St Mary's Calne News Sheet - 13

S MARY'S SCHOOL NEWS SHEET, July, 1927—July, 1928.

We have had a very happy year at S. Mary's, a year marked by sound—if not striking—development. The first important point, one which has more significance than can perhaps be realised by those still at school, is the strengthening of our Governing Body. In January we learnt that Lord and Lady Lansdowne, Lord Warrington of Clyffe, and Mr. Bodinnar had consented to act as Governors.

Mr. Bodinnar is an old friend —Edna's twelve years with us has forged close ties—and for many years he has been behind us, helping us in all our schemes. We are indeed glad to have him now in an official position. We are also delighted to welcome Lord and Lady Lansdowne, and Lord Warrington, and feel that we are very fortunate in our new friends. With Archdeacon Coulter as our Chairman, and our old friends Archdeacon Bodington and Mr. Dunne still as active supporters as ever, we feel the school is extremely fortunate in possessing such a Governing Body.

Each year we record some addition to our buildings, and 1928 has in that respect been no exception. We returned last September to find great improvements in the kitchen quarters, and a delightful new Class room for Form VI. which has been added at the west end of the Hall, It is a most pleasant room, of very good proportions. Then in March we entered upon a small house at the end of Alma Terrace, S. Faith's, which already plays a definite part in the life of the school.

Nor have we stood still in our scheme for the decoration of the Chapel. Last September we saw the pannelling of the "West" E n d - M r - Bodinnar's gift. He also helped us very substantially towards securing the pannelling for the " North " side, and to Mr. Durst we owe its completion last May. We already have quite a nucleus towards securing the only remaining side, as several friends are giving us one or more pannels.

Another healthy sign this year has been the re-opening of our preparatory class at S. Prisca's, which for two years was closed.

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When we return in September we shall find a very important development. For years now our domestic science work has been hindered by want of space, That a larger kitchen was an imperative need was stressed by Miss Matthews in her report last prize day. Directly afterwards another generous father, Sir John Hindley, gave us a lead, and the scheme has grown. There are to be great changes at S. Prisca's, a cookery school which will indeed be a model, a big new dormitory, new cloakrooms and bathrooms That our Governors have granted us this shows once more their faith in the school.

At Easter we had to say good bye to Miss Secretan who was obliged to leave us, owing to her father's death.

She is now teaching in America. She has been succeeded

by Miss Colbert (Lady Margaret Hall) We also welcome Miss Inge, who has come to teach Art. We are proud that our head girl, Rachel Buck, is one of those who has joined the first organized party of public school girls to visit our Oversea Dominions. She sailed for Canada on August.3rd, and will be away for ten weeks. She has a delightful programme ahead of her and we are much looking forward to welcoming her back in November.

The Confirmation.

The Confirmation was held in the Parish Church on Sunday, December 11th. The Service was taken by the Bishop of Salisbury.

The following were confirmed:— E. J. Adnitt L. M. Le C. Balleine K. M. Brichta J. M. Bridgman J. M. Cole M. Farrington M. W. Goodden E. A. Cowers M. F. Hort D. D. D. Mallock P. Marchant G. M. Shipley

Thirty relations and friends who were present signed the Confirmation Register.

The Archdeacon held a special celebration for us on December 14th, at which the newly confirmed made their First Communion. G. M. Kirby, who was ill at the time of the School Confirmation, was confirmed by Bishop Bidwell, at Derry Hill Church, on Sunday, March 18th.

Tuesday Offertories.

September, 1927 —July, 1928.

RECEIPTS U.G.S,

£ s. d.

( Term's Subscriptions ns 7 ] Tuesday Offertories 23 I Sale of Vegetables Hospital Box 1

10 13 14 5

0 3J 0 2

£33 2 Si

EXPENDITURE.

U.G.S. £ s. f Term's Subscriptions 7 10 I Reggie Day 17 j-Xmas Presents 1 10 I Eva Moger (expenses I o f visit) 4 6 Bath Hospital 1 5 U . M C.A. 6 6 U.G.S. Record 7 Postage , ' ; Altar Flowers at Parish Church 10 Waifs and Strays 15 Invalid Children's Aid Association 2 19 Diocesan Fund 6 14 £33

d.

0 6 0 7 2 0 6 ?i 0 0 9J 34

2 5J

U.G.S. 1927—1928.

This year has been exceptionally full of Mission activity. An account of the Health Festival appears elsewhere ; we were very much pleased it was such a success.

During the Christmas term also the school was represented at the Annual Meeting of the U.G.S. held in Westminster Hall. The Prime Minister was one of the speakers this year.

Four present and two past members of the school attended the social service " week " held at the Mission settlement at the beginning of April. The programme was extremely interesting, and included visits to every type of L.C.C. school and evening Institute. An entertainment given by the Camberwell Community Players on the last evening of the " week" left a most cheering impression of the success which is meeting the efforts of

our Union to enliven the existence of Camberwell people.

During the summer term we had visits from various people connected with the Union. On the feast of the Visitation we welcomed Mr. Seaver, who had spent two years in S. Mark's Parish. On July 13th Miss Ramsay came down from the Settlement to tell us about the work done there. Her illuminating and delightful address was rendered the more vivid for us since she was about to start on her first holiday after working all the spring in Camberwell. She dwelt especially upon the problem of bad housing conditions since that is the root of almost every evil in the slums. It was a privilege to have our responsibility in the matter put to us in such a forcible way by so excellent a speaker as Miss Ramsay.

For the last four weeks of the term we had a school girl from S. Mark's Parish staying with us, she had never left Camberwell since she came there as a baby.

To those who remembered Reggie Day's visits Eva seemed very big and self-reliant for a " Mission child," but we hope she enjoyed herself as much as her friendly appreciation of everything suggested that she did.

With regard to Foreign Missions, we were honoured on November 24th by another visit from Dr. Harold Balme, whose address on the difficult problems in China was most illuminating. During the first half of the Lent term members of the VI form attended a Mission school in the town, the subject for discussion being the Missionary responsibilities of the Church at home. There was a short lecture every week, followed by discussions in groups in which everyone took part. Also during the Lent term the school visited a large Missionary exhibition in Chippenham organised by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. There was a stall for each country overseas visited by Missions, and some of the lectures were very interesting.

We are keeping up our interest in the girls who leave the Borstal Institution at Alesbury. Miss Lilian Barker, the Governor, writes to tell us who is being discharged : we send each girl a small reproduction of one of the pictures in the Chapel at Borstal, and also write to her.

A. A. Le Mesurier.

The Health Festival.

Of all the fresh ideas and unheard of institutions that one meets on becoming a member of a new school, the Health Festival filled us, more than any other, with pleasure and admiration for those whose idea it was.

We had heard vague allusions to the Health Festival, but we had not realised that the whole school took such an active part in it, until, on entering the Form-room on the Friday before this all-important event, we found everyone rushing about in a state of great excitement. We surveyed the scene with mingled astonishment and curiosity, and received, in answer to our enquiries as to the reason of this disturbance, a most bewildering and unintelligible mixture of replies. We found out, however, that a collection was being made for the Health Festival, so we promptly produced our purses. Willing and voluble members of the Form gave us all the information we wanted, and we soon felt that we knew everything there was to know about this entirely new idea. Three ' shoppers' were elected and then the chapel bell cut short further discussion St. Luke's Day fell this year on a Tuesday, so on Monday afternoon the shoppers set forth accompanied by their Form Mistress. When we entered the Form-room at the end of the afternoon, what an unusual sight met our astonished eyes! Every imaginable thing that could be of use for nursing. Blankets, hot-water bottles, invalid foods of every description, bandages, safety pins, and innumerable others Lots were cast for the decorators, and six fortunate and much envied creatures repaired to the chapel at the appointed hour to beautify a certain window.

They did their work very well, and the chapel really looked splendid, each window being arranged differently according to the diverse purchases and the varied tastes of the decorators; one Form had a decided inclination towards fruit and flowers as a setting for the less attractive objects, while another firmly believed in the beauty of strikingly contrasted colours!

The actual service was in the afternoon; it was taken

by Archdeacon Coulter, who, in his address told us how very grateful to God we should be for our good health during the past year and how we should show this gratitude by attempting to alleviate the suffering of others; also that, even if we had had some slight illness, we should

6

remember with thankfulness the loving care and attention lavished upon us.

The next day all the purchases were packed most carefully and sent to the U.G.S mission in Camberwell, one of the poorest districts of London. A few days later Miss Matthews read us a letter of thanks she had received from Canon Veazey and one from a mission nurse.

Surely there was never a more appropriate way of celebrating the Festival of St. Luke, the Physician, than our Health Festival, for while it benefits the mission to which the purchases are sent, the buying of these same things is a source of great interest and help to us.

G. Shipley.

M. Rice.

School List, July,

1928.

R. M. Buck A. A. Le Mesurier I. M. Martineau M. P. Tallents G. M. Dixon M. E. Thynne

FORM Came 1924 3 1922 2 19263 1926 3 1916 2 1924 1

J. M. Cole M. V. Cole M. Durst

UPPER Va. 1916 3 R. M. K Moilliet 1925 1 J L Suffrin 1925 2 E. A. Westaway*

B. M. Gardiner M. F. Hort

UPPER 1925 2 1925 3

E. M. K. Betty* V. M. Briscoe

B. M. Thompson H. Bartrum D. H. Dillon-Trenchard J. R. Young B. C. Lacon

Vb. D D. D Mallock

ARTS & CRAFTS A. 1926 3 G. M. Kirby 1925 1 P. A. Lacon LOWER

E. J. Adnitt E. K. K. Betty J. M. Bridgman M. B. Butler N. M. Cole M. Farrington* G. E Gee M. W Goodden E. A. Cowers

VI.

19263 1926 3 1924 3 1924 3 1918 3 1927 1 1917 1926 3 1925 l

V. D. M. Osman-Jones H. M. Lucas P. Marchant D. I. Maxwell B. M. Rice M. B. Sheldon G. M Shipley N. M. Williams C. M Young

Came 1923 2 1924 3 1923 3 1925 3 1923 3

1926 3 1924 3 1923 3

1925 2

1926 3 1923 3

1922 3 1927 3 19271 1928 2 1927 3 1928 l 19272 1925 3 1925 3

7 ARTS & CRAFTS B. Came C. A. Church M. M. M. McCormick 19271 M. W. A. Price G. F. Fleetwood-Jones 1926 I 1927 3 J. M. G. Foster B. J. Pritchett E C Hindley 1927 1 V. B. Townshend R. Jenner 1927 2 T. J. Taylor C. Johnson 1926 3 A. E. Wood

Came 1928 2 1923 3 19263 1927 3 1928 1 1928 2

FORM IV. P. F. Aldrick C. M. Allen L. M. Le C. Balleine* K M. Brichta A. B. Briscoe E. D B. Champain P. L. Clarence P. L. Dixon D. Duder

1918 2 1925 l 1927 1 19271 1925 l 1925 a 1928 1 1919 2 1927 3

C. M. Gale A. Ilott G. J Norman-Jones M. Ogle M. E V. Tallents R. E. R. Wasley A. B. M. Westaway M. E. Wilson P. J. Young

UPPER J. M. Burchmore A. N. C. Churchill R. G Clark E. G. Combes A. M. B. Conybeare D. G Duncan S. M. Evans-Lawrence M. E. Fry M. J. Gale

1928 1 19222 19273 19273 1928 l 1928 2 19273 1927 3 1923 3

M. E. Aldrick C. D. M. Churchill E. B. Combes K. M. Gough M. C. Long

1923 3 1923 2 1927 3 1922 3 1925 3

E. Aldrick M. A. R Apps V. M Combes

1925 3 1927 l 19273

III.

W. M. Heath B. R. Johnson* W. Osman-Jones D. M. Leveson S. M. Lunt M. N. E. Mansergh R. G. Mogg W. D. Parry

LOWER

UPPER

LOWER D. M. Ede E. G. Long

1923 3 1928 1 1928 2 19263 1927 1 1926 1 19243 19281 1920 3

1928 2 19272 1923 3 1927s 1927 * 1926 1 1928 2 19192

III. R. J. Maggs M. E. Matthews K. M. Trow G. M. Wheeler

19263 1928 2 1922 3 1926 3

FIRST. P. D. Ede I Gough G. M Henly

19273 1925 3 19263

FIRST.

A. J. Maggs 1927 3 19273 F. O. Matthews ('Head of Form.)

1927 3 1928 2

The Staff

July,

1928.

RESIDENT— .Miss ALEXANDER. (Senior Mistress) French.

Miss GROVER, Science. Gardening, Geography.

Miss DAMANT. Matron Miss J E N N I N G S . Music.

Miss GOODRICH, Games, Gymnastics. Dancing Miss LYS, Secretary.

Miss DUNCAN, Classics Miss HEDONE JONES, Music.

Miss JAMES, Mathematics.

Miss LANG, English.

Miss CLARK, Domestic Science.

Miss BROWN, Classics Miss NEALE, Kindergarten" Miss COLBERT. History and French Miss INGE, Art SISTER IRVINE NON-RESIDENT— THE REV. A. B. BROWNE, Divinity.

MR. PULLEIN, Pianoforte. Organ . Miss POUND, Pianoforte.

MRS HILL. Violin.

MRS. WATLING, Italian MRS STANTON. Art. MR CULLEY. Carpentry.

School Calendar.

1927.

Sept. 21.—Beginning of term.

Oct. 3.—League of Nation Union. Speeches by Mr. Durbin and Mr. Brown out " Disarmament." ,, 5.—Party to Hath to '' Merchant of Venice." ,, 6.—Party to Bath to '• Hamlet." ,. 8.—Party to Bath to " Julius Caesar." ., 10.—Lecture on '• Florence " by Aliss Tate. ,, 18.—Health Festival. Service and Address by Archdeacon Coulter. ,, 27.—Representatives weut to London for the Annual Meeting of U G.S. ,, 28.—Drill Competition v. Tytherton. Senior team won, Junior team lost.

Nov. 3.—Party to Bath for Recital by Cortot,. ,, 11.—Armistice Day. Two Minutes'Silence.

Prize Giving and Sale. „ 12.—Party to Bath for Jean Stirling McKinley Recital. ,, 13.—Concert by the Wessex Quartet ,. 14.—Half-term. ,, 19.—Party to Bath for Recital by Melsa. „ " 22.—Concert by the Wayfaring Trio. ., 24.—Lecture on " China " by Dr. Balme. ., 25.—Party to Bath for Lener Quartet Concert. ,, 28—Lecture on the New Prayer Book by Canon Hoste.

Dec. 2.—Lecture on " Shakespeare's tragedies" by Mr. Powell. ,, 9.—Lecture on "Shakespeare's tragedies with special reference to Hamlet" by Mr. Powell. ., 11.—Confirmation in the Parish Church. ., 12.—School Certificate Examination. .. 15.—Mark Reading. Tea and Speeches.

1928.

Jan. 17.—Beginning of term. ., 30.—Lecture on " The Life of Shakespeare " by Mr. Powell.

Feb. 2.—Address is Chapel. The Rev. F. P. Crosse. ,, 4.—Party to Bath for Jean Stirling McKinley Recital. „ 6.—Lecture on "The Three Wise Fools of Shakespeare" by Mr. Powell. ., 11.—Lacrosse Match v. Clifton Ladies. School won. ,, 13.—Lecture on "Shakespeare's Historical Plays" by Mr. Powell. ,. 15.—Missionary Exhibition at Chippeuham. ,. 16.—Party given by Confirmation candidates to girls of Calne confirmed with them. ,, 18.—Lacrosse Match v. Royal School. School won.

