Old Peterite News

Sometimes, like last year, the corn would be ripe by the end of July. Then came weeks of hard work and sweating to gather all the corn. Usually Slim's job was to help "bagging off." This meant standing in the farmyard by the big double doors into the "granary" filling sacks with grain from the back of trailers. It was hot, dusty work hooking the sacks over the spikes on either side of the shoots, and letting the grain escape into them like so many buckets of sand, while the dust slowly rose up and choked him. Then came "barrowing". With the help of a small pair of wheels he carried the 14 stone bags of corn through to where "old" Ned was stacking them. Dust covered him from head to foot to mix with his sweat to form an irritating coarse caking over his skin.

If he was lucky he would go to the field and help to stack bales. This was great fun, chasing the baler over the fields in the back of a landrover. Stopping to stack bales then jumping into the back of the moving landrover. But after a few days his hands began to ache. Red marks appeared and each bale hurt more and more. One day, with the help of Ned and a young lad from the village they stacked nearly 2,000 bales! And, as Slim said to his father that night, "It b felt like it an' all!"

It was hard work during the day, but at night came the best part of all. Each night when work had stopped for the day, all the farm-hands and he, and his family sat down for the evening meal. Over the huge helpings of beef and potatoes they swapped stories about fishing and discussed the day's work.

At 9 o'clock Slim went upstairs. First he had a long bath, lying in the water, letting it sooth his aches and remove his itchings. It was then he felt best. He had worked hard all day and really helped his father: now he could relax. Drying himself slowly Slim usually sang to himself. It sounded awful, but just so long as he was happy, he didn't care.

Lying in bed between the clean, white sheets Slim thought of fields of wheat and hot summers as he quickly fell asleep. Tired, worn-out, weather-beaten, coarse and still fairly grimy but very happy and satisfied. C.T.A. (IIIrd Form)

The Old Peterite Club's 82nd Annual General Meeting was held at the School on 14th July.

D. W. Grice, R. D. Harding, C. H. Lewis, F. N. Newdick, D. T . Rumfitt and E. Sheriff were elected to serve on the General Committee.

There was a lengthy discussion about the Regional Dinners, and several suggestions were made. There was general agreement that mixed functions should be arranged either to replace or in addition to the usual all-male dinners.

The meeting passed a proposal that limited funds, at the discretion of the Committee, should be made available to help Old Peterite teams participating in national competitions. 52

Regional dinners were announced as follows:—

West Riding : 29th October, 1973, at the Barn Inn, Cowthorpe .

London : 9th November, 1973, at the Charing Cross Hotel.

NOTES

The next meeting of the General Committee will be held at the School on Saturday, 15th December, 1973, at 4.45 p.m. The Hon. Secretary (D. Kirby, 7a St. Peter's Grove, Clifton, York) would like to receive any items for inclusion on the agenda by 27th November.

The following crested neckwear is available (from the Hon. Secretary):

All-silk crested ties ... Texturised terylene crested ties Terylene crested ties All-silk bow ties ... All-silk batswings £ p 1.35 80 65

62 1.00

OLD PETERITE CLUB OFFICERS President: C. W. Thompson, Barclays Bank House, 28 Market Square,

Retford, Notts. Hon. Secretary : D. Kirby, 7a St. Peter's Grove, Clifton, York. Hon. Treasurer : J. E. Moore, 56 Bents Road, Sheffield S11 9RL.

District Hon. Secretaries: London : P. J. Dronfield, 21 West Hill Road, Foxton, Royston, Herts. West Riding: M. A. Butterworth, 9 Station Road, Upper Poppleton, York. North West: Dr. G. E. L. Graham, Netherby House, 15 Upper Dicconson

Street, Wigan, Lancs. North East : J. N. Roe, 4 Heather Drive, Acklam, Middlesbrough, Teesside. East Riding: P. S. Atkinson, "Greystones", Garton, Driffield, Yorks. York: J. C. M. Rayson, 2 St. Olave's Road, Clifton, York. Birmingham : M. Hollway, P.O. Box, 34, 63 Colmore Row, Birmingham 3.

