flaps of a horse. Here was Maroonga Creek running deep and fast and obviously well over the saddle-flaps. Tommy point blank refused to enter the water. " I am Government property" he claimed, " and I stand on my rights and the law." Now any ordinary bushman or stockman would and could have swum a horse across as part of the day's work. But this was different. Here was a " bush-lawyer" who knew his rights and the policeman did not dare to take any risks.
There was only one solution ... wait till the creeks were down. This depended on the rain that was still heavy and looked like lasting for days. Back they went to the cattle station to wait an irritated and frustrated policeman and a chuckling bushranger. It was a week before they could move on to Nanango where Tommy was handed over to the bigger and better equipped police station with a Resident Magistrate and a jail.
The landed squatters rejoiced when it was known that the" scourge of the . land" was at last behind bars. The little farmers thought otherwise. Tommy had always been good to them.· Everybody thought that the wanderings and mis-deeds of Queensland's last bushranger were over. Tommy's mis-deeds did stop but his wanderings had not finished: he vanished from Nanango Jail.
Many years later an old man appeared in the valley townships, wandering from place to place along the river. He looked lonely. The older inhabitants spoke in whispers, "Tommy Dodds is back"; but there is a code among the bush people and the old man wandered away again. Of his final end and death nothing is recorded.
There is surely a heaven reserved for "makers of unofficial history" and there doubtless Tommy, Jimmy and James sit yarning, under a shady coolaba tree, of the stirring old days ... moonless nights . . . galloping hooves ... rain in the scrub ... the smell of the camp fires ... a blackened billy with milkless tea, strong and sweet with sugar and the ghost of a jackass" joins a chuckle in the re-telling of stories of the old days.
Here's to you, Tommy Dodds, you charming old rascal!
A. M. LUMSDAINE, O.V.
Mr. Lumsdaine has included cuttings from various Australian newspapers to substantiate the truth of this story.-Ed.
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
RAVING IN RETROSPECT
Well, the end is in sight. A fortnight will see the final curtain rung down on two years in the Middle East. Two very hot and tiring years; but, to a degree, there has been compensation. In addition to vivid memories of an uninhibited day-trip to Boulogne, I now have a few more labels on my caselabels which give a lurid impression of adventure and romantic escapism.
This is sometimes misleading, as readers might remember from an account of Baghdad in an earlier issue of the Vigornian. However, there is much to be said for the East-if you can tolerate boundless filth, poverty and disease. Surprisingly, a Summer temperature of 1200 in the shade is quite bearable, if you are prepared to ignore prickly heat, sweat-rash and the necessity to wring out your clothes every ten minutes.
I shall find it hard, too, to break myself of the habit of inspecting my shoes each morning for scorpions and camel-spiders as big as your hand but there, I am letting a tone of cynicism creep into this letter; I am being too objective - Iraq is not the Middle East.
In between soul-destroying commitments on the Habbaniya Broadcasting Service-a system which deteriorated considerably consequent upon my being employed as an announcer, and which we fondly believe caters for about 20,000 European listeners, I found time to get out and about.
One way of travelling from Habbaniya to Amman (and thereafter Jerusalem) was as armed guard on a convoy. A friend and myself, foolishly declining a more comfortable mode of transport, decided to rough it. Of course, we weren't destined to be guardian angels to mere food. Oh no ! We were allotted the ammunition convoy. It is quite an experience travelling for three days across 600 miles of void, sitting on top of 3t tons of High Explosive. This was made even more edifying when the convoy had to stop in the middle of a diabolical electrical storm, with bolts of lightning bisecting the darkness all around us. I made preparations to die. However, our drivers decided we were worthy of reprieve, so the ammunition truck was left to the mercies of the elements whilst we watched gleefully from the safety of a water bowser, half a mile distant.
Naturally there was bound to be an anti-climax - nothing happened! The storm passed and we returned to our precious charge.
Such fun, though, was merely a prelude to a most enjoyable five days in and around the Holy Land.
My highest recommendation goes out to anyone who is in a position to make pilgrimage to this lovely corner of Jordan, to do so at all costs; it matters little whether you have strong religious views or not. One needs, I hasten to add, an unlimited expense account. It costs a great deal to view the richly decorated Church of the Holy Sepulchre and to walk round the peaceful Garden of Gethsemane. And it costs a great deal to get inside the mighty Mosque of Omar or see the Pool of Bethesda. But it's worth it.
A trip to Bethlehem is essential, in order to see the reputed birth-place of Christ, if not to be photographed, as is customary, in front of the Christmas or Easter Bells on the Church of the Nativity. Yes, it's all very commercialised, but somehow it doesn't seem to matter.
Ackno\vledging convention I had a swim in the Dead Sea down at Jericho. It's perfectly true what they say about it-you couldn't sink if you wanted to. You may also be transported into raptures of delight by allowing quantities of the water to get into your eyes !
So much for that venture. Just to show how much I had enjoyed it, I went straight into Hospital on my return-with dysentry. Ah, the magic of the East!
As recently as two months ago, there was a three-hour flight by Charter Viking to Cyprus for what was definitely the most enjoyable vacation of my life to date.