Company Entertainment. "The would-be Gentleman" produced by Moberly and Osmund. „ 20.—Company Entertainment. " The Purple Mask " produced

by Grosstete and Poore. „ 25.—2nd Net Ball Match v. Tytherton 1st VII. School won.

Mar. 5.—Lecture on "Shakespeare's Romantic Plays" by Mr. Powell. ,. 9.—Lecture on " La Bretagne Feerique " by Comtesse de Croze. ,, 10.—Maidless Day. Drill Competition v. Godolphin School. School won. „ 14.—"S. Paul " by the Calne Musical Society in the Parish Church.

10 1

Mai . „ ,, .. ,, .,

16. — Form Drill Competition. Clip won liy Form VI. 17.—Song liecital by Mr Robert Heath.

21.—" Edmund Kicb " Entertainment.

23.—Recital by Anne Wood.

24.—Net Hall Cup Match v. Koyal School 2nd VII. School won.

26.—Lecture on " The Clowns of Shakespeare " by Professer Brett. ., 28.—Concert of Elgar's Music. ,. 29.—Mark Reading.

May I.—Beginning of term. ,, 12. Picnics. „ 19.—Picnics. ,,'1.24.—Empire Day Celebrations. ,, 26.—Picnics.

June 2.—Maidiess Day. Tennis Match v Bath High School. School beaten. „ 5.—" Twelfth Night " by the Ben Greet Players. ,. ^6.—" A Midsummer Night's Dream " by the County School. ,, 9.—Party from Marlborough College for tea and tennis. ,, 16.—Half-term. ,, 18.—Expedition to Farleigh Castle and Lympley Stoke. ,, 23.—Picnics. ,, 25.-" Hiawatha " by Music Club. ,. 28.—Party to Bath to s«e the Homan Baths. ,, 30.—Cricket Match v. Royal School. School beaten.

July 2—Address in Chapel. The Rev. Or. Beaver. ,. 5.—Lecture on " Openings for girls in the Colonies" by Dame Meriel Talbot ,, 7.—Picnic to Savernake.

Party to Lacock Abbey to see Country Dancing Display. ,, 9.-Tennis Match v. Calne Ladies School won. ,, 13.—Lecture on U.G.S Settlement by Miss Ramsay. „ 16.—Display of Greek Dancing. ,, 17.—School Certificate Examination. „ 18.—Second Display of Greek Dancing. ,, 21.—Cricket Match v. Trowbridge Secondary School Won bv School. ,, 25.—Final for Tennis Championship, won by R. Buck.

Concert of Music by Bach. ,, 26-—Final for Form Tennis couples. Cup won by Form VI. Mark Heading

11 New Privileges for the New Age. Last September the school returned to many changes which have grown during the year in an almost bewildering fashion. They did not strike the eye at once, though the first visit to the front hall revealed the office and fiction Library now installed next Miss Matthews' room, while the kitchen had engulfed the office. What joy for Nellie and the maids, as well as for their substitutes on maidless day! And what joy, too, for the librarians, now that those top shelves can be reached without acrobats on chairs and mantel-shelf. It took the school longer to discover the new VI Form tucked away behind the old one, with a beautiful polished floor and a double roof.

Although it seemed sacrilege to old members of the Form to find V. Form desks in the hitherto sacred room, and alien V. formers on the hitherto sacred path, the many compensations of their new room appeased even the most conservative.

A prolonged study of the notice board revealed something else—what had happened to the school list? Great was the indignation among Ws and Y's when it was perceived that form order had become alphabetical: though this innovation has been a blessing to many by making the Forms so easy to sort, yet the old order is dying very hard, so that the delicate problem " Do I tell her to- shut up or does she tell me ? " is still unsolved in many minds.

During the Lent term the opening of S. Faith's house, and the surrender of the Haven, provided an exciting mid-term move for some people, and also new quarters for week-end visitors.

The varying weather of the summer term produced many innovations in dress-habit.

Blue serge dresses (for wear on cold evenings) have been added to the uniform, but on hot ones we all play games with bare legs. One adornment (for which the weather is not responsible) is the small round shield upon every tunic, depicting the colour of the Company to which the owner belongs. These were an effort to supply the longfelt need of some method of distinguishing the Companies.

Sunday church " crocs " are a thing of the past, for now it is only the unprivileged who parade in the good old way. The rest of the school goes in twos or threes though it still sits in isolated splendour behind the choir.

Methods of walking remain the same, except for the addition of " half privileges " for some of the IV. Form, so that the ears of Vb and Va are assailed by cries of " will anyone take a half ? "

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A sketching club has been formed this term, and sallies forth on Thursdays and Saturdays armed with drawing blocks and boards. When the weather has been tiresome S. Bridget's has provided subjects of sufficient interest. One great asset to the school, which must not be forgotten, is the re-opening of S. Prisca's Kindergarten, where many members of the upper forms go to play with the babies, and in some cases to teach them. Lately playing with some of them on the see-saw or swing has proved a welcome alternative to shelling peas or " doing " gooseberries for all unoccupied in games time.

A. Le Mesurier.

Reform 1928.

The School Reform Bill of 1928 has been a very comprehensive one bringing new privileges, and at the same time banishing old ones, and giving new gifts for the beauty of the school.

The question of privileges has always been and will always be one of difficulty, and one about which everyone is bound to feel very strongly.

The innovation which permits the whole school to walk to Church in twos instead of two long crocodiles is one of these new privileges, a mixed one in many ways.

There is a fascination in watching a great blue line wending its way down the hill towards the Church, the white hats bobbing and the brown legs twinkling, which cannot be denied; the fascination even continues if the procession becomes like one long caterpillar under thirty umbrellas. But there is no delight in seeing sixty odd white hats and pairs of brown legs straggling down on either side of the road. Of course it is obvious that the innovation is for the better, be it even for the sake of the leader of the crocodile who used to find it so difficult to avoid people on the pavement and to cross the road without being cut in two. The feelings of the prefects on this new privilege are not to be analysed, they are, however, grateful still to be privileged by sitting in the nave of the Church.

The feelings of the school are mixed on the subject of a new luxury in our Chapel We have all been given a small blue mat on which to kneel, and so no longer may we judge our piety by the stiffness and patterned aspect of our knees. Some are inclined to feel that they are too great a luxury, others are conservative and do not

13

approve of such a change ; the majority feel that not only are they an added and much needed comfort, but they also lend a finishing touch to the general looks of the Chapel, being of just the right blue.

While mentioning the Chapel it must be remembered that the greatest improvement in the whole school lies within its walls, or one might say, on its walls. Even the conservative band of old girls must agree that here we have a proof that a thing of beauty is a joy for ever.

B. M. Thompson.

S. Faith's.

Last Lent Term a new house had to be found to replace the Haven, as Miss Taite was leaving Calne.

Fortunately the school did not have to look far, we acquired a house in S. Prisca's road, and Mrs. Maggs kindly volunteered to take charge of it.

Accordingly, the former occupants of the Haven and one member of the Staff were established there in the middle of the term, and our youngest colony was named S. Faith's.

S. Faith's consists of two staff bedrooms and two delightful dormitories, the top one being equipped with the latest invention in fire escapes. There is also a bath room of luxurious size—a feature lacking in the Haven.

We are so grateful to Mrs. Maggs for all she has done for us to make the first term at S. Faith's so successful.

M. Durst.

R. Moilliet.

Manners and Responsibilities. 1927—1928.

The Manners and Morals Committee has met twice during the past year, and many minor points have been raised and found to be successful. One point about Company colours was raised, as it was felt that some distinguishing mark would be useful, and after some discussion it was decided that small round metal badges should be worn on our tunics, the colours being Orange for Osmund, Green for Grosstete, Red for Rich, Purple for Poore, and Blue for Moberly. It was also resolved to start a fund for a new harmonium or organ for the chapel, as the present one is inadequate.

We do want to thank Miss Matthews for allowing us to bring up our points and for hearing them with such

14

patience; but if at the next meeting the majority of the points is again destructive, not constructive, we shall feel that this Committee is not fulfilling its purposeRepresentatives at different meetings have been : — Staff.

Miss Alexander, Miss Damant, Miss Duncan, Miss Clark, Miss Jennings.

VI. R. Buck, A. Le Mesurier, I. Martineau, B. Thompson, M. Rawlins, A. Durst, G. Dixon, D. D. Trenchard, H. Bartrum.

Va. J. Jackson, D. Mallock, R. Moilliet, M. Durst, E. Westaway, M. Hort.

Arts & Crafts. J. Young, G. Kirby, Enid Betty, M. Price.

Vb. B. Adnitt, G. Gee, G. Shipley, B. Butler.

IV. K. Brichta, M. Ogle, D. Duder, B. Wasley.

Ilia. A. Westaway, W. Parry, B. Johnson, B. Combes.

R. M. Buck, (Secretary).

Prize Day, 1927.

Prize Day was held on Armistice Day. It was marked by the fact that, for .the first time, the Chair was taken by Archdeacon Coulter. We were very glad to have with us Miss Douglas, late Headmistress of the Godolphin School, where Miss Matthews was a girl under her. Archdeacon Bodington was also present, and Mr. Bodinnar, for the first time in his capacity as Governor.

We were so sorry that Mr. Dunne's severe illness prevented him from coming too. We did not forget him and sent him a telegram to which we had a delightful reply, Miss Matthews in her report said we were able to congratulate ourselves on a very happy and successful year's work. In our building we had not stood still; in our year's work we had reached a higher standard than ever before. The old girls were keeping touch in a very splendid way. She stressed our needs, placing first the enlargement of the cookery school, but there are others, a really roomy staff room, a really roomy library.

Miss Douglas said, since she ceased to live in a school it was almost like a holiday to her to visit one again, even for an hour, and she had been round their school and noticed its all-round growth as compared with the occasion of her last visit. Dealing with the question what is the history of a prize, the speaker told of how the donor and

15 the the teacher had a large hand in it. but the primest factor in securing the prize was the scholar herself. And why did they give themselves those prizes ? It was that glorious and heaven-born desire in their hearts to know ; another factor was their intelligence; another was the will to overcome obstacles. In winning a school prize there were many obstacles which had to be overcome.

Sometimes the obstacles were the pupils themselves, in their desire to put this or that off to a later stage, but that obstacle had to be overcome. Another obstacle might have been their teacher, for after all, teachers were human and made mistakes. But scholars made mistakes also.

Whatever the obstacle it must be removed, and they must remove all the obstacles they could out of the teacher's path, because teachers were always endeavouring to remove them from the scholars' path, whether they knew it or not. If they were going to learn to know, they must fight for it. All those things went towards giving them prizes. This great Day of Remembrance had inevitably been referred to. While some of them could remember what they used to hear during those four years, many of the pupils could not remember the war ; but it was well for them to use their imagination and try to think something about it. Whilst we thought of that depth of misery, that height of heroism, that war, that glorious prize of victory, which we remembered that day, the leaves of that prize had only just begun to be born.

There was no telling what the worth of that prize was going to be for the world ; we should see that more and more as time passed o n ; but it was well for us to remember on that day, when we bought poppies and thought of the men who gave their lives and the men who bore the scars and even felt the wounds, it was well to have the privilege of buying poppies, in order that they might at least have a share in healing those wounds. She wanted to leave this thought with them—that the greatness of the fight was the measure of the prize ; and the valuation of the prize was the impetus to fight. Fighting was a most glorious thing in life—the right kind of fight. They must fight not to do the wrong thing, they must fight the daily fight that would result in their characters getting a bit finer as time went on, and they must fight to get a knowledge and love—very beautiful things. The knowledge of everything good, everything true, everything beautiful was tremendously worth while. Fighting for love, practical love : Perhaps that might sound very sentimental.

16 and it certainly was sentiment, because love was the greatest and noblest feeling, or sentiment, that we were capable of. There were all kinds of ways they could practise this prize of love at home and at school. It only took a second to give a person a kind look if they were down in the mouth. We should think of others and think nothing about ourselves ; we were always giving too much attention to ourselves. Save time and don't bother about that, but think about other people. The speaker proceeded to give some practical advice to the girls on these lines and concluded by saying if the people in the land would fight for the right, there was a chance of winning love and peace and goodwill that would stop all other fighting.

Prize List.

FORM VI. HEAD OF SCHOOL, (given by the Ven Archdeacon of Wilts) E M. M. Bodinnar DIVINITY. (given by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury) A. Durst CLASSICS, (given by the Ven. Archdeacon of Dorset) A. A. Le Mesurier ENGLISH, (given by Mr. Dunne) C. M. N. Cobb HISTORY, (given by Sir Ernest Cowers) A. M. C. Le Mesurier FRENCH, (given by M. & Mrs. C. O. Cough) F. M. Bartlett GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, (given by Mr. Norris) C. M. N. Cobb UPPER V. FORM PRIZE, (given by the Mayor of Calne) M. P. Tallents DOMESTIC SUBJECTS, I given by the Mayor of Calne) D. W, Murrell HOLIDAY WORK, (given by Mrs. Dudley Matthews) I. M. Rawlins LOWER V. LANGUAGES, (given by Miss Murray) G, M Ivamy MATHEMATICS, (given by Mrs. Dunne) M, V. Cole (given by Miss Alexander) J. M. Cole HOLIDAY WORK. (given by Mr. & Mrs. Bateman) M. Durst R. M. K. Moilliet E. A. Westaway

17 UPPER IV FORM PRIZES J U N I O R GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, (given by the Headmistress) HOLIDAY WORK, (given by Mrs H. G. Harris) LOWER IV. FORM PRIZES,

HOLIDAY WORK, FORM III. FORM PRIZES, FORM II

FORM PRIZE, HOLIDAY WORK, given by Miss Grover> CARPENTRY— Senior (given by Mr. Culley) Junior MUSIC—PIANO (given by Mr. Pullein) (given by Miss Jennings) PHYSICAL—Senior (given by Dr. &Mrs Ede) Junior (given by Miss Goodrich) TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP, (given by Mrs. W. F. Cole)

J. M. Bridgeman G E Gee G. M. Shipley E A. Gowers G. M. Kirby P. L Dixon C M. Gale M. Ogle P. J. Young P. L. Dixon A. N. C. Churchill A. B. M Westaway K. M Trow K. M. Trow J. Beckett M. M. L. Welch B. C. Lacon E. M. M. Bodinnar.

A N. C. Churchill G. M, Turner M. M. E. Mansergh R. M. Buck

Successes 1927—1928.

DURHAM UNIVERSITY. Winifred Foster Scholarship, (£30 for 3 years)

M P. Tallents

LONDON MATRICULATION. July, 1928—R. M Buck CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL CERTIFICATE. December. 1927—G. M. Ivamy (Honours) J. M. Cole M. V. Cole R. M. K. Moilliet J. L Suffrin S. E. Tench E. A. Westaway July,

1928B. M. D. B.

