Aymestrey Magazine 1986

T H E AYMESTREY MAGAZINE

SPRING 1986

MINUTES OF THE 43rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING O F T H E O L D AY M E S T R E Y A S S O C I AT I O N H E L D AT A Y M E S T R E Y S C H O O L O N SATURDAY 15th JUNE 1985

Present: John Phipps, who took the Chair; The Honorary Secretary, Bill Stallard; Air Vice Marshal D. N. K. Blair-Oliphant and Messrs. Michael Ashwell, M. D. Bews, Paul Collis, R. S. Cummins, Andrew Goadby, Hugh Griffith, George Johnson, C. J. Knappet, Andrew Lane, Ian McCulloch. Julian Packman, Robin Paske, Anthony Powell, Nigel Richardson, Hugh Thompson, Hugo Tuthill, R. T. Bader, S. M. McGorman and T. T. Wise. Apologies were received from Mrs. Beard, Nigel J. K. Blair-Oliphant, John Eyton Coates, Nicholas Coley, Richard Coates, Lt. Col. Tony Claydon, Jack Coates, Dr. lain Clark, Timothy Duncan, Christopher Dowson, Charles Etty-Leal, James Edwards, Thomas Edwards, Jonathan Edwards, Edward Gallimore, Richard Johnson, Bill Jay, Robert Lane, Edward Lane, N. R. A. Leakey, James Maughan, Roger Mayson, Brian Massey, Colin MacRae, Stephen Nelson, David Powell, Christopher Powell, Michael Powell, David Richmond, William Rankin, Bill Robbins, Graham Rush, Francis Tuthill and Michael Tibbetts The members present stood in silence in remembrance of the Association's late President, John Hughes, who died in December 1984 and tribute was paid to the significant contribution made by him to the Association's affairs over many years. The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on the 16th June 1984 were confirmed and signed. The Honorary Treasurer presented the accounts for the year ended 31st March 1985 and these were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:CHAIRMAN: Anthony Powell VICE CHAIRMAN: George Johnson HONORARY SECRETARY/TREASURER: Bill Stallard SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT: Dan Asterley COMMITTEE: Ian McCulloch and Paul Collis to serve with Messrs. Christopher Blake, George Johnson, Mark Godsall and Paul Jeavons. It was proposed by John Phipps and seconded by Bill Stallard that Air Vice Marshall D. N. K. Blair-Oliphant be elected the President of the Association in succession to the late John Hughes and this was passed unanimously. The Air Vice Marshall expressed his gratitude for the honour bestowed on him. There being no other business the chairman expressed the Association's thanks to Hugh and Gill Griffith and their staff for their hospitality throughout another enjoyable afternoon. The Annual Dinner was held once again at the Union & County Club, Worcester under the Chairmanship of Anthony Powell, who proposed the health of the School and Hugh Griffith replied and, in so doing, was able to report upon another successful year and the continuing health of the school.

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O L D AY M E S T R E Y A S S O C I AT I O N Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31st March 1985

1984

INCOME

f

1984 f

f 665.00

Magazine Appeal subscriptions …...........2.05.

33.15

Interest on Abbey National Building Society Share Account ….....................61.70

3.02 Inland Revenue - Corporation Tax

Interest on Lloyds Bank Deposit …........2.54 ..............Lloyds Bank - Bank charges ….............................1.55 Account.....................................................1.44 5

701.48

f

Membership subscriptions …....................................100.00 Contribution to School Magazine…............100.00 (including renewal of subscriptions expenses and donations to Association Funds) 156.91

2.05

1.28

EXPENDITURE

222.10

95.92 Excess of income over expenditure …......120.55 701.48

222.10

Balance Sheet for Year Ended 31st March 1985 1983 f 410.39 595.92 1006.31

1984 f

Balance brought forward 31st March 1983 ...................................................... 1,006.31

100.31 22.44

Balances at Lloyds Bank:Current Account Deposit Account

155.91 25.68

Excess of income over expenditure .......... 120.55 883.57 Balance on Abbey National Building Society Share Account ........................... 945.27 1126.86 1106.31

