House Notes

Choral Society, 1950-57. Motet Group. Glee Club Leader, 1957. School Play, 1954-55-56. Warrant Officer, C.C.F., i/c Recruits, 1957. Cert. "A", Part I, 1954. R.A.F. Proficiency and Advanced Proficiency. Gliding Certificate. Efficiency Badge. Marksman.

SCHOOL HOUSE M. H. Dukes. 1957-57 (St. Olave's, 1952). Sh.B. Member of the Junior

Science Society. T. A. Dukes. 1955-58 (St. Olave's, 1951). IVA. Cert. "A", Part I.

D.S. in R.N. Section of C.C.F. A.B. Examination. 1st Class Shot.

SALVETE (February, 1958)

M. C. B. Burbidge. Sh.A.

R. H. Atkinson. Sh.B.

W. H. McBryde, Sh.A. J. C. Powell. Sh.A. THE GROVE

QUEEN'S

SCHOOL HOUSE

THE GROVE

The first day of term brought relief to some, for our only new boy, M. C. B. Burbidge, had astonishingly dark hair. There were two new monitors, Field and Macdonald; doubtless their biological background will stand them in good stead.

In the sporting world we performed creditably without being outstandingly successful. After a dead heat our Senior boat lost in the semi-final to the eventual winners, and the Junior crew lost in the final. The squash and chess teams were both narrowly defeated at the semi-final stage by Queen's and School House respectively. During the term two squash ladders were started, and the game became very popular particularly among the Junior Middles. Kirby is to be congratulated on winning the Open Competition.

The cancellation of the sports and the cross-country was very disappointing, but the achievement of second in the Standards was an extremely good effort by the whole House and did bring some compensation.

In the School hockey XI there were two members of the House; Kirby was the captain and P. B. Burbidge was awarded his colours; in the 2nd XI we had Layfield, the captain, Bellwood, and Mackay.

As usual the House was well represented in school activities, and this was emphasised once again by the presence of many Grovites in the School concert.

Midway through the term it was decided to form a House Debating Society and this proved a very popular and successful innovation. Our cynical Welshman became the Secretary, and Kirby, Bellwood, Layfield, and Crossley joined him on the Committee. The very enjoyable debates did help in some way to raise the tone of a term in which the weather nearly always had the last say.

THE MANOR

The term has been, for us as for everyone else, dominated to a considerable extent by the inclement weather, with make-shift activities only too often replacing games. Luckily, the Reading Room and Common Rooms were improved by the addition of new armchairs, some rugs, and some pleasant framed reproductions of paintings, while a number of older chairs were completely overhauled : this gave a greater measure of comfort and cheerfulness to the longer hours spent indoors.

Indeed, all things considered, "morale" has been high, and it received a particular impetus from our success in winning the Senior inter-House boating. This was an exciting event, with a re-row against Grove after a tie, and a victory in the final over Temple by a narrow margin. The crew, stroked by Gibson, already a House colour, were awarded their colours—J. 0. Armstrong, Botterill and Clark—while the cox, Read, was awarded Junior House colours.

In other fields of sport, including Junior boating, we have not been very successful. We must commiserate with the cross-country trainers, who did much work for an event that never took place, though their sorrow may not have been entirely untempered by relief. The chess team, in spite of Lennox's guidance, met with no success, but in squash we got through the first round, beating Temple, and lost the final to a School House team which contained the majority of the 1st V. In athletics, ultimately decided by standards, we were only fifth, but Junior colours were awarded to R. G. Armstrong and Dale, who secured full points, and to Holdsworth, who was only one short. Armstrong was second in both Junior jumps.

A McCallum was appointed vice-captain of hockey and awarded his cap. Lennox, Lowley and F. N. Parkin shot for the 1st VIII and were awarded their minor colours. Bruce, Hutchinson and R. A. Wood played for the Junior XV.