M. F. D. M.

Gardiner Hort D Mallock Thompson

18 INSTITUTE OF HYGIENE. July, 1928—Certificates. E. M. K. Betty G. F. Fleetwood-Jones G M. Kirby B C. Lacon M. E. Thynne NATIONAL COUNCIL OF DOMESTIC Junior Housecraft Certificate— V. D. Briscoe Class G. M. Kirby „ M. E. Thynne ,, B. J. Pritchett Class

STUDIES. 1. , ,, 2.

BRITISH ITALIAN LEAGUE. Advanced Grade, 1st Class— G. Shipley OLD GIRLS. E. Kitson. Archaeological and Anthropological Tripos. Class 2.

Division 1.

A M. C Le Mesurier. London University, Intermediate Arts.

N. M. Fisher. National Dairy Diploma. Certificate of Studley College.

Half-term.

November llth—14th.

Although very cold, Friday. November llth, was an ideal day for Prize giving. With the exception of preparation we did no work in the morning, and finished the morning with games for an hour before lunch.

Prize giving began at 3 o'clock, and at 2.30 we had to get ready, everybody wearing a Flanders' Poppy as it was Armistice Day. There were a great number of visitors, far more than we have ever had before, and the seating accommodation was decidedly difficult in the Hall. The Prizes were given away by Miss Douglas and Archdeacon Coulter took the Chair for the first time ; but we all felt that it was a great pity that owing to illness Mr. Dunne could not be present, however we were honoured with the presence of Archdeacon Bodington and the Mayor of Calne.

Miss Douglas gave a very interesting speech, and it was so nice having Miss Matthews' old Headmistress to to give away the prizes. After prizing-giving the visitors had tea in three of the form-rooms which had been turned out for the purpose and the school had theirs in the

19

New Buildings. Tea was followed by a small sale of work held in the Dining room in aid of the Scholarship Fund. It was great fun. There were some very popular raffles, particularly " Prisca Mary Briget," a wonderful contrivance of Form VI, representing a S.M.S. girl, with school outfit complete. All the Stalls were most attractive ; they had been arranged in the morning by the Staff, who had worked so hard for us and made the Sale such a success. We made ÂŁ75, which was much better than we expected When Friday's events were over, we returned to work for only a very short time, as there lay before us the glorious excitements of the half-term week-end.

Saturday morning was spent in work until 12 o'clock, when desks were slammed and we raced out into the Lacrosse field to enjoy a really wild game; various plans had been formed for the afternoon but the one which caused most delight, was an expedition to Bath for a party of fifteen to hear Jean Stirling McKinlay. As we arrived at Bath rather early, we were able to visit the Abbey which the majority of us enjoyed looking over for the first time After this we went on to the Pump Room, where we all enjoyed a really delightful concert, rendered all the more attractive by the fact that Miss McKinlay sang many well-known Folk-songs in national costume, which were relieved by several orchestra performances. However the enjoyments of this afternoon were not entirely confined to the concert, for as is usual after a concert at Bath we revelled in one of Theobald's teas. On our return home, we found that the stay-at-homes had also been provided with an entertaining afternoon's programme; as they had disported themselves at a " fancy dress tea " and games.

On Sunday evening we had the great pleasure of a visit from the Wessex String Quartet, who gave us a wonderful hour of Beethoven.

On Monday the weather was still dubious, but the energy of the school was bounded by no such trifles.

After a strenuous hour of tearing up paper, we drove up to the Golf course, from whence we returned home over an eight mile paperchase trail. Hedges and ditches, wire and thorns, tearing torrents and quaking quagmires, all were as nothing to us in our half-term spirit of daring.

Our return was celebrated by a huge meal, and hot baths for as many as could get them. Then the physical strain of the morning was matched by the mental strain of a fancy dress book party, in which Company as well as

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individual competition provided great excitement.

So ended this glorious holiday for which we have once more to thank Miss Matthews and the Staff, and all who help to make our half-terms such tremendous fun.

Form VI. Half-term.

June 16th—18th.

Sighs of relief greeted the bell at 11.30, which marked the beginning of half-term, on Saturday, June 16th. No more prep : for at least three days !

The afternoon and evening of Saturday did great credit to the organising powers of Miss Goodrich, who got up an American tennis tournament, and a really thrilling treasure hunt. After supper, there was a mock prize-giving in which the winners received their due rewards.

The early hours of Monday morning saw the greater part of the School playing a hungry game of cricket, which was followed by a very energetic breakfast! The interval before 11.30 was filled by innumerable sets of tennis, and in getting ready for the expedition to Farleigh Castle.

We arrived there about one o'clock, and it unfortunately began to rain but this did not damp our spirits, or our persons, thanks to the kindly shelter of a " spreading chestnut tree" under which we enjoyed the usual picnic lunch. When we had seen the Chapel, and the photographic enthusiasts had satisfied their zeal by taking numerous exposures, we set out once more for the palatial hotel at Limpley Stoke, an exceedingly pretty village near Bath. After wandering for a short time among the wonderful flowers of the hotel garden, we sat down to a most sumptuous tea, made still more appetizing by accompanying music from the gramaphone, and ices to end with. We were taken over the most ingenious Turkish Baths which seemed to accommodate a cure for every sort of obesity, and having once more resumed our seats in the charabancs, we left the Hydro hotel and drove back, stopping on the way to see the Old Saxon Church at Bradford.

We arrived back about 7.30, after having spent quite the jolliest half-term possible, had supper " and so to bed."

Lower V.

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The Visit of the Bensonians to Bath, October 3rd—8th.

The visit of the Bensonians to Bath provided the school with one of the most thrilling weeks it has ever known. No less than three Shakespeare plays were seen on different days by the Upper Forms, and it would be hard to say which was the most appreciated.

Though " The Merchant of Venice " may not be one of the most popular of Shakespeare's plays, the audience at the performance on Wednesday certainly wished for nothing better. From beginning to end the play was simply delightful.

Portia was as charming as are all Shakespeare's heroines, and Sir Frank Benson, as Shylock, was a wonderfully villainous, but a most attractive Jew. Gratiano also stood out as one of the more brilliantly played parts. The dresses and scenery, especially in the scene in Venice and in the garden, were most effective.

After a wonderful tea, the drive home in the dusk was a delightful end to a delightful day.

Whatever has been said about the play, no one denies that " Hamlet " is one of Shakespeare's masterpieces ; to us, seen at night in Bath, it was the most thrilling episode in school history. Starting out at our normal supper-time was thrilling enough; and as for the drive home in an impenetrable fog, that alone might have supplied table talk for a week. But for us now " the play's the thing " and has supplanted everything else in our imaginations.

Though most of us had been studying the play for the past year, that night a new Hamlet was revealed to us by Gerald Lawrence's acting. His personality dominated the play, though every character was a finished production.

John Lancaster had all the youthful fervour of Laertes, and the Queen (Fielden-Kaye) was an artistic villainess.

Molly Sainton created a most touching and vivid Ophelia, second only to Hamlet in outstanding reality.

The staging all through was most impressive, especially in the ghost scenes, where Sir Frank Benson's sepulchral voice tolled out from spectral darkness. Nothing could have made a more fitting end than the interpretation of the last scene, in which Hamlet's tragic restraint and Laertes' silent remorse united to convey to the audience an impression of finality. We were ready though unwilling to agree with Hamlet when the curtain fell " The rest is— silence."

22 Although the Saturday expedition to Bath was the last, it was by no means the least interesting. The ride there on such a beautiful afternoon was delightful. The play was thrilling and the characters were extraordinarily well acted, especially that of Brutus who was wonderfully realistic and natural in his representation of the part.

Cassius wore that " lean and hungry look," which, strange to say, was more attractive than repulsive. The part of Mark Anthony was taken by Sir Frank Benson, who portrayed the part with great zeal. The play was full of excitement, especially at the end of Anthony's funeral oration, when the mob, fired with his words, lit the screen of furze surrounding Caesar's body.

Altogether we thoroughly enjoyed the play, and were very sorry when the end came. We then had a very good tea at Theobald's, and ended the day with a glorious drive home.

Form VI Ben Greet's Visit.

June 5th, 1928.

For three years now we have rejoiced in sunny weather and a garden setting for the Ben Greet Shakespeare plays; we could not really expect such luck a fourth time. However such wise philosophy seemed very useless to comfort our disappointment when the rain really started on the longed-for Tuesday, and we had to break up our carefully prepared auditorium on the tennis court and re-arrange the chairs in the hall. The players must have found the stage rather cramped quarters too, but they adapted themselves wonderfully to them without any rehearsing. Indeed most of them cannot have seen the stage until their first entrance in the play, as they had caused much exciting uncertainty during the morning by not arriving until within two hours of the performance.

Allowance being made for the adverse circumstances, Twelfth Night this year rivalled the best of the performances which the Ben Greet players have already given us.

The programme even assured us that an out-of-doors setting would have robbed us of some of the entrancing company of Sir Toby and his companions in foolery, so in this one respect alone we were grateful to the weather.

Sir Andrew, long and yellow, was a conception of true genius, Maria the image of witty impertinence, Sir Toby himself unforgettable in his grand vulgarity. The duel

28

scene was wild with rollicking fun, very excellent fooling indeed, and the recognition scene most remarkably convincing. We were pleased to see again Beatrice and Don Pedro of last year's " Much Ado," but regretted that the parts of Olivia and Orsino did not give them more scope for fun. It was the same with Ben Greet himself; as we watched his very capable and amusing rendering of Malvolio we regretted Dogberry. However it is no fault of the actors that every play cannot be a " Much Ado About Nothing " As the company were giving a performance at Marlborough College the same evening they could not have stayed for cricket however beautiful the weather. We hope very much that this is only a break in a series of matches which will be continued next time, it really was a delightful afternoon worthy to be remembered other than " the time we had Ben Greet indoors." The spirit of all that merry company was so infectious that after a while we could almost sing as light-heartedly as Feste— for after all " the rain it raineth every day."

Form VI. Shakespeare Lectures.

Lent Term, 1928.

We have this term been extraordinarily fortunate in having five lectures on Shakespearian subjects—a series of four by Mr. Powell, and one by Professor Brett, though the last might be more adequately termed a very delightful ' recital' of Shakespeare.

The subjects of the first four lectures were:— 1. Shakespeare—his life and theatre.

2. The Comedies—Wit and Humour.

3. The Historical Plays—" History without Tears."

4. The Romantic Plays.

It will be seen that in four talks only, Mr. Powell succeeded in giving us a very comprehensive idea of every aspect of Shakespeare. The tragedies are not included in this series as we had before heard Mr. Powell on that subject.

The first lecture dealt with actual facts of Shakespeare's life and his theatre, including at the same time some most amusing and also cautionary references to ' internal' and ' external' evidence. We dealt with

24

Hamlet particularly in this respect, and saw how impossible it is to build up a man's character and life entirely from the sentiments expressed in his works, without having external evidence to which to refer.

The second lecture dealt almost entirely with the differences between Wit and Humour, and we were given excellent definitions and examples of both, with reference in this case to ' Much Ado' and particularly Benedick and Beatrice, Touchstone from ' As You Like It' and the Falstaff of ' The Merry Wives.' This proved a most amusing and refreshing lecture, and provided a store of new ideas.

The historical plays were next dealt with, though this lecture resolved itself eventually into a splendid talk on ' National pride and patriotism' with occasional reference to some of Shakespeare's historical plays, which was nevertheless fully worth while.

The last of the series was on the Romantic plays, ' The Tempest' and ' A Winter's Tale' in particular, and so rounded up fittingly such a wide compass as the lectures presented.

This term also we have had the privilege of hearing a lecture on the clowns of Shakespeare arranged by the Calne players. The lecturer, Professor Brett of Cardiff University, is a scholar of European reputation and his lecture was indeed delightful. We are especially grateful for his remarkably able and humourous rendering of the play scenes from ' A Midsummer Night's Dream ' with which he concluded his discourse.

R. M. Buck.

A. Le Mesurier.

Lectures 1927—1928.

We have been fortunate in haying quite a large number of lectures this year, including an absorbingly interesting series on Shakespeare given by Mr. Powell, which are reported elsewhere.

In connection with the L.N U., Mr. Durbin and Mr Brown gave a most enlightened lecture on Disarmament, a large audience from the town being present. It was even more wonderful to hear them when we realise that, as they told us themselves, they belong to the younger generation who know very little of the horrors of war.

A great many of us have heard Dr. Balme speak

25

before, but we were only too glad to hear him again on the subject of China and her many problems. For the first time in the history of the School a French Countess gave us a lecture in her native tongue, entitled " La Bretagne F/'erique." We were surprised to find how much easier it was to understand than we had anticipated.

We were also able to hear Professor Brett speak to a public audience in the School hall on the subject of Shakespeare's Clowns; we are very grateful to Mr. Powell for introducing him to Calne.

We were proud to be able to send four representatives of the School to the U.G.S. Settlement this year, three of whom, A Le Mesurier, H. Bartrum and B. Lacon, gave us accounts of all they had seen and heard in Camberwell.

They met Miss Ramsay there, who is one of the missionworkers, and invited her to come down and speak to us about the life of people in Camberwell. This she did at the end of the Summer term, bringing all their difficulties very forcibly before us We felt honoured in having Dame Meriel Talbot to speak to us on Empire Settlement. She made a great many of feel the attractions and wide scope for work of all sorts in the countries of the empire, and we feel sure her appeal for emigration will not remain unanswered.

B. Thompson.

Music 1927—1928.

CHRISTMAS TERM. This term we were very fortunate in having so many visits to Bath where we enjoyed several concerts in the Pump Room. We have heard both Cortot and the Lener Quartet before, but this in no way deters our enjoyment but only fires our enthusiasm for yet another visit. The latter played a quartet by Schumann which we all much appreciated.

Some of us had the great good fortune to hear Melsa at his first appearance in Bath ; our only regret on this occasion was that we did not hear more of him, as he only played three times.

At half-term a large party of us went to Bath to hear Jean Stirling McKinlay whose songs are always so refreshing. Those for which she dressed up were especially appreciated.

26

Once more we were visited by the Wayfarers' Trio, who are always so welcome; we much enjoyed the Slavonic Dances which they gave us.

The Wessex Quartet gave a delightful concert on half term Sunday—a concert to which we were glad to welcome a great many parents. Their programme consisted of Beethoven's 1st and 3rd Quartets which we felt we understood and enjoyed much better for the lucid explanation of each given by Mr. Hill.

The greatest event in the term to the mind of the school was the recital given by Anne Wood, who although she only left us two years ago has already taken many solo parts.

EASTER TERM. We did not have so many concerts this term as we have often had before, but those we did hear were very good.

The Calne Choral Society gave a performance of S. Paul in the Church; for weeks beforehand we saw on every side posters bearing the name of Anne Wood as contralto soloist. Nor were we disappointed, except in that Mendelsohn had only given her so small a part.

The oratorio was perhaps even more beautifully rendered than usual, and justified its position of the chief musical event in the year.

To the school Mr. Robert Heath's talent had been hidden for far too long. This term however he exercised it for our amusement. He is a finished comedian, and kept us in fits of laughter for nearly two hours on end.

The most popular of his songs were " The Old Kent Road " and " The Frenchman; " we hope very much that he will be able to give us another entertainment next year; it ought to be a yearly event; how we hope this may be the case !