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1126.86

LEAVERS March 1985 C. Knappett (Bloxham) — Came September 1980. Rugger XV. Soccer XI (Capt.) Cricket XI. Colours for Soccer, Rugger, Cross Country and Chess Choir. Prefect. Scholarship. T. Wise (Bloxham) — Came September 1979. Rugger XV. Cricket XI. Colours for Rugger and Cross Country. Choir Conductor. Prefect. Major Scholarship. July 1985 T. Everitt (Worcester Royal Grammar School) — Came April 1981. Rugger XV. Soccer XI. Cricket XI. Colours for Rugger and Cross Country. Choir. M. Foster (The Chase) — Came September 1982. Rugger XV. Colours for Rugger and Cross Country. R. Jaeger — Came September 1983. Cricket XL Colours for Cricket. Prefect. O. Saunders (Ackworth) — Came April 1980. Rugger XV. Choir. C. Taylor (King's Worcs.) — Came May 1980. Cricket XI. T. Wellspring (Malvern) — Came June 1982. Prefect. A. Williams (Worcester Royal Grammar School) — Came September 1982. Rugger XV. Soccer XI. Cricket XI. Colours for Rugger, Soccer and Cross Country. Choir. Spring 1986 C. Henshaw — Came September 1982. Rugger XV. NEW BOYS Spring 1985 — J. Byrne, D. A. Scott. Summer 1985 — S. I. Patterson, M. W. Patterson, P. S. Smith Autumn 1985 — P. A. Allan, A. R. Bewley, R. B. N. Brodie, N. A. Griffiths, M. E. Harper, N. J. P. Michell, A. J. White. Spring 1986 — L. Sinclair, A. R. Barnes SCHOLARSHIPS Congratulations to the following: T. T. Wise — Major or Scholarship, incorporating music exhibition, at Bloxham. C. Knappett — Scholarship at Bloxham. J. C. Taylor — Music Scholarship at The Wrekin. S. I. Patterson — Exhibition at King's Worcester. OLD BOY NEWS P. B. H. Birks is Professor of Civil Law at Edinburgh University. R. Blair-Oliphant is hoping to study singing. E.Edmonds is on a two year H.N.D. course at Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall. G. Edmonds is a member of the Monmouth team of four which won a national General Knowledge Quiz for Vlth Forms run by the Prudential Company. He has 8 `O's at A grade and is taking Oxbridge entry in November. J. N. F. Edwards is now working in Harpenden as a graphic designer. J. W. F. Edwards has moved to Coventry and is working for the Coventry Education Authority. 4

T. W. F. Edwards is enjoying his practical farming year at Coddington. D. C. F. Fayle, after thirty years in research for the Canadian Forestry Service, has been transferred to an administrative post in Toronto. J. Hanley at Aldenham played cricket in the U15 team which came first in the Kodak and Outspan Challenge Trophy for Public Schools in Hertfordshire. M. Harris is now a professional singer under the name of Martin Oxenham. N. Harris has two more years at Irvine University California researching on the gases of the upper atmosphere. J. H. A. Hughes has graduated from Trinity College, Carmarthen, in Environmental and Conservation studies. He is playing rugger for Newtown and for the Mid Wales District XV. B. Ilsley has twelve 0 levels — 9 at A grade — and is now studying for Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A level. D. Ilsley has a place at the Medical School at Leeds University. He rowed in the 1st Four for Wycliffe in the most successful year the school has had. P. Jeavons is running the Worcestershire Game Farm. M. Jeavons is farming with his father. C. Knappett, at Bloxham, played goalkeeper for the U15 A team Hockey and full back in the U15 A team Rugger. He also played in the U14 Cricket team last summer. A. Lane is engaged to be married to Miss Elizabeth Shaw. R. Lane has a son, born early this year. W. Lane is head of his house at Malvern. He is taking A levels this summer. He played Orsino in Twelfth Night and went to Germany and the U.S.A. with the Malvern choir. He appeared on Blockbusters and survived the first day but was knocked out on the second. A. P. MacLaren has Passed Out of Sandhurst and has joined his regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, in Germany. D. MacLaren played for U14 Cricket team last summer and also played Eton Fives for the U16s at Shrewsbury. S. J. D. MacLaren, having graduated last June from Herriott Watt University, Edinburgh, with an Honours Degree in Marine Biology, is now happily learning to be a salmon farmer near Lochgilphead, Argylshire, where he has been since last September. R. J. McLeod has just left Sandhurst, having been commissioned into the Scots Guards. He is going to be in the Trouping of the Colour in June. S. McGorman, after breaking his nose playing rugby for Old Swinford, is now playing football and squash. He is taking O levels in June. I. McCulloch is in the police at Ross. The Rt.Rev. C. J. Mayfield, formerly Archdeacon of St. Albans, has been appointed Suffragan Bishop of Wolverhampton. O. A. Mayfield has a post as an accountant in Anglesey and spends all the time he can walking in the Welsh Mountains. S. Nelson is going to Reading University in the autumn to read Agricultural Botany. Meantime he is enjoying teaching at The Elms for a year. S. Page (staff) has a second daughter. G. Paske is in Spain — Pamplona — having spent six months in Paris, as part of his year abroad for the degree course at Wolverhampton Polytechnic. R. Paske is hoping to study photography. He has been helping at a holiday camp for the disabled run by the Winged Fellowship Trust. W. Rankin is enjoying acting at Malvern. He is taking some Os in the summer. N. Richardson is Capt. of U15 school rugger. He played in all U16 County rugby matches last season. He won the Junior Cross Country U15 school competition. D. Richmond helped with games here last autumn. He is now at Sandhurst. O. Saunders, writing from Ackworth, misses rugby and games every day. They play hockey and football. J. Schilizzi has gained a place at Hertford College, Oxford. P. Schilizzi is back from his travels around the world. Dr. D. N. Wilson has been appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mental

5 Health at Nottingham University. T. Wise is running for Bloxham U17s. G. Yule, at Ellesmere, is taking eight O levels in June.

