The Suttonian 1955 (Lent Term)

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CONTENTS PAGE

Editorial . .

237

School Officials School Notes

238 238

In Memoriam E.R.P.

239

Valete

239

Salvete

240

Our Contemporaries

240

Library Notes

240

Chapel Notes

.. ..

240

"Busman's Honeymoon"

240

Ashford Dance ..

242

"Yeomen of the Guard"

243

Sixth Form Conference ..

244 244

Clubs and Societies Lectures . .

246

Cinema Club Jazz Club ..

247 247

Hunting Society

248

Shooting Notes

248

C.C.F.

249

Scout Notes

250

Football Retrospect

251

Rugby Football ..

253

Fives Retrospect ..

255

Cross-Country Retrospect

256

Steeplechases

257

Baton Race

258

Athletics . .

239

0.8. Notes

260

0.8. Cricket, 1955 ..

262

Oxford Jottings ..

263

Correspondence ..

263

Impressions of Argentina . .

264

THE SUTTONIAN LENT TERM, 1955

No. 226 (No. 8 of Volume XXVIII)

Editorial the last three terms, what was a novel subject for discussion has become a D URING commonplace and accepted sight. Wheel-barrows full of cement are what we expect to meet round the corner, and piles of bricks are an accepted hazard. The building of the new laboratories and tuck-shop is well under progress, and we have become well used to the rumblings of heavy lorries and cement mixers, to the extra mud and potholes which they cause, and to the remarkable way in which the finishing date seemed at first to be growing more and more distant. We have had excellent opportunity to watch the British workman in action (and have noticed the comparative speed with which the hut in which he has his tea-breaks and shelters from the elements has been erected). And now the new chemistry laboratory and lecture room is in regular use and the time is drawing near when the new tuck-shop will be finished, the old one pulled down, and the physics and biology laboratories started. At present, the chemistry laboratory seems a little remote from the other classrooms and the convenient location of the old laboratories is easily recalled.

But on walking round the old laboratories an unbiased visitor might feel that here only were rooms where practical chemistry was indulged in as an explosive sport rather than as an addition to learning, where seemingly practical physics resolved itself solely into attempts to get dilapidated apparatus to do more than look wholely unfunCtional, where partly dissected dogfishes, mutilated worms and microscopes were stuffed in dusty corners. Here amongst worn benches, corroding taps and tired walls is no atmosphere of scholarly science, but rather of extemporary experimenting.

Let the visitor look round the new laboratory, however, with its clean lines, neat rows of bottles and concealed gas taps and here he may feel that scientific learning can be and is achieved in a scientific manner. The modern look, the efficient ventilating, the purposeful design of such ordinary things as taps and electrical power-points, must inspire him to take a closer look at some of the other equipment and to wonder what is its purpose. Such is possibly the changed attitude of the visitor ; what of the boys' impression, who have to learn there ? Surely, this newness and efficiency will affect them too in the same way, and foster in them a new approach to "lessons."

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School Officials Head of the School : M. A. Maberly School Prefects :

C. R. G. Shaw A. H. W. Jones R. A. Griffin B. G. Keeble E. M. Hollingsworth M. D. Grundy P. N. Goddard House Prefects : St. Margaret's : Westminster :

P. L. Vinson R. G. Stubblefield C. E. Slater W. E. Ellis J. A. D. Croft

R. E. B. Craven P. A. Aisher J. P. Gleave J. F. W. Ingram T. M. Chastain

Lambe' s :

M. E. C. Rayner A. T. Stimpson C. M. W. Kempson

C. D. Gerty J. G. Winter A. F. Pearey

Founder's :

R. N. H. Douglas

J. R. Hedges

Sports Committee : The Headmaster (President)

R. L. Kay, Esq. M. A. Maberly E. A. Craven, Esq. B. G. Keeble N. P. Bentley, Esq. M. D. Grundy J. W. Thomson, Esq. C. D. Gerty Rugby Football :

B. G. Keeble (Captain) A. H. W. Jones (Vice-Captain) R. G. Stubblefield (Hon. Sec.) Shooting :

A. H. W. Jones (Captain) P. J. T. Herbert (Hon. Sec.) Athletics :

R. A. Griffin (Captain : Track) A. T. Stimpson (Captain : Cross-Country) Fives :

R. E. B. Craven (Captain) Library Committee :

The Headmaster (President) L. N. Harvey, Esq. (Librarian) C. R. G. Shaw (Hon. Sec.) J. L. Sharpe R. G. Stubblefield E. M. Hollingsworth P. N. Goddard B. P. Davis R. B. Lake

Suttonian Co mmittee : C. E. Slater (Editor)

E. M. Hollingsworth J. L. Sharpe R. G. Stubblefield C. R. G. Shaw T. M. Chastain P. J. T. Herbert School Notes J. A. D. Croft has been appointed a House Prefect in St. Margaret's.

A. F. Pearcy has been appointed a House Prefect in Lambe's.

At a meeting of the Sports Committee, on Monday, February 14, the following appointment was made : A. F. Pearey to be Captain of Swimming for 1955.

Fives colours have been awarded to B. G. Keeble, M. D. Grundy and A. F. Pearey.

Athletics Colours (Cross-Country) have been awarded to J. H. M. Booth, M. E. C. Rayner, J. R. Hedges, R. J. M. Radford, J. J. E. Keeley, J. M. Wilcockson and P. R. Faulks.

Athletics Colours (Track) have been awarded to A. T. Stimpson, J. R. Tyrrell, R. G. Stubblefield, P. L. Vinson, R. E. B. Craven, M. D. Grundy, J. A. D. Croft, A. J. Perkins and P. Neate.

Miniature Range Shooting Colours have been awarded to P. J. T. Herbert, C. E. Slater, M. A. Maberly and G. J. A. Hardy.

We were unfortunate in missing R. L. Kay, Esq., for a large part of the term owing to illness, and are grateful to P. F. Higgins, Esq., for temporarily taking over his duties.

We welcome C. K. le Fleming, Esq., as Music Master.

The Captains of Football, Athletics and Fives wish to thank all those who have helped with games this term.

The Editor and Committee of The Suttonian wish to thank all those who have contributed to this term's magazine.

THE SUTTONIAN

In Memoriam E.R.P. The news of Edward Pierssene's premature death came to me as a very great shock and source of grief, and I should like an opportunity of paying his memory a personal tribute. He was, I remember, the second member of the staff to whom I was introduced on my nervous arrival at the School, and naturally I was somewhat diffident at meeting a rather older man whom I knew I was to displace as commander of the then J.T.C. Edward's hearty welcome, his quiet, kindly humour, and his unfailing Edwardian courtesy, soon put me completely at ease and cemented a very deep and close friendship which lasted until the end. His calm serenity and soothing personality were always to me of the greatest help in times of trouble or crisis ; his advice sensible, sincere, and leavened with a wit that encouraged but never stung. I never heard him say an evil word about anyone, and I always had confidence that my confidences would be treated confidentially.

In the same way with the boys, his attitude of good humour and encouragement produced great results, in similar fashion to his handling of the unforgettable " Mister " Pim ; and I am sure that there are many generations of Suttonians who mourn his departure as much as I. I have memories of summer holidays spent together fruit-picking enjoyably at an economic loss ; of summer evenings exploring the Weald in that incredible vehicle, the "Flying Bedstead " ; late nights in either his or my rooms discussing interminably over extremely mediocre sherry how theoretically to put the School to rights ; of choral practices, frequently, I confess, only attended by myself rather grudgingly, but when the night of the

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concert arrived, and Edward mounted the rostrum, all grudges dissolved in wild enthusiasm, for he demanded, and in the end obtained, a very high standard.

I shall remember, too, his masterly extemporisations before Morning Chapel with themes always suitable to the occasion if not strictly orthodox ; his ability, when we had frequent power cuts and the organ was out of commission, to lead the Congregational Hymn by voice alone ; the " Egg " at Rag-concerts; and his complete and utter inability to throw a dart.

For me, S.V. will never be the same again without the sight of his familiar stooping silhouette shambling down the Upper Road with the great " Mister " jumping and prancing at his heels.

F. T. W. B.-H.

Valete J. R. HEDGES (F.-1949).-1950, Junior Soccer XI; 1952, Under-14 XI; 1953, Junior Athletics Team, Winner of Junior Tennis Tournament, R.L.S.S. Scholar Instructor's Cert., House XI, Cert. " A " (War) ; 1954, House Athletics, Life Saving and Swimming Teams, House Prefect, R.L.S.S. Award of Merit, Arty. Classification, House Drill Squad, G.C.E. (" 0" Level), 2nd XV Colours, House XV, Cpl. in C.C.F. ; 1955, Cross-Country Running Colours.

A. T. STIMPSON (H., W. and L.-1951).â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 1953, Open Range Cadet Pair, R.L.S.S. Bronze Cross, House Cross-Country Capt., House XI and XV ; 1954, Cross-Country Running and Athletics Colours, 2nd XI, Open Range Shooting VIII, 1st XV Colours, G.C.E. (" 0" Level) ; 1955, Cross-Country Running Capt., House Shooting and Athletics Capt., Sjt. in C.C.F., Individual shooting shield, Arty. Classn.

K. KEMSLEY (L.-1950).-1952, Capt. Junior Soccer XI; 1953, R.L.S.S. Intermediate ; 1954, Colts XV Colours, House XI, House Swimming Team, 2nd XI Colours.

H. F. HOFF (M.-1953).

I. W. L. DE'ATH (L. and W.-1950).

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Salvete FORM LOWER IV.—Diskul, D. (W.), Hill,

S. A. S. (Bt.), Hill, T. B. A. (Bt.), Morgan, T. E. (W.), Pangman, J. F. (W.), Pow, B. R. (L.), Rowe, A. N. (W.).

FORM IL—Collins, J. N. (Bt.).

Our Contemporaries The Editor gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following magazines and apologises for any inadvertent omissions :— The Aldenhamian, The Blundellian, The Cantuarian, The Chronicle, The Cranbrookian, The Fettesian, The Georgian, The Gresham, The Lawrentian, The Mill Hill Magazine, The Roffensian, The Rossallian, The School Tie, The Sennockian, The Tonbridgian and The Topic.

Library Notes The committee thank R. D. Wickham, Esq. (Governor of the School), for "Waal Economy" which the library will receive at his request for the next twelve months ; Col. E. H. Hillersdon, D.S.O., T.D. (Governor of the School), for "Lord M,"

by David Cecil.

The following books have been purchased from the Library Fund The Story of the English Coinage,"

by Peter Seaby ; "Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Gt. Britain and Ireland,"

by H. A. and P. J. Seaby ; "The King's Peace, 1637-1641," by C. V. Wedgewood ; " British Political Parties," by R. T. McKenzie ; " The French Language To-day," by L. C. Harmer ; " Archaeologia Cantiana," Vol. LXIV."

Chapel Notes We have been glad to welcome the following visiting preachers this term : The Ven. Archdeacon F. N. Chamberlain, Chaplain of the Fleet, E. V. Reynolds, Esq., Headmaster of Stowe School, Dr. R. C. Parry, and H. B. L. Wake, Esq., Headmaster of St. John's School, Leatherhead.

Collections have been taken for the Sutton Valence P.C.C., the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund and the N.S.P.C.C. The Archbishop of Canterbury has regretfully had to change the date of the Confirmation next term, but he hopes now to be able to conduct the Service in Chapel on Thursday, June 9, at 3.15 p.m.

"Busman's Honeymoon" "Let us have a quiet hour, Let us hob-and-nob with Death."