Anne Wood had promised to come down and give a recital to the school, but was delayed for some time owing to an attack of german measles. When she did come however, she gave us a very delightful programme of songs both English and German. She sang to quite a large audience, including quite a number of people from outside the school. The next day the school had quite an informal concert, one or two items were given over to community singing, others consisted of piano and violin solos or duets, the most popular items, however, were Anne's songs which everyone enjoyed.

27

At the end of the term we gave our usual termly concert of the works of one composer whom we have been studying particularly during the term. Elgar was our composer, we were able to listen to songs, piano solos, and violin solos and orchestral pieces. The latter were particularly appreciated.

SUMMER TERM, 1928.

The Summer term is never very full of music ; there are so many outside attractions that we do not seem to have time for indoor concerts. This term we had only two concerts.

Mr. Pullein very kindly gave an Organ Recital on S. James' day after evensong. He started by extemporising, using all the stops on the organ. Then he played various Chopin Preludes which none of us had heard on the Organ before ; they seemed to adapt themselves perfectly to the instrument.

We studied Bach as our Composer this term and gave a concert of a few of his works at the end of the term.

We are so grateful to Mrs. Hill who does so much for the orchestral music of the school and who played to us in our concert. She played among other things an air on G string which was very much appreciated.

B. C. Lacon.

B. M. Thompson.

Hiawatha.

The performance of " Hiawatha and other items " by the Musical Club was much appreciated by all members of the School. The programme was very varied—ranging from " non-classical " songs to Indian folk songs and to classical music. The two " non-classical " items " Daisy Bell" and " The three old maids of Lee " were greatly enjoyed. The lads and lassies danced with abandon, and the lightning transformation of the three old maids caused much amusement. This was perhaps the piece de resistance of the evening.

The high musical standard of the school was maintained in the piano solo by Barbara Lacon, and in the violin solo by Helen Bartrum.

The scenes from Hiawatha's childhood were most excellently arranged and produced by Miss Jennings and Miss Hedone Jones. We especially admired the bronzed

28

countenances of the warriors -though perhaps after the performance one was too conscious of " cocoa here, cocoa there, cocoa, cocoa everywhere." Wrinkled old Nakomis (Barbara Thompson) sang most charmingly, and the little Hiawatha rocked in his linden cradle was very convincing. Later, his rapid transformation from a child to a youth was less convincing! Hiawatha's song to the fire-flies, sung by Joan Cole, was most pleasing, and the fire-flies themselves danced and flitted gracefully. The dresses of the fire-flies were very effective and the Indians were gorgeously decked with feathers and beads. The scenes concluded dramatically with the killing of the red deer by Hiawatha, (Elizabeth Westaway)—the red deer was most impressive!

The singing throughout was extremely good, and the Indian folk songs were charming. Miss Hedone Jones accompanied for the performance and our thanks are due to her and to Miss Jennings and to all those who worked so hard to give us a very pleasant entertainment.

G. C.

Picnics.

Unfortunately Thursdays—the day sacred to form picnics—have nearly all been wet this term, but in spite of that we have had some splendid times. Miss Jennings has been exceedingly kind in taking out people in her car " Arabella" and every form has had its individual outing.

Then there have been many others, to the White Horse, which is always a favourite spot, to Lacock to see folk-dancing, to Maud Heath's Monument, and the halfterm picnic, which is always the most exciting because it comprises the whole day. For the first time this term, there have been the sketching parties taken by Miss Inge.

It is extraordinary how much fun can be got out of a picnic. There is the novelty of drinking fizzy lemonade out of bottles that require no small skill in handling.

There are trees to climb and we have even heard of secret rides on a horse.

Miss Damant and Nellie have proved untiring in their efforts for our pleasure. There are picnics «nd picnics but those provided by these indefatigable caterers are the real thing.

M. Tallents.

29

The Company Plays.

"The Would-be Gentleman."

It was with some apprehension that I came to see the Moberly and Osmund play Moliere's " Would-be Genleman," on Saturday, February 18th. The play is not an easy one to perform窶馬one of Moliere's plays is easy; the chief characters need considerable study from those who are to play them; the humour is of a kind that only a Frenchman can properly convey and properly understand ; and lastly, some elaboration of costume and staging is necessary to convey the right atmosphere. T came away quite convinced that the play had been as well done as it possibly could be done in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Indeed I do not know that I have ever seen it better done in English. I say in English, because the more I see and read of Moliere, the more convinced I become that it is almost impossible to represent him in any tongue but his own. Guitry might do it, but I don't know. At any rate the performance at St. Mary's was as good as anyone, who did not expect the impossible, might reasonably want it to be.

It is always invidious to single out individual performances in a play done entirely by amateurs. What one looks for is to see the whole caste playing well together, and the caste of the " Would-be Gentleman " deserves commendation for this. They saw the piece as a whole play and not as a collection of individuals. But since every critic is held to be a miserable dog and no man if he does not say something about individual performances, let me take a deep breath and do that now.

The outstanding performance was that of Dorante by E. Westaway. It was not so much that she had a good voice, which she used to the best advantage, or that she bore herself magnificently; these are God's gifts and she is to be congratulated on using them as well as she can; what impressed me as much as anything else was that she, much more than any other character, except Lucile, had a conception of the play and of her own part which came very near to Moliere's own conception. She is to be very heartily congratulated. B. Thompson did her best with the very difficult part of M Jourdain. I think she made him much too cultivated so that, at times, he came perilously near to being a real gentleman, but 1 can think of very few characters more difficult for a girl to play than this, and it is possible that B. Thompson abandoned

30

the "conceits of clownage " lest the whole interpretation might become too unreal. J. Young improved as the play went on, but I should have liked to see her put a little more swagger into her part. Next to Dorante the most successful piece of acting was that of H. Bartrum's Mme Jourdain. I have never seen a more effective Mme Jourdain on any English stage. Nicole had only a small art to play but she played it very effectively; she must e careful, though, not to indulge in too much by-play when the others are speaking.

Space forbids my mentioning other characters, but I have said enough, I think, to show that the performance was a successful one. It should be remembered that a play of this type demands a very perfect knowledge of the words. There were one or two hitches because the actors did not remember their lines.

E

The Purple Mask It was a very different play that Grosstete and Poore chose to give on the following Monday, and those of us who had seen Mr. Matheson Lang play the Chevalier of the Purple Mask looked forward to seeing it done again.

The play bristles with performing difficulties. It demands a big stage, elaborate staging and lighting, striking scenery and, since it is a ' period' play, considerable attention to costume. Our actors faced the situation gallantly; they made the best of a small stage and they did pay attention to costume—more attention, I think, than the players of " The Would-be Gentleman." I think they might have paid more attention to lighting than they did, even with resources at their disposal.

Possibly too more attention might have been paid to make-up. (This, by the way, applies to the other company too.) But these are minor blemishes ; the play, as a whole, was an outstanding success. It was taken at a speed which kept up the interest of everyone and the whole company played like one man for the success of the whole piece " Here is God's plenty," said.Dryden when he tried to single individuals among the Canterbury pilgrims for special praise. I am inclined to repeat his phrase, for in a long caste there was hardly one who did not do the play credit. It would be black ingratitude, if it were nothing else, though, not to give first place to R. Buck's extraordinarily fine playing of the part of Armand, Comte de

31

Trevi^res. It is a very trite piece of criticism to call the acting of a part ' convincing' but I must resort to it.

R. Buck made me believe thoroughly in the Chevalier of the Purple Mask and—tell it not in Gath—made my heart miss a beat more than once. She was well supported by the rest of the Company of whom it would not be unfair, perhaps, to single out the Laurette of M. Farrington, the Fouche of M. Tallents, and the Sergeant of Gendarmes of M. Young. D. Champain's Toll-house keeper deserves a special word of praise. Her acting in Act IV was splendid. I am sure that she and her supporters enjoyed playing their parts as much as we enjoyed watching them play.

I should like to congratulate both Companies very heartily and to thank them very sincerely for two enjoyable evenings.

J. D. Powell.

Dancing Display.

July, 1928.

We were fortunate in having very good weather for the dancing display on July 16th and 18th. The evening performance was given on the lawn outside the Chapel where the background and the rambler roses formed an excellent setting, especially for the fairy dances and for the finale. Owing to the heat, the afternoon performance was given on the front lawn. All who took part in the display are much to be congratulated. Everyone entered with zest into the spirit of the dance and it was even a little disconcerting to realize the latent fierceness in the gladiators.

We were given such a variety of mood and movement that it is impossible to speak of the dances in detail, but mention must be made of the gnomes and fairies from S. Prisca's, whose own enjoyment was irresistible.

Our special thanks are of course due to Miss Goodrich who made up many of the dances herself, and who took endless pains in finding the right weapons for the contests, and the right colour scheme for the finale. We must also thank Miss Pound for her patient accompanying. We were glad to bank ÂŁ29 for the Cookery School fund as a result of the displays.

E. L.

82

Reading Competition.

This year a team of eight girls (six seniors, and two juniors) were entered by each Company. Girls winning badges was awarded ten points for their Company, those obtaining a First Class four points, those obtaining a Second Class one point. The Trophy was carried off by Grosstete, with three badge winners, (R Buck, R. Moilliet and M. Goodden), M. Tallents and D. Champain also reached First Class standard. Poore produced two badge winners (M. Durst and M. Hort), Moberly one (B. Thompson) with B. Lacon in Class 1., Osmund one (B. Gardiner) with Alison Wood in Class 1., Edmund Rich one (Joan Cole) with Janet Young in Class 1.

The points were as follows :— Grosstete 41 Poore 25 Moberly 19 Osmund 17 Edmund Rich 16 Dr. Ede sent the following report:— " It was satisfactory to find more candidates in the final test than in previous years, and on the whole the general standard of reading was good As is to be expected, most difficulty is experienced in the unprepared section and it was a severe test when this year each candidate was asked to read part of Mr. Asquith's speech on Alfred Lyttleton.

The prize was awarded to Ray Moilliet who read with great distinction and was well in front of the others.

Bridget Gardiner was placed second and badges were awarded to M. Durst, M. Hort, M. Goodden and J. Cole.

To read aloud well is by no means easy, but all who win badges can feel that they are on the right road."

C. Ede. Grosstete Company.

During the past year Grosstete has figured quite largely in the Company Competitions. Winning the Lacrosse, (though with individual members of the team the standard of play was not so high as we should have wished,) we now hold the shield for the fourth time For Company plays we again joined with Poore and produced " The Purple Mask," an historical play with a startling though somewhat complicated plot. The production was as usual great fun as, despite the short time, the whole Company worked with encouraging enthusiasm throughout. M. Goodden and R. Moilliet are to be congratulated

33

on their reading badges^ as also the whole team who all scored some marks thus enabling us to win the picture; in July too, we won the Spelling cup. We were sorry to lose our head, A. Bradford, and other helpful members of the Company last year. D. Champain has done splendid work in the cloakroom where she has been the terror of every retrograde occupant, but the rest of the Company have not shown over much energy in the discharge of their duties, and we hope this will be speedily remedied next year.

R. Buck.

Moberly Company.

Actually our successes in games and competitions have been few but this has been made up by real keenness on nearly everyone's part as regards the Company duties.

N. Williams and G. F. Jones deserve special mention, as do E. Westaway, V. Briscoe and L. Suffrin.

We have lost a great many members of the Company this year including our first and second heads, F. Bartlett and Alice Le Mesurier, J. Young who was also an able second head, and others who will be very much missed.

In the Easter term we joined with Osmund Company in giving Molieres " Le Bourgeois Gentilhpmme" for our Company play; a collection was taken in aid of the Cookery school and nearly ÂŁ6 was realised.

B. Thompson.

Osmund Company.

We were very sorry to lose our head, A. Durst, in the middle of the year. Although we are not altogether successful in our games we were very pleased to win the spelling cup twice. We did not do very well in the Reading Competition, but we were proud of B Gardiner who won her badge and also of A. Wood who was given a first class for the juniors.

We are very grateful to the Archdeacon for writing the Saga which G. Shipley read very well at Mark-reading in the Christmas term.

On the whole the Company is very keen indeed, and the work has been well done, especially by P. Lacon, G. Shipley. M. Cole and B. Gardiner. Some of the younger members are inclined to leave the work to others.

M. Cole has been elected Head of the Company for next year with P. Lacon as " sub."

H. Bartrum.

34

Saint Osmund.

Bishop of Old Sarum 1078—1099.

To England when the Conqueror came, Came with him many Knights of fame.

And one of unknown birth and place Deemed sister's son of the King's Grace (l> Followed the King, who marked his power And made him soon his Chancellor, Learned and good was Osmund, wise Both men and things to organise ; And he was destined soon to be First bishop of Old Sarum's see, And on its hill above the plain To rear a quiet Cathedral's fane.

From old time famous was this mound As fortress and as meeting-ground British and Roman, Saxon too, And here a town was built anew.

While Osmund built his Church he took His part in making Domesday Book.

And now the work upon him falls To fill his new Cathedral stalls (2' With Dean and Canons four, and give A rule by which to serve and live, Customs in worship, choir and song, Duties and conduct right and wrong, The Eucharist how to celebrate The way ourselves to dedicate, Office of prayer and praise and psalm So 'gainst all ill the soul to arm That all be ready body and soul To do the best with hertes whole.

Thus " Use of Sarum " soon became The use in other sees the same, Much in our Book of Common Prayer Search Osmund's '* Use " you'll find it there.

Some was his own, but he was wise No work of others to despise ; * „ (1) By the 15th century is was said that Osmund was the son of the Count of Seez and his wife Isabelle, sister of Duke William (William 1) but it is not certain (2) Place on the Cathedral Body was also found for three Archdeacons and 32 Prebendaries, the former I suppose as the Bishop's Staff, the latter as a larger Council, and liaison with the diocese

85 From Church's treasures old and new British and foreign,—all - he drew.

From Normandie for help he brought Good Clerkes, to whom their work he taught.

Full many a church with arches round And pillars stout may still be found In Wilts' and Dorset's hamlets small ; 'Twas he perhaps who built most all, And gave them each a faithful Clerke To bring the folk to safety's Ark. Yet if this work by him was done Of knowledge of himself there's none.

The man obscure we never see.

The Spirit and the work are he.

Osmund ! Thy work through Britain's lands And Britain's churches ever stands So well were its foundations laid In Sarum's " Use," that they've outstayed A thousand years, and on them still Reformers build new works of skill.

Old Sarum's Church received his bones, Till Bishop Poore removed the stones Of Church and City to the plain.

Here in Cathedral once again ( 3 ) They rest, the spot unknown. But he Was canonised by Pope's decree.

E. J. Bodington.

(31 We know that he was buried in the Lodge Chapel, the only portion of the new Cathedral finished by 1226, the date of his reinterment.

But the monuments there were ruthlessly removed by Wyatt in what was called " restoration."

Poore Company.

We were very sorry to lose three senior members of the Company last term, J. Jackson, S. Tench and D. Burke.

This year most members of the Company have worked well, those who deserve special praise are M. Durst and M. Hort, also M. Farrington and B. Sheldon who have worked with great keenness especially i'n the Red Hall! Some of the younger members might show more interest and take their responsibilities more seriously.

Together with Grosst6te we produced " The Purple Mask " as a Company play which met with some success.

36

From this we managed to collect a small contribution towards the future Cooking School.

We again managed to reach the finals in the Company Lacrosse matches, but were, alas ! beaten by Grosstfite, no doubt owing to the fact that some of our best members were then in the Sanatorium, so we hope for better luck next year.