ARNOLD DARLINGTON, M.A., M.B.O.U., F.I. Biol. Long before he retired from being head of Biology at Malvern College, Arnold promised to come and teach at Aymestrey and in 1976 he arrived. His very special brand of teaching, and his unique attitude to boys, combined with the immense depth and breadth of his knowledge galvanized all with whom he came into contact. He had a great gift for lecturing on subjects as diverse as the mass suicide at Masada, St. Francis of Assisi and Dutch Elm disease. He illustrated his lectures with slides he made himself — he was a superb photographer — and punctuated them with gifts of Mars Bars to the knowledgeable! He wrote many biological books, some for children, and was a world authority on galls. He died suddenly and peacefully — the way he would have wanted to go, but how we all miss him. Aymestrey is deeply grateful to a true friend. D.H.G. Mr.Darlington always said, "I can never stick to a syllabus", and he demonstrated his philosophy often by being willingly sidetracked. No lesson of his would be complete with out a few 'red herrings' — stories of events which had happened earlier in his career. It was these amusing stories that made the lessons enjoyable and his teaching fired in us an enthusiam for the subject. I remember desperately trying to perfect my prep. and score the 'golden 10'. The climax of each term was the M. R. James or Edgar Allan Poe ghost story. I feel honoured to have known such a kind and fascinating man and shall always remember him.

W. RANKIN 6

Thursdays will never be quite the same again at Aymestrey. Boys and staff alike looked forward to them as they were 'D' days, Darlington days. At staff break in the hall there would be a loud 'Hello friend', as a diminutive small boy, carrying a matchbox or tin, would appear and hover, wanting to ask Arnold some question. Arnold had unfailing patience with the young and he would always take time and trouble to answer their questions, however mundane. Equally his experience was so vast that he could tell one something of interest about nearly every topic that arose. He was a good judge of character and his advice on most subjects was well worth hearing. He lived every moment to the full and this was born out by his obvious enjoyment of life, but without his wife Daisy he could never coped with the tedious details of living. She was in every sense the support behind the great man. He leaves a gap here that is impossible to fill. To us he was a friend who can never be replaced. He was a 'once in a life time' person who seemed immortal. G.S.G. To the casual naturalist Arnold was that rare being, a professional who was still at heart an amateur in the true sense — a lover of everything in nature. Few experts have such enthusiasm that they really love 'all creatures great and small', even those that are to most people repulsive. He had the imagination to try, at least, to see things from the point of view of whatever organism he was dealing with, opening one's eyes to what it must be like to exist in a world dominated by the sense of smell or touch. The width of his knowledge was stupendous, and you could go to him for information on the most obscure corners of the natural world, and equally to share appreciation of some aspect of beauty. All nature was to him a delight, and he was a delight to know. D. A. N. A. M. BATES F.R.C.S. Michael Bates, who died last August, was a very distinguished London surgeon. After his schooldays at Aymestrey and Radley, he entered St. Bartholomew's Hospital in 1935. War service in the R.A.M.C. interrupted his training, and like many great surgeons he found exams difficult, but he passed his final F.R.C.S. in 1949. He already had a special interest in chest surgery, and his skill and devotion over the next thirty years took him to the top of the tree. Tremendously hard working and meticulously careful, he was also a very human person, good company, with a sardonic sense of humour, and he earned both the admiration and affection of his colleagues and the gratitude of countless patients. He was President of the Thoracic Society and of the Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland; he gave the Hunterian Lecture in 1980, and lectured and demonstrated abroad; and was editor and part-author of an important technical treatise. It was said of him that with regard to lung cancer he was probably the most experienced surgeon in the world. He was fond of music, gardening, wild life, and above all cricket, at which he was captain successively of Aymestrey, Radley and Barts. No one watching him playing fast bowling or fielding brilliantly in the covers would have guessed that he had only one eye, a disability which also made his professional skill the more remarkable. He asked that his ashes should be scattered on the cricket field at Aymestrey, which one of his eminent colleagues described as 'a charming tribute to his preparatory school'. J.D.WALL Denys Wall died last autumn. He was at Aymestrey from 1918 to 1923, going on to Malvern and then Clare College, Cambridge. He became a schoolmaster and taught in various prep schools for twenty years, except for war service in the R.A.F. He left teaching in 1953 to became a fruit farmer with his brother in Leicestershire. He was a good cricketer and played for Northamptonshire 2nd XI, and was fond of various country sports. Quiet and self-effacing, he was perhaps itimately known by few, but by

