Letters to the Editor Political OMs I am so encouraged by the contents of the Marlburian Club Magazine telling of so many brilliant OMs doing brilliant things. Such good news is welcomed in these days of our questionable political leadership, it moved me to comment how seldom we read about Marlburians engaged in politics. The magazine reflects such intelligent, compassionate, right thinking and simply decent people often in leadership positions; how we need such people as political leaders to guide our nation! So, I would like to ask whether members of the school are encouraged to go into politics and to make positive contributions as OMs, something that is so needed. Also, is there a place in the curriculum to study current affairs and the vocation of a politician? I count my old school as one of the features of my long life that I am particularly grateful for. Richard Podger (B1 1952-56) Reply from Louise Moelwyn-Hughes (Master 2018-):
You can rest assured that current Marlburians are encouraged to go into politics and that this fascinating and entirely relevant subject sits firmly within our curriculum; indeed, it is one of our most popular subjects at A level. We currently have 135 pupils in the Sixth Form studying Politics and a good proportion of these will go on to university to study the same. In addition, the Politics Society is alive and well, with a very strong membership that regularly packs out the Garnett Room. Alongside this, the Club’s President, Harriett Baldwin MP (LI 1975-77), will be hosting events particularly targeting PMs and MPs of the future.
Fagging, Welchman and Lime Trees When I arrived at Marlborough in 1949, I had prepared for public school life by reading Tom Brown’s Schooldays and Eric, or, Little by Little and was somewhat apprehensive. I was greatly relieved to find that fagging did not exist at Marlborough (perhaps because
of the junior House system). I started at Barton Hill and went on to Cotton House with Edwin ‘Spud’ Dowdell (CR 1922-62) (I later learned that the nickname derived not from an imagined resemblance, but from a wartime cultivation of the crop). As I was always passionate about Mathematics, the beak I remember best was ARDR (Allan Ramsay (CR 1939-56)). Alan Robson (CR 1911-47) had already retired, but I studied from several of his books and did exchange a couple of letters with him. I didn’t buy Gordon Welchman’s (C3 1920-25) book, but I discovered a few years later that several of the lecturers I met at Cambridge had worked at Bletchley Park. Indeed, I think all the Maths VIth in my year (including John Boys (LI 1948-52), grandson of Charles Vernon Boys (C1 1869-72)) went up to Cambridge. I read that the lime trees have now gone from Court. So, what has become of the line ‘the lime trees double row’ in the school song The Old Bath Road that we used to sing at the end of every term? Terry Wall (CO 1949-54)
The Marlburian Club Magazine
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