THE
VIGORNIAN
THE WORCESTER CATHEDRAL KING'S SCHOOL CHRONICLE TA MEN AIAAKTA MAN6ANO, TA A'ETPETA ZHTO, TA A'ETKTA IIAPA 0EON HITHSAMHN.
Vol. XIII.
APRIL, 1940. EDITORIAL
CONTENTS Editorial School Officers School Notes Mrs. Henry Wood Essay O.V. News Births, Deaths, etc. House Notes Rugger Notes O.T.C. Notes Band Notes Shooting Notes Neighbouring Castles ... House Plays ... ... Library Notes ... ... Lecture ... ... ... A Climb up Snowdon ... Playreading Society ... Camera Club Fishing Golf Club Valete Salvete Oxford Letter Worcester Letter Contributions ... ... Correspondence Contemporaries
Page 158 159 159 160 160 160 161 162 162 162
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No. 156.
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163 163 163 165 165 165 166 166 166 166 166 167 167 167 168 168 169
This term we welcome Mr. Creighton back amongst us as Headmaster for the duration of the war. He would not, we are sure, want us to welcome him at all formally, for he will already have seen in the everyday life of the School how warm our welcome is and how glad every member of the School is to have him back. We are extremely lucky to have him here, and we hope that while he is here, he will be able to see the School prosper. This term has been like other Easter terms, in spite of the war, at least as far as the weather goes. While it is the privilege of the Editorial to complain about the weather, we shall refrain from doing so ; indeed we should hardly be justified in complaining for, bad as the winter has been here, we have not had anything like such a hard time as the rest of the country, and we feel thankful that it has been so. Once again we have been unlucky enough to be caught by illness, and the news that we are going home early as a result of an outbreak of mumps means that the Vigornian will be out earlier, and very much more hurriedly, than usual. Ten days notice is a very short time in which to write the script, correct the proofs (especially now that we are so far from our regular printers) and do all the other odd jobs which former Editors will remember as taking up so much time. However, we hope that this number will not suffer too much from the circumstances under which it has been produced. Fortunately, we have been able to have one match, to compete for the " Belows " Cup, and to do a little
159
THE VIGORNIAN.
shooting, but otherwise the usual activities in the games line have been interfered with very much. The Cross Country run and the Sports both had to be cancelled, but beach hockey was substituted with great effect. We should like to end by once again expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the inhabitants of Criccieth for the way in which they have helped us so constantly, and for their kindness in trying to make our stay as pleasant as possible. There now remains nothing for us to do, but to wish all past and present Vigornians the very best of luck, and we send our good wishes especially to those O.V. who " through perils of war, are now serving their country in the King's Forces by land, sea, or in the air."
SCHOOL
OFFICERS
Captain of the School - W. J. Ward. Captain of Rugger - D. L. Shelton. Secretary of Rugger - S. M. C. Jones. Secretary of Cricket - D. L. Shelton. Captain of Shooting - W. J. Ward. - S. M. C. Jones. Secretary of Shooting Captain of Gym. - J. J. Taaffe. Captains of Houses :— School House - W. J. Ward. Castle House - D. C. Bendall. Hostel - S. M. C. Jones. School Monitors—W. J. Ward, D. C. Bendall, J. J. Taaffe, S. M. C. Jones, D. L. Shelton, J. C. McKerrow. Editors of The Vigornian—W. J. Ward, D. H. Jones, P. E. Hulme. Librarians :—D. H. Jones, P. E. Hulme, D. C. Bendall.
SCHOOL NOTES We regret that Capt. Burnett has had to leave us for the time being, having been called up for service with the Worcestershire Regiment, and we are lucky to have Capt. Strong at hand to resume command of the O.T.C. Capt. Burnett's place in school has been taken by Mr. C. P. Longland, O.V., to whom we extend a hearty welcome. * * * Unfortunately, illness has made it necessary for " Abraham Lincoln " to be postponed until next term. We hope to perform it about half-term. * * * Half-term was on March 5th and once again, we had a whole day's holiday. This time, several people climbed Snowdon, and a contribution on the subject appears later on. * * * Confirmation was held on February 21st in St. Deiniol's Church. The Archbishop of Wales, as Bishop of Bangor, officiated. The service was conducted
April, 1940
in both English and Welsh, all the important parts being repeated in both languages. Thirteen boys from the School were confirmed. * * * We had the pleasure of Lieut. Com. Pedder's company for a few days at the beginning of term, and we were glad to see him looking so well. He is now on the Naval Staff at Dartmouth. * * * Five boys gained School Certificates at the December examination. We were glad to see two O.V. who had come down for the exam.,—R. C. Allen and R. A. Goer. * * # We were glad to see J. D. Reynolds and A. D. Holland for a few days at various times, and we regret that the inaccessibility of Criccieth makes it difficult for O.V. to come down more often. * * * On February 2nd the whole school attended a performance of " Lot's Wife," by Peter Blackmore. The play was acted by the Barmouth A.D.S. and produced by Capt. Piggott, who also took the leading part; the performance was in aid of the Criccieth branch of the Red Cross. * * * This term, those of us who form the choir on Sundays, have been robed in cassocks and surplices, which has greatly improved its appearance. * * * On March 9th there was a lecture by Mr. Lambert, of which a full account appears elsewhere. * * * During the latter part of last term, and the whole of this, there have been informal meetings at Mr. Macdonald's house to listen to classical music on gramophone records. We hope to be able to continue to do this next term, and we should like to express our deep thanks to Mr. Macdonald for his kindness in supplying something which we have needed for some time. * * * Investigations have been made as to the possibility of having a School Choral Society next term, and we hope to be able to do something in the way of a concert towards the end of July. » * * The King's Scholarship will be held on the 28th and 29th of May, 1940. * * * On February 9th there was an extra half holiday in honour of the decoration of an O.V. Full details will be found in the O.V. News. * * * We have this term followed the example of several of the larger Public Schools in devoting some of our spare minutes to the knitting of " Comforts for the Troops." A number of us admitted to having already acquired the art, and a number of others quickly learnt it under the tuition of Mrs. Macdonald, and several scarves and pairs of mittens have already been completed. We express our thanks to Mrs. Macdonald for organising this, and even more to Mrs. Gresham, of Criccieth, who has very generously provided the wool.