An interesting event near the beginning of term was the visit of a party of S. African schoolboys, and the Manor took its share in entertaining them. This was very enjoyable, but the visit was all too short, and we all felt so much more could have been done for them if time had permitted.

No. 2 has again had an intruder. Many of us remember the gentleman caught last year going round the garden on all fours striking matches, but this was a more serious affair, for G. D. Parkin 13

caught a youth in the Senior Common Room, apparently about to rifle tuck-boxes. It was not his first visit, and a number of missing articles were recovered by the police, to the relief of all.

We have had, this term, the welcome but temporary addition of Mr. Oakley to the House staff. We hope he has enjoyed his tour of duty in the House and offer him our best wishes for the future. Our good wishes likewise go with Montague, who leaves this term : he has done a good deal for the House, and is remembered, amongst other things, for winning hits in two Junior House cricket matches, but he has been in a number of other teams and was awarded his House colours in 1956.

We close with an apology—to Botterill, whose name we omitted last term from the list of those who played for the 2nd XV.

QUEEN'S

The Easter Term was one of quiet endeavour, quietly impeded by the weather. Although never spectacularly bad (even the interesting floods subsided quietly) it caused the cancellation of the cross-country race and of the athletic sports, it hindered the hockey and it rendered rowing uncomfortable.

At the start of the term Burton and Crowther were welcomed to the Monitors' study which now accommodates seven people. In their studies, the senior members of Queen's dream of the completion of the new Junior School block and the realisation of their private "space-age".

Our primary aim this term was the Cross-country Shield. With five members of last year's team our hopes were high, and our Captain argued spiritedly with anyone who laid claim to have surpassed the time of his prospective runners. But to our great disappointment the likelihood of the race being run diminished and finally vanished. We can but hope, philosophically, that the acquisition of this trophy has merely been delayed.

In our boating were were favoured with a bye to the semi-final in both the Senior and Junior divisions, but made a graceful exit before the finals. The Senior IV finished threequarters of a length down to Temple after a spirited row, while the Junior boat fell to a strong Grove crew. In our defence, we feel that unfortunate changes of crew owing to illness and other factors prevented any of us from really settling down. All this time hockey was being played, weather permitting, notably by Thorp, who was awarded his 1st XI colours, and Jesper for the 2nd XI.

We hoped to retain the Squash Cup but were just overcome by School House. After a first round bye, we beat Grove 3-2 in the semi-final to lose 2-3 in the final. With only one School team player in the House, this was a creditable performance, and we congratulate

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Bygate on the award of his squash colours, as we congratulate J. C. Lacy on winning the Junior Squash Cup in an all Queen's final, which augurs well for the future.

The frequent appearances of Sgt.-Major Power looking for lost fencing kit reminded us that Burton is still directing this quaint form of exercise. Fencing colours were awarded to Beresford, with whom two other members of the House, N. R. Barton and S. P. Burton, fenced for the School during the course of the term.

Bygate was appointed Captain of School Athletics and before the cancellation of the sports he repeated his success of last year in the Senior Mile. W. Mitchell also did a repeat performance, breaking his own record after a last lap with the track virtually to himself. The Standards were viewed with a certain lack of enthusiasm, but four Queen's names appeared in the list of outstanding individual achievements, A. Hardman, T. E. Giddings, and R. A. Spencer from the Juniors, and D. L. Slade from the rest of the House.

Towards the end of term, House colours were awarded to Crowther, and Junior House colours to P. H. Moat. And now a point easily overlooked but worthy of mention—we are leading in the Work Cup competition. We do not know how this state of affairs arose, but we intend to keep it so.

And finally, Chilman left us at the end of term. In the discharge of duties not so easy as many people think, and in the example he set, he proved a most able Head of House. We wish him every success in applying his researches in spectroscopy to the production of fruit gums and in his further career at Cambridge.