We came out second in the Reading Competition and M. Durst and M. Hort must be congratulated on winning their Reading badges. The rest of the readers showed great zeal in practising and read well.

This year has been a successful one on the whole, and we hope that next year M. Durst, who has been elected head, will lead the Company to many victories.

D. Dillon-Trenchard.

Edmund Rich.

During the past year several new members have joined our Company and we are glad to say that we have lost no one.

In the Lent term we gave our annual entertainment to the parents on parents' afternoon, and it seemed to be much appreciated, but we have to thank the Staff for the help they gave us in preparing it. The scenes from " Alice in Wonderland " by the Lower III were especially good.

We have entered for Company competitions but have never yet come out on the top. However we are not discouraged, as we have gained more points than we did last year, especially in the reading. For this we have to thank Joan Cole, who won her reading badge, for which she is to be congratulated.

We lost in our Lacrosse match against Grpsst6te but we enjoyed playing very much and the majority played well. We hope to do better next year in all we do.

G. Dixon.

The Tytherton Drill Competition.

October 28th, 1927.

The Competition against Tytherton was held on October 28th, and a Senior and Junior team drilled from each school.

Miss Martin very kindly came over from the Royal

87

School to judge. S. Mary's won the Senior Cup and Tytherton the Junior Cup. The teams were judged mainly on general impression and marks were not given for individual movements. Afterwards Miss Martin sent the following criticism. " The Gymnastic Competition between S. Mary's and Tytherton was very keenly contested. All the teams worked hard, and on the whole their apparatus work was neat. The outstanding feature was the excellent Balance work from both schools. The Tytherton Seniors' work was rather slow and heavy, needing more life in it, but they improved very much towards the end. Their arm movements were very good and their vaulting was excellent.

The S. Mary's Seniors worked well together and their rhythm was very good. Their vaulting was slow and lacked spring. All their work was very neat and they were very light in all their movements.

The work of both Junior teams was good, they were alert and their standing positions excellent The Tytherton Juniors's marching and vaulting were very good and they adapted themselves very quickly to the new Gymnasium. They were sometimes slow in changing from one movement to another.

The S. Mary's Juniors' movements were very neat and their rhythm good. They were inclined not to stand perfectly still while waiting for a command and their vaulting was slow."

Godolphin Drill Competition, March 10th, 1928.

As the day for the Godolphin Competition approached the inevitable spell of cold weather set in, with rumours of approaching snow. However it was not actually snowing on March 10th and the drive across Salisbury Plain might conceivably have been colder, Miss Gilbey from S. Katherine's School, Taunton, very kindly came to judge the competition. S. Mary's lost the toss and so did the prepared table first. The following were in the school team. R. Buck, (Capt.,) B. Thompson, M. Thynne, B. Lacon, J. Young, J. Jackson, M. Cole, E. Westaway. As B. Thompson was unable to drill B. Sheldon went in her place.

The Competition was very evenly contested and S. Mary's won the Cup, the marks being as follows:— Maximum S. Mary's Godolphin 130 97.

96i.

38

In her criticism Miss Gilbey said that both teams had done very good gymnastics. On the whole the Godolphin team were more vigorous and free in their movements, but the S. Mary's team were neater and more precise and so gained marks for their finish. The S. Mary's team had a tendency to hold their heads too high with their faces tilted upwards, while the Godolphin did just the opposite and tended to look down too much. The team all enjoyed themselves thoroughly and appreciated the welcome they were given on their return.

J. O Goodrich.

Form Drill Competition, March 16th, 1928.

The form Competition this year was held on March 16th and Miss Fletcher came from St. Felix School to judge it. The arrangements were exactly as before and the Sergeants took the Fancy March and opening files.

The results were as follows ;—the VI won the Cup. MAXIMUM 110 VI. 97.

Lower V. 91.

IV.

90.

Upper III. 84.

Lower III. 80.

(Upper V. 7 -> I Arts and Crafts In her criticism which she sent afterwards Miss Fletcher said, " The work on the whole was very good and I was particularly struck by the lightness both of the marching and running and also by the quick and neat way in which the apparatus was moved.

The rhythmical work all through the school was very good indeed. The time was excellent and the ease and freedom of each movement was very marked, while at the same time the good position of the body was maintained throughout.

Most of the other exercises were spoilt by lack of finish; this was particularly noticeable in the vaulting, hardly any of the girls stood in a good position on the mat after the vault. The Lower V lost a good many marks in this respect. Other forms especially the lower ones, lost marks for fidgeting, either with their tunics or girdles, or turning their heads in the middle of a movement.

89

The balance was the least good movement in nearly every form. The exercises were hurried and there was not enough time given to show the stretched position between the movements.

The VI form did very good work. They worked together well and their rotatory travelling was very good indeed. They lost marks over their balance, but gained extra marks for the good position of their heads. The Lower V's work was very energetic and their time was good, but their work suffered very much through lack of finish. They were very neat in themselves."

The Sergeants' marks were as follows, the cup going to B. Thompson for the VI form.

Maximum 10.

VI. B. Thompson. 8.

Lower V. B. Sheldon.

7.

Upper V. E. Westaway.

Upper III. W. Parry.

Arts & Crafts. D. Burke.

IV. D. Champain.

Of these Miss Fletcher said, " All the fancy marches were good and suitable and well taught. The form Sergeants were all clear and explicit in their commands, but they should try to get a shorter and sharper word of command, and they should try to look at all the form instead of at the leader's feet."

J. O. Goodrich.

Lacrosse. 1927—1928.

The general standard of play was good, though there was not marked improvement among the younger members of the school, due to unintelligent practice. This was most evident in the Company matches when some Companies were badly let down by the carelessness of their younger members. Some really hard work has however been done in the Upper School and there was keen competition for places in the team. The defence work of the Team showed decided improvement, S. Tench and J. Young playing well throughout the term, while N. Cole is to be congratulated on a good beginning in that place. J. Jackson and B. Thompson were conspicuous for quick, neat play, and H. Bartrum kept the defences and attacks together well. A higher standard of accuracy should however be attained by every member of the team, as at present so much of their speed is wasted by inaccurate play.

40 MATCHES.

S. Mary's v. Clifton Ladies.

S. Mary's v. Royal School.

Won 10—4.

Won 7—4.

TEAM.

Goal M. Thynne Point N. Cole Cover Point J. Young 3rd Man E. Betty L. Defence M. Durst R. Defence S. Tench H. Bartrum* Centre R. Attack B. Thompson L. Attack R. Buck* 3rd Home J. Jackson* 2nd Home G. Kirby 1st Home E. Gowers * Colours The Companies were drawn as follows;— Poore ") Osmund ) [ p-,... \ [ Moberly j Poore Moberly J -\ \ Grosstete Grosstete ) f Grosstete/ Rich J R. M. Buck, (Captain ) Netball. 1927—1928.

Although there were not many matches a good deal of Netball was played, and some hard work was done all through the school, especially noticeable in the Middle School. The form matches showed a great deal of determination but too little accuracy, while the school teams attained a higher accuracy and quickness but lack of determination. J. Jackson raised the standard of shooting considerably and played a thoroughly good, steady game throughout the term, while B. Lacon and S. Tench should be specially mentioned for good, consistent play. It is to be hoped that more Defences will come forward next year, as the teams are especially weak in that respect.

MATCHES.

S. Mary's I. v. Royal School II. S. Mary's II. v. Tytherton I.

Won 12-9 Won 26—4

41 TEAMS. I.

B. Lacon N. Cole J. Young R. Buck S Tench M. Rawlins

II.

G.S. A. A.C. C. D.C. D.

H. Bartrum, (Captain,) N. Cole P. Lacon E. Betty E. Cowers B. Sheldon

LENT TERM.

D. D. Trenchard Durst M. Tallents The forms were drawn as follows; — Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Ilia, and b.

VI VI VI IV

Va

Va. Va Vb. Tennis.

Summer 1928.

First VI.—R. Buck B. Lacon B. Sheldon H. Bartrum M. Tallents C. Allen P. Lacon and Enid Betty have also played.

MATCHES. S. Mary's v. Bath High School. Lost.

S. Mary's v. Calne Ladies.

Won 6 — 3 sets.

'School v. Staff.

Won 64 53 games.

Thanks largely to our two excellent new courts there has been a great deal of tennis this term, and the play of the school on the whole has improved. The Form matches showed keenness and enjoyment of the game throughout, but several teams need to be far quicker on their feet and

42

to use their heads as well as their rackets before they will be good.

Of the first team B. Sheldon has shown real initiative and should become a good net-player with practice ; M Tallents and B. Lacon have played steadily, and H. Bartrum has developed an occasionally brilliant service.

The general fault of the team is their failure to make winning shots and the play therefore becomes somewhat monotonous. While the standard of steadiness is good and should be maintained, individuals must develop at least one really reliable winning shot for till then their play will remain unexciting, though fairly good.

We do want to thank Miss Goodrich for her most helpful coaching which she has administered with so much patience always in all our games.

The Forms were drawn as follows ;— Va Vb

")

IV

\

Vb

^ I Vb ] J

;

VI

)

Ilia

3

A. & C.

C

3

VI

Form VI therefore won the Hopkins Cup. The singles Championship was won by R. Buck who beat H. Bartrm in the final. Sir John Hindley is most kindly giving our tennis championship prize this year.

R. Buck, Captain.

Cricket.

Two matches only were played. The first against the Royal School II. at Bath, where we lost 82—64 runs, the second against Trowbridge High School when we won 83—69. • The following played for the school:— H. Bartrum* P. Lacon R. Buck* B. Pritchett M. Tallents* J. Young B. Sheldon E. Gowers M. Rice M. Coodden B. Lacon H. Bartrum, Captain.

43

Presents to the School, 1927—1928.

For the Chapel. Panelling at the "West" End of the Chapel from E. Bodinnar and Mrs. Bodinnar.

Panelling for the " North " side of the Chapel from A. Durst and Mr. Bodinnar.

Oak panels from Alice and Anne Le Mesurier and Mrs. Le Mesurier, R. Buck, B. Kitson. R. and M. Price, and those present at the Reunion in July.

School Prayers bound in hand tooled leather, from the leaving girls December 1927. " Songs of Praise " bound to match the cover of the School Prayers, from the Confirmation candidates.

Shields bearing the school badge and the arms of the Diocese of Salisbury, from the leaving girls in July, 1927.

Flowers all through the year from Dr. and Mrs. Ede ; and from Miss Alexander and Mrs. Parry.

Hull Chairs. B. Lacon, G. Ivamy, M. Barton-Wright, M. Rawlins. H. Tench, E. Tench, S. Tench. D. DillonTreixchard, M. Price, D. Burke, E. Wood, Mary Smith, M. Thynne, H. Bartrum, 1. Martineau.

Gramophone Records. B. Chambers, Mrs. Shipley, Mr. Pullein, Miss Goodrich, Miss Alexander, Mrs. Bartrum.

Pictures. Alice Le Mesurier, M. Hort, Eight prints of Cambridge from the School on Miss Matthews' birthday.

For the Library. Books from Miss Ferris, M. Bigwood, Mr. Clem Cole, Miss Lloyd, Miss Stevens-Guille, Rev. A B. Browne, D. Burke and S. Tench.

Clothes for Actinii Cupboard. Sir John Hindley, Mrs. Malkin and Mrs. Suffrin.

Union Jack. From Mr. Bodinnar.

Mirror for Gymnasium. From Mrs. Ogle.

Tennis Bulls. From Mrs. P. M. Heath.

Dressmaker's Model. From Mrs. Maggs.

Barometer. From leaving girls July, 1928.

44

OLD GIRLS' SUPPLEMENT. S. MARY'S ASSOCIATION. TO OLD GIRLS. This has, I think, been an exceptionally happy year : the old girls have rallied round us in a splendid way, and the Reunion which was held from July 27th—30th, was undoubtedly the most successful we have ever known. It was marked by the birth of what promises to be an extremely healthy organisation—the S. Mary's Association, Some years ago, mainly through the instrumentality of my predecessor, Miss Donaldson, a S. Mary's Guild was inaugurated. Time showed, however, that something a little less formal and on rather more elastic lines was necessary if we were to fulfil the purpose for which it was founded. For some years it has fallen mainly to me to help old girls to keep in touch with the school, but the time has now come for something more definite than that.

At a business meeting of the old girls I put forward the need, and withdrew. Next morning a temporary committee had already evolved a suggested " Constitution."

It is printed below. I must say that the business-like energy of this Committee augurs extremely well for the success of the Association. Quite shortly, I gather, f u l l particulars will be sent to each old girl, and a special appeal made to her to join the Association. (Life members of the older Guild will, automatically, be considered members of the new Association.) The help of every old girl is essential, there is much work for the Association to do Not only will it arrange for the Biennial Reunion at Calne, and the annual Reunion in January in London, but it is hoped that it will publish a register of old girls, and devise other means of ' keeping in touch." It will also, we hope, help old girls to sustain their interest in the Union of Girls' Schools for Social Service.

Old girls have written to me saying: " We do not want anything more formal; formality is not the word to use in connection with S. Mary's." I quite agree : we do still hope to consider ourselves, as it were, a happy " family " party. But as the years go on and new generations arise it is impossible for them to keep in touch with the older old girls, we can no longer all be known to each other in the same way. And when the time comes for me to hand on the school to my successor I know that I shall not feel

45

happy in doing so unless I can be sure that the tie which is binding the old girls to their school is not merely a personal one, to be broken with a change of Head Mistress.

Unless the Association becomes a living, growing, thing there is a danger of that, and that is why no one is more eeiger than I am for its happy inauguration. A Reunion such as that of this year causes one to look back with proud thanksgiving, and forward with glad hope; the future of our school lies most assuredly in the support given by the old girls.

E. M. Matthews.

S. Mary's Association.

Like most good ideas this one of S. Mary's Association has originated from Miss Matthews. Her opinion is that we should be bound together by some more permanent For as Miss association than dependence on her.

Matthews is always insisting —much to our annoyance !— that she has one foot in the grave, she says she must arrange some organization that will keep all old girls together. We hope we shall be able to take some of the burden of dull correspondence from her through the Secretaries, and we hope that all those who were not able to come to the Reunion, will agree with the suggestions that were brought forward by those present.

CONSTITUTION. 1.

The Association is to be known as the S. Mary's (Calne) Association.

2. The Membership to be made up as follows ;— (a) President. Vice-Presidents. (b) Associates (Honorary) Archdeacon Bodington and any members of the past or present Staff who apply. (c) Members. Any girl who received a leaving badge to be eligible for membership. Girls who go to another school may apply to the Committee for the badge, when they leave school altogether.

3. Tlie. Committee to consist of the President, the present Head girl and two representatives from each group (see 6).

4. Members of the Committee to stand for 6 years, onethird retiring every two years. (Elections to take place at Biennial Reunions at Calne). The Committee to elect its own Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

46

5.

A London Sub-Committee, consisting of 3 members living in or near London to be appointed by the general Committee to arrange a London Reunion, to be held in the second week of January each year.

At least one member of the sub-Committee to be on the General Committee.

6. Groups. Old girls to be divided into groups for the collection of subscriptions and news. The groups already formed for the U.G.S. under D. Morrison and I. Martin to stand as they are ; a third under J. Sorsbie to consist of all who are at present in no group; a fourth under E. Bodinnar for all who left after July 1927. New groups to be formed as required.