AprU, 1940 MRS. HENRY
160
THE VIGORNIAN. WOOD ESSAY PRIZES,
1940
The following are the subjects for 1940 : (1) Owen Glendower. (2) In 1284, Edward I. paid three visits to Criccieth Castle, which was one of his line of fortresses for the subjugation of Wales.—Imagine yourself to have been one of the leading citizens of Criccieth, and write extracts from your diary for that year. Prizes will be awarded for the Vlth form, the Vth forms, and the IVth forms. Essays must be in by July 1st.
The Hon. Sec. of the O.V. Club is compiling a list of O.V. serving with H.M. forces. At present this list is too incomplete to be worth printing in the Vigornian, and he would be grateful if any O.V. would kindly send him particulars of themselves or others in order that as complete a list as possible may appear in next term's issue. Information should be sent to the Hon. Sec., S. D. Strong, Esq., c/o Caerwylan Hotel, Criccieth, N. Wales.
ENGAGEMENTS O.V.
NEWS
J. L. Adlington (Day Boys, 1927-32) has obtained the degrees of M.B. and Ch.B., and holds an appointment as House Physician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham. R. T. L. Allen (Castle House, 1931-39) has been exempted from the first year of the Mechanical Sciences Tripos at Cambridge, and we understand that he has been doing some rowing, but we are not sure exactly what. * * * Second Lieutenant A. D. Bolland, (School House, 1932-37) is now on an Artillery Course, " Somewhere in Wales." He will be there for another month, and after that, returns to England. * * * Rev. J. A. Crofts (Day Boys, 1923-27) who for the past two years has been Assistant Curate at All Saints' and St. Laurence Churches, Evesham, has volunteered for service as Chaplain in the Royal Air Force, and was called up in that capacity in December. * * * Rev. E. D. Dickson (1898-99) has been appointed Vice-President of the Paisley (Ontario) Branch of the •Canadian Legion. This branch has about 40 members who fought in the last war, and they are doing what they can to help those who have volunteered from Ontario for the. present war. * * * J. C. Phillips (Day Boys, 1935-37), of the Worcestershire Regt, was appointed Company Quarter-Master Sergeant a month before he was eighteen years of age. This is believed to be an age record for the British Army. * * * Pilot Officer M. W. Rumsey,- (Natland, 1928-30) has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, for gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Palestine between April and July, 1939. He had previously been mentioned in despatches for distinguished conduct. * * * J. Wilford, M.C., (1908-16) has been awarded the Long Service Medal in the British South Africa Police.
BUTLER—Ross. The marriage takes place on March 23rd at Holy Trinity Church, Old Bosham, Sussex, of D. O. Butler (1930-33) and Miss Billee Ross. CURTIS—NEWSON. The engagement is announced of Pilot Officer F. J. Curtis (Day Boys and Creighton's 1932-37) eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. C. F. Curtis, of Droitwich, and Miss Elizabeth Newson, elder daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Newson, of Guarlford Rectory, Malvern. * * * GILSON—HEALD. A marriage has been arranged between Officer Cadet E. R. L. Gilson (1929-34) of 51 Sydney Street, London, S.W.3. and Elizabeth, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Heald, of Turner's Court, Benson, Oxfordshire. LAVENDER (School House, 1930-37)—OLIVE.—The engagement is announced of J. F. Lavender and Muriel Marguerite, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Olive, of 4 Church Hill Road, Cowley, Oxford. STEVENS (Day Boys, 1930-35)—ELCOCK. The engagement is announced of 2nd Lieut. P. J. Stevens of the Shrubbery, Battenhall, Worcester, and Mary Dalton, only child of Captain and Mrs. Elcock, of Porthcawl.
BIRTH CONAN-DAVIES. On January 26th, 1940, at Kola Ndoto, Tanganyika, to Ermyntrude, wife of Geoffrey ConanDavies, of Worcester, and the Colonial Administrative Service, Tanganyika, a daughter.
MARRIAGE TOWNSEND—GLASS. The marriage of Pilot Officer P. M. Townsend, R.A.F., of Avenbury, Barbourne, Worcester, and Miss M. C. Glass, of Nether Stowey, took place at Nether Stowey on December 6th, 1939.
161
THE VIGORNIAN. HOUSE NOTES
SCHOOL HOUSE HOUSE MONITORS : W. J. Ward, J. C. McKerrow, P. E. Hulme, D. V. Evans, P. H. S. Shedden. Once more, this term has been interfered with to a large extent by illness, and once more, we are greatly indebted to Mrs. Pedder, Miss McGregor, and Miss Humphries for the way in which they have looked after our health. This is the most trying of all terms in this respect, and in addition to the usual bouts of colds and 'flu, we have been troubled by German measles. However, most of us are now recovered again. There has not been much Inter-House activity in the sphere of games, the only matches being the Belows. As the necessary qualifications for being in the team were by age this year, we did not do as well as we might otherwise have done. The Hostel team was our superior in both weight and speed, and what was more important, in experience, and our team, captained by T. K. Dinsdale, did well not to lose by a greater margin than it did. Against Castle House however, the game was more even, and we lost by only one point. We have to congratulate Hulme on being awarded his 1st XV colours, and Shedden, N. McKerrow, Clarke, Oades, and Travis on winning their 2nds. On the military side, we congratulate Ward on his appointment as Captain of Shooting, and Hulme on his promotion to the rank of Sergeant. We had three members of the VIII which shot in the " Country Life" Competition, Shedden, Richardson, and A. J. Wilson, so we should stand some chance for the House Shooting Cup, when it is shot for. There are nine members of the house taking Cert. A this term, and we wish them the best of luck. We were sorry to find that Walters and Moody had left during the holidays, and we extend our good wishes for success in their future life. We have not yet had any new boys to replace them, but we hope for some next term. The House plays were performed at the end of last term in the Parish Hall, and the show was very successful, All the members of the cast are to be congratulated on their performance, and Ward on his production. There is now nothing for us to do, except to wish all members of the house a very enjoyable holiday, and to look forward to a good summer term ; we also hope that those who have taken up knitting for the troops will produce a large amount of suitable comforts during the holidays.