THE RISE

It cannot be denied that this has been a most successful term for us. Despite the weather we have won two trophies hitherto totally unacquainted with the Rise and have won back an old established Rise possession.

Our two newcomers? The Junior Boating Cup and the Chess Knight, both hard fought for and well earned. Those members of the Junior crew who had not already been awarded their Junior House colours were thus rewarded, after Bagnall, Gough, and Sim had been awarded theirs—for there had been an oversight and an omission following the Rugger last term.

The Athletics Shield returned to its home for the fifth time in six years. As the weather unfortunately limited the sports events, the Shield was awarded on the results of Standards alone, and so every single individual is entitled to feel directly a glow of pride. We like to think that had the weather not necessitated the cancelling of the cross-country, we would have won it—but that is certainly open to

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speculation. For the most part our team was a very young one; and with five, and possibly seven, members of the eight-man team staying on next year, the future appears rosy.

In the other inter-House competitions, the Senior rowing crew were beaten by the eventual winners, Manor. Despite Mr. Dodd's training and helpful criticism, the squash team succumbed somewhat easily to the Grove.

In School sport, R. R. Baldwin, Ranson, Irvin, and Gale played a bit of hockey for the first XI; and Gough, Dronfield, Hemsley, and later Cormack, did the same for the second XI. Cook, Gale, Gough, and Ranson all expended much mental energy playing chess; and Cook and Mathews continued to fence manfully. Pattinson, too, managed to get a free trip to Newcastle. Howard continued to adorn the squash team, and he was duly awarded his colours. A. C. Wilson characteristically had his exercise—in shooting for the 2nd VIII.

Apart from sport, there were other items of interest. We returned to School to learn of Irvin's Exhibition in English to Emmanuel College, Cambridge; later in the term Cook was successful in his quest for a place at Downing College, Cambridge. As a result of popular demand an attempt was made to form a House Debating Society; this occurred right at the end of term, and so we delay judgment on its prospects. The Discussion Group was successfully more ambitious this term, and to our four guest speakers we extend our hearty thanks.

Though the weather was bad, our health was good. But we were sorry to lose Rawson-Lax through illness, and we hope to see him with us again next term. Talking of Juniors, Bryan joined us this term from a day-boy House.

There remains but to say two farewells. One to Mr. Wall who has been studying us for a term : we have enjoyed having him with us, and assure him that the failures of his "musical attempts" were no reflection whatsoever on him, but a sad reflection on the unprecedented lack of musical talent in the House. Goodbye also to Ken Brown. He will be indispensable. He has given much, not only to the Rise, but to the School, and we wish him every success. Out of respect and out of thanks we awarded him his House colours as a parting gesture.

SCHOOL HOUSE

This term we welcomed Mr. A. T. Howat as our new House Master; we hope he has settled down and will have a happy stay in School House.

Athletic activities have been badly held up, snow being the main hindrance. On the river the House 1st IV lost to Grove in the 1st round of the Senior boat races, thus losing the Cup which we unexpectedly, but deservedly, won last year. The 1st IV consisted of

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Wilson, Howat, Brooks, Way, with Slater as cox. The House 2nd IV consisting of Coles, Bagshaw, Beachell, Leach, with Fenton as cox, also lost in the 1st round after a close race with Rise.

In School sports we have been well represented. In the hockey 1st XI we had Macpherson and Baxter who were both re-awarded their 1st XI colours. In the 2nd XI Beaumont was a permanent member until smitten by glandular fever. Butler and J. B. Robinson both played in one match, Butler vanishing thereafter, probably owing to erratic play.

The House has been well represented in the shooting VIIIs by Butler, Baxter, Garbutt, and Wilson in the 1st VIII and by Hick, Baker, Hodgson, and Oldham in the 2nd VIII. This makes School House numerically prominent in the shooting world.

The squash team, with Macpherson (Capt.), Alderson, Baxter, D. Robinson, and Hanson put up a very good performance in beating Queens in the final, thus winning the Squash Cup. Beaumont was to have been third string and again we had to do without him because of his illness.