So might Superintendent Kirk and Lord Peter Wimsey have agreed had "The Vision of Sin" been on their reading list (the quotation-bandying complaint seems to have infected the present writer, too.) Happily, thanks to the Headmaster's production furthered by an army of technicians on and off stage, we were allowed to enjoy some of the hobbing-and-nobbing and did not complain when the " hour " became " two " and the " quiet " was strangely "full of sound and fury," vocal and ballistic.

To the Elizabethan cottage, somewhat the better for wear in view of the uncomplimentary description of the absent vendor, "came two young lovers lately wed "—one of them perhaps not quite so young—and their butler, Bunter. These, with Macbride, were, as it were, the " caviare " ; the remainder of the dramatis

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perscma3, like the roast duck, green peas and mushrooms of Bunter's menu, were local, i.e., Paggleham produce. {By the way, Bunter, did we catch just the trace of a shudder as Lord Peter served claret with the caviare ?]

Of the caviare, Mr. Thomson as Lord Peter, always "courteous, discreet and debonaire," moved with a natural nonchalance completely characteristic. Not so characteristic, however, was the strong language liberally supplied by the author, so inartistic and dramatically indefensible in this interpretation. Was it some atavistic tendency due to the busman ancestor ? Miss Scott-Wilson as Harriet, Lord Peter's bride, proof, if proof were needed, that " W(h)imsey, not reason, is the female guide," had little to do but decorate the scene, but the two of them from first to the last gasp of Love's latest breath" were happy, natural and audible and almost deserved Joe Sellon's first act curtain : "Now then, what's all this ? " Mr. MacIlwaine's Bunter stands high in the line of gentlemen's gentlemen from Fag to Jeeves and, like Fag when moved with passion, Bunter could show himself a master of invective ; curses both loud and deep were at his command despite a momentary and involuntary metathesis.

As Macbride, a cockney Jew, a lawyer's clerk, vulgar, familiar and insensitive Mr. Nicholl looked and acted the part. There was wanting perhaps that little more flamboyance to match the tie, something of the panache of the Camelot. One felt that if anyone wilted during Macbride's interrogation by the Superintendent it would have been the Superintendent.

And now to the "local produce" and, if macaronies are permissible, " Atte " Pnffet (Mr. Bentley who for some moments after the curtain rise was "more honour'd in the breech than the full face observance "). " wol I first beginne."

"This Puffet was a stout carl, for the nones, Ful big he was of braun, and eek of bones ; " " A picker-up of unconsidered trifles ; " A bylder-sweep what didn't 'old wi' rifles ; But when of briddes in the wildernesse The herde him Bingen, botbe more and lease "This Puffet bar to him a stif burdoun ; Was never trompe of half so greet a soun."

To return to "the other harmony of prose." The Headmaster as the Vicar was "point-devise the very man" ; his walk" on lissom, clerical, printless toe," his quiet caressing voice, his nostalgia for the climbing prowess of Oxford days, that brought a blush to the cheeks of Miss Twitterton, were not assumed, they were the man's personality.

Of a very different personality but with no less assurance of empathy was Mr. Simpson's Superintendent Birkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a superintendent one could believe in. His in-drawn laugh seemed to irradiate his whole personality. He had the gift of not letting the emotion die as soon as the words were out. Joe Sellon (Mr. Horn) had his moment and he took it well. His agonised expression when it became clear to his slow-moving mind that he was a suspect was too good to have been shown in profile only. We can pardon the occasional lapse into the dialect of the Police College.

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Miss Finnis as Miss Twitterton just twittered onâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a lovely character sketch that was illumined from a light within. Though she never justified Crutchley's cruel designation of her as a hen, there was something birdlike about her movements and utterance that might have warranted the expression wren-like. Mr. Hanworth, a late corner to the part of Frank Crutchley, had the thankless task of acting the part of the murderer who must not give the show away too soon and may have erred too much on the side of keeping the secret ; for there were moments of dramatic irony where an entrance or exit timed to a split second, an apprehensive look at an apparently innocent remark ; e.g., "Fast bind, fast find" would at least have stirred the memory. His realisation that the murderer was found and his reactions were good enough to stop the coughing even on the Wednesday night.

Did Mrs. Ruddle (Mrs. Evers) deserve Bunter's outburst ? Be that as it may, her exit " nursing her wrath to keep it warm" was worth the insults showered on her.

Her conduct vis a via Cockburn '96 may have been unpardonable but her loquacity, a loquacity encroaching upon logorrhcea, though it reduced the Superintendent to speechless inaction, won the heart of the audience.

And finally, to roll up the carpet and bring down the curtain were the Laurel and Hardy removal men again, George (Captain Cooper) and Bill (Mr. Coutts), their last " load of mischief" disposed of ; and " the worst returns to laughter."

The thriller, play or book, it has been said, belongs to that class where the highest skill consists of making somewhat juvenile fiction acceptable to the adolescent of what chronological age so-ever, but the actors certainly did their share in making this thriller acceptable and next year, with the knowledge of increased powers, who knows, we may find them off "to fresh woods (woods, Lord Peter, woods, not fields) and pastures new."

A. B. D.

Ashford Dance

T

HE Dance this term was generally considered one of the best for some time. A great deal of praise must go to Maberly, who was a most efficient M.C. Also we must not forget Doris and her Band who always kept the party moving.

About twenty girls arrived on March 11 and soon the floor was filled with couples.

Some considered that the floor was too slippery, but an eightsome reel was performed without mishap. Several competition dances were held and also the occasional old-fashioned dance. Strip the Willow and the Dashing White Sergeant were danced with great success and added to the general enjoyment. During the interval, the School Jazz Band played several numbers to which they had hoped that couples would dance ; however, only one or two ventured forth and they were deterred by the slipperiness of the floor.

Our thanks are due to the Headmaster and Miss Brake for allowing us to hold these dances, which are so enjoyable. We must not forget Miss Warren, who made all the catering arrangements and enabled us to have such a pleasant snack during the interval.

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"Yeomen of the Guard" r)NE of the first duties of the new Music Master was to take over responsibility for a concert. performance of" The Yeomen of the Guard," scheduled to take place on the last night of term. The Chorus, which had been declared open to all corners, found the music difficult but managed to acquit itself moderately well at the performance, and sang certain parts of the opera very well indeed, notably the quartet "Strange Adventure" which Mr. Pierssend had wisely decided to treat as a full chorus.

The concert seemed a golden opportunity to try and revive interest in orchestral playing among our many instrumentalists who, apart from the C.C.F. Band, appeared to be pursuing solitary musical courses in different parts of the School. It was felt that a community with its own Corps and Jazz Bands should provide as many players as possible. This of course proved a serious bereavement to the Chorus which, in its optimism, had been leaving far too much responsibility to a mere handful of singers !

Of an Orchestra of thirty players— which included everything demanded by Sullivan in the score—the School provided just over half. From the staff we were able to enjoy some delightful playing by Mr. Foulkes on the clarinet, valiant and tireless help from Mr. Brunsden who, with his trombone, kept the brass section under control.

Last, but by no means least, we were delighted to have the Headmaster, complete with bassoon adding a valuable and much appreciated quota of sound. The performance cted by the Music Master, who has seldom enjoyed himself more during was condu many years of active music-making.

The boys acquitted themselves nobly and it is to be hoped that the start of "combined operations" in the instrumental side of our School music will continue.

The remainder of the orchestra consisted of visiting players ; it is impossible to mention them all by name. We are most grateful to them, particularly to Miss Rosalind Borland (Assistant County Music Adviser) who, in addition to finding and persuading very busy players to join us, also led the orchestra.

The principal singers were : Miss Elizabeth Crawford (Elsie Maynard), Mrs. Brenda Bentall (Phoebe) and Miss Lesley Hope (Dame Carruthers), all of whom delighted us by the quality of their singing. Two masters—Mr. J. W. Thomson (Lieut.) and Mr. R. E. Horn (Wilfred Shadbolt)—and the following boys complete the list : C. D. Gerty as Fairfax, N. L. Saxony as Jack Point, P. J. T. Herbert as Sergt. Meryll and J. G. Winter as Leonard Meryll. Each brought his own individual—and entirely delightful—contribution which added enormously to the enjoyment of everyone present.

Next time—perhaps next year—we shall try and do better still ; we need more instrumentalists in the School and (perhaps) a smaller and better chorus. Meanwhile all of us have had many hours of delight in the company of Gilbert and Sullivan and feel sufficiently encouraged to think how good it will be when "next time" comes round again.

The story (where necessary) was supplied by M. A. Maberly from a skilfully rhyming narrative by Mr. A. B. Derrick.

C. K. Le F.

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Sixth Form Conference HE sun shone, and the birds sang on the day appointed, and school uniforms of Tmany colours and intricate—even motley—designs converged on Benenden for this term's conference; the subject of which was " The Use of Money."

Paul Barreau, the principal speaker, talked to us fluently for about an hour on a subject about which he knew a great deal and we—as we found—very little. From then on, the onus of the conference fell upon his shoulders. The questions prepared for the brains trust during lunch by the various discussion groups invariably gravitated to him for their final judgment—other members of the panel, which included the County Treasurer, a Bank Manager, the Diocesan Treasurer and a Headmistress, being able to do little more than talk speciously around the topics raised.

Apart from this, it seemed that the true object of the conference—surely the gathering together of young people to share their views on the matter in hand—was hardly achieved, since little or no sharing of views took place. In many cases, more initiative on the part of group leaders might have led to discussion, which in actual fact was almost non-existent.

For ourselves, however, the hospitality was excellent, the company delightful, and a largely informative and truly enjoyable day was spent by all.

Clubs and Societies CHRISTIAN UNION

This term we have continued to hold the customary Sunday and Wednesday meetings. The Chaplain has spoken to us on integrity in the Christian faith, drawing illustrations from " The Pilgrim's Progress," on the work of William Garrison, an American anti-slave trade publisher, and of Tom Scott, a missionary working against " apartheid " in South Africa, on St. Peter and his three callings to serve God, and on the Parable of the Prodigal Son ; Dr. R. C. Parry gave us a very interesting talk on the effect Christ can have on our lives and the need to turn to Him, drawing instances from his work in an African leper colony. On the last three Sundays of the term we were addressed by Mr. Tilsey-Green, leader of the Maidstone Crusaders branch, by Mr. John Dart and by Mr. Creery-Hill.

Our numbers have increased and attendance has been better than for some time ; nevertheless, we should be glad to welcome more members of the school in a society which can be a definite assistance to members who are inclined in that direction.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY This term's unfavourable weather has restricted our activity considerably, though we have managed to plough the plot behind the Chapel with the use of a plough, kindly lent by Mr. Jack Skinner of East Sutton, and that dependable standby, the school tractor. At the time of writing, the few apple trees are in the process of being pruned, but have yet to be dug round. The hedge between the orchard and Lower is also being

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cut back. The winter lettuce we planted last term have attracted perhaps the only remaining wild rabbits in Kent, but nevertheless we expect to cut twenty to thirty dozen in May. In the latter part of the term we sowed runner beans, beetroot, carrot, onion, lettuce, radish, savoy and cauliflower seeds. The Society is proposing for next term visits to East Mailing Research Station and Plant Protection, Ltd., Yalding.

CONJURING CLUB

The Conjuring Club reports an uneventful term with no shows. On 28th December last, past and present members of the club met in London for the Annual Reunion. The ramming was spent visiting dealers and the afternoon at a performance of the Great Levante's Christmas Show. Later they dined at the Chicken Inn, Leicester Square.

MUSIC SOCIETY

At last those members of the school who dislike the cacophonous row which issues from Room 11 on the Saturday evenings when there are no films can find retreat from it. Let them come to the Almshouses, where they can hear music.

