9 minute read
Old Peterite News
from April 1940
by StPetersYork
way through the drifted snow to the trenches before they were recalled, somewhat damp, to be lodged in less arctic quarters. The School had had sufficient practice to be able to retire to the air raid shelters quickly and quietly. There was, of course, as we realised at the time, no danger of any aircraft penetrating to us, for the warnings meant only that enemy aircraft had been sighted off the East Coast, some fifty miles or more distant, but the " air raid " offered an interesting test of the efficiency of the " A.R.P." organisation of the School. Everyone was in the shelters in a few minutes, and was soon comfortably settled.
Until 10-30 a.m., when the " all-clear " signal sounded, members of the School amused themselves by playing cards, reading, playing gramophone records (some of the " swing " discs being more than somewhat reminiscent of the air raid sirens), and other occupations.
At 10-30 the School emerged from its underground retreat, and, after a very short interval, School began again as usual. It was later learned that the raiders had been no nearer than Newcastle, and had never actually crossed the coast, anyhow! However, the " raid " offered a very realistic practice.
During the last war also, we read in the editorial of 1915, the School was once subjected to the indignity of taking refuge in the School cellars. The editor of the time was filled with righteous indignation at the audacity of the German Zeppelins.
This " raid " was one of the many events which go to make the Easter Term, 1940, a very memorable one. We are not likely to have this experience often, if ever, again, for we are lucky in being situated in an area where the danger of air raids is almost negligible, and so do not have, like other less fortunate schools, to suffer the horrors of war in the form of evacuation.
This term most members of the School have indulged in a little voluntary gardening, for, in accordance with the Government plea, we have turned a few of our " waste " plots into vegetable gardens. The work is proceeding well, and is affording considerable healthy enjoyment to all concerned. It will be continued during next term.
Mr. Basil Radford, O.P. (School House), the well-known film actor, has been working on a film entitled " Gestapo," which deals with the nefarious activities of the Nazis. Mr. Radford has also been sharing the lead in a radio serial play entitled " Crooks' Tour."
J. S. McKay (Temple) has obtained a commission from the ranks through an O.C.T.U.
J. A. Dent (Rise) and R. Ogley (School House) have had an interview and hope to gain commissions.
A. L. Hicks, who left the School in 1929 to go to the R.M.A., and subsequently joined the Royal Engineers, is now a Captain and serving as Adjutant.
C. E. H. Medhurst, recently Air-Attaché to the Embassy at Rome, has been appointed Air Commodore and Air . Adviser to the War Council.
T. Bridges (Rise) is now with the Army Dental Corps.
G. E. L. Graham (School House) scored three out of the four goals scored by Oxford against Cambridge in this year's Hockey match at Cambridge, which resulted in a draw, 4-4.
Captain C. L. Troop, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, has been appointed temporarily to the rank of Squadron Leader with effect from March 1st.
K. Lockwood (Temple) is now with the East Yorkshire Regiment.
B. J. Eastwood (School House) is with the R.A.S.C.
H. G. Crawshaw, who holds a commission in the R.A.S.C., has been appointed to the Accountancy Branch of the Oil Control.
G. W. Scatchard (Rise) is a Corporal in the R.A.S.C.
Mr. C. Paley Scott, K.C. (School House), has been appointed Chairman of the North Eastern Region Advisory Committee for Aliens.
R. H. Stoughton (Rise) is Professor of Horticulture at the University of Reading.
Mr. Frank Pick, Vice-Chairman of the London Transport Board, has resigned his post owing to ill-health. Mr. Pick recently organised the evacuation of London school children.
W. H. Huffam, O.P., son of L. W. Huffam, O.P., has joined the R.A.A.F. in Australia.
Major J. P. Huffam, V.C., son-in-law of L. W. Huffam, is with the B.E.F.
Colonel W. T. C. Huffam, M.C., O.B.E., who was at St. Olave's School, is with the B.E.F.
O.P. news from Cambridge :-
J. T. Brockbank (St. John's) still plays Squash whenever he can, and is to be congratulated on his College colours. He was afflicted with deafness for a week after having German measles and now complains that everybody shouts at him.
J. M. Rucklidge (Emmanuel) has moved into College and is no longer inaccessible. He plays Squash regularly and has also been awarded his colours.
C. Houghton (Selwyn) has not been seen out this term, but one hears that he is actively opposing all other political movements in his capacity as Secretary of the Conservative Club. He hopes to be able to produce the Cambridge Old Peterite tie next term.
LETTER FROM LEEDS UNIVERSITY 0.P.s.
This term, on the whole, has been most uneventful. The war curtailed social and athletic activities to a great extent, and the abnormal weather conditions made the usual outdoor sports, until the very end of tern, practically impossible. Exercise, consequently, took the form of skating, tobogganing, and, in the gym, fencing proved to be a popular diversion.
