House Notes

The Grove: P. J. BLINCOE, D. T. FLETCHER, H. MU RRAY. The Manor: A. CAWOOD, S. H. STOREY, J. J. YOUL L. The Rise: W. J. BURDASS, P. JAMES, D. SIMPSON, P. G. TAYLOR. School House: W. H. N. FAIRWEATHER, G. P. GRAY, J. POOLE, J. M.

SMITHSON. Temple: J. T. ANKERS, J. R. DWYER, N. E. V. MARSHALL,

E. ROBINSON, M. W. SENIOR.

GAMES CAPTAINS :

Hockey: A. N. C. SMITH. Boating: M. G. GOODBURN. Rugger: M. E. KERSHAW. Shooting: D. M. FINDLAY. Squash: W. H. N. FAIRWEATHER. Fencing: C. V. ROBERTS.

EDITORS OF "THE PETERITE" :

I. G. COBHAM, D. G. HILTON, M. E. KERSHAW, E. ROBINSON.

THE GROVE

The term began on a disappointing note when we learnt that R. M. Hodgson would be leaving us, after a distinguished school career, at the end of term. We do, however, congratulate him on his success in the Special Entry Exam. for the Royal Navy. We also say goodbye to G. W. Gears, who leaves us to become an Accountant. We wish them both the best of luck in their respective careers.

We must apologise for the omission of any mention of the School Play in the last edition of "The Peterite". Bardgett played the difficult part of a mother successfully, and we congratulate him on his achievement. H. Murray also managed to control the lights without too many mistakes.

For the third year in succession, in an open field, we won the Inter-House Cross Country by a handsome margin, thanks to a fine House spirit in the team. Gears ran extremely well to gain third place. Gears, Whittaker and Hollis, as a result of the race, were awarded their House Colours. Perhaps this effort exhausted the enthusiasm of the House for Athletics. But our fears were drowned in the rain and snow of Easter Monday. In passing we must mention the Intermediate mile, which was won by M. J. Everitt in fine style. 13

On the river the 1st IV beat School House by one length, The Manor by four, and then lost to The Rise, the favourites, by three lengths, in the final. This result, contrary to all expectations, again showed the difficulty in forecasting inter-house results. In the Junior Division we beat School House by one length, and again lost, this time to Manor, in the final.

In the Inter-House Squash we beat Manor 3-0, but we must congratulate School House who beat us 3-2 in the final.

This term The Grove gave an evening's entertainment at a Science Society meeting. Lectures were given by R. M. Hodgson on the History of the Motor Cycle, M. J. Everitt on Fruit Preservation, and N. M. Hodd on the Solar System.

A Finance Committee consisting of one member from each section of the House was elected, to decide what should be done with the House funds. The suggestions were acted upon during the holidays.

Several members of the House, in the latter stages of this term, were engaged in preparing their exhibits for the science exhibition.

Everitt, Shepherd and Baddeley performed in a musical concert before the School and the York Organists Society during the term. Shepherd is to be especially congratulated on his performance on the piano.

The House Gramophone Society continued to flourish this term, and many varied programmes were given. We would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Harding for their hospitality.

In the School Open Squash Competition M. J. Wood reached the final only to be beaten by J. M. Booth. M. J. Wood also got through several rounds in the Public Schools' Squash Championships in London during the holidays.

In the examination room H. Murray was successful in gaining Commoners' Entrance to Jesus College, Oxford, during the term.

We say goodbye to our Matron, Miss Winter, who has served us since we started again, three years ago. The House presented her with a leather wallet and purse as a recognition of her services.

Once again we were well represented in the School hockey teams. N. M. Hodd, R. M. Hodgson, P. J. Blincoe and G. B. Pullan are to be congratulated on their 1st XI Hockey Colours. Hodd and Hodgson also gained their Caps. D. J. Fletcher also played for the 1st XI and was awarded his 2nd XI Colours.

H. H. Hunter and A. F. Wick represented the House in the School Shooting VIII, and were awarded their Colours. J. S. Megginson also shot for the 1st VIII. Ramsden and Foy shot for the 2nd VIII.

Finally we would like to mention the clean bill of health enjoyed by the whole House this term. Only one person in the House spoiled this record by contracting measles—and unfortunately passed them on to Richard and Anita.

