the Uigornian. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KIM'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE, " ro fJLtv Sttiaicra fiavBavia, TO. S' tvpera fc, ra 3' tv^ra Trapo Oettv yrr)aa.[ir)v."
JULY,
No. 122. VOL. IX.
Contents.
Page 603
Editorial School Calendar
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...
...
Cricket
604 605
Rowing Notes
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...
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...
...
...
614
O.T.C. Notes Shooting Notes
611 613
Swimming Concert
...
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615 615
Library
...
...
...
...
...
...
615
Speech Day
615
O.V. News
618
O.V.'s Dinner
618
School Officers
618
Salvete
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Valete
619
Oxford Letter
619 620
Field Club
621
St. Helen's
621
The Four Spirits
...
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editorial. SPEECH DAT AND THE O.T. REUNION.
Not even in the realms of fancy could there be two more beautiful days than July J3th and I4th. While the sun shone from cloudless skies, there was a cool and gentle breeze, sufficient to prevent the atmosphere becoming heavy and airless. We can find no better word than " perfect " to describe that weather. And in perfect weather what function such as this could fail to be a great success? Full details of the Speeches, the Concert, Cricket matches, and O.V. Dinner will be found elsewhere; it is sufficient here to say that Canon Hannay made what a local paper very aptly called " a charming speech," enthusiasm at the concert never flagged, the inspecting officer described the work of the Corps as " a very good show indeed," and the School beat the O.V. in both ist and and XI matches, which is as it should be.
619
Greek Plays
Correspondence
PRICE is.
1928.
622 622
CONGRATULATIONS. We must add our necessarily belated congratulations to the many others that K. N. Ross and G. E. Churchill have received on both getting Firsts in their Classical Moderations at Oxford. As the Headmaster said on Speech Day, this is no mean achievement, and one of which the School, as well as Ross and Churchill, may be justly proud. As a result of his success Churchill was given a Classical Scholarship at Hertford College.
604
THE VIGORNIAN.
CRICKET AND ROWING.
Despite the forebodings of pessimists at the beginning of the term the cricket team have had quite a successful season, having won eight and lost four matches. The match with Dean Close had to be scratched as they had measles, and the match with Worcester City was abandoned owing to rain. Perhaps one of the most astonishing features of the season was the inability of the side to do justice to itself when playing away. The ist IV lost to Hereford after a very exciting race and then went on to put up an excellent show at Marlow, getting into the final of the Public Schools' Cup and giving Winchester a hard fight for second place. " THE TEMPEST."
On Tuesday, June 5th, we saw a performance on the Promenade by the Pastoral Players of Shakespeare's " The Tempest." Most of us had read the play and had already conceived our own ideal notions of the events on the enchanted isle, and perhaps it was inevitable that we should be a little disappointed. The representation of Ariel, for instance, is bound to fall short of our own fancy. But despite the disadvantages with which they were faced at the start the Pastoral Players undoubtedly caught the spirit of the play, and all the parts were sympathetically played— with one exception. Prospero, the serene and majestic philosopher was converted into a blustering black-browed tyrant who out-Heroded Herod and reminded us of the traditional Tritagonist of the Attic Tragedy. Caliban, of course, was the favourite and acted the part of the " savage and deformed slave " with great spirit. The two drunkards were very realistically drunk and added greatly to the fun. Sebastian was the most "natural " actor. Why is all Shakespeare so over-acted, with the conventional " heroic " pronunciation, the agonized expression, the mechanical gesture ? But the crude primitiveness of the " quaint devices " of the stage direction, as they were represented on the Promenade, lapses of memory on the part of the actors, and even the blustering of Prospero were redeemed by the obvious sincerity of the Pastoral Players and the simple pleasure we gained from the open-air setting. DEATH.
It was with great sorrow that all who knew him heard of the death of H. S. Spong, O.V., as the result of an accident. He was riding on a motor-cycle from Worcester to his home in Evesham, and ran into a cable which had been stretched across the road in connection with timber-felling operations. He died almost immediately. Spong had only left School in July, 1926, and we sympathise with his parents in the loss of their only son at so early an age. AN EXPLANATION.
In the Correspondence columns we publish a letter from a reader in the Isle of Skye, and though we feel some of his accusations to be unjust he has nevertheless made us think very hard. He accuses us of bad grammar in the Editorial
of December 1926. For this we have no excuse to offer, but we would remind him that though December 1926 may seem but yesterday to a man who has been reading Vigornian editorials " for considerably more than a quarter of a century," the present Editors would disclaim responsibility for what happened in the—to them—so distant past. We feel however that his remarks about " the mockhumility stunt " are unjustified. Let him consider that in the twenty-five years for which he has been reading Vigornian editorials, there have been about fifty different editors faced with the task of writing them. The humility of the editor who is faced for the first time with the prospect of writing the editorial is very far from being " mock." It is the real thing; and though he may treat of it lightly in his editorial it is the extreme difficulty of writing anything which will be both edifying and readable that makes the editor fall back on the laboured and threadbare jesting which has been the refuge of generations before him. In our last Editorial we jested merely, and strangely enough drew a little guarded commendation from our correspondent. So much for self-defence. And now it is necessary to confess that the gist of the complaints is only too well justified. Every editor will admit that, for who has ever been satisfied with what he has written? We must admit ourselves that our own outlook as editors of the Vigornian has in the past been far too insular. It never occurred to us that we were writing for people in the Isle of Skye, India, Egypt, Palestine, South America—that we had a world-wide circulation amongst O.V. Our horizon we fear was confined to Worcester and the comparatively near neighbourhood. But thanks to the voice from the Isle of Skye we have awakened to our responsibilities and have tried in this Editorial to give a summary of the events of the term, as we would were we writing a personal letter to an O.V. in one of the distant corners of the world ; and we would beg all those who may complain that we only serve up stale news to remember those to whom it is the only news. This is the last Editorial that the present writer will have the pleasure of presenting, and he would prophesy for, like Socrates, being about to depart from this sphere for another, he is now in that state " (v f ^c£\icra avSpairoi Xpri<rntfSovoui." Never, from this time forth, shall the Vigornian Editorials look back on those days of threadbare jests, but editors shall henceforth set themselves to provide interesting news and views not only for those immediately about them, but for O.V. throughout the world. Thank you, voice from the Isle of Skye.
School Calendar. Fri., Sun.,
May „
Thurs.,
,,
4. Boarders Return. 6. School Celebration of Holy Communion. 8.45 a.m. 17. Ascension Day. School Celebration of Holy Communion. 7.0 a.m. Field Day. Bringsty Common.
605
THE VIGORNIAN. Tues., June Sat., Fri.,
Sat.,
5. Performance of " The Tempest " by the Pastoral Players, on the Promenade. ,, 23. ist IV at Marlow Regatta. July 13. Speech Day. Presentation of Prizes by Canon J. O. Hannay (" George A. Birmingham "). School Concert. „ 14. O.V. Day. Annual Inspection of the
Sun., Mon., Mon., Wed.,
O.T.C. by H.Q. Midland Area. Cricket Matches v. O.V.'s. O.V. Reunion Dinner. ,, 15. Sermon by Rev. E. W. Holland, O.V., at Mattins. ,, 16. Certificate Exams, begin. „ 30. Exeunt Omnes. Aug. 8. Camp Ends.
Cricket. 1ST
XI.
Runs Ground. Co'ty Grnd. ... Away Away Home Away Home Home Home Home Away Away Away Home
Date. Opponents. Sat., May 19.—Worcester City C.C. Wed., 23.—Norton Barracks Sat., ,, 26.—Cathedral Guild C.C. Wed., 30.—Warwick School Wed., June 6.—Hereford C.S. Sat., 9.—Masters Sat., 16.—Malvern College Colts Wed., 20.—Norton Barracks Sat., „ 23.—T. E. Rammell's XI. 27.—Warwick School Wed., Sat., ,, 30.—Dean Close School Sat., July 7.—Malvern College Colts Sat., 14.—Old Vigornians 2ND
Result. Drawn... Won ... Lost ... Won ... Lost ... Won ... Won ... Won ... Won ... Lost ... Scratched Lost . . . Won ...
Against. 141 for 2* 104 122 for 5 149 89 82
For. — 133 for 4 94 JSS 68 105 for 5 1 66 i 88 for 7 175 for 7 "3
86
'55 106
181 92
93 154 for 4
XI.
Runs Ground. Home Away Home Away Home Home Home Home
Date. Opponents. Sat., May 26.—Cathedral Guild C.C. 2nd XI. Wed., 30.—Warwick School 2nd XI. Wed., June 6.—Hereford C.S. 2nd XI. Sat., ,, 16.—Malvern College Colts 2nd XI. Wed., ,, 27.—Warwick School 2nd XI. ... Sat., „ 30.—Dean Close School 2nd XI. ... Sat., July 7.—Malvern College Colts 2nd XI. Sat., 14.—Old Vigornians 2nd XI.
Result. For. Won ... 172 Won ... i n Drawn... 68 for 8 Lost ... 70 Scratched Scratched Won ... 84 Won ... 151 for 4
Against. 93 88 104 193 for 5
83 "34
* Declared.
CHARACTERS OF THE XI. C. V.
HODGSON (captain). As captain, managed the bowling at his disposal well, though his own bowling was hardly so successful as had been hoped. Batted with success, especially in picking out the right ball to pull. Smart and active in the field. G. W. ROWLAND (Secretary). Developing into a sound batsman, who gets runs when nobody else can. Useful wicket-keeper. G. H. CARREL. The best fielder on the side. His ground fielding and returns to the wicket saved many runs by their moral effect alone. Worth his place for his fielding, but is, in addition, a sound and stylish batsman.
M. J. BALCH. Hard-hitting batsman capable of getting runs in a tight corner. Rather slow in the field, but improving in this respect. Change bowler. B. L. FORD. Bowls with a puzzling swerve, but is apt to drop the ball short when hit. Sound fielder and batsman. G. D. S. BOOLE. A stubborn batsman without many scoring strokes. Fair in the field. J. D. H. SLADE. A hard-hitting batsman, who hardly did himself justice. Keen and active in the field. C. J. R. PARTRIDGE. A promising but rather expensive slow left-hand bowler. Very fair in the field. J. G. BEAVAN. Useful change bowler. Not very successful as a batsman, but shows promise. Safe in the field.
THE VIGORNIAN.