Pray be not misled by our opening paragraph, for the Music Society has higher aims than merely to provide a bunk-note for the non-bebopper ; we have heard with pleasure and some emotion works by Beethoven, Hoist and Puccini on gramophone records, but far more important from the society's point of view have been the performances given by members themselves. It is our hope to foster interest among our members in giving us " live " entertainment, for we realise that the interest accorded to the Jazz Club springs from the fact that the sound is actually being created there in the room.

We are not a "cult," a select closed-shop for the serious-minded ; naturally we are glad to hear and attempt to appreciate the works of the masters, but our listening matter this term has ranged from third-programme style to ultra-light, and we are glad to think that our members have been entertained by music passing from the sublime by way of the interesting and amusing to the ridiculous.

Our thanks are due to Mr. le Fleming for his untiring patience, interest, and advice, to say nothing of practical assistance ranging from Rachmaninoff's C Sharp Prelude to accompaniment for various vocal pieces.

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

After a poor start this year, the Photographic Society boasts a membership of twice its former size. Though our activities are largely individual, they were able to get together on several occasions for discussions and demonstrations.

YOUTH HOSTELS AND CYCLING CLUB

The group has held several meetings this term, but owing to bad weather and school activities there have been no rides. A visit to Kemsing Youth Hostel has been arranged.

Unfortunately the weather marred the Christmas Holiday meeting, but one has

been planned at Blaekboys Youth Hostel in April.

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Lectures one of our history masters, apparently himself an advocate of high A CERTAIN tariff protection, incited two of his most willing students to badger Mr. Alexander A. Adams, C.B.E., when he came on February 11 to present "The Case for Free Trade To-day" before the Sixth Form. Opinion was divided as to their success against the speaker's calm assurance and obvious knowledge of his subject, but everyone attending felt that he had heard a comprehensive and well-reasoned-out argument, to wit : preliminary clearing of ground encouraged distrust of dogmatists and thinking along rebellious lines ; in the beginning foreign trade resulted from the need of things people lacked, the first instance of it being the kidnapping of a wife by a lonely caveman. Present-day application : Britain may retrieve her international prestige only by regaining her former prosperity, and that only by trading, which is itself best carried on without restrictions of any sort. Admittedly, the country's economy would suffer at the initial relaxation of customs barriers, but would, supposedly, later return in a healthier condition.

Lieutenant Donald of the Royal Marines wisely set out on 11th February to keep his discussion of that branch of the Services from degenerating into an induction campaign, toward which some lectures on certain professions and the military forces often tend. On the other hand, his strict factuality had its boring moments, so thorough was his covering first of the history of the Marines, then their three sub-divisions : the land-bound Commandos, the combination Amphibious branch and the Sea Service, and lastly, a detailed description of the course one follows to become an officer. In answer to the question of a prospective Marine in the audience, he also traced the daily routine of the trainee, making evident the unusually vigorous physical training undergone. Lieutenant Donald was not a captivating or even very interesting speaker, but occasional bits of humour partly made up for this deficiency. After his speech, he showed a slightly amateurish but exciting film of the Marines in action. All in all, the evening's programme may be termed adequate, but a more original subject might have made for more success.

On the last Sunday of the term Mr. Harold M. Abrahams summarised "Athletics in 1954," mainly concentrating on the state of the sport in Britain, but also stressing the tremendous general improvement of world athletics during last year, exemplified by the fact that fifty-three world records were then set up. Mr. Abrahams, the well known Olympic gold medallist, is also a sports writer and broadcaster, who, it didn't take long to discover, belongs to the innermost circles of athletics men, being about the country's most important authority on the subject. Of particular interest to the School was his making considerable mention of S. C. Wooderson, the great middledistance runner and one of our old boys. Most of his time was devoted to showing slides of important athletics meetings, such as the Empire Games in Vancouver and the European Championships, but highlighted by a photograph of Bannister's historic beating of the four-minute mile,

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Cinema Club shown this term have been :â&#x20AC;&#x201D; THE films " Henry V," with Laurence Olivier.

"The Card," with Alec Guiness, Valerie Hobson, Glynis Johns and Petula Clark.

"Genevieve," with John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More and Kay Kendall.

"Bandwagon," with Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan and Cyd Charisse.

"The Final Test," with Jack Warner, Robert Morley and Brenda Bruce.

There is still much room for improvement in the film sound effects in the hail; however, the experiment of raising the loudspeaker on to a beam was made this term, not without some success ; for from the back during " The Card" and " Genevieve " one could gather most of what was being said, instead of only the gist.

Our thanks must go out to the organisers for the high quality of the choice and for, on the whole, the able running of the films this terra.

As

Jazz Club "Sam" Powell left at the end of last term there has been some change in the

personnel of the Band. His place has been filled by W. G. Fulljames, who has learnt extraordinarily quickly under the tuition of Griffin. A brass Bass has also been added ; D. K. Robertson on Mellophone giving the rhythm section great help.

A new style has been adopted this term ; the Band, influenced by recent Chris Barber and Ken Colyer recordings, has tried to return to genuine New Orleans music as played by George Lewis. At first this style was not appreciated, but it is now beginning to take a firmer hold. New numbers played with great success include "Moose March," "Lord, Lord, Lord," and "Sing On." The whole school was treated to a short session before the film on the last night of the Autumn Term. The Band received a great ovation after the two numbers it played. The second Concert in the series, "Jazz for Listening," was held on February 26. Unfortunately our Guest Artist, Antony Cowles, Bass, was unable to come owing to a last-minute engagement. Although this must have disappointed the audience, the Band gave a very creditable performance, Aisher on Clarinet playing some excellent solos. The Band also played in the interval of the Dance with Ashford School, assisted by Antony Cowles, Bass, who was playing with the Dance Band.

Although not many couples took the floor, the Band played with great feeling and authority. The girls are even considering starting a Jazz Band of their own !

This term a Recording Fund has been set up, for the Band will be making a record next term. Voluntary contributions received at the Jazz Concert amounted to over fifteen shillings, which it is hoped will start the Fund on a firm footing.

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Hunting Society President : The Headmaster.

Vice-President : The Rev. J. E. C. Nicholl.

Chairman : C. R. G. Shaw.

Hon. Sec. : C. E. Slater.

Clerk of the House : P. J. T. Herbert.

Committee Member : E. M. Hollingsworth.

Guardian of the Gavel : T. M. Chastain.

OMPLAINTS have been raised by members of the Society that the debates are not interesting and therefore they will not speak. These members must realise that it is they who should propose debates ; this writer realises that not everyone's tastes are the same, but points out that the Committee would have a far easier job in selecting a representative programme if more debates were suggested.

There is in the Society at present an extremely useless element : consisting of those who attend meetings to listen rather than to speak. The whole idea of the Society was, is, and always will be to encourage people to get up and speak. More members should offer to speak in debates instead of the Committee having to go around forcing people to speak. Unless some of the younger members approach the meetings in the right spirit the Society will be in sore straits next year.

The Society settled down to a term of comparative inactivity after the General Meeting and the " Boomerang " Session. Far too few members attended the first of these meetings ; they must remember that suggestions for the term's programme are made at this meeting. The second was also sparsely attended and consequently held little interestâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;lack of initiative is shown by members in choosing suitable subjects for others to speak on.

A debate was held near the beginning of the term with fair success. J. P. Day and D. F. Eltringham tried hard but unsuccessfully to convince the House "That Soil is our greatest heritage," J. B. Simpson, Esq., and P. J. T. Herbert making adequate use of their greater experience. The other debate held many weeks later, " This House considers Woolworth is worth more than Wordsworth," was successful, the Chairman and E. M. Hollingsworth finding that hard facts produced by J. S. Andrews and R. H. H. White outmatched their own emotional oratory and msthetic appeal.

It is sincerely hoped that more sensible suggestions will be forthcoming next term, and that more people will volunteer to speak. " 'Tis better to have ' spoken ' and lost, than never to have ' spoken ' at all."

C

Shooting Notes HE shooting this term has, on the whole, lived up to expectations, though the bad weather has been a great hindrance.

The schedule of matches started off very well, the record team score being twice broken. Some especially good shooting was done by the new members of this year's VIII, G. J. A. Hardy and J. Maberly being most prominent in this respect.

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In the Country Life competition, lack of experience told somewhat, but we returned an unofficial score which was better than last year's winning score, and could win the Class B competition.

At the end of last term, the first round of the Kent T.A. and A.F. Shoot was shot off. We are at present placed fourth with a score of 573, and are within easy striking distance of the leaders.

The results of the postal matches are as follows :— Opponents

Victoria College .. ..

Berton School Felsted School ..

AMenham School ..

King's School, Worcester Hurstpierpoint College ..

West Buckland

For

Against

Result

698 698 698 698 703 703 700

684 632 645 655 696 665 645

Won Won Won Won Won Won Won

Corps Notes rim term's main military event ran remarkably smoothly in barracks, in view of

-

the absence, and consequent inability, of Lieut. Q.M. Sergison to hold the mighty vessel of examination on its course. The certificate " A" board, again under the able leadership of Major Allam, passed twenty-eight out of forty-five candidates in Part II,

and thirty-four out of thirty-eight in Part I. Activities during the term have largely taken the form of preparations, becoming more and more frenzied as the examinations came nearer and nearer, and culminating in a flurry of unnaturally warlike activity on the day beforehand.

We are sorry to lose Sjt. A. T. Stimpson at the end of this term. His enthusiasm was largely responsible for the fact that the Artillery Classification this term was a hundred per cent, successful and is ample testimony to his ability.

PROMOTIONS With effect from January 21, 1955 :— To be C.S.M. : Sjt. Jones, A. H. W. To be Sit.: Cpl. Keeble, B. G. To be Cpl. : L/Cpl. Ingram, J. F. W. To be L/Cpl. : Cadets Andrews, J. S., Hardy, G. J. A., Maberly, D. J., Neate, P., Radford, R. J. M., Clifford, R. D. M., Jordan, P. D., Lewis, K. G., Sharpe, J. L., Ayres, M. A. B Hastings, J. B. With effect from March 24, 1955 :— To be Sit.: Bdrs. Stimpson, A. T., Hedges, J. R. To be Cpl.: L/Cpls. Aisher, P. A., Hardy, G. J. A., Booth, J. H. AL To be L/Bdr. : Cadet Nash, A. C. Autumn Term, 1954 Lent Term, 1955

..

BLUE LANYARD Recruit Ruffel, A. E. Recruit Pangman, J. F.

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CERTIFICATE " A " PART I Cadets Allen, Ashby, C. H. P., Barker, Biggs, Chamberlain, Chantler, Clifton, Cottle, Douglas, D. P., Girard, Halton, Harrison, J. A., Hex Hill, R. B. L., Kemsley, Lister, Malyon, Masham, McLaren, Paris, Pasfield, Power, Quinton, Salz man, Selby, Selfe, Starkey, Towner, Tyley, Wallis, Wells, Wigglesworth, Wooderson, M. J. M. PART II Cadets Archer, R. J. G., Barber, R. J., Bateman, Birch, Bone, Box, Brown, P. J., Coates, R. A., Cooper, Crawford, Dandy, R. A. C., de Pinna, Faulks, Fenton, Harrison, N., Hiekmott, Hills, P. J., Horner, Jones, A. W., Longden, Marlow, Pierce, W. F., Robertson, D. K., Sarony, N. L., Saunders, Sheridan, White, R. G., White, R. H. H. ARTILLERY CLASSIFICATION Sjt. Stimpson ; L/Bdrs. Anderson, Booth, Davis, Eltringham, Jeffery, Lake and Nash.

FIELD DAY The weather is proverbially kind for field day, and this term was no exception.

The snow cleared remarkably and the cold wind died down sufficiently to encourage the sun to come out, which it did for part of the morning The battle was fought out further afield than recently, and concentrated on the reservoir at the top of Hollingbourne Hill.

