Old Peterite News

A LETTER FROM MR. A. W. PING

LOW FIELDS,

8 GALTRES GROVE,

CLIFTON,

To the Editors,

The Peterite.

YORK,

September, 1955.

Dear Sirs,

It seems to me that the only way in which I can express my most grateful thanks to the many Old Peterites who contributed to the very generous cheque presented to me at the Old 'Peterite Dinner on 22nd July is to ask you to publish this very inadequate letter.

The Old Peterites who were present at the Dinner heard the few words of thanks I managed to say, but I understand from Mr. Rhodes that there were many who sent contributions and who could not be present. To all I send my wannest thanks, and as they will wish to know how my wife and I will remember their gift, I wish to say that we are in the process of choosing a suitable T.V. set. When obtained, it may be that we shall observe many eminent O.P.s doing—whatever they are doing !

May I add that my wife and I are not leaving York, so that we shall hope to see many O.P.s when they visit the old School. Yours faithfully, A. WENTWORTH PING.

LONDON DINNER

The London Dinner will be held at 'Brown's Hotel, Albemarle Street, on Wednesday, 9th November. Members of the Club who have not received details by the beginning of November and who wish to attend, should communicate with the London Secretary, Dr. R. H. Metcalfe, St. James's Hospital, Ousley Road, Balham, S.W.12.

WEST RIDING AREA DINNER

The second West Riding Area Annual Dinner will be held on Thursday, 3rd November, at 8-0 p.m., at the Three Nuns Hotel, Mirfield, near Huddersfield. The cost of the dinner will be 15/-. Dress will be informal.

Any Old Peterite who wishes to attend should get into touch with one of the Secretaries : G. D. Smith, 30 Goldington Drive, Oakes, Huddersfield, or Michael Hallas, 14a Greenhead Road, Huddersfield.

O.P. XV

The usual rugger match between the School and an O.P. XV will be played on Saturday, 10th December. The arrangements will be made by P. Penniston, and! anyone interested should communicate with him at :- Fairmount, Hillthorpe, Pudsey, near Leeds (Tel. : Pudsey 2759).

ITEMS

N. W. D. Yardley (1928-34), who retired from the England Selection Committee last season, has since announced his resignation from the Yorkshire captaincy. This means, in effect, his retirement from first-class cricket. His departure from a game which he has adorned so long will be particularly regretted by O.P.s, who have taken a justifiable pride in the high cricket honours which he has attained. * * *

P. J. Dennis (1944-49), who left St. Peter's with a scholarship to St. Andrew's University, has graduated M.B., Ch.B (with commendation). In a distinguished career at the St. Andrew's Medical School, he won the "John Kynoch Scholarship in Obstetrics" and tied with one other for the "American Medical Graduation Prize in memory of Sir James Irvine in Surgery". He was also joint winner of two other prizes : the "Captain W. A. Low Prize and Medal in Medicine" and the "MacEwan Prize in Surgery". Dennis has not limited his achievements to his studies, since in his last year at the University he was Captain of Cricket and of Squash. * * *

R. E. L. Triffitt (1912-24) has been appointed Assistant Civil Engineer, North Eastern Region, British Railways. Triffitt proceeded from St. Peter's to Christ's College, Cambridge, where he gained an honours degree in Mechanical Sciences. He entered the L.N.E.R. in 1927 as a graduate pupil in the Civil Engineer's Office, York, and subsequently occupied posts in the Stratford and Newcastle District Engineers' Offices before returning to York in 1938 as chief draughtsman in the new works section of the Civil Engineer's Office.

He served in the Forces from 1939 to 1945, commanding 990 Port Maintenance Coy., R.E., and the No. 1 Docks Group, R.E., and was Assistant Director of Transportation (Administration), A.F.H.G., Rome, in 1945.

In that year he was mentioned in despatches and received the Emergency Reserve Decoration in 1954.

On return to railway service, he was appointed Assistant to Civil Engineer (Maintenance) in 1946, and became District Engineer, York, in 1948. In 1953 he became Assistant Civil Engineer (Permanent Way), North Eastern Region.

S. H. Storey (1946-52) leaves Canada at the end of September after graduating at McGill University, Montreal, with 1st Class

Honours in Maths. and Physics, and goes to Cambridge. "To make sure that he stays away for a year or so" (he writes) the McGill authorities have endowed him with the Moyse Travelling Scholarship.

We congratulate Storey on his success. He was the only O.P. member of McGill, and with the simultaneous departure of "the President,

Vice-President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, the McGill

University O.P. Club has passed away".

ir

* * *

E. W. Gilbert (1914-19), who is Professor of Geography at Oxford, has recently published a book on the geography and history of Brighton. A copy has been presented to the School Library by the Rev. F. H. Barnby. A review of Professor Gilbert's book appears later in our pages.

