The Vigornian July 1936 by King's Worcester

the Uigornian. THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE. TA MEN AIAAKTA MAN6ANO, TA A'EYPETA ZHTO, TA A'EYKTA IIAPA SEON HITH2AMHN.

JULY, 1936.

No. 145. VOL. XII.

editorial.

Contents Editorial School Calendar School Officers School Notes Dean Moore Ede Memorial Fund ... O.V. News Obituary Cricket Rowing Notes O.T.C. Notes Shooting Notes P.T. Camp Athletic Sports Swimming Notes Scout Notes St. George's Day Scout Celebration Field Club

...

House Notes

Page 1079 1080 1080 1080 ... 1081 1082 1083 1083 1088 1090 1092 1092 1092 1093 1094 1094 1095

1095

Speech Day The Concert O.V. Dinner Library VI Form Library Murder in the Cathedral A Short History of the Officers' Training Corps A History of the King's School Fives Notes Contributions Oxford Letter

Valete Salvete Correspondence Contemporaries

...

1098 noo 1101 not noi 1102 1103 1103 1104 1104 1105

1106 ...

PRICE is.

... ...

... •••

1106 ... 1106 ••• 1106

" For good or ill, let the wheel turn." It seems appropriate at this time to echo the somewhat fatalistic doctrine of the Pattern of Life which T. S. Eliot suggests more than once in Murder in the Cathedral. The wheel is turning, and our Headmaster is leaving us, to be succeeded by another : this cannot fail to be the dominant thought in the minds of all of us just now. Pessimistic as Eliot's paradoxical words may have sounded to those who saw the play, we feel that it is just this attitude that the Headmaster would like us to adopt with regard to his retirement. It is 'not really a pessimistic one. The wheel must turn, though we will be the last to admit that it is turning " for ill." People often indulge in a lot of rather sentimental talk on these occasions; that they mean it sincerely, we do not doubt : but we wonder whether the use of such expressions as " a record of unswerving devotion " or " years of loyal service " is not very largely a matter of mere words. Such things are said of everyone who retires: and we, who heartily sympathise with our Headmaster's distaste for " presentations and fuss," feel that he would dislike also to be praised in such grandiose terms. Let us rather say, hackneyed though it be: "Si monumentum requiris, circumspice." Here, in the School itself, is better evidence of the value of the seventeen years of Mr. Creighton's headmastership than any amount of words can contain. We feel that he will understand our feelings more truly, if we

THE VIGORNIAN.

io8o

simply say, as any one of us might say quite naturally, " The place will be different when the old man has gone," than if we attempt to talk, quite unnaturally, of " the manner in which he has endeared himself to the hearts of all Vigornians " . . . ! It will be different, and we ask pardon for our boldness in the colloquial expression we have used: but he knows that that is what we actually would say, and mean, too. His reward, however, will not be our words, or those of anybody else: it will simply be his own knowledge of what he has done here for the School. It cannot be denied that he thought of the School rather than of himself when he decided to retire before it was strictly necessary for him to do so: for he thought that by such a change the School would benefit most. And so it is our duty to him to accept this change, and to accept it gladly. For good, then, let the wheel turn. As the Headmaster has himself emphasised so strongly, the best tribute that we can pay him is to welcome Mr. Wilding, our new headmaster, and to support him to the utmost that is in our power. Let us then remember with T. S. Eliot that the pattern of fate must be worked out, and that change must inevitably come: and let us pray for the success of the change, accepting it thankfully and gladly, forgetting the sorrow that must needs form a part of it, and yet remembering it, that, here, in this School " . . . the pattern may subsist, that the wheel may turn and still Be forever still."

School Calender. Mon., May Tues., Thurs.,

Wed., Sun.,

4.—Boarders return. 5.—Term begins.

I::}

Sports Finals.

10.—School Celebration of the Holy Communion. 8.45 a.m. Thurs., ,, 21.—Ascension Day. Field Day in the Bringsty Common Area. Sat., „ 30.—Entertainment in College Hall by Capt. and Mrs. La Touche in aid of the Ex-Service Welfare Society. Thurs., June 4.—Chichester Cup Competition at Kidderminster. Sat., „ 13.—Half Term. Fri., ,, 19.—Marlow Regatta. Fri., July 10.—Speech Day. Inspection of O.T.C. by Lt.-Col. E. G. Earle, D.S.O., General Staff, 48th S.M. Division. Presentation of Prizes by the Headmaster. 3.0 p.m. Concert in College Hall. 8.0 p.m. Sat., ,, ii.—O.V. Reunion Dinner. Mon., ,, 13.—Certificate Examinations begin. Mon., ,, 27.—O.T.C. Camp at Rushmoor begins Wed., Aug. 5.—Camp ends.

July, 1936.

School Officers. Captain of the School E. C. Luscombe. Captain of Cricket F. E. B. Mole. Secretary of Cricket S. N. Hackwood. Captain of Boats R. I. G. Brooks. Secretary of Boats J. F. Lavender. Captain of Gymnasium E. C. Luscombe. Captain o f Shooting . . . E. C. Luscombe. Secretary of Shooting K. B. Dyer. Captains of Houses :— School House J. F. Lavender. Castle House R. I. G. Brooks. Hostel E. C. Luscombe. Day Boys . . . . A. S. Yarnold. School Monitors—E. C. Luscombe, R. I. G. Brooks, J. F. Lavender, A. S. Yarnold, A. D Holland. Editors of The Vigornian—E. C. Luscombe, R. I. G. Brooks, R. C. Hicks. Librarians—B. Bagenal, B. S. Eckersley, R. Anstey, S. O. A. M. Lock.

Scftool Rotes. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the Headmaster in the sad loss of his mother. * * * We must congratulate Mr. Macdonald on the publication of his History of the School, which supplies a long-felt need. On Speech Day, the Headmaster remarked on Mr. Macdonald's astuteness in bringing it out at the time he did, for the sales must have been increased considerably by the number of boys who had chosen the book as a prize! It has, indeed, already provided many with some very interesting reading about matters of which we are all only too ignorant: not to mention that it helped to mitigate for some the boredom of the wet O.V. week-end. A review appears on another page. Copies are obtainable from the Author, at the School, price is/- post free. * « * On Saturday, May joth, the School enjoyed an entertainment in College Hall by Captain and Mrs. de la Touche, who delighted us with several sketches and musical items. At the close, Captain de la Touche made a very eloquent appeal on behalf of the Ex-Services Welfare Society; and we feel that the purely voluntary subscription raised by members of one of the boarding-houses should not be allowed to pass without a word of recognition. *

* *

The new art-room has sprung up like a mushroom in the night. We can remember when last term it was nothing more than a remote possibility: now it stands firmly encroaching upon the playground, and confining still further the area allotted to the unfortunate platoon commander for the manoeuvring of his unwieldy charges I

July, 1936

1081

THE VIGORNIAK.

We offer our sincere sympathy to Mrs. Burnett, who fell a victim to the chicken-pox plague at the end of last term.

Dean Woort €<k memorial fund.

The School Garden was opened to the public at a charge of sixpence a head on Saturday and Sunday, May l6th and iyth, when the splendid display of tulips was at its best. Several members of the School sat at the receipt of custom, and the Worcester Nursing Institute benefited to the extent of £3 is. 6d. * * *

The total of the fund now exceeds £650. The Committee Has decided that the Memorial shall take the form of a window in the Cloisters and the endowment of a scholarship for a boy passing from the Choir School to the King's School. It is particularly fitting that Dr. Moore Ede should be commemorated by a window in the series that he and Canon Wilson planned together and in which he was so deeply interested. The window will look out upon his grave in the Garth and the subjects will illustrate the period 1660-1714. The work is being entrusted to the Bromsgrove Guild, which designed and executed the other windows in the West Cloister.

We enjoyed an extra half-holiday—" for no reason at all," as the Headmaster put it—on Thursday, June nth, when we attended the Three Counties Show, which visited Worcester this year. * * » Murder in the Cathedral was performed on Thursday, April znd, at the end of last term, and revived this term on Saturday, June zgth : full accounts will be found elsewhere. Did Becket yield to the Fourth Stop I We will NOT embark upon this thorny problem which has turned the whole School (i.e. the intellectuals, who think they are!) upside down. * » » We welcomed Mr. L. A. Wilding, our new headmaster, and Mrs. Wilding, for an all too brief week-end in May. They showed a kindly interest in many of us, which was much appreciated. * * » Weather Report. (Censored.) * * *

I understand that the window will cost between £175 and £200, leaving the balance for the Scholarship. I should like to see a larger sum available, so that the scholarship may be a really substantial assistance to its holder and a worthy memorial of Dr. Moore Ede. Any further subscription will swell the value of the scholarship and should be sent to The Manager, Lloyd's Bank, Capital and Counties Branch, Worcester. This is the last Appeal that I shall address to O.V. and I am glad that it should be for an object which I have so much at heart both for itself and because it commemorates one who was so good a friend to the King's School and to myself. The following is a list of subscribers who have indicated their connexion with the King's School in sending their subscriptions or who have sent them through me. C. CREIGHTON. T. Bates, O.V. A. P. Bolland, O.V.

J. G. Gardner, O.V. D. Genard, O.V. G. B. Greenfield, O.V.

The eliminating heat for the Senior Rowing Cup, on Wednesday, July 8th, was enlivened by an amusing incident. The Hostel IV, on its way to the start, owing to the inferior river courtesy of a petrol barge, got filled with water and promptly sank. The sight of these worthy gentlemen floundering in the H^O proved too much for some of us —but we hope that they will take no offence at our mirth, and accept our congratulations on winning the heat after their ducking; from which may Zeus grant they have suffered no ill effect! * * *

G. D. S. Boole, O.V. E. E. Bird, O.V. H. C. Burgis, O.V. J. B. Cavenagh, O.V.

We have nothing but sympathy to offer to R. I. G. Brooks, who has had to undergo an operation this term, and has been prevented from taking part in any strenuous activity as a result. The School, and Castle House especially, deplore the fickle vagaries of Mistress Fortune, who insists upon visiting with such afflictions those whom we can least spare. The O.T.C. will all regret his absence at Camp: and we wish him every success in his attempt for a State Scholarship, and the best of luck at Cambridge, in the hope that there he may be compensated in some measure for the cheerless nature of his last term.

A. C. Darling, O.V. Mrs. Tupper A. E. Watkins, O.V. Chancellor Dimont, O.V. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Eckersley Col. A. Webb, O.V. R. S Eckersley, O.V. F. M. Webb, O.V. B. S. Eckersley F. W. Webb, O.V. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Folley Rev. R. J. and Mrs. Whitaker

A. R. Harrison, O.V. J. E. B. Littlebury, O.V.

A. Macdonald, O.V. Capt. E. R. Newcombe, O.V. B. H. Carter, O.V. H. P. E. Pereira, O.V. C. Glutton, O.V. T. E. Rammell Mrs. Chappel F. T. Conon Williams, O.V, J. Stallard, O.V. F. L. Steward, O.V. Rev. C. Creighton

B. L. Ford, O.V.

Rev. A. White

The total amount thus subscribed is £220 os. 6d.

THE VIGORNIAN.

1082

O.V. Dotes. Major Frederick William Springett Watkins (School House 1907-16) received the Order of the British Empire in the recent Birthday Honours List. He is in the Scinde Horse, Indian Army, and was lately A.D.C. to the Governor of Burma. * * * H. G. Bentley (Natland 1922-4) won the English Open Amateur Golf Championship this year, has been chosen as a member of the Walker Cup team, and also is representing England in the International match with Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. * * * M. R. Craze (Hostel 1919-25) is leaving Bloxham School to take up a mastership at Felsted. * * *

L. C. Dickens (Castle House 1926-30) is home from Calcutta on six months' holiday. * * *

E. E. Bird (K.S. 1889-1894) writes to say that he has been elected Chairman of the Legal and General Assurance Society, Ltd., of which he has been a Director since 1919. He is also Director of the Croydon Gas Company, as well as being on the boards of the Gresham Fire Assurance, the Gresham Life Assurance Societies, and of Doulton and Co., Ltd. * * * D. O. Butler (School House 1930-33) has obtained a short service commission in the R.A.F. and is at No. 10 Flying Training School in Shropshire. * * * A. C. Morgan (Day Boys 1926-31) has been elected captain of the Worcester R.F.C. for the coming season, whilst A. L. Flay and A. D. Arbuckle were re-elected as joint honorary secretaries at the same meeting. * * *

J. T. Darch (School House 1928-32) has reached the finals of the Morning Post Golf Competition. * » » E. L. R. Gilson (Castle House 1929-34) is playing cricket for Port Said and is seeing quite a lot of the country on his cricket peregrinations. » *

P. H. Jackson (School House 1927-30) is representing Great Britain in the forthcoming Olympic Games as a member of the London Rowing Club Boat. * * *

R. L. Thomas (Day Boys 1927-1935) joined the Cambridge University Contingent O.T.C. and has been in camp at Colchester. * « * James Smith (Day Boys 1929-33) has passed the Intermediate Law Examination and is articled to H. W. Daniel, O.V. (Day Boys 1918-23), solicitor, Worcester.

July, 1936.

The following O.V. have obtained commissions in the undermentioned units since our last edition went to the press: 9th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland I. H. Hedderwick Highlanders, T.A. Sherwood Foresters, T.A. J. H. Jackson A. L. Flay R.E. (S.R. of O.). R.A. R. W. M. Allen 4th Bn. Hampshires, T.A. D. O. Hall J. G. George R.A. Hearty congratulations to E. G. Knapp-Fisher, Trinity College, Oxford (School House 1929-33), who, we learn as we go to press, has obtained a ist Class in the Honour School of Jurisprudence. * * * A. P. Shrimpton (Castle House 1926-32) has taken first class honours in Civil Engineering for the degree of B.Sc. at Birmingham University. For the past year he has been President of the Guild of Undergraduates of the University. *

* *

C. M. Humphries (Castle House 1908-16) has been appointed Town Clerk of Wareham, Dorset. * * *

Any O.V. who would like to have the following drawings of the School can obtain them from Mr. Thomas, the School shop. The set comprises :— Edgar Tower (viewed from entrance to the Cloisters). College Green (viewed from the Choir School). College Green (viewed from College Hall Steps). School House (viewed from the Garden). College Hall (Interior). The School Garden and Fountain. Price 6/9 per set of six; or they may be obtained separately, price 1/3 each. * * *

Will members of the O.V. Club kindly note that Messrs. GLKNNS, 70, Broad Street, Worcester, have revised their list and prices of the O.V. Club Colours, as follows :—

£ s. d. Woollen Scarves 10 6 Blazer ( i n Woven Serge) 2 2 0 Sweaters (Cable Stitch) i 5 0 Sweaters (Plain Stitch) i i o Silk Squares 12 6 Silk Ties (Uncrushable) 4 6 Irish Poplin Ties 4 6 Straw Hat Bands 3 o Cuff Links a 6 Plus Postage in each case. When ordering Blazers or Sweaters please give chest measurement. For Ties please state whether silk or poplin is required.