THE MANOR

With the loss of two of last term's seniors, the House felt that it was facing this term under some handicap, but within the first week Cobham had shown that he knew such a vast amount that he won the General Knowledge prize of the Senior division of the School. As several other members of the House did pretty well too, that gave us a good start after all.

As inter-House hockey has been abolished—the Manor's contribution to the School teams is recorded elsewhere—the next interHouse event was the cross-country. To those whose tastes lie rather in a quiet stroll in the hinterland of Clifton Green, or even, perhaps, in a quiet rest in a Common Room chair, not too far from the wireless, the keenness of cross-country runners is strange to contemplate. Not for all the joys of seeing the scenery of the Ings flash by, and it was with some awe that we watched the House cross-country team setting off for practice runs when they could have been enjoying less active, but to lesser mortals more understandable occupations. Their enthusiasm was rewarded, however, as they were placed second—a meritorious performance, for we have no "stars".

Next came inter-House boating. Our first crew was desperately short of practice, owing to a whole series of interferences, and was outrowed by Grove. The Junior crew (Dunn, Saville, Johnson, Jackson, R., and Walton) met Temple on a very stormy day in the preliminary round. Temple early established a small lead, both horizontally and vertically (downwards), but the two progressions are not really compatible, and in due course Manor assumed, and retained, the horizontal lead. Temple, rowing gallantly, completed the course canvas under, and both boats had to be emptied for the paddle home. In the first round we were leading and would probably have won in any event, but Rise sealed their own fate by catching a crab. (We know the metaphors are mixed, but plead clarity in extenuation). The final was not marred by any untoward incidents, and our crew gleefully confounded the prophets and critics by beating Grove and securing that elegant little cup curiously inscribed "St. Peter's Canoes, 1872".

Then squash. We lost to Grove. Details are superfluous, but are no doubt faithfully recorded in Grove House notes. Booth, however, won the School Individual Squash Competition. 15

Athletics were all but ruined for everybody by weather, and we, in addition, suffered severely from illness amongst our keenest athletes, including Raylor, who had shown much enthusiasm as House Captain.

The new chess competition has provided interest for many, but the result is not yet known. It is understood, however, that Cawood has mastered the higher mathematics necessary to solve the intricate problems involved in discovering the winner when data are complete.

In the Hobbies Room the leviathan mentioned last term has continued its stately progress towards completion, while also awaiting finishing touches is a cabin cruiser complete with such homely details as a draining board and sink in the galley. The sound of model aircraft engines has been heard from time to time, and their foul- smelling fuel has finally dispelled—which honest iresh air failed to do—the lingering ordours of last term's zoo.

It has been quaintly observed of this term that it had not been necessary to commiserate with the House as much as had been expected. Perhaps as a summary that may fairly stand.

THE RISE

The last term's weather brought with it our share of 'flu, but in this we were fairly lucky in that our boating and cross-country teams were not seriously 'hit. On the contrary, the boating went on despite the worst the elements could do, and a crew was produced which on an exciting Saturday carried off the Cup for the second year in succession. The cross-country was something of a set-back. M. G. Goodburn won again, but the team did not come up to expectations despite very enthusiastic training. The lesson to be learnt is that we must not depend so much on old stalwarts who are not likely to get much better. Next year let us hope we see some fresh blood helping along those two or more newcomers we did discover this year.

With the help of the more junior part of the House the Railway Club has made progress, and an outer track has been completed, built by the members themselves. A plan for a station has been drawn up, so we are now well on the way to having a railway like the one we used to have before those German bombs arrived.

In the School Junior Squash ladder we had two Risites in the final, E. A. M. Reid-Smith and D. H. Beachell. The latter eventually won after a very close game. In the Senior P. D. James lost in the semifinal to the winner.

On the hockey field A. N. Wyatt-Gunning gained his 1st XI Colours; he was also appointed a House Monitor at the beginning of

term.

We had returned full of good intentions for making sure of the Oxford Cup, and we were well on the way when the weather struck again. After a magnificent effort on Standards by the whole House, we won them by a greater margin than ever before, M. G. Goodburn, J. R. Moore, E. A. M. Reid-Smith gaining full points. Unfortunately Sports Day had to be cancelled, so we will have to depend on the cricketers after all.

