Valete

QUEEN'S

The House lost Reiss and Jesper at the beginning of term—bath have done much for the House and both will be missed. Skiera and Outhwaite were appointed Monitors in their place.

The weather affected us in just the same way as other Houses, with the added difficulties to be expected in a day-boy House. The great difficulty last term lay not so much in keeping boys occupied, but in keeping them interested. A succession of House runs will keep them occupied, but is hardly likely to keep alive any interest in the House or the School. In Queen's this time was particularly difficult, as the community of "the House in the School" that a normal term builds up was largely replaced by a continuation of the life a day-boy leads in the holidays. The home community and the circle of friends that boys keep out of term time intruded into the relationships that a twelve-hour timetable establishes. The House acquitted itself well, however, and no-one took too much advantage of the difficult time.

Once activities in the School began, the House was as active as ever. Many members took an active part in the School performance of the "Pirates of Penzance" and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The House Play—"The Bald Ptimadonna" by Ionesco—was ambitious, but under the guidance of Outhwaite and Mann, and with expert help from Mr. Ranson, the performance went well. The first-class set helped the actors greatly, and a very mature production resulted.

After a marathon struggle on top board, the House Chess team finally seceded from the Competition, with full dignity; C. E. M. Atkinson must have played more games in the one competition than can normally be expected in a career of inter-House Chess-playing. House Basketball was equally hard-fought, but some of our rivals were devoured of an insatiable appetite to win at all costs that spoilt the games, and frequently caused some well-concealed ill-feeling. In Table-tennis we reigned supreme, winning the Competition outright, but our fencers lacked the experience of their opponents to a marked degree. The Squash team was more successful, beating Temple, but The Grove beat us in the semi-final Three of the team were very young, however, and prospects for the future are good.

Our general handymen—Aspinall in particular—have done a wondrous job of reclamation on the House Snooker table, and the game is as popular as ever. The other House Competitions (Table-tennis in two divisions, Chess, and Draughts) were all completed, thanks to the efforts of those taking part in completing the rounds by the prescribed dates. The usual prizes were distributed—is it a sign of degeneracy that record tokens have almost entirely superseded the book token?

The Junior Long Run team took part in the first athletic competition of the term, and, supremely led by Oglesby (2nd), finished second in the team placings. With six first-year boys in the team this was pleasing, and again prospects for the future look good. With four of the team ill or away at Oxford, the Cross-Country team suffered more at the hands of Fate, and our substitutes are to be congratulated on a splendid effort at short notice. Seymour ran especially well to finish first again.

Cheered or not, the House found itself in Athletics without knowing any of the talent in the House. A team was picked, however, and acquitted itself well, especially Cloughton, who won half-share in the Clive Lewis 6