The Suttonian 1957 (Lent Term)

THE

SUTTON IAN

LENT TERM 1957

THE SUTTONIAN

CONTENTS PA GE

Editorial ..

School Officials School Notes Salvete Chapel Notes Library Notes Our Contemporaries School Hall ..

C.C.F. Notes Shooting Notes Society Notes

35 36 36 37 37 37 37 39 39 40 41 42

Scout Notes ..

Hunting Society

43

Lectures Cinema Notes Music

44 45

43

Choral Society

45

Sutton Valence Castle

45

Ashford Dance Explication Litteraire

46 46

Hockey Retrospect, 1957 Hockey Results ..

47 48 51

Cross-Country Retrospect Cross-Country Results Fives Retrospect ..

51 54

Fives Results Gifts to the School ..

54 55

Mr. J. W. Thomson ..

Obituary

55

O.S. Notes ..

56 58

0.S.A.—New Members ..

Correspondence Late News

55

60 60

THE SUTTON IAN No. 2 of Volume XXIX

LENT TERM 1957

Ed itorial

THERE has been a certain amount of debate in the Press lately about the fate of the Third Programme. It is argued by its opponents that it is wrong to spend large sums of public money on a service which is used by only a small portion of the community. Nevertheless, the Third will not be abolished, because its intellectual and artistic standard is higher than that which the Home could hope to offer, and because the B.B.C. considers that it should cater for the highest as well as the lowest tastes.

It hopes that the number of people who appreciate the Third will grow : after all, the number of listeners is limited only because of the personal choice of the listeners themselves, not because of the Corporation.

In the same way, it is sometimes suggested that the School Library wastes its money by buying magazines unadorned with illustrations and concerning themselves with such uninteresting topics as politics, literature, science and the arts. A survey of a cross-section of the Sixth Form revealed that 8 per cent. read The Spectator regularly, 4 per cent. The Listener and 4 per cent. The New Statesman.

The Library

Committee has no intention of withdrawing all serious periodicals and replacing them with Comic Cuts and Picture Post. It might, however, be of advantage to a few more members of the School to make use of these opportunities for broadening and deepening their outlook which are, after all, financed indirectly by their parents.

THE SUTTONIAN

36 School Officials

Head of School: R. C. H. Sheridan School Prefects :

1). K. Case F. D. de B. Hovell R. G. White

P. J. Brown G. J. A. Hardy S. Jeffery

House Prefects : St. Margaret's : Westminster :

R. A. R. Block W. R. V. Archer A. J. Cruttenclen C. R. Catt D. F. Fenton J. J. Evershed R. P. Hollingsworth H. N. Macdonald R. W. Sunshine 0. M. Holmes R. H. H. White A. W. Jones N. L. Sarony Founder's :

Lambe's :

A. J. G. Barker M. Bayat J. R. M. Jeffryes C. M. Quinton R. A. Selby J. R. Starkey

G. R. A. Argles K. A. Crawford P. D. Jordan N. F. Lemon A. C. B. Lister

Sports Committee :

The Headmaster (President) N. P. Bentley, Esq. R. C. H. Sheridan E. A. Craven, Esq. K. A. Crawford The Revd.

D. F. Fenton J. E. C. Nicholl J. R. Starkey Hockey :

P. D. Jordan (Captain) A. J. Parker (Hon. Sec.) Shooting :

G. J. A. Hardy (Captain) G. H. Wall (Hon. Sec.) Cross-country Running :

A. J. Cruttenden (Captain) Fives :

R. G. White (Captain) Library Committee :

The Headmaster (President) L. N. Harvey, Esq. (Librarian) R. H. H. White (Hon. Sec.) A. J. Cruttenden A. W. Jones P. M. Girard H. N. Macdonald G. J. A. Hardy W. H. T. Willcox

Sutton ion Committee :

R. A. H. White (Editor) G. R. A. Argles D. K. Case G. J. A. Hardy P. M. Girard H. N. Macdonald P. J. Brown School Notes

R. C. H. Sheridan has been appointed Head of the School and Head of St. Margaret's.

G. J. A. Hardy has been appointed Head of Westminster.

P. J. Brown has been appointed Head of Lambe's.

D. K. Case, F. D. de B. Hovel! and R. G. White have been appointed School Prefects.

C. R. Catt, R. P. Hollingsworth, 0. M. Holmes, A. W. Jones and N. L. Sarony have been appointed House Prefects in St. Margaret's.

W. R. V. Archer, H. N. Macdonald and R. W. Sunshine have been appointed House Prefects in Westminster.

A. J. G. Barker and C. M. Quinton have been appointed House Prefects in Lambe's.

A. J. Cruttenden, P. M. Girard, G. J. A. Hardy, A. W. Jones, H. N. Macdonald and W. H. T. Willcox have been co-opted to the Library Committee.