Unfortunately, international relationships were, to say the least, a trifle strained at the time and a game of Tag with the energetic Eoka and their priceless little petrol bombs simply added flavour to an exquisite holiday.
THE VIGORNIAN WINTER, 1955
Without a doubt the sea is bluer, clearer and warmer in Famagusta Bay than at any other maritime location in the world-yes, even Torquay. It's perfect for bathing.
Hiring a car presented no difficulty and we were able to visit such places as Kyrenia, which boasts a proud castle on the harbour's edge, Nicosia, pinecovered Troodos situated on the Western approach to Mt. Olympus and Paphos, legendary birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite.
Cyprus is, indeed, a superb island, packing unbelievable contrast into an area comparable to Devon and Cornwall.
In conclusion, the women-folk are collectively the most beautiful I have seen in any country !
And now it has all come to an end; the Medical Authorities (Psychiatric Section) have finally decided to send me home.
After three years in the Royal Air Force it's going to be difficult to settle down to work again. Come to think of it, after three years in the Air Force it's going to be difficult to find work!
MICHAEL PHILPOTT, O.V.
WORKING IN FRANCE
"Vers Paris, Monsieur?"
This was really the beginning of the realisation of an ambition which started at the Concordia Work Camp at Bronage.
Bronage was, in the Middle Ages, a French sea-port second only to Le Havre and was built by Richelieu as a Roman Catholic outpost between the Hugenot centres of La Rochelle and L'Ile de Marennes, the seat and birthplace of French Protestantism. Now it is a tiny village surrounded by its ramparts, a mere shadow of its former greatness but it is the Mecca of all French Canadians as Samuel de Champlain, the Father of Canada and Founder of Quebec, was born there. It was on the ramparts that we worked, students from France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Portugal, even a Norwegian (who knew no French) and a solitary English boy. The work was hard but fun, digging up roots and hacking away at brambles and creepers. Work began at 6 o'clock though we were woken at 5 o'clock by a French girl singing at our tent flap and dousing us with cold water should we prove slow in rising. A break at 10 a.m. was for hard French bread, " confiture" and chocolate.
The atmosphere was so friendly that soon all joined in the French songs with which dinner and supper were concluded and, as soon as any tourist was even spotted, a cry, half of welcome, half of friendly derision, "Les touristes" was raucously bellowed.
The weather, for one used to cold Northern climes was wonderful; temperatures of 105°F. soon destroyed any will to work or be active in the afternoons, and soon all agreed to sleep, sunbathe or swim.
Soon we were swapping yams and customs. By the end of the three weeks the more stolid North Europeans had even persuaded the French to enjoy their cold shower under the village pump-the only method of washing or, indeed, of getting water for any purpose.
Unforgettable moments were· the camp fire gatherings when songs of every nation were sung. The most popular English songs were" Clementine" and" My Bonnie lies over the Ocean." One French graduate from the Sorbonne even knew the other version. The last evening was spent at the " bistro" drinking" Pinaud," a delicious mixture of the local red wine and cognac. At the end, all of us were decidedly merry.
Three weeks after starting, it was all over, and we parted on our separate ways, mine to Paris by "thumb." In France one has better chances of being picked up alone but waits of two and a half hours must also be expected. I spent the weekend at Tours-a beautiful town in the Loire Valley. Even there at the Youth Hostel-a first class one compared with others-there was another member of the King's School, who, most energetically, was 'cycling in France. Then on Monday I started off. Two short lifts and then a shiny black Simca pulled up and I was set for Paris.
C.A.W.lVE.
1955
THE VIGORNIAN
THE SUMMER TERM
The Summer term is regarded, to quote an oft repeated phrase, as the " last lap of the School Year Stakes." It has always been the last lap and seems likely to continue so for ever. But why.should this be? The Summer, being the most pleasant of our seasons, is too good to waste in the preparation for, and the taking of exams, a task vastly more suited to our grey and miserable Winters. If it were not for this drawback, the Summer Term would easily be the most enjoyable of the three.
On the first of May, or thereabouts, the average member of the school returns, with as many good resolutions as if it were the first of January. The words of his last report stare him mockingly in the face : " If he works very hard he has an outside chance of' 0 ' Level," or, "Without a supreme effort I rate his chances for this subject as very low." Thus bowed down with care he files in to the first assembly of term and listens sympathetically to the story of the man who only had one talent. Emerging thankfully into the open air, his tragic life is lightened by the appearance of a notice : "There will· be a game for the following . . ." Life has begun again.
The days slip by pleasantly enough with Cricket, Swimming, Tennis, and, here and there, a little work to alleviate the increasing number of pinpricks administered by an increasingly active conscience. More Cricket, less work and " half-term" arrives, which is then spent in as many useless pursuits as the participant has the time and money for. The following week is invariably cursed with glorious weather and the arc of vision from deep mid-wicket still somehow fails to embrace any semblance of the examination room.
Passing through the school gates, bat in hand,a notice catches the eye of the unsuspecting Master Average. It is a list of dates for the various examinations to which he is committed: "July 8th, English Literature 1." " Impossible," he thinks, "That's a fortnight to-day." Further reflection convinces him that it is not only possible but inescapable and that there is now no alternative to intensive cramming. Accordingly, havens of peace and quiet are sought eagerly.