Westminster and Founder's had last been heard of in the reservoir area, and Sit. Grundy, the group's commander, laid ambushes along the road. Sjt. J. R. S. Bailey, commanding St. Margaret's and Lambe's, decided, however, to execute a massive enveloping pincer movement. He led his half of the attacking force down Ulcombe Hill and round in a grand sweep ; so much so that he reached the cross-roads at the time scheduled to find no enemy present. It so happened that Cpls. Wilcockson and Stubblefield, with the other half of the pincer, had misread the map, but managed to regroup sufficiently to bypass half of the defenders, and then deal with the remainder effectively.

After the picnic lunch, the zone of operations was restricted to the area in the immediate neighbourhood of the road, and the roles were reversed. This time the defenders were able to occupy some good covering positions, and the attackers, who included rather too many inexperienced recruits, suffered heavy casualties in the rather close country because they had not got the necessary control.

It has regretfully to be reported that the " 38 " sets used by the signallers were woefully inadequate and unreliable. The larger and heavier " 18 " sets, however, were able to keep in contact, but were of course less mobile.

Scout Notes THE Junior Troop have made a very good term and much solid progress has been ' made. There are now seven patrols : four from Founder's with Harvey, Shaw (ii), Tribe, and Smith (i) as Patrol Leaders ; two from Holdgate's led by Davies (i) and Pennington ; and one from Bennett's led by Gammie.

Activities have included a patrol competition won by the Bulldogs ; a most tuneful singsong in preparation for camp-fires next term ; a first-aid course including

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a realistic cycle and car accident ; and many other courses for second and first class tests. In all these activities, the G.S.M. and Mr. Douglas were helped greatly by E. D. Harrison (0.S.) while he was waiting to be called up.

It is pleasant to be able to report that all members of the troop have passed their Tenderfoot Tests and have been invested as scouts.

The Upper School Scouts has twenty-five members this term with Stimpson as Troop Leader and Hedges, Coates, Lewis and Longden as Patrol Leaders. We have had several new recruits and look forward to an active programme next term.

Football Retrospect 1954-55 Points Points D. L. for against P. W. Results 1 6 141 107 7 ..

14 •• 1st 5 122 127 7 0 ..

12 .• 2nd 4 0 71 70 9 5 ..

Under 15 6 68 2 0 70 ..

8 Under 14 2 0 38 8 2 0 •• Juniors 0 1 2 1 5 3 Junior Soccer XI All things considered, the season just ended may be classed as a fairly successful one. Only one side had a deficit in wins as compared with losses and they had very close games in several of their losses, while their two wins were very clean-cut affairs ; and yet when one considers the potentialities of the members of the first two fifteens things might really have been much better. A series of injuries in the team-building stage upset calculations considerably and finally robbed us of Gerty, who had played so well last year and incidentally played for Kent Schools in the holidays (also, Griffin and Wilcockson were picked to play for Sussex Schoolboys, but only the latter was finally able to do so), Britton, who had shown promise in the unbeaten colts side of two years back, while Keeble, captain and scrum half, was away for four matches in the middle of the season. The loss of Keeble was unfortunate in that Nash, who would have been a certainty for scrum half in normal circumstances, had been translated to full back where he was playing well. Keeble's absence enforced a return to scrum half and Stimpson was promoted to full back from the second fifteen. He played so courageously that Nash was unable to win back his place on Keeble's return and must be counted unlucky on that score as he was improving fast as a full back and in kicking at least was far superior to his replacement. Stimpson's tackling and falling were brave in the extreme, however, and the remarks above are not in the way of criticism.

Starting off with a good win against Tonbridge Club Colts, we then had a run of three defeats—the last of these being a very close thing with King's, Rochester (6-8), who were unbeaten this season. Things looked up with a win (6-3) against Cranbrook and then a defeat (3-5) by Tonbridge II took us back again. Wins against Dover (6-3) and Cranbrook (17-3) were followed by a defeat by H.M.S. Worcester at Greenhithe. The pre-Christmas season ended on a high note with substantial wins against St. Lawrence (21-3) and Old Suttonians (18-5). Easter term rugger—much interfered with by rain—provided a win, a draw and a loss.

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The strength, and weakness too, of the team lay in an all-round general level of play and players. True, Griffin on the wing was faster than most boys he met, but he is essentially a player who wants room and openings cut out for him and he did not always get these. Keeble at scrum half was by far the most accomplished player, but he had too much covering and defending to do on account of the reluctance of some of the others to retrieve their own mistakes. These two apart, there were few outstanding players ; the others were generally competent but lacked inspiration.

The pack was led by Jones, who also hooked, and although they got a good share of the ball in scrummages and lines-out, they were not quick enough to pounce on opponents' mistakes and turn them to our advantage. This applied to heeling from loose scrummages. The best of them was the back row of Grundy, Wilcockson and Gleaveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the latter seized his chance when Gerty was injured, and improved up to Christmas. Wilcockson was here, there and everywhere, and became an excellent all-round forward. Grundy played intelligently throughout the season, both in defence and in attack. The remainder of the pack played adequately, but often failed to put in a little dash when it was most needed.

When Keeble was playing, Craven was a much better stand-off half in attack than without him, and was always likely to be dangerous with a cut-through. With the new laws of offside curtailing wing forwards, however, he was not quick enough in defence.

The three-quarter line was rather makeshift. Griffin was naturally placed on the wing and Stubblefield in the centre. Pearcy was good enough to play anywhere behind the scrum, except that he was not tried at scrum half, and eventually played on the wing outside Ellis, who seized a chance when the injury to Britton put him out of the side. Had there been a better wing than Pearcy, Ellis might have been unlucky. The defence of Pearcy, Stubblefield and Ellis was first-rate. But their attack was not quite incisive enough.

Full-back Stimpson was another who seized his chance as mentioned already.

His chief attributes were courage and the will to improve. By the end of the season he was very good, even though he did give the spectators worry, on the grounds of his own personal safety in some of his tackles and falls, to stop dribbling rushes.

Lower down the School, there is a distinct improvement, partly due to a general rise in "age," and partly due to the fact that, wet, cold or fine, there is an adequate supply of referees on the Staff. Next season an Under 16 team, as well as an Under 15 and Under 14, will be run to bridge the gap between the present " Colts" and Game I. This should be a great help in the future, as a continuity of " match " incentive cannot but do good.

As captain, Keeble's organisation and example were first-rate. On the field, he was head and shoulders above the rest in inspiration and execution, and his energy appeared boundless. His passing may not have been quite long enough, but it was certainly adequate and maybe this was due to his activities elsewhere on the field.

Off the field, he kept things running efficiently. If he had a weakness, it might have been that he set so high a standard himself that he was intolerant of inefficiency in others, but perhaps this is not a weakness at all.

THE SUTTONIAN

Rugby Football School v. Wasps Extra" A" XV Played on B.M. on January 29 and won by the Wasps by a goal, a penalty goal and three tries (17 pts.) to a penalty goal and a try (6 pts.).

This was a disappointing and unfortunate game for the School. Disappointing because the team as a whole did not stand up to their heavier and stronger opponents as one would have hoped— there were notable exceptions of course— and unfortunate because of an injury to Grundy—whom we could ill-afford to lose—which meant his leaving the field after only a few minutes and depleting an already lighter scrum.

Although the School scored first and held their lead of three points for some time, they were hard pressed and it was no surprise when the Wasps scored twice before half-time. The first try was unnecessary, for a wing three-quarter threw to an unmarked opponent five yards from our line ; the scrum-half slipped by on the blind-side for the second score.

Goddard lessened our deficit with a penalty goal, but the Wasps replied with two tries and a penalty goal to leave us well beaten.

We could hold our opponents at the second or third attempt, but once they penetrated our twenty-five there was no room for second or third attempts against hard-running players. Keeble had a hard game with few clean heels to help him, Griffin alone of the outsides raising our hopes from time to time. Maberly and Wilcockson in the scrum were undaunted, but seven boys against eight men was too big a handicap.

Team : A. T. Stimpson ; R. A. Griffin, A. F. Pearcy, W. E. Ella, J. A. D. Croft ; It E. B. Craven, B. G. Keeble ; M. A. Moberly, A. H. W. Jones, P. L. Vinson, J. S. Andrews, P. N. Goddard, M. D. Grundy, J. M. Wilcockson, J. P. Gleave.

253

School v. Maidstone " A " XV Drawn at home on February 5, each side scoring a goal, a penalty goal and a try.

Owing to the swamp-like condition of parts of the pitch, the uncertain foothold reduced the fleeter-footed backs to the speed of the slower ones. Thus defences generally were the masters of attacks. The School pressed hard at first, but bursts through the centre by Ellis did not produce a score ; kicks over the line were twice too strong and probably cost tries.

Maidstone scored first with a try and a penalty goal, and Keeble reduced their lead with a good penalty goal. Before half-time they had scored a goal leaving us with the wind and slope in our favour and a deficit of eight points. We left this till late in the half, our last try coming in the closing seconds of the game. The kick failed, making the game a draw, which all things considered was a fair result.

Both forwards and backs had the same weakness in this game, a tendency to hold on to the ball too long and thus put an end to a promising movement.

Other criticisms are the same as applied to the Wasps game. Among the forwards Maberly, Wilcockson and Vinson played well, while at full-back Stimpson did some excellent saving in an extremely plucky way.

Team : A. T. Stimpson ; It. A. Griffin, R. G. Stubblefield, W. E. Ellis, J. A. D. Croft ; R. E. B. Craven, B. G. Keeble ; M. A. Maberly, A. H. W. Jones, P. L. Vinson, J. S. Andrews, P. N. Goddard, C. R. G. Shaw, J. M. Wilcockson, J. P. Gleave.

School v. The Buffs Played on B.M. on February 9, and won by the School by a goal, two penalty goals and three tries (20 pts.) to a goal (5 pts.).

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The School started against the slope and were soon pressing hard. The first score was a good penalty goal kicked by Keeble, which was immediately followed by a try by Griffin following a blind-side movement ; this was converted by Keeble. The School were still exerting pressure near the Buffs' line and Keeble went over after a short throw-in by Croft, the kick failing. Before half-time the score became 14-0 after a most spectacular try scored by Griffin when several forwards and backs all handled.

The School did not let up too much in the second half, but their opponents, whose first game of the season this was, improved. Keeble kicked another penalty goal and Croft went over in the corner to complete the scoring for the School, while the Buffs' tall, fast centre went through to score a converted try under the posts just before the final whistle.

This was a very fast open game and also extremely friendly ; the Buffs showing obvious signs of lack of practice, improved as the game went on and were unlucky not to score more than once.

A. T. Stimpson ; R. A. Griffin, It. G. Team : Stubblefield, W. E. Ellis, J. A. D. croft; It. E. B. Craven, B. G. Keeble ; M. A. Maberly, A. H. W. Jones, P. L. Vinson, J. S. Andrews, P. N. Goddard, C. R. G. Shaw, J. M. Wilcockson, J. P. Gleave.

Westminster v. Lambe's and Founder's Played on B.M. on December 15, and won by Westminster by a goal and a

try (8 pts.) to nil. The Football Cup was thus retained by Westminster, each house winning one match.

Unfortunately the combined houses were missing Maberly, who was taking an examination, but Westminster started off in such a determined fashion that they threw their opponents out of their stride. The defences on both sides

were stronger than the attacks, as is usually the case in House matches, but Stimpson twice had to bring off hard saving tackles on Griffin when that player seemed certain to score. Pearcy, regarded as the Lambe's danger man, was played out of the game by Gleave and Graven, whose tackling was so fierce that he preferred to go blind and kick after the first few minutes.