1083

THE VIGORNIAN.

July, 1936

Obltuarp.

BIRTH. LONGLAND.—On May aist, at " Penlea," Newcastle-onTyne, to Peggy (nee Harrison), wife of J. L. Longland, of Quarry Heads Lane, Durham—a son.

THE REV. ERNEST DANIEL JORDAN. Born 1861. Died 1936.

* * #

E. D. Jordan was a King's Scholar from 1876 to 1880, leaving as Captain of the School with an Open Scholarship at Wadham College, Oxford. Mr. Bolland, who had been appointed Headmaster in 1879, brought Mr. Jordan back to the School on the staff, and he did good service for several years, one of his chief claims to honour here being his main share in the start of the Old Vigornian Dinners, which led directly to the formation of the O.V. Club. After leaving the School for the second time, he became associated with Mr. M. J. B. Baddeley in the compilation of the Guide to the English Lake District, which is still the vade mecum of almost every tourist to the Lakes, and he was responsible for the drawing of many of the plans and diagrams in it. Later he wrote several guide books for Messrs. Black. In 1900 he was ordained, and after holding curacies at St. Helen's and at Ormskirk, in 1906 he became Vicar of St. James', Lathom, near Ormskirk, where he worked for the rest of his life. The following sentences from the obituary notice in the Ormskirk Advertiser bear witness to the affection in which he was held by his parishioners : " He was an earnest and acceptable preacher, but more than anything else he had followed out the principle of visiting regularly his flock. When sickness was in the home there the Rev. E. D. Jordan would be found. He visited members of his congregation when they were in hospital and helped them in their troubles, and not a few owe their position in life to the interest he took in them. His was a life of service for his people." He died on Good Friday, and was buried at Lathom on Easter Monday, when the Bishop of Liverpool (Dr. David) delivered an impressive tribute in the presence of a large assembly of mourners.

MARRIAGES. CHIONELL—BOTTOMLEY.—On June 10, at St. Matthew's, Lightcliffe, W. R. Chignell, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Street Chignell, to Pauline, younger daughter of the late Colonel and Mrs. Bottomley, of Hillewell Sykes, Lightcliffe, Yorks. HUHFORD—STIBBS.—At St. Margaret's, Roath, Jack S. Hurford, younger son of Mrs. Hurford, Penylan Road, Cardiff, and of the late Mr. E. Hurford, to Joan, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stibbs, of Barry. CHAPPEL—IRWIN.—On June 6, at Harrow, John Traer, younger son of the late Canon W. H. Chappel and Mrs. Chappel, to Stella Mayne (n£e Simons), widow of Mr. J. M. K. Irwin, STANLEY—FRANK.—Vivian E. Cameron Stanley (School House 1915-22) to Hilda, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Frank, of Sefton Park, Liverpool. * * » FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE. A marriage has been arranged, and will take place in August, in Salisbury Cathedral, S. Rhodesia, between Norman Macdonald (School House 1911-17) and Miss Ivy Andrews. * * * DEATHS. FRANCIS.—On May i6th, at Agar's Manor, Iron Acton, Glos., suddenly, Arthur Francis (O.V. 1870-75). HARRISON.—On May I4th, after a year's illness, John Mayo Harrison. (Castle House, 1929-33.) PARTRIDGE.—On July ist, after a prolonged illness, at Little Lambswick, Charles John Roycroft Partridge. (Castle House, 1926-29.)

cricket. IST XI FIXTURES. Date. Opponents. Wed., May 20.—Norton Barracks ... ... Sat., ,, 30.—Worcester City 2nd XI Sat., June 6.—Worcester Nomads ... ... ,, 10.—Norton Barracks Wed., Sat., ... ... ... »t 13.—Warwick Wed., ... ... ii 17.—Monmouth ... Sat., ,, 20.—J. H. L. Burnett, Esq.'s XI Sat., ,, 27.—Malvern Colts Wed., July i.—Hereford Sat., 4.—Dean Close ... »» „ 8.—Bloxham Wed., Sat., II.—O.V.'s *t

...

... ...

Ground. Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Home Away Home

Result.

For. !5

Against. 107

159 for 4*

48 85 for 6' 136 68 for 4 68

192 for

Lost Scratched Lost Scratched Scratched Lost Abandoned Lost Abandoned Lost

Won

1 02 for 5

Scratched « Declared.

140 for 7 122 76

1084

THE VIGORNIAN.

This year we welcome Mr. Meade-King as 1st XI coach, while C.S.M. Cooper kindly consented to coach the 2nd XI. We should like to thank Mr. Meade-King for his untiring efforts in keeping the XI keen and up to standard, especially as he was greatly handicapped by the bad weather, which prevented a great deal of practice. Our thanks are also due to C.S.M. Cooper for his kindness in giving up his valuable time to coach the 2nd XI, who have had quite a successful season, winning three out of the five matches they played. We are very grateful to Mr. Ward for looking after the Colts this year. There are some very promising players amongst them, who should do well in the School XI in the future. Finally, we should like to thank Mr. Burnett for the trouble he took in collecting an XI, in spite of the fact that the match was unfortunately abandoned after a downpour of the inevitable rain which has managed to fall on most Saturdays of the term.

CHARACTERS OF THE XI. F. E. B. MOLE (Captain). He had a difficult time, trying to lead a side which refused to settle down, and the responsibility perhaps affected his own play. However, his bowling was always good, with two notable performances against Dean Close and Bloxham. S. N. HACKWOOD (Secretary). He had rather a depressing season on wickets mostly unsuited to his bowling. If he could only impart more vigour and purpose to his bowling, he would produce far better results. M. B. DAVIES. The only batsman who was at all consistent, and a much improved player. His range of strokes is still rather limited for a left-hander, but he has the right temperament and will be good for many runs next year. A safe cover, but he must improve his throwing-in to the wicket. P. NEALE. A batsman with a certain natural ability, but with a fatal inclination to push rather than hit the ball. He had a disappointing season, but finished with a good innings against Bloxham. Next year he must force himself to adopt more aggressive methods—at present he makes little attempt to rid himself of his bad habits. As a bowler, more variation of length and speed will bring him a greater number of wickets. J. H. TRAP£. He refuses to believe he is quite a good batsman. His strokes are free and full of power, but at present he has so little confidence in himself that he fails to do himself justice in matches. A competent slip. E. C. LUSCOMBE. He needs a bit of luck to set him going, and on occasions can hit the ball very hard, even if by rather primitive methods. His fielding was chiefly noticeable for a sensational catch against Dean Close.

July, 1936.

D. SHERIFF. When he gained confidence towards the end of the season, he showed promising form, and played a useful innings against Malvern. He hits the ball clearly on the off, but he must check his tendency to face the bowler in playing back. J. M. PAUL. Developed into a competent wicket-keeper, but his batting in matches was very disappointing, for at times in practice games he looked as if he was going to make runs. He will never do much as a batsman until he learns to make more use of his left hand. F. E. V. CANT. He will make plenty of runs, when he learns to throw the weight of his body over the ball. He has the true spirit of aggression, and should on no account allow himself to be diverted from this by the example of other members of the side. M. E. NICHOLLS. A batsman of promise with some stylish strokes on the off. He is very weak on the leg-side, but he watches the ball well and should make plenty of runs next year. His right hand dominates his strokes far too often. J. H. FOLLEY. A promising bowler who has filled his place well in the and XI. Has not been given a fair chance for the XI this year, but should make a good steady bowler next year, and with variation of speed and length should be successful. His batting has always been unenterprising, but should improve after he has had more experience.

The following were awarded their and XI colours this season :—F. H. Walker, A. E. Baldry, R. Anstey, G. L. Napier, J. D. Poths, H. D. Poths, J. D. Reynolds, W. N. Bryer, S. M. Lock, J. P. Raban, J. R. Kendall. We are glad to see that in addition to the wire fence round the field two bowling screens have been also supplied, which have been most useful.

•

* *

The following is the draw for {he House Matches: School House

Castle House

)

Hostel

Day Boys

The results of these matches are not to hand, since they are in progress at the time of going to print. F.E.M. S.N.H. * * *

July, 1936

THE VIGORNIAN.

1085

THE SCHOOL v. NORTON BARRACKS.

THE SCHOOL v. WORCESTER NOMADS.

Played at the Barracks, Wednesday, May 2oth. A disastrous loss for the School by 92 runs. The Barracks won the toss, and chose to bat on a hard wicket. They were dismissed for a moderate total of 107. The School fared disastrously, being dismissed for 15 (probably the lowest on School record) aga:nst the bowling of Sgt. Baker (6 for i) and L.-Cpl. Jones (4 for 13). Napier alone faced the bowling with any sign of confidence.

On New Road ground, on Saturday, June 6th. The Nomads won the toss and batted first on a soft wicket. They declared at tea-time for 159 for 4, Arbu ckle making a very useful 62. The School made a better- performance than the previous match, being dismissed for 95. thereby losing by 64 runs.

THE SCHOOL. P Neale 1 b w b Sgt Baker ... D. Sheriff b L.-Cpl. Jones M. B. Davies b Sgt Baker F. E. Mole b L.-Cpl. Jones E. C. Luscombe b Sgt. Baker J. H. Trape b Sgt. Baker G. L. Napier b Sgt. Baker S. N. Hackwood b Sgt. Baker F. E. Cant b L.-Cpl Jones A. E. Baldry b L.-Cpl. Jones ... J. H. Folley not out ... Extras

« o o i o II o

Baker Jones

G. L. Napier b Hemmings

NORTON BARRACKS. Sgt. Baker b Mole Sgt. Dalloway b Hackwood R.S.M Graham b Hackwood

Bailey Hemmings Houghton Arbuckle Allen Lloyd

av. 0.16 3-2S

•••

o 33 18

—. Clarke b Folley L -Cpl. Jones l.b.w b Neale L -Cpl Marten b Cant Sgt. Carlton c Neale b Hackwood

Sgt. Busby run out ... Extras

...

lotal

w. 6 4

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 15 6 35 ... 14.1 6 16 ... 4 i n ... 4 i 15 2 — s 2 — 7

w. 5 2 t 2 — —

Total

WORCESTER NOMADS. o I 31 14 62 48

R Blackwell b Mole J Neilson b Mole

H. Dawes K. W. Allen R. B. Houghton G. Baker E. D. Lloyd

) V Did not bat \ ' 3

lo7

Total (for 4 wkts., decl.)

Mole Hackwood Neale Cant Folley

av. 7 8 n 7.5 — —

A D Arbuckle st Paul b Neale ...

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 6 i 31 ... 7 i 22 7 i 26 4 — 9 4.1 — 10 * * *

3 19 17 o 8 o 6 i 6 8 24 3

S N Hackwood b Bailey

Extras

Total BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 9 8 i 8.3 3 13

THE SCHOOL. M. B Davies b Bailey J. H. Trap<5 c Lloyd b Hemmings P Neale b Bailey ... F E Mole 1 b w b Bailey

w. i 3 2 i 2

av. 31 7-33 13 9 S

Mole Hackwood Neale Cant

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 10 — 49 ... 9 — 45 9 — 49 4 — 13 * * *

w. 3 — i —

... 159

av. 16.3 — 49 —

July, 1936.

THE VIGORNIAN.

io86 THE SCHOOL v. MONMOUTH.

THE SCHOOL v. MALVERN COLTS.

Played at Monmouth on Wednesday, June lyth. The School again lost the toss and Monmouth batted first on a hard wicket. The opening pair put on 55 before b<:ing separated. They declared at 192 for 9. The School IPrere left with two hours to get the runs, and were dismissed for only 48, thus losing by 144 runs.

At Malvern, on Saturday, June 27th. The School won the toss and decided to bat on a hard wicket. They put up a very creditable performance, being all out for 136, Sheriff being the most successful of the batsmen. Malvern were losing wickets regularly about every ten runs until Rusted stayed to bring victory to his side by three wickets.

THE SCHOOL. M. B. Davies b Holmes J. H. Trape b Rice P. Neale b Rice

...

>9 o 0

4 o 6 2

E. C. Luscombe l.b.w. b Richards S. N. Hackwood l.b.w. b Holmes

4 4 o

9 TWal

THE SCHOOL. M. B. Davies c Rusted b Hempstead J. M. Paul l.b.w. b Houldsworth V. Cant b Houldsworth F. E. Mole b Young D. Sheriff c Hempstead b Young E. C. Luscombe b Hempstead J. D. Poths st Rusted b Houldsworth H D Poths b Connel .. ... ... J. H. Trap£ c Sells b Young S. N. Hackwood b Connel Extras

14 Total

Richards Rice ... Holmes Young

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 12.1 6 12 ... 9 7 2 8 4 13 2 2 —

w. 2 2 i —

av. 6 i 13 —

...

Houldsworth Young Hempstead Connel

20 o o 6 36 7 13 9 11 20

...

136

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. w. ... 15 5 34 3 19 3 64 3 . . . 4 1 6 2 7 2 18 2

av. «'-33 21.33 3 9

MONMOUTH. J. E. Rice c Baldry b Cant

l~>

W*»*ib-AC 1 H w

36 42 3° o

f» M*>a1o

V. C. Palmer c Davies b Hackwood P F Hnlmpc h N*»a1*» J. L. Richards c Hackwood b Neale

17 19 24

Extras

* * *

Walker b Anstey Rusted not out Simmonds run out ...

w. 2 2 4 — i

...

3 85 12

Fisher not out ... ... ... Houldsworth / Hempstead | D,d not bat

...

Total (7 wkts.) ...

...

140

w. 3 — i i

av. 18.66 — 18 23

192

Total (for 9 wkts., decl.)

Mole ... Hackwood Neale Policy Cant

14 13 5

5 II

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 12 i 50 ... 13 3 23 18 3 55 3 — 31 7 — 26

MALVERN COLTS. Young b Mole Sells c Poths H D b Cant ... Hill c Hackwood b Mole

av. 25 "-S 13-75 — 26

Mole Hackwood Cant Anstey

...