7. Subscriptions to the Association to be for life, with the privilege of paying by instalments if desired.

Life subscriptions to be £1, possibly to be increased to £1 10s. at a subsequent Reunion if £1 does not cover expenses. Group Secretaries will also collect subscriptions to the U.G.S. (there is no fixed sum for this) and the School News Sheet (1/6 a year, or life subscription £1 Is.) Expenses of Reunions will be shared by those present.

At this year's Reunion Miss Matthews was elected first President, and Miss Alexander as Vice-President.

I. C. Martin, I Acting E. Hollis, {Secretaries.

The Reunion, 1928.

My horror at being told that I was to write " A chatty account of the Reunion " for the News-sheet may be imagined by any fellow sufferer who has had this refined kind of torture thrust upon them. At the fatal word, " chatty," my brain immediately became a barren and sterile wilderness which refused to yield any ideas worth committing to paper ! However I have received my orders and must act upon them !

The Reunion began on Friday, July 27th, so the school were successfully despatched to their respective homes by 8 o'clock, a.m., and we were left to prepare for the Old Girls. It poured with rain most of the morning, but we fixed determined and cheerful smiles upon our faces and spent the time in making innumerable beds and remarking brightly at intervals —" I'm sure its going to clear up ! " Our optimism was suitably rewarded and by the afternoon the sun was out.

47

After tea the Old Girls began to arrive, and from then till bed time, in fact until far into the night, there was a constant flow of reminiscent talk, old friendships were renewed—old haunts were visited. The Company Room had been turned into a very imposing portrait gallery ; the lockers were decorated with photographs of Old Girls, and on the tables were the school diaries and old books of snap shots of S. Mary's. There we saw Miss Matthews gracefully attired in a long and modest gown that swept the floor, there also was Miss Alexander dispensing tea to the Staff on the staff lawn, which was then, I am told, the size of a pocket handkerchief.

Saturday morning was devoted to visits to our old friend, Miss Maslen, (I can thoroughly recommend her ices!) and to a most interesting talk on social service by Miss Preston who is opening a special school for training in this work in September.

After lunch we had an important business meeting to discuss the revision of the rules of the Old Girls' Association—a detailed account of which will, I expect be found elsewhere. Then followed an exciting tennis match, Old Girls v. Present, in which age and experience managed to prove its superiority. Tea, a welcome interlude, took place on the front lawn. We were so pleased to meet old friends there, in the shape of Archdeacon Bodington— who arrived before luncheon, and gave us a delightfully characteristic speech after it —Dr Ede and Mr. Pullein.

To most of us Archdeacon Coulter was a new friend, we were so glad that he was able to join us. To prevent any " faux pas" that might have arisen from mistaken identities we were all carefully labelled; these labels certainly served their purpose, but made me, personally, feel just like a museum exhibit!

The concert, got up by Anne Wood, for the evening was a great success; the programme included some delightful songs, piano solos and duets, a most amusing trio " The Three Maids of Lea," and the Spanish Tragedy which was acted with great spirit.

Sunday morning was devoted to Church. After dinner we held a very important business meeting in connection with the about-to-be founded S. Mary's Association, and then followed a special organ recital which Mr. Pullein most kindly gave for us.

After evening Chapel Miss Matthews read us some old favourites, " The Highwayman," and Jane Austen Dialogues, after which Dame Gossip came into her own

48

again until the early hours of the morning—" and so to bed."

I must take this opportunity of telling Miss Matthews how very much we appreciated the splendid time she gave us, and of thanking all those who stayed behind to help entertain us both mentally and bodily !

May the next Reunion be as happy and as successful, it could not possibly be more so.

F. M. Bartlett.

The following old members of the school were present at the Reunion:— Archdeacon Bodington, Miss Abdy, Miss Bailey, Miss Clarke, Miss Stevens-Guille, Miss Williams; V. Bailey, F. Bartlett, M Barton-Wright, G. Beale, M. Bigwood, K Blair, E. Bodinnar, A. Bradford, G. Burnett, M. Butler, B. Chambers, M. Charsley, J. Collard, G. Croft, A. Durst, R. Evans, J. Ferguson, M. Fraser, P. Gee, M. Gould, B. Green (Skyrme), M. Hiscock, N. Hollis, M. Hulbert, M Hussey, F. Keevil, L. Kirby, E. Kitson, B Kitson, M. Lucas, B. Lutener, C. Lutener, I. Martin, K. Matthew, M. Maundrell, J. Powell, R. Price, B. Ridley, U. Robins, Mary Smith, Marguerite Smith, J. Sorsbie, R. Stiles, D. Taylor, I Telling, V. Turner, M. Vischer, Anne Wood, Margaret Wood.

U.G.S. (Old Girls Branch).

Circle 1.

Twenty eight members sent their subscriptions for 1928 ; B. <&. C. Lutener, F. Groves, M. Crokat, M. Smith, R. Stiles, E. Hollis, K. Brown, K. Prevost, G. HamiltonJackson, K. Stone, F. Keevil, R. Davy, M. Bigwood, J. Blaxter, M. Wood, N. Samways, V. Bailey, M. Hopkins, M. Joyce, J. Gould, M. Merrett, M. Maclean, S. Randolph, E. Tench, E. Wolfenden, D. Morrison, G. Burnett.

The total received was £4 17 6. Postage amounted to 4 6 leaving £4 13 0 to be sent to the U.G.S. Treasury.

The following have not 'sent their subscriptions ;— V. Newcomb, M. Hulbert, M. Margesson, M. Jenkins, B. Green, J. Beach, D. Urwick, M. Charsley and M. Stevens.

D. Morrison, Secretary.

49

U.G.S. (Old Girls' Branch).

Circle 2.

Forty-seven members sent in their subscriptions for 1928;—F. Bartlett, G. Beale, J. Beckett, E. Bodinnar, A. Bradford, E. Buszard, A. Burke, M. Butler, B. Chambers, C Cobb, J. Collard, A. Durst, W. Egerton, R. Evans, J. Ferguson, N. Fisher, M. Fraser, P. Gee, M. Hill, K. Hill, M. Hiscock, M. F. Hopkins, J. Hussey, M. Hussey, J. Joscelyne, M. Kendall, L. Kirby, M. Lucas, M. McKay, I. Martin, A. Le Mesurier, F. Pocock, G. Pocock, R. Price, M. Rawlins, B. Ridley, U. Robins, M. Smith, D. Taylor, I. Telling, M. Dillon-Trenchard, G. Turner, V. Turner, M. Visher, Z. Wimperis, M. Barton-Wright, A. Wood.

The total received was £6 7 9. Postage amounted to 5/9 leaving £6 2 0 to be sent to the U.G.S. Treasurer.

The following have not sent their subscriptions; D. Emerson, M. Legh-Smith, W. Murrell, V. Robertson.

I. C. Martin, (Secretary).

News of Old Girls.

Vera Bailey is still living at home and teaching games, gymnastics and dancing in two schools.

Peggy Ball (Jenkins) is a very good correspondent. She has seen Myfanwy who landed in South Africa last January.

Freda and Yvonne Bartlett have been for a year in Lausanne, and have proved capital correspondents.

Freda is to go next term to S. James's Secretarial College, and Yvonne is to take up Cookery.

Frances and Katherine Barton are now living at 77a, Abbey Road, S. John's Wood, N.W. 8. Frances is working as Organiser of girls work in the London Diocesan Council for Youth. Katherine is now a State Registered Mental Nurse, and is doing private work.

Alice Barton has a preparatory school for girls and small boys at Kingsbury, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

Madeleine Barton-Wright has been at home since leaving school last December.

Joan Beach writes from The London Hospital:— " I am on day duty again now. I have been for three months, and I am working in the children's Out patient department; and in spare time I'm attached

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to a men's medical ward. The children's department is really great fun. I have to weigh dozens and dozens of babies and children of all sizes and shapes and conditions. A great many of the children are brought up with gastric and nutritional disturbances, and it is wonderful to see the improvement after a few weeks of treatment.

Although on the whole I am not fond of the Hebrew race (and we see a good deal of it !J most of the Jewish babies are perfectly fascinating with their big black eyes and dark hair, and they are nearly always very fat because they have been over-fed !

I shall be very sorry to have to give up my job down in Out patients, as I have grown really fond of heaps of the babies, and it is so encouraging to see the progress that they make, but I have done three months work there, and we never stick to one job for more than 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 14 weeks.

Kathleen has just been given her " pre-Staff" ward, which is really next best thing to being a Staff nurse ! It is a women's surgical ward, and although it is extremely heavy, she's very pleased to have got it, and is awfully happy there. She has it for three months on day duty and then three months on night.

We've had quite a lot of tennis this summer and our hospital team managed to get to the finals for the inter-hospital cup, where we were beaten by St. Thomas. I had to play Kathleen in the semi-finals, but she has had her revenge by winning the Nurse's handicap cup, beating me in the semi-finals."

Gladys Beale writes from Ottawa, where she was on a visit of several months: " We went to Chicago for a fortnight directly after Christmas and had a very gay time. Though very interesting to stay in I should not care to live in Chicago, apart from its Mayor and 'hold tips' etc., it is the dirtiest city I've every stayed in.

We then went on to stay with friends in Windsor, a small town on the border. We went across to Detroit from there by ferry, which only takes five minutes, but I had some difficulty getting through the American Customs. Apparently everyone with an English accent has trouble owing to the Immigration Laws So many people have slipped through saying they were only going for an hour or so, and have got work in the States.

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On our way home we spent a day at Niagara and were lucky enough to have a perfect day, the sun making rainbows all the time on the spray of the Falls. They certainly are wonderful and very aweinspiring but I'm afraid impossible for me to describe; I went across the gorge in the Spanish Cable Car which is drawn across from the top of one cliff to the top of the other. It is quite open so looking down is rather terrifying. Since we got back I have been skating hard and am beginning to feel fairly steady on my feet. It is a fascinating sport and I have seen some wonderful exhibitions since I've been here.

Yesterday we went to watch the Dominion Ski Jumping Championships which were very exciting.

They go at full speed down a steep slide jumping where it ends, landing on a steep slope leading down to the river. The best jump was 112 feet! If they fall when they land they are disqualified, though how they can land upright after jumping that distance I cannot imagine."

Later she wrote:â&#x20AC;&#x201D;" Last week we went to listen to a debate in the House of Commons and it was quite exciting as they were arguing over estimates and sometimes got quite heated. They had several divisions but the Opposition's amendments were usually defeated. The Government have a small majority."

Jean Beckett is in business in town.

Madge Bigwood is very busy helping in her father's business. She is also taking up singing and has been very successful in competitions.

Kathleen Blair has finished her long training as a hospital nurse, and is now definitely preparing at College for work in the Mission Field.

Edna Bodinnar has had a very full year since leaving school. In the autumn she went with her mother to South Africa and had a most interesting time. The spring she spent in Nice, and came home via Italy, where she had the great good fortune to visit Rome, Naples, Florence and Venice.

Adela Bradford was in Paris for some months after leaving school, and is now at home.

Kathleen Brown is still a very busy home daughter.

Amy and Doreen Burke are both at home. Amy has taken over the Winchcombe Guides, after a Guider's Training Week at Sapperton, the new West of England training school, which she much enjoyed.

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Doreen is hoping to go next term to a school of Domestic Science.

Gladys Burnett who has been working for some time now in the Office of the Church Assembly writes :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " I have just changed my office. I am still in Church House, but in the C.A. Press and Publications Board. The job is not so interesting, but I am much more on my own which I like very much better. I am not quite. cut off from the Assembly and am supposed to help them in times of stress. We have been fearfully rushed 'lately getting ready for a Guide Rally which was held yesterday and which was a great success. Mrs. Mark Kerr took the Salute, and the Chief Girl Scout of America was there."

Eileen Buszard has worked extremely hard at her Cookery, and has passed her examinations very successfully.

She had a holiday in the Pyrenees in the spring, and had a post for the summer near Winchelsea.

Mercy Butler is very fully occupied at home, we see her occasionally Barbara Chambers is very keen about her Sunday school teaching, dog breeding, and other jobs.

Dorothy Capewell (Clayton) writes from Lancashire.

Her husband has had a long run of unemployment, so Dorothy has taken up school work again.

Cicely Cobb is much enjoying life at Lady Margaret Hall.

Joyce Collard has just completed her second year at Bedford Physical Training College, where she seems to be doing very well Gwendoline Croft wrote that she had taken a short gardening course at the East Anglian Institute of Agriculture which she enjoyed very much.

Christine Fairbairn (Croft) came home from the United States with her husband and Patricia early in the year, they are now living in Radlett.

Dorothy Crokat is at home. Mary has been working at S Agnes House, Clapham Common, but was ill and had to take a very long rest.

Muriel Charsley has taken up dog breeding and has just had a three months' course.

Cecilia Davis (Wilcocks) was married in June. She still lives in Exton just opposite her old home.

Molly Dillon-Trenchard has been at home this year.

Anne Durst has had an exceedingly happy six months near Dieppe, where she has, apparently, learnt French

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under ideal conditions. She is hoping to take up child welfare work.

Wendy Egerton is still doing Matron's Work at S. Margaret's Luckley.

Gretchen Ellis is still at Wellesley House, Broadstairs.

Daphne Emerson is busy with guides and other home duties.

Rosaline Evans has passed the entrance examination for S. Hilda's College, Oxford, and goes up to read French next October.

Jean Ferguson has had a year at Queen's College, Harley Street, working at Domestic Science. She is going to Paris in October.

Norah Fisher left Studley College in June, 1927. She has done very well obtaining, while she was there, the certificates of the British Dairy Farmers' Association, (butter making and cheesemaking); of the British Beekeepers' Association; of Studley College (in Veterinary Science, Chemistry and General Farming) and the National Dairy Diploma, (the highest award for dairy and dairy farming). She writes from Hafod, Trefnant, Denbighshire; â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " I don't quite know what I would call myself, but 1 think that it would be a Dairy and Poultry maid. I am working for Mrs. Blew and she runs a small home-farm more or less as a hobby, though we endeavour to make it pay. There is a man who works on the farm and he and I run things between us, Mrs. Blew just directing operations.

We have about 300 head of poultry of which I am in charge. We keep Light Sussex hens and cross them with Brown Leghorn cocks. This is a special cross, for by it the pullet chicks are all brown in colour, and the little cockerels white. This is a great advantage for the cockerels can be sold as " Day-old ckicks."

I have been very busy for the last two and a half months, chicken rearing. We do all our hatching with incubators, of which we have three. We set these four times and so you can imagine that we have hatched a lot of chickens We have four Kerry cows, they are an Irish breed and small and black, they really are delightful little cows, and give a large quantity of milk and it is very rich in quality. I milk two of these in the morning and four in the afternoon. I also feed them,

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and we try to do it as scientifically as possible. We have twelve Shorthorn calves which also come under my care. There are about thirty sheep and lambs but I don't have much to do with them. I lend a hand though whenever I have time and can be of any help, for I am very interested in sheep. Lastly there are four pigs which are being fattened. There is a nice little dairy which is in my care. I keep the dairy, egg and poultry books and also the milk records.

We weigh the milk from each cow night and morning, this I add up at the end of the week and put into a big book. At the end of the year this goes up to the local Milk Recording Society.