Westminster scored just before halftime when Aisher, unmarked at a line-out, went over wide out. The combined houses put in some determined attacks which were countered by fierce dribbles in which Grundy, Shaw and Andrews were conspicuous. A good run by Winter relieved the situation for a while, but Westminster went further ahead when Child battled his way over from a scrum near the line, Andrews making no mistake with a good kick. Although they tried hard, the losers never looked like scoring with Nash opposing them at full-back (he never put a foot wrong).

Winter, Slee and Perkins all played very well for the losers, while Stimpson's tackling was first-rate. The good covering of the Westminster forwards prevented any dangerous movements and the result was in all ways a fair one.

Teams :â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Westminster : A. C. Nash ; R. A. Griffin, J. J. E. Keeley, J. R. J. Barrow, J. R. Tyrrell ; R. E. B. Craven, D. M. Child ; J. C. Johnson, R. B. Lake, J. S. Andrews, M. D. Grundy (Capt.), P. A. Aisher, J. P. Gleave, P. Neate, C. It. G. Shaw.

Lambe's and Founder's : A. T. Stimpson ; A. J. Slee, J. G. Winter, K. A. Crawford, R. A. Coates ; A. F. Pearcy, C. Boys ; C. M. W. Kempson, A. I. Lawrence, D. A. Frost, P. N. Goddard, J. McNair, A. J. Perkins, J. R. Hedges, C. D. Gerty (Capt.).

2nd XV Results Jan. 29th v. Wasps Extra 'B' XV (home) lost 5-14 Feb. 5th v. Maidstone 'B' XV (home) won 15-14 The result of the Under-14 XV match played on November 27th v. St. Lawrence College was incorrectly reported in last term's magazine.

The result should have read : lost, 8-9; and the Editor apologises.

255

THE SUTTON IAN Fives Retrospect

HE fives courts have been in full use this term, when on many days fives has Tbeen the only game which could be played owing to the weather conditions. The results of the matches have again been disappointing in what we hoped was going to be a good year.

The 1st IV more or less picked itself, so that the incentive of having to fight for a place in the team has been missing, and the general standard under 16 has just not been good enough to give our opponents a game. There is plenty of keenness among the younger players, but not enough experience gained in hard competition.

Craven and Keeble, who formed the first pair, each played some excellent games of singles, but have not yet found the secret of playing successfully as a team ; Craven's attack from either hand, and Keeble's steadiness and all-round play, should have made them a most formidable pair. â&#x20AC;˘ Grundy, the No. 3, still plays the steady defensive game that he did last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; it is effective in avoiding a heavy defeat, but his rather high return too often puts his opponent into an attacking position.

Pearcy, the fourth member of the team, can hit the ball beautifully, but gives away too many points through unnecessary mistakes. He tends to "let up" in the course of a game instead of persisting with a hard-hitting attack.

White (i), Fenton, Archer (ii), Barrow, Beachey and Harrison (i) have all played for the Under 16 IV and should have benefited from that experience.

Fives Results School 1st and 2nd IV v. Old Suttonians, played in the School Courts on Sunday, December 12. Results : 1st IV won by 5 pts. (93-88). 2nd IV lost by 21 pts. (89-110).

School and Under-16 (Colts) IV v.

St. Dunstan's College, played in the School Courts on Wednesday, February 2.

Results : School lost by 39 pts. (116-155).

Under-16 (Colts) IV lost by 147 pts.

(33-180).

School and Under-16 (Colts) IV v.

Whitgift School, played in the School Courts on Wednesday, February 16.

Results : School lost by 31 pts. (119-150).

Under-16 (Colts) IV lost by 110 pts.

(70-180).

School IV v. Jesters, played in the School Courts on Saturday, March 5.

Result : School lost by 71 pts. (107-178).

School IV v. Old Strandians, played in the School Courts on Saturday, March 12. Result : School lost by 9 pts.

(146-155).

School and Under-16 (Colts) IV, played away on Wednesday, March 16 v.

Eastbourne College. School won by 26 pts. (147-121). Under-16 (Colts) IV won by 11 pts. (50-39).

House Matches St. Margaret's v. Lambe's played on Wednesday, March 9. Result : St. Margaret's lost by 16 pts. (115-131).

Westminster v. St. Margaret's played on Sunday, March 13. Result : Westminster won by 145 pts. (180-35).

Westminster v. Lambe's played on Sunday, March 20. Result : Westminster won by 73 pts. (171-98).

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Cross-Country Retrospect

D

URING the term, weather conditions have made the task of organising crosscountry running throughout the School a bard one for the captain, and much credit should go to Stimpson for his success in this respect.

Stimpson was able to call on Rayner and Booth, as old colours, and also Keeley, who ran once for the VIII last year. Maberly, an old colour, was never able to get properly fit, and could not regain his place in the team. The remaining places were filled by Radford, Hedges, Wilcockson and Faulks, of whom all except Radford had experience with the 2nd VIII last season.

Wisely, Stirapson laid emphasis on " packing " and team work throughout his scheme of training and can surely feel proud of the results. Against the Buffs we finished with six in the first seven, and against Dover College were, throughout the race, in a strong position which enabled us to record the first win over another school for a very long time. Even against St. Dunstan's we had our six in before they did.

A word must be said about individual performers. Stimpson, unhappily, never regained his form of past seasons, although he capably shouldered his responsibilities and gave the pack a sound leadership. Booth fulfilled his promise of last year and led the School team home on two occasions. Unfortunately, owing to illness, he missed the Steeplechase. Rayner improved much during the term and crowned a successful season by winning the Steeplechase. Hedges and Keeley both upheld their reputations and gave good support to the leaders. Radford undoubtedly was the surprise of the season, as previously he was virtually "unknown." Wilcockson was always very steady and reliable, while Faulks, still on Division "B," showed promise of great things to come. Booth, Keeley, Radford and Faulks will all be available next year.

Of the other up-and-coming runners, mention should be made of Child and Cruttenden on Division "A," Swift on Division "B," and R. P. Hollingsworth and Parker on Division "C."

Matches Kent County Cross-Country Championships, run at the " Home for Little Boys," at Farningham, on January 1, over a course of about 2 miles. The conditions were heavy with a slight covering of snow and a cold easterly wind. The School entered a team of five in a total field of over eighty. Keeley ran well to come thirteenth and first for the School.

Booth (18), Rayner (19) and Hedges (26) were the others to score for the School, which finished fourth in the Youth

Races, behind Orpington A.C., Blackheath Harriers and Cambridge Harriers.

Stimpson, suffering from influenza, was placed twenty-ninth.

School v. St. Dunstan's College Run over our course on February 2.

Conditions for this race were somewhat spoiled by the morning sun, which thawed the going enough to make it sticky and heavy. However, this did not deter our visitors from getting away to a fast start. Three of their runners,

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THE SUTTONIAN followed closely by Booth, moved away from the remainder of the field along Chartaway Street. These three successfully held off Booth's continual challenges right up to the finish. The order of the rest chopped and changed considerably, and although our runners all finished fairly well up, they could not counteract the good start given to St. Dunstan's by their first three runners, who finished together in 30 min. 16 sec. Booth finished 7 sec. behind them, and Keeley and Radford did well to finish second and third for the School, the latter running in his first race.

Scoring : St. Dunstan's : 29 points ; School : 49 points.

School v. The Buffs Run at Dover on February 16.

This match provided the School with its first win of the season ; and a convincing one it was, too. The course, covering about four miles, was a mixture of road and mud, mostly mud, and conditions generally were the worst encountered during the term. Fourteen runners in all started for the School, with ten to count. Stimpson led his team off to a fast start, but soon relinquished the lead to Booth, who held it to the end. A wedge of School runners, with a single representative of the Army in their midst, followed closely on his heels, headed by Rayner, Hedges and Radford. So well to the fore were the remainder of our runners that the tenth man finished fifteenth. Our thanks go to the Buffs for their hospitality and organisation (despite there being no hot water) which made our visit so enjoyable.

Scoring : School : 72 points ; The

Buffs : 156 points.

School v. Dover College Run over our course on February 26.

Originally this race was to have been run at Dover, but owing to a thaw, their course became completely unfit, so we were glad to welcome them here for the second year running. The memory of Harrington (Dover's champion last year) still lingered strong in the minds of the School VIII, relieved though they were to learn he was not running. And so to the race itself. Straightaway Stimpson shot into the lead, setting a cracking pace along Chartaway Street, with Rayner, Booth, Hedges and two of the opposition in close attendance. At the Alps, however, a change took place.

Stimpson dropped back and Rayner, followed by Booth and the two Dover runners, moved into the lead. It was gratifying also to see the rest of our VIII packing well up in the order, putting us in a very strong position. And so it was to the finish. Rayner ran in first, in the time of 31 min. 11 sec., a time in keeping with the conditions, with Booth in second place. Hedges, Radford and Keeley all ran well and finished high up in the order.

Scoring: School : 30 points ; Dover College : 48 points.

The Steeplechases Conditions caused the postponement of all the Steeplechases from Wednesday, 23, and Thursday, 24, until the same days of the following week.

This year saw the largest ever number of starters on Division Aâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;seventy in all.

Due to this alarmingly large field there was an exceptionally fast start, led by several unfledged runners. Along B.M., Stimpson went to the front. Behind

him the acknowledged experts asserted

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DIVISION " C " : themselves, Keeley, Radford, Wilcockson 1, R. P. Hollingsworth, 20 min. 1 sec.; 2, Parker, and Hedges all being well up. Along 20 min. 15 sec. ; 3, Higgins, 21 min 16 sec.

Scoring : St Margaret's, 38 pts. ; Lambe's and Chartaway Street, Stimpson continued to Founder's, 66 pts. ; Westminster, 89 pts. set the pace, but Rayner was seen to be DIVISION " D " : moving up very fast. At the Alps, the 1, Tribe, 12 min, 46 sec. ; 2, Smith (1), 12 min. 58 sec.; Hill (ii), Hill (iii), 13 min. 9 sec. leading positions remained much the 3, St Margaret's retained the Nation Cross Country same, while the order of the remainder Cup with 377 pts. to Lambe's and Founder's 410, and Westminster's 411. of the field changed continuously. Just before Greasy Grind, Rayner caught and Baton Race overtook Stimpson, who, despite a final St. Margaret's retained the baton in an challenge just before the White Gate, exciting race, again held in its traditional could not regain the lead. Rayner won place on the last day of term. Westminster in the time of 31 mins. 17.6 secs. and finished second, about 60 yards behind, Stimpson was 5 secs. behind him.

Faulks, a member of the eight, was â&#x20AC;˘ and perhaps 600 yards ahead of the combined Lambe's and Founder's team. widely expected to win Division B as he The latter created a surprise by going liked, and he did not fail his supporters.

Taking the lead from the start he went into the lead at the start, but Westminster soon overtook them. on to win in 22 mins. 35 secs. Swift St. Margaret's went ahead for a short and Beechey ran well to come in second while, Westminster regaining the lead, and third respectively.

Division C was won by R. P. Hollings- only to lose it again but going ahead once more to lead by some 15 yards at the end worth, after a long struggle with Parker, which lasted until Greasy Grind. From of the first leg. St. Margaret's went right there onwards Hollingsworth drew away ahead in the second phase, opening up a to finish 14 secs. ahead, in the time of gap of 100 yards. Despite some great efforts by Westminster, who at one time 20 mins lsec. These two so dominated closed the space to only 30 yards. the rest of the division as to be over a St. Margaret's held on to win comfortably minute ahead of Higgins, who was third. in the record time of 46 mills. 47 secs.