CASTLE
HOUSE
HOUSE MONITORS : D. C. Bendall, D. L. Shelton, J. H. Coles, S. D. Ellison, D. J. Harris. We returned this term to the sights which are now so familiar to us. Our ardour was somewhat damped by the blizzards which greeted our arrival. We soon settled down to get into training in order to defend the numerous trophies which decorate our
April, 1940
mantelpiece. Unfortunately we had no chance to prove our worth, which we were especially eager to do in the Boxing Competition. However, the Belows team beat School House after a keen game, but we lost to Hostel by a considerable margin. We congratulate Ellison, Coles, and Havard on being awarded their 1st XV colours and caps ; Harris, Bowles, Good, Morris, and Benson on being awarded their 1st XV colours ; and Flay and King on winning their 2nd XV colours. We wish to thank Mrs. Bentley for the capable and untiring way in which she has dealt with our various ailments. Lastly we would like to wish better health to all those who have succumbed to illness this term and continued immunity to those who have not yet paid a visit to the sick-room.
HOSTEL HOUSE MONITORS : S. M. C. Jones, J. J. Taaffe, D. H. Jones. This term we arrived back to find that our house captain, Shovelton, had unfortunately left us. We congratulate S. M. C. Jones on his appointment in his place. We wish Shovelton and Layton who has also unfortunately left, the best of luck. We welcome Mr. Longland, who during Mr. Pedder's absence is acting as our House Master. The keen interest that he has taken in the house is much appreciated. We were very glad to see Mr. Pedder for a few, all too brief, days during the term. At Rugger, we have had a good term. We won the Belows Cup, this year, the teams being under 15J, by beating Castle House 43—0, and School House 39—0. These scores are, we think, something of a record, and we congratulate the whole team on its excellent show under the captaincy of Lister. We also congratulate Taaffe on being awarded his 1st XV colours, and Lister his 2nd XV colours. We congratulate M. C. Jones on being made a L/Cpl. and Secretary of Shooting. Workman and Bridgman also shot in the VIII. We wish M. C. Jones, D. H. Jones, Bridgman, Workman, and D. M. Curtis the best of luck in Cert. A. This term, we welcomed three new boys, Hammersley, Icke, and Rowlands. They have already showed their worth to the house by their show in the Belows matches. As often happens, we had to include people in the team who had only just started playing Rugger, and as usual, they acquitted themselves very well. The House plays at the end of last term were a great success, and we feel that they maintained the standard we set ourselves last year. Our thanks are due to Mr. Pedder for getting us costumes in London and to Mrs. Pedder, Mrs. Ward, and Mr. Macdonald for the assistance they have given in clothes and production. Once again in the Easter term, we have had more than our fair share of illness. German measles has been very rife, and we are sure that all who have been in the
April, 1940
THE VIGORNIAN.
sickroom would want us to express our thanks to Matron, Mrs. Pedder, and Miss Humphries for their kind attention during this difficult time. Finally, we wish everyone the best of luck during the holidays, and hope that mumps will not come their way.
RUGGER
NOTES
At the commencement of this term, we had high hopes that we should be able to play the matches arranged for last term. Unfortunately, we had our hopes dashed to the ground because of illness, this time an outbreak of German measles. Our thanks are due to Mr. Williams, for so kindly offering us a game with the R.A.F. training school stationed at Pwllheli. Apart from this match, there was nothing worthy of notice as far as the 1st and 2nd XV's are concerned. This year, the Belows were played according to age, under 15£, instead of as usually, by colours. Hostel won the Belows Cup ; the following are the points in the competition :— 1. Hostel 4 pts. 2. Castle 2 pts. 3. School ... ... 0 pts. Colours were awarded to the following : 1st XV Cap and Colours :—S. D. Ellison ; J. H. Coles ; C. Havard. 1st XV Colours :—J. G. Morris ; J. J. Taaffe ; M. H. Good; P. E. Hulme ; F. M. P. Benson; T. Bowles, and D. J. Harris. 2nd XV Colours :—P. H. Shedden ; N. McKerrow ; K. S. Flay ; P. V. Lister ; O. W. King; A. W. Travis'; P. R. Oades, and B. S. Clarke. SCHOOL v.
R.A.F. PENRHOS LOST School : (1 try) 3 pts. Penrhos : (S tries, 1 goal) 20 pts. Played at Penrhos ; it was a hard and fast game, the ground being in just the right condition. The R.A.F. kicked off, with the wind behind them blowing diagonally across the field, and after about the first five minutes, they scored over the corner flag. After this first shock, the school settled down to play a very good game, in spite of the marked superiority of the R.A.F. team. Although badly out-weighted in the scrum, the school held the opposing pack, and got the ball back at least as much as Penrhos. Our stand-off, Mr. Williams, is to be congratulated on the very fine game that he played. Some of his kicks for touch were exceptionally good, and saved us more than once. Our only try was scored by J. C. McKerrow, who intercepted a pass and was over the line before the R.A.F. threequarters could get back. We should also like to thank the other members of the team supplied by Mr. Williams for their help in the game, and we hope to see more of them in the future. D. L. S.
162 O.T.C. NOTES
In spite of very indifferent weather and also the other usual handicaps of the Easter term, training has been carried out most consistently. Candidates for Certificate A have been very active, and it is hoped that a large number of them will be successful in gaining their Certificate, which in these days, counts for so much when they commence their period of military service. It is unfortunate that owing to an earlier break-up than was anticipated, the Field Day could not take place ; however, it is hoped that it will be merely postponed, and that it will be possible to hold two Field Days next term. Our numbers in the O.T.C. are as strong as last term, since the number of Recruits more than balanced those who left at Christmas. Promotions :
Sgt. Shelton Cpl. Hulme Cdt. Jones, S.M.C.
to be C.S.M. ,, Sergeant. „ L/Corporal.