Though this is a pretty strenuous life, there is no doubt that it is a splendid one for anybody who likes being out of doors. Also it is intensely interesting, especially on the scientific side. Of course " jobbing " isn't highly remunerative, but then it provides much useful and necessary experience, if one is going to attempt to start on one's own later. The latter I am certain can be made to pay, provided people are prepared to start on a small scale which does not require much paid labour, and to build up gradually."

Margaret Fraser has been nursing at the Children's Orthopaedic Hospital, Bath, but is now beginning her training at S. Bartholomew's.

Phyllis Gee is another very busy home daughter. We see her occasionally.

Mary Gould is still teaching Domestic Science near her home and waiting for better conditions in South Wales before she can marry. The same applies to Josephine who is doing secretarial work in Cardiff.

Barbara Green (Skyrme) is an old girl to whom all our hearts went out in her terrible sorrow last December.

Her husband was killed in an explosion while on duty, four months only after their marriage. Barbara is now taking a course in secretarial work in London.

Margaret Griffith is another old girl who has lately become engaged to be married.

Frances Groves (Farnfield) writes delightful accounts of John who was born in January. She is very happy in her home at Wheatley, and John of whom Miss Matthews caught a glimpse not long agoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;seems to be a most satisfactory small person.

Greta Hamilton-Jackson is at home, very busy with Guides and also Red Cross work. She attended a

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special course at Osborne and writes as follows: — " We had great fun at the Red Cross Camp, we slept in the old Naval College, and used the big hall for lectures, we had three and some times four lectures a day, also drill by a Sergeant, in the evenings we had entertainments, fancy dress dances, etc., sometimes with the convalescent officers in Osborne House.

We also played matches against them. It was all run on Military lines complete with bugle. There were fatigue parties to do the work of the place that came in turns about every other day. We also had a wonderful Church parade when the Bishop of Portsmouth preached, and a field day and several other exciting things, in fact in spite of the hard work I think we all enjoyed it and will go again next year."

Alice Hands (Toop) writes:— " I thought you might be interested to hear that my sister Elsie, who was at S. Mary's with me, was married on October 29th of last year to Dr. R. A. Haythornthwaite. He has an appointment in the Indian Medical Service and they are sailing for India early in March Elizabeth is 5 years old, she has a daily governess for two hours and goes to dancing classes once a week. Elizabeth was Elsie's chief bridesmaid and my husband gave the bride away."

Anne Hathaway is engaged to be married. She has taken up elocution.

Dorothy Haviland seems a very fully occupied teacher of dancing.

Katharine Hill finished her course at Bath School of Domestic Science, obtaining her full Teacher's Certificate, last December. Since then she has had temporary posts in Somerset and Melton Mowbray, and is now in Surrey.

Monica Hill was trained as a secretary at S. James' College, and has been doing extremely interesting work at the Society for Overseas Settlement of British women.

She is a most enterprising person and finds time for much social work, club work at the U.G.S. and in connection with Toe H. Mary Hiscock writes from Chesham Bois, where she is teaching in Miss Edwards' and Miss Rountree's school:— " I like it here so far very much, and feel sure that when I get Bedford methods into practice I shall like it better still. The children are very keen on

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drill and games so I have delightful material. Of course they will get out of hand if allowed to do so especially the boys, one has to be frightfully strict.

Each class has two drill lessons a week but gymnastics is an extra. I have three classes one afternoon a week. We are starting deportment stripes this halfterm. The school sits very badly at present but have improved since they heard about the picture! Miss Edwards has managed to get a ground for hockey this term, it seems so funny to be actually working with Miss Edwards and Miss Rountree but I am getting more used to it now !

This is delightful country and the school is actually on the common. We have got quite a nice garden behind the school, and room for a grass Net Ball court and a tennis court."

Nora Hollis is still teaching classics at S. Winifred's Llanfairfechan.

Marion Hopkins has taken a course in motor driving, repairs, etc. She is going as a probationer to the children's hospital at Chailey.

Jean Hughes (Sorsbie) gave up her post at the Laurels, Rugby, in July, and was married in August. Her husband is a master at Rugby Peggy Hopkins writes about her work (she is taking a Social Science course at Bedford College,) " The C.O.S. at Paddington is very nice, I like it in some ways much better than the last office, it is less busy, as it has a smaller district and they do not have any I.C.A.A. cases to deal with, or British Legion, so there is time to ask questions and learn things. They also take the students over different special schools, one Friday I went over an open air school for T.B. children, it was very interesting, it was also very cold and the children were sitting in the garden doing raffia work. Next term I'm not going to do any Practical work, only theory, life will not be quite so hectic then. I hope I shall be able to get a good deal of reading done which I haven't had time for before, I shall only have four lectures. It would only be for about nine weeks as in July I have got to start Care Committee work. We have got an excellent lecturer for Industrial History, Dr. Eileen Power, I always look forward to her lectures.

Margery Hulbert is living with her mother in Bristol.

She does secretarial work occasionally.

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Joan and Mary Hussey are both at home. Joan was very busy with an episode produced by the Women's Institute at a hugh pageant at Windsor.

Nelly Highmore writes from Hull, where she is still living. She spent several weeks in Guernsey in the summer. She has been teaching a little elocution, and hopes to take a class in a small school in Beverley next term. She is also busy with her work at the children's clinic. .

Jean Inder has been at home since leaving school, at first with her mother in London and lately in Hove.

Barbara Isaacs is living with her father (Balcarres, Shooter's Hill, Jamaica.) She is teaching in two schools—Physical work. She sometimes sees Violet Robertson.

She writes of the terrible drought: —We are still in the clutches of the worst drought anyone can remember, everyone is out of water and cattle are dying everywhere. We have had no losses yet but every animal has to be sent away and when there is no water at the places where we have sent them then they will just have to die. We have to carry water for our own use in the house. It is going to be very serious and there are going to be many appearances in the bankruptcy courts."

Joy Jackson left school at Easter, and has been at home since.

Myfanwy Jenkins sailed in January for S. Africa. She is Games' Mistress at S. Anne's Diocesan College, Hilton Road, Natal. She writes :— " This is a lovely school. The grounds are perfectly lovely, large and shady with wattle trees everywhere, and there is a swimming bath in the grounds so the girls get lots of bathing. There are 100 girls and they are all very nice. There is a Staff house where six of the Staff sleep, and then the rest of us sleep in the school house, I have quite a nice big room. The school is very good at games, they play hockey and tennis chiefly, and no lacrosse, I wish they did, apparently Roedean is about the only school out here that can play it.

We only have eight weeks term and then ten days holiday for Easter, its much nicer having the terms short and we get about five weeks in June."

Mary, Zoe and Peggy Joy all prove excellent letter writers, and seem to be doing very well in their school in Devonshire.

Joan Joscelyne is in India with her parents, she writes: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " Mother gave away the prizes at a missionary school for Indian girls the other day. I enclose a programme beautifully written by one of the girls.

There are about a hundred and thirty girls in the school. The majority of the girls were High Caste Hundus and the ages varied from five or six to fourteen. Most of the girls were married. The Higher Caste girls are usually married later nowadays, but the lower castes are married very often at three or four though they do not go to their husbands till thirteen or fourteen. The girls were taught the three R's and we were told that they were dreadfully bad at arithmetic, sewing was also taught and the teachers were trying very hard to make them neat, clean and punctual. We were amazed to learn that the girls were given Bible lessons every day, and that the parents raised no objection. Two of the most appreciated prizes were Bibles, and the girls sang us a hymn in Bengali.

English was not taught in the school because of the difficulty in obtaining teachers, but all the wellto-do parents are having their girls taught English nowadays and in some cases music, which was previously considered an accomplishment of immoral " Temple " women only Several mothers were present. The widows were terribly sad, they are only allowed one garment, a long piece of cloth about three by five yards woven in white country cotton which they wrap round themselves in a very clever way, to make skirt, bodice and hood. One little widow had the saddest face I have every seen, she was quite young and very handsome. Her mother-in-law probably treated her very badly. Some of the girls were dressed in European clothes, made of Indian materials, a curious mixture, and red ribbon was a favourite head-dress.

The table holding the prizes looked like a sixpenny toy stall into which three or four more valuable articles had been placed inadvertently.

Cloth bodied dolls with close cropped china heads and long shapeless dresses tied with a piece of tinsel round the waist predominated, but there were also a great many money boxes and toy animals of celluloid or rubber. Every child in the school received a prize, and there were a few better gifts for merit, two of which were for neatness and punctuality."

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Francis Keevil is still doing good work with the Calne Brownies.

Olive and Morwenna Kendall lost their father in April, so their home has been broken up. Their mother is living at Fovant, and Morwenna will be with her.

Lucy Kirby is taking up Hospital nursing.

Barbara Kitson left the Slade School in the summer, she has done well there, winning a prize for design, and having some of her other work specially commended.

She is now at home, studying art and music in Oxford.

Elisabeth Kitson came down from Cambridge in June, having done really well in the Archaeological and Anthropological Tripos. She has now been invited to join the East African Archaeological Expedition.

During the season 1926-27 this expedition made discoveries in the Nakuru-Elmenteita districts of Kenya Colony which opened up a series of new and important problems, and at the some time threw light on some of the great questions that have long puzzled Prehistorians. The leader of the expedition is Mr. Leakey. He wrote a most interesting article in " The Times " about his hopes for this new expedition, and its research into the Nakuru culture, which is dated provisionally about 2000 B.C. We are very proud of the fact that Elisabeth has been asked to join in such immensley interesting work, and greatly look forward to her return and next visit to school.

Alice Le Mesurier seems to be thoroughly happy in her life and work at Westfield College.

Margaret Legh-Smith wrote last October :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " I am having six weeks' training in " Angora Rabbit Wool Production " on Lady Rachel Byng's farm.

Lady Rachel has more than a thousand Angoras, and at present has six pupils who are very nice.

The work is very interesting and there is a great deal to learn, also a lot to do ; I simply love being on the farm, and I am very keen to start a farm of my own.

Lady Rachel is perfectly charming, and is wonderfully keen on Angora wool farming. We have to be at the farm by 9, and we have lunch time from 12.30 to 1.30, then we work until 5 p.m."

Marguerite Lucas has a post in the City and seems to work very hard.

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Winifred Lumsden is at home, very much tied owing to to her mother's long and disabling illness.

Barbara Lutener is now completely well again. She is at home, working in many ways, including the care of her Angora rabbits.

Christine is also at home, giving much of her time to her singing.

Joan MacMunn was married on February 8th, Dorothy Kenrick was at her wedding and writes :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " Joan made a very pretty bride, she wore a white dress of embossed velvet right down to her ankles, a beautiful wedding veil of old lace and a long train, which was held by two tiny little fair-headed girls dressed in pink, her chief bridesmaid was also in pink.

Joan had a bouquet of lilies of the valley, while her bridesmaids had pink tulips. I thoroughty enjoyed the wedding, everyone was so happy."

Margaret Maclean (Randolph) has been living at East Boldre, Nr. Brockenhurst. Her husband has been on foreign service since November. We congratulate her on the birth of lona in June.

Margaret Mackay went out last Autumn with her father to West Africa. She writes from Oshogbo, Nigeria : â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " I am getting into the way of housekeeping now, and am beginning to feel quite domesticated, although it was all very strange at first. I am thankful that I know how mother did things last year, or I should have been rather at a loss to know how to get cook to disguise the everlasting chicken ! (We can get very little " bush meat" or mutton here, only an occasional partridge or duck or turkey besides the ordinary chicken).

We are glad that we have been able to return to our old bungalow here instead of going North to Florin we like the country further north, but Oshogbo is nicer in many ways. There are about thirty Europeans here, so we get good tennis at the Club practically every evening, which keeps us fit, it is hopeless to go without any exercise at all in a climate like this. We spent Christmas camping in a small house in a northern town and took two young friends with us, so we had quite a cheery time, and the European community were very good to us so we spent a gay week-end there."

She writes later: " I am just starting netball with the school girls at Oshogbo, and they are frightfully

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keen although they have no idea of the game, or of any other! At first it was difficult to get them to realise that it was not exactly " the thing " to throw one's whole body on the ball as a sure means of preventing anyone else having it, and then letting six or seven others fling themselves on top of you like a rugger scrum! But they will soon get used to the rules, I think, and are certainly keen, if not frightfully intelligent Other people have started netball teams in other stations with great success, so I am hoping for the best.

You asked me if I had any time for readingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; es, a little, in the evenings (when there is no houseold mending to do!) and during rest-time in the middle of the day. Mother is very good about sending us out books, and there is a library (of a kind) at the Oshogbo Sports Club, but nothing that is really well worth reading. There is absolutely no opportunity for me to keep up my music, as there are very few pianos in the whole of Nigeria. I missed it terribly at first, but am getting used to it now. We have to depend upon good gramophone records for our music out here, nearly everyone possesses a gramaphone, and you often hear a man say he never *' goes to bush " without his gramophone and his parrot!"

Mary Margesson has joined the Universities' Mission to Central Africa, and sailed for Nyasaland in April.

Ivy Martin is at home, as busy as ever. She attended the Civics Week at the U.G.S. in April.

Katharine Matthew was in Italy in the spring with her Mother who died very suddenly. Katharine is now in England, she had a post near Banbury in the summer and is now living in Cornwall with her sisters.

Margaret Merrett writes: " I went to the Dairy Show last month and by chance met Norah Fisher at the Studley College stand.

I had not seen her since she left school, and I was so glad to meet her.

Since May I have been helping with the 1st Weybridge Company of Guides. It is one of the oldest in the world, having been started in 1910.

Our Captain has gone to Malta for the winter so it is fortunate that there are two Lieutenants as there are too many children for one to manage. We have some very jolly evenings and I am glad I joined up here.

I camped with the Calne people between Lyme

K

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Regis and Bridport in August. We had a wet time but none of us took much notice of the rain.

I took a bookkeeping examination during the summer and was one of the five to be successful. I had hoped to go on with advanced work but every day in the week seems filled with other work."

Margaret came to see us in June. She (with many other old girls) was at the big Girl Guide Rally at Bowood.

Dorothy Morrison has been abroad again a good deal during the last year and went with her mother for a voyage to Jamaica. She has now left Southampton, and last wrote from Switzerland where her mother was recovering after a serious operation.

Winifred Murrell is in business in Town, a very busy person.

Dorothy Owen (Hobbs) has left Kennington, Kent, and now lives at Lympne. Her husband had a bad accident in May. Frances Pocock has just finished a three years' course as a teacher of secretarial subjects.

Joyce Powell is a probationer nurse at S. Monica's Home, Westbury-on-Trym.

Rosamund Price is at home, a very gay and busy person.

Katharine Prevqst has had a course in some stables at Lewes, but is now at home again. Annette is leaving school next December. Constance is much better after her very long illness and joined Annette at school for half the summer term.

Susan Randolph is still teaching at New Beacon School, Sevenoaks.

Mollie Rawlins has been in France for some months since leaving school, and has now begun nursing at the Wingfield Orthopaedic Hospital, Headington, Oxford.

Joan Rew has gone to live at home again. She had been keeping house for her brother but he has given up his farm.

Barbara Ridley has begun a course of Institutional Housekeeping at Gloucester School of Domestic Science.