St. Margaret's packed their scoring six Mention should be made of the fact into the first tenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a notable effort. that the St. Margaret's first runner fell, This year it was decided to abolish the losing 20 yards, yet this misfortune did Under-12 division, so any unfortunate enough to be still under that age had to not deter the rest of the team. Another runner going down the steep gradient of run on Juniors. Tribe won from Smith in 12 mills. 46 secs. The Hill twins Sutton Hill split open the seams of his shoes. The race had one other interesting appropriately came in third equal. aspect in that there were two false starts, RESULTS all three runners beating the third stroke DIVISION " A " : 1., Rayner, 31 mm. 17.6 sec. ; 2, Stimpson, of 3 o'clock, and then the word of 31 mm. 23 sec. ; 3, Keeley, 31 min, 33 sec. command.

Scoring : St. Margatet's, 189 pts. ; Lambe's and Founder's, 251 pts. ; Westminster, 155 pts.

In all ways this was a satisfactory and DIVISON " B " : interesting race, the result being in doubt 1, Faulks, 22 min. 35 sec. ; 2, Swift, 23 min. 12 sec. ; 3, Beechey, 23 min. 23 sec. up until the last, with a runner from the Scoring : Westminster, 67 pts. ; Lambe's and first two houses on the Lower together.

Founder's, 93 pts, ; St Margaret's, 150 pts.

THE SUTTONIAN

Athletics INDIVIDUAL ATHLETICS RESULTS OPEN EVENTS:

Mile : 1, Stimpson ; 2, Keeley ; 3, Aisher. 5 min.

4 sec.

Weight : 1, Tyrrell; 2, Maberly, M. A.; 3. Vinson.

34 ft. 4 in.

Discus : 1, Grundy ; 2, Perkins ; 3, Andrews.

108 ft. 9 in.

Javelin' 1, Perkins ; 2, Craven ; 3, Stubblefield.

118 ft. 1 in.

DIVISION A: 100 yards : 1, Vinson ; 2, Tyrrell ; 3, Neate. 11.9 sec.

220 yards : 1, Vinson ; 2, Neate ; 3, Stubblefield.

24.4 sec.

440 yards : 1, Tyrrell ; 2, Stubblefield; 3, Vinson.

57.4 sec.

880 yards : 1, Stimpson ; 2, Tyrrell ; 3, Keeley.

2 min. 7.4 sec.

120 yards Hurdles : 1, Grundy ; 2, Ashby, R. J.; 3, Bailey, J. R. S. 19.7 sec.

Long Jump : 1, Stubblefield; 2, Evershed ; 3, Ashby, R. J. 17 ft. fie in.

High Jump : 1, Craven, R. E. B.; 2, Andrews ; 3, Grundy. 5 ft. 1 in.

Joil1011s : 100 yards : 1, Elmitt ; 2, Tribe ; 3, Smith, A. T. G. 12.5 sec.

220 yards : 1, Elmitt ; 2, Tribe ; 3, Pares. 2743 sec.

440 yards : 1, Elmitt ; 2, Tribe ; 3, Smith A. T. G. 66.2 sec.

Long Jump : 1, Elmitt ; 2, Pares ; 3, Wilmshurst.

15 ft. 1 in.

High Jump : 1, Tribe ; 2, Bristow ; 3, Brown.

4 ft. 3m.

The cups and prizes were presented by Harold Abrahams, Esq. THE INTER-HOUSE STANDARDS CUP No. Points Runners Average Position House 201 St. Margaret's 62 3.24 1 Westminster 174 64 2•72 2 Lambe's 105 47 2•23 3 Founder's 64 32 2.00 4 JUNIOR SHIELD (STANDARDS) House Standards Runners Average Position Founder's (under 13.9) 46 30 1.53 1 Bennett & Holdgate 35 25 1.40

DIVISION B:

100 yards : 1, Diskul ; 2, Ashby, C. H. P.; 3, Crawford. 11.3 sec.

220 yards : 1, Ashby, C. H. P.; 2, Diskul ; 3, Crawford. 27.5 sec.

440 yards : 1, Ashby, C. H. P.; 2, Beechey ; 3, White, R. G. 58-6 sec.

880 yards : 1, Faulks ; 2, Beechey ; 3, Jordan.

2 mm. 24.3 sec.

110 yards Hurdles : 1, Crawford ; 2, Birch ; 3, Ashby, C. H. P. 171 sec.

Long Jump : 1 Bone ; 2, Crawford ; 3, Sarony, N. L. 16 ft. 11i in.

High Jump : 1, Johnson ; 2, Birch ; 3, Jordan.

5 ft. 1 in.

INDIVIDUAL ATHLETICS RESULTS JUNIOR FIELD EVENTS: Weight : 1, Jordan ; 2, Ashby, C. H. P.; 3, Birch.

37 ft.

Discus : 1, Douglas, D. R.; 2, Sarony, N. L.; 3, Jones, A. W. 119 ft. 4 in.

Javelin : 1, McNair ; 2, Kemaley ; 3, Ashby, C. H. P .

121 ft.

Division C: 100 yards : 1, Halton ; 2, Hollingsworth, R. P.; 3, Macdonald. 12.7 sec.

220 yards : 1, Hollingsworth, R. P.; 2, Halton ; 3, Macdonald. 26-8 sec.

440 yards : 1, Hollingsworth, R. P.; 2, Higgins; 3, Halton. 66.2 sec.

880 yards : 1, Hollingsworth, R. P.; 2, Parker ; 3. Biggs. 2 min. 31 sec.

75 yards Hurdles : 1, Higgins ; 2, Parker ; 3, Harrison, J. A. 12 sec.

Long Jump : 1, Higgins ; 2, Wigglesworth ; 3, Williams.

14 ft. 4 in.

High Jump : 1, Gilham ; 2, Macdonald ; 3, Marsh.

4 ft. 4 in.

259

Inter-House Relays

Run on the Upper on Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, resulting in a win for St. Margaret's House by 73 points to Westminster's 57 points and Lambe's and Founder's 37 points.

SENIOR EVENTS:

4 x 100 yards : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 47.2 sec.

4 x 220 yards : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 1 min. 45 sec.

4 x 440 yards : 1, Westminster ; 2, St. Margaret's ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 3 min. 59.6 sec.

4 x 880 yards : 1, Westminster ; 2, St. Margaret's ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 9 mm. 16-4 sec.

One Mile Team Race : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, Westminster. • Individual: 1, Stimpson ; 2, Wileockson ; 3, Faulk& 5 min. 1.4 sec.

Javelin : 1, Westminster ; 2, St. Margaret's ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 342 ft. 5 in.

Discus : 1, Westminster ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, St. Margaret's. 297 ft. 8 in.

Weight : 1, •Westminster ; 2, St. Margaret's ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 96 ft. 7} in.

Long Jump : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, Westminster. 51 ft. 9 in.

High Jump : 1, Westminster ; 2, St. Margaret's 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 15 ft.

4 x 120 yards Hurdles : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 1 min. 23-2 sec.

JUNIOR EVENTS:

3,

4 x 100 yards : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; Lambe's and Founder's. 49•9 sec.

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THE SUTTONIAN

4 x 220 yards : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; Westminster disqualified. 1 min. 53 sec.

4 x 440 yards : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, Westminster. 4 min. 17.8 sec.

880 yards Team Race : 1, Lambe's and Founder's ; 2, St. Margaret's ; 3, Westminster.

Individual : 1, Hovel!; 2, Hollingsworth, It. P.; 3, Jordan. 2 min. 25-2 sec.

Javelin : 1, Lambe's and Founder's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, St. Margaret's. 251 ft. 3 in.

Discus: 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, Westminster. 271 ft. 3 in.

2, Lambe's and Weight : 1, St. Margaret's ; Founder's ; 3, Westminster. 102 ft. 6 in.

Long Jump : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 48 ft. 6 in.

High Jump : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 13 ft. 7 in.

4 x 110 yards Hurdles : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Lambe's and Founder's ; 3, Westminster. 78.4 sec.

Twenty Man Race (20 x 220 yards) : 1, St. Margaret's ; 2, Westminster ; 3, Lambe's and Founder's. 9 min.

34.4 sec.

Relay Match v. King's School Rochester Run on the Upper on Wednesday, March 30. The Senior Match resulted in a win for King's by 9 points to 2, while Sutton Valence won the Junior Match by 6 points to 1.

RESULTS Senior 4 x 100 yards : King's School. 45.4 sec.

Senior 4 x 220 yards : King's School. 1 min. 39.3 sec.

Senior 4 x 440 yards : King's School. 3 min. 42.8 sec.

Senior 4 x 880 yards : King's School. 8 min. 58.2 sec.

Senior Mile Team Race : King's School. 4 min.

49.8 sec.

Senior 4 x 120 yards Hurdles : King's School.

1 min. 17-8 sec.

Senior High Jump : King's School. 15 ft. 3 in.

Senior Long Jump : Sutton Valence. 55 ft. 31. in.

Putting the Weight : King's School. 97 ft. 10i in.

Throwing the Javelin : King's School. 386 ft. 8 in.

Throwing the Discus : Sutton Valence. 313 ft. 1 in.

Junior 4 x 100 yards : Sutton Valence. 49.1 sec.

Junior 4 x 220 yards: Sutton Valence. 1 min. 46.9 sec.

Junior 4 x 440 yards : Sutton Valence. 4 min. 7.2 sec.

Junior 880 yards Team Race : Sutton Valence.

2 min. 22 sec.

Junior 4 x 110 yards Hurdles : Sutton Valence.

1 min. 17.7 sec.

Junior High Jump : Sutton Valence. 14 ft. 2k in.

Junior Long Jump : King's School. 49 ft. 2i in.

Senior Team : Griffin, Stimpson, Tyrrell, Stubblefield, Vinson, Craven, R. E. B., Grundy, Croft, Perkins, Neate, Maberly, M. A., Keeley, Aisher, P. A., Faulks, Evershed, Ashby, R. J., Bailey, J. R. S., Andrews, Johnson, Hollingsworth, E. M., Pearcy.

Junior Team : Ashby, C. H. P., Bone, Jordan, Birch, Hollingsworth, R. P., Diskul, Sarony, N. L., Archer, W. R. 14., Hovell, Swift.

O.S. Notes O.S. are well represented on the Association of Growers of the New Varieties of Hops. The Chairman is J. W. Skinner (1919), the Secretary, P. W. Chambers (1937), while one of the Committee Members is R. D. Wickham (1918).

N. I. D'Albertanson (1918) has left Lagos and is now living at 19 Augustus Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 15.

L. C. Filmer (1924) has given up teaplanting for commerce. His address is Mahavilla House, Union Place, Colombo 2, Ceylon.

Cdr. (E.) W. V. B. Drew, R.N. (1926), has been appointed to staff of Flag Officer Air (Home) (November 22, 1951).

J. W. Devonshire (1930) has joined the Head Office of the Westminster Bank and has taken over the duties of Inspector of the Bank's City and London branches. Lt.-Col. G. W. Hook, R.A. (1930), is now at M.I. 10, War Office.

Lt.-Col. T. F. Edwards, R.A.S.C. (1932), is at H.Q., R.A.S.C., Gibraltar, till probably 1957.

A. L. Adams (1935) is now Manager of the Eastern Golf Club, Main Road, Doncaster, Victoria. He has recently seen P. Simmons (c. 1933) and believes that J. F. R. Woodhouse (1931) is in Melbourne.

G. H. Thornhill (1938) is in Irak.

Address : c/o National Insurance Co., Rafidain Bank Building, Baghdad.