6o6
C. D. GARRETT. Useful batsman ; safe in the field but unsafe in his returns. Can keep wicket. H. M. MORGAN. Keen and active in the field. Had few opportunities of showing his qualities as a batsman. * * # The Worcester City match was drawn, as it poured with rain after the City had made 141 for 2. * * #
THE SCHOOL v. THE CATHEDRAL GUILD C.C. SCHOOL. o 11
G H Carrel b Jones
o Si
i i
G. W. Rowland c and b Whitcombe J D H Slade b Jones G. D. S. Boole c Stinchcombe b Kingdom
2
KING'S SCHOOL (WORCESTER) v. NORTON BARRACKS. NORTON BARRACKS. G C Cooper b Ford ... ... ... T Cooper 1 b w b Hodgson Bdm. Parkes c Morgan b Hodgson Lieut. F. W. Allen c Balch b Ford ... Lieut. E. S. F. Versfeld c Boole b Ford C.Q.M.S. Singleton c Hodgson b Ford Capt. P. W. Hargreaves b Ford C.S.M. Denton c Hodgson b Ford Cpl Shepherd b Balch
•••
•••
O
21
Wood Hodgson Ford Balch Beavan
i 17 0
15 o 4
Aver.
Total
...
...
94
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. Aver. Jones ... 18 5 37 3 12.33 Whitcombe ... 14.67 3 29 5 5.80 Kingdom ... 6 o 20 i 20.00 Evans ... 3 2 4 i 4.00 Result : The School lost by 5 wickets and 28 runs. CATHEDRAL GUILD C.C. H. Gough c Carrel b Hodgson ... ... ...
...
fir
24
I3'OO
g
5.00 13.00 —
SCHOOL. 4
W. Green P. Whitcombe R. Green Did not bat. J. Mason D. Williams Extras
9
Total (for 5 wickets, dec! .)
62
G. W. Rowland l.b.w. b Denton J. D. H. Slade not out G. D. S. Boole H. E. Wood A. C. Morgan Did not bat. J. G. Beavan C. J. R. Partridge Extras
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. G. C. Cooper ... n 2 47 2 Parkes ... 4 o 17 i Denton ••• 7 i 57 i Result : School won by 6 wickets and 29 runs.
...
W. Kingdom l.b.w. b Partridge J. Evans c Carrel b Partridge
—
G. H. Carrel b Cooper B L Ford b Parkes M. J. Balch b Cooper
Total (for 4, declared)
4
32
IO4
BOWLING ANALYSIS o. m. r. w. ... 4 o 31 o ... 10 2 26 2 ... 10 2 30 6 ... 4 i 13 i .3 i o i
C. J. R. Partridge b Whitcombe H C Hayward b Whitcombe
122
2
Ford Hodgson Beavan Balch Partridge Morgan ...
133
... ... ... ... ... ...
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. 7 4 ii i 12 3 36 2 2 o 16 o 4 i 16 o 5.5 i 30 2 i o 7 o
*
Aver. 11.00
18.00
15.00
* *
THE SCHOOL v. WARWICK SCHOOL Aver. 23.50 17.00 57.00
WARWICK SCHOOL. Whitehouse l.b.w. b Hodgson ... ... Lloyd b Ford Nixon c Walton b Ford Dickson run out Talbot c Rowland b Ford
..
6
THE VIGORNIAN. Si 23
Randal c Carrel b Wood Macaskle l.b.w. b Hodgson Barnacle run out
... ... ... ... ... ...
149
Aver. 12-33 14.00
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. Burnett ... 7 a 31 o Swann ... 14.67 2 53 5 Whitehouse ... 9 3 16 5 Barnacle ... 2 o 13 o Harrison ... 4 o 30 o Result : The School won by six runs.
... ... ... ...
Aver. 12.67 8-33 4-OO I3.0U
If
9.00
21
16 I
1 68 4
e
3 o
7 i
M. J. Balch c Harrison b Davies G D S Boole b Vale C. D. Garrett c Garton b Adams J. G. Beavan c Davies b Vale ...
17 3
Extras
68
Total O
o o 12
•••
'55
Aver. 1 0.60
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. Harrison ... 13 7 23 2 Davies ... 10 i 19 4 Adams ... 5 2 8 I Vale . . . 2.67 0 9 2 Result : School lost by 21 runs.
Aver. 11.50 4-75 8.00 4-5°
* * *
3-20
THE SCHOOL v. MASTERS.
THE SCHOOL v. HEREFORD C.S. HEREFORD C.S. 15
18
Becher c and b Ford
i 8 10
Tanner b Balch
te 7
.
Ford Hodgson Partridge Balch
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. 14 i 38 3 13 2 25 3 3.67 2 8 2 3 i 13 i
B L Ford c Scougall b Davies J D H Slade b Harrison C. V. Hodgson c Adams b Davis G. W. Rowland l.b.w. b Davies
* # #
Harrison c Slade b Hodgson
89
Total
SCHOOL.
17.00
SCHOOL. G. H. Carrel l.b.w. b Whitehouse B. L. Ford b Whitehouse A. C. Morgan b Swann C. V. Hodgson l.b.w. b Whitehouse G. W. Rowland not out ... M. J. Balch c Swann b Whitehouse J D H Slade b Swann . . . J H S Walton b Swarm J. G. Beavan b Swann H. E. Wood c Talbot b Whitehouse C. J. R. Partridge b Swann Extras Total
4 S
10 il o 8
Total
Ford Hodgson Partridge Wood Balch Beavan
A
2
Swann c Ford b Hodgson ..
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. 18 2 37 3 20.67 7 42 3 9 i 24 o 7 2 17 i 3 o 13 o 2 o 9 i
607
6
SCHOOL. G. H. Carrel c Burnett b Tattersall B. L. Ford c Tattersall b Thomas J. D. H. Slade b Thomas C V Hodgson not out G. W. Rowland hit wicket b Thomas C. D. Garrett b Cooper ... A. C. Morgan not out G. D. S. Boole R. H. Gawn _.. _ T _ _ ., Did not bat. C. J. R. Partridge J. G. Beavan Extras Total (for 5, declared) ...
6 17 18 i 12
7
105
THE VIGORNIAN.
6o8 BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. G. K. Tattersall 10 o 37 i E. F. Day ... g o 24 o F. B. Thomas... 7 2 13 3 C.S.M. Cooper 6 o 25 i
MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS Muir c Ford b Hodgson Smith b Hodgson
Aver. 37.00
2 2O Q
o
4-33 25.00
I <
MASTERS. G. K. Tattersall c Garrett b Ford C.S.M. Cooper c Garrett b Ford
14
A. D. Franklin c Carrel b Hodgson F. B. Thomas c Ford b Hodgson Rev R J Whitaker run out R. J. Castley c Morgan b Partridge J. H. L. Burnett c and b Beavan
82
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. Aver. ... 8 3 19 2 9.50 Ford Hodgson ... 10 o 38 3 12.67 2 Partridge ••• 5 ' '3 6-5° Beavan ... 2 o 10 2 5.00 Result : The School won by 23 runs and 5 wickets.
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w Ford ... 15 3 31 3 Hodgson ... 14 3 28 3 Beavan ... 4 o 15 i Hayward 5 i 8 2 Result : Won by 80 runs.
Aver. io.33 9-33 15.00 4.00
KING'S SCHOOL (WORCESTER) v. NORTON BARRACKS. NORTON BARRACKS. •?8
THE SCHOOL v. MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS. SCHOOL.
Bdm. Parkes c Rowland b Hodgson ... Lieut F W Allen b Partridge C.Q.M.S. Singleton l.b.w. b Partridge Lieut. Deacon b Partridge
IS
Pte. Dalloway l.b.w. b Partridge Sergt. Richards st Rowland b Ford
O
15 7
B L Ford b Hamilton M. J. Balch c and b Muir C. V. Hodgson c and b Hamilton G. W. Rowland c and b Hamilton
8 38 1
24 IO 2O
G. D. S. Boole hit wicket b Cornu H. C. Hayward c and b Hamilton, C. J. R. Partridge c and b Hamilton
Cpl. Shepherd not out Extras
8
...
166
Aver. 22.50 32.00 7.40 18.00
8
Total
8 6 o
Extras
Hathorn Cornu Byass Hamilton Muir
186
Total
* * #
* *
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. ... n i 31 o ... 10 i 45 2 ... 8 i 42 i ... 15 3 37 5 ... 2 o 18 i
6
2
Total
Total
S
l6
E F Day b Partridge
*
17
5 5 16 : 19
Ford Hodgson Partridge Beavan
155
BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 14 o 52 ... 14 i 56 ... 8 2 24 ... 7.83 i 26
SCHOOL. G. H. Carrel c Parkes b Rose ... B. L. Ford c Singleton b Cooper M. J. Balch not out C. V. Hodgson b Parkes G. W. Rowland b Shepherd T. D. H. Slade b Shepherd
...
w. 2 2 4 2
Aver. 26.00 28.00 6.00 13.00 ^t 0 n-
16 2
THE VIGORNIAN. C. D. Garrett b Parkes G. D. S. Boole c Parkes b Cooper C. J. R. Partridge not out . J. G. Beavan •> ¥j /•< T.T H. C. Haywardj >j Did not bat. Extras
609 BOWLING ANALYSIS.
c IO
6
..
21
Total (for 7 wickets, declared)
188
BOWLING ANALYSIS, o. m. r. w. Aver. G. C. Cooper ... 9 i 39 2 19-50 Denton • • • 7 o 27 o — Rose ... 9 i 32 i 32.00 Parkes ... 14 2 49 2 24.50 Shepherd ... 6 o 23 2 11.50 Result : King's School won by 3 wickets and 33 runs. * * * KING'S SCHOOL v. MR. T. E. RAMMELL'S XI.
Bunting Spreckley Clift Duggan Tattersall Gawn Graham
o. n 7 6.7 3 3 2 4
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
m. 2 o i i o o i
r. 36 36 26 19 18 16 14
w. i i s o o o o
Result : King's School won by 3 wickets and 69 runs.
• • •
KING'S SCHOOL (WORCESTER) v. KING'S SCHOOL (WARWICK). KING'S SCHOOL (WORCESTER).
