Athletics

would like to record our deep sympathy. Our timetable was planned for us, and we embarked upon a sixth form drama group, who were reading Dr. Faustus. Next came the lunch break, where we were separated and fed in a house communal room. In the afternoon a visit to double History was arranged for us, which was most entertaining. The remainder of the afternoon lessons was occupied with a guided tour of the school.

At four o'clock we departed, individually, to the houses of our hosts, where we spent a most enjoyable evening in the company of their respective parents. The following morning we returned in time for morning assembly, which was conducted by the more senior pupils. It was based upon "pop" music festivals and included a relevant "pop" record. We then paid a visit to double Maths, which was of a rather high standard for us to comprehend. The remainder of the morning was taken up by an impromptu tour of the classes and a visit to a sixth form Physics lesson. We visited the Art, Woodwork, P.T. and Metalwork classes, all for a short duration. The school had an excellent "technical" block, which we were most impressed with. In the afternoon we visited the school farm, which had a horse, pigs and various fowl. We also visited another History lesson and conversed with many people.

We were most impressed with the school, which had excellent facilities. Among many other things, it had 'three gymnasiums, one of which was no longer used. The visit was a marvellous opportunity to see the functioning of a co-educational comprehensive school. We are particularly grateful to Mr. I'Anson for taking us, our hosts, and to Wombwell High School for tolerating such rudely obtrusive and inquisitive people. Simon Robinson Philip Gooder Simon Ford

THE THRESHOLD

AN ANTHOLOGY FROM THE FIRST AND SECOND YEARS

THE TREE

An apple tree standing by the side of the road, Where perhaps somebody left an apple core, After a day in the country; Grown up with the help of nature. Apples like glimmering red light bulbs; The tree still covered by apples, And weighed down by them, Weeping with this weight of fruit. In a few days they will start falling, Like small meteors from out of the sky, And bruised as they land on the verge; To be eaten by people or insects, Whichever get them first.

Crackling loudly as the fire jumps. Eyes stare and start to water. "Keep back," says the fire, the almighty one, "keep back." It burns on merrily, Keeping itself warm, The smoke is carried by the wind. The fire still keeps snapping away at those branches; The singed ground is parched. The fire is impressed by the moon; It is dying and growing. But the sky is somewhat lit in places; The sky sings aloud. Clouds move across the face of the crested moon; Almighty one wants to burn it.

CHEETAH

He runs, His fur the colour of burning gold; A blur carried on the wind. He hunts by day, Whilst the drowsy unconcerned antelope graze on the wiry tussocks of golden grass. Eyes intent on the kill, He pounces. Dust billows and swirls over the scene. The struggling ceases; The antelope lies still like some carcass in a butcher's shop. Cheetah has made his kill, So have 1

HIDING PLACE

Shoes clicking on the concrete, running to the end of the road, leap over the ditch into the wood; the long cathedral like avenue of trees above you, counting, one, two, three; this is it, my tree, a tall slender tree with stubby growth round the trunk; grab two branches now I'm up, climbing cautiously round the growth, like a spiral staircase; step carefully on to the planks on the broken branches, just enough room to squat or stand, hidden by the leafy branches, keeping quiet and listening, unseen in the shady avenue.