SCHOOL HOUSE

As each term ends, we look back with mingled emotions upon our contributions to the School and to the House, upon our successes and disappointments. We balance one against the other and ask ourselves "has it been worthwhile?", and of course the answer is always in the affirmative. If anything, this term it is emphatically so. We have produced no startling results, but we have managed to hold our own. Until "The Peterite" brings its day of judgement we have basked in the glory of our few successes, and conveniently forgotten about our failures. These last, fortunately few in number have however, taught us as much as our successes and that is how it should be. The great thing is the spirit behind it all, and we have that in good measure.

A. N. C. Smith, our new Head of House, is to be congratulated not only on this appointment, but also on his Hockey Captaincy. Amongst those he led were Fairweather and Jackson, both of whom won their 1st XI colours. McDougle also represented the School, and was awarded his 2nd XI colours.

Squash has long been one of our strongest sports, and the team retained the Cup after close matches with the Rise and the Grove, and a rather easier first round with Temple. In this connection, we must cite the brilliant playing of Fairweather who reached the final in the Drysdale Cup, and Surrey Junior Championships. He is following in the steps of one of our more famous House-ites, N. W. D. Yardley.

In the boating, our crews did not come up to expectation. The senior crew, which had been strongly favoured, proved no match for the Grove, and in the junior event, we were unable to hold the same house.

The cross-country team made a gallant effort, and their lowly placing was certainly not due to a lack of training. Two individual performances worthy of note were those of Fairweather and Webster, P. H., who came second and ninth respectively; Webster was subsequently awarded his House colours.

Athletic standards bring each year a unique opportunity for every member to represent his House, and is surely a test of a House's underlying spirit. That we came second, without having any great talent in the House, shows that we upheld our claim to spirit; all turned out and did their best.

Indoor activities have flourished, largely because of the terrible weather. Two Table Tennis competitions were held, and a Chess ladder started. When we had practically won the Chess Cup, the idea of a knock-out competition was abandoned for a league, and King and his team have had to win all over again. Having tied at the top of the table, we have only to play off with Temple, and our engravers should soon be busy on the Cup.

Finally, we were sorry to lose G. P. Gray so suddenly; we thank him for his contributions to House activities and wish him good luck in his career.

TEMPLE

A term such as the one through which we have just passed leaves the House scribe (an honorary and henceforward vacant post) scratching his head, and frantically seeking to amplify the small successes and justify the failures.

It has not been a successful term. Boating was originally viewed with confidence; athletics with determination; cross-country with hope; and the squash with keenness amongst a few members of the House. The rowing was disastrous. The 2nd IV (Ward, Harbottle, Atkinson, Haw and Welsh, cox) were robbed of an almost certain success because their boat attempted to emulate a submarine—a catastrophe for which the crew were in no way responsible. The full story is too painful to recount, but we commiserate with the crew, who were extremely keen and one of the best Junior crews the House has had for some time. Their success in completing the course and losing only by a length in their foundering boat testifies to their oarsmanship. The 1st IV were held back by illness, and so were far from their peak when they lost to The Rise, who were a better trained crew. N. E. V. Marshall was awarded his House Colours.

The cross-country team was, on the whole, a young one, and did not disgrace itself in finishing 3rd, a point or two behind The Manor. The performances of Ankers (4th), Meredith (7th) and White (10th) deserve special mention. Meredith and White won House Colours and Welch his Junior House Colours. We hope that the team, of which the better ( !) part are staying, will cover themselves with glory next year.

Squash presents a less pleasant picture. We were defeated in spite of good efforts by Fawcett and Ward by School House. Squash is a game we in Temple have neglected far too long. The talent and facilities for squash are available; the general effort must be forthcoming. One or two younger players have improved greatly, but until there is greater competition, the general standard cannot but remain

low.

Athletics were curtailed by inclement weather. The House made commendable efforts to finish 2nd in Standards, and we appeared to have a good prospective team for Sports Day.

Certain members of the House had personal successes. Ankers and Kershaw were awarded 1st XI Hockey Colours; White captained

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