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 14 2 56 ... n i 39 7 2 18 5 — 23 * * •

July, 1936

THE SCHOOL v. DEAN CLOSE. Played at Home on Saturday, July 6th. This was the first time we have met Dean Close for three or four years. The School lost the toss and Dean Close batted first on a soft, drying wicket. Six wickets fell quickly for 27, but J. Crawford and Macfarlane stayed together, putting on 59 runs for the seventh wicket. They were finally dismissed for 122. Mole (7 for 40) and Anstey (2 for 19) bowled well for the School, the dismissal of R. Crawford being due to a magnificent catch by Luscombe. The School put up a poorer show than was expected, being all out for 68. THE SCHOOL. M. B. Davies c Johnson b Crawford J V Pa,nf 1 H w K Wirfl*»v J. H Trap£ b Crawford J. ... ... M. E. Nicholls I.b.w. (N) b Jones B F E Mole c Beck b Johnson D. Sheriff c Struthers b Johnson ... . J. M Paul b Jones B ... . ..

...

... ..

... ...

2 10 6 18 7

S. N. Hackwood c Williams b Jones W R. Anstey not out ... ... ... ...

...

o 8

6 »

Total BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. J. Wigley ... 8 2 13 B. Jones 10 6 n J. Crawford ... 7 i 16 Johnson ... 6.1 — 13 W. Jones ... 4 i 10 DEAN CLOSE. W. K. Struthers b Mole R. E. Crawford c Luscombe b Anstey J. D. Wakeling b Mole J. P. Crawford b Mole W. H. Jones b Mole J. L. Wigley c Trap<$ b Mole B. E. Jones b Mole W. A. Macfarlane I.b.w. b Mole S. Beck c Mole b Anstey ... ... ... M. M. Johnson not out T. C. Williams b Neale Extras

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. ... 15 4 36 7 2 19 ... 8 i 25 13.4 2 23 3 i S * » *

THE SCHOOL v. BLOXHAM. Played at Bloxham on Wednesday, July 8th. Bloxham won the toss and decided to bat first on a moderately soft wicket. They were all out in two hours for 76. For the School Hackwood (3 for 19) and Mole (6 for 36) bowled well. The School won easily by seven wickets, thanks to Neale, who made a very useful 45. THE SCHOOL. P Neale not out ... ... ... ... M. B. Davies I.b.w. (N) b Morgan D. Sheriff b Hobley M E Nicholls b Hobley F. E. Mole not out V. Cant J. M. Paul J. H. Trape" cE. -C.r Luscombe . i v . Did n o t b a t S. N. Hackwood R. Anstey

w. i 2 3 2 2

---

** 3 17 2

...

Total (3 wkts.)

Hobley Gardner Morgan Williams Bartlett Eastwood

av. 13 5.5 5.33 6.5 5

...

68 ... ... ... ... ... ...

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 13 6 12 13 2 28 n 2 23 4 I 15 3 — n 2 — 4

w. 2 — i — — —

av. 6 2

BLOXHAM.

...

Total

Mole Anstey Hackwood Neale Cant

1087

THE VIGORNIAN.

2 4 o 48 i i ^ 27 o 20 2 10

3 7

15 9

122 w. 6 2 — I —

av. 6 9.5 — 23 —

*?£ 70

Mole Neale Hackwood Anstey

... ... ... ...

BOWLING ANALYSIS. o. m. r. 15 4 36 5 2 10 5.4 — 19 4 i 4 * * *

w. 6 — 3 —

av. 6

6-33

THE VIGORNIAN.

io88

IST XI AVERAGES FOR THE SEASON. BATTING. Times Most in Innings, not out. Runs. Innings. Av. P. Neale ... 7 16.6 45* M. B. Davies ... 8 104 28* 14.8 D. Sheriff ... 7 81 36 »-5 J. H. Trape ... 6 7.8 39 19 J. M. Paul ... 6 24* 35 7 V. Cant ... 7 42 6 17 M. E. Nicholls ... 3 16 10 5-3 S. N. Hackwood ... 5 24 20 4-8 F. E. Mole ... 7 6 24 4 E. C. Luscombe ... 5 3-8 19 7 J. H. Folley ... 2 o o BOWLING. F. E. Mole J. H. Folley P. Neale V. Cant S. N. Hackwood

o. 84

m. 14

7.1 53-2

— 8

55.4

r. 269 4i 166 66 187

av.

12.2

20. S

20.7

3 8

23-37

Rowing notes. As far as results are concerned, this year has been quite as disappointing as the two previous ones, in spite of the fact that we have changed over to the Fairbairn style. The reasons for this may be found partly in the fact that the crew averages at least a year younger than any of our opponents, a most important consideration in rowing, and partly in the fact that the crew have never really grasped the value of a good, hard leg-drive, and that certain people in the boat find it difficult to swing straight. Thus the boat has always seemed somewhat dead and lifeless, especially in the middle of a race. When we also consider the astonishing bad luck which has pursued us throughout the term, we may justly claim to have a reasonable excuse for our continued losses. First of all Brooks had to undergo an operation which put an end to his rowing for the rest of the term, and then Mansell had a very nasty accident with a splinter off the edge of the boat, so that against Cheltenham and Hereford the 2nd IV included two men in their first year of rowing. There have, however, been bright sides to the term's rowing. Three members of the ist IV will be here next year, and if we can find a suitable fourth man we should have a good crew. Another pleasing feature has been the refreshing keenness throughout the Club, especially among the Day Boys, who have taken up rowing in quite large numbers. There seem to be several promising oarsmen among the junior rowers, and during the Regatta the standard of sculling was considerably higher than last year. More attention has been paid to sculling this year, among both seniors and juniors, with beneficial results.

July, 1936.

We take this opportunity of congratulating P. H. Jackson on his successes during the summer and of wishing him luck at the Olympic Games, and also of thanking Mr. Strong, Mr. Bentley, and Mr. Pedder for all the time and trouble they have expended in coaching. IST IV CHARACTERS. In writing Characters of the ist IV we all sympathise with them on losing the services of their stroke and captain early in the season, and with him, in particular, on having had such bad luck his last year here. We are glad he is restored to sound health again. (Bow) A. D. BOLLAND. ust. i ilbs. Has found great difficulty in getting a correct finish. When this is overcome, he will find his general standard will improve considerably. (2) J. F. LAVENDER (Secretary). 1251. 61bs. Puts a great deal of power into his work, but it is not applied correctly. He relies on his arms far too much, and this results in swinging out of the boat at the finish of the stroke. (3) A. FAIRGRIEVE. list. nibs. Is a promising young oarsman. Next year his muscles will be firmer, and if he learns to make good use of his body swing, he will prove a useful man in any boat. (Stroke) R. I. G. BROOOKS (Captain), ust. olbs. Was stroking the crew with promising ability until the time of his illness. We wish him good luck in his rowing at Cambridge. (Cox) L. C. JONES. 6st. 81bs. Has shown very satisfactory keenness in steering the boat and encouraging his crew. The crew, as a whole, were well together and shaping very promisingly until the retirement of Brooks, the stroke. At Marlow, they appeared to be too short in the water compared with other School crews, and relying far too much on arm work instead of on a good shove from the stretcher. L. RATHBONE. lost. gibs. Filled the position of stroke at Marlow. He rowed well, and set a very fair length, which was not followed by the rest of the crew, owing mostly to a weak finish, and also, we believe, to an inferiority complex. Tremendous enthusiasm and keenness is the only cure for the latter. * * * IST IV RACES. IST IV v. MONMOUTH IST IV. June 6th. Rowed at Monmouth on a rainy day. The School crew were unable to cope with the very fast stream coming down past the stake boats, and thus lost a lot of ground to begin with. Monmouth, who had three of their last year's crew, simply outclassed us and won by about five lengths. We should like to congratulate them on the magnificent race they rowed against Winchester in the final at Marlow.

July, 1936

1089

THE VIGORNIAN.

IST IV v. CHELTENHAM COLLEGE IST IV. June loth. Rowed at Tewkesbury. The School, who were now without Brooks, won the toss and elected to take the half-length start with the disadvantage of the bend. We made a good start and at the end of the first minute were leading by about a length, but Cheltenham showed better length and drive in the middle of the race and gradually rowed away from us to win by four lengths. * * *

IST IV v. HEREFORD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL IST IV. June I3th. Rowed at Worcester on another rainy day. Here again we were simply outclassed, and never really looked like winning. Hereford, who were a very powerful crew, won by something over five lengths. It is a great pity they were not allowed to go to Marlow, where they might easily have won. PUBLIC SCHOOLS CUP, MARLOW. This year we were drawn against Cheltenham, to whom we had already lost once, and King's School, Canterbury, who defeated us last year. The School were on the Bucks side, with Canterbury in the middle and Cheltenham on Berks. Both the other crews went up on us at the start and stayed there. The School were not rowing up to their best form, and finished about five lengths behind Cheltenham, who lost to Canterbury by two and a half lengths. In the final Monmouth had a tremendous struggle with Winchester, the holders, eventually losing by a length, with Canterbury some way behind. The majority of the crew will have gained some valuable experience which will be useful next year. Our thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs. Bolland for entertaining us so hospitably over the week-end. » * *

2ND IV RACES. ZND IV v. MONMOUTH SCHOOL 2ND IV. June 6th. Rowed at Monmouth. Starting from a stake boat, at which we had had no practice, was a set back to us from the very first, and our opponents gained an immediate lead which soon became a length. After our bad start, however, we were rowing well, and pulled up a little during a " ten." Their crew was far heavier and altogether superior, and considering that one of our crew was a new rower we cannot be too dissatisfied with a loss by five lengths. * * * 2ND IV v. CHELTENHAM COLLLEGE 2ND IV. June loth. Rowed at Cheltenham. We were considerably handicapped by the fact that only two days before one of our members had gone into the ist IV, to be replaced by another new rower. This and the unfamiliar boats combined to bring about a defeat for us of three and a half lengths. * * *

2ND IV v. HEREFORD CATHEDRAL SCHOOL 2ND IV. June I3th. Rowed at Worcester. As in the case of Monmouth, our opponents were a far heavier and more experienced crew. We both made good starts, but by the end of the first minute Hereford were a length and a half ahead, and they gained steadily throughout the race, passing the winning-post three and a half lengths ahead of us. The race with Clifton College 2nd IV was cancelled owing to the flooded condition of the river. »

# *

HOUSE ROWING CUPS. Senior. For the first time for very many years Day Boys entered a crew, which is a very good sign for the future. School House this year consisted of the ist IV which rowed against Cheltenham and Hereford, and were expected to win easily. For this reason an eliminating race was held between the other three crews on Wednesday, July 8th. The race was rowed on the Deanery Course, and resulted in a win for Hostel, who had been sunk by a barge on the way down to the start. Day Boys, who rowed very well indeed, were second by a length, with Castle House a further length and a half behind. On Speech Day, when the final was rowed, the river was in such a flooded condition that it was barely possible to row. School House drew the Diglis side and so had the full force of the current to contend with, and the result was a most thrilling race with Hostel. Both crews made a good start and remained level for some time. Just before half-way Hostel gave her ten but made no impression, and just by the Diglis Hotel School House replied and managed to gain half a length. From here their superior length and stamina enabled them to creep up inch by inch to win by three quarters of a length from Hostel, amid great excitement. Day Boys rowed a very plucky race and were unfortunate in catching a crab.

Junior. Castle House regained the Junior Rowing Cup from School House. The following were the results of the finals :— TUB I Vs.

School House beat Castle House by two and a half lengths. School House. Castle House. ]. Sutton M. D. Ewen C. M. Lavender D. C. Bendall L. J. McAuslin W. G. C. Bearcroft D. B. Steward M. Orchard K. Wedgwood H. Rice-Jones

IOQO

THE VIGORNIAN.

SCULLING. Cox's Class. H. Rice-Jones beat L. C. Jones by two lengths. Junior Class. J. H. Pressdee beat M. Orchard by six lengths. Junior-Senior Class. J. Glover beat R. T. L. Allen by three lengths. Senior Class. E. M. Bearcroft beat J. Sutton by five lengths. » » * POINTS. Castle House School House Day Boys Hostel

18 10 6 * *

In the Tub IV race both crews made a good start, but School House, who were a much bigger and heavier crew, soon showed in front and gradually went ahead, rowing very nicely, to win by two and a half lengths. In the Sculling finals there were no close finishes, but the general standard was definitely higher than last year.

O.C.C. notes. The results of the Cert. " A " examination held last term are now to hand and eight out of twelve candidates were successful. We should like to congratulate L.-Cpl. Sutton upon gaining the best Cert. " A " yet recorded in the O.T.C. He has therefore been awarded the Yates Prize for the best Cert. " A " of the year. * » * The contingent as a whole has undergone a course of training with a view to the General Inspection on July loth. The arms drill is of a particularly high standard and the general steadiness and bearing of all ranks is good. * * * As is usually the case this term, the Shooting VIII and reserves have put in some intensive practice on the 30 Yds. Range. They also visited the Open Range at Tiddesley Wood. Although Shooting Notes appear elsewhere, the VIII is to be congratulated upon rising from 58th place to z6th in the Country Life Competition. » * * The majority of the Corps visited Norton Barracks for their " At Home " on Sunday, July $th. The new Bren gun received much attention and the ranges, both Miniature and 30 Yds., and the refreshment tents were well patronised. * * * Field Day was held on Ascension Day, May 2ist, in the Bringsty Common Area, the scheme being devised by Under-Officer Luscombe. The Band played the contingent out to Crown East, whence it proceeded by buses to the lunching areas. * * *

July, 1936.