This term has seen the Annual General Meeting of the Union, which sat for six hours debating such things as the lack of " blacking-out in the Union," " A demand that the Senate should have less control of the affairs of the Union," and lastly a demand for the installation of a bar in the Union, which if installed, as it is almost certain to be, will disturb the present tranquil atmosphere to the detriment of the Union. The only bright spark of the whole meeting was when a firework mysteriously exploded in the gallery.
The University, like most other educational institutions, has suffered attacks from German Measles, some of its members still being casualties.
There have been few other important activities. The University was paid an informal visit by the Chancellor, His Grace the Duke of Devonshire.
The impracticability of outdoor sports gave rise to a series of Table Tennis, Snooker and Billiards Championships, in the latter of which C. J. Lynch was very successful.
The inactivity of University life as a whole, this term, has made it impossible to give any glowing accounts of the activities of individual O.P.s.
C. J. Lynch (Eng.) has divided his time between studies and his secretaryship of the Boating Club, and has also been seen entertaining ladies in the Union, a faculty in which he appears to be gifted.
G. Shepherd (Eng.) is still a keen boater, rowing for his faculty, and has also put in some good shooting on the range. 5
S. Corner (Eng.) has once again found his engineering exams, rather difficult, and is considering taking up forestry, apparently he has found something in common with trees. G. Briggs (Med.) has been working hard for exams. and has found little time for other activities.
Lax (Eng.) has been unable, due to the weather, to find an outlet for his genius as a Hockey player, and consequently most of his time has been devoted to engineering.
G. R. Brown (Med.) once again appears to have been hibernating, but has obviously been working hard. We congratulate him on having passed his 1st year M.B. exams.
W. Boyes (Med.) has been working hard for exams.
R. Warin (Med.). Nothing has been heard of him this term, but he must nearly be a fully qualified doctor.
E. Dickinson (Agri.) in common with most farmers has just cursed the weather, working for exams. in between.
ENGAGEMENTS.
The engagement is announced between Reginald D'Arcy Hunter, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Austin Hunter, Chestnut Avenue, York, and Shenagh Martin, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Darling, " Longstone," Stockton Lane, York.
The engagement is announced between Richard Maxwell Deas, Royal Artillery, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Charlton Deas, of Humbledon View, Sunderland, and Renee Mary Blanc, of 14 Comiston Drive, Edinburgh, elder daughter of Mr. F. E. Blanc, F.R.I.A.S., and the late Mrs. Blanc.
The engagement is announced between Flight Lieut. Stephen Dodds, R.A.F., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Dodds, of Stockton Lane, York, and Florence Margaret, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Walter, of La Maison de Haut, St. Sampson's, Guernsey.
John's Church, Newcastle, Miss Margaret Edith Cross, of the Margaret Cross School of Dancing, Newcastle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Cross, of Newcastle, and Surgeon Lieutenant Basil Roxby Alderson, Royal
Navy, son of Dr. and Mrs. Wilfred E. Alderson, of
Highbury, Newcastle.
DALTON—BEARNE.—On January 6th, 1940, at St. David's
Church, Exeter, Capt. E. Llewelyn Dalton, R.A., to Jean
Marion Bearne. BEACHELL—BYASS.—On March 23rd, 1940, at St.
Andrew's Church, Middleton-on-the-Wolds, Francis
Moore Beachell, son of Mr. Henry Beachell, Holme
Wold, Dalton Holme, to Freda Byass, daughter of Mr.
Digby Byass and Mrs. Byass, of Eastfield, Lund,
Driffield. OGLEY—FORSTER.—On April 5th, at Conisborough
Parish Church, Reginald Ogley, third son of Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Ogley, to Sarah Isabella Forster, only daughter of Mrs. A. M. Forster and of the late Dr.
James Forster.
The Rev. F. H. Barnby officiated, assisted by Canon H. T. Eddershaw, Vicar of Conisborough, and also a former master of the School, and Mr. Norman W. D. Yardley was the best man.
BIRTH. KIRK. On April 16th, to Olive, wife of David Kirk, a daughter.
OBITUARY.
We regret to record the death, on January 19th, of John Patrick de Burgh, only son of Councillor and Mrs. Harold C. de Burgh, of York.
Mr. de Burgh, who was 23 years old, was an articled solicitor, and had just completed his statutory law course at Leeds University.
Mr. de Burgh volunteered for the Army as an officer cadet at the outbreak of war. He had just completed his preliminary course in the West Yorkshire Training Unit and was about to go to Aldershot for his final training as an officer cadet. He had been ill for a short time.
Mr. de Burgh was admitted a Freeman of York last year.
We regret to record the death of the Rev. P. E. Lord, one of the original founders of the Old Peterite Club, and the first Editor of " The Peterite." The Rev. P. E. Lord died on February 9th, 1940. He was a Foundation Scholar 7