Appointments : U/O Ward to be Captain of Shooting. L/Cpl. Jones, S. M. C. „ Sec. of Shooting, Sgt. Bendall to command No. 2 pi. Sgt. Hulme to command No. 3 pi.
BAND NOTES The Band has maintained its usual high standard this term, and although there has been only one opportunity for it to display its ability, it made good use of the chance, and gave a very good display. On February 3rd it led the contingent on the route march to Pentrefelin, on which about twelve phases were played. There have not been any new recruits this term, as there are no vacancies at the moment. At the end of last term, a band test was held for a certain number of drummers, and the following badges were awarded : 1st Class Drum :— Cpl. Good. 2nd Class Drum :— Cdt. Taylor. Cdt. Dinsdale, T. We have to apologize for the following errors which occurred in the report of the band test of July, 1939 : 1st Class Drum :— Cdt. Goer (Omitted). 2nd Class Drum :— Sgt. Folley (1st Class). 1st Class Bugle :— Cdt. Bridgman (2nd Class). D. L. S.
163
THE VIGORNIAN. SHOOTING NOTES
We were lucky this term to be able to find a suitable place on the foreshore where we could build a range. C.S.M.I. Cooper selected the position, and we must again thank him for his help in all our shooting activities. We shot the " Country Life " Class B Competition on March 7th. Previous to this, several members of the VIII had been in bed, and so we did not get as much practice in as we should have liked. However, we did well to obtain the following estimated scores :— H.P.S. L/Cpl. M. C. Jones Sgt. Bendall ... Cdt. Bridgman ... Cdt. Bowles ... Cdt. Shedden ... Cdt. Wilson, A. J. Cdt. Workman ... Cdt. Richardson ...
10 Group 5 10 10 10 10 5 5 5
SO Rapid 47 47 40 46 40 47 39 35
25 Snap 25 25 25 25 10 10 25 15
85 Total 77 82 75 81 60 62 69 55
On the Landscape target, the VIII scored a total of 64. Grand Total : 625. We had hoped to classify all members of the Corps on the miniature range this term, but as the term has ended rather abruptly, we shall not have time to do this. We hope, however, that we shall be able to shoot on an open range next term, with .303 ammunition. S. M. J. C.
THE CASTLES OF CRICCIETH AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD The North Wales coast is one of the most important areas for those interested in castles. At, or within fairly easy reach of, Criccieth are the five remaining great castles begun in the years following 1282 byEdward I to garrison his new, but very precarious conquest from the princes Llewelyn and David, of Gwynedd, or North Wales. Edward's scheme was to provide Royal Boroughs as centres of English influence in North Wales. They had considerable privileges granted them, and attached were the castles which could be maintained by the boroughs, and which in turn, were protected by the castles. The Constable of the Castle was usually Mayor of the little borough attached. Incidentally, the division of Criccieth into two parts is an interesting survival of two almost rival settlements, one clustering beneath the castle, and the other looking to the church. The boroughs with castles were : Caernarvon, Conway, Harlech, Bere (now disappeared) and Beaumaris. The last was begun in 1295, when Caernarvon had proved too weak to guard the straits alone ; Criccieth was also one of these boroughs. The sites chosen were in some cases those used under the Welsh princes, and in the case of Criccieth the Welsh castle was merely taken over and strengthened.
April, 1940
But Criccieth was only a small link in the chain, e.g. the garrison at Caernarvon would need over 100 men, while that at Criccieth was to be only 30. All the sites chosen were on the sea—for fairly obvious reasons : they could be provisioned by ship and could control the coast roads. The hill country was the domain of the Welsh. At Harlech the sea has receded, leaving the castle inland, but the water-gate can still be seen. At Beaumaris, a small dock was made by the main gate, and was specially protected. Saxon and early Norman castles consisted solely of an earth mound, probably surrounded by a ditch and capped by a stockade and wooden buildings. The next type was a simple rectangular keep, with or without a mound. Later, a curtain wall might be built around the site, the keep generally remaining in one wall. This had several advantages ; the keep became the reserve line of defence and there was much more room available for buildings—often a Hall, kitchen and stables of the lean-to type could be erected in the court-yard. Criccieth castle was originally much of this type, though the Gate-House was perhaps as important as the keep —the best rooms being there. Later, though probably before Edward's arrival, an outer ring wall was added. The full area of the site was utilised, more towers were built and the design was such that there were two outer wards, either of which could be isolated if captured. The advance of the military art after the Crusades led to the evolution of new types of castle. The keep was abandoned and defence was concentrated in a series of strong towers connected by a thick curtain wall. The towers were round or several sided, as that was found to be much stronger. In one type of castle, of which Caernarvon and Conway are great examples, these ideas were adopted with a " figure of eight" plan, by which if one part of the castle were captured, the defenders could withdraw to the other half. Harlech and Beaumaris were, however, built on a different plan, that of a series of concentric walls one inside the other, the chief strength being concentrated in the gate-house. The towers in the curtain walls were accordingly less substantial than in the previous type. Castles and other ancient monuments are part of the raw material of history and we are lucky to have such interesting examples nearby. A visit to a castle may be worth several History periods. We made a small beginning last term in visiting these castles. Let us hope that in the summer term we shall be able to get farther afield. V. J. W.
HOUSE
PLAYS
As it was impossible to have a School Concert last term, the usual house plays were combined into one show, which was presented in the Parish Hall on Dec. 13th. Each house did two plays, and the show, which lasted about two and a half hours, was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience.
CASTLE HOUSE MATE FOR Two. (A Comedy). Joss Sarah ... Seth ... Mrs. Thrapp
J. H. COLES S. M. MOORE J. G. MORRIS R. C. COOK
This play made an admirable opening to the show, and kept the audience amused throughout. All the actors were good, and it would not be possible to single any one out as better than the rest. THE DENTIST'S CHAIR. (A Thriller). The Dentist The Murderer The Dentist's Assistant The Murdered Man The Woman The Maid The Policeman
D. L. SHELTON ... T. BOWLES D. J. HARRIS D. C. BENDALL R. C. COOK ... N. MONEY F. M. P. BENSON
This was the only thriller on the programme, and was really thrilling. The acting of Bowles and Bendall, and of Shelton, who produced the Castle House plays, was exceptionally good. Shelton had taken a lot of trouble to get the correct scenery for a dentist's room, and Bendall's make-up was extremely effective.
