Feb 1958

ST. OLAVE'S It has long been a tradition to mention somewhere in these notes that our numbers have coyly advanced to an all-time record, and this time it will be recorded at the very start that we have 238 boys on the register. It is to be regretted, however, that on no occasion this term were all of them present, though we got very near to it on 7th November, when only two miserable specimens failed to turn up.

In the third week of term, moreover, the influenza epidemic hit us so hard that very nearly half of the School was knocked out, and forms had to be combined. A fresh time-table was made each day, which added to the excitement, but it is interesting to note that the supply of staff exceeded demand during these perilous days. On one glorious day J4C was wiped out, but it takes more than influenza to keep us down, and the term went on as usual. The only alterations to the calendar of events were (a) that the harvest thanksgiving had to be cancelled, since those most qualified to place vegetable marrows in their proper order were more profitably engaged in looking after the sick, (b) that we had to cancel two 1st XV fixtures, but we should probably have lost the matches, and (c) that examinations did not materialise at the end of term, as it was felt by some that more would be gained by carrying on normal work to the bitter end.

It is also usual to mention some major change in the landscape, and we are able to report two new form rooms tacked on to the end of J l's room. This is a very great improvement, although the slight addition to the population in this area has produced its problems.

As term ended, the start of excavations in the old playground showed that more improvements were on the way, and the fact that a powerful mechanical shovel started in on the St. Olave's drive before the master in charge was able to finish his reports may possibly account for some of his more jaundiced remarks.

The weather has, on the whole, been kind to us, but towards the end of term the fields were not fit for games. Our rugby XV started with a good win against a weakened St. Martin's team, and played well against Drax. The last two fixtures, however, against Ampleforth and Pocklington, were not terribly successful, and poor tackling made us look very much worse than we really were. Our Middles took rather a battering from Gilling Castle, and it looks as if we are not strong enough to cope with them.

There have been no inter-House competitions on the games field, but the struggle for the Work Shield is well under way. This year, it looks as if the day boys will triumph, for Ainsty, with Elmet just behind them, have opened up rather a large gap. The method of scoring has been altered in a few small particulars, but this should not have produced such a swing.

On two occasions the Archaeological Society has met, both times in the day boys' dining room. It is very convenient having a good 56