Careers

not precise, and control was lacking. The chorus of `Fa-la' etc. was not quite right.

School House made an unusual and difficult choice, 'Time was when love and I were well acquainted' from the 'Sorcerer', which was very well prepared and executed, gaining the highest mark of the evening, although it is not the kind of song that would appeal to a school audience—a melancholy love song, with joyous outbursts.

A double chance was given for the audience to hear Dronfield House rendering We sail the ocean blue', from 'H.M.S. Pinafore'. This chorus is not a very lively one, and here, it needed a lift. It was oddly arranged, and the large choir seemed a little out of control.

The Rise choice of 'My boy you may take it from Me' (Ruddigore) was described as a bad one. The interesting words were unclear, and a true musical quality was lacking, and control of a large chorus singing a `patter-song' is difficult.

The wide range of voice needed in 'I am the captain of the Pinafore' (H.M.S. Pinafore) was unfortunately not supplied by Queens in their entry. The semi-chorus was good, but the main chorus, who 'answered' the semi-chorus was heavy and cumbersome.

Thus ended the competitive singing, and after a noisy rendering of `With cat-like tread' from 'Pirates' Mr. Lovell gave his adjudication. The marks were as follows: Order Part Song Unison Total 1. Manor 89 88 177 2. School House 78 90 168 3. Dronfield 85 81 166 4. Rise 87 75 162 5. Grove 80 79 159 6. 7. Queens Temple 1 f 78 72 79 85 157

In thanking Mr. Lovell, the Headmaster said that history had been made in three ways : 1. Manor had won for the first time; 2. Unfortunately, Temple and Queens had come equal bottom for the first time; and 3. All the entries were from one source, Gilbert and Sullivan.

The opportunities for pre-career experience are as numerous as ever but it does not always seem to be realised that they exist. It therefore seems appropriate to mention these opportunities in The Peterite once again, because there is no doubt that such experience is very valuable, particularly to a boy who has at least another year at school, in that it can help him avoid a serious mistake in his choice of career.

The most comprehensive series of courses is provided through the Public Schools Appointments Bureau, particularly in the Easter holidays, though there is also a wide variety of courses during the summer holidays. Though many of these courses are designed for the scientist, there are many places for the non-scientist also and not all the courses by any means 12

are provided by manufacturing industry. Courses exist also in banking, insurance, the retail trade, the police, railways, accountancy, civil aviation and in addition the Bureau runs a number of general courses giving an introduction to the world of commerce and administration. Full details are provided in the Careers Room of all these courses as they become available during the year. Those who attend them always find them most valuable as well as broadening their experience and extending their education.

In addition to these regular courses schools from time to time are given the opportunity to nominate candidates for courses run by individual employers or by the Services. For instance, we have been asked to nominate a candidate for the Rolls-Royce Summer School to be held during September this year, and W. N. Marshall attended a Royal Marines Introductory Course during the Easter holidays. His account of this course appears below.

There is no doubt that some experience of a potential career or contact with somebody involved in that career before leaving school is of tremendous value to a boy. In addition to former courses such as have been mentioned above, most employers are more than willing to meet and advise boys who are still at school without any strings attached, and it is often possible for a boy to arrange for a few days experience for himself if he wants to find out more about a career which interests him. The field of opportunity, particularly for the well qualified school leaver, is so wide today that no one person can necessarily give him all the information he wants and experience of the type mentioned here should be considered by all boys as being of great value to them, even though many of them will not be entering a career until after completing a university course.

ROYAL MARINES COURSE

This course took place at the Infantry Training Centre Royal Marines at Lympstone in south Devon. The purpose of the course was to show potential officers what was expected of them and to show them aspects of the training they would, if they were selected; have to do.

We were shown and told about the specializations in the Corps and were given the opportunity to fire the platoon weapons. Everybody went over the assault course at a "slow" run and over the Tarzan/Agility course. Both these courses were in themselves fairly easy but as a time limit is imposed for the Marine young officers they would be very stiff.

A day was spent at the Royal Marines Amphibious Training Unit at Poole. A very cold morning was spent on landing craft, firstly on the Gemini inflatable craft which can be compared with minis. Secondly we went on personnel carriers. These could carry 21 trucks or thirty fully equipped men. On these we took the controls and found out how manoeuvreable these craft were. The day at Poole was very beneficial as we learnt a lot about the up and coming specialization of the Marines.

This was the best part of the course as far as comfort was concerned. For the last day we had to bivy out on a local common and we were given the minimum of equipment with which to do it. The last morning was spent firstly visiting the endurance course, and going round it. This was 13