BAND. The band again acquired some new instruments in the shape of a tenor drum and equipment, and a pair of cymbals. The new tenor drummer has acquitted himself well in the short time he has had for practising. Since the Drum Major of the ist Batt. Worcs. Reg. visited us and gave us some expert advice last term, the drums in particular have improved tremendously on last year's muster, and though the buglers are not quite as strong as they have been in previous years, the Band as a whole made a very impressive scene marching the Corps out to operations on Field Day. We should all like to thank the Drum Major in question for the many useful and exceedingly smart details he showed us, which have increased the smartness and drill of the Band by fifty per cent. At the Inspection, Col. Earle was very impressed by the Band and personally congratulated Bandmaster Latham on their very fine performance. Taken all round, this Band should stand a very good chance indeed of adding a further first place to the large number already gained in the past at O.T.C. Camps. * * * FIELD DAY. Field Operations were in the vicinity of Bringsty Common this term. A force of " Britons," under the command of Sgt. Hicks, held a strongly defensive position on a ridge of hills surrounding Gospel Oak, which was the ultimate objective of a band of marauding " Welsh," under C.S.M. Brooks. (PI. Comms: "Welsh," Sgt. Lavender, Cpl. Rathbone; " Britons," Cpls. Dyer, Holland.) The attacking force of one Coy. of Infantry (2 Pis., imaginary), supported by a M.G. PI., had a difficult task to capture an almost impregnable position, but after a none too successful feint to the front, they staged a successful flank attack on the enemy's left flank and carried the position. This was accomplished by a very ably executed advance, during which all the cover offered was carefully utilised. The only criticism at this stage was that the Platoon reserves were brought into action too early, with the inevitable result that, when held up, the PI. Comm. in question had no reserve to call upon to support his front line. The defence force then fell back to a previously reconnoitred line in front of Bringsty village, with the intention of defending their baggage train which had not been fully evicted. The " Welsh " force attacked all along the front with a view to capturing the baggage ; a well-timed counterattack was delivered by their opponents, however, but upon the arrival of " Welsh " reinforcements they were driven back to the village by a spirited charge. The " Cookhouse " was then blown, after a very successful day's operations. The chief criticism of the whole day's manoeuvres was the fact that too many senior N.C.O.'s exposed themselves carelessly and unnecessarily to their opponents' fire, appa-

July, 1936

THE VIGORNIAN.

rently believing they were immune. This was very evident before the operations commenced and therefore tended to divulge their respective dispositions. Field signals were used to advantage and fire orders were correctly given.

1091

C.S.M. Brooks is unable to attend Camp. has, therefore, been promoted to C.S.M.

The Contingent will go into camp at Rushmoor on Monday, July 27th. *

INSPECTION. The Annual Inspection was carried out by Lt.-Col. J. E. Earle, D.S.O., General Staff, S.M. Division, assisted by Lieut. Chichester, The Depdt, Worcs. Regt. In spite of the rain that fell during the greater part of it, the Inspection was carried out very successfully on College Green. The N.C.O.'s then proceeded to the Sand Table and were examined in Tactics, and finally the Band was inspected on the playground, giving a very fine performance. The contingent was then addressed by the Inspecting Officer on the various duties of its members and the great advantages gained by joining the Territorial Army or Supplementary Reserve of Officers, which was the duty of every cadet in after life. In a personal letter to the Headmaster on the next day, Col. Earle, apologising for not previously asking for a half holiday, expressed his admiration of the steadiness andarms-drill of all ranks on parade under very trying conditions. He then complimented the C.O. on the sound tactical knowledge of all N.C.O.'s. The official War Office report is not yet to hand.

The following were sucessful in the Certificate ' Examination last term :— F. H. Walker N. W. Richards E. W. Sankey J. Sutton B. Bagenal A. Fairgrieve J. M. Paul J. P. C. P. Raban

Sgt. Hicks

* «

Copy of Inspection Report received from the War Office. 20 July, 1936. Drill. The march past was well done; the steadiness of the cadets during the inspection in heavy rain was truly remarkable. Weapon Training. Fairly satisfactory. Manoeuvre. Very little could be seen of this; candidates for Certificate " A " were well trained and knew their book. The only faults were due to lack of experience. Those who had passed Certificate " A " were seen on the sand model under the Cadet Under Officer. Their knowledge was good, and they could give reasons for their decisions. They struck one as having much confidence, especially the Under Officer. Training areas have to be reached by bus. Discipline. The non-commissioned officers gave orders well and were smartly obeyed; the discipline was distinctly good. The Headmaster is a keen supporter of the contingent. Turn Out. The turn out was extremely good : clothing fitted unusually well for growing boys: it was obvious that the greatest trouble had been taken. Arms and Equipment. Clean and in good order.

PROMOTIONS. to be C.S.M. Sgt. Hicks „ C.Q.M.S. Cpl. Bolland ,. Sgt. Cpl. Rathbone „ Cpl. L.-Cpl. Eckersley „ Sheriff „ Mole „ F. H. Walker „ Sankey L.-Cpl. Cdt. Sutton „ B. Bagenal „ Paul „ Fairgrieve „ Richards ,, Raban * * *

Recommendations. Cover for the target end would be an improvement in the miniature range. General Remarks. This contingent is above the average. The standard of drill is distinctly high and the steadiness of all ranks remarkable. They take great pride in their Band, which put up a very creditable performance, and had taken immense trouble in cleaning their instruments, and spend much extra time on Band practice. Only a very keen contingent could maintain such a standard both in the ranks and in the Band. The training is very good.

THE VIGORNIAN.

1092

scooting nous. The term opened with a match on the Norton Barracks 30 Yards Range v. Dep6t the Worcester Regiment, on the first Monday of term, May nth. The VIII did creditably, since the majority had never shot with .303 ammunition before. The Dep6t won by 51 points. The scores :— H.P.S. 40. Und. Off. E. C. Luscombe 29 Cpl. K. B. Dyer 3° 28 L/Cpl. B. Bagenal 22 Cpl. L. Rathbone L/Cpl. J. M. Paul 31 18 Cdt. E. M. Bearcroft ... L/Cpl. A. Fairgrieve 30 Cdt. H. Mansell 28 216

Total

267

Depdt Total H.P.S. 320.

This was followed by a few practice shoots on the open ranges at Tyddesley Woods, in preparation for the InterSchools O.T.C. match which took place at Kidderminster on Thursday, June 4th. This took place under appalling conditions, as last year, and the driving rain and bad light proved disastrous to the general standard of shooting. The competition was won by Malvern College with a score of 462 ; we were 4th with 379 points. The competition for the Individual Cup was also to be decided on that shoot. This was again won by B. Bagenal with a score of 51 ; L. Rathbone was 2nd with 49, E. M. Bearcroft 3rd with 48. The rest of the term was devoted to completing the classification of the Corps according to the Empire Test. Seven new ist Class shots were discovered, bringing the total up to 17. There were also seven new 2nd Class shots to add to the seven already classified. This denotes a high standard, as was testified by two new shots in the House Matches, and presents a very fair prospect for the coming year. The House Matches were shot off on Monday, July I3th. The scores :— 1 Hostel 289 2 School House 275 3 Castle House 241 4 Day Boys 120* * One man was absent. The Hostel Team :— H.P.S. 10 Group. 10 E. C. Luscombe ... 10 L. Rathbone F. E. V. Cant ... S J. M. Garnett ... 10

50 Rapid. 46 41 45 42 174

Total Si 66 70 72

289

Snap. 25 20

July, 1936.

In conclusion, we should like to thank Lieut. J. H. L. Burnett and C.S.M. Cooper for the interest they have shown and the time they have spent in coaching the VIII. E.C.L. K.B.D.

P.C. Camp. This year we were only able to send four representatives to the P.T. Course at Aldershot, as Sheriff most unfortunately went down with chicken-pox three days before we were due to go. The Army School of Physical Training is now under a new commandant, and a considerable portion of the personnel is also fresh, and it seemed, at any rate to those of us who had been before, that there was a slight falling off in the interesting nature of the work which has been so prominent in the past. Doubtless this was chiefly due to the sudden death of Major Campbell, the Chief Instructor, which occurred two days before the Camp. He was a wonderful athlete and extremely popular with all who knew him; his loss was felt very keenly by the Camp Staff. However, we derived as much benefit from the course as ever, and all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The course was enlivened by a demonstration of Miss Margaret Morris's methods of P.T. Under the supervision of Mr. R. St. G. T. Harper, the Olympic hurdler, and by a visit and lecture from Capt. F. A. M. Webster, who gave us some very useful instruction in athletics, and personal tuition to those who showed marked aptitude for any special event. The ordinary routine P.T. is being modified to a certain extent by various new ideas, most of which are still in the experimental stage, and we strongly advise anyone who is able to go to this Course and obtain a really up-to-date firsthand knowledge of Army P.T., for the benefit both of himself and of the School.

Htbletk sports. The Sports' Heats and Finals were run off during the first week of the term, from May 4th to May 7th. (They were postponed last term owing to the ground being unfit for use.) The conditions were not particularly good, a slight drizzle having made the tracks slippery. Towards the end of the meeting, however, they improved, but due to the after effects of the holidays, no doubt, results were not up to the standard anticipated during the Easter Term. A feature of the two days' finals was the hard tussle between Hostel and Day Boys for the House Shield. Only separated by four points at the end of the first day's finals, Day Boys went ahead to win the shield by quite a reasonable margin on the second day. Hostel were a good second though handicapped by the huge difference in numbers between the two houses. Luscombe (H.) won the Senior Victor Ludorum easily for the second year in succession, but owing to the necessity of running in several events on both days, his times were not startling in the major events. F. H. Walker (S.H.),

THE VIGORNIAN.

July, 1936

W. N. Bryer (D.B.), and Hayes (D.B.), were runners-up. C. F. Bryer (D.B.) emulated his brother's sucess of last year by winning the Junior Victor Ludorum. The best time of the meeting was 574-5 sees, for the Quarter Mile. OFFICIALS. Judges.—Rev. C. Creighton, S. D. Strong, Esq., A. D. Franklin, Esq. Starter.—F. B. Thomas, Esq. Timekeeper and Scorer.—A. J. Bentley, Esq. Stewards.—Games Committee and School Monitors. Hon. Sees.—E. C. Luscombe and J. F. Lavender. RESULTS. FIRST DAY. Throwing the Cricket Ball (Open).—i, R. Anstey (D.B.); 2, H. D. Poths (H.); 3, Mole (S.H.). 9iyds. 4ft. 6ins. Throwing the Cricket Ball (Under 15).—!, Garnett (H.); 2, Knapp-Fisher (S.H.); 3, Mann (D.B.). 66yds. ift. zins. Quarter Mile (Open).—i, Luscombe (H.); 2, Brooks (C.H.); 3, Hicks (S.H.). 574-55605. Half Mile (Under 15).—i, C. F. Bryer (D.B.); 2, RiceJones (C.H.); 3, Garnett (H.) and Pressdee (D.B.). 2mins. 27 2-ssecs. High Jump (Open).-W. N. Bryer (D.B.); 2, Fairgrieve (S.H.); 3, F. H. Walker (S.H.). 4ft. loins. High Jump (Under 15).—I, Hawkins (H.) and C. F. Bryer (D.B.); 2, Pressdee (D.B.) and Shelton (C.H.). 4ft. 3jins. Long Jump (Open).-i, F. H. Walker (S.H.); 2, Kendall (D.B.); 3, Brooks (C.H.) and Luscombe (H.). isft. loins. Long Jump (Under 15).—!, Pressdee (D.B.); 2, Field (S.H.); 3, Rice-Jones (C.H.). i 4 ft. Jin. Hundred Yards (Under 13).—i, Watkins (D.B.); 2, J. Glover (D.B.); 3, Flay (D.B.). Half Mile (Open).-i, Luscombe (H.); 2, Hayes (D.B.); 3, B. Bagenal. zmins. i6secs.

SECOND DAY. Hundred Yards (Open).-i, F. H. Walker (S.H.); 2, Hicks (S.H.); 3, Luscombe (H.). n 4-5secs. Hundred Yards (Under 15).—i, Pressdee (D.B.); 2, Williams (D.B.); 3, Dencer (D.B.). Relay Race (Senior).—i, School House; 2, Day Boys; 3, Hostel. Relay Race (Junior).—i, Day Boys ; 2, Hostel; 3, School House. O.V.'s Race.—Scratched owing to non-appearance of competitors.

1093

Pole Boat Race.—i, Day Boys; 2, Castle House; 3, Hostel. One Mile (Open).-i, Luscombe (H.); 2, Hayes (D.B.); 3, B. Bagenal (D.B.). smins. 7 2-5secs. One Mile (Under 15).—!, C. F. Bryer (D.B.); 2, RiceJones (C.H.); 3, Consolation Race (Open).—Dyer (S.H.). Consolation Race (Under 15,).—Kirkwood (H.). Tugs-of-War.— Castle House beat School House. Day Boys beat Hostel. Day Boys beat Castle House. House Shield.— 1 Day Boys 130 points. 2 Hostel 91} „ 3 School House ... ... ... 63 ,, 4 Castle House ... ... ... 42} „ Senior Victor Ludorum.— i Luscombe ... ... ... 45 points. Runners-up F. H. Walker 1 W. N. Bryer C 20 „ Hayes J Junior Victor Ludorum.— i C. F. Bryer 29 points. Runner-up Rice-Jones... ... 23 ,, E.C.L. J.F.L.

Swimming Dotes. On most swimming days during the term the river has been swift and extremely muddy, the weather cold and wet. So that although a large number have been swimming this term, their attendances at the Baths have been far from regular. Life-Saving practice has been carried on as far as conditions allowed, and at the time of going to press five out of eight beginners have learnt to swim. Mr. Nicholls has great hopes of the rest succeeding by the end of the term, while already nineteen boys have passed the Baths test, and sixteen the River test. The Swimming Sports will be held on Monday and Tuesday, July 20th and 2ist. The Long Races will take place on the previous Friday. An invitation has recently been received for the School to swim against the College for the Blind. Although it has been impossible to arrange this for this year, we hope that the suggestion will not be forgotten when the next swimming season comes round. A.S.Y. D.B.S.

THE VIGORNIAN.

