Old Peterite News

COMMEMORATION

Commemoration this year will take place on the 27th, 28th and 29th July. The programme, which will take the form customary since the revival of the festival after the war, is given in detail on an earlier page. We need hardly emphasise the important contribution which a large gathering of O.P.s can make to the success of the occasion, and it is hoped that as many as possible will make the effort to be present. At the time of going to press the venue of the Dinner has not yet been decided, but this information, as well as all other particulars, will be circulated to members of the Club in due course. It is very desirable that the attendance at the general meeting should be as large as possible. This is the one occasion in the year when the committee and officers of the Club (and, as well, the Headmaster and the School authorities) have an opportunity to ascertain the feelings of the rank and file of Peterites. COMMEMORATION CRICKET AND ROWING

The arrangements for the O.P. v. School Cricket Match are in the hands of J. C. M. Rayson. Any O.P.s who would like to play should write to him at Brasenose College, Oxford. As usual, K. H. Rhodes, at the School, has undertaken to organise the crews for the Boat Races. Anyone interested should communicate with him. ITEMS

A. M. Kendell (1945-50) was complimented by the City Coroner at an inquest in Chester on his courage in attempting the rescue of a 16 year old clerk who was drowned on 6th May as the result of a boating accident on the River Dee. Kendell, who was a passenger in a motor launch at the time of the accident, dived in several times in'the hope of locating and rescuing the submerged boy, but his efforts were unfortunately in vain. The Coroner said of Kendell : "I am happy to be able to compliment the cadet officer. I think he acted in an admirable way. I have no doubt that his conduct will be brought to the notice of one of the bodies concerned with life-saving. One feels very encouraged to hear of a young man at the Cadet School acting so bravely".

Kendell passed out of the Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School on the 18th May, with a Commission in the Green Howards. He has volunteered for parachute training. * * *

R. E. Dodd (The Rise, 1932-43) has been awarded a Post-doctorate Fellowship in the Division of Chemistry of the National Research Council of Canada. For the past four years he has been lecturing at King's College, Newcastle, in the University of Durham. The National Research Council laboratories are in Ottawa, and Dodd 7

expects to begin a year's leave of absence from Newcastle in September, in order to take up the award. * * *

The acquisition of an "Eight" by the School Boat Club satisfies a long-felt need. The circumstances of the purchase of a second-hand boat are detailed in our Rowing Notes, but it may be appropriate to mention here that something like half the sum required was given by an 0.P., J. L. Pattinson (1915-16). Pattinson made this generous contribution as a memorial to his brother, E.P., also an Old Peterite, who was killed in the first world war. The name given to the "Eight" —"E. P. Pattinson"—symbolizes the gratitude of the School Boat Club. * * *

The Rev. H. N. Hodd (1918-24), at present Vicar of Retford, has been appointed Vicar of Mansfield, Notts., and will be inducted on the 13th June. We congratulate him on his preferment to this important parish. Hodd has recently given expression to his great interest in the School cricket by presenting to the School a new Cricket Flag. * * *

John Rodgers, M.P. (1919-1925), has of late figured prominently in the Press, both national and local. Readers of the Peterite will scarcely need to be reminded of the furore in the House and in the daily newspapers created by his reaction to the letter he received from a communist vicar in his constituency of Sevenoaks. The question of Privilege involved became a matter of national importance. The lesser storm provoked locally by certain passages in his recentlypublished book "York" (reviewed elsewhere in our pages), may have been little noticed in the outer world. Some provocative remarks at the conclusion of the book alleging negligence on the part of the civic and ecclesiastical activities with regard to the preservation of the City's ancient monuments have evoked a storm of protest in the York Press. The controversy has particular interest in that John Rodgers' challenge was taken up by (among many) his own contemporary at St. Peter's, A. S. Rymer (1913-21). Rymer, whose indignation is understandable in view of his known enthusiasm for the antiquities of the City and his work in the past year as Chairman of the York Festival Committee, not only roundly rebutted the charge but also had some hard things to say about Rodgers' qualifications for writing the book. From the angle of the Old Peterite "family" it was all very intriguing, though "The Peterite" will make no comment of its own. In passing, we would tender our condolences to Rymer on his rejection by the Clifton Ward in the recent City Council elections. After his devoted services, particularly in recent months, the loss of his seat must have been a great disappointment to him.

P. W. G. Chilman (1935-1943), whose engagement is announced in this issue and whose marriage, we understand, will be an accomplished fact by the time this issue is in print, has recently passed his examina- 8

tion for his First Officer's Certificate. We congratulate him on the rapid progress he is making in his career in the Merchant Service. He is serving on a tanker of the Anglo-Saxon line, the company with which he embarked on his apprenticeship after leaving the Conway.

