The Sports Centre

Nevertheless, those who successfully completed the epic journey (all of four underground stations!) were conducted on an intriguing tour of the House and gained much useful knowledge. For example, did you know that Gladstone only had three fmgers on his left hand or that Wellington's horse was called Copenhagen? We then proceeded to attend a Standing Committee discussing State Participation in North Sea Oil.

Lunch-time arrived and we scattered to the four corners of the metropolis in search of a cheap meal—all were singularly unsuccessful. However, at 2.30, with expressions of contentment and empty pockets, we entered the House once again.

This was the moment we had all been waiting for. With bated breath we observed the pomp and ceremony of the Speaker's Procession which was rapidly followed by Question Time. Once one got the hang of following Questions on the Order Sheet, Question Time proved extremely interesting, no more so than when the Prime Minister took the stage, drawing in his wake a host of well-known figures (e.g. Thatcher, Heath, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Shore, Heffer, Thorpe, Paisley, et al). The questions themselves ranged from the confusion over the issue of rape to the confusion over the issue of John Stonehouse. Subsequent debate covered issues such as the question of Northern Ireland and Criminal Jurisdiction.

At about 5.00 p.m. we again broke up and followed a variety of pursuits in a variety of places.

By nothing short of a miracle, 7 p.m. saw us all heading northwards on the train in high spirits.

R.W.E./B.M.K.

The Sports Centre has been fully operational for one year. It is much to the credit of Mr Peter Shepherd, Mr Robert Harding and the Shepherd Design Group that the "running in" problems have been minimal.

The main floor area, which measures 120 feet by 70 feet, is equipped for basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, cricket, gymnastics, trampolining and five-a-side football. A notable feature of the Centre is the climbing wall, designed by Mr D. Robinson of Leeds University, which provides a highly realistic simulated training surface for budding rock climbers. Adjoining the main floor area below the balcony is a weight training room which has been used extensively by rugby players, rowers and squash players. One hopes that the long-term effects of these facilities will result in an increased standard of performance, particularly on the rugby field.

Of all the facilities in the Sports Centre, those which will be of most benefit are the indoor cricket nets. This season, adverse ground and climatic conditions during April and early May meant that valuable early season practice could still continue indoors.

Apart from P.E. lessons, considerable use is made of the Sports Centre during the Games afternoons. Formerly minor activities such as badminton, volleyball and basketball gained immediate popularity, particularly in the Middle School, and provided alternatives for the less gifted rugby players and cricketers. It is to be hoped that a sufficiently wide pro- 38