101 OBITUARY

MAJOR C. L. ARMSTRONG

We regret to record the death, early in the summer, of Cyril Lionel Armstrong (St. Peter's 1906-14). He joined the Sudan Political Service in 1920 after a successful military career in the 1914-18 War, during which, while still in his early twenties, he commanded a brigade. By the time of his retirement from the service in 1940 he had held the post of provincial governor, first in Khartoum and later in the Upper Nile. By many Sudanese and Britons in the Sudan he will long be remembered as a master of method with an almost uncanny capacity for efficiency, but it was his kindness, hospitality, and courage which endeared him to his friends, to whom he was affectionately known as "the General". He leaves a widow.

BIRTHS BOULTON.—On 7th July, at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London,

E.C.1, to Helen (nee Brown), wife of Dr. Tom Boulton, a daughter. [1940-43.] DENBY.—On 17th July, 1955, in Ilkley, to Avril, wife of G. W.

Denby, a son. [1935-40.]

HARPER.—On 17th June, 1955, at The Grange, Liss, to Sheragh (nee Apthorp), wife of Instructor Lieutenant K. R. G. Harper,

R.N., a son (Nigel Shirley Gayford). [Temple, 1933-44.]

SMITH.—On 5th April, 1955, at East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, to Janet (née Draper), wife of G. C. Smith, a son (Paul), a brother for Rosemary and Elizabeth. [1929-34.]

MARRIAGES JENKINS—STOKELEY. On 4th June, 1955, at the Church of St.

Peter and St. Paul, Wisbech, Philip Jenkins, of New Earswick,

York, to Pauline, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Stokeley, of Wisbech. [1944 50.]

SLEGG—TUCKER. On 23rd July, 1955, at the Parish Church of

St. Leonard's and St. Mary's, Armthorpe, Yorks., Frederick

Charles, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. H. Slegg, of Sandestead,

Surrey, to Daphne, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. G.

Tucker, of Armthorpet, Yorks. [Temple, 1944-49.]

TATE—GRAHAM. On 27th May, 1955, at St. Mary's, Monkseaton,

David Henry, only child of Mrs. E. Allan and the late Mr. C. B.

Tate, of Whitley Bay, to Norah Joyce, younger daughter of Mrs.

E. Graham and the late Mr. M. M. Graham, also of Whitley Bay.

P. N. H. Moreton was best man. [Rise, 1941-47.]

ENGAGEMENTS BAKER—LOCK. The engagement is announced between Captain

Ian Helstrip Baker, Royal Tank Regiment, eldest son of the late

Mr. H. H. Baker and of Mrs. Baker, of The Nook, Roslyn Road,

Hathersage, Derbyshire, and Sally, youngest daughter of Major and Mrs. H. 0. Lock, of York House, Dorchester. [1941-45.]

CAMFIELD—SHEPPARD. The engagement is announced between

Captain A. A. Camfield, R.A.O.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T.

Camfield, of Bishopthorpe, and Joy, elder daughter of Mr. and

Mrs. L. G. Sheppard, of Orpington, Kent. [1942-48.]

OXBY PARKER—TIBBETTS. The engagement is announced between John Hilary, only son of the Rev, and Mrs. D. Oxby Parker, of Acomb Vicarage, York, and Barbara Ellen, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Tibbetts, of Kidlington, Oxon. [1944-47.]

OXFORD.

July, 1955.

The Editors,

The Peterite. Dear Sirs, "Oxford is on the whole more attractive than Cambridge to the ordinary :::tor; and the traveller is therefore recommended to visit Cambridge first, or omit it altogether" (Baedeker). There must be many readers of Baedeker, for Oxford this summer has been crowded with tourists, who filled the car parks with their vehicles, the cafes with their small talk, and the streets and beauty spots with their litter. Nevertheless, Trinity Term must be regarded by all as the best of the three, even by those whose day of reckoning is imminent. What undergraduate yet has not found time, even if finals are upon him, to go into the Parks to watch the Yorkshire match, or take a companion punting on the Cherwell, or have tea on the College Barge while waiting for the eight, which rarely ever gets thus far, or again, if so desiring, and financially able, to spend all night at a Commem. or Summer Ball? But to business and a report on the activities of those O.P.s who have evaded the proctors and their faithful bulldogs and still remain in residence :

I. G. Cobham (Magdalen). Has founded an O.P. Coffee Club, which meets on Sunday mornings and which has but one other member—the person on whom he decides to call for coffee.