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Scout Rotes. Camps. With the arrival of the Easter Holidays, we naturally begin to turn our thoughts towards camp. Accordingly a patrol of seven senior Scouts, under A. S. M. Yarnold, set out for a week under canvas on the first day of the Easter Holidays. The camp site was not all that one might have wished for, as it was about six hundred feet above sea-level, not a comfortable altitude when a very rough wind is blowing continuously. After the first day however, the weather was ignored and such interesting activities as bridge building and the erecting of shelters were taken up. The wooden bridge, as the local press reported, " though not a beautiful erection, was at least a safe one." The camp was visited by the district Scoutmaster, Mr. Davies, who seemed quite pleased with its pioneering activities. Later in the week, too, the larger portion of Mr. Davies's own troop visited the camp and proceeded to test the trustworthiness of the bridge by moonlight. The camp, though very cold, turned out to be a very enjoyable one. The first camp held this term was the Whitsuntide Camp, which is held annually at Wick Episcopi, and to which all the troops of Worcester send representatives. The Castle House, Anstey's and Nicholls' patrols attended this very cold and showery first week-end camp. The weather this term has been unsettled and has developed a bad habit of starting a thunderstorm at the last moment on Saturday mornings. Many week-end camps, though arranged, had therefore to be postponed. The first camp to be held in the Headmaster's grounds at Tutnall did not take place therefore until June 2Oth. Many of us will never forget the Saturday night of this week-end, for its display of lightning. Funnily enough, on the following morning, the sun was shining and we were able to go bathing in the afternoon. Also during the afternoon Mr. Pedder originated a very amusing game, whereby the troop became reversed in order and our dignified A.S.M. became the junior tenderfoot, and the junior tenderfoot took Mr. Pedder's place as Group Scoutmaster and organised the hunting-down of an escaped criminal. All patrols have tried to get in two week-end camps at least, and by a miracle most of them have achieved this. Everyone is in great hopes now about the Summer Camp, which will be held in the Lakes again. It will be a slightly larger camp than last year, as over twenty are hoping to attend it. They are also hoping that the weather will have settled down to its more normal August sunshine by then. St. George's Day Celebrations. As usual on St. George's Day, this year over a thousand Scouts gathered at Windsor for the St. George's Day service in the Chapel Royal there. A.S.M. Yarnold and P.L.'s Anstey, Hinds and Briggs were lucky enough to be members of the contingent of Worcestershire Scouts.

July, 1936.

A more detailed article will be found elsewhere in this number. Appointment. It was decided half-way through the term to appoint an additional Troop Leader. Eckersley was chosen, as being both a boarder and a member of the O.T.C. He has many new ideas for indoor activities for the Winter and Spring Terms, so his influence will soon be felt. Other Activities. At one week-end camp this term an> interesting competition in First Aid was conducted by Mr. Carstairs. It was a novelty in that no First-aid kit was supplied and all apparatus necessary had to be improvised, since it was assumed that the accident had occurred during ordinary activities out of camp, where no kit was available. Badges. Weekly patrol meetings have been going on as usual this term with the passing of badges as the end in view. Especially was this the case in Nicholls' patrol, which consists mainly of very young tenderfeet. P. Bagenal has also succeeded in obtaining both the Birdwarden's and the Beekeeper's badges. Paterson, Beckley, Bridgman, Bendall, Thomas, Bailey, Allchurch, Glover and Broadhurst have all been invested at week-end camps. Troop Leaders: Morris, Eckersley. Patrol Leaders : Anstey, Briggs, Ewins, Fairgrieve, L. C. Jones, Hinds, Lodge, Nicholls.

St. George's Dap Scout celebration. SUNDAY, APRIL 26™. It had been raining the whole night before, and the sun was shining none too brightly as we drove out of Worcester on the road to Windsor, there to attend the St. George's Day Scout celebration in St. George's Chapel. We were going as a representative contingent of Worcestershire Scouts. As we drove through the gorgeously white-blossomed orchards of the Evesham Valley, the sun gradually grew stronger, and when we reached the " Golden Hind," a road-house just this side of Windsor, where we took lunch, it was shining brilliantly. After a rest of over an hour, we went on our way, and with only a quarter of an hour's travelling the majestic Norman, Round Tower of Windsor burst upon us, its greystone glinting in the brilliant mid-day sun, through the huge elms on the other side of the river. We went straight to the Royal Mews upon arriving at Windsor, and after a few preliminary instructions we marched off by counties, headed by the colourbearers, to the Horse Shoe Cloister, opposite the west door of the Chapel. At the head of the steps leading up to the west door, standing a little forward from all the county colour-bearers, who lined both sides of the steps right from the ground up to the west door, were the Scouters bearing

July, 1936

THE VIGORNIAN.

the King's Colour, and that of the Imperial Headquarters of the Scout Movement, both draped as a token of respect to the late King. We had not long to wait before a very boyish-looking King, compared with his father, came down the nave of the Chapel on to the steps leading up to the west door, accompanied by Lord Hampton, Chief Scout Commissioner for England, and Lord Somers, Acting Chief Scout, and the Dean of Windsor. Looking extremely you-ng, though of course care-worn with all his recent sorrows and anxieties and wearing an ordinary Tenderfoot's badge in the lapel of his black coat, the King came forward, a few steps below his followers. And when the spontaneous burst of cheering from the assembled Scouts had died down, from between the two lines of colours dipped in his honour, he spoke to us in that quiet, friendly, publicschoolboy tone which is so peculiarly his on occasions such as these. A word of welcome to his " home," a word of encouragement, of praise, a call to the youth of the world, a reminder of his post as Chief Scout of Wales and a reminder that he was still the same person he was, when he actively held that office, and lastly, what is so typical and what we have grown to expect of him, a kind message sent from the heart to all our brother Scouts at home, and his speech was over. Slowly we filed past him two by two up the steps through the west door into the nave of the Chapel, and as the Worcestershire contingent was slowly making its way past him we were able to watch him so earnestly talking to his followers about the movement, and as we listened we caught the fragment " And do they get tea here after all this? " Witness a King concerned about the stomachs of one thousand of his most loyal subjects ! Who could be anything but loyal to such a King? With his sandy hair, his earnest face, his obvious deep interest and concern in the smallest matter, and his kindly, boyish face, how can he help winning the love and admiration of his every subject? Inside the Chapel we stood, while the King, preceded by the colour-bearers, entered the Chapel, and when he had reached his seat joined lustily and sincerely in singing " God Save the King." It was a simple service, the most impressive part of which was the reading of the Scout Law by Lord Somers and the renewal of the Promise by everyone present. The service over, we again assembled in the Horse Shoe Cloister, where the colour-bearers joined their contingents, all except the King's and the I.H.Q. colour-bearers, who stood at the head of the steps, one each side the west door. Then slowly out of the Chapel appeared a Scouter bearing the huge flag of St. George, which triumphantly flapped in the fresh breeze as the Scouter bore it out to the head of the steps. The flag was saluted and then Lord Somers read a message from the Chief Scout. After " B.P." had been cheered i-n the usual Scout manner, we set off again by county contingents, each county being headed by its own colour-bearer, for the Royal Mews, which we reached by marching through the thickly crowded streets, the crowd giving a special cheer for each county contingent as it passed them. The whole procession was very fittingly

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headed by the great Flag of St. George, supported by the King's colour on the right, and the I.H.Q. colour on the left. Soon we were speeding back again through the beautiful evening sun to Worcester, leaving behind us the beautiful grey castle, the home of all the Kings of England. It was an impressive, memorable day, and one which will live long in the memories of those who were present, for it is on these occasions that one thousand Scouts each year become aware of the fact that they are members of a wonderfully widespread Association, and that they have a great duty to fulfil, not only for their King, but for the youth of the whole world. H.W.H.

field Club. There have been only two expeditions this term. Weather was bad at the start, and opportunities to make up were not to be found. However, they were very good expeditions, the one to Pershore, the other to Strensham; attendance six and seven, respectively. There is no space for descriptions, and brief comments seem impudent. Anyone who has been to Pershore Abbey three times will admit that it has a beauty and an interest which demand nothing but the most sincere response. And the late Rev. F. R. Lawson's hand-book is just the best thing one could have to read after one has looked. Strensham church stands in a charming setting, remote among woods and fields above the Avon. We are very grateful to the Vicar, who was so kind as to show us round and to discuss in the most interesting way the pews and panelling, the encaustic tiles, the brasses and the Russell tombs, and especially the painted panels of saints and martyrs now fronting a gallery at the west end. Those who come on these expeditions find, I think, some real interest and pleasure, and I hope very much that we shall have a kindlier season next year and that more people will come along.

Rouse notes. SCHOOL HOUSE. HOUSE MONITORS : J. F. Lavender, R. C. Hicks, K. B. Dyer, A. D. Holland, B. Bagenal. As we approach the close of this School year the thought which is naturally uppermost in our minds, as in the minds of all past and present members of the School, is the retirement of the Headmaster, for whom we have an additional affection as our housemaster. We will, however, make no attempt to express our sentiments on the subject, but merely testify our hearty agreement with the views so admirably set forth on another page. Coupled with the name of the Headmaster must be that of Miss Swale, whose kind and motherly interest in their

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welfare has been such a prominent feature of the lives of so many generations in the House. We should like her to leave us feeling that she will not be easily forgotten by those of us who have been fortunate enough to know her. We extend a very hearty welcome to our new matron, who has rapidly won a place in our hearts by her kindly and cheerful disposition. We feel sure that her assistance will be invaluable to Mrs. Wilding next term. From the athletic point of view the term, though most satisfactory in some ways, has been rather disappointing on the whole. We began badly by losing the Sports Shield, retained the Individual Shooting Cup, and lost narrowly in the House Shooting Competition. We also lost the Junior Rowing Cup, but retained the Senior after a most exciting race under terrible conditions, on Speech Day. The House has been exceptionally well represented in the rowing this year, and we have more people than usual in the ist and znd XI 's. Thus our hopes of winning the Cricket Cup must be considered quite bright, a rare state of affairs for us. We also hope to retain the Swimming Cup, which we won by a narrow margin last year. Our " assets to the mantelpiece " at present consist of the following cups : The Rugger, the Rowing, the Fives, the P.T., the Swimming, and the Individual Shooting. O.V. Week-end saw us as full of old boys as ever, and it took several days to get rid of the smell of tobacco. However, we all enjoyed seeing old familiar faces, and our meals were enlivened by several humorous incidents. Those of us who are going to Camp are looking forward to it with the keenest anticipation, determined to combine business with pleasure and to bring back the shield as well as have a jolly good time. In conclusion, we should like to bid farewell to the large number who are leaving us and to wish them good luck, and to assure Mr. and Mrs. Wilding that we are all eagerly looking forward to their arrival next term.

CASTLE HOUSE. HOUSE MONITORS : R. I. G. Brooks, B. S. Eckersley, J. M. Paul, S. N. Hackwood. This term, on the whole, the House has run remarkably smoothly, which is an admirable testimonial not so much to those to whom the running of the House has been entrusted but rather to all its members who, after all, can do the most to make or mar the general atmosphere and tone. First of all, we must congratulate most heartily the junior rowers on the admirable show they put up in the regatta, which has added another badly-needed cup to our collection. One could mention individual names, but rather let us bestow our gratitude upon the House and Tub fours, which, although unsuccessful, put up a really creditable show in their respective races against what were obviously overwhelming odds. The Shooting team, which consisted of Paul, E. M. F.

July, 1936.

Bearcroft, G. C. Bearcroft, and Hollyer, managed to come third in the Inter-House Competition, which was really quite a passable performance under the circumstances, the shooting of E. M. F. Bearcroft, who obtained 75 out of a possible 85, being particularly good. This year we are sending two sections to Camp under Cpl. Eckersley and L.-Cpl. Paul, while two people are to be attached to a composite section, making a grand total of 16. The comparative smallness of this number is due to the fact that this year we have had in the House a lot of rather young people who have been unable to join the Corps on account of their age, but next term we hope that there will be plenty of recruits. While on the subject of the Corps we must congratulate Paul on obtaining Cert. " A " and also on his promotion. Only one of our number is definitely leaving us at the end of this term, but in him the House will suffer a serious loss. For four terms Brooks has run the House with that fairness and tact which are the essential qualities of the successful House captain. That his last term has been marred as it has been is most unfortunate, and we all know what a bitter disappointment it must have been for him to have been " knocked out " of everything as he has. Let us hope that the black god, which he assures us has dogged his footsteps ever since he came here, may leave him to reap the full benefits of his Exhibition at Emmanuel College, and then to go on to greater things. *

HOSTEL. HOUSE MONITORS : E. C. Luscombe, L. Rathbone, S. M. Lock. We started the term sixteen strong, slightly below the average, and we were still more dismayed to hear that G. C. Hawkins intended to sail for New Zealand soon after Speech Day. However, his place has been taken by D. H. Jones, who left Day Boys and entered the House at the end of June. We are sending eleven people to Camp this year. Luscombe is Under-Officer i/c Band, and Rathbone's promotion to the rank of Sergeant has just been posted. The remainder of the House are cadets. Rathbone is senior bugler in the Band, and Jones will also be playing in the bugles at Camp. Mansell is a drummer. Lock and Cant are also in the Band, but they will not play at Camp. We had high hopes of winning the Sports Shield, as the Sports were held this term owing to the floods last April, and we were actually holding the Day Boys at the end of the first day, but they drew away the following afternoon, and we finished runners-up with goj points. Luscombe again distinguished himself, exceeding last year's score of 40 with one of 43, which gained him the Victor Ludorum, and we are all convinced that only the adverse weather conditions prevented him from breaking at least one record. J. M. Garnett was our most promising junior, and he was well in the running for the Junior Victor Ludorum.

July, 1936

THE VIGORNIAN.

Our Rowing IV drew the attention of the School in the House Rowing Races. In the preliminary round we beat Castle House and Day Boys easily, despite a most ominous prelude. Jones was cox, and he also went to Marlow with the School ist IV. Rathbone was a member of the 2nd IV. B. Bagenal, of School House, kindly consented to row in place of Mansell, who was injured. Bird and Garnett, both first year rowers, completed our crew. In the final race we finished a strong second to School House by just over half a length, a tribute to the severe training and keen spirit of the whole crew. The House Shooting IV is to be congratulated on winning the Shooting Cup. This is the third successive year we have won the Shooting Competition, and the cup is now almost regarded as a piece of House furniture. Luscombe has discovered in J. M. Garnett a fine, consistent shot, and a reliable substitute for Mansell. At the close of the cricket season Luscombe and Cant were awarded their ist XI colours, and Napier, Poths, and Lock their 2nd XI colours. Our Cricket XI will not be quite as strong as last year, but at the time of going to print it is doubtful whether the House matches will be played this year owing to the condition of the ground. We feel we must extend especial sympathy to H. Mansell, who injured himself while rowing in the 2nd IV boat. He has been unable to row ever since, and so a promising career in the 2nd IV and the Shooting VIII has been ruined. He will, however, be available for the House Cricket team. S. M. Lock was made a House Monitor at half-term. Hostel O.Vs. will be interested to hear that this term the Small Dormitory, better known of old as the Nursery, was handed over to the decorators, and it is now part of the private side of the House. Almost every term produces some unusual " craze," and this has been no exception to the rule. The junior members of the House have been hard at work making hot-air balloons, which were dispatched on fine Sundays. We were surprised to notice one morning a fine pewter shield bearing the School arms hung in the dining-room above the Big Table. On investigation it proved to be a find of Luscombe's, and greatly adds to the quiet dignity of the room. A fine tribute to Mrs. Burnett's catering was the flourishing colony of mice which infested the House. Towards half-term they had become so daring that Mr. Burnett put forward a " Mouse Scheme," whereby every mouse caught dead or alive within the House was worth, id. to the catcher. For a week there was fierce rivalry between Mr. Burnett, Matron, and Cant, but the supply of mice ran out before Cant could pay for his traps, so Mr. Burnett very generously paid his expenses. A white kitten has found its way into Hostel and seems to have made itself comfortable, although it seems quite unaffected by the mice, and to our great disappointment the mice are completely unaffected by the kitten. Peter's attitude towards it is hard to determine, for at one moment he sits on it

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most affectionately, and at the next seems to be trying to bite it in half. We reach the end of the term with the feeling that we have enjoyed the summer at School as heartily as ever, and we congratulate ourselves once more on not being lower than runners-up in any department of sport. This has been the last term for five members of the House. Luscombe, after leading the House most excellently for two years, will apply for a post in the Malayan Police next year. We shall miss the faultless crease of his grey trousers, and the sound of his long stride in the passage. Rathbone is in two minds whether to leave us or not, but in any case he intends to become an electrical engineer. J. A. Lawrey tells us that he hopes to take Holy Orders. H. Mansell is assured of an architectural career, but we are sorry to lose him so soon. Hawkins is to continue his education in New Zealand.

