LETTERS Dear Sir, The article on Pauline cricketers rightfully suggests that Percy Fender (1906-10) is the most famous Pauline cricketing personality, perhaps best known for hitting the fastest first class century v Northamptonshire in 35 minutes in 1920. Norman Mischler (1934-39) was a prolific scorer and in 1938 and notched up 1,218 runs at an average of 87.00. I think the highest batting average at St Paul's School was attained in 1925 by Edgar Thomas (Tom) Killick (192126) who would go on to win his Blue at Cambridge and two caps for England, opening the innings with Herbert Sutcliffe in 1929.
Dear Sir, leave the field. Happily, Collins relented and the four boys returned. Killick made 31 on a difficult pitch.” Editor: Monty Garland-Wells (1921-26) is the Hon Sec. (in the photo on captain Tom Killick’s right) and went on to captain Surrey. Mainly a batsman, his most memorable moment with the ball was to bowl Don Bradman for 32 in 1930 when the great batsman was en route to his thousand runs in May. Monty is probably the School’s only Association Football international. He played in goal once for the England Amateur XI in 1930.
Dear Jeremy, Congratulations on the first edition of Atrium.
His annus mirabilis at St Paul's was in 1925 when he scored 940 runs with an average of 104.44, which even exceeds the great Don Bradman's Test average of 99.94! Best regards, John Dunkin (1964-69) Editor: taken from his obituary in Wisden. “The Reverend Tom Killick died while taking part in a cricket match between the diocesan clergy of St. Albans and Coventry at Northampton on May 18 1953, aged 46. He played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England. While at St Paul's, where he also won his rugby colours, he captained the cricket XI. In 1926 he led the Public Schools XV against the Australians at Lord's. H. L. Collins, the Australian captain, objected to the Schools fielding fifteen players and Killick had the unenviable duty of deciding which four had to
I was glad to see the emphasis on reunions, which are something the Old Pauline Club is right to be encouraging. They need not all be marking tens or scores of years, and sitting everyone down at table to course after course. An informal drink, perhaps five years on could be a useful addition to the portfolio? And I was particularly glad to see the news from Durham University. Perhaps you could stimulate some inter-university rivalry? All best wishes for 2020...what the oculists tell me should be the year of perfect hindsight. As ever, Brian Fall (1951-55) Editor: this year’s university reunion is planned for Bristol and we are hoping to invite Paulina students and Bristolian members of the Paulina League.
I found ‘Shaping Our Future’ a depressing read. While the emphasis on bursaries is important, the School should be doing this anyway. When I was at School, the School’s annual fee income was around £5million, which with inflation would be around £10 million today. However, thanks to continuous fee hikes, the actual school fee income in 2018 was £32 million. Surely, somewhere from the extra £22 million a year, there should be enough for 153 bursaries. Where is all the money going? The school is richer than it has ever been in its five hundred year history, and yet when it comes to bursaries, it seems to need to ask for extra money from Old Paulines. Why isn’t it doing this anyway? From ‘Shaping Our Future’, it would seem that the area where St Paul’s is really keen to be outstanding is in the splendour of its boat house and cricket pavilion. I love cricket and still play regularly, but to spend £2.6million on a cricket pavilion beggars belief. This has nothing to do with inspiring cricketers (which teenager was ever inspired by a pavilion?) but is everything to do with desiring a spectacular ‘showcase building’. St Paul’s continues to be gripped in the ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ culture where private schools are addicted to articulating excellence by ever more splendid buildings, which offer no real gains to a pupil’s experience. This is vainglory – nothing more. This ‘new’ vision was launched at St Paul’s Cathedral in order to emphasise the link to John Colet’s vision, but it has precious little to do with Colet’s ideals, and the idea that his name would be used to justify £7 million on a boathouse and £2.6 million on a pavilion will have him turning in his grave. Yours sincerely, Robert Stanier (Caput Scholae, 1993) Editor: see Mark Lobel’s interview with the High Master for his thoughts on ‘Shaping Our Future’. 03