those few highly valued. 7

R.W. MASSEY Robert Massey, who died last June, was at Aymestrey from 1926 to 1930, and then at Bromsgrove. He worked for a time on the Birmingham Stock Exchange, and during the war served in the Army Pay Corps. He joined the family firm of accountants and in 1952 became Chief Auditor to the Worshipful Company of Grocers. In his will he left a legacy to the O.A.A. for the benefit of the school. GIFTS We are very grateful to the following for their presents to the school:Mr. & Mrs. Everitt — Gym mat. Mr. & Mrs. E. Taylor — Major contribution to the new mower and constant help over many mechanical and other problems. Mr. & Mrs. Wellspring — New chess sets and boards. Mr. & Mrs. Sawtell — Assorted cricket equipment. Mr. & Mrs. Patterson — Material for building obstacles on the assault course. Mr. & Mrs. Edwards — Shed for the mower. Mr. & Mrs. Wise — Trundle wheel measure for cross country course. Mrs. Darlington — Mr. Darlington's microscope, moth trap and some of his books. We are also extremely grateful to the many parents who have helped with transport to matches, etc. TADWORTH COURT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL We have now been supporting Tadworth Court for approx. 18 months and in that time have raised about £1,350. The Fete in the summer brought in £742 and our thanks are due to the many parents who helped run it and produce such a successful result. 10% of sale price on second hand clothes, sales of waste paper, sales of daffodils, fines, etc. have all helped. The boys give 50% of profits of their Dungeons and Dragons Club to the fund and the Open Day sponsored events — squat thrusts, skipping, sit-ups etc. raised £86. We were very pleased to entertain Lady Coleraine, one of the Appeal Fund Organizers, to lunch in the Autumn Term and she endeared herself to the boys, not only by her present of smarties for them all, but by her obvious interest in each boy with whom she talked. MUSIC During the year the following Associated Board Exams were passed:Grade 1 T. Everitt — Violin J. Sawtell — Piano (Merit) R. Gorman — Piano C. Taylor — Piano P. Reynolds — Flute — Trinity Board Grade 2 T. Everitt — Piano Grade 3 J. Taylor — Piano P. Gorman — Piano B. Wise — Piano (Merit) J. Taylor — Clarinet (Merit)

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Grade 4 P. Gorman — Piano J. Taylor — Clarinet (Merit) B. Wise — Piano Grade 5 J. Taylor — Piano In the Autumn Mr. J. Cleary and Mr. J. Jackson joined the visiting music staff to teach Guitar and Brass. Mr. Gowland now runs a band comprising violins, clarinets, recorders, flute, trumpet, chime bars, trombone and drums. TOWNSEND WARNER HISTORY PRIZE Carl Knappett did well in the Townsend Warner last year with 63% — 46th out of 802, on Paper I, and 53% on Paper II. He won a Certificate of Commendation. This year Simon Patterson qualified with 44% — 66th out of 810 — on Paper I and 48% on Paper II. CHESS School Matches Played 8. Won 7. Lost 1. Chess is improving all the time. A tremendous amount is played in free time, not only by the team, M. Bartlett (Capt.) M.Richardson, B. Brining, C. Gurney, R. Brodie and J. Sawtell, but by many other boys as well, and so competition to play for the school is strong. Among the schools we beat were Malvern College Ferrets 3-2, The Blind College 6-2 and Hawford 6-0. Perhaps the most gratifying win was against Lacon Childe, who had slaughtered us two years ago in the Times Newspaper National Competition. This year we beat them in the second round of The Times by 5-1 despite their average of 14 to our 11 years. We went through 2-4 on age handicap against Kingswinford School, only to be comprehensively defeated in the semi finals for the region by Solihull 5 1/2 to 1/2. This was a much better match than the score suggests, with boards 5 and 6 taking over two hours. Solihull were suitably impressed and invited us to take part in the Birmingham League. Here we were outclassed, being up against much older boys, and finished well and truly bottom, but having gained much useful experience. Barnes and Tomsett were added to the regular team but we only managed to win 8 games and lost 32. Brodie won his colours to join Bartlett, Richardson, Brining and Gurney who won them last year. In April Bartlett and Richardson went again and Brodie for the first time, to the Dragon School Chess congress in Oxford. This is four days of concentrated chess for a gathering of 100 of the best chess players from Prep. Schools all over the country. Bartlett did less well than last year in that he was put in a lower group after the initial games to sort out the players, but then he won a prize for coming first equal in that group. D. Brodie came 3rd and Richardson 10th in group B. We are very grateful to Mr. John Knee of Malvern College, whose simultaneous display has become an annual feature. None of us has yet even drawn with him but has given us many useful tips, including a printed sheet of chess hints of his own devising. CHORAL FESTIVAL FOR PREPARATORY SCHOOLS On October 17th, 1985 twelve members of the choir joined ten other prep. school choirs and sang Choral Evensong in the chapel of Dean Close School, conducted by the Director of Music, Mr. Little. The anthems were Handel's Zadok the priest, which we had sung at Malvern in the spring and so knew well, and the Stanford Jubilate Deo. This was the first time we had taken part in this festival and we enjoyed it very much. Our thanks to Dean Close for their generous hospitality and to the parents and Mr. Gowland who so kindly helped with the transport. 9