Sports Organisers: Cricket: J. A. Shouksmith, Denstone College Preparatory School, Smallwood Manor, Uttoxeter, Staffs. Golf : J. C. M. Rayson, 2 St. Olave's Road, Clifton, York. Hockey: H. J. Gration (Hon. Sec. Pandas H.C.), West Leigh, Northfield

Lane, Riccall, York. Rugger: J. R. Wood, 10 East Parade, York. Squash: J. C. Richardson, The Forge Cottage, Little Ouseburn, Nr. York. Tennis: G. M. Todd, 6 Heworth Hall Drive, Heworth, York. 53

The Old Peterite Club Annual Dinner was held on Saturday, 14th July, 1973, in the School Dining Hall, by kind permission of the Headmaster. The time-honoured toast of the School was proposed by M. A. Butterworth. The Headmaster responded and also proposed the health of the "Club", to which the President responded. The Club is again indebted to the School Catering Staff for the excellent meal provided.

Those present were:— The President Croft, P. G. Nix, J. (C. W. Thompson) Dawson, J. R. Pallant, D. J. The Headmaster Dench, P. G. R. Parkin, F. N. The Hon. Secretary Dimmey, F. H. Parkin, G. D. (D. Kirby) Dodd, N. L. Peacock, R. W. The Hon. Treasurer Dodsworth, J. R. Peaty, J. R. (J. E. Moore) Dronfield, J. Penty, P. R. F. W. B. Pacey Fenton, P. A. Pick, T. S. (Immediate Past Field, C. E. Powell, W. B.

President) Gedge, H. F. S. Powell, W. W. J. A. Hanson Graham, G. E. L. Rainford, T. C. (Past President) Gray, G. P. Ranson, E. M. H. T. J. Lewis Grice, D. W. Ratcliff, K. M. (Past President) Hall, M. S. Raylor, A. W. The Head of the School Harding, R. D. Rayson, J. C. M. (R. A. Scott) Harding, R. F. Riley, G. W. Allen, B. Hamby, F. B. S. Shearsmith, B. D. Andrew, J. K. Harris, P. L. Shepherd, C. S. Atkinson, R. Harwood, R. H. Sherriff, A. G. Atkinson, R. B. Holmes, D. C. Slater, J. R. Baker, E. T. N. Hyde, J. L. Slegg, F. C. Botterill, J. S. Jesper, D. G. S. Smith, J. E. Brindley, R. A. Johnston, D. P. Smith, W. Brown, J. C. Knowlson, D. W. Stabler, D. A. Browne, F. D. Le Tocq, L. C. Sutton, J. A. Butterworth, M. A. Lewis, C. H. Swiers, C. J. Carr, M. J. T. Marshall, H. C. Talbot-Jones, R. Clark, R. T. Morris, P. A. Thompson, J. E. Clarkson, I. G. Murray, H. Woodcock, J. R. Coles, D. P. Nendick, B. M. Woolley, C. J. Coles, J. R. Newdick, F. N. Woolgrove, F. G.

OLD PETERITE CLUB EAST RIDING DINNER

The Annual Old Peterite Club East Riding Dinner was held at the Highfield Country Club, Driffield on Friday, 25th May, 1973.

Those present were The President (C. W. Thompson) The Headmaster The Hon. Secretary (D. Kirby) Atkinson, J. S. Atkinson, P. S. Beacheli, H. M Brown, J. C. Browne, F. D. Burdass, C. M. C. Burdass, C. U. Burdass, J. U. Burdass, R. D. Chilman, K. G. Coles, D. P. Cooke, J. D. Dawson, J. R. Dee, C. C. Dronfield, J. Fletcher, D. I. Frank, C. Harding, R. F. Hardy, F. Hirst, D. Hopkinson, R. C. Hornby, M. R. Johnston, P. D. Martinson, C. S. May, A. May, M. Megginson, P. B. Newdick, F. N. Ogley, F. M. Patchett, D. M. Peacock, R. W. Potter, B. Powell, W. L. Pullan, G. B. Rayson, J. C. M. Richardson, H. Richardson, R. S. Shepherd, P. M. Smith, J. E. Swiers, C. J. Tomlinson, N. E. Wetherell, 0. C.

