House Notes

THE GROVE

The Grove Hall on the first day of term saw ten eager faces; but the older and more experienced inmates could be heard to murmer "Little do they know", or, in Latin, "0 miseras hominum mentes o pectora caeca". (D. M. Walker is to be heartily congratulated on the award of a State Scholarship in Classics for his results in the Summer examinations.)

P. G. Brooke had been appointed Head of House and M. J. Baddeley and P. L. Bardgett School Monitors, and these, together with J. D. Birch, D. M. Walker, and D. C. Pattison, made up the new regime.

In the hall we noticed the comparative absence of cups after our brilliant successes on the last morning of last term ! However, we were filled with hope for cups, more lawfully gained, when we heard that we were to play Rise in the first round of the Senior House matches and Queen's in the Junior House matches. When we had soundly beaten Queen's in the Junior House match and our Senior team had drawn with Rise, many of our members, wearying of strenuous exercise, departed to the Sanatorium to enjoy ill-health for a while. Thus, thanks to the weather and the 'flu the House matches were cancelled. D. M. Walker and J. R. Tomlinson were awarded their House colours, not only for their efforts this term but also for their past achievements.

We have had representatives in all the School XVs this term. Pfluger and Bardgett gained places in the 1st XV, the latter being awarded, the former being re-awarded, his colours. Magson and Fish played for the 2nd XV, and Stephenson captained the Colts XV, which included Kirby and Burbidge. Magson and Kirby played for the School squash team, while Bardgett and Wilkinson played for the second team.

This term we have to bid farewell to J. R. Tomlinson, and D. C. Pattison also, unless a certain board of examiners decides otherwise. We thank them for all they have done and wish them well for the future.

The Grove was well represented in the School play, both on and off the stage. We provided actors for many of the minor roles and Bardgett, Bellwood, and Wright played major parts very successfully. The House concert on the last night of term, although preparations came at a time when many people were engaged in examinations and other activities, was undoubtedly a howling success.

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THE MANOR

This term might well be called "the term that 'flu". For nearly half the House at one time or another retired to the supposed quiet of the Sanatorium. Their places were filled by members of School House, who had been driven out of house and home by the invasion of their own dormitories by those who under normal conditions would have occupied beds in the "San" itself.

The Juniors, whom we welcomed this term, seemed comparatively immune from the epidemic. This, no doubt, was due to their constant practice in varied forms of exercise. For example, we have not for a long time seen Mr. Power so occupied in teaching fencing to members of the Manor.

As regards rugger we can perhaps claim to have done more than any other House. For we did at least manage to play two of our House matches despite the depressing weather. True, the results were not to our advantage, but in both cases we lost only by the narrow margin of three points. In the Senior match against Queen's only a dropped goal stood between us and a draw, and after a hard fought match, although it was scarcely possible to pick out any one outstanding individual, we are to congratulate J. R. Jenkinson on the award of his House colours. The Junior match was lost to the Rise by 6-3, but for their vigorous efforts Wilson, M., and Ridley were awarded their Junior House colours. One member of the Manor, R. B. Wilson, won his 1st XV colours, and we like to think that, had Lapidge not broken his ankle in the early part of the term, he too would have had similar success. Penman and Brocklebank played for the 2nd XV; Liversidge was vice-captain of the Senior Colts and had one game for the 1st XV against the O.P. team. Wilson, M., Chadwick, and Bywater also played for the Senior Colts, and Lowley, Smith, and McCallum for the Junior Colts.

One Saturday, when it was impossible to play outdoor games, an Inter-House Pentathlon was arranged consisting of basket ball, table tennis, squash, fencing, and chess. The Manor only managed to come fourth equal, but our Senior team swept aside all opposition in the basket ball, and both our Junior chess and squash champions won their way into the finals. The interest in table tennis in the House was fostered by a competition, won, as expected, by Handler, who showed a remarkable ability for returning apparently unplayable shots.

As these notes are being written, the whole House is trying to think of something which might be vaguely amusing for the House concerts, which take place on the last night of term. It has been heard said that the raucous singing which issues from the Monitors' bathroom late at night is merely practice for the great performance. We only hope that when the day comes we will not be feeling too sleepy after the excellent supper usually provided on such occasions.

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The arrival of a new school year brought smiles to our faces, as we discovered we were joint winners of the Work Cup with Temple. The endeavours of our first year have thus been justly rewarded, and we have, we hope, set the tradition as an intellectual House.