G. R. A. Argles, P. J. Brown, P. M. Girard, and H. N. Macdonald have been co-opted to the Suttonian Committee.

Hockey colours have been awarded to N. L. Sarony, P. L. Selfe, R. A. R. Block, M. J. Gordon-Smith, M. A. Elmitt, A. S. Parker, J. A. Harrison, R. C. H. Sheridan, W. H. A. Wade, A. C. B. Lister.

Under 16 XI Colours have been awarded to J. C. Hardy, J. E. IIarvey and C. It. A. Welch.

37

THE SUTTONIAN Shooting Colours (Miniature Range) have been awarded to R. J. Pierce.

Cross-Country Running Colours have been awarded to K. R. Gilham, F. D. de B. Hove11, R. P. Hollingsworth, T. E. Morgan and C. C. Higgins.

Fives Colours have been awarded to D. F. Fenton, W. R. V. Archer and P. M. Girard.

Mr. J. W. Thomson has left to take up other work.

Mr. A. R. Douglas has been appointed House Master of Lambe's, with Mr. H. F. E. Lynas as House Tutor.

We welcome Mr. H. B. Rider, B.Sc., as an assistant master, and Mr. P. P. Courtney as a Student Teacher.

The Editor and Committee thank all those who have contributed to this term's magazine.

Salvete LOWER VI ARTS.-R. Lynn (W.).

LOWER IVA.-M. D. Hollis (M.), J. H.

Sandilands (M.), I. M. Walton (M.), M. G. S. Weddell (H.), W. IL Writer (M.).

LOWER IVB.-M. T. Basden-Smith (son of T. F. Ba,sden-Smith, 1925), (B.), H. J. M. Croysdill (F.), K. J. Downing (W.), J. P. H. Grafton (M.), M. D. Lay (W.), R. D. Spratt (M.), R. M. Thomas (M.).

FORM III.-J. W. J. Field (B.).

Harrietsham), Canon Russell B. White (Vicar of Tonbridge) and A. N. Gilkes, Esq. (High Master of St. Paul's School).

Collections this term have been taken for the Aid to Refugees and the N.S.P.C.C. The Lenten Addresses have been given by the Headmaster on. Wednesdays at Morning Chapel.

This year's Confirmation Service has been arranged for Saturday, June 1, at 3 p.m., to be conducted by the Bishop of Croydon.

Library Notes The Committee thanks G. Pember, 0.S., for "Footplate and Signal Cabin," by Norman Marlow ; The Friends of Canterbury Cathedral for" The Romance of Canterbury Cathedral " ; E. D. G. Bunker, 0.S., for "Sir Robert Walpole,"

by J. H. Plumb ; and Group-Capt. R. E. Fulljames, 0.S., for "The Path to Peace."

The following books have been bought from the Library Fund :— " From Despotism to Revolution, 1763— 1789," by Leo Gershoy ; "Europe and the French Imperium, 1799-1814," by Geoffrey Bruun ; "Harmony," by Peter Wishart; "A Method of Aural Training," by Eric Taylor ; and "Clarinet Technique," by Frederick Thurston.

Our Contemporaries Chapel Notes The Chapel has been in increased demand while the Hall restoration has been going on, and Morning Chapel has been held every day of the week.

We have welcomed the following preachers this term : The Revds. Canon Selwyn Gummer (Rector of Gravesend), F. H. Gripper (Chaplain of Tonbridge School), B. M. P. Finch (Rector of

The Roffensian, The Sennockian, The School Tie, The Portcullis, The Rossallian, The Fettesian, The Gresham, The Lawrentian, The Chronicle, The Tonbridgian, The Aldenhamian, The Mill Hill Magazine, The Cranbrookian, The Dovorian, The Blundellian.

The Editor acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the above and apologises for any inadvertent errors or omissions.

Awl

THE SUTTONIAN

39

School Hall

W

ORK on the Hall is in full swing, as the accompanying pen and ink sketch by W. H. A. Wade shows. At the time of going to press the new gallery appeared to be almost complete and the scaffolding had been continued right up to the ceiling, which is to be sprayed with sound-absorbing material. Work in the classrooms around the Hall has continued as usual and we have become quite accustomed to the continued noise of sledge-hammers and pneumatic drills. The staff have remained outwardly very patient despite the row in the background.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is due to give away the prizes and re-open the Hall on Friday, July 5.

C.C.F. Notes

CTIVITIES during the term have largely taken the form of preparations for Certificate " A " and a certain amount of training has been by means of films— a welcome alternative to the droning voices of our less enthusiastic instructors.

Parades have been in the yard in front of the Science Schools because of the appalling state of the Chapel Yard. It is obvious that space is somewhat restricted on this temporary parade ground and it is to be hoped that the resurfacing of the Chapel Yard is not too far distant in the general development scheme.

The Certificate " A " under the presidency of Major Waring was passed by 11 out of 15 candidates in Part II, and 18 out of 23 in Part I. The Corps of Drums has been strengthened by a number of new recruits and they are practising assiduously for next term's General Inspection .and the presentation of the new colours.

A

PROMOTIONS With effect from January 1 :— To be C.S.M. : C.Q.M.S. Hardy.