HOSTEL " Q." (A Psychic Pstory of the Psupernatural). Jack Annerly George Gnoof Dora Dnieper Blight, a Butler
164
THE VIGORNIAN.
April, 1940
P. L. SHOVELTON D. H. JONES A. M. WILSON S. M. C. JONES
This farce, by Stephen Leacock, was well acted, and P. L. Shovelton and D. H. Jones did well in the leading parts. As a clever, and successful, attempt at relieving a rich man of some of his unwanted money, it went down well, and was up to the usual high standard of the author. THIRTY MINUTES IN A STREET. (A Farce). A Stray Man... D. H. JONES A Man with a bag ... W. R. CURTIS A Rich Lady ... J. CASTLE A Curate D. SHOVELTON An Actor P. V. LISTER A French Man M. F. BADHAM A Child ... A. SCRIVEN 1st Char M. O. F. BRIDGMAN 2nd Char T. R. LAYTON A Girl D. HARRISON A Professor ... S. M. C. JONES A Student P. L. SHOVELTON 1st Shop Girl G. PONTECORVO 2nd Shop Girl J. PAGE An Old Lady A. M. WILSON An Elderly Gentleman R. HARRISON A Musician ... J. A. BADHAM A Young Man J. M. ANSELL A Husband E. S. KEMP
This play contained some very amusing incidents, but the continuity was a little lacking. It had the advantage of a very large cast, which enabled most of the house to do something. The acting of Bridgman and Layton as the two " chars," and a scene between R. Harrison and A. M. Wilson brought the house down in laughter, and the rest of the cast backed them up admirably. D. H. Jones produced the Hostel plays.
SCHOOL
HOUSE
THE REHEARSAL by Maurice Baring Mr. Shakespeare ... ... ~ ' Producer Stage Manager Mr. Burbage—" Macbeth " Mr. Hughes—"Lady Macbeth ' Mr. Foote—"Macduff" Mr. Kydd—"Banquo" Mr. Thomas—" The Doctor " Mr. Lyle—" 1st Witch " Stage Hand ... ...
...
T. K. DINSDALE P. E. HULEM
D. L. THAWLEY W. J. WARD R. G. E, WHARMBY N. RICHARDSON N. McKERROW
P. H. S-SHEDDEN ... R. S. L. WALTERS J. C. McKERROW
In this skit on Macbeth, the scene was the Globe Theatre as it might appear in 1939. The fact that Macbeth was the last serious play done by the School made it all the more interesting for those who saw both. Ward, who produced the School House plays, was Macbeth in both, and sometimes had difficulty in misquoting ! J. C. McKerrow was very good as the stage hand, and the whole cast backed one another up very well. THE REFUND The Headmaster P. R. OADES Mr. Gentley (The Maths. Master) ... W. J. WARD Mr. Twigley (The History Master)... P. E. HULME Mr. Strang (The Geography Master) T. K. DINSDALE Mr. Lomas (ThePhysics Master) ... S. R. L. WALTERS A Servant T. SCHULHOF Wasserkopf, a former pupil ... ... P. H. S-SHEDDEN (N.B. Wasserkopf—hydrocephalus, i.e. water on the brain). This was a brilliant skit on school life, and on one school in particular. The story was of an ex-pupil, who returned to the school, and demanded his tuition fees back, because he said that he had not learned anything. The action of the play is the re-examination, at which the staff have to make certain that he does not fail. When he says that " Two apples and four apricots make 27 pears," the staff see what a fight they will have to make, but Mr. Gentley, the Maths. Master makes certain there is no mistake. The whole of the staff were very true-to-life, and with Wasserkopf, are to be congratulated on putting the finishing touches to a very successful evening.
THE VIGORNIAN.
165 LIBRARY
NOTES
During the absence of Capt. Burnett, Mr. Ward has kindly consented to take on the duties of Treasurer of the Library Committee. We should like to thank Capt. Burnett for all his valuable work as Treasurer and hope that before long, he will be back with us. It has been decided not to have many Committee meetings for the present, the work being done by Mr. Ward and the Librarians. The following books have been added this term :— Vlth Form Library : THE REVOLUTIONARY EMPERORS— Joseph II, 1741-90 S. K. Padover HISTORY OF RUSSIA S. F. Platanov TRAVELS IN FRANCE AND ITALY, 1787-9 Arthur Young HISTORY OF EUROPE, 1715-1814 Reddaway SHAKESPEARIAN COMEDY ... ... H.B. Charlton THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE (2 vols) Seccombe & Allen CHAUCER AND HIS TIME ... ... Grace Hadow A HISTORY OF THE GREEK WORLD, 479-323 B.C. M. L. W. Laistner LIFE IN ANCIENT ATHENS ... ... Tucke Fiction Library : CITY OF GOLD " SAINT " OMNIBUS
F. Brett Young L. Charteris
We hope to be able to get some more books for the Fiction Library from Worcester, but naturally, we cannot promise anything definite.