The diverse interests of Heap, King, Bryce, Hewson, and Barton have been added to the experience of Bough and Bloomfield in the monitorial band in order to carry on the good work, and we wish them every success. They have indeed lead the House well in all spheres of activity. Bloomfield has shepherded the music of the School and the House, whilst Barton has promoted the interest of the House in the Science Society. The Discussion Group has again provided valuable experience for its members under the guidance of King, while its Senior Society, although not being attended as much as would be desired, has provided a similar outlet for the more eloquent of our members. Within the House, chess and table tennis have been, as usual, very popular, and Bloomfield (chess), Bean, Jones, M. A., and Jesper (table tennis) are to be congratulated on winning the individual competitions.

The great achievement of the term has, however, been the high standard produced in the School play, in which Atkinson gave a competent performance, along with Crowther, Elliott, Chilman, and Barton, N. R. Bloomfield and Jones, M. A., also provided entertain-

ment by playing in the orchestra pit. 4

It is with great pleasure that your chronicler records our first Senior Inter-House rugger victory by 3-0, in which the Manor were gallant losers in a hard-fought game. The Junior team faced a formidable Grove XV, and retired from the battlefield, not a little disgraced. The subsequent cancellation of all House matches, owing to an influenza epidemic, prevented another battle against our Temple rivals. Hewson was awarded his House colours and Dodsworth his Junior House colours after these matches. We have been represented in all School rugger teams. Bough, Hewson, and Heap were awarded 1st XV colours; Barton, D. G. played for the 2nd XV, as also did Atkinson; Burrows, Bytheway, and Hopper played for the Colts XV, and Swain for the Junior Colts XV.

When, however, we were called upon to take part in a Pentathlon, we rose to the occasion and came out convincing winners, although half the House was absent. It must be recorded, in connection with this, that Cooke showed signs of being a second D'Artagnan, whilst holding a sword for the first time.

THE RISE

The House assembled at the beginning of the term minus Isherwood, who had had an argument with a lorry which resulted in him being detained in hospital. Happily he returned shortly after the commencement with a face apparently tarnished.

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As is usually the case after the Summer holidays we returned to find the House under a new regime. Lewis was the new Head of House as well as being the Head of the School. Kettlewell was appointed a School Monitor and Kirkus, Portlock, and Leishman rose to the "dizzy" heights of House Monitors. To all the above we extend our heartiest congratulations.

As the House had lost so few boys at the end of the Summer Term only six of the numerous new boys had the privilege of entering the Rise. To Howard, Hyde, Mathews, Ibberson, C., Cormack, and Beachell we extend a warm welcome, and already we are pleased to see that they are moulding themselves into Risites worthy to carry on the work of their predecessors.

This term we were also very pleased to welcome Mr. Waine as Assistant House Master. We are confidently expecting that under his coaching the Rise will once more regain the Music Cup. His predecessor, Mr. Cummin, presented the House with a book and we thank him very much for this generous gift. Mr. Rutherford visited us on many occasions during his stay at the School of one term. We thank him for the interest he took in the Rise and we wish him all the best in the future.

Kettlewell and Bolton played throughout the season for the 1st XV. We sympathise with Kettlewell, who as captain of the 1st XV had a very worrying time, and we congratulate him on the way he himself played. We may also boast another 1st XV cap in Bolton, who had the rare distinction of gaining this award in his first season in the team. Lewis and Roe were awarded 2nd XV colours and five other members of the House played for the 2nd XV. Nine members of the House played for one or other of the Colts teams, Lock captaining the Junior Colts.

The start of the term found us with a newly painted House. At last the House team photographs lined the walls of the reading room. Several photographs are, however, missing and we do ask old Risites who have any of them if they would kindly offer them to complete the collection.

It was pleasing to see that more members of the House were taking an active part in School Societies. The majority of the senior part of the House are members of the Debating Society and Lewis, Kettlewell, Powell, and Moore, J. E., were all principal speakers at one time or another. Our House Master also set the tone in this respect with a speech on Myxomatosis. The Young Farmers' Club has captured the interest of several would-be farmers of the Rise, and Huzzard (Chairman), Powell, and Burdass are all Committee members. Not many people, however, made use of the Hobbies room or the Railway room, although Wilkinson continues to impress all with his "home-made" furniture.