MALVERN COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS ARTS FESTIVAL "This year's festival had a special quality for us because it was opened by David Davis. Mr. Davis was a boy at Aymestrey from 1916 to 1921, when the school was in Malvern — it moved to the present house in 1922. He will be known to those of you whose memories go back beyond the T.V. era, as 'Uncle David' of Children's Hour. When this finished in 1964 he became head of Children's Broadcasts at the B.B.C. Our choir joined with 300 other choristers to sing evensong in the College Chapel, under the baton of Mr. Michael Brown, the new Director of Music. Several boys had pictures displayed in the College Art School. We were one of only three schools to contribute a play at the festival. It was called Billy Bones' Treasure and was our own adaptation of the opening chapters of R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island. Mr. G. Lowland set 'Yo, ho ho and a bottle of rum' to music and persuaded his friends in the Hereford Cathedral Choir to record it. This set the scene beautifully for the pirates, splendidly led by Perriton, to open the play. Every boy in the school who wished, had a speaking part, if only one line, and nearly all could be clearly heard. Much of the point of the play was tension and this was ably created by Blind Pew —Simon Ricketts — with his tapping stick, and by Aaron Bateman with his noises off —the striking clock etc. The latter had a great deal to do but could be relied upon to be in the right place at the right time, and what is more, making the right noises! Ben Wise made a good Jim and Andrew Rees played his mother with conviction. Simon Maher managed to be suitably menacing as Black Dog and James Taylor put both legs into one trouser leg as Long John Silver, without getting into a tangle. Simon Patterson was a dignified Dr. Livesey, resplendent in a white wig made by Mrs. Goodyear. Gurney did well as a colourful excise man and Reynolds and Byrne deserve a mention for their spirited rendering of the pirates' dance. However, Billy Bones stole the show. Acted by Sven Taylor, it was a confident and memorable performance in which he made his own, this foul, rum dependent and thoroughly disgusting character. Perhaps he enjoyed dying on stage as much as the audience enjoyed watching him? We are extremely grateful to Mr. Scott for his marvellous door, without which it would have been difficult to stage the play, and many other props he made for us. Also to Malvern College for all the help they gave us, in particular their 'Lights' man. We like to think that David Davis, when he came on stage at the end, was not just being kind when he said that he had seen many productions of Treasure Island, but none to beat ours for the tension it created. FOOTBALL 1985. This season is more likely to be remembered for what we did when we weren't able to play football rather than for any exploits on the pitch. Indeed the splendid condition of the pitch on Open Day, when adverse weather again prevented us playing, testified to how little soccer we actualy managed to play. The two bouts of snow did allow everyone to hone their sledging skills and on the last day before the thaw, which coincided with half-term, the ice packed toboggan run provided some extremely fast trips. Although the second gateway remained an elusive goal to the end the exhilaration of touching 40 mph. on the sledging hill proved a recurrent attaction for many. At the beginning of term the same stretch, approached from the opposite direction, was the worst point of many others' mornings. But as the thaws set in and the rains came so the crosscountry gradually ceased to be a chore and, for some at least, developed into a new test of endurance and skill. Competition was fierce by the end of the term for a place in the senior team and the juniors also began to turn in some encouraging runs. Naturally enough the weather tried to take a hand in spoiling even this; it snowed again on the Saturday before the end of term and St. Richard's cancelled their match for the Sunday. We, however, offered to stage our own competition and were blessed with a marvellous Spring afternoon — going soft to good. St. Richard's, 10