D. H. J.
LECTURE On March 9th we were privileged to hear a lecture delivered by Mr. Lambert, on Earthquakes and Volcanos. He first described the cause of Earthquakes as being due to hollows forming below the surface of the earth, which result in subsidences ; volcanos are caused by excess of moisture in the molten centre of the earth, which turns to steam and seeks an outlet. After briefly outlining the way in which the earth's crust is caused to fold, he showed us how the centre of shock of an earth tremor was first discovered. Then the lecturer went on to show us slides of the great Messina earthquake of 1908, and of various other earthquake scenes. The next part of the lecture dealt with volcanic eruptions, and we saw slides of the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906. The lava which cools rapidly first turns to a toffee-like mass before it hardens out. When the lava cools slowly, the result is shown in the basalt pillars of Staffa and lona. Fingal's Cave and the Giant's Causeway are well known examples of this columnar formation. Next we were taken to New Zealand, where we saw the famous Hot Springs. This part of the lecture was illustrated by a very fine selection of coloured slides. The main points of interest were the White and Pink Terraces. These consisted of a wonderful series of pools on the sides of two hills, the lower of which were filled with cold water, and the upper with water which
April, 1940
grew hotter the higher up the hill they were. The sources of these natural " bathtubs " were geysers, and at one season of the year, the main cauldron at the top would run dry, and then the geyser could be seen spouting up in the air at intervals of about a minute. Gradually, the cauldron would fill, and the effect of the geyser would decrease till the normal state of affairs had been reached. Unfortunately, this marvel of Nature was destroyed by an eruption in 1886, and now all that remains is a mass of smoking craters. At the end of the lecture, Mr. Creighton echoed the sentiments of all when he said that the generous offer of Mr. Lambert to give this lecture was one more expression of the kindness shown to us in Criccieth. He also expressed our thanks to Mr. Harwood, of Criccieth, who so kindly worked the lantern.
A
CLIMB
UP SNOWDON
The two of us left Criccieth soon after nine o'clock, and after cycling about a hundred yards, one of our bikes broke down, and we thought that for us the climbing of Snowdon was to be only a dream. But good luck was on our side, and we were able to borrow another bike and to start off again about half an hour later. The weather was rather cold and slightly windy, but there were few clouds in the sky. We soon passed Tremadoc and as we were behind time, did not stop till we reached Beddgelert. Even there, it was a threemile hill that forced us to dismount. We turned off the main road at Pitt's Head, and leaving our bikes at a farm, started to climb. We could not see the top of the mountain, and we again wondered if we should ever get there. There was no real path at the beginning, but the way was marked by piles of stones. It was not very steep at first. Big tufts of grass and patches of moss covered the stony soil and here and there we saw a few bushes. The higher we climbed, the more windy it became, and half way up it was so cold that we were glad that we had taken up our coats and scarves. Towards the end the ascent became very steep, but as there was a path, it was not too difficult, and thus we arrived at the top after two hours' climbing. On the summit there is a hotel, but it is not open except for a few months in the summer. Near the hotel is the platform of the Snowdon Railway. For my part I did not like the summit at all, and I think it is a great pity that such a beautiful spot should have been so modernised. It was cold up there, and all the snow which still remained in crevices was frozen. We had our lunch together with two others from the school who had climbed from the other side, and afterwards had to do some exercise to keep warm. The view was marvellous ; we were lucky to encounter so few clouds that we could see all the mountains, near and far, many lakes, and the sea north and south of the Welsh peninsula. Caernarvon looked a very small town, and Criccieth was out of sight behind some hills. On our return, we made straight for the farm where we had left our bikes, and went directly down a slope. It was very good fun to slide over stones and grass, and it was very much shorter than the way up, so that
THE VIGORNIAN.
April, 1940
we arrived at the farm at a quarter to four. On the way back, we stopped at Beddgelert, where we visited the grave of Gelert, Prince Llewelyn's dog, and we passed down the Aber Glaslyn Pass, and watched the water rushing over the stones and rocks. Coming home, the ride gave us a good appetite and made us enjoy our tea so much the more. T. S.
PLAYREADING
SOCIETY
Unlike so many of the school societies, our activities this term have not suffered from either the bad weather or illness. We have been able to read four plays this term. The first was " Escape " by Galsworthy. The story referred to the escape, from Dartmoor prison, of a young man about town, who had been convicted of manslaughter. The play was particularly apt, as at the time two escaped convicts from that prison -were still at large. Our next play, " Tobias and the Angel," by James Bridie, was more serious, though by modernising the Apocryphal story and adding allusions to such famous characters as Pickwick, the author contrived to make the play amusing. From the Bible to murder is a large jump, but nevertheless this did not deter us from reading Dorothy Sayers' detective comedy " Busman's Honeymoon." This " whimsical " farce proved a good antidote to an otherwise dull half-term. Finally, on the second Sunday before the end of term, we read " The Admirable Crichton," by Sir James Barrie. The idea of the perfect family butler becoming lord of the family on a desert island sounds fantastic, but the author had worked up to it so cleverly that it came as no surprise. We have had our meetings indoors, but it is hoped that during the summer term, we may be able to have our meetings ' al fresco,' if the visitors we hear so much about leave us room on the beach.
166 FISHING
With the opening of the season this term, those of us with angling interests were stirred to action with very hopeful prospects. Although it is still very early for the Llanystumdwy river to provide much sport, the waters at Black Rock are suitably early, and contain very high grade trout. Even though the weather conditions have been very poor for the fly, one or two successes were obtained. It is hoped that next term will offer excellent chances for some sport in the neighbouring lakes, but in any case, the Dwyfawr should be very satisfactory, judging by its reputation. We should like to take this opportunity to thank General Ward very much indeed for his great kindness in allowing some of us to fish his valuable waters. J. R. G. W.
GOLF
CLUB
The Golf Club continued to operate successfully this term. A number of new members have joined to swell the ranks, and we hope to get many more in the summer. A tournament was arranged to take place at the end of the term, but the early departure of the School has made it necessary to cancel it. The links were unfit for play for some time at the beginning of term owing to heavy falls of snow, but just lately, the weather and ground have been perfect. There has been a certain amount of discussion as to whether golf should be considered as one of the official summer sports. We hope that this plan will be adopted, as then keen golfers will be able to take up the game really seriously, and there will be more time for tournaments. J. H. C.
D. V. E.
CAMERA
VALETE Classical VI. Beckett, R. W. (1937-39). Creighton's and Castle Houses. School Cert. 1939.
CLUB
We regret that so far at Criccieth, our activities have been very limited, and that it has not been possible to do anything as a club. However, there has been a certain amount of individual work, and it must not be assumed that the club is in any way dead. Next term, we hope to have at least one outing, and there will be competitions on the same lines as last year. Therefore, all members and any others interested should remember to bring their cameras back with them, and also any good photographs which they have taken since the last competition, i.e. since the end of July, 1939. P. E. H.