P. Collenette (1940) has been a member of the British Borneo Geological Survey since 1949 and recently toured Australian coalfields with a United Nations delegation. His present survey of 1,000 square miles includes the highest mountain in the Malayan Archipelago, Kinabalu (13,455 ft.), which he has climbed twice during the past year. He hopes to visit

THE SUTTONIAN Canada early in 1956 and would be pleased to contact any 0.S. there.

Address : Geological Survey, Jesselton, North Borneo.

J. R. Walter (1946) has passed his B.Sc. (Estate Management) London and is in practice with his father's firmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; J. D. Walter and Sons Ltd., 178 High Street, Rochester.

Lieut. J. H. Gardner, R.E. (1948), is now serving in the Canal Zone following some time in Benghazi, Cyrenaica and visits to Malta and Jordan. He hopes to visit the Holy Land, Cairo and Alexandria very shortly. Address at present : C.E. Branch, H.Q., B.T.E., M.E.L.F. 14.

C. D. Hasson (1949) has now a permanent address : c/o St. Margarets School, Earls Avenue, Folkestone.

J. A. Brazier (1950) is with the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society in Maidstone in the same office as W. G. H. Woolgar (1930).

A. Wright (1951), Cable and Wireless Ltd., is in the Seychelles Islands. With his three mess-mates he is responsible for the telephones, the cable office and fixing the equipment for the evening broadcast of Radio Seychelles. Rainfall there is tropical-100 inches a year, and temperature rarely below 70° F. One sport is spear-fishing for sharks and sting-rays. Pineapples and bananas are the common fruit and amongst other animals are landcrabs, turtles and 6-in. spiders. The main export is copra.

There are cars to drive about in, but he badly misses his bicycle.

J. A. Hobson (1952) hopes to visit England in June and early July en route for the Continent. He is due to take his B.A. Arts degree from Wesleyan University in June and enter Harvard Medical School in September.

261

M. Seeman (1952) reports correspondence with D. A. Ffoulkes-Jones (1953) in Canada, where the latter is studying accountancy.

J. L. Caliot (1953) is leaving Lausanne and expects to be in Copenhagen from May till the end of September.

R. M. Hancock (1953) received an award last November for his work as a student apprentice at the English Electric Company Limited at Stafford.

P. A. L. Millard (1953) is now doing his National Service in the R.A.F. in Singapore. Address : 2716695, L.A.C. Millard, P.A.L., S.S.C., Royal Air Force, Changi, Singapore 17.

P. W. Warland (1953) is serving in Tripoli with the 3rd Regt., R.H.A., M.E.L.F. J. R. Wood's (1953) address was wrongly given in the last O.S.A. report.

It should be Wayside, Langley Grove, New Malden, Surrey.

0.8. will be pleased to know that Arthur Taylor's elder daughter, Elizabeth, gained exhibitions at both Newnham and Somerville as well as a State Scholarship.

She is going to Somerville.

The Editor of the Magazine is very grateful to 0.8. who send news for these notes.

O.S. Dinner, 1955 This will be held at the Windsor Castle Hotel, Victoria Station Approach, on Wednesday, April 27, preceded by the Annual General Meeting at 6 p.m.

Dinner Chairman : J. H. Scott-Wilson (1943). Any 0.S. who have not received an invitation are asked to write to W. H. Blaxland, 243 Salmon Street, N.W.9, for details.

262

THE SUTTONIAN Oxford and Cambridge O.S. Dinner, 1955

The Society is holding its Annual Dinner in Pembroke College, Oxford, at 7.15 for 7.45 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.

Any Oxford or Cambridge 0.5. interested who have not received an invitation are asked to write for details to F. W. P. Bentley. Address : Term : Maison Francaise, 72 Woodstock Road, Oxford ; Vacation : Westminster House, Sutton Valence School, Maidstone.

O.S. Golfing Society The Spring Meeting will be held at Bearsted on Sunday, May 15. Any 0.5. golfers who do not normally receive invitations are asked to write to P. S. Morrish, Little Portobello, Brenchley, Kent.

Deaths DARTON.—On February 23, 1955, suddenly at Dinton, near Aylesbury, Charles Clark Darton (1898).

FARQUHARSON.—On January 22, 1955, as the result of an accident, William Lawrence Farquharson (1923), aged 48, of Well Cottage, Farnham, Bishops Stortford, and John Murray Publishers, Ltd. HASLEWOOD.—On January 23, 1955, at The Croft, Bridgnorth, Roger John Rodwell Haslewood (1903), aged 67.

RALPH.—On January 8, 1955, in France, after a short illness, Stanley Lush Ralph (1900).

PIERSSEN.—On December 25, 1954, suddenly at Sutton Valence, Edward R. Pierssene, Music Master since 1942.

Births

Old Suttonian Cricket, 1955

FRERE-SMITH.—On December 25, 1951, to the wife of G. N. Frere-Smith (1939), a daughter.

MILLER.—On November 4, 1954, to Noeline, wife of Lt.-Cdr. P. Miller, R.N. (Master 1933-38), a son, Nicolas.

STEPHENS.—On November 11, 1954, to Jean (nee Harling), wife of E. F. E. Stephens (1947), a daughter, Patricia Anne.

DERRICK.—On March 3, 1955, at Nairobi, to Meg (nee Le Blanc Smith) and Peter Derrick (1938), a daughter, Elizabeth.

MONCKTON.—On September 29, 1954, at the St. John and St. Elizabeth Hospital, N.W.8, to Mary (nee Steiner) and John Monckton (1932), a daughter, Anne Whittington.

The matches against the School will take place on Saturday, July 2.

The " Week " is from Sunday, August 7, to Sunday, August 14, both dates inclusive. Our opponents will be the same as last year :— O.M.T., Kelly Ramblers, Cranbrook Lynxes, Bluemantles, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, Ashford C.C. (away), The Three Suttons, and The Dragons.

Headquarters will be in the Sanatorium.

Any O.S. with qualifications as cricketer, cook, scorer, umpire, spectator or odd-job man who would like to take part in the Week, or the match versus The School, please write to E. A. Craven at the School, without waiting for a definite invitation. Anyone who possesses a car will be more than welcomed.

263

THE SUTTONIAN

Oxford Jottings Bodleian Library, March 11, 1955.

Dear Sir, . . . 85 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes to go till our Final Examinations . . . an air of panic and sobriety pervades our lives . . . (Nora Mink, Ltd. versus TransCanada Air Lines, 1951, noise of aeroplane causing female mink to devour young— no reason for pilot "to envisage the presence of noise-conscious mink ") . . . in addition to the notice about the Oxford and Cambridge 0.5. Dinner, which appears elsewhere in these columns . . . (Corporation of Glasgow v. Taylor, 1922, boy stuffs himself with poisonous blackberries in Botanical Gardens) . . . we would ask every 0.S. who was up at either University to let us have his present address, and details of his University and College for record purposes, and so that the invitation list for the dinner may be completed and brought up to date . . . our gowns become more and more ragged and our bicycles more rusty testifying to many hours standing outside lecture rooms (nothing like breaking fresh ground) . . . and other places of more liquid enlightenment (old favourites) . . . it is with regret that we have to announce that, again, John Lewis has not been seen this term. . . we however wish to deny the rumour that his disappearance is to be associated with that of the senior Wallaby of Worcester Gardens, who is supposed to have fallen through the ice on the pond during the recent cold spell . . . (if a wallaby weighs 150 pounds, and the ice is two inches thick, how deep will the wallaby sink ?) . . . fashionable as always, we have allowed ourselves to be claimed by the Cafe Expresso craze, with its machines incorporating handles that look dis-

tressin.gly like beer engines and make an equally lovely sound . . . (whishp0000000000sh) . . . coffee shops (La Roma, Harlequin, Popina—tous magnifives mais ils ne sont pas . .) are springing up in the most unlikely places . . . the trees on the banks of the Cherwell are in leaf, and the punts lie newly painted and varnished, but alas, Sir, not for us . . .

85 days, 9 hours and 15 minutes WE MUST STOP . . .

Yours, to be taken once every four hours, Benzedrine and Glucose.

P.S.—A still, small voice tells us that Oily Goldfinch is engaged.

P.P.S.—Do you ever hear from Cambridge, Sir ?

Correspondence 17 Repton Road, Orpington, Kent.

January 31, 1955.

Dear Sir,—Suttonians past and present will all have been sorry to learn of the death of E. R. Pierssene, Music Master at the School since the early years of the 1939-45 War, on Christmas day last.

The annual carol concerts presented by him had become one of the institutions of the School, and it is proposed to raise a memorial tablet in the School Chapel to his name.

It is also proposed that any additional sums subscribed shall be devoted to furthering music at the School.

Would all those wishing to subscribe please send their donations to Barclays Bank, Ltd., 262 Kirkdale, S.E.26, a/c E. R. Pierssene Memorial, or to me ?

Yours very truly, MARTIN H. B. JONES.

Q64

THE SUTTONIAN

Impressions of Argentina St. George's College, Quilmes, Buenos Aires.

January 11, 1955.

The Editor, The Suttonian.

Sir,â&#x20AC;&#x201D;It occurred to me that some of your readers might be interested to read my impressions after a full school year in this country, regarding the country as a whole and, in particular, the comparisons and differences between "the Eton of South America" and Sutton Valence.

Generalisations are always misleading, but in so far as it is possible to generalise with any degree of truth, I would say, in the first place, that my chief impression is that in England schoolboys as a whole regard lessons more or less as parades, behave themselves and try and take the " micky out of you" out of school.

Here it is just the reverse : they get up to every possible scheme or contrivance to sabotage a lesson : when you meet them out of school "they praise you to your face, with their courtly Spanish grace," and you feel that a more gentlemanly collection of boys never existed.

Various factors tend towards this.

First, the organisation of the school year, so different from that pertaining in England, but necessarily so for reasons of climate, is bound to lead to a certain restiveness towards the end, between boys and boys, boys and staff, and staff and staff. We start in the middle of March for the first term of the year, which continues until the end of July ; then we have a short ten-day holiday, to resume in early August for the main term which continues until the end of November for the National College Boys (i.e., those carrying out the Argentine

Syllabus) and until Mid-December for those doing the Cambridge Overseas Certificate. You can imagine that at the end of this term everyone is at loggerheads with one another ; also you can imagine that after a holiday through December, January, February and half of March, everything taught the previous year has been completely forgotten.

Apart from the wide differentiation between National College Argentinians and English side potential entrants to British Universities, a broad line can be drawn between the boys who live in B.A. and those that live inland with parents owning big " estancias," not usually translated by the English Colony as "Ranches," as you might expect, but as " Camps." There is no doubt that a boy living on "the Camp" develops physically and mentally far quicker than the townsman, and any normal boy you encounter in England. When I first took over my House, I naturally interviewed privately and separately each member of it ; and there were two cases when a giant of a boy walked in: in each case I mentally assessed him as at least eighteen years of age ; when I had found out what form they were in I was forced to comment that they seemed somewhat low in the school for their age : "No, sir," said the first, " I'm only fifteen" ; and the second turned out to be not quite sixteen. I made them both stand up, and they overtopped me by about four inches, and the second case must weigh fourteen stone if a pound.

It is this early growth and development that leads to parents becoming frightened of their children, indulging all their wishes and thereby making the maintenance of school discipline a matter of grave difficulty. This question is not altogether assisted in solution by the

THE SUTTONIAN local education authorities' ban on any form of punishment other than the " amonestacion." If a boy is exceptionally naughty, you award him an " amonestacion " (I do hope I've spelt it right), which is recorded in his National College Register, signed by the master responsible, receipted by the boy and a copy dispatched to the parents. Twentyfive of these accumulated in the course of a school year legally require the boy to be expelled, and render him inadmissible to any other school inside the Republic. So, naturally, one hesitates to punish on these lines for "talking in prep" when you know he has already twenty or more to his discredit. One has to be discreet ; one of the least English members of my house, and by that I mean he only understands a third of what I say, where I can only understand a tenth of what he says, implored me, one night, to give him six of the best" in lieu of the alternative punishment I've introduced of setting "sides."