G. M. Herring (St. Cath's.). On the rare occasions that he has been seen, seemed always to be on the other side of the road, going in the opposite direction. It is rumoured that he spent the second half of term recovering from a dinner he had in Exeter.

D. G. Hilton (The Queens). After the defeat of the Liberals in the Election, is regarded as the O.P. contribution to Oxford's lost causes, but he somewhat redeemed himself by showing in Eights' Week that he can still row.

C. P. Lascelles (St. Stephen's Hall). Has at last been tracked down after several terms' obscurity. He is reported to enjoy the conversations, teas and newspapers of a certain other theological college better than those of his own, or perhaps it is simply nearer the libraries. P. W. V. Milburn (Worcester). As his name has not appeared in any obituary notices, must still be alive, but he has not been seen. This is still a matter for conjecture; there is no reward for information. R. D. Palframan (Worcester) is becoming most skilled at climbing into College after midnight, though not always remembering the feat

next day. He and White have decided not to share rooms next year, and in consequence the prospects of invitations to tea must surely be brighter.

E. Robinson (Exeter) found himself in an eight which rammed the bank, caught a crab, fouled the preceding boat's tow line, and broke a rowlock—all in the same race ! His only comment : "The crew behind were worried !"

J. M. Smithson (Wadham) is becoming an expert on Oxford life, particularly regarding local hostels and coffee houses. He rowed with moderate success and also found time to do a little work, "just to keep my tutor happy".

P. G. Taylor (B.N.C.) is regularly seen on the road to Headington Quarry and, as he does not read geology, we can only assume that he is continuing his shorthand and typing lessons—under the guidance of a mysterious "friend". We understand the Greeks had a word for it.

M. I. H. Unwin (Worcester) prepared for finals by taking fresh air on the river bank and liquid sustenance in the College Bar. As the fateful day drew nigh, he was obviously wilting from such a combination, and so cut out the fresh air.

S. J. White (Worcester) spent most of the morning waking his room mate, Palframan, and most of the afternoon preparing his scout for news of another party. He favours the construction of a tunnel under the main road, from Worcester to "The Greyhound"—"purely in the interests of road safety" !

D. J. Wilson (B.N.C.) has not been seen for two terms. It is said that blinded by his own hair he walked into the Isis, but we are in no position to confirm or deny this rumour. Could he, too, have been spirited away to Moscow?

J. J. Youll (Worcester). Discovering suddenly that Greek and Latin are no longer spoken—at least not by any of his lady friends— has changed to Law. We believe he hopes to find a legal solution to his problems.

If any other O.P.s come into residence, we hope they will speedily make themselves known to us.

With every good wish to the School. We remain, Sirs, Yours faithfully,

THE OXFORD OLD PETERITES.

"BRIGHTON" BY EDMUND W. GILBERT, O.P.

There are not enough books of this quality about towns; and among the English towns, Brighton offers a most suitable microcosm of modern English life. Where else by the sea does elegance march so close with squalor, industry with leisure? Here, too, the full range of working English society is represented in making its living in looking after the holiday needs of a huge part of that same society from the inland towns.

The reader may find the opening chapters of Professor Gilbert's book rather strongly geographical, but he will see, as he reads on, that the details of Brighton's geography have played a commanding part in the great town's development. But Professor Gilbert is clearly aware that history is made by men rather than by nature, and often by men's attempts to overcome the power of the latter. The makers of Brighton are given their full measure of appreciation; the doctors who first sent patients to the sea; the Prince of Wales who led English society to Brighton, and so gave the town a long start over all other seaside resorts; the architects who made the attractive face of Brighton; and, perhaps most important, the engineers who made the railway from London, and so made Brighton the pre-eminent holiday town for the masses of Southern England.

Anyone who knows Brighton will enjoy this book; any reader who does not will feel that there has been a gap in his knowledge of England which Mr. Gilbert has done much to fill. Every student of English society will find it a valuable and fascinating study of the development of a vital part of English life. •

EXAMINATION RESULTS, 1955

SCHOLARSHIPS

Five State Scholarships were gained by St. Peter's on the results of the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination at "S" level. We congratulate the following VIth Form candidates who together have made 1955 a record year :— Bardgett—State Scholarship in Physics and Biology. Barton—State Scholarship in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Birch—State Scholarship in Mathematics and Physics. Bryce—State Scholarship in Mathematics and Physics. Netherwood—State Scholarship in Mathematics and Physics. COUNTY MAJOR SCHOLARSHIPS

YORK.

A. Bloomfield (Music). P. J. Netherwood (Mathematics, Physics). D. G. Barton (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). 21