Nora Samways is working very hard in an orchestra. She writes:â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " You may be interested to hear that I have broadcast twice just lately.

Margaret Holloway (Violinist) has a small orchestra of which I have been lucky enough to get the leadership, and we have h ad

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two engagements so far from the B.B.C., once from Daventry, the other time from London. It is great fun but rather trying work. This of course is quite apart from my regular orchestral work."

Marguerite Smith is teaching at Cirencester.

Mollie Stevens has begun to train as a nurse at the London Hospital. She wrote from the Training School: â&#x20AC;&#x201D; " I love it here, it is just like being at school again. I feel so thankful for the Hygiene I learnt at S- Mary's."

Kathleen Stone has been doing private nursing in Canterbury.

Dulcie Taylor has been working very hard at her music.

She is going to the Royal College in the autumn term.

Iris Telling has our deep sympathy. Her mother died in April and she is now keeping home for her father.

Eleanora Tench has been appointed assistant sewing mistress at Edinbugh Ladies' College, a school of over nine hundred girls. She also has a form, and writes very happily about the work.

Helen Tench has given up her post at Channing House School and is working up a private connection, coaching games, teaching dancing and doing remedial work.

Sheila Tench left school at Easter, and is now at Studley College. She began with a course of poultry work.

Valerie Turner has finished her training at the school of Mothercraft, Highgate. She has had temporary posts in Yorkshire and near Plymouth.

Gwynedd Turner has had a year in a school in Montreal, "The Study." She writes :" I forgot to tell you that I was made a prefect at the beginning of the term. There are eight of us now, six in my house and two in the other. There are no really old girls in the school, I'm the oldest prefect, the others are all 15 or just 16. Most of the girls go to McGill University when they are 16 or just 17 and spend four years there.

We have just started ice hockey as one of the school games, it is great run and very popular. I get quite a lot of skating, and have had lessons in fancy skating. I haven't done much ski-ing, I only go out once a week and spend the rest of my free afternoons skating. I saw some very good championship snowshoe races on Saturday. Snow-shoers come from all

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over Quebec, Ontario, Maine and Massachusets.

They wear very pretty uniforms, some clubs wore white with blue, purple or red trimmings. I saw one man in a bright orange coat and breeches, with a cap and hood to match. They all looked very picturesque against the snow. Many of them had the names of places embroidered on their sleeves where they had won championships. The Presidents of the American and Canadian Unions each carried a huge gilt wooden key, with coloured ribbons attached."

Gwynedd has been accepted for Bedford Physical Training College and goes there next September.

Philippa Trousdell writes :— " We had a most amusing V.A.D. Inspection about a fortnight ago. We had to turn our Headquarters—an ancient school into a Hospital—with Casualty department, Medical and Surgical wards, Operating Theatre, and Isolation wards (Diphtheria and Typhoid) and someone from the War Office and our own County Controller inspected us. We were competing for the County Shield.

In September we ran a Dispensary for hop-pickers.

It was great fun, but as it was 7 miles from us we found it rather an effort to go over twice a day. The hours were 9—11 or 11.30 a.m., and 6—8p.m., but of course we very often had to stay open longer, and the first morning two of us were on duty from 9— 2.15 as we had some very bad cases."

Philippa is now in Japan. She was married in August.

Doreen Urwick has given up her post at West Kirby and has been appointed private Secretary to Mrs. Brooke (mother of Rupert Brooke) Rugby. She had a delightful walking tour in the summer in the Pyenees.

Mary Vischer is living in Appledore, and has been coached by correspondence.

Pamela Waddilove's father now has a living in London, so she has left Ashtead. She is nursing at King's College Hospital.

Jocelyn Wilcocks wrote that she is going out to Canada for a visit.

Zeala Wimperis (Inder) is living in Hemel Hempstead.

Joan Williams left St. Swithun's School in July, and has had some months in Paris. She is hoping to take up nursing.

Eileen Wolfenden is still teaching at Truro High School.

Anne Wood's voice has developed wonderfully. She lives an amazingly full life. It was delightful to have her here twice in the Spring term. She was singing in " S. Paul" in the Parish Church, and came later to give a song recital at the school.

Monica Wood is very happy in her work on the Staff at Harcombe House, Uplyme.

Margaret Wood is taking a course of Institutional Housekeeping at Gloucester School of Domestic Science.

Ellen Wood is at home, in Guernsey, but was in England for a long time in the spring.

Maisie Welldon (Stuart) is living near Tonbridge. She has a fine little boy.

Concerning some Old Girls.

We four sisters, Annie, Frances, Alice and Katharine Barton, all Old Girls, had arranged to meet for a few days at Frances' house in London, and hearing that Dollie Sainsbury would be in London just then, we thought how nice it would be if we could collect some Old Girls to talk over old times. We four between us stretched over twenty years of the school's life, as Annie joined in 1883 and Katharine left in 1903.

We sent invitations to everyone for whom we could find an address, and who we thought might be near enough to come. The addresses were the difficulty, for in twenty-five years people get married and move about.

Amy Ludgate, Dollie Sainsbury and Mollie Baker came, and we had a very jolly time hearing present news and remembering past adventures. Amy can still say the rules by heart, and that reminded us of the ordeal of the order mark.

Mr. Pullein's singing classes, and Canon Duncan's scripture classes, were remembered; a grammar class howler " What's the plural of cod ? I've got lobster," caused merriment. Miss Dyas and Miss Little were much in our minds, we sent them post cards signed by us all.

Both they and Archdeacon Bodington sent us their greetings ; and Miss Matthews wrote to tell us the good news that in the future there will be a proper annual reunion in London, so we shall hope soon to meet some whom our invitations failed to reach.

[We are delighted to insert this which reached us just as we were going to press. Ed.]

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Of the Girls leaving this July:â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Helen Bartrum is taking up violin, and is to study at the Royal College.

Voilet Briscoe is to be at home Joan Cole is to be articled to a solicitor.

Dorothy Dillon-Trenchard and Jean Young are both going to Harcombe House, Uplyme, for a year's course in Domestic Science.

Gwen Dixon is to be at home and is hoping to work for her L.R.A.M. with Mr. Pullein.

Isabel Martineau will be at home, at any rate for the present, working mainly at music.

Margaret Price is to go to Paris.

Mary Tallents has been awarded the Winifred Foster Scholarship at Durham University and goes there in October.

Marjorie Thynne is to be at home until January when she is hoping to go to France.

Miss Abdy is still teaching in Reading.

Mrs. Babington (Miss Montgomery) sends very good news of Richard Andrew, who is a most satisfactory baby.

Miss Bailey is still matron in a school in Scotland. It was so nice to see her at the Reunion, Miss Barton has moved from Quethiock and is now living at Tithney Vicarage, Nr. Helston, Cornwall.

Miss Clarke writes very happily of her little school, S. Anthony's, at Worksop.

Miss Edwards and Miss Rountree have had a very successful first year in their school at Chesham Bois.

Miss Gibson has had a year of much illness, and we are so deeply sorry for her disappointment. She has had to give up her post in West Ham, where she was on the Staff of the Parish Church, but is now well enough for a part time post, and has been appointed Secretary to the Diocesan Board of Women's work in Birmingham.

Miss Gutteridge writes happily from her post at Dovercourt.

Miss Hales is still at Darlington Training College. She came to visit us in July.

Miss Helliwell is still at Clapham High School.

Miss Hyslop is, we hear, taking up nursing.

Miss Monica Jones writes most interesting letters from her school, S. Michael's, Bloemfontein.

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Mrs. Muddell (Miss Hammond) had a little daughter, born in January.

Miss Rosedale is still teaching at the Perse School. Cambridge.

Miss Secretan left us unexpectedly in May owing to the very sudden death of her father. She is going to take up a post in the United States, where her sister is teaching.

Miss Symonds writes happily from her post at Bredenbury Court, Bromyard.

Miss Thompson is still at S. Catharine's School, Bramley.

Miss Williams has been very busy all the year, but has found it possible to visit us.

Miss Wilmott was at home for the Easter term, but is now back at Princess Helena College. We were so sorry to hear of the death of her father in June.

Miss Wright has taken up Cookery, but is at home at present owing to her mother's ill health.

The following have visited the school during the year (in addition to those who came for the Reunion) :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Miss Gibson. Miss Hales, Miss Stevens-Guille, Miss Secretan, Miss Williams, F. Bartlett, M. Barton-Wright, G. Beale, J. Beckett, E Bodinnar A. Bradford, A. Burke, E. Buszard, B. Chambers, C. Cobb, M. Dillon-Trenchard, D. Emerson, R. Evans, M. Fraser, M. Gould. K. Hill, M. Hill. M. Hiscock, P. Hopkins, M. Hulbert. J. Hussey, M. Hussey, J. Inder, M. Jenkins, L. Kirby, A. M. C. Le Mesurier, M. Lucas, C. Lutener, M. Maclean, M. Margesson, M. McKay, M Merrett, D. Morrison. W. Murrell, J. Powell. K. Prevost, A. Prevost, R. Price, M. Rawlins, M. Stevens, R. Stiles, S. Stiles, A. Wood, E. Wood, Monica Wood, Margaret Wood.

Miss Matthews planned a little " London Reunion " on January 6th at which the following were present: Miss Alexander, Miss Abdy, Nurse Mooney, Miss Thompson, J. Blaxter, G. Burnett, R. Buck, A. Durst, W. Egerton. N. Fisher, M. Griffiths, M. Hopkins, P. Hopkins, J. Inder, L. Kirby, E. Kitson, I. Martin, W. Murrell, B. Ridley, U. Robins, N. Samways, R. Stiles, H. Tench, Z. Wimperis.

It is delightful to think that in future we are to have a London Reunion in January arranged by a Sub-committee of the newly formed S. Mary's Association.

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Changes of Addresses.

J. Blaster, (Hollis) 66, Lansdowne Road, Holland Park, W. 11.

J. Hughes, (Sorsbie) 2, New Street, Rugby, M & J. Hussey, Brimstone, Coleshill, Highworth, Wilts R. M. O. Jenkins, S. Anne's School, Hilton Road, Natal, S. Africa.

M. & O. Kendall, Fovant, Nr. Salisbury.

I. C. Martin, Woodham Lodge, Byfleet, Surrey.

D. Morrison, United Services Club, 14, Harrington Gardens, S.W. D. Owen, (Hobbs) Grisney View, Lympne, Kent.

E. P. Waddilove, S. Mary's Vicarage, TheBoltons, S.W. 10.

A. Daphne Wilson, (Baines) Ashley Avenue, Cheriton, Kent.

Z. Wimperis, (Inder) 37, George Street, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.

Addresses of Girls leaving School 1927 — 1928.

M. E. Barton-Wright, Cosmos, Broughton. Hants.

H. Bartrum, 32, Willoughby Road, Hampstead, N.W. 3.

V. & B. Briscoe, The Mount, Meads Road, Eastbourne.

V. D.'Burke. Stoney Cockbury, Winchcombe. Glos.

J. M. Cole, Curzon Street, Calne.

G. M. Dixon, Shelburne Road, Calne.

A. Durst, The Grange, Wendover, Bucks P. Marchant, Ross House. Redbridge, Southampton.

I. M. Martineau, 2, Augustus Road, Edgbaston.

M. W. A. Price, Culverwood House, Hertford.

I. M, Rawlins, Alton Magna. Salisbury.

M. P. Tallents, Kimbolton Vicarage, Leominster.

S. E. Tench, Penrhos, Knighton, Radnorshire.

M. E. Tnynne, The Clyst, Hereford.

D. H Dillon-Trenchard, The Lodge, Hurst Green, Sussex J. R. Young, c/o Mrs. Cooper. Langbrae, Budleigh, Salterton. Devon.

BIRTHS. Groves. On December 28th, 1928, at Wheatley Vicarage, Oxford, to Frances (nee Farnfield) wife of the Rev, S. J. S. Groves, a son. (John Farnfield).

Maclean.—On June 22nd, at the Hutt, East Boldre, Brockenhurst, the wife of Lt. Commander John Cassilis Maclean, R.N., (nee Randolph) of a daughter. (lona), Muddell.—On January 9th, 1928, at Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, to Florence Marjorie (nee Hammond) wife of Alec R. Muddell—a daughter. (Audrey).

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MARRIAGES, Davis—Wilcocks. On June 6th, 1928, at S Michael's Church, Alphington, Frederick Davis to Eileen Cecilia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wilcocks of S. John's, Exton, near Exeter.

Geddes-Howard-Jones. On July 19th, 1928, at S. Mary's Church, Monmouth, by the Rev. A. E. Monahan, Charles T. Geddes, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Geddes, Headington, Oxford, to Sybil Louise, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Inglis Howard-Jones, Monmouth.

Haythornthwaite—Toop. On October 29th, 1927, Dr. R. A. Haythornthwaite, Indian Medical Service to Elsie Toop.

Lucey —MacMunn. On Wednesday, February 8th, 1928, at S. Mary's Church Slough, by the Rev. MacMunn and the Rev. A. G. P. Baines, Charles Lucey, only son of Charles Lucey and Mrs. Lucey of Pinewood, Farnham Common, Bucks, to Joan only daughter of Lieut. General Sir George MacMunn, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E , D.S.O., and Lady MacMunn of Upton Park, Slough.

Maclean Randolph.

On September 3rd, 1927, at S. Mary's Church, Petworth, by the Very Rev. the Dean of York, Lieut. Commander John Cassils Maclean, R.N., to Margaret Isobel, elder daughter of the late Felton Randolph, Esq., and Mrs. Randolph of Bignor Park Cottage, Fittleworth, Wimperis—Inder. On September 8th, 1927, at S. George's, Hanover Square, Courtenay Allington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Wimperis, of 3, The Vale, Chelsea, to Zeala Maisie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Inder, of Coleherne Court.

Hughes - Sorsbie, On August 8th. 1928, at the Parish Church, Swainswick, Jean, only daughter of the Rev. W. F. and Mrs. Sorsbie, to Walter Norman Hughes.

Archer—Trousdell. On August 24th, 1928, at Nagasaki, by the Rev. W. B. Buncombe, Clement Hugh Archer, H. M. Consular Service, second son of Captain R. H. Archer, R.N. and Mrs. Archer, formerly of S. Catherine's, Horndean, Hants, to Philippa, youngest daughter of the late William Blakeney Trousdell, 7th Hussars, and Mrs. Trousdell.

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R.I.P. Green. On December 8th, 1927, from an explosion while on duty, Lieut. F. M. Green, R.E., elder son of Mrs. and Col. C. R. M. Green. I.MS. (Husband of Barbara Skyrme.)

Old Girls' Badges.

The Old Girls' Badges, a small shield brooch in blue and white enamel, may be obtained at any time from Miss Matthews. The price (including postage) is 2'8.

Notice.

Subscriptions to the News Sheet should be sent, as soon as possible, to A. A. Le Mesurier. Each copy costs 1/6. Life Membership ÂŁ1 1 0. The News Sheet will, in future, be published in September. Contributions, and news of " Old Girls " for publication in the next number should be sent to the Editor before August 1st, 1929.

We have received, with thanks, Magazines from the Godolphin School, Salisbury ; Queen Margaret's School, Scarborough; S. Margaret's School, Bushey ; Queen's College, Barbados; London Orphan School; Royal School, Bath ; S. Katherine's, Heatherton Park ; Sandecotes, Parkstone.