MR. T. E. RAMMELL'S XI. 2O
J F P Clift b Hodgson
4
W F. Spreckley b Partridge R I. Graham l.b.w. b Partridge G. K. Tattersall run out ... Dr. N. Duggan b Partridge C. I. Record c Ford b Hodgson R. H. Gawn c Boole b Partridge T. E. Rammell not out
5
•3
7 35 i 8 9 9
13 35 16 8 o o 14 o 5
G. H. Carrel c Barnacle b Swann B. L. Ford c and b Whitehouse M. J. Balch c and b Whitehouse C. V. Hodgson l.b.w. b Barnacle G. W. Rowland c Randall b Whitehouse C. D. Garrett l.b.w. b Whitehouse J. D. H. Slade c Whitehouse b Barnacle G. D. S. Boole b Swann
7
Total .
Total
Partridge Hodgson Ford Beavan Morgan
BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 15 2 48 ... 13 i 34 ... 4.8 i 12 ... 2 i 5 ... i o I
w. 4 4 o o o
SCHOOL. G. H. Carrel c Gawn b Clift B. L. Ford b Bunting . M J. Balch c Sub b Clift C. V. Hodgson c Tattersall b Clift G W. Rowland b Spreckley C. D. Garrett c Sub b Clift J D. H Slade c Record b Clift G. D. S. Boole not out ... C. J. R. Partridge H. M. Morgan Did not bat. J. G. Beavan
Total (for 7 wickets)
Aver. 36.00 36.00 5.20
106
12. OO
8.50
113
BOWLING ANALYSIS. Burnett Swann Whitehouse Fleet Barnacle
Aver.
...
... ... ... ... ...
o. n n 8 2 8.4
m. 9 5 2 i 3
r. 34 16 18 12 20
w. ° 2 4 o 4
Aver.
8.00 4-5° 5.00
KING'S SCHOOL (WARWICK). 6 >3 71 o
C7
Barnacle st Rowland b Partridge
12
6
SO
18 i 4
I
Talbot c Balch b Ford
.. I
Fleet not out Extras
• 175
I
3
Total
122
THE VIGORNIAN.
6io
Partridge Hodgson Ford
BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... n 2 42 ... 19 6 30 ... 13.5 i 32
w. 2 3 3
KING'S SCHOOL (WORCESTER) v. THE OLD VIGORNIANS JST XI.
Aver. 21.00 10. OO
OLD VIGORNIANS.
10.67
c
A P. Bolland c Slade b Ford Result : King's School (Warwick) won by 9 runs. * * *
KING'S SCHOOL IST XI. v. MALVERN COLLEGE COLTS IST XI. CPT-inOT
G. H. Carrel c and b Hamilton ... B. L. Ford b Hamilton M. J. Balch c McKelvie b Hamilton C. V. Hodgson c McKelvie b Burrows G. W. Rowland c Nunneley b Burrows J. D. H. Slade c Muir b Hamilton
2
20
6 o o
Hamilton Burrows Hathorn
93
w. 5 3 i
I.O
MALVERN COLTS.
<6 I
21
Short b Hodgson Nunneley b Hodgson Frost l.b w. b Partridge ... Whitley run out ...
i
92
Ford Hodgson Partridge Beavan
... ... ... ...
o. 11 n i o. i
m. o 2 o o
r. 51 36 2 o
w. 5
Aver. IO -2
3
12. 0
o
—
I
O.O
SCHOOL.
Aver. 10.6 11.67
Burrows c Rowland b Hodgson ...
I
6 16
BOWLING ANALYSIS.
8 8
Total
9
Total
24
7
I 2
Extras
10
C D S Boole n o t o u t C J R Partridge b Hamilton J. G. Beavan run out H. M. Morgan c Frost b Hathorn Extras
BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 16 3 S3 ... 12 o 35 ... 3.1 2 I
C. E. Porter b Ford C. LI. Garnett b Hodgson R. I. Graham b Ford W. J. Mayhew st Rowland b Ford M R Craze 1 b.w b Hodgson C. I. Record b Ford H. F. Langstaff b Hodgson R. H. N. Wood c Ford b Beavan
(,-,
G. H. Carrel run out B. L. Ford b Porter M. J. Balch c Garnett b Graham C. V. Hodgson b Bolland G. W. Rowland not out J D H Slade C D S Boole C D Garrett / - i n n i -j D i d n o t bat.
28
I
7 40 28
H. M Morgan
Extras
16 c
McKelvie not out ...
O
RfMVT TNP A N A T VQT<;
4
...
Total
Ford Hodgson Partridge Morgan Beavan
BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 9 i 37 ... 18 6 66 ... 16 4 52 ••• 3 o 9 ... 3.4 o 13
Result : Malvern Colts won by 88 runs.
* * *
w. o 3 2 o 3
181
Aver. 22. 0
26.0 4-33
Craze Porter Sherwood Graham Bolland Wood Langstaff
o. ... 7 ... 10 ••• 5 ••• 3 ... 3 ... 2 ... 2
m. I o i 2 o o o
r. 31 38 22 4 12 18 19
w.
Aver.
0
i
38.00
0
i
4.00
I
12.00
o o
— —
Result : King's School won by 6 wickets and 62 runs.
* * *
THE VIGORNIAN. BOWLING AVERAGES. o. m. r. w. J. G. Beavan ... 28.33 3 94 " B. L. Ford ... 122.3 '9 363 29 C. J. R. Partridge 84.17 15 255 20 C. V. Hodgson 154.67 33 460 31 M. J. Balch ... 16 4 70 2 The following also bowled : — o. m. r. w. H . C . Hayward 5 1 8 2 H. E. Wood ... ii 2 122 2 G. W. Rowland i o 2 o A . C . Morgan... 1 0 7 0 H. M. Morgan 6 o 19 o *
Aver. 8.54 12.50 12.75 14.81 35'°° Aver 4.00 61.00 — — —
* *
Once again we owe our sincerest thanks to Mr. Coverdale for again presenting a bat for the best batting average of the season. The winner is M. J. Balch, whose average is •5-5 -5-5
JJ'JJ"
*
Played. 12
Won. 7
*
*
RESULT. Lost. Drawn. 4 i
*
Scratched. i
* *
BATTING AVERAGES. Times Highest Runs. Innings, not out. Score. Average. M. J. Balch ... 300 10 i 95* 33-33 G. W. Rowland ... 203 11 2 68* 22.55 C. V. Hodgson ... 201 n 2 62* 22.33 G. H. Carrel ... 187 u o 63 17.00 B. L. Ford ... 129 n o 35 n.73 J. D. H. Slade ... 85 9 i 34 10.62 G. D. S. Boole ... 50 7 2 24* 10.00 J. G. Beavan ... 31 6 i 14 6.20 C. D. Garrett ... 42 7 o 18 6.00 C. J. R. Partridge 25 7 2 8 5.00 H. M. Morgan ... 7 2 o 7 3.50 The following also batted : — A. C. Morgan ... 62 5 3 23* 31.00 J . H . S . Walton . . . 4 i 0 4 4.00 * Signifies not out. * * #
A summary of the cricket cannot be completed without expressing our gratitude to Mr. Rammell for his untiring interest in the cricket of the School ; also to Mr. Whitaker for coaching in the 2nd Game, for umpiring in most of the ist XI. matches and for writing the Characters this season. Mr. Record, Mr. Burnett and Mr. Tattersall also have earned our thanks for their help in the coaching throughout all the Games. C.V.H. G.W.R.
611
Rowing Rotes. When looking back upon the Rowing season we see that there is, when all things are considered, no cause for disappointment. At the beginning of the season we had, as a foundation upon which to build our three crews, two members of last year's ist IV and one of the 3rd IV. When the ist IV was settled, this want of material made itself felt, and we had some difficulty in forming the 2nd and 3rd I Vs. After many changes, finally two satisfactory crews were settled upon. Considering the lack of experience in the crews, their performances, which were well up to standard, reflect great credit both upon themselves, and upon their coaches. The ist IV this year reached the final of the Public Schools Cup at Marlow, with Winchester (the holders) and Tonbridge, who won this year. An account is found elsewhere. Junior Rowing has proceeded this term with a great deal of keenness, despite the bad condition of the boats. Their state renders things very difficult both for coaches and oarsmen, and to row another season in them would be impossible. Therefore, we sincerely hope that the attempt being made by Mr. S. D. Strong, O.V., the Rowing Master, to start a fund with which to equip the Rowing for another 10 or 15 years will be carried through with every success. He himself has set a generous example which we hope will be followed by others. It is a fact that if this fund does not meet with success, the Junior Rowing, which is the nursery of our Senior Rowing, will actually have to cease next year. We would like here to thank Mr. Strong for all the coaching he has done, and for the unflagging energy with which he devotes himself to the School Rowing ; Mr. Bentley and Mr. Addleshaw for the excellent coaching they have given to the 2nd and 3rd IV's ; and to Mr. Crichton for the time he has given up to Rowing. D.A.B.H. E.C.H.
# * * THE IST IV. It seems that this year it is sufficient compliment to the members of the first boat and the standard they have managed to attain, to merely record the fact that they not • only reached the final of the Public Schools Cups for fours at Marlow Regatta with Tonbridge and Winchester, but after a most exciting race with the latter, who had won the cup for the last four years and were said to be well up to their usual standard, just lost by the narrow margin of two feet. The IV can be said to have been one of the most pleasing crews that one could wish to have coached, for they made some very steady and continual progress throughout their training, which was most marked in the last ten days after the experience of their close race with Hereford in a very strong head wind.
THE VIGORNIAN.
612
Payne and Assheton deserve special mention in having shown some admirable keenness in getting themselves up to the standard which Hopkin and Halton had reached by their experience of last year's racing. At the beginning of the season it was obvious that the prospects of the IV this year would depend very largely on how the two former shaped. The efforts of the IV this year have shown clearly that, anyhow in rowing, we have no reason to think that we are outclassed by some of the bigger schools competing for the Public Schools Cup, and this should encourage all future rowers in the School to hope that perhaps in the future they may not only get a place in the boat, but may be in the actual crew who we hope one year may bring the trophy back for the School.
CHARACTERS OF THE CREW. (Bow) C. F. ASSHETON (lost 61bs). Still has to learn to get a firmer hold of the water at the beginning, but he rows in a good orthodox style, and his prospects of becoming a really good oar are excellent. (2) C. E. PAYNE (lost izlbs). Although he has one or two outstanding faults, and he is naturally rather short, his blade work has been very effective. He gets a good firm beginning, and with the keenness he has shown, has made wonderful progress. (3) D. A. B. HOPKIN (i2st 3lbs) His swing and body work is still not correct, but he has improved his steadiness over the stretcher very considerably. His hard drive from the stretcher and wonderful staying powers are to be much admired. (Stroke) E. C. HALTON (ust 61bs). His finish has been his weak point, but this is made up for easily by his very hard beginning. He is a strong oar and a very conscientious worker. (Cox) R. P. ROYLE (6st 4lbs). Has played his part very well, and has come up to all expectations.
