Oct 1952

After reading "The Times" correspondence during the latter part of the holidays it was a relief to return to St. Peter's. Schoolboy speech is forthright, brief, and expressive, and certainly calls a spade a spade. After all, there is something to be said for the old-fashioned idea that language is meant to convey our thoughts and not to disguise them.

All this has nothing to do with comment on the Summer Term, which is our business. Except that we are reminded of the extraordinary run-amassing technique and boundary-productivity displayed

by Beachell and Fletcher during the cricket season. Their collective score aggregation was certainly supra-normal (if you see what I mean).

In other words these two, as opening batsmen, had the distinction of scoring no less than 1,192 runs out of the total of 2,195 recorded by the whole side in all matches. On six occasions they scored over 50 runs before they were separated and two of these opening partnerships produced over a hundred. Of the two, Beachell was the more successful, and his total for the season of 677 runs (including two not-out centuries), for an average of 56.41, is the best recorded since the famous 1933 season of Norman Yardley. Yardley's total was 973 and his average 88.45. Even if we allow for the fact that more matches were played in 1933 than in 1952, this performance, particularly the average per innings, remains in a class by itself. Even so, we offer our warmest congratulations to Beachell, and his partner Fletcher.

The tragedy of the season was, as our cricket correspondent points out, that the rest of the side so often failed to hammer home the advantage given by these two batsmen. The uncertainty of cricket is proverbial, and it is ironical that this XI, which on paper looked so promising before the season opened, by its defeat by Durham lost the first school match since 1949.

The Commemoration week-end passed off successfully and was certainly enjoyed by the large number of Old Peterites who were present. The experiment of holding a separate Speech Day for St. Olave's a few days before was undoubtedly justified. The gathering on the preceding Wednesday, presided over by the Head Master, when Bishop Hubbard presented the prizes to the Junior School, was more suited to the outlook of younger boys, and naturally of more direct interest to their parents, than the more formal Senior School ceremony at the Clifton Cinema Further, the innovation avoids the dilemma which in the past must always have faced the distinguished visitors invited to our functions. To compose an address suitable alike to boys of 8 and those of 18 is manifestly beyond the wit of man.

As it was, the speeches of both Lord Halifax and Bishop Hubbard were admirably adapted to their particular occasions and were much appreciated.

We all regretted the departure of Mr. R. Calder at the end of the term, after ten years' devoted service to St. Peter's. Mr. Calder was 2