Perhaps the feature of the term which remains uppermost in our minds is the 'flu epidemic which broke out in the House mid-way through the term.' We came in for severe criticism from the other Houses when the bug wrought havoc in the Rise, but it was not long before those same people were in the Sanatorium themselves. It is perhaps appropriate to thank here Sister, Miss Hall, Miss Kendall, and also Mrs. Crews, who worked so hard in the House during this trying period. Thirty-eight of the 'House succumbed and only Cormack of the Juniors survived.

Although only one round of each of the rugby competitions was played the 'Rise did enough to scare the other Houses into calling for a cancellation of the competition ! We would like to congratulate the Junior team on upsetting the odds to beat Manor by 6 pts. to 3, thanks mainly to some grand tackling, and also the Senior team, with eight reserves, on drawing 3-3 with a full-strength Grove side.

Fencing appears to be in a healthy state, especially amongst the younger members of the House, and Cook, although only in his second year, has already appeared for the School team. Squash, too, has its enthusiasts, Lewis, Roe, and Forster all having appeared for the School 2nd team. Unhappily in this respect the junior part of the House do not appear to be over-anxious to make the trip to the squash court, a state of affairs the House is sure to regret in future years.

Oldman has run the House Library very efficiently throughout the term, and we thank him for undertaking this job.

Finally we would like to pay tribute to those Risites who took part in the School play, particularly to Moore, E. I., Powell, Trevelyan, Kirkus, and Sheldon. We understand that but for Brown behind the scenes the show couldn't go on, and so cordially thank him. Whilst on the subject of the stage we must congratulate those members of the House who responded so keenly to the demands of the "Committee" in our part of the School concert.

SCHOOL HOUSE

As usual, at the start of the Christmas Term, we welcome the new members to the House, all of whom have settled down well and have contributed much to our present position in the Work Cup Competition.

In spite of the bad weather and the 'flu epidemic, the spirit of the House has remained good throughout the term. We thank all those who made us so welcome in other Houses when our own became a sanatorium extension.

As a result of the bad weather the House's high hopes for the House rugger were blighted, but activities within the House flourished.

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Not only did House runs, basket ball, and walks assume a major role, but many of the House were seen towards the end of term rushing around attired in anything from leopard skins and skirts to evening dress. It was eventually discovered that the House was preparing for the entertainment at the end of term.

We were well represented in the School play. Clemons in a major role, Rice and Peacock supporting him, and Ruddock in a "most moving performance", were all excellent. Leonard, Kirby, and Paulson did good work as stage hands.

We would like to congratulate Macpherson, D. A., on his appointment as Vice-Captain of Rugger, and Willstrop on his appointment as Captain of Squash. Several other members of the House played for a rather disappointing School 1st XV. Bell and Pacey gained their 1st XV colours, Ridley and Wetherell their 1st XV caps. Sharp and Clayton made less frequent appearances, and Willstrop, after being dropped, muttered something about an injury and was never seen again. Sharp and Marshall were awarded their 2nd XV colours, and Clayton was also a member of the team. Mackintosh played occasionally for the Senior Colts XV, Beaumont, Macpherson, D. G., and Middleton all being regular members of the under fifteen Colts XV, and Robinson, J. B., played once. Macpherson, D. A., and Pacey represented the Squash team, and Nesham, who says he fights only for the love of the game, prodded his way to an isolated yet magnificent victory for the fencing team.

The regular House "Proms." have continued under the able direction of Le Pla, assisted by N. J. Bell. Some excellent programmes of music were arranged, each piece being introduced by a brief word about the composer.

We regret that our Matron, Miss K. Hall, is leaving us this term. We thank her heartily and sincerely for the many ways in which she has helped us, and hope she will find happiness in her new post.

We must also bid farewell to those old-timers G. Ridley and P. B. Mitchinson, who have contributed so much to the well-being of the House and School. We trust they will be even more successful in the wide world.

TEMPLE HOUSE

First of all we welcome our new Templars, many of whom seem to be ardent disbelievers of the wise maxim that little boys should be seen and not heard. However, we are glad to see that they are keen workers, whether physically or mentally, and that they support

House activities enthusiastically. Templars are still distinguishing themselves in School affairs—a sure sign that we have not had "to reap a sardonic harvest" after the "split" four terms ago. Welsh and Johnson are to be congratulated

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