The School won the toss and chose the Henwick side. A fair breeze upstream was blowing and made the water rather choppy. At the start the boats rowed level. After half a minute, Hereford, rowing a slightly faster stroke, took the lead and went up half a length. This they kept, both boats rowing very well, and the School the slightly slower stroke. At the wide bend by the Rowing Club the School lost another half length and were a length behind. They still did not increase the rate of striking till the men's baths were reached, when they spurted and went up well on Hereford, but had not time to draw ahead, and lost by a quarter of a length. Had the School crew spurted earlier it is quite likely that they might have won the race. The School crew rowed very well but had obviously suffered a little from not having been able to practice as a crew during the week previous to the race. The race was a very fine one and is the second year in succession that this fixture has ended in a very exciting finish.
2ND
IV.
•a. CHELTENHAM AND CLIFTON. This race was rowed at Tewkesbury on June igth. After a good start there was not much between the crews for the first minutes. Then Cheltenham and Clifton drew away and the former, having the advantage of the bend, established a lead which they held easily to the end. Clifton finished a length behind them, with our crew three lengths away. The crew were well stroked by Molony but he was not backed up during the second half of the race. The whole crew got very " short " when timing towards the end. The race disclosed weaknesses which were adjusted before the next race. •0. MONMOUTH.
They can content themselves in knowing that they must be anyhow one of the fastest crews the School has ever turned out. * * *
Rowed at Worcester on June 27th. Molony got an excellent start, gaining a " canvas " in the first 10 strokes. This lead he gradually increased until at the Grand Stand he was threequarters of a length ahead. Monmouth were making great efforts, but could do no more than hold on up to this point. Rounding the bend Molony made his effort and further increased his lead. Monmouth replied with a spurt, but when this was over they seemed to go to pieces and were unable to offer any further challenge to Molony, who drew right ahead to win easily.
IST IV v. HEREFORD.
The race was rowed with good judgment by Molony and he was well backed by his crew.
The crew as a whole has a better style than last year, and one of the secrets of their success is that they have been beautifully together, with a very sharp firm catch of the water, especially in the case of Hopkin and Halton.
This race was rowed on Wednesday, June Worcester.
13,
at
The course was from a few hundred yards above the Dog and Duck to the Railway Bridge. This is a new course and is a great improvement upon the old course from the mile post, both from a spectatorial view and with a view to fairness.
•v. ST. EDWARDS. Rowed at Oxford on June 3Oth. Unfortunately the state of the river prevented the crews from rowing abreast and a " station " race was necessary. We had a good start, but St. Edwards, a much heavier crew, could not be shaken off and gradually diminished the distance between the boats. Both crews took the rather sharp bend very well—
THE VIGORNIAN. Harris is to be congratulated on his " coxing " in this course, with which he was unfamiliar—and St. Edward's maintained their advantage, and in spite of a great effort by Molony, in which he was well backed up by his crew, won by one length. Bow. DANIELS, L. S. Has a tendency to swing out of the boat—otherwise a very fair oar. 2. GRIST, C. H. Has a good length and good hands. His chief fault is his inability to finish well. He checks his body too soon and pulls with his arms. 3. JACKSON, G. N. A much improved oar. His blade work is not yet good but he is improving and should do well next year. Works hard and does not get short in a race. Stroke. MOLONY, D. W. A. A very promising oar, who shows excellent judgment in a race. Has a tendency to get short when tiring. Should be good next year. Cox. HARRIS, D. P. C. He has improved steadily as he gained racing experience and is now quite good. * * * 3RD IV.
•a. ST. EDWARD'S, OXFORD. This race was rowed at Oxford on June 3oth. Owing to the weeds in the river, it had to be a time race, a form of racing in which our crew had had no experience. The School won the toss and chose the front station. They got off fairly well and just kept their distance until the bend. There was a strong cross wind blowing and Hallett allowed the boat to be carried out into the river, which lost his crew well over a length. St. Edward's, keeping well into the bank, almost caught us up. Maund then made a gallant effort but his crew seemed loo tired to back him up really well; however we drew ahead a little, and eventually lost by just over a length. The crew, after a good many changes, was only definitely settled about a fortnight before the race. They got well together, however, and developed a good hard drive; but .their finish was never satisfactory. They would not finish their hands high up on their chests. Stroke gave them a good rhythm but was rather short; he rowed a very plucky race at Oxford. Three and two had a good length when paddling but did not make full use of it when rowing. Bow is a neat oar, who with more length will be really good. * * * HOUSE RACES. The result of the House Races this season was, as last season, almost a foregone conclusion. Castle House this year had three members of the first IV, and one of the and with which to make their crew, and thus were very strong. In the first round Castle House beat Day Boys easily. Castle House went away at the start, and Day Boys never came within striking distance, though rowing very pluckily all the way. Time zmins. 4osecs.
613
In the final Castle House met School House, last year's winners. At the start, School House getting in a poor start, Castle House went up about half a length in the first ten strokes. They increased this and led by a length at the end of the first minute. School House held them and began to come up with a " ten." Castle House replied well, and went away well to win by three lengths. Time zmins. 37secs.
O.C.C. Rotes. The usual work has been carried out in accordance with the syllabus of training. In addition special attention has been paid to company drill and arms drill with a view to the annual inspection. *
*
*
The Shooting VIII have put in a good deal of work in preparation for the Chichester Cup Competition, and the match against the other schools in that competition on the open range at Kidderminster. In addition as many as possible have classified in the Empire Test on the miniature range. *
* *
The Shooting VIII have worked hard and were better than last year. It was expected that they would do well in the Chichester Cup Competition, held at Norton Barracks, on June 5th. In this competition the standard was very high, and, though we gained a score equal to the winning score last year, we were beaten by the other three schools. The shooting of Bromsgrove, who won, was excellent. The improved standard of all schools this year proves the value of the competition. A separate account of the shooting during the term appears elsewhere. The Field Day this term was on Bringsty Common on May I7th. *
* »
The Annual Inspection takes place on July I4th, when the Corps will be inspected by an officer detailed by H.Q South Midland Area. * » * R. E. Thomas, who was in the Corps from Jan. 1923— April 1926, and who gained his Cert. " A " in his last year, has taken a Commission in the Territorial Army. *
* *
The Contingent go to Camp on July 3oth at Strensall, York. We are again limited to 60, and are unable to take many who would like to go. » » * FIELD DAY. Bringsty Common was again the scene of operations, but, as we had not been there for two years, the ground was
614
THE VIGORNIAN.
new to many. The scheme was varied a little from the usual, in order to include a forced march. An Eastland force, commanded by Under-Officer E. C. Halton, detrained at Knightwick with orders to proceed to Bringsty and make good the Common. A Westland force with similar orders detrained at Bromyard under the command of UnderOfficer G. D. S. Boole. Zero hour was timed so as to give each force an even chance to reach the Common first. Good marching by Eastland forces and the fact that Westland forces took the wrong road at first, enabled Eastland forces to reach the Common first and establish themselves in such good positions that normally it would have been impossible for Westland forces to enter the Common within the bounds of operations. The first phase of operations was therefore won by Eastland forces.
L-Cpl. Davies, O. R. Cadet Hallett, M. M.
In order to continue operations Eastland forces were made to withdraw a little and Westland forces allowed to enter the Common and make their attack. This was at first not well done. Sections advanced on to the Common too casually, having regard to the fact that they were under fire. They were sent back and the second attempt was much better. More use was made of natural cover and cover by fire was also given. The attack then developed on correct lines and Eastland forces were driven back. They rallied however in dead ground and organised a successful counter attack, winning back the positions they had evacuated. Finally Westland forces gained an ascendancy and Eastland were compelled to withdraw to previously prepared defensive positions. This withdrawal was carried out in an orderly manner and on correct lines. A final position was taken up on the Eastern edge of the Common. This was assaulted by Westland troops and a counter attack had just made the issue doubtful when " Cease Fire " put an end to operations.
The first match this season was, contrary to custom, the usual annual competition of the Worcester Rifle Association, held on May $ist, at the long range at Kidderminster, against Malvern, Bromsgrove, and the Grammar School. In this Bromsgrove won, while we were bottom, and, although the bull had been decreased in size, our score was one point better than that of last year. This was followed by the competition for the " Chichester Cup," on June 4th, which took place on the 30 yards range at Norton Barracks. This time Malvern College were the winners and we were again bottom, 35 points behind, although our aggregate nearly levelled last year's highest.
The exercise was interesting and instructive. The Senior Commanders showed themselves capable of handling their men in the field, and the experiment of causing several seniors to become casualties gave junior commanders an opportunity of showing that they had a good knowledge of the principles involved. * » # The Band have worked hard this term in their spare time and have already surpassed the rather high standard they set themselves last year. They deserve success in the Band Competition at Camp this year. » * » The result of the examination for Cert. " A," which we were unable to publish last term, was received early this term. Out of fourteen candidates there was only one failure. The successful candidates are to be congratulated : the marks of all were good, and of some very good. The successful candidates were :— L-Cpl. Payne, C. E. Cadet Harrison, G. H. „ Birkmyre, D. M. „ Haynes, P. „ Assheton, C. F. ,, Raban, D. P. H. Cadet Balch, M. J. L-Cpl. Ridley, G. H. „ Cockle, D. J. „ Rowland, R. H.
Cadet Slade, J. D. H. „ Wood, H. E.
This makes the number of Certificates gained this year 18, and the number in the Corps holding the Certificate 22 out of 103, a very satisfactory percentage.
SDooting notes. A much higher standard has been reached this year than in recent years, as the score in " Country Life " bears out. The result of last term's competition shows an increase of 100 points on the previous year, which was 645, out of a possible 1040.
