THE JUNIOR SCHOOL Easter Term, 1947! Mr. Ping says (and he should know) that this has been the worst and most difficult term for a quarter of a century. We started off all right when term began on 18th January, and actually several Winter Aconites in flower were brought to School on 23rd January, making us think that Spring was almost with us. But then Winter descended on us and on the whole country, continuing until after the middle of March. Illnesses also fell upon the Junior School to such an extent that on 4th March the School had to be closed down and the boarders returned home. Considerable joy, of course, at the extra holiday. School opened again for those boys who were well enough to attend on 17th March until the normal breaking up day. So it has indeed been a very broken term. Scarcely any football, and we even got tired of snowballing. Sledging has been very enjoyable, and there was a highlight one day when we got Mr. Ping on to a sledge and it went too fast for him. What a crash! Some of our nature study observations have been sad because of the number of birds found dead, killed by the cold or starvation. But several very interesting and uncommon birds have been brought in by boys. Notably a Bittern found by Simpson in a field near Wetherby, and also a Woodcock, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Brambling by other boys. The first coltsfoot in flower was brought on 21st March, and the first lesser Celandine on 26th March. These were found by R. J. De Little, who was duly rewarded. Several boys helped very enthusiastically in the Science Exhibition with the Junior School exhibit of fifteen specimen twigs of local forest trees. Lambert and Fry were specially good in giving explanations to visitors. A special examination for entry to the Junior School was held on 1 1 th March. Over forty boys attended for the exam, hoping to enter the School next September. Our number on the roll for this term was 178.
R. D. Beckitt.
SALVETE March, 1947 (Both Dayboys.) G. C. Sanderson. VALETE
March, 1947 to Hong Kong.) A. Calvert. (Returned W.
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