DAY BOYS. HOUSE MONITORS : A. S. Yarnold, R. Anstey. The term began with a most exciting struggle with Hostel for the Sports Shield, which we eventually won, though not without first experiencing many anxious moments. We certainly congratulate Hostel on their great fight, which besides making the Sports of real interest helped to promote a true sense of team work amongst the Day Boys. A certain amount of talent was revealed in the House, and C. F. Bryer must be congratulated on winning the Juniors' Cup, thus following the example of his brother, W. N. Bryer, who this year won the High Jump (Open). Anstey also won a first place in the Cricket Ball (Open), and Hayes ran very well to be second in both the mile and half-mile. In Cricket the House has been fairly well represented. Neale and Nicholls were awarded ist XI Colours. The House Cup, we give due warning, will not be given up without a great struggle (weather permitting!). During the last seven years there have only been three Day Boy rowers. The reason is apparently unknown, and a slight effort has produced six rowers this term. One of these, Curtis, has already won a place in the 2nd IV, and a House crew has appeared on the river. Beating Castle House in the heat, we qualified to row on Speech Day, when, until near the finish, we offered a fairly strong challenge to our opponents. To other Day Boys we would point out how interesting we find rowing and the need for others to follow on next season. To Mr. Strong and the Captain and Secretary of Boats we wish to convey our thanks for the welcome and encouragement which we have received. It is with regret that we have to report that no Day Boys have joined the O.T.C. since last Christmas term. Several, however, have promised to join next term, and we

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THE VIGORNIAN.

hope that many others will think seriously of what the Headmaster said on Speech Day. Few Day Boys are leaving this term and, if the spirit of keenness which the House has consistently shown during the past year can be still further improved upon, then it will be in a really strong position next year.

Speed) Dap. Speech Day was held on July loth. The chair was taken by the Dean, who was supported on the platform by Bishop Duppuy, Canon Hutchinson, Canon Briggs, Mr. F. Maurice Webb, Mr. Cyril Bailey, and Mr. J. R. Anthony, and by the Staff. Apologies were received from the Bishop of Worcester and from Archdeacon Peile, who were unavoidably prevented from attending. THE DEAN'S SPEECH. The Dean first welcomed the parents and friends of the School. He spoke in terms of warm appreciation of Mr. Macdonald's recently published History of the School. Passing on to forthcoming changes in the School, he referred to the reluctance with which the Dean and Chapter, as landlords, had accepted the surrender by the Dean and Chapter, as Governors and tenants, of the lease of the classrooms in the Edgar Tower. From the point of view of the School they were both inconvenient and uneconomical, and the problem of their replacement had at last been solved in the way that the School had long come to regard as the natural way—by the generosity of the Headmaster, who was making the new art room and geography room his latest gift. The Dean spoke with humour of that element of " iron inflexibility " in Mr. Creighton's character which made it impossible for all the Governors in the world to get him to reconsider his resignation, and with feeling of the love and affection which during eighteen years he had poured out upon the School. He then expressed the confidence of the Governors in the new Headmaster whom they had chosen to succeed him. THE HEADMASTER'S REPORT. Called upon to deliver his annual report, Mr. Creighton alluded to the dual capacity in which he stood, that of the Headmaster making his report, and that of the Distinguished Visitor distributing the prizes and delivering an address, though he left it to the audience to decide in which of these capacities he was the genial Dr. Jekyll and in which the sinister Mr. Hyde. In his report, he spoke first of the death of Canon James Went, the oldest and one of the most distinguished of O.V., for forty-two years Headmaster of Wyggeston School, Leicester. He then alluded to three enterprises that he had long had in view and that had been brought to a conclusion during the term : the completion of the playing fields and their enclosure within fencing, through the generosity of the O.V. Club; the completion of the building scheme by the addition of the art room and geography room to the 1925 classroom block; and the publication of the History of the School. He also

July, 1936.

spoke of the two successful performances of Murder in the Cathedral. In conclusion, he referred to the educational value of the O.T.C. and appealed to parents of Day Boys to encourage their boys to join it. THE HEADMASTER'S FAREWELL. Mr. Creighton then distributed the prizes, after which he spoke as follows: I must apologise for the prevalence of the personal note in what I am now about to say. There were three reasons why I asked the Dean to be allowed to appear in this capacity this afternoon. First, I was afraid that there was bound to be a good deal of talking about me, and I preferred to do as much as possible of it myself. Secondly, I thought I could see two scriptural precedents for such a course : the first in the Old Testament, where you will remember how Samuel towards the end of his life stood up to invite the people to witness against him, and to reason with them of all the righteous acts of the Lord; and another —which may be more to your liking—in the New Testament, when the unjust steward gave an account of his stewardship; and thirdly, and this is the real reason, because there are certain things that I want to try and say, some of them to-day and some in the Cathedral on Sunday, before I lay down the charge which has been entrusted to me. May I begin by saying that I refuse to treat this as a sad occasion. Not because I am not sorry that the time has come for me to leave the King's School—that is a feeling that I shall experience more acutely later on, and most of all, I expect, when you are all assembling without me at the beginning of next term : but because there are other thoughts uppermost in my mind. There is the thought of all that I have left undone, that I have not been able to do, and never should be. I could give you a list of them, for I am arrogant enough to believe that I know them as well as any of you. Inseparable from this thought is rejoicing that my successor is just the man to do them without undoing anything that there already is of value. Mr. Wilding is young, and I have already seen enough of him in the discussions we have had to know that he has the vigour, energy and elasticity of youth without its rashness. And I have seen enough of Mrs. Wilding to know that she will bring to our School life much that has inevitably been lacking to it in recent years. Best of all perhaps, Mr. Wilding fell in love with Worcester even before he was appointed Headmaster. He seemed to see at once all those qualities that make the King's School so peculiarly loveable, and to appreciate them in the same way that you and I do. So I rejoice that it is to Mr. Wilding that I am handing over. No man can do more than a certain amount for a place, a cause or an institution. He can give a certain impulse, and when that is spent, it is time for him to go. Another impulse is to be given, not of course the same one, but inspired by the same motives and in the same general direction. My next thought is of the happiness that I have enjoyed

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THE VIGORNIAN.

during the past eighteen years, and of thankfulness for the blessings received by myself and by the School. When I look back, as I have naturally been doing lately, these thoughts so fill my mind that there is no room for regret. Will you bear with me, while I try to summarise what I should like to think I have been in some small measure able to do, what has been my educational gospel, so far as I can define it? I have had no definite educational " programme " for which I have been consciously working. I am suspicious of educational fads of all sorts, of deliberate attempts to mould boys' minds or characters into any particular shape. I have not introduced the Dalton Plan, or an " honour system " or a self-government " stunt," but I do believe that the system which has gradually evolved itself here has special features of its own. How shall I attempt to define it? So far as it is the result of any educational theory of my own, it is that education consists in allowing a boy to develop naturally on the lines of his own God-given character and personality, and in providing him with a suitable environment in which to do so. When I came here, there seemed to be, amidst much that was admirable, a certain bleakness and sternness in the environment. I had my first chance to mitigate this in the Chappel Memorial Reading Room. And my second chance came when I was able to make the School Garden. May I remind you of what I said when that Garden was opened in 1931—that she in whose memory I made it would have felt that this was the classroom in the School in which the things she most prized were being taught. And I am happy in the knowledge that lessons have been, learned there. There were critics who assured me that it was of no use laying beautiful things before boys, because they would only destroy them. But, looking back, I cannot recall a single occasion on which the Reading Room or the Garden has been abused. Public School education is based on the belief that the right environment for a boy is one in which he develops in contact with his fellows. It used to be forgotten that there are times, and that there should be places, where he can be by himself. Some feel the need more than others, but for those who do feel it it is a vital necessity. Another shortcoming of which Public Schools are often accused is rather unfairly summed up in the word " snobbishness." I claim for the King's School that it is almost totally destitute of that quality. I have welcomed every opportunity of broadening the basis of our School life. I have, for instance, particularly welcomed the introduction of scholarship boys from the elementary schools, the result of which has been to achieve in our School a vertical rather than a horizontal section through the community; and I believe that a multiplication of such schools would prove the solution of many of our national and social problems. I would note also an absence of specialisation in any particular direction. I was very pleased with one of the phrases in the report which the O.T.C. received after the Camp last year: " They have gone in for everything with zest." My definition of education implies a trust in human

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nature and in the individual. Discipline there must be, but whenever possible discipline self-imposed. When I look round, I find that the School has almost no rules; it has no system of punishment; it has not even a proper system of marks. I have trusted you, and you have proved worthy of the trust. The result of all this has been to make of the School rather a family than an institution. And this is shown in the relations between boys and masters, and of boys with one another, in the naturalness, the absence of self-consciousness, the spontaneousness, and the freedom of our School life. On Sunday I shall have an opportunity of speaking of other features of our heritage which provide the inspiration which alone can make fruitful any attempt to achieve our ideal. I will not go so far as to say that all these features that I prize have always been appreciated by all boys or all parents. Criticism is healthy. But—to return for a moment to Samuel—you remember the reason that the people of Israel put forward for wanting a King: " Nay, but we will have a King over us that we also may be like all the nations." That the chosen people of God should wish to be like all the nations was to Samuel the same sort of treachery as it seems to to me for the King's School to want to be like all the other Public Schools. But I do say with gratitude that the vast majority of parents, boys and the whole staff have refrained from criticism of this kind, have recognised this peculiar genius of the King's School, and have co-operated in fostering it. From the bottom of my heart, in my own name and for the School, I thank them. The happiness I have enjoyed, any measure of success the School may have achieved—more than this, all that the School has been—are due to the support, help and loyalty that I have received. I mention no names, for if I were to begin there would be no end, but I am not forgetful of the debt I owe. When I think, as in these past months I have so constantly been thinking, over these past eighteen years, there passes before my eyes a long procession of friends, masters and boys who in their generation have loved and served the School. To them, as each generation passed, I have said good-bye with a grip of the hand and no attempt to put into words what it all meant beyond perhaps on the one side the schoolboy phrase sanctified by tradition : " Good-bye, sir, and thank you very much for all you've done for me," and on my side : " Good luck to you, and let me hear how you get on." And now it is my turn. Let me go in the same way. Don't let us try to put anything into words; only let me say here to you, who personify for me the King's School : " Thank you very much for all you've done for me," and " Good luck to you, I shall never cease to take an interest in how you get on." Reminded by the Dean of one of the time-honoured duties of the Distinguished Visitor, Mr. Creighton then announced that Dr. Jekyll had much pleasure in granting Mr. Hyde's request for a half-holiday.

THE VIGORNIAN.

IIOO

Owing to the heavy rain—without precedent for many years on Speech Day—tea had to be served in the School House Dining Hall and in the Chappel Memorial Reading Room. Visitors took advantage of the opportunity to inspect the new classrooms, and the interesting exhibition of paintings and drawings by the School and O.V. which Miss Campbell had arranged in the Art Room.

* *

PRIZE LIST. Bishop of Worcester's Divinity Prize.—VI, J. F. Lister. Canon Cronshaw Divinity Prize—Upper V, J. A. Lawrey. Maurice Day Classical Prize (Senior)—VI, R. I. G. Brooks. James Nash Classical Prize.—Upper V, J. D. Reynolds. George Nash History Prize.—Modern VI, B. S. Eckersley. School Latin Prose Prize (Archdeacon Peile).—R. I. G. Brooks. School Mathematical Prize (Canon Duppy).—R. Anstey. School French Prize (Canon Briggs).—J. F. Lavender. French, School Certificate (S. W. Whitehouse).—D. E. Briggs. School Science Prize (in memory of Samuel Southall, O.V.).—]. Sutton. Accidence Prizes.—VI, Latin, R. I. G. Brooks; Greek, A. S. Yarnold. Upper V, Latin, J. H. Trapt; Greek, H. C. Cox. Lower V, Latin, J. C. Bird; Greek, J. D. H. Sayer. Upper IV, T. W. Checketts. Middle IV, D. W. Smith. Lower IV, N. Richardson, R. G. Workman. General Knowledge (The Dean of Worcester).—VI, J. Sutton; Upper V, M. B. Davies; Lover V, R. H. Bough; Upper IV, A. E. Pepper; Middle IV, Not awarded; Lower IV, J. A. Morton ; Lower School, A. W. R. Bailey. Reading Prizes (Canon Hutchinson).—Senior, A. S. Yarnold; Junior, D. Dencer. Music Prize (Sir Ivor Atkins).—K. B. Dyer. Junior Singing.—M. H. Anstey. Drawing Prize.—B. Bagenal. Prize for the Best School Certificate (in memory of F. T. E. and E. R. H. Lewis, O.V.).—D. E. Briggs, J. D. Reynolds. Mayor of Worcester's Prize (Proxime Accessit in K.S. Examination).—A. J. Kirkwood. Yates' Prize for Best Certificate " A " in O.T.C.— ]. Sutton. Mrs. Henry Wood Essay Prizes.—Sixth Form, B. S. Eckersley; Highly Commended, A. S. Yarnold, D. Sheriff. Middle School, P. D. Fourdrinier; Highly Commended, H. Rice-Jones, J. H. Pressdee, R. L. Lodge. Lower School, A. Bailey; Highly Commended, L. W. Lewis, J. G. Ranford.