The rest of our matches were not shot with ball cartridge, but were shot on the miniature range. These were against Bloxham School and Kelly College, the scores of which are below. The Individual Shooting Cup was won this year by G. W. Rowland with the excellent score of no points out of a possible no, and W. E. A. Brown was 2nd with 108 points. The standard on the whole was lower than was expected; the competition itself was prolonged over some length of time owing to the fouling of one of the two rifles. The House Shooting Competition has yet to be shot off. In all these matches the Shooting " VIII " has been coached by Mr. Whitaker, and we would like to express our gratitude to him. W.R.A. Chichester Kelly Bloxham PerHighest Cup. Coll. School. centage. Possible Score 70 85 no no 100% W. E. A. Brown 47 76 82 99 77.7 G. W. Rowland 46 70 90 91 74-iS C. V. Hodgson... 49 71 91 88 77.3 J. H. C. Phelips 50 70 89 85 76.65 R. H. Rowland — 63 81 86 75.33 D. W. A. Molony 44 64 82 74 68.6 J. G. Beavan ... 45 70 65 71 66.9 G. H. Carrel ... 47 48 72 82 66.05 O. R. Davies ... 44 — — — 62.89 Result Lost by Lost by Lost by Won by fipts. J S p t s . iSpts. 115 pts. W.E.A.B. G.W.R,
THE VIGORNIAN.
615
Swimming.
Clbrarp.
This has been a much better season than we had last year. Only for a few days has the height of the river prevented the river tests taking place. Consequently 42 have already passed the river test, and there are others who will do so before the end of term. Of the beginners, 16 have already learnt to swim, and from the frenzied struggles of many others to swim across the baths it is certain that that number will be increased before the end of term. There has been much activity among the enthusiastic swimmers who have been practising for the Life Saving Certificate, and the rigours of resuscitation are to be seen daily being ruthlessly carried out by the water's edge. The Swimming Sports will be held nearer the end of term.
The following books have been added to the School Library this term :— The Mystery of Angelina Froude R. Austin Freeman Rivers to Cross Roland Pertwee The Female of the Species " Sapper " Pat of the Pony Express Hymock The Forerunner Merejhowski William Le Queux Treasure of Israel The Island of Dr. Morreau H. G. Wells The Passenger from Folkestone J. S. Fletcher Historical Nights Entertainments Raphael Sabatini Greyface Sax Rohmer Sails of Sunset Cecil Roberts
Concert. Last term's Concert, held on Saturday, March 31, was not up to our standard. We admit that this is an unusual thing to say about a concert. We might pick out only the good points, leaving the rest unmentioned. But we are not going to do this, because, if we did not occasionally make our criticisms rather critical, we should not be doing justice to the really good concerts. Short therefore of printing the bare programme—an attactive solution which custom unfortunately will not allow—we can do nothing better than say what we think. " Carmen," which the choir were singing in an abridged concert version, needs more than anything what one would vulgarly call "pep." The staccato March-tune in the beginning, the Seguidilla Dance-song and the mysterious Smugglers' Chorus call for briskness and powerful leads. But we sang them bluntly, as if our thoughts were far away. Only the Toreador Song was really effective. But there was a contrast to our singing in the accompaniment of Claude Brown (O.V.), who came specially down from Wellington College to help in our concert. The rest of the first half was occupied by pianoforte, violin and vocal solos, which put the choir to shame. For the second half we had an entertainer. About him no one could possibly write a criticism. One either laughed heartily or else one was reduced to playing noughts-andcrosses on one's programme. The effect an entertainer has on one is entirely personal and cannot be analysed, because no one has succeeded in explaining why a joke is funny. Therefore our personal opinion about him is not worth stating. We only say what we said last term, that entertainers as a class are a necessary evil, inferior to any other kind of performance. By the time these words appear in print this term's concert will be over and we are sure to have done better justice to " The Revenge " than we did to " Carmen." It is a good thing for once in a while that we should have to regain a lost reputation and not rest contented with past achievements.
Speech Dap. The Dean of Worcester (Dr. Moore Ede) presided at the annual prize distribution of the King's School, held in the College Hall on Friday afternoon. There were also on the platform Canon J. O. Hannay (" George A. Birmingham "), who gave away the prizes, Archdeacon Peile, Archdeacon James, the Mayor of Worcester (Mr. A. E. Coverdale), and Mr. S. Southall. The Dean said that never in its long history had the School been in a more flourishing condition than it was today—whether they measured it in games, or work, or " tone." In his report on the year's work, the Headmaster said that in November last the School underwent the ordeal of a full inspection by the Board of Education. Though the Inspector's report contained much that was encouraging, it did not contain a great deal about the School which he did not know already! Such an inspection was inevitably an inhuman process. It was bound to be concerned with organisation, the number of periods devoted to each subject, average age of forms and details of that kind, whereas they all knew that a School was very much more than that. A school was a living organism, with a life, and a spirit and an individuality of its own—with its own special traditions, atmosphere, and character. It was those things they valued and prized in the King's School. It was those things which determined the nature and value of the education boys received there. And it was those things which five inspectors of the Board of Education, however well-intentioned, each of them in charge of a separate subject (with scripture and mathematics lumped together as one!) could not, and did not, profess to be able to test. But the parents and the old boys could, and he felt they were a much more formidable body of inspectors than any H.M. Government sent down from the Board of Education, because they really knew. Let him have their criticisms and suggestions, inspired, but not blinded, by loyalty to the School. He congratulated two old Vigornians, G. E. Churchill and K. N. Ross, upon winning first class classical Moderations at Oxford. Two first classes in one year in the same examination, he thought a very considerable achievement for a school of their size.
6i6
THE VIGORNIAN.
He took the opportunity to reassert his undiminished belief in the value of a classical foundation, in a humanistic rather than utilitarian education, and to repeat a caution against too early specialisation. He was often, asked, what was the use of classics? He thought the only satisfactory answer would be to present specimens after the age of 25, with and without a classical education, on the lines of the patent medicine advertisements " before " and " after " taking. The real answer would be the luxuriant growth of culture and the well-developed intellectual muscles seen in so many of their old boys. Canon Hannay made a charming speech before he distributed the prizes, which we reprint, with acknowledgments, from the " Worcester Times." He said: " I t was my lot the other day to stand, just as I am this afternoon, at the prize-giving of a very much smaller school than this, but a school which interested me very much indeed because it was the private school at which I was myself educated as a small boy. And the odd thing about it was that the present Headmaster had also been educated there, and we were boys together in the same class. On that occasion, I made the only really successful speech I have ever made in my life on any occasion, and the cause of the success was this—I was able to tell the boys a story they had never heard before, how their Headmaster and I had once got up at five on a summer morning and gone out into the then Headmaster's field and milked his cow into a jug made out of copybooks! Now I have no hope whatever of repeating the success of that story this afternoon, because unfortunately I did not know your Headmaster when he was your age, though I have no doubt that stories of a similar kind, quite true, could be told about him—(laughter)—and about the Dean—(laughter)—and even, I fancy, about the Mayor of Worcester. (Renewed laughter.) And I would ask you to remember this, because in dealing with your elders, the highest compliment you can possibly pay them is to treat them as if they also had once been human beings. (Laughter.) It was at that school I won, and did not receive, the only prize I ever ought to have got; and the fact that I did not get the prize, which I quite honourably won, has rankled in my mind ever since. I always feel that the gentlemen who, on these occasions, get up and congratulate the prizewinners are no doubt doing their duty, but the prize winners are already quite conceited enough at the mere fact that they have succeeded in winning the books which I have given away this afternoon. " I very much prefer to say a few words to that majority who have not succeeded in winning prizes and to remind them that of the winning of prizes, as of all other things in the course of this life, this is true : there is a very large element of luck about it ! And not only that—(and this brings me to my own solitary prize)—these awards are not always given with strict justice. (Laughter.) My prize was won for Divinity, and the way we studied it—and I can assure you it was thoroughly done—was this. We began with a lesson chiefly on the kings of Israel and Judah every morning in the week; and if, during that lesson, which you prepared the night before, you failed to answer three questions out of every ten, you were kept in until you answered
seven questions out of ten. Now there was a certain term in which I was kept in for my Divinity every single day— (laughter)—and when the examination, on which the prizes depended, came, it was found, to the surprise of my master, that I knew a great deal more Divinity than any other boy in the school. They had slipped through with 30 per cent, every day, and I had been forced to score 70 and the examination showed the result! But the Headmaster said, " I cannot, in the circumstances, award the prize to Hannay. His work in this particular matter has been so inadequate in the term, I will give the prize to the second best in the examination ! From that day to this, that piece of really gross injustice has rankled in my mind, and I still feel more inclined to congratulate the boys who have not won prizes than those who have. To those who have won prizes and high honours I would say (what I think probably in their hearts they know perfectly well), the winning of prizes is not the end and object of your education. Your Headmaster has already said something about the advantages of a classical education as opposed, I think, to a purely utilitarian education—that is, as opposed to what I will call bread and butter subjects. There was a great philosopher once called Euclid. There came to him a young man who asked : ' Of what advantage will it be to me, in earning my daily bread, to learn the elements of your science? ' Euclid turned to someone who was standing by and said, ' Give this young man a penny and let him go. That is all he wants! ' And Euclid was a scientist and not a classic! He realised that the mere gaining of money or position in after life is not really the object of education at all. All you want to make money in the world, is a certain amount of technical skill of hand or eye or mind. " What you hope to get by education is something vastly greater than that. I don't know whether your Headmaster or the Dean will agree with me, but the real object of all education is, or ought to be, not that you may earn your living afterwards, not that you may be able to do your work, but that you may be able to use your leisure. When I lived in the West of Ireland I knew an old farmer. He could neither read nor write, and lived in a very remote part of the country. (I have often seen this story quoted in print, but it is really my story, so I have no hesitation in telling it.) I once asked him ' What do you do with yourself in the long winter evenings? You are shut up here in the dark at five o'clock. You have no one very much to speak to. You have no amusements to go to. What do you do with yourself? ' He replied, ' Well, sometimes I sits and thinks, and more times I simply sits.' It is that you may escape that awful penalty that you are being educated. As the world goes on and civilisation advances, the amount of time that man has to spend in actually earning his daily bread—in actually succeeding in keeping himself going with food and clothes and warmth—is getting shorter and shorter. Every invention made shortens the period of the work that man must do in order to live. Every advance that civilisation makes lengthens the period of leisure that man possesses to use as he likes. You will have more leisure than your fathers, as we have more leisure than your grandfathers ever had, or hoped to have. How are