Grafton Morrish Tournament

The regional qualifying competition was held at Fixby on Sunday, 20th May. Ten Old Peterites played a practice round on the Saturday and this was also used as a qualifying round to pick the team of six. The successful members of the team which qualified for the finals at Hunstanton in October were:

A. T. Booth, J. M. Booth, D. L. Edbrooke, R. A. Elliott, P. J. Middlebrook and K. M. Ratcliff.

"Burnett" Trophy

The annual competition was held at Fulford Golf Club on Sunday, 15th July. Atrocious weather conditions had curtailed the entry, but, even so, thirteen foolhardy O.P's splashed their way through the traditional Stableford competition. The trophy was won by J. C. M. Rayson with 36 points and M. S. Hall was the runner-up with 35 points.

The match against the Old Sedberghian Golfing Society scheduled for the 23rd September had, unfortunately, to be cancelled, but it is hoped that one or two matches can 'be arranged for next year. Old Peterites who would like to play in any of these matches please contact J. C. M. Rayson, St. Olave's School, if they have not already done so.

NEWS OF OLD PETERITES

ANDERSON, T. D. F. (School House 1955-61) has recently been appointed Editor-in-Chief of Sheldon Press, a new quality imprint for general non-fiction books on psychology, sociology, political affairs, religion and biography. He will be pleased to hear from any Old Boys who are presently engaged in writing a book or who are thinking of writing a book which falls into any of these categories. He can be contacted at Sheldon Press, SPCK, Marylebone

Road, London NVV1 4DU. (Telephone: 01-387 5282). JOHNSON, P. F. (1954-61). Obtained his Board of Trade Master's

Ticket last December and is now serving in the P & 0 liner 'Himalaya' as 2nd Officer (Navigation). On 3rd March 1973 he married Miss Christine Ann Roband of

Matamata, New Zealand, at Welton Church, East Yorks.

LINSLEY, J. L. (Rise 1967-69) 'has graduated in Soil Science at

Newcastle University, and is to work with the Overseas Development Administration. In this connection he has already started a two year Studentship, of which the first part is a twelve month assignment in Malawi, where his work is in Land Capability

Assessment.

OBITUARY:

MANN, F. J. (1909-20, St. Olave's and St. Peter's). Rev. F. J. Mann died on 22nd July. From St. Peter's he gained a Scholarship to

Keble, Oxford, and he served in the York Diocese throughout his ministry. When he returned to York after several years in other parts of the Diocese, he was at first Director of Religious

Education, and from 1957-71 he was Rector of All Saints, Pavement with St. Saviour and St. Crux. Here he did great work with the City Guilds and, for part of the time, as a hospital Chaplain. 55

MORAG, M. B. (1947-52). Dr. Michael Morag was killed earlier this year in a road accident in Israel. He was an acknowledged world authority on the subject of sheep lactation, on which he was about to launch an international academic journal. Dr. Morag worked in the

Beersheba Arid Zone Research Institute, and he was described by

Mr. Norman Rose, Centre for International Studies, London School of Economics, as "the personification of a Jewish intellectual". PETERS, M. W. (1900-06). Died on 24th May, aged 84. Two of his brothers were at St. Peter's, as were his father and grandfather. He was Captain of Cricket and of Rugger, and won a Choral Scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge. In the 1914-18 War he won the

Military Cross. For several years he had his own preparatory school, and later he taught at Uppingham and ran a coaching establishment.