Modern VI. Shovelton, P. L. W. (1935-39). Hostel. King's Scholar. School Monitor. Captain of Hostel. 1st XV Rugger, 1939. C.S.M., O.T.C. Cert. "A," Dec. 1938. Shooting VIII, 1938-39. Higher Cert. Group IV., 1939. Kemp, E. S. (1937-39). Hostel. King's Scholar. House Monitor. 2nd XV Rugger, 1938. 1st XV Rugger, 1939. 2nd XI Cricket, 1938. 1st XI Cricket, 1939. Cdt. O.T.C. 1st Class Bugler. School Cert. 1938. Walters, R. S. L. (1935-39). School House. 2nd IV cox, 1937. 1st IV cox, 1939. Cdt. O.T.C. School Cert., 1939.
THE VIGORNIAN.
167 Upper V. Layton, T. R. (1938-39). Hostel. Cdt. O.T.C. School Cert., 1939.
King's Scholar.
Lower Vb. Prijtchard, E. L. (1936-39). Castle House. 2nd XV Rugger, 1939. Cdt. O.T.C. 1st Class Drummer. Upper IV. Wilson, A. M. M. (1938-39). Creighton's and Hostel. Cdt. O.T.C. Moody, P. J. E. (1937-39). Creighton's and School Houses. Cdt. O.T.C.
SALVETE Upper IV. Icke, S. T.
Hostel.
Middle IV. Hammersley, D. P.
Hostel.
Lower IV. Muldoon, N. A. Muldoon, F. X.
Day Boys. Day Boys.
Errata. The Editors of the Vigornian wish to apologize for the following errors which occurred in the " Valete," in the last issue, and append herewith a list of corrections : Bendall, A. J. Higher Cert. Group II. 1938-39. (Not 1939). Lewis, L. W. School Cert. 1939. (Omitted). Allchurch, G. M. 1st Class Drummer. (Omitted). Pettigrew, H. W. 2nd XI Cricket, 1938-39. (Not 1939).
OXFORD LETTER To the Editors of " The Vigornian." OXFORD, MARCH, 1940. Dear Sirs, Before proceeding to the libellous account of ourselves which tradition so cruelly demands, we feel that we must add our voice to that of all Vigornians in wishing Mr. Creighton all possible happiness in this, his second term of office. To that, may we add our fervent desire that the day may not be far off when he will bring the School safely home from its wanderings. Of ourselves, we may say that we feel Mr. Churchill has not been alone in his losses on the water. Quite apart from the defeat of our capital boat at Henley, it has leaked out, in spite of the endeavours of the Ministry of Information to keep it secret, that at least one College Boat went down and all hands lost, during the floods in the early part of the term.
April, 1940
In company with most other parts of the Country, we came very near to being snowed up at the beginning of the term. Snow, combined with the black-out made getting home at night a dangerous business. Some people have been impeded by other factors, though they themselves stoutly deny it. We have been pleased to see in Oxford on temporary visits, Capt. Burnett and Mrs. Burnett, J. H. Policy and 2nd Lieuts. B. S. Eckersley and J. F. Lavender. R. C. HICKS (Keble). Has been seen on exactly two occasions this term. On each of these he was accompanied and we have therefore been unable to find out anything about him. D. B. STEWARD (Hertford). (Secretary). Has so far succeeded in keeping sickness at bay by means of consuming large quantities of Guinness and cough mixture ; and this in spite of his persisting in rowing under the most frightful conditions. His life seems to consist of bursts of energy applied alternatively to the law and the oar. Stroked the Hertford Eight in Torpids. H. W. HINDS (St. Edmund Hall). We regret to report his retirement to the North Oxford Nursing Home with German measles, late in the term. He informs us that what he did there is nobody's business. C. M. LAVENDER (St. Edmund Hall). Spent the first half of the term in skating, for which purpose he succeeded in using several parts of his anatomy. Suddenly developed a great liking for the dentist, not altogether, we fear, for the improvement of his teeth. Was awarded Hall colours for rugger last term. J. D. REYNOLDS (Hertford). Has been skating in various places. Has a part in the college play which will be produced next term. Has been playing soccer on rare occasions when the games were not cancelled. Otherwise still struggling with Aristophanes, Tacitus, etc. K. WEDGWOOD (Hertford). Having successfully navigated the Pass Mods. Straits is now well on the storm-tossed oceans of Theology. Might have been in Hertford College torpids boat, but for an attack of the 'flu. Has a new pair of spectacles which makes him look like Henry Hall. Also has a part in the college play. We have heard from A. C. White who was expecting to join the R.A.F. in the near future. It only remains for us to wish you all a pleasant holiday. Yours, etc. OXON.
WORCESTER
LETTER
To the Editors of " The Vigornian." WORCESTER ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, 14/3/40. Dear Sirs, We are now in the middle of the Easter Examinations and another term has come and gone with almost breath-taking rapidity. So far as concerns us here, the term has been most memorable for its lack of events. At the beginning of the term the Great Frost had laid
April, 1940
THE VIGORNIAN.
its icy fingers on Worcester, effectively putting a stop to all outside activities. All the Rugger matches were cancelled, including an eagerly awaited fixture against Merton College, Oxford. After the frost we were smitten with an epidemic of Influenza and on some days only about a quarter of the school was present. However as the term progressed, we gradually came out of our enforced hibernation and took part in the cross-country race, and out of a field of about sixty, P. P. Wright and W. J. Checketts came twelfth and fourteenth respectively. On Tuesday March 12th, the Certificate " A " Examination was held, and we are very happy to record that the three candidates who received their preliminary instruction under the shadow of the Cathedral on College Green, namely W. J. Checketts, A. G. Green, and W. H. B. Kay, were successful. The occasion was also an auspicious one for the instructors from the Royal Grammar School, as the result was a hundred per cent. " passed." This letter must now close with many events still uncontested, namely the Sports, which take place on March 28th, and this year will contain novel items such as throwing the discus and the javelin, the Boxing competition, the Fives competition, and various other activities of School life. With best wishes to you all in Criccieth,
168
1899." . . . The building is planned to accommodate 120 boys, each boy being credited with a superficial floor space, the ceiling being 16 feet high. The Laboratory is completely furnished with the most modern benches, fume closets, and other appliances for the efficient teaching of this very necessary science.