THE VIGORNIAN. yew going to use it? Is it to be a question with you of ' simply sitting '? Or is your leisure to be spent in nothing better than watching greyhounds race or gaping at moving pictures on a screen? I don't decry these things as pleasures and amusements, but I do say that a man who has had a real education (as I believe you are getting in this school) will find something more interesting to do with his leisure. He will find far greater joys in his leisure hours than these. As your education improves, as you get more and more real education, so the joys and the happiness of your leisure hours grow and increase in volume and intensity, because you have got the greatest thing your education can give—the power to use your leisure." The Mayor and Archdeacon James thanked Canon Hannay for his speech. * * * PRIZE LIST. The Prize List was as follows :— Bishop of Worcester's Divinity Prize, VI : E. W. Parsons. Rev. N. F. McNeile's Divinity Prize, Upper V : S. M. Bate. George Nash Divinity Prize, Lower V : M. M. Hallett. Maurice Day Classical Prize—Senior, VI, J. Wilding; Junior, Upper V, S. M. Bate. James Nash Classical Prize, Lower V : J. R. A. Embling. School Latin Prose Prize (Canon Lacey) : J. Wilding. School Mathematical Prize (Archdeacon Peile): R. H. Rowland. School French Prize (Mrs. Ernest Day): J. J. Painting. School French Prize, School Certificate (S .W. Whitehouse): F. J. W. Mansfield. School German Prize: E. McDonaugh. School German Prize, Lower Certificate: H. G. A. Maund. School Science Prize (S. Southall, Esq.) : J. C. Palmer. Archdeacon James' Accidence Prizes—VI, Latin and Greek, F. H. Yarnold; Upper V, Latin, D. W. Bain ; Greek, W. R. Graves-Morris; Lower V, Latin and Greek, P. Headeach; Remove, Greek, A. D. Baly; Latin, G. P. L. Taylor; Upper IV, D. W. G. Steele. General Knowledge (the Dean of Worcester) : Upper VI, G. D. S. Boole; Modern VI, J. F. R. JonesWilliams ; Upper V, A. V. Parsons; Lower V, A. D. Baly; Remove, R. S. Carter; Upper IV, J. H. F. Dixon; Middle IV, D. Brown; Lower IV, E. J. T. Hodges. Archdeacon Spooners' Recitation Prizes—Upper School, D. A. B. Hopkin ; Middle School, C. E. Payne; Lower School, C. H. Yeomans. Music Prize (Sir Ivor Atkins): D. A. B. Hopkins. Mrs. Henry Wood Essay Prizes—Senior, First Prize, F. H. Yarnold, M. M. Hallett; Second, O. R. Davies; Highly Commended, D. W. A. Molony, H. G. A. Maund, G. D. I. Rushton; extra prizes for good essays, T. S. Broadhurst, W. F. Cox; Junior Prize, K. M. Chatterley ; extra prizes for good essays, E. J. T. Hodges, E. P. K. Rushton. Holiday Reading Prizes (Canon Cronshaw)— Upper V, M. M. Hallett; Lower V, O. W. J. Farmer; Remove, A. P. Shrimpton; Upper IV, C. H. Grist; Middle IV, K. M. Chatterley; Lower IV, H. T. R. Lock; Lower School, J. D. Evans. Drawing Prize: D. J. Cockle. Special prize for the best School Certificate (in memory of F. T. E. and E. R. H. Lewis, O.V.) : P. Bowles. Mayor of Worcester's Prize (Proxime Accessit in K.S. Examination): K. C. Stocker. *
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THE SCHOOL CONCERT. In spite of the tempting weather, a large company assembled in College Hall on the evening of Friday, July I3th, when the School Choir held their concert. This time they sang " The Revenge " by Stanford. The Concert, as a whole, was again disappointing : we had hoped to make good after last term's affair, but again the whole concert bore an unmistakably " amateurish " stamp. Parts were good: the Choir, especially the broken voices, rendered Stanford's Cantata with great spirit, and the School at any rate enjoyed it all—more, we think, due to the merits of Stanford himself, than anything else. Now other Public Schools can produce concerts worthy of being broadcast, for instance, on the wireless. Why should not we, though small, set ourselves a standard worthy, if not of the same merit, at least of the achievements of those in the School before us? No blame is due to the earnest efforts of Mr. Day, who has done surprisingly well in the little time at his disposal, but we do think that we might do our audiences the honour of setting a higher standard of work. Perhaps some smaller and less difficult piece of music would be better. And here a word about the Trebles, and indeed about the Choir as a whole. Could not some short preliminary test be arranged to exclude those " wolves in sheep's clothing " who sing out of tune and in addition waste Mr. Day's time by looking about and not giving of their best? A suggestion was made some time ago in the Correspondence column, which has borne no fruit. We make it again here in the hopes that someone will take notice. Next term we enter upon a new School Year. Let the Choir then make a resolution to reach a higher standard and keep to it in the future. The programme was as follows :— PART I. " The Revenge," a ballad of the Fleet C. V. Stanford THE SCHOOL CHOIR. Conductor : Mr. E. F. Day. Accompanist: C. Browne, O.V. PART II. 1. Pianoforte Solo—" Valse de la Reine " Coleridge Taylor D. A. B. HOPKIN. 2. Part Song for Treble Voices—" Autumn Song " Mendelssohn 3. Song—" The Ape and the Lady " Sullivan S. D. STRONG, O.V. 4. Humorous Quartet—"Quibble's Cocoa " F. ]. Harper Messrs. H. E. NICHOLLS, E. F. DAY, A. D. FRANKLIN G. K. TATTERSALL. 5. Violin and Pianoforte— (a) Air Henry Purcell (b) " La Villageoise " Rameau Violin : J. H. F. DIXON. Pianoforte : J. E. A. KING. 6 gong—" The Vagabond " R. Vaughan Williams C. I. RECORD, O.V. 7. Humorous Quartets— "Two Snails " " Jack Sprat "
/. F. Bridge G. A. Blackburn
THE VIGORNIAN.
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O.V. Hews. Arthur Dash has just accepted the post of Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Education Department. * * * J. K. Day, eldest surviving son of H. D. Day, was elected last December to the Senior Science demyship at Magdalen College, Oxford. Previously he was at Stamford Grammar School. * * * L. S. K. Ford has obtained a teaching post in Norfolk and is reading for a London degree. He has also become engaged to be married. * * * P. H. Graves-Morris represented the Regiment for the cross-country Army championship at Aldershot in April, and also played wing-three-quarter for the British Army of the Rhine v. the French Army. * * * J. S. Hurford is at present training in general commercial journalism prior to taking an appointment in London. * * * F. J. W. Mansfield has lately joined the staff of Messrs. J. W. Nicholson & Sons, a firm of stockbrokers in Sheffield. * * * D. Webb, B.Sc., Birmingham, having completed two years' research work at Cambridge, has accepted an appointment as Assistant Chemist to the Shanghai Waterworks Co., and sailed by s.s. " Kabjan " from London on June 28th. * # * We are asked to announce the engagement of O. C. Cockle, elder son of the Rev. A. A. Cockle, Stoulton Vicarage, Worcester, and Miss M. G. Elton, eldest daughter of the Rev. G. Elton, Littleworth Rectory, Berks. » » » W. I. Phillips, who left the School through illness in 1921, is now a fully qualified physician and surgeon. He sat his final exams in April last, and obtained his M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P., passing through in the minimum of time. He has quite recovered from the illness which necessitated his leaving school. » * * A. Macdonald, who has been at Repton for the last five years, goes in September to the King's School, Canterbury, as Sixth Form German Master, and Housemaster of the Grange.
BIRTHS. LARR.—To Mrs. Larr (ne'e Grace Chappel), wife of the Rev. O. G. Larr, O.V., of Holy Trinity Vicarage, Preston, on March nth, 1928, a daughter. [We apologise for the omission of this from our last issue, but we did not receive the news until after it had gone to press.—EDS. VIG.]
UNDERWOOD.—On March 3oth, 1928, to Agnes (ne'e Williams), wife of William F. C. Underwood—a son. WILFORD.—On April 4th, 1928, at Umvuma, Southern Rhodesia, to Mary, wife of T. J. Wilford, M.C., British South African Police (late R.F.A. and R.I.C.)—a daughter.
O.V's. Dinner. The thirty-first annual Old Vigornians' Dinner was held in the College Hall, King's School, Worcester, on Saturday, I4th July, at 8 p.m., when 63 guests attended. This is a record for the dinner, anyhow, since the War. The toast of " His Majesty the King " was proposed by the Chairman, Mr. Arthur Francis (1870-1875). The toast of " Prosperity to Worcester Cathedral King's School " was proposed by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. W. Benton-Evans (1913-1924) and the Headmaster (Rev. C. Creighton, M.A.) replied. The toast of " The Chairman " was proposed by Mr. J. E. B. Littlebury (1875-1881), and the Chairman replied. The evening concluded with "Auld Lang Syne." The following is a complete list of the 63 guests present at the dinner :—A. D. Arbuckle, D. H. Addleshaw, A. G. Bain, T. Bates, M. Bates, T. E. D. Beavan, W. BentonEvans, E. P. Berkeley, E. E. Bird, C. J. O. Blackall, Rev. E. W. Bolland, A. P. Bolland, R. M. M. BeachHicks, J. H. L. Burnett, Rev. C. Creighton (Headmaster), R. J. Castley, R. Carless, junr., J. B. Cavenagh, M. R. Craze, R. C. Daniel, A. L. Dunnill, G. H. Dickenson, A. F. Drake, A. Francis, A. D. Franklin, O. P. Giles, C. LI. Garnett, A. J. C. B. Gill, R. I. Graham, W. McC. Graves-Morris, B. St. J. Howells, F. G. Jones, J. A. D. Joseph, J. E. B. Littlebury, H. D. Littlebury, H. F. Langstaff, W. J. Mayhew, H. E. Oram, L. E. Phillips, J. Porter, C. E. Porter, H. E. Powell, T. E. Rammell, C. I. Record, L. Rees, K. N. Ross, M. D. B. Royle, E. S. Sherwood, R. G. Smith, S. Southall, S. D. Strong, F. B. Thomas, R. E. Thomas, G. K. Tattersall, K. E. Ward, Albert Webb, Frank W. Webb, F. Maurice Webb, G. H. Wilford, R. H. N. Wood, L. F. Woodcock, Rev. R. J. Whitaker.
Scbool Officers. Captain of School Captain of Cricket Secretary of Cricket Captain of Rowing Secretary of Rowing Captain of Shooting Secretary of Shooting
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G. D. S. Boole. C. V. Hodgson. G. W. Rowland. D. A .B. Hopkin. E. C. Halton. W. E. A. Brown. G. W. Rowland.
