M. Boldry, A. Wiseman, D. Gilbertson and P. Morcom were confirmed in the School Chapel by the Bishop of Selby. "The Fatal Gazogene" was the first play produced by the House for a number of years. We hope that it will start a theatrical tradition in the House like those of other Houses. Such a tradition would provide the necessary experience and expertise for a top class performance. "The Fatal Gazogene" was performed with a spontaneous vigour and a certain amount of improvisation. The play made few demands on the audience. who were able to relax and enjoy the performance. We would like to thank those responsible for their sustained efforts. It is hoped that future plays will also involve girls from York College. M.J.W.D.
LETTERS HMS Hermes Valletta, Malta GC 18th April Life has been very kind to me since leaving B.R.N.C. last term. I joined Hermes, a 31,000 ton Commando carrier, in Portsmouth early in January. We sailed for Rosyth and on to Norway. We returned to Portsmouth for three weeks and maintenance was carried out. Later we returned direct to Norway and cruised up and down the fjords. The night before we were about to start an exercise with the Norwegians the trawler Gaul was lost and we were detached with R.F.A. Tideflow to search south of Bear Island at 74° North. The weather was atrocious and even we were rocked about like corks. We got positions from Nimrods and picked up several likely contacts which turned out to be false. After four days the ship was looking tattered and we returned to Norway and licked the wounds. We returned to help in Kald Vinter 74 and were sunk four times by Norwegian submarines but we sank them as well so all was even! Whilst near Bodo I went ashore for three days at temperatures of —28°C to ski. This is not the downhill skiing done in Switzerland but military Norwegian cross country style. It is just like skating and a very efficient method of transport. We slept in the open air in a brushwood bivouac. It was so very cold. After six weeks when the highest temperature was +4°C and the lowest —34°C, and the day started at 10.30 and sunset was at 14.15, we moved, via Rosyth, to Hamburg. The entry was very quiet for Hamburg. There were two bands and flags and the flight deck was lined with sailors and officers. It was very impressive to watch. Hamburg was a very good run ashore although prohibitively expensive as regards shopping. The famous Reeperbahn is an incredible place and caters for all tastes! We opened the ship to visitors and promptly had two bomb scares.. The numbers wanting to see the ship were in the region of 30,000 per day. We could only cope with 10,000 per day, which was sad. We left there and came down to Malta. The sun is shining and we all have very healthy tans after a couple of days in this heat. It is sad 60