July 8th looms up ominously and on the fatal day itself the candidate silently prays for guidance on his last minute revision. The sun beats down on him as he trudges to the examination room. He selects a desk, collects, optimistically, about three times the amount of foolscap he could possibly need, and abandons himself to frantic minute research. The question papers are distributed and he gazes at his own copy. The first question is, he concedes grimly, a tribute to the ingenuity of the examiner; the second is little better and, somehow, the pit of his stomach begins to fill with emptiness. The temperature of the room is about a hundred degrees. A shaft of light penetrates his mind when he looks at the third question and his pen begins to frame words in answer to it. On and on he writes until he is on his last question and he hears the voice of the invigilator. "One minute more." He hastily scribbles one sentence and trails off hopelessly in the m.iddle of the next, hoping to convey an impression of frustrated brilliance. He then totters out of the room, compares notes with a fellow sufferer, and begins the whole business over again. This goes on for about a fortnight, by the end of which he is in no condition for the Athletic Sports which follow immediately and which, in turn, render him completely unfit for the rigours of C.C.F. Camp.
The Summer term is thus an overcrowded one and unsuitable for the important events with which it is now associated. Its plethora is, however, most serious in its reactionary effects, for it induces an attack of " Sportitis " which lasts well into the Christmas term. Therefore, to raise academic standards and reduce the incidence of nervous breakdowns in schoolboys, I say, make the Summer term the second in the school year and not the last, for then one could settle down to enjoy it as it should be enjoyed.
C.H.E.
Sir,
WEDNESDAYS
I always looked forward to Wednesdays with pleasure, Because we were given a half day of leisure, Imagine my horror when our form mistress said : " You will have to come in and do lessons instead."
I trembled with rage and went red in the face, And said to myself, " What a perfect disgrace," But I suddenly remembered and chortled with 'glee, I should miss all my dental appointments at three.
R.I.G. (Age 10. 3.)
AT EVENING TIME
The sun is setting in the West, The farmers plod home for a good nights rest. The bees return to their golden hives, The hedge cutters 'put down their rusty scythes. The birds return to their cosy homes, Then out with a leap come the dancing gnomes. A distant church chimes nine o'clock, The shepherd has one last look at his flock. Then the curtains of the houses are drawn, And silence falls until the dawn.
P. GROUT (J unior School)
CORRESPONDENCE
It is time to pay tribute to the hard-working but unpraised members of the school-the "Hon. Sec." of sports. To misquote the old song." It's the ( capt.' what gets the gravy; it's the' sec.' what gets the blame." Every time a 'bus fails to arrive or is late or something else goes wrong (very seldom, if at all, does anything go wrong) it is the secretary who is jovially cursed and mocked for slackness and inefficiency; but of praise and thanks he gets not a word from his fellows; yet his task is a continual round of worry throughout the whole year. He tries to arrange fixtures, see 'bus companies, arrange match teas and generally organise everything. So to these unrecognizecl heroes we offer our sincere thanks.
I remam, Sir, Yours, C. A. W. lYE.
Dear Sir,
I feel compelled to reply to the criticism of shooting colours printed in your last issue. Is it not a pity that your correspondent was unwilling to let his views be known under his own name ?
" Disgusted " complains that colours should not be awarded to a " corps activity." I should like to point out however, that the conditions of all school shooting matches and competitions specify membership of the C.C.F. so that a sufficient standard of supervision and organisation, and a reasonable knowledge of his weapon, is assured to safeguard the shooter from accident due to ignorance or lack of adequate safety measures. Furthermore, without the C.C.F. contact and its official authorisation, rifles and ammunition would not be available to a school. Wearing corps uniform for major competitions on the open range has its advantages in ease of handling the rifle and in
WINTER, 1955
THE VI GORNIAN
preventing respectable "civvies" from becoming soiled, for a groundsheet is not always a foolproof protection. The suggested limitation that "only members of the corps are allowed to participate" can be discounted, as there are few indeed who do not join the C.C.F .•
The idea that shooters would wish to have their colours well nigh indistinguishable from those of the second IV is, of course, absurd. Shooters hold the school's rowing honours in very great respect, and would doubtless prefer recognition in an entirely different form of clothing rather than receive any credit through being mistaken for a member of the second IV. Shooting does not pretend, even to itself, that it brings the school so much honour as rowing, but let us not overlook the fact that since 1951 there have been a dozen or more members of the Boat Club (many of them privileged to wear first IV caps) who have also represented their school as shooters. Surely this shows that many rowers regard shooting as another important school activity.
Exactly what form shooting colours will take I do not know, but I can assure your correspondent that they will bear no resemblance to the fimlly established and well respected second IV blazer, so far as I am aware.
Yours sincerely, B. R. PARSONS.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to express our thanks on the receipt of the following contemporaries, with apologies for any omissions.
The Herefordian; The Worcesterian; The King Edward's School Chronicle; The Wuljrunian; St. Michael's Cronicle; The Wolvernian.