July, 1936.

A Special Prize was awarded by the Headmaster to E. C. Luscombe in honour of his two years' service as Captain of the School. * « * Besides those who have given Special Prizes which stand to their names, the following have very kindly given contributions to the Prize Fund:— Alderman C. Edwards The Precentor E. O. Kay, Esq. The Headmaster The O.V. Club * * * Honours won by Members of the School since last Prize Day:-— A. P. Shrimpton, ist Class B.Sc. Birmingham University. R. I. G. Brooks, Classical Exhibition, Emmanuel College, Cambridge. R. C. Hicks, Squire Scholarship, Oxford University. * * * Winners of Certificates of the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board, 1935 :— Higher Certificate in Classics.—R. I. G. Brooks, R. C. Hicks, K. B. Dyer, R. L. Thomas. In Modern Subjects— J. L. Warren. School Certificates.—R. T. L. Allen, R. Anstey, B. Bagenal, G. N. T. Baxter, D. E. Briggs, H. J. Checketts, D. W. Gaylor, C. G. Hartright, H. W. Hinds, J. W. Hoggard, C. M. Lavender, F. R. Miles, J. D. Reynolds, H. N. Rice-Jones, I. Roberts, E. W. Sankey, D. Sheriff, W. G. Spencer, P. J. Stevens, D. B. Steward, F. H. Walker, D. J. Walliker, C. D. A. Whitehead, J. A. Lawrey. Winners of Certificate " A " in the Officers' Training Corps.—B. Bagenal, G. N. T. Baxter, G. C. Bocking, B. S. Eckersley, A. Fairgrieve, R. F. Gade, F. E. B. Mole, J. M. Paul, J. P. C. P. Raban, N. W. Richards, E. W. Sankey, D. Sheriff, J. Sutton, F. H. Walker, D. J. Walliker.

Concert. The programme began with a choral work, " Hiawatha's It is a very Wedding Feast," by Coleridge-Taylor. pleasant work to sing, and the Choir did justice to it. They seemed to be on top form and the quality of the broken voices was particularly good. Mr. Williams's rendering of the beautiful solo was strong and eminently satisfying. The finale of the work is short but impressive and not easy to sing effectively; the Choir, however, did not fail to give a quite pleasing performance. The next item was Schubert's " Impromptu in A Flat." Those especially who know the music cannot fail to have been pleased by K. B. Dyer's restrained and clear playing. The contrasted middle part demands some emotional as well as technical ability, and the pianist did manage to give us some at least of the feeling; and after all, nothing is worse than exaggeration. As an encore, Dyer played a quiet and pretty " Petite Berceuse," by Denise Lassimonne.

THE VIGORNIAN.

July, 1936

Then the Choir sang three part songs: " London Town," by German ; " Swansea Town," arranged by Gustav Hoist; and " Rolling Down to Rio," by German. The last is full of musical fun, and the singers certainly enjoyed themselves, and at the same time refrained from being so boisterous as to spoil the music in any way. To conclude the first part of the concert, the School Orchestra (sadly small, and only just School!) played Handel's " Firework Suite." It was perhaps the Bounce which was the most satisfying, though in any work of this period the Minuets are almost invariably charming. And it was in these especially that an increase in strings would have been most welcome. It would be a much easier task for the existing and gallant orchestra, and a much pleasanter entertainment for the audience, if a few more people would take an interest in some instrument and help to make all the different kinds of delightful and playable orchestral music a real success. The second part of the evening was taken up with the wit and physique of Mr. Finlay Dunn. The entertainer was versatile, clever, and amusing. And although we might raise a superior eyebrow if we were told of his antics, we nevertheless roared with laughter when we actually saw them. One of his most amusing and clever turns was his imitation of an automatic piano. At the expense of a lovely and sensitive one, the audience was highly entertained by the amazing medley of confused noises which the pennyin-the-slot piano unfailingly produces. And although one or two of us may have at first resented an intrusion into what we should have liked as a true School concert, none of us failed to enjoy Mr. Dunn's performance. So the evening closed with everyone in a good humour, and reconciled to the severity of our English summer!

no i

with a copy of the portrait by Professor Malcolm Osborne, R.A., with which O.Vs. have marked his retirement. In acknowledging the gift, Mr. Creighton wittily cited the great painter Sargeant's definition of a portrait as " something wrong with the mouth," and spoke in very appreciative terms of the artist's successful picture " considering the unpromising material in the foreground." Before the party left the table, the Rev. V. C. Powell briefly voiced the gratitude of the O.Vs. to the Headmaster for the dinner at which he had so nobly made so many his guests.

Clbrarp. The following books have been added to the School Library:—• Percival and I John Buchan Omnibus We in Captivity Salar the Salmon William the Detective

A. Armstrong K. Pawle H. Williamson R. Crompton

Escape from Dartmoor (presented by the Author) Mark Beckett * * « For the Reading Room it was decided to take in the magazine " World Sports." S. O. A. M. Lock was appointed a librarian.

O.V. Dinner*

VI form Clbrarp.

At the extremely generous invitation of the Headmaster, 133 O.V. attended the 3gth annual dinner in College Hall. Mr. T. Bates (1889-1897) was in the chair, and Mr. J. L. Longland (1919-1923) was Vice-Chairman. In proposing the traditional toast of " Prosperity to Worcester Cathedral King's School," with the addition of " The Retiring Headmaster," Longland alluded to the difficulty of associating such an adjective with Mr. Creighton ; in a genial flow of eloquence he went on to speak of Mr. Creighton's great and successful reign, and described the secret of his method as " highly intensive disorganisation." The Headmaster, in reply, professed to be unable to recognise himself as the glowing character whom Longland had depicted, but proved by his speech how justly he had been described. Replying to the toast of " The Chairman," briefly proposed by Mr. T. E. Rammell, Mr. Bates referred to the recently published History of the School, and invited O.Vs. under Mr. Holland, Canon Chappel and Mr. Creighton to rise in turn, each group being received with a storm of applause. He concluded by presenting the Headmaster

By the kindness of Miss Went, the VI Form Library has been enriched by a collection of books on the topography and history of Worcestershire, from the library of the late Canon J. Went, O.V., whose death was recorded in our issue of last term. The collection includes, besides some books of lesser importance, a complete set of the books of Mr. J. Noake (of which we previously had only two or three); the late Bishop Pearce's Hartlebury Castle; Green's History of Worcester; Allies' Antiquities and Folklore of Worcestershire; Willis Bund's Civil War in Worcestershire; the Catalogue of the Cathedral Library, by our former Headmaster, the Rev. Maurice Day; and Mr. G. McN«il Rushforth's recently published monumental work, Mediaeval Christian Imagery, dealing with the painted glass of Great Malvern Priory. The value of these books, if only for candidates for the Mrs. Henry Wood Essay Prizes, is immense, and we wish to express our gratitude to Miss Went, and our pleasure at this memorial to so distinguished an Old Vigornian.

July, 1936.

THE VIGORNIAN.

IIO2

murder in tfoe Catbedral. By T. S. ELIOT. COLLEGE HALL, THURSDAY, ZND APRIL. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury...R. I. G. Brooks Reginald Fitz Urse A. D. Bolland E. C. Luscombe William de Traci Hugh de Morville R. C. Hicks Richard Brito D. B. Steward First Tempter J. Sutton D. Sheriff Second Tempter A. S. Yarnold Third Tempter ~ Mr. A. Macdonald Fourth Tempter First Priest R. Anstey Second Priest D. Dencer H. W. Hinds Third Priest The Archbishop's Herald W. P. Paterson Acolytes...R. N. Knapp-Fisher, N. Kirkwood (Choir School). Chorus of Women of Canterbury...K. Wedgwood, P. D. Fourdrinier, P. L. B. Hollyer, J. G. Reynolds, P. McEachran, P. F. Painter, D. H. Jones. There are many who consider that Mr. Eliot should never have turned his hand to the stage. The subtleties of his style and reasoning, specially when applied to the obscure motives of a medieval ecclesiastic, are perhaps more fully appreciated in reading the play than in seeing it acted on the stage, where the lack of true dramatic incident diminishes the effect of the psychological struggle in Becket's mind. The chief merit of the play surely lies in its poetry, and the success of the play must largely rest upon the actors' powers of poetic interpretation. One might well have felt sceptical of the possibilities of finding the necessary talent in the School for such an ambitious production, but all will agree that the talent was indeed unearthed. Brooks was admirably cast in the part of Becket. The dignity and feeling of his performance gave an essential coherence to the play, which might easily have been lacking, and his elocution was excellent. Our only criticism of Becket would be in the Interlude. Admittedly the Sermon forms a strong contrast to the mental writhings of the Archbishop in face of the Tempters, but Brooks was here a little too restrained, and we felt little desire to hear Becket preach a full-length sermon. The effect of the First Part of the play depends largely on Becket's ability to reveal clearly his reactions to the several Tempters, but the latter were particularly successful in emphasising their words without distracting our attention from Becket. Mr. Macdonald, who produced the play, nobly frustrated the ravagings of chicken-pox among the original cast by himself taking the difficult part of the Fourth Tempter. By the end of the Interlude, Becket's psychological problem is practically settled, and the interest of the play

passes more to the Knights and their unexpected attempt to justify their actions in modern colloquial prose. Bolland, Hicks, Luscombe, and Steward were excellent, and the vigour of their performance made a considerable impression. The Three Priests were rather uneven, but the parts are not wholly satisfactory, and Anstey, Dencer and Hinds were at least adequate. Perhaps the Chorus presents the chief problem of production. Their symbolical character was rightly stressed by strict formality of grouping, and the seven revealed unexpected powers of expression and a surprising grace of movement. Advantage was taken of the fact that several of the Chorus were ex-choristers, whose voices had not broken, to bring the play to an end with Nunc Dimittis. In this they were trained by Mr. Edgar Day, who, with Mr. Franklin and some of the actors, sang as a hidden choir the Dies Irae and the Te Deum that form the background to two of the choruses in the Second Part. Paterson, clad i-n a tabard bearing the arms of Becket, made a success as the ironical Herald, and the audience was gratified by the brave sounds which (with the unseen collaboration of Mr. Nicholls) he elicited from his diminutive trumpet. Much of the success of the undertaking must be attributed to the staging and costumes. As for Saint Joan, College Hall provided a perfect setting, and clever use was made of the platform steps and of the body of the Hall. The first entrance and exit of the Knights were particularly good. The costumes, designed by Mrs. Macdonald, and made by her with some help by Mrs. Pedder and Mrs. Burnett, were admirable—simple yet effective; they toned well together, while the surcoats of the Knights made brilliant splashes of colour in the overhead lighting. Altogether it was a most notable performance. Perhaps one felt at times that the talents of the actors could have been better exploited in a play with more action, but on the other hand Murder in the Cathedral has clearly been a considerable intellectual stimulus to the School.

* »

The play was revived, at the special request of the Dean, for the benefit of the Friends of Worcester Cathedral on the evening of their Annual Meeting on 27th June. On this occasion E. W. Sankey was able to play his part of the Fourth Tempter, but Brooks was incapacitated, and Mr. Macdonald played Becket. Owing to the impossibility of getting College Hall properly dark, the effects obtained in the original performance by dimming the lights could not be repeated, and the play was brought to an end with the carrying down the Hall of the body of the Archbishop to a plainsong Nunc Dimittis. This performance was preceded by an introductory talk by Canon Hutchinson, and by special request there was no applause to mar the solemn beauty of the play.

July, 1936

THE VIGORNIAN.

fl SDort Blstorp or fbe Officers' Cralninfl Corps. We do not wish to try to improve upon Mr. Macdonald's excellent history of the School, but we would like to give a few details of some of the School's numerous successes in this very important sphere of the School's activities. In the years previous to 1909, the School possessed a shooting club which showed some excellent talent. 1909 saw the introduction of the O.T.C. into this School, and the shooting club was then annexed and all its members joined the Corps. The Head (Mr. Chappel) said on Speech Day, 1909: " It is a matter of great importance that all young Englishmen should be able to help to defend this country. The Corps is a valuable addition to the School's disciplinary forces." Eighty-five boys (more than half the School) joined the Corps. The Dean and Chapter were kind enough to grant the use of a stable as an orderly room armoury. These have been added to in later years. Now that we have brought the Corps into existence, we feel that we cart trace some of its great successes. There is one branch of the Corps—the Band—which brings yearly success to this School. We are entitled to feel proud of our Band, and also its Instructor, Bandmaster Latham. Among a few of its successes are :— First in the Camp Band Competition in the years 1912-13, 1926, 1930. In 1933 it was ist of the Bugle Bands but came 3rd to two Pipe Bands. b. Second in the Competition in the years 1911, 1922-3, 1928. c. Third in the Competitions in 1920-1, 1927. a.

May we wish the Band every success in Camp this year and in the years to come. There was another branch of the Corps which only disappeared comparatively recently, viz. the Signallers' Class. In 1917 they were inspected by an officer of the R.E., who was amazed at their efficiency. He said that their standard surpassed even that of the R.E. Signal Service. The years 1910-11 bring to light two interesting points. The year 1910 was the year of the death of King Edward VII. A collection was made for a wreath to be sent to the funeral, and with the surplus money a Memorial Challenge Shield was purchased for an inter-house section competition in drill and efficiency. In June, 1911, the Corps went to the Coronation Review which was held at Windsor Castle; to arrive there in time, the contingent, plus the band (to the annoyance of many peace-seeking citizens!) started from Worcester at 3 a.m. Shooting is another arm of the Corps which has brought honour to this School. The VIII shot consistently well in the years 1910-14. As an example they shot 14 matches and won n, in 1911. In 1912 the School came second in the Country Life Competition and this performance was repeated in the following year. After this the standard fell

1103

rather, due mainly to the economy enforced by the War. But the School regained their honour, to a certain extent, in 1933, when they won the Chichester Cup for the first time. This competition was inaugurated, after the War, for Malvern College, Bromsgrove, the Grammar School and ourselves. But the Great War brought the highest honour to this School, and especially to the Corps. Although activities were hampered in the School, trenches were dug in the playground, parades were held before breakfast and tea on week-days, and " farming " squads were sent to cultivate the Market Garden on the College Green! By November, 1914, no past members of the School were serving " pro patria." This number was doubled by the next year, and by the end of the War 426 members had answered their country's call; 50 per cent of these had been in the School O.T.C. This is an extraordinarily good average, considering that the Corps had only been in existence five years before the outbreak of war. There have only been a few instances of our O.T.C. We can justly feel proud of ourselves. May success come to the School in the future as much as it has come in the past.