W. F. Dixon (School House 1923-26) writes from Rhodesia that another Old Peterite, Charles Prince, died there recently. Prince was a distinguished flier, and after his death the name of the Mount Hampden Airport was changed to the Charles Prince Airport in his memory.

H. W. Judge (Grove 1919-23) writes that a contemporary, Geoffrey Spink, died at Leeds on 5th June; he notes particularly that "he went out of his way to be kind to new boys".

OXFORD LETTER

Once more, another Oxford year ends and we say "goodbye" to one set of Oxford Old Peterites and we prepare to welcome another. However, two of the four final year group are staying on. John Fender (Queen's) gained a first in P.P.E. having switched from Mathematics. He proves a good example of how profitable it can be to change course at University. He is remaining in Oxford to do a B.Phil. in Economics with his sights on a D.Phil. and a possible academic career.

Timothy Day (Dronfield) has recently eschewed wordly pleasures for the sake of knowledge, but will seek inspiration and ensue the heady delights of Oxford during a year composing for B.Mus., or so the Muse says.

Michael Black (Queen's) achieved an Upper Second in Maths and has got a place at Lancaster University for a twelve-month M.A. course in Operational Research. He is having great difficulty explaining to his friends exactly what O.R. (as the jargon goes) is, but it seems to be management consultancy with a slide rule. He has spent his vacation in places as far apart as Holland, Wales and Surrey, helping at a boys' camp and attending a College Christian Union houseparty, as well as simply holidaying.

The fourth Schoolsman Andrew Scaife (Temple) got a second in Lit. Hum. and is taking a year off before going to theological college to begin three years training for ordination in the Church of England. Before then he plans to work as a porter in one of the Oxford Hospitals until 56

Christmas and then in January he hopes to go to East Africa for six months' teaching.

Of the newer arrivals, Nick Barnes (Queen's) devoted last term to working for his first exams which he passed, as well as sampling the more exclusive delights of Oxford such as punting and rowing in Eights week. He rowed in Wadham's 2nd VIII and is in the College VIII which plans to row from Oxford to London in a day, next term. We hope to tell more of this in our next letter!

Adrian Cook (School) successfully passed his Law Moderations. He is often to be seen in the Oxford Union and participated in one of the longest-ever election counts last term which lasted some 12 hours, non-stop. Otherwise he often manages to get to a race meeting and usually comes back with a small profit! During the vacation he has been helping on the farm at home, lending a hand at harvest time.

Steven Foster (Manor) has had an arduous but certainly rewarding term. Although free from exams, he has been very busy and has devoted himself to his duties as Wadham Christian Union rep. Further, to dispel illusions that he does nothing else, he mentions his exploits in Whiteham Woods, leading a gang of a dozen crazy tennis players through the most studied rural area in the country. A likely story! He has also tasted punting the wrong way in Cambridge and invested in a motor-bike. Further details of the latter enterprise are still sub judice.

Rodney Lund (Temple) has also had a hectic term, although for him academic tests (in Law) are still a year away. He was Chairman of the Labour Club and spearheaded a successful local election campaign which once again proved an embarrassment to the Conservatives. The Oxford Labour Club is the only major University association under the Labour Party aegis, and by financial backing succeeded in wresting power in the student Council Executive away from the extreme left. On this committee the balance of power rests in the hands of the only Conservative elected, one John Williams (Manor) who was also elected as next term's Treasurer of the University Conservative Association. Last term he spoke at the Oxford Union in a debate with a fellow Old Peterite, Prof. C. Northcote Parkinson. They were on opposite sides of the motion "that History is Bunk."

Political enthusiasts may be interested to know both Rodney and John are planning late summer holidays in Blackpool this year, although not at the same time.

We are sorry our notes prove incomplete. Some of our fellows have fled to the four winds, and no trace remains. We wish them well and hope to see them in the future. Oxford life proves as exhilarating as ever, a trap for any aspiring academic, sportsman, bon viveur or wit. THE OXFORD OLD PETERITES