School Monitors—G. D. S. Boole, D. A. B. Hopkin, E. C. Halton, J. C. Palmer, C. V. Hodgson. Captains of Houses :— School House Castle House Day Boys -
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E. C. Halton. D. A. B. Hopkin. J. C. Palmer
THE VIGORNIAN. Hostel Natland
G. D. S. Boole. G. H. Ridley.
Editors of the Vigornian—G. D. S. Boole, D. A. B. Hopkin, E. W. Parsons, J. H. C. Phelips. Librarians—D. A. B. Hopkin, F. H. Yarnold, E. W. Parsons, W. E. A. Brown, O. R. Davies, C. F. Assheton, C. H. Yeomans, K. M. Chatterley.
Saluete. Remove. Card, J. W. Natland. Middle IV. Conner, J. C. M. School House. Lower IV. Hopkin ii, B. H. B. Castle House. Third Form. Hopkin iii, G. B. Castle House. Second Form. Parker, T. L. School House. Veel, J. K. Day Boy. Walker ii, D.D.C.M. Day Boy.
Valet*. Modern VI. Bagnall, R. P. C. (1922-28). Day Boy. Haynes, P. (1922-28). Day Boy. 2nd IV Rowing 1927. Cdt. O.T.C. Cert. A. 1928. Probert, R. D. R. (1924-28). School House. 2nd XV Football 1927. Cdt. O.T.C. Upper IV. Long, J. C. (1925-28). Day Boy. Townshend, P. M. (1922-28). Day Boy. Cdt. O.T.C. Second Form. Goodman, R. E. (1927-28). Day Boy.
Oxford Cetttr. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Sirs, In the minds of the seven gentlemen who comprise your loving and affectionate colony in Oxford, the Trinity Term 1928, unspoilt for any of us by rain, Schools or accidents, will ever be preserved as a playground for pleasant memories. Which is as it should be. Eights Week, for instance, produced record crowds and record weather. The Daily Mail had said that it would, so it did. Moreover on the Saturday we seemed to see the whole school buzzing round Oxford in sumptuous cars, a sight which would have cheered us anyway, without the even more inspiring spectacle of C. J. C. Molony (Queen's) getting his college boat home four times running by the skin of his teeth. But for his rowing character see below under C. J. C. Molony (Queen's).
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And now, sirs, we will our loud uplifted O.V. trumpets blow. We believe that your excellent magazine is preserved for posterity, and therefore in the full consciousness that we are contributing to history, let us solemnly record our congratulations to K. N. Ross (Merton) and G. E. Churchill (Hertford) on gaining First Classes in the Honour School of Classical Moderations. You, sirs, who must one day do the same, will realise that this is no mean achievement. We who have tried and failed, record it as a very great achievement and one of which the old School may be proud. Dropping our trumpets, and taking up more modern instruments, such as the gramophone, let us go down to the river. That is certainly what has happened to us this term. Two years ago your predecessors were treated by us to a lesson on punting. Some of your present colony read and profited thereby, but we now wish to add to it. The remarkable thing about punting is that you can never tell when you may fall in. This glorious uncertainty is, we know, the charm of cricket. Take the O.V. match for instance. But nowhere is it more profusely illustrated than on the river, when that river is the Cherwcll. It used not to be, but now this appalling habit of rocking the boat has been started. When you go out on the river your object is to come back dry yourself and bring everybody else back wet. Keeping a hawk-like eye fixed on the chap punting, as soon as you see his pole stick a bit in the mud or catch a bit in an overhanging bough, you give the punt a violent rock. With luck he will fall in : otherwise, repeat performance at next opportunity. But this began to get a bit too thick, so some bright lad discovered that if he took a lady in the punt too, no one did it. So he took a lady, and so everyone else takes ladies, and then they come home dry. We tell you this because in our previous lesson the advice was neither given nor required. But now, sirs, when you come to Oxford and go on the river, you must . . . . you see? Coming back from the future to the present, we will tell you what we do besides that. M. R. CRAZE (Hertford) plays cricket with much of his old skill. Also punts, plays tennis, and writes essays, but especially writes essays. Attracts the derision of the unacademic population in seven letters with his back mudguard. D. H. PRESTON (Worcester), to our intense and unutterable grief, figures in these columns for the last time. His career here has been one of undimmed splendour. This term he has, as usual, played everything in the way of ball garhes. K. N. Ross (Merton), after his very brilliant First in Mods, has spent a pleasant term full of social engagements. Is getting more and more sartorial, but still plays tennis. We would like to refer him to Health, vol. xxi, on the causes of gout. C. J. C. MOLONY (Queen's) stroked his College crew with admirable judgment and kept his head. Gets a beautiful lift over the stretcher. His cox told us that, so it's true. Off the river he tolerates us with his old inimitable grace and was the soul of wit at the dinner.
THE VIGORNIAN.
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G. E. CHURCHILL (Hertford) has now a First in Mods, and a Scholarship to his credit, so is no longer to be treated with contumely on the subject of over-eating. If anything, a new tendency to the contemplative life makes it almost unnecessary for him to eat at all. Still plays fives and treads tennis courts down. J. B. EDWARDS (Wadham) was spare man in Eights and lost his voice, though we were glad to hear it again at the dinner. Was responsible for nearly all the scandal talked on that occasion. C. J. O. BLACKALL (Merton) watches the 'Varsity try to play cricket, goes on the river, in the river and under the river. In fact knows all about the river. His laugh rings round Oxford in a manner something daemonic. But this, sirs, is our last laugh, in which we will ask you to join, both now and always, for it comes from OXFORD. #
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OXFORD O.V. DINNER. Encouraged by the success of the Oxford Dinner last year, the colony again held a dinner, this time in the Moorish Caf£, on Saturday, June gth. We were very glad to welcome the Headmaster as our guest, and there were also present: M. R. Craze (Hertford) who presided, K. N. Ross (Merton), C. J C. Molony (Queen's), D. H. Preston (Worcester), G. E. Churchill (Hertford), J. B. Edwards (Wadham), C. J. O. Blackall (Merton), and C. LI. Garnett. By common consent the dinner was voted a great success. General hilarity prevailed, and the conversation never flagged. At approximately ten o'clock the company formed a decorous procession down the High and so to Hertford. There were no speeches or toasts, until the Headmaster's back was turned, when his health was drunk, to the strains of the School Song from C. J. O. Blackall (Merton), but otherwise without musical honours, owing to the proximity of the Dean. Altogether it was a most amusing evening, which we hope will be repeated next year, when fresh faces will have appeared on the horizon and some of the old ones, alas ! have faded into the long littleness of life.
Greek Flaps. The way to the open-air theatre was by a path winding steeply down through a green wood. At the last turn in this path officials, clothed in the flowing white robes of Athenians and their faces browned as if by the sun of Attica, were giving out cushions to the queue that filed past them. The path led round the back of the stage, so that the auditorium was the first part of the theatre we saw. It was a semi-circular slope of concrete steps, shaded at the top by the overhanging branches of the wood. From our seat in approximately the middle of our row we looked straight down upon the small, square altar of ivy-covered
stone, and the stage on a higher level a few yards beyond it. In the middle of the stage was Hector's tent, and on the left of it his shield rested, showing that the warrior himself was inside. After a call for silence by the herald the play, " The Rhesus of Euripides," began. The time was night and the scene was round Hector's tent outside the walls of Troy. Briefly the plot is as follows. The Greeks are seen by Hector's guard to be lighting beacons as if to return home, and Hector is eager to cut off their retreat. But Aeneas reminds him that he has jumped to a rash conclusion and advises him to send a spy first. Dolon volunteers to go, naming as his price the famous horses of Achilles. He sets off for the Greek camp on all fours, clad in a wolf skin. A shepherd then brings news that Rhesus, king of Thrace, who has been delayed by warfare on his own borders, has at last arrived to help the Trojans. He gives a vivid description of the hero's gorgeous appearance. Rhesus rides on in a chariot drawn by a pair of ponies and boasts that he will make up for his tardiness by crushing the Greeks in a single day. But pride comes before the fall and no sooner has Hector led him away to his quarters than two spies from the Greek camp enter, oae carrying Dolon's wolf skin—a grim token of his fate. Their purpose is to murder Hector in his sleep; but they find their victim's tent deserted. The goddess Athena appears and tells them to kill Rhesus instead of Hector. Their deed accomplished, cries of lamentation are heard " off stage " and Rhesus' charioteer staggers in. He is bleeding from a thigh-wound and can hardly stand. He tells his story with wonderful expression and pathos. He collapses in the middle of it, overcome by the agony of his wound. But, when Hector comes in, pain gives way to excitement and he rises to accuse him of the murder. The attack culminates in the arrest of Rhesus by the guards and he is led away. A Muse, the mother of Rhesus, ends the play by singing a dirge over her son's body, and Hector, seeing the wolf's skin, which the Greek murderers had brought and hung on his tent, realises who killed Rhesus and prepares for another day's fighting. Throughout the play the Trojan guards, who form the Chorus, have been either standing or marching rhythmically to and fro in various formations round the altar. They have been chanting, to the accompaniment of lyres, odes descriptive of the characters and the plot. But they have been quite separate from the actors, who perform on a stage raised above their level. By the end of the play we were convinced of one fact above all others—that Greek Tragedy was a living thing. It is hard to realize this by reading alone in school, but to see the action of it is most enlightening. Soon after that we were " introduced " to Attic Comedy, for we journeyed to Oxford to see the O.U.D.S. Performance of Aristophanes' " Clouds." That was in an ordinary theatre, which lost the freshness of the open-air performance, but gained considerably in the use of modern "stage effects"; altogether, the play was a success,
THE VIGORNIAN. Strepsiades' acting being a splendid interpretation of the humorous, and in places pathetic, character. Socrates lacked a little the personality of his prototype, but Pheidippides was most lifelike—a complete walking parody of the Oxford Undergraduate. It just shows how little standards have changed ; satirized then, they are recognised still: Aristophanes is nothing if not " modern "! The Clouds' singing was good and well-trained, but the orchestra was rather " rough," and in places found Parry's music too much for them—the " rag " tradition carried too far. As a whole the play was well done and struck just the right note at the end with the triumph of the Gods and the good old hardy life over the pale pupils of Socrates and their new-fangled corrupt ideas. J.H.C.P. AND E.W.P.