P.R. D.S.

H Blstorp of tbt King's Scbool. A History of the King's School, Worcester. By Alec Macdonald, M.A. Ernest Benn Limited. 1936. 155. Mr. Macdonald, who has already to his credit a History of Repton, approaches the history of the King's School with the pietas of an Old Vigornian and the trained accuracy of the scholar. His principal obligation is to the late Mr. A. F. Leach's Documents Illustrating Early Education in Worcester, published by the Worcestershire Historical Society in 1913, and he also expresses his debt to Mr. C. V. Hancock, O.V., and to Sir Ivor Atkins, who has helped him to find his way among the unprinted material in the Chapter Library. From these authentic sources he has with much skill compiled a readable and connected narrative of the School's fortunes from its origins to the close of Mr. Creighton's rule. The book begins with the story of Castle Hill, the present site of the School. It proceeds to discuss whether Henry VIII's foundation can establish continuity with any previous schools in the city or within the monastery. Mr. Macdonald supports Leach's view that a Benedictine monastery was debarred by its rule from providing any schooling within its walls except for its own novices and its singing-boys, in either case for a very small number. On the other hand, it was expected of the Bishops of Worcester that they should maintain and control a school in their seecity, and there is satisfactory evidence of such a Grammar School existing in the city under the Bishop. Mr. Macdonald, holding the scales even, decides that the true successor to the Bishop's School is not the Cathedral Grammar School, variously known as the King's School or Col-

HO4

THE VIGORNIAN.

lege School, but the school sometimes known as Queen Elizabeth's- Grammar School and since 1868 as the Royal Grammar School. There is reproduced in facsimile a page from the Treasurer's Accounts for the year 1543-4, giving the names of the first Praeceptor or Pedagogue, John Fathers, of the Usher or Hypodidascalus, and of the forty King's Scholars, among whom may be found many names still familiar in this county. Mr. Macdonald also gives for the same year the names of the twelve scholars maintained by the foundation at the University. They acquitted themselves with such credit at Oxford that it is much to be regretted that the King quickly repented of his generosity and required the Dean and Chapter to surrender some property and relieved them of the obligation to maintain these University scholarships. Two chapters are deservedly devoted to the period of the School's most distinguished Headmaster, Henry Bright, who was appointed fourteen years before Queen Elizabeth's death and was still in command when Charles I came to the throne. His reputation as a schoolmaster was second to none in his day : indeed it became so much of a legend that John Somers, Lord High Chancellor in 1697, was said by a nineteenth century biographer to have been Bright's pupil, though he was not born till a quarter of a century after Bright's death. With the help of a new piece of evidence supplied by Mr. Hancock, Mr. Macdonald assigns the author of Hudibras to the King's School in Bright's time. An attractive feature of the book is the assiduity with which the author has tracked out the stories of any Old Vigornians who have made their mark. And a very varied collection they are : poets and playwrights, two Deans of Worcester (Mainwaring and Warmstrey), a Lord Chancellor and a Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (Sir John Vaughan), Edward Kelly the " skryer " or interpreter of spirits to the eccentric Dr. John Dee, Samuel Foote the comedian whom Dr. Johnson, in spite of his prejudices, found " irresistible," Thomas Nash the historian of the county, and Dr. John Wall who had some part in promoting on scientific lines the manufacture of porcelain at Worcester. Mr. Macdonald is the first to claim that Thomas Morris, the former Minor Canon, whose body lies beneath the Cloister stone marked " Miserrimus," was an old King's Scholar. No one should miss the most amusing chapter giving descriptions of life in and about College Green, drawn from the novels of Mrs. Henry Wood. Colonel Albert Webb, O.V., contributes entertaining reminiscences of the School as he knew it in the sixties. The recovery of the King's School under Canon Chappel and its continued development under Mr. Creighton are well told and justify a confidence in the future of the School which might have been rash in the long period between Bright and Chappel. A chapter is devoted to games and athletics, and the book is provided with well chosen pictures of College Green as it was and as it has become. Mr. Macdonald has done the School he serves a notable service.

F.E.H.

July, 1936,

flats Rotes* The end of last term saw the finals of the Competitions and the House Matches, when it was too late to include the results in the Easter Vigornian. In the former, Mole played a prominent part; in the Single Open he beat Dyer 15—jo, 15—8 ; in the Doubles, Mole and Cant beat Mr. C. M. Meade-King and S. B. Harris in to well-contested games 15—7, 15—n (the latter had a handicap of —4). The Singles Under 15 was won by Fox, who beat KnappFisher 15—12, 15—5. After this the House matches took place. This was rather a foregone conclusion, since School House possessed the entire ist IV. Dyer and Mole (S.H.) beat Folley and Booking (C.H.) 15—4, 15—4- In the final Sheriff and Lavender (S.H.) beat Neale and Hinds (Day Boys) 15—i, 15—4. Hostel did not send in a pair. K.B.D.

A Problem. There has always been some confusion as to the names of our two blocks of classrooms. This confusion, it is said, arose in the following manner. The classrooms which originally stood on the site of the block which contains the Masters' Common Room were burned down in December, 1892. In 1899, the present building was erected on this site, and became commonly known as the " New Buildings " in contrast with those which had been burned and which were naturally referred to as the " Old Buildings." In 1925, however, when the block near the Reading Room was opened, two methods of distinguishing the two buildings came into vogue, and indeed still persist. One was to retain the designation of " New Buildings " for the block which already bore that name (thus preserving Tradition !), while the 1925 block became known as the " New Classrooms." The method of logic, however, demanded that the former " New Buildings " should now be raised to the dignity of " Old Buildings," and that those of 1925 should be called " New," as indeed they were : and many adopted this system. The result is that nowadays anyone speaking of the " New Buildings " may be held equally to refer to either! And it seems that the new Art and Geography Rooms are going to cause a further disturbance: for they have a singularly strong claim to the title of " New Buildings," and are frequently so called. What is to be done? The most reasonable system would be to designate the 1899 block " The Chappel Buildings " and the 1925 plus the 1936 " The Creighton Classrooms," since these two are all one building really. But do we want to be reasonable? Of course not! We would really much rather keep our little muddle, and enjoy a hearty laugh each term at the expense of the unfortunate new boy 1

THE VIGORNIAN.

July, 1936

Co fated ?outi>. In grief and anguish sore the child greets life, When first to breathe the breath of joy and pain The mother gives it life. Through the dark lane Of anguish the woman labours, with strife And bloody sweat to this grey earth, all rife With war and pestilential plagues, where brain And reason count for nought—to this cruel train To bring a son, one youth for cannon ripe. What tolling bells for this same youth, but roar Of murderous cannon's swiftly speeding shell, And spattering rifles' stunted gibes, that make This beauteous earth a sponge for his pure gore? Rise, youth, and of this gore-devouring hell A happier home for peaceful youth remake. ANON.

fwicl) as sin is spoke! A junior-school boy arrived in class with a penitent countenance and the sad news that, having lost his book, he had been unable to learn his " prep " and so, while the others were answering questions on it, he was instructed to account for himself " en franc, ais." Herewith the result: " II y a une semaine, j'avais ma livre, et done je la perdus dans la salle de classe a " School House " et la Capitaine de la salle de classe la mil dans la libre [The Pound!], et on doit payer un . . . (fine) d'un sou, si on la de'sire de nouveau, et a ce moment je n'avais pas un seul sou, et de ce moment je ne 1'ai jamais vue depuis. J'admets qu'il ^tait tres insense1 de moi aller et la perdre, mais je regrette tres bien, et je pense que peut-etre la mieux chose faire est demander a Monsieur Franklin a obtenir une livre nouvelle." [N.B.—Singular as is the distinction of having ones French literary efforts published at so early an age, the author of this work modestly wishes to remain anonymous.!]

Oxford Cetor. OXFORD, June, 1936. Dear Sirs, It would, we feel, be particularly inappropriate for such a number of The Vigomian as this to go to press without an Oxford Letter. We heard with deepest regret, last term, of the Headmaster's retirement. We, here, are only too conscious of the debt of gratitude which we owe him, yet all sense of sorrow must be entirely superseded by our admiration for the motives which prompted his action, and we wish that all those whose lot it is to occupy prominent positions would behave with such an entire lack of selfish-

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ness. At the same time we would like to offer our sincere sympathy to the Headmaster in the loss of his mother. Mrs. Creighton was one of the leading figures in Oxford life for many years and her death came as a great blow to all. We learn with delight of the appointment of Mr. Wilding as the Headmaster's successor and we wish him every happiness in his new sphere. At the same time we venture to hope that the appointment of a layman will not mean the slackening of the School's time-honoured connection with the Cathedral. The Trinity Term has been singularly uneventful. Eights Week drew its customary crowds despite the very unpleasant weather which prevailed on most afternoons. The J.C.R.'s are at present filled with woe-begone forms dressed in the white tie, square, and gown, which are the outward and visible signs of Schools. Many of them talk in hushed tones and throw murderous glances at those whose life is untroubled by the burdens which the goddess of Learning binds upon the back of her devotees. All good things come to an end however, and we look forward to Commem. Week and the Long Vac. We wish Conner and Knapp-Fisher the very best of luck in their papers and vivas. We realize with some alarm that the number of O.V. at the Universities next term will reach a record low figure. Having in mind the fact that Oxford and Cambridge buried the hatchet with befitting pomp and circumstance last year, we feel sure that Cambridge O.V. will support us in deploring the reason which seems to account for the fewness of our numbers : namely, the growing belief that the education provided at the modern Universities is equal if not superior to that in the senior Universities. This is a misinterpretation of the word " education." The man who goes to a modern University is required to work: if he discharges his obligations in that respect he is doing all that is required of him. This is not the case at Oxford and Cambridge. The man who remains within four walls, who takes no interest in the corporate life of his college, is an object to inspire pity. We do not suggest that work is to be disregarded, or even to be taken lightly, but during a man's first year, and usually in his second also, there is usually ample opportunity for him to show (without detriment to his degree) that he has imbibed deeply the tradition of public school life, that he is a member of a community as well as an individual, and that he must give of his best to the common good of that community. This is the natural result of life at the senior Universities where residence is insisted upon. This is why we are able to boast that Oxford and Cambridge turn out men and not pedants, and therefore we enjoy the reputation and fair name which we have gained. Though no O.V. has gained especial distinction yet this term, the examination results have not been published, and we look for great things from P. HEADEACH (Keble), I. C. M. CONNER (Keble), and E. G. KNAPP-FISHER (Trinity) who have been sitting for the Education Dip., and Honour Schools of English and Jurisprudence respectively. A. J. N. RICHARDS (Hertford) has been tympanist in various con-

THE VIGORNIAN.

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certs. J. L. WARREN (Hertford) and J. F. LISTER (Keble) last term passed Language Group and P. Mods. The former has played Chess for his college and played Cricket in the Hertford 2nd XI. The latter rowed in the Keble 3rd and 2nd Eights, and also took a small part in the Keble play, " The Devil's Disciple." In conclusion we should like to congratulate R. I. G. BROOKS on his exhibition at Emmanuel, and R. C. HICKS on winning a Squire Schol. : and we wish the School the very best of Summer Vacs. We remain, yours, etc., OXON.

July, 1936.

Correspondence. To the Editors of " The Vigornian." Sirs ('scuse shortness), Since several sensible souls seemingly savoured a sibilant succession of s's strung in sickening sequence some weeks since, suffer a short statement of appreciation (supply of suitable substitutes sadly scanty), of the sonorous soprano's sentimental songs and the stuttering stories of her skilled spouse. We suggest similar sing-songs should seem suitable for certain Saturdays in subsequent seasons. Since sure of success, skilful senior scholars should supervise such shows themselves. Simple to supply scenery—stage set as in Shakespeare seldom seems silly to sensible spectators. So seeking sufficient support of suggestion we solicit, esteemed sirs, to submit said subject to School. S.

Valete.

[Surely such sound scheme should secure sincere support. —Eos. VIG.]

April, I93'6. Modern Sixth. Booking, G. C. (1932-36). Castle House. Cert. A " 1935. Lance-Corporal O.T.C. King's Scholar. Walliker, D. J. (1933-36). School House. 2nd XV Football, 1934. ist XV Football, 1935. 2nd XI Cricket, 1934. ist XI Cricket, 1935. 2nd IV Fives, 1935. Lance-Corporal O.T.C. Cert. " A," 1935. Upper Fifth. Strother, A. G. (1930-36). Day Boys. Lower Fifth. Blyth, M. H. (1933-36).

Hostel. Cadet O.T.C.

Lower School. Dexter, J. L. (1935-36). Day Boys.

Salock.

To the Editors of " The Vigornian." Dear Sirs, I have two suggestions to make with regard to the School magazine of which everybody is justly proud. The first is about the suggestions which are received every term: most Vigornians have one or more letters proposing some change or addition to the School in one way or another and the letters usually finish with the hope that the proper authorities will see to the matter; now to my knowledge nothing is ever done about these proposals and these extremely valuable pieces of advice are disregarded. Could not some means be devised for considering and applying these suggestions ? Secondly, I wish to draw attention to the excellent reading matter and interesting history which is to be found in old Vigornians. The value of these old numbers is realized by very few and as there are copies of these magazines in School House and in the Sixth Form-room everybody can obtain them. Hoping in the first case that the " proper authorities will see to the matter," and in the latter case that it will renew the value of past Vigornians. I am, etc., D.S.

May, 1936.

Lower Fifth. Field, A. J. G. School House. Middle Fourth. Bendall, D. C. Castle House. Comely, J. A. Day Boys. Pettigrew, H. W. Day Boys. Pritchard, E. L. Castle House.

Contemporaries. We acknowledge receipt of the following, with apologies for any accidental omissions:—The Cheltonian (3), The Felstedian (2), King Edward's School Chronicle, The Limit, The Monktonian, The Rossalian, St. Edward's School Chronicle (2), The Tonbridgian, The Wolvernian, The Wulfrunian, The Wyggestonian.