Hillstone and Winterfold all sent runners and two races, junior and senior, took place. The natural amphitheatre of our course made the racing more interesting and the Aymestrey teams rose to the occasion by winning both events. In the juniors Harper, who won by a large margin, was followed home by Bartlett M. and O'Neill with Gurney and Taylor C. coming in 9th. and 10th. In the Senior race Williams led from the front all the way round to record another impressive first. Everitt fought hard to come in fourth which was enough, with Wise T. and Knappett finishing sixth and seventh, to clinch the team competition from St. Richard's. They were ably supported by Foster and Perriton who finished a very creditable eigth and ninth. We did play some football however and used the season to blood a good deal of the next few years' team. The results occasionally reflected their inexperience — losing 0-8 at the Elms when a draw would have been a more likely result — and also their future potential — winning 4-0 at Moffats in what turned out to be the last game of the season. Although it was generally a young team we still had the services of a few old hands. Williams had a marvellous season in goal and as well as being seemingly fearless in diving at anyone's feet also developed an enormous kick that could take play straight back into the opposition's half. Perriton remained in the backs and was joined by Dowthwaite who captained the side. He won his colours early in the season and tried very hard to cope with all the difficulties that face an inexperienced side. He also managed to improve his own game and when the defence's system was finally developed into a workable unit proved to be a very useful player. When Dog and Perriton were both playing well they managed to close down most of the opposition's forwards. This task was made easier by the emergence of Bewley as the third member of the fullbacks. He quickly adapted to playing between the other two and gained a good deal of valuable experience that will stand him in good stead in the years to come. Knappett was given a more difficult role to fill this year and generally coped very well. As the season progressed his reading of the game midfield and his incisive running improved and he deservedly ended his career at Aymestrey by scoring twice in the last match. His partners in midfield were Wise T. and Harper. Harper showed improvement in almost every game he played and with the same application should develop into a useful member of the side. Wise T. took his time to establish himself but eventually overtook other contenders such as Rodgman, Brining and Bateman by playing consistently. Although he lacked many of the skills displayed by his partners he managed to make up for these deficiencies through effort. O'Neill and Bartlett M. were both tried out at left winger and striker. Their youth and inexperience showed in the early matches but by the end of the season their potential was beginning to show signs of turning into genuine skill. With plenty of hard work and a willingness to listen and learn they too could be quite exciting players in the future. Everitt generally played on the right wing and provided some pleasant touches and managed to score in the last game. The search for a partner to complement O'Neill went on through the season. Gurney usually filled the post and showed flashes of the necessary hunger to score goals. Tomsett and Bateman also looked at times to have similar qualities but all three will need to try and train harder next season if they wish to be sure of a place in the side. The rest of the senior game, notably Penson in goal, tried hard to understand what was asked of them and we were give some very spirited displays in the Colour matches. These were played with great enthusiasm and little quarter was given. The Greys were the eventual winners. Taken as a whole the football season was unsatisfactory, mainly because of the disjointed state we were left in by the weather and the 'flu epidemic. But despite all these difficulties, and the sometimes gruelling post-mortems, the character of the side eventually showed through. It can probably be best summed up by the cross country results where effort combined with hard training resulted in a splendid result, and colours being awarded to Harper, Bartlett M., O'Neill, Williams, Everitt, Wise T., Knappett, Foster and Perriton. With well over half the football team being available next year 11

hopefully the same determination will combine with all the useful lessons learnt this year and results in a soccer team that matches its new winter attraction in skill and enthusiasm. CRICKET 1985. This year's team began the season as an untried inexperienced eleven with an immature attitude to their cricket. It is greatly to their credit that they ended the term as a hard working, enthusiastic and dependable side. This transformation was made even more enjoyable by the fact that it was the younger members of the team who showed the others the way. A special mention must be made of Harper who not only made himself into a very promising wicket keeper but also took on the unfamiliar role of opening batsman for the last few matches and was still able to be a quietly effective captain. In the opening game against the Elms we were well beacon but amid the batting collapses there were indications of the future resilient qualities of the side. Dowthwaite howled a very tight spell and was well supported by Williams who took 5 for 11. The latter made a valiant effort to contain the Elms' bowlers and played a solid defensive innings for three-quarters of an hour. The tail tried hard to support him but ran out of wickets just seven minutes short of time. Compared to this the match against St. Michael's seemed, at tea, to be a retrograde step. Dismissed for 46, of which 18 were extras. Only Jaeger had shown any inclination to hit the ball. However an astonishing comeback spearheaded by the accurate bowling of Parry and Williams resulted in a surprising victory by eight runs. Another revival was staged at St. Richard's when Dowthwaite again showed his determination by returning to the crease to see out the last couple of overs after being hit by a ball in the mouth. The victory over Moffats by 65 runs showed the team what they were capable of and when they faced the might of Winterfold they proved to have the character, if not the skills, to make a gallant effort against a superior side. Although unable to match their opponents with either bat or ball the staunch resistance by Harper —who batted undefeated for almost an hour - Taylor D. and Brining gave the players another indication of what was possible with hard work and dedication. The last match against St. Michael's underlined this new attitude and it was heartening to think that eight of the eleven would be at school for next season as well. No one player dominated the team and each of the regular members of the side found some particular skill that they were able to contribute. Williams proved the most successful bowler. With an intelligent control and a nagging line and length he was able to howl long accurate spells and force the batsmen to make errors. Parry too proved to be a useful bowler and picked up several valuable wickets with his variable pace. Dowthwaite, Bartlett M., and O'Neill all had some useful spells and once they learn to combine line and length with pace and movement they should be able to make an even greater contribution to the bowling attack next season. Bateman opened the batting in every match and by the end of the season was looking a very capable player. He was particularly good against the quicker bowlers and always moved into line. Harper ended up as his regular partner and although lacking in attacking shots laid the foundations for future seasons by concentrating on building himself a solid defensive technique. The middle order never really settled into a regular run making routine though O'Neill showed a good deal of natural flair — particularly over mid-wicket. Jaeger provided some similar mighty blows but never quite reproduced the form he showed in colour matches. The number three position was never really filled and although most of the team looked capable, by the end of the season, of Coping with most bowling attacks none of them looked likely to make a large score. The fielding improved throughout the term and there were some good catches. Brining proved a particularly fearless performer at mid-off and the general standard of ground fielding and throwing remained high whatever the situation. With such a young team it is natural to look to the future and although cricket has a reputation for finding out even the best player's slightest weakness it would be very disappointing if, after such an encouraging beginning, the members of the eleven who remain at the school for the next season or two don't mature into an exciting side.