S. M. C. J.
AN APPRECIATION OF "PREP." (With apologies to Milton) Hence Loathed Preparation In weariness till blackest midnight borne, With history dates forlorn 'Mongst sleepless Worry and Procrastination. Find out some uncouth cell, Where worn-out Labour spreads his deathly wings, And the hyaena springs ; There, in thy desperate den of hardest rocks, Interned 'hind harder locks With last vain effort, struggle 'gainst death and hell. ONE WHO LABOURS. (Eds. Note : We have never seen a hyaena springing in prep, and we hope that the author never has I).
W. H. B. K.
CORRESPONDENCE CONTRIBUTIONS
OPENING OF THE NEW CLASSROOMS (No. 7). 1899. While looking through an old Vigornian, I came across the following extracts, which I thought might be of interest. SCHOOL NEWS It is our pleasant duty to the long wished-for Classrooms as an accomplished fact. It was hoped that they would be completed for the commencement of this term, but strikes and other vagaries common to the British Workman precluded the possibility. We understand that the Physics and Science Laboratory will not be ready for some time, but when completed, will be a paragon of their kind in regard to the latest up-to-date appliances. SPEECH DAY. NEW BUILDINGS OPENED. The company then adjourned to the new buildings where the Bishop performed the brief service of dedication. Mr. Parker, the architect, then presented his Lordship with a silver key in a case, and the Bishop then unlocked the door and declared the buildings open. The key, which was of ornamental workmanship, bore on the obverse side the arms of the school, and on the reverse: " New Class-rooms opened Oct. 26th,
To the Editors of " The Vigornian." Dear Sirs, During the last two terms, we have had only two minor debates, and I think that it is a pity that we could not have had more. There are many wet days when no outdoor exercise can be arranged. Is it not possible to have debates on those days, and to form a proper debating society ? Surely in this time of war there are many interesting subjects to discuss. At any rate, one would be inclined to think so, judging from the conversations at the dinner-table. Yours, etc. T. S. (The Eds. Vig. agree with the sentiments expressed in this letter, but feel that it is up to the interested people to start the Society. Since the summer is approaching, it would not be advisable to start until next September, and we are sure that there would be sufficient response).
To the Editors of " The Vigornian." Dear Sirs, About a year ago, a member of this school wrote a letter to the Vigornian to ask if it would be possible for the School to have special crested notepaper. As usually happens, no notice was taken of this inquiry. We do feel sure, however, that if the price were not prohibitive (and surely it need not be, if the
169
THE VIGORNIAN.
paper was bought in sufficient quantity) and that if it was of good quality, people would be only too pleased to buy distinctive School notepaper. Finally, we hardly feel it necessary to point out that in doing this, we should be following the example of many other schools. Yours, etc. D. V. E., N. R., B. S. C., D. L. T., J. D. H., R. G. E. W., T. S. (The Eds. Vig. would like to remind the authors of this letter that the Government has asked the Nation to save paper, and that " distinctive School notepaper" can hardly be described as an essential. Also, there is " special crested notepaper," which is used by Captains of Games for official purposes, and this notepaper costs about \^d. for each sheet and envelope. If the people concerned feel they can afford to pay this much, we can only suggest that their money would be better employed in helping the Nation).
April, 1940
To the Editors of " The Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Can nothing be done to revive the once flourishing Table Tennis Club ? We are sure that if a meeting were held, sufficient members would be willing to subscribe towards new equipment, and we are sure that some suitable place could easily be found for the tables to be put, even if it is only one of the Caerwylan garages. Yours, etc.
D. J. R. H., D. M. C., J. H. C., S. M. C. J., F. M. P. B. (The Eds. Vig. agree that something should be done in this line, and hope to be able to produce a definite answer next term).
The Eds. Vig. append the answers to last term's correspondence :— To the Editors of " The Vigomian." Dear Sirs, About three weeks from the end of each term, when the time has come for the Vigornian to be compiled once more, it seems to be the custom for the Editors of the Vigornian to appeal to members of the School to send in letters to the School Magazine. These appeals are seldom answered. The thing which deters most people from writing letters for the magazine, is the fact that the people in responsible positions very rarely take even the slightest notice of them. A letter protesting against this sad state of affairs was printed a year or two ago ; it, like most others, has gone by unnoticed. We would wish, like others who have gone before us, to protest once more against this deplorable lack of interest by those in authority, and to hope that it will soon be remedied. Yours, etc. THREE DISSATISFIED PEOPLE. (The Eds. Vig. wish to draw the attention of Three Dissatisfied People to various facts : (1) This complaint has been going since 1909. (2) The Eds. Vig. would be more grateful for contributions than for letters. (3) The letter to which they refer was written to the Ed, Vig. now writing this. (4) All this term's correspondence has been answered, and the answers to last term's will be found farther down this column. These latter answers were written before the letter above had been handed in (5) The present Eds. Vig. see no reason why they should be held responsible for the alleged negligence of past Editors).
I. It has been found that it will not be possible for any Rowing to take place here in the Summer Term, as the sea-water would damage the equipment of the Boat Club. However, it is hoped that there will be rowing again in the summer of 1941, on the River Severn. II. Investigations have been conducted as to the possibility of a Sailing Club, and there is a certain amount of chance that it will be possible for sailing to take place next term, the main difficulty being an adequate supply of boats. III. A formal Music Society is impracticable, at any rate while we are at Criccieth, but informal meetings have been held, as reported in the School Notes. VI. The Angling Club has not been formed, but those interested can find plenty of opportunity to indulge in this sport, and have availed themselves of it as far as possible this term. We hope that they will have good fishing in the summer.
CONTEMPORARIES We acknowledge with thanks the following contemporaries, with apologies for any accidental errors or omissions : Felstedian, Bloxhamist, Monktonian, Wulfrunian, Monmothian, Tonbridgian.