71*14 Club. In spite of poor weather on the whole, the three Field Club expeditions arranged took place successfully. The first was on June 6th, to Holt, Grimley, and Hallow. Of these Holt is by far the most interesting, being an example of some of the finest i2th century Norman work in the county. Especially to be noticed are the fine chancel arch with chevron ornament, the font, and the north and south doorways, the carving on the first of these—the " Fox and Stork "—being worthy of notice. There is a small amount of old glass in the side chapel, and some encaustic tiles. The tower, of the 15111 century, has buttresses of unusual shape. Grimley belongs to a later period, for though part of the nave belongs to the i2th century, the chancel is of the I3th, while an outside stone gallery in 12th century style was added in 1845, and the north aisle in 1886. The 15th century windows contain good tracery, and in four of the nave lights is some interesting i.sth century glass. To these two churches Hallow is rather a displeasing contrast. It was built in. 1869, and though it contains a few good details, the general effect is poor. Perhaps the best features are the transition from the lower to the spire and the colour of the stone, and the poorest the plaster moulding on the capitals of the pillars and the oppressive reredos. The next expedition was on June i6th to Powick, Kempsey and Pirton. The first of these has one of the finest i^th century towers in the neighbourhood, as well as good examples of the arcading of the same period, when polygonal pillars are found. There are some Norman lancets and a very fine Early English east window, which is unfortunately spoilt inside by the obstruction of the full view by the tie-beams of the chancel roof. The timberwork throughout is interesting. Kempsey affords very fine examples of I3th and I4th century arcading, distinguished by the deeply-cut moulding and water-holding base of the former and the more severe style of the latter. There are fine examples of I4th and 151)1 century glass in the chancel, and good Perpendicular windows in the transepts.
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Pirton. has one or two examples of Norman work, the chief points being the chancel arch and reset south doorway. There was formerly a central tower, but this collapsed, and was replaced by a half-timbered bell turret. The foundations and the staircase of the earlier erection are still to be seen in the nave. The font is also izth century, and there are a few encaustic tiles. The tracery of the east window is badly distorted. The third, and by far the most interesting, expedition was to Pershore on June 3oth. In this we had the advantage of the assistance of Mr. F. R. Lawson, a former vicar of Pershore, who very kindly conducted us round and made the visit doubly interesting. The Norman work in the Abbey is very fine indeed, especially the very early wallarcade with nail-head ornament, and the tower arches, with various types of ornament, including "pollard willow." The presbytery is Early English, and in it is found the unusual combination of triforium and clerestory into one course. The carving of the capitals is very fine indeed. The chief interest of the presbytery, however, is the superb vaulting and the stone bosses. Of the latter Mr. Lawson showed us " close up " photographs taken during repairs, and we were thus able to study the exquisite detail. The earlier Early English arch at the entrance to the apse has Purbeck marble shafts, which are also found in the arch of the Lady Chapel. The lower stages of the fine Lantern Tower are Norman, but the upper are Perpendicular. On both the exterior and interior is found ball-flower ornament. The font, sold for a garden-decoration in the last century, has now been replaced, on a modern base. It is a very fine example of I2th century work. We also visited St. Andrew's church, built by the Westminster tenants, on being excluded from the Abbey by the monks, in Edward the Confessor's time. The main interest lies in the Transitional Norman arcade, and the roofing of the south aisle, where the tie-beams have been retained for merely ornamental purposes, though they support no weight. Though the churches visited this term have not been many in number, they have been of particular interest, and we are greatly indebted to Mr. Franklin for making such a good choice, and for the trouble he has taken in arranging expeditions.
"St. ficleiTs." The old man was annoyed with his wife. " Maria," said he, " I won't have it! D'ye hear? I won't have it! ! Just because Mr. Mellor's gone, do you think I am going to St. Mary's? " " But, John," remonstrated his wife, though in a softer tone, humbled as she was to her husband's violence of temper, " we always used to go to St. Mary's, you know. It was only because " " Tut-tut, Maria, I won't go to St. Mary's. Wretched showy church I call it! " " Oh, John ! It's an awfully nice church. So pretty, so clean, and—well, it's not such a dirty place as St. Helen's." " St. Helen's suited Fremington folks before it was a Protestant country. Just because it's left in
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its original condition, why choose in preference to it an upstart, eighteen-sixty-eight, Victorian-revival church? " The old woman was on the verge of tears. " My mother was married in St. Mary's, John." " And I was christened at St. Helen's." The result might have been anything, had not the front-door bell clanged its importunate summons at that moment. John went to answer i t ; there were a few angry words from him, then the door slammed, and down the garden path stepped a crestfallen young curate. John re-entered the room. " Wanted money for the restoration of St. Helen's, indeed ! Restoration ! Insolence ! ! " " But, John, it's almost falling down." "Bosh! Go to bed, Maria ! " That night St. Helen's fell down. P.B.
Cbe four Spirits. " Those demons that are found In fire, air, flood or under-ground." There was once a time, in the dim and distant ages which have left no trace upon the pages of our history, when the whole world was comprised of the four elements of fire, water, air, and earth, each governed by its own spirit or demon. Then was the world in a state of chaos, each element striving with the other, an everlasting struggle for supremacy. The sky was always dark and heavy, while distant fire darted from the clouds, seemed to touch the very tree-tops, and in dazzling brilliance vanished, to reappear more dazzling than before. The spirit of the air had raised a mighty wind which drove before it the dark, close-gathering clouds, rolled down the rocks upon the hillside, and caused the giant trees to bend their loft}' branches to the ground. The clouds were rent and poured forth their waters, the seas arose and lashed their rock-strewn shores, and on the land the gaunt trees alone stood out above a dreary waste of waters. Thus the spirits of the fire, of the air, and the waters, each strove in awe-inspiring fury to subdue the others ; and all this while the spirit of the earth was silent, and submitted to the violence of the other three. Then in the midst of the storm and tempest, the flowers began to bloom, the trees put forth their leaves, and the birds among their branches began to sing above the waters. The storm was hushed. The wind dropped, the fire returned into the sky and the floods receded from the land ; each watched amazed the change come over the face of the whole earth ; for spring had come, and out of the chaos was born a new world. O.R.D.
Correspondence. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, For considerably more than a quarter of a century I have cherished a vain hope that someone might arise with sufficient courage and common-sense to break away from the deplorably bad precedents of the Vigornian editorials.
I admit that the one in the current number (March, 1928) is a slight improvement upon some of its predecessors. That of December 1926 was not even grammatical (" we went so far as to try and write"). The Horatian parody is not without merit and the verses might well have appeared, only in another column. Why should the Editor be permitted, by playing the fool, to lower the prestige of an otherwise high grade school magazine? The mock-humility stunt is at best a feeble form of humour and it has been worn threadbare. Jesting is singularly out of place in an editorial. It is regrettable that this unique opportunity should never be used for a few pertinent, judicial, and above all, dignified comments upon whatever topics may for the time being have special interest for the school. If no present scholar can be found capable of doing this— which I refuse to believe—then let the Editor, instead of airing his stupidity in public, consult the Headmaster in private. If the present Head has happily inherited any of his father's brilliancy he would write a perfectly admirable editorial. Yours very truly, R. P. QUILTER. Portree, Easter Week, 1928. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, As coach of the Monmouth Grammar School IV I should be grateful if you would allow me, through the medium of your magazine, to congratulate Mr. Strong and his crew for the very fine performance put up at Marlow Regatta. It is no small achievement for your crew to have run Winchester so close in the final for the Public Schools Cup. I hope, and believe, the year is not far distant when either Worcester or Monmouth will run out winners. I am, Sirs, Yours truly, W. Ross IRVING. The New House, Grammar School, Monmouth. July 2, 1928. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, May I be allowed through your columns to say something about the result of my appeal for raising a fund for the reequipment of Rowing. I should like to say quite frankly that at the time of writing I have only received three or four offers of £10 each, and these are, of course, as also my own, conditional on getting the minimum of 10 offers of £10, as stated in my previous letter last term. I am very grateful for the offers I have received, but I am extremely disappointed that more have not responded.
THE VIGORNIAN. I may not have made it clear in my previous letter that any smaller offers will be extremely welcome, and I have already received some for which I am also very grateful, but what I wished to make clear was that any £10 offers would be conditional on getting a minimum of ten offers, making £100 as a basis to start a fund for the Rowing, which I hope will reach very much higher figures. I think the School Rowing Club has justified this fund being started by the keenness shown this year by all its members, and more especially by the fine performance of the first IV at Marlow. Also by the fact that in the last seven years the IV have got into the final of the Public Schools Cup three times. It is a disappointing fact that an excellent Old Boys VIII had been got together to row the School on Speech Day, but the race had to be abandoned because the School does no^ own the boats necessary for the race. I hope sincerely that perhaps in your next number I may be able to print a long list of subscribers whom I can thank for subscriptions however small. Yours faithfully, S. D. STRONG, O.V. King's School, July, 1928. * » * To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, In the past there has been a great deal of talk in your columns about improving the Vigornian, and I think I am correct in stating that most methods advocated have been the inclusion of more fiction. Now the subject of most interest to an O.V., apart from
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the School as a whole, is his old House, and I should suggest that each House published a short summary of its term's activities. Such as House Monitors, its members in the ist teams of the various sports, etc., and above all a list of the cups in its possession. By this means O.V. who cannot otherwise keep in personal touch with the School could be enabled to know the more intimate details of what is going on. Also it should prove an encouragement to the more juvenile members who have not yet seen their names in print as School representatives. Yours sincerely, D. K. PETERS, O.V. The Den, Epsom Lane, Tadworth, Surrey, H/v/28. [A list of House Monitors would mean very little, since the average O.V. has left more than two years, and, as the results of all House matches are already recorded in the Vigornian, it is unnecessary for each House to have its own athletic diary; nevertheless we very much appreciate the spirit in which the suggestion was made and would welcome more of the same kind.—EDS. VIG.
We acknowledge the following contemporaries, with apologies for any accidental omissions :—The Wyggestonian, The Monktonian, The King Edward's School Chronicle, The Felstedian, The Herefordian, The Rendcomb College Magazine, The St. Edward's School Chronicle, The Bromsgrovian, The Oceanian, St. Michael's Chronicle, The Black and Gold, The Wulfrunian, The Tonbridgian, The Monmouthian.