12 ATHLETICS The overall standard was higher this year and nearly every boy gained at least a one star award. The following deserve mention:5 stars in 3 events, Pentathlon and Decathlon Under 14 — J. Perriton Under 12 — J. Harper. 4 stars in 3 events and Pentathlon Under 13 — A. Parry Under 12 — M. Bartlett & J. O'Neill Under 11 — C. Gurney & R. Gorman Under 10 — D. Bartlett & P. Smith SWIMMING Once again the weather was impossible and for the first time ever swimming was voluntary for most of the time. There was a keen group of 'tough guys' who swam every day in the coldest conditions, but on the whole it was too cold to do much in the way of endurance tests or long distance swimming. CAMP After setting up camp near the Green Price's farmhouse on the first day we set off early next morning for our hike. We went through the village and came down a narrow road, with high hedges on either side, which wound its way through the foothills but we soon turned off up a bridle path which led steeply up the hill. Feeling fairly exhausted we stopped to change over rucksacks as there was a long way still to go. We had our lunch by a lake and then returned to camp ready for a good rest, only to find the fire nearly out and rain coming on. We collected wood quickly and retired under canvas. The rain came in between the flaps of the tent door but I was too tired to do anything about it! Great camp though! O. Saunders Once again we must say a heartfelt thank you to Ann and Norman Green Price for their hospitality and the help they give over the annual camp. It just makes all the difference to be able to go to their farm. RU'A FIOLA 1985 Mr Driver, twelve boys and I set off to Ru'a Fiola amidst the turmoil and confusion of the train strike. Thankfully, all trains were running and we had an uneventful journey up to Oban. There Mr.Driver left us. Torquil greeted us later on in the afternoon, when we met up with the other members of the party. We were transported by landrover from Oban to Cullipool and from there to Ru'a Fiola by boat. After unpacking we were given our first of many excellent meals in the Scandinavian type log cabin which was to be our main home for the next week. That evening we walked up to the highest point of Ru'a Fiola, which covers fifty acres, and were shown the many other islands which surrounded us. Unlike past visits the weather was poor — in fact we only had one completely fine day. This, however, did not prevent us from participating in any of the activities. It increased the challenge of the one night survival which everyone completed, in groups of two or three, during a Force 8 gale. Carl Henshaw and Alex Williams completed two nights' survival in a cave. During this night everyone either slept in a cave or under a bivouac and most ate limpets as their main form of nourishment. The mackerel fishing was good and many members of the party caught twenty or 13