Bereft of the usual equipment for such summary jurisdiction, I was forced -to use my squash racquet. He departed red-faced but grateful. When I reported my action to the authorities next day I was told that I had taken a very grave risk, as even if the boy did not denounce me to the Ministry, the chances were that some mother of some other boy, hearing of this, would. However, the squash racquet was applied to the same posterior a week later.

Another thing I have found out in the last year. With the National regime now in force, the local inhabitants are either very friendly or extremely rude ; there are no half-way measures. And this almost Fascist spirit has, to some extent, spread into the school, in spite of the fact that there are two boys, to my knowledge, here with elder brothers

265

imprisoned for political reasons. I have never before been shouted at in form, and this by a boy with an English name (as you were, Scottish), with parents born and bred in the U.K. "You're just a ruddy Englishman and I'm an Argentinian and our ideas differ from yours." Two days later he became a confirmed member of the Church of England.

To turn to other topics of a lighter nature : but, before I do so, I must explain a little of the National College System. There you are graded by years from Form I (N.C.1) to your last year (N.C.5), moving up a grade every year.

If you get an average on all subjects of seven out of ten in class work over the year, you are exempt from the annual examinations. It is, therefore, possible and, in fact, is frequently done, for a boy on the National Side to go right through his school career without undergoing any form of public examination, and emerge at the end of his N.C.5 year as a Bachelor of Arts. I mention this, because it lends background to the story of my predecessor here, who, in the process of marking the English Fifth Form History Certificate " Trials," came across an unmarked Grade V paper, " Historia con Geografica Argentina " ; smelling fun and games, he rushed to the marks sheet to find that this boy's paper, which hadn't been examined, had been awarded a hundred per cent.

Another snag is holidays. Being a Catholic country in addition to being a semi-dictatorial one, we have lots of holidays. But the trouble is that you never know when they are going to be.

I might swot up some recherche period of European history all through one night ready to take on N.C.5 first thing in the morning, to be told by the head-

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master after that morning chapel : "Don't bother to take N.C.5 to-day, the Minister has just announced on the wireless that this morning must be a holiday in honour of etc., etc." Alternatively, you might look at your printed calendar and find that such-and-such a day is a National holiday, for which God be praised, to be told that at the last minute the school authorities have been able to square matters with the Ministry, and work will go on as usual, at any rate on the English side. So you grope your way into the fifth form with nothing up your sleeve at all.

Buenos Aires itself is a wonderful city, but thoroughly unhealthy ; in fact, it is a great misnomer. Ten days after Christmas the temperature reached 86 degrees Fahr. by breakfast time, and that day the maximum recorded temperature reached 105 degrees in the shade, with a hundred per cent. humidity, a case where you have to change your shirt three times a day.

In this kind of hot and humid climate you would expect the vegetation to be exotic : which it is. On my first arrival in March, a dark-foliaged tree appeared at a distance to be bearing ripe Worcesters. On my closer approach (illegally to pick one) the fruit turned out to be pomegranates. On Palm Sunday, two stems from the Palm Tree opposite my windows were sufficient to frame the whole chancel arch. But down by the water front, about a mile across fiat marshland, dotted with dreadful smallholdings with houses built of petrol cans and biscuit boxes which get completely flooded out each spring, you find a profusion of Weeping Willows, but such Willows as you never saw, each about 40-foot high. There is always

something either in flower or in blossom all the year round. The lemons and the

lemon trees go on for ever : there were some yellow and ripe and some green and immature, when I arrived last March ; they are still in that condition.

The oranges here are very small and very bitter, and have a short season.

Frutillas, or strawberries, again have a short season (this year about three weeks in November) and they are much smaller than the English cultivated varieties, almost resembling wild strawberries, but they are lush and red and very much sweeter than anything I ever tasted at home.

Personally I haven't had much opportunity of getting out into the country and observing the local fauna, etc., but I must compare the Oven Bird with our House Martins. They desecrate the school buildings here just as the latter do at home, but with a difference. He is a friendly little bird, rather like the London Sparrow in that respect, and looking like a London Sparrow but with rust-red tail feathers. His call is rather like a housewife calling in the cat at night, but rather more tuneful : " Titty-woo, titty-woo." His nest is a masterpiece.

Built into the eaves, of dried mud, like the House Martin, it consists of a very comfortable bungalow of entrance porch, entrance hall, one reception and dining room (combined) and one bedroom.

I feel that whoever originally christened the bird from a superficial look at the outside architecture did him a grave injustice.

As regards living conditions, I would guess that standards here are higher than in Britain where the middle classes are concerned, but lower where the peon or manual labourer is affected in spite of the fact that it is the latter whence the regime derives its principal support.

THE SUTTONIAN It is very difficult to generalise, because the cost of living depends on so many different factors, varying on each family's place of residence. (Remember that the Republic extends from the Tropics to the Antarctic.) So far I can only speak for the Province of Buenos Aires, and even then with doubts and misgivings.

Food, in general, is relatively cheap, that is, if you're content with a diet of various types of garlic sausage, lots of hard rolls, and dishes of the spaghetti variety. And every restaurant must by law put on a "Menu Economico " of at least three courses at a maximum charge of $4.50 (four pesos and fifty centavos ; and I reckon the peso is the equivalent of sixpence). If you're at all choosey, however, it's a very different thing. I went a " Bust " two days after Christmas and stood myself half a Chilean Lobster at the "London Grill" in Buenos Aires, and that Eiet me back $180 for that course alone. Of course the staple diet is Bifes (pronounced Beefies, and meaning what it says) and a year ago I would never have believed it possible for me ever to tire of red, juicy, Porterhouse or Rump Steaks ; but that time has come, and nowadays I am almost a vegetarian, with my meat portion carefully preserved for a newly acquired tabby kitten whose capacity for" came " typifies the local population.

Transportation is cheap. You can board a bus near the school and travel all round the town for an inclusive fare of 40 cents. ; you pay two-and-a-half pesos for a return first-class ticket to the capital, some ten miles away. I am just about to embark on a 300 kilometer river journey north to Rosario (Vth Form, get out your atlases !) with a first-class cabin, for $200 pesos. On the other hand, an expensive first-class ticket on

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the British Railways does more or less guarantee you a seat, if not a whole compartment. But the antiquated rolling stock on this suburban line, built on the Continental model with a central aisle running the entire length of the coach, is not conducive to privacy, and I have on several occasions travelled second on a first-class ticket, simply to get a seat at all ; the only difference being that the former have wooden seats whereas• the latter are padded.

On the subject of railways, one of my greatest surprises on entering " Constitucion," the Main Terminus in B.A., was a sensation that I was drawing into Paddington. Then, of course, I realised that the railway system had been built and long controlled by the British. This explains why the college address " Quilm.es, F.C.S." has been replaced by " Quilmes, F.C.N.G.R. " ; every town, etc., includes in its postal address the abbreviation of the nearest railway line ; in the old days our line was known as the "Southern Railway" (Ferro Carril Sud), but when the railways were nationalised, the old names were abandoned, and the various regions renamed after great national heroes. So now we travel on "Ferro Carril Nacional General Roca ' " (b. 1843.—d. 1914—historians, please note).

Talking of railways for some reason leads me to mention public conveniences.

I suppose that is because" Constitucion " possesses the only ones in the accepted English sense that I have so far been able to discover. The system appears to be that a licence is only granted to a bar or cafe on condition that they provide the necessary facilities gratis to any member of the public, and as such establishments are excessively numerous, and, for the most part open day and

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night, no very great inconvenience is caused, except in so far as in most cases the equipment is primitive in the extreme.

as to the number of standing passengers allowed ; so you are always hemmed in by evil-looking, sweating labourers breathing garlic all over you.

To continue the subject of Bars and reverting to the cost of living, drinks and tobacco are remarkably cheap by British standards, provided you buy local produce. Imported stuff is prohibitive.

Generally speaking, the local produce in this connection is as nasty as it's cheap, but they produce drinkable beer of the light German type, but only in two varieties, light or dark ; various strengths affect the price, but fundamentally they're all the same, and no hop finds its way into any of them ; the wines vary greatly : the best are white wines from Mendoza which must be thoroughly iced before serving, while the red wines resemble the rather harsh Algerian wines that flooded the Home Market about four years ago, but become quite palatable when heavily diluted with water or soda.

Cigarillos, again, are either light or dark.

The factories making the light variety, supposed to resemble Player's and so on, periodically go on strike and we have a three weeks' famine. The dark sort, presumably made out of cheroot ullage, are calculated to stop you smoking for ever.

Clothing seems to me comparable in price with Britain, but inferior in quality.

All leather goods are naturally excellent and cheap. But this drive at Industrialisation hasn't been too successful where heavy industry is concerned and the ban on the importation of motor spares is particularly troublesome. I heard a case to-day of someone taking his Vauxhall into a garage (where he is a regular customer) to have his clutch relined. Another customer drove his Vauxhall in to have some bearings replaced. The garage simply switched the parts from one car to the other !

Yesterday I bought a tiny pair of nail scissors of the cheapest possible sort : price, fifteen shillings

With regard to other public services : the Post Office would be wiser not to dwell on, but suffice it to say that with luck an Airmail Letter to the U.K. will take five days, where an internal letter within this Province alone might take up to ten, before reaching its destination ; bus services to an inveterate snob like myself are appalling, the buses are all like Mr. Weeks's worst, and smallest (I've never seen a double-decker out here), and there appears to be no legal limit

I haven't said much about the people in the course of this long rigmarole.

Somerset Maugham in one of his short stories describes a Gigolo in Monte Carlo as having fine Argentine eyes.

There are no such things. There is no Argentine race as such, however much local propaganda tries to persuade us so.

It is as heterogeneous as the United States. A boy with a most JewishSpanish aristocratic name appears to be pure Scandinavian ; another with such a homely name as Brown appears thoroughly Spanish. The only book I read before coming out here was Gunther's "Inside Latin America," in which he said, I think I recollect correctly, that when the Spaniards first colonised the Buenos Aires area, they were not faced as elsewhere, with a local Indian problem.

That is absurd ; Quilmes itself is an Indian name, and I am told that the

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chieftain of the local Indian tribe is a regular frequenter of a local bar to which I occasionally resort, but we have not so far been introduced. He holds no official status (indeed, I'm told he is officially employed by the town council as a dustman, but inside his own community he does demand and obtain a high degree of respect). I am also told that all the ranch-hands in the interior are Indians, or of strong Indian extraction. However, I shall be able to learn more about this after my trip, which, as I mentioned before, will take me by a sort of "SteamBoat Bill" to Rosario, then 400 km. by train to Cordova, and then somehow to the mountains beyond.

F. T. W. B-H.

Austrian Holiday A school party will be going to Austria in the Summer Holidays (Dates : Thursday, August 25, to Saturday, September 10). We shall stay at Strobl

on Wolfgangsee. Strobl is a lovely village on the edge of the lake and is in the heart of the Salzkammergut (the Lake District of Austria) and about 30 miles from Salzburg : excellent 'boating, sailing, bathing and fishing and unlimited scope for excursions both mild and strenuous.

Membership of the party is open to members of the school, old boys, brothers and sisters and friends of the school.

Applications should be made without delay to N. P. Bentley at the school.

Hockey A start was made with hockey during the latter part of this term, and in spite of shocking weather and the crowded athletics programme, a number of boys were introduced to the game. The Staff challenged the School and managed to win 6-3, thus craftily striking the first blow while experience could still counteract senility.