R. J. Gibson (1944-1950), who is now at Trinity College, Dublin, studying medicine, has gained a place in the T.C.D. swimming team and also rows in the 2nd VIII. * * * BIRTHS COOPER.—On 13th February, 1951, at Queen Mary's Maternity

Home, Hampstead, London, N.W.3, to Peggy (nee Chalkley), wife of Alan Burton Cooper (School House, 1927-31), a second son (David Paul). INGLIS.—On 1 1 th January, 1951, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

Birmingham, to Irene, wife of James McNaught Inglis, M.B.,

Ch.B., D.A., a sister for Timothy. (Rosemary.) (1932-1940.) MARRIAGE WALL—COLVER. On 4th April, 1951, at St. Michael's, Little

Coates, Grimsby, Leonard James Lucas, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs.

H. L. Wall, of Sea Road, Gainsborough, to Catherine Mary, younger daughter of Rev. P. and Mrs. Colver, Binghams Melcombe

Rectory, near Dorchester. (1927-30.) ENGAGEMENTS CHILMAN—MACAULAY. The engagement is announced between

Peter William Guy, eldest son of Lt-Col. and Mrs. K. G. Chilman, of 70 Bootham Crescent, York, and Sheila Mary, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Macaulay, of Galtres House, Huntington. (1935-1943). DENCH—MA'RTIN. The engagement is announced between

Jeffrey D., younger son of Dr. and Mrs. R. A. Dench, of 54

Heworth Green, York, and Elizabeth Anne, only daughter of the late Mr. B. B. L. Martin (India Post and Telegraph), and of Mrs.

C. M. Martin, of Thirty Four Upper 011and Street, Bungay,

Suffolk. (1937-1947). WEIGHILL—MITCHELL. The engagement is announced between

Peter Wilfred, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. S. Weighill, Acomb,

York, and Marjorie Barbara Janet, younger daughter of Dr. and

Mrs. George Mitchell, Insch, Aberdeenshire. (1939-1946). WOOLER—GALE. The engagement is announced between Basil

Wooler, Flight Lieut., Royal Air Force, R.A.A.F. Station, Richmond, New South Wales, son of Major G. A. Lofthouse, T.D. (The Grove, 1914-17) and Mrs. Lofthouse, of the Land Commissioner's Office, Hansestadt Hamburg, B.A.O.R. 3, and Lois

Jean, Sister, Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Gale, of North Balwyn, Melbourne, Victoria.

ST. PETER'S SCHOOL SHOP

There is a small supply of O.P. Ties and Squares at the followin prices :—

Old Peterite Ties

5/6 Old Peterite Squares 15/-

The next consignment will cost more, but the manufacturers sa that the tie will be larger. Old Peterite Blazer Badges 21/-

Please order from A. T. Howat, St. Peter's School, and enclose an extra 3d. to cover postage, etc.

OXFORD LETTER

OXFORD.

April, 1951.

Dear Sirs,

As you read this, it is just possible that the sun has returned to England, that the cricket team is enjoying yet another successful season and the walls of York (and St. Peter's?) are preparing themselves for the onslaught of visitors which the Festival of Britain is supposed to draw to these sunny Isles !

But it is your scribe's duty to give you news of the Hilary Term activities of the Oxford O.P.s. As elsewhere, the "city of dreaming spires' became the town of running gutters, for the elements were in control, and those who braved the 'flu, filth, and fuel shortage to venture forth in search of either knowledge or bonhomie were: inevitably rewarded with a further dose of influenza.

This term saw what was popularly supposed to be the last battle in the rowing world between "fixed pins" and "swivel rowlocks", and those who were at Putney on Easter Saturday saw the result when . Oxford went down fighting—well, anyway, they went down !

J. A. Denison (Worcester) returned this term to receive his degree at one of this term's ceremonies, and found that his brother would be an official B.A. five minutes before him.

As regards those still in residence :-

P. Andrew (Keble) has really been working, and from all accounts this is likely to continue. Is apparently going to begin his schoolmastering at St. Paul's, and so rumours are rife that he has exchanged hockey stick for football.

E. A. K. Denison (B.N.C.) acquired a half-Blue equivalent (Panther) for boxing, but on arriving at Cambridge for the Varsity Match found his opponent injured and unable to fight. Was also seen entertaining an Irish K.C. with Scotch whisky on St. David's Day prior to an address on English Law. 10