more fish. The lobster pots and prawn pots were inspected after fishing and Matthew Foster came face to face with a dog fish! Everyone tried the other main activities — abseiling, Toby Wise was the first to abseil upside down in the Aymestrey party — rock climbing and canoeing. Piers Gorman was the only one who did not capsize on the first morning, even when he stood up in the canoe. Other unmentionable feats were also achieved! All too soon, after an evening of entertainments, a tired, filthy but healthy party were sitting on the train for the return journey, having joined up with Mr. Driver. Stephen Nelson RUGBY 1985. The most telling illustration of how this year's team improved is given by the scores of the two matches against St. Richard's. Early in the season we lost by a margin of over thirty points. In the final game we won by a margin of two. This transformation was even more pleasing in that it came about through a good deal of effort by the Senior Game as a whole, and not just through the hard work of the established members of the side. As usual we had a few games, notably against the Elms and Winterfold's Second XV, where the quality of our opponents meant we met little serious opposition. Against St. Richard's, Hillstone and particularly in a new fixture with W.R.G.S., however, the team found themselves under pressure and responded by playing well above their usual standard. We were fortunate in having some large forwards but, as some of their opponents found to their cost later in the season, they had to do a great deal of hard training to get themselves fit and fast enough to play as an integral part of the side. Rodgman and Brining propped solidly for most of the season and with time and opportunity to gain more experience should develop into a very formidable pair. Taylor S. made strenuous efforts to improve his fitness and ended the season as quite an accomplished hooker. His initiation into forward play was made a lot easier by the dour support offered by Maher and Patterson S. in the second row. Tomsett was also used here when Maher, with his increasing speed and stamina, was converted to a useful flanker. Henshaw continued his aggressive role on the other side of the scrummage and, despite his some what dishevelled appearance, proved a formidable foil for most enemy halves. Smith J. also played in this position and, despite his light build, proved that determination will always compensate for size. Tomsett and Parry filled the role of utility players by being able to play competently through most of the forward positions and into the back line too. All these players were awarded their colours. Perriton, at number eight, deserves a special mention. His aggressive, driving play, quick thinking and good judgement, added an extra dimension to the pack. Although the backs' positions changed fairly frequently they were almost always distributed among the same players. Dowthwaite bore the brunt of the scrum half's duties for most of the season and showed the resilient determination that has made him such a reliable and valued member of all the rugby sides he has played in. Bateman eventually made himself into a worthy successor and should prove a useful player. O'Neill at fly-half gradually acquired more and more ideas and also improved the quality of his distribution. The combination of these two will be one of the dominant features of next year's team. Reynolds brought an uncomplicated, but highly effective, style of play into the centre. Although rather predictable he was always fearless in attack and almost always managed to ensure that he retained possession for his forwards. Harper made up for his slight build with a good deal of determined tackling and, when given the opportunity and space, some fast and — more importantly — intelligent running. Bartlett M. lacked the necessary decisiveness in defence to be completely reliable on the wing but usually handled well and made some useful runs. Gurney and Bennett R. also played in this position but it was Parry, playing out of the forwards in the last match, who showed what an asset a good winger can be. Penson at full back improved 14

steadily throughout the season. He dealt competently with the opposition's kicks, often with the rapid support of Reynolds and Harper, began to develop a useful clearance of his own, became a powerful runner linking the back line, and used his developing tackle to great effect. Penson, Harper, Reynolds, O'Neill and Bateman were awarded their colours. This team may have developed more slowly than others in the past but when, through a good deal of hard training, it finally reached its zenith in the last game against St. Richard's it proved itself to have equalled most of its rivals. Much of the side's enthusiasm and skill was due to David Richmond who, pausing briefly in his own illustrious sporting career, gave up most of his afternnons each week to help coach both the 1st XV and the Juniors. It was a great asset to have such a talented player on call, especially one who had shown by his own example the heights to which determination and genuine effort lead. S O C C E R A N D C R O S S C O U N T RY R U N N I N G 1 9 8 6 . Once again the weather intervened to shatter any hopes of enjoying a complete soccer season. By the middle of the term the conditions were so severe that we were unable to run and sporting moments were replaced by sliding on the large lake and ice sculpting on the tennis court. The lack of practice and matches was even more frustrating as the soccer team that played three matches — two against St.Richard's and one against the Elms — showed signs of developing into a very useful side. With Dowthwaite, Parry and Rodgman at the back the defence was always robust and managed to cover well and cope easily with the offside trap. Perriton in the centre of midfield was always a dominating presence and Bewley J. and Bateman provided valuable support alongside him both in attack and defence. Harper improved rapidly on the right wing and showed signs of being as valuable a player down the flanks as his opposite number Bartlett M. on the left. With O'Neill to play in the centre the latter looked likely to be part of a very effective combination. When they did make space for each other and played positively these two showed that they had the potential to open up most defences. Gurney also improved as the other striker and Tomsett proved an athletic and brave goalkeeper. He was awarded his colours along with Perriton, and O'Neil. Richardson, Gorman P. and Brining also played well throughout the shortened season and between them filled the role of substitute. The two losses against St. Richard's and the win against the Elms are not any real measure of the team's potential; hopefully next year will show their true abilities in an uninterrupted series of many matches. Cross Country Running is never the most attractive sport for the beginner as it necessarily involves early matches and discomfort on unforgiving terrain. By the end of term, however, practically every boy in the school was fit enough to run in — and enjoy — the experience of daily runs, the colour competition and the Open Day races. A more obvious sign of this enthusiasm for the sport was the splendid results achieved by the senior and junior teams at the inter-school event held at St. Richard's. Both Teams: Harper J., Perriton, Dowthwaite, Bartlett M., Gorman P., and Parry for the seniors and Patterson M., Gorman R., Sawtell, Griffiths, Sinclair and Bartlett D. for the juniors, ran as teams rather than individuals and as a result finished second and third respectively. It was a very demanding course and each boy responded bravely to the challenge, particularly Griffiths, who lost a shoe at the beginning and came in carrying it! All those who ran for the school were awarded their colours. 15