Hanson and Shearsmith have represented the School regularly in the chess team. It was a great disappointment not to have won the Chess Cup. Once again the absence of Beaumont contributed to our defeat at the hands of Rise.

The cross-country team, led by Wilson, trained hard but their efforts were fruitless as the race was cancelled because of snow and adverse conditions in general. This cancellation was a disappointment as the House team might have done well in the competition.

In athletics we came third in the Standards with 183 points, helped by the very creditable efforts of Macpherson who got 18 points in Set A, J. J. Rhodes (20), Bond (19), and Oldham (19) in Set B, Anderson (21) in Set C, Bell and Carruthers (17 out of 18) in Set E. If Beaumont and P. N. B. Smith had been taking part our total score would have been considerably higher.

Sports Day itself turned out to be really wet and so no events were held. It was possible, however, to hold the jumping events on the Monday and in these the outstanding event was Macpherson's Long Jump of 21 ft. 5+ ins. in which he broke J. D. C. Wall's record by 18 inches. Macpherson's name will stay, we think, in the list of record-holders for many a year. Bond came 2nd in the Inter. High Jump, failing to be 1st equall by reason of one additional failure at a lower height. He just failed to beat the record of 5 ft. 1+ ins. and the bitterly cold day may have been partly the reason for this. Baxter was 4th in the Senior Long Jump, J. J. Rhodes 4th equal in the Senior High Jump, P. N. B. Smith 3rd in the Inter. Long Jump and Hodgson 3rd in the Inter. High Jump.

Turning to the less beefy activities of the House, the House Proms. have been ably run again by Howat, Slater, and Way and their 17

enthusiasm has given an average of 20 boys each fortnight a very enjoyable evening. To enable the less sophisticated musicians to have their say, a House Concert was held on the last night of term and was organised by F. I. Watson and J. B. Robinson. We had a Rock 'n Roll session and a Skiffle Group with a first class vocalist in Oldham, selections on harmonica and accordion by J. M. Atkinson, Geordie songs by Way and party and a quartet consisting of familiar and more adult figures. At any rate, the whole entertainment was thoroughly appreciated by the House.

A hobbies competition was also held during the term and judged at the end. The winners of a rather disappointing lot of entries were Yeadon and J. M. Atkinson. Another year it is confidently expected that there will be far more effort made in this direction and that some articles made of wood will appear.

In School most boys in the House appeared to be working hard— some of the time. In the last mark order it was pleasant to see that almost every boy in the Lower School went up in position. D. H. Rhodes was at last persuaded to come top of his form instead of 2nd; congratulations to him.

Finally we have to say goodbye to T. A. and M. H. Dukes. We are very sorry that they are leaving and wish them all the best for the future and thank them for what they have done for the House.

HOUSE MASTER'S NOTE.

In writing the House Notes above, the Head of House, Butler, has carefully avoided any reference to his own trouble. He was smitten with appendicitis and hauled off to a Nursing Home one evening and was a few ounces the lighter by next morning. To me as a very new House Master this was a considerable blow and I was very interested to see that the House continued to function smoothly. Two things contributed to this, the one being the excellence of Butler's organisation, and the other the way in which D. Robinson and the other Monitors rose to the occasion. I am happy to say that Butler and also Beaumont, to whom earlier reference has been made, are both regaining their strength and should be fit by next term.

TEMPLE

The outstanding feature of the term has undoubtedly been the large amount of snow and rain, with the result that the athletics were curtailed before the majority of the House had really got into their stride.

Both the boating crews were in fine fettle : the Senior crew, under the able guidance of Smith, after hard-fought preliminary rounds, put up a magnificent display in the final, but were beaten by a bulkier and beefier Manor crew by a very small margin. The Junior crew, inspired by the fitness of their elder brethren, were only narrowly beaten in the semi-final.