To be C.Q.M.S. : Sgt. Sarony.

To be Sp.: Cpls. Sheridan, Catt. Cruttenden, Hovell.

To be Cp1.9. : L/Cpls. White, Knight, Capon, Brown, Jones, Norwood, Argles, Towner.

To be LICp1s. : Cadets Biggs, Harrison, Jeffreys, Wells, Wooderson, Selby, Carr, Hollingsworth, Lister, Power, McCarthy, Halton, Cottle, Quinton, Hill, R. B. L., Ashby, Haynes, Goodsell.

CERTIFICATE " A " RESULTS The following passed Part II :— Cadets Bristow, Butler, Chamberlain, Crutch, Macdonald, H. N., Pierce, O'Brien, T., Pow, Robertson, Rowe, Walter, C. The following passed Part I :— Cadets Aisher, Bowdler, Bradley, Chase, Clarke, Coulson, Dobson, Groves, Iremonger, Meyrick, Maddieson, Moulton, Palmer, M. A., Parker, L. E., Parkinson, Pennington, Speck, Welch.

Field Day

(I N

the fine morning of March 15, it was reported that Eastland forces were occupying positions in the Fairbourne Heath area of King's Wood. In fact, Sgt. Catt had arranged the platoons to a well conceived plan, giving adequate coverage of the westerly direction from which, owing to limitation of bounds, the attack would have

to come,

40

THE SUTTONIAN

From the point of view of the attacking Westland forces under Sgt. Cruttenden, it seemed desirable to progress fairly closely together through the denser woodland and break through the defence at a point not too far from the picnic lunch rendezvous.

Unfortunately Sgt. Hove11's platoon went too far north, and although demonstrating fire and movement quite well, over the relatively open ground they were an easy target for the Brens and riflemen of Founder's platoon. Further south, Sgt. Evershed, in command of Westminster, reciprocated the fire of the Margaret's platoon, with heavy casualties on both sides.

After lunch, and the usual constructive criticism of the morning's proceedings by the officers in charge, the roles of the forces were reversed, with Sgt. Cruttenden's force defending a " Uranium Pile " in more or less the same area. The defence was well laid, provided the attack did not come from the north. After a section led by Cpl. Crawford had diverted the attentions of the defence in an easterly direction, Sgt. Catt did in fact attack from the north, and again Founder's and Margaret's triumphed over the more unfortunate Lambe's and Westminster contingent.

The signals were mainly out of operation owing to the apparent unreliability of the sets.

Shooting Notes

A T the beginning of term we were surprised to find that only two of the probable VIII

" had had experience of Country Life conditions. Although our scores as a result have not been as good as last year, they have not under the circumstances been altogether unsatisfactory, since six of this term's VIII should still be here next year.

The score we have claimed for the Country Life Competition is considerably lower than our very high total of last year, but since we were then 56 points in front of the second team we still have a chance of doing quite well.

In the first half of the Kent T.A. Competition we were placed first equal with two other teams out of the fifty or sixty which entered. Fortunately, one of these two teams comes from a Home Guard contingent which lately has been disbanded !

The second half will be shot near the end of term.

Our claimed scores for the Country Life were :— Total ex 90 Snap ex 30 Group ex 10 Rapid ex 50 G. J. A. Hardy .. ..

G. H. Wall R. C. H. Sheridan R. F. Pierce D. Diskul ..

S. D. Biggs J. C. Hardy P. J. Knight Total

10 10 10 10 5 5 10 10 40

49 46 46 46 43 43 45 42

29 29 28 27 28 28 28 28

88 85 84 83 76 76 83 80

360

225

655

We claimed 177 out of 192 for the Landscape Target.

41

THE SUTTONIAN Other postal matches :—

Opponent8 Blundells ..

Lancing College ..

Framlingham ..

Sherborne ..

Haileybury Charterhouse Harrow ..

For

Against

Result

671 671 683 683 679 679 679

679 636 696 607 662 701 650

Lost Won Lost - Won Won Lost Won

Clubs and Societies UPPER SCHOOL AEROMODELLING CLUB

The Club was restarted this term, after being dormant for several terms. Most of the term has been spent building, though some flying has been done when the weather has been calm enough. It is hoped, next term, to hold competitions against Lambe's Club.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY We have got through quite a lot of work this term. The ground has been ploughed up, and the seeds sown. The grass under the trees has also been burnt without inconveniencing Mr. Foulkes too much. We have hopes of a fine crop of vegetables and fruit this year.

CONJURING CLUB At the beginning of this term there was a flood of applications for membership, and five new members were admitted to the Society, while three more became temporary members.

On December 17, all members of the Conjuring Club travelled up to London and visited the Magic Circle, at the invitation of Francis White, the Vice-President. A very pleasant evening ensued with a show of "Extra-Sensory Perception" by someone outside the Magic Circle. At the end of last term, members of the Society performed at Underhill School, at the birthday party of one of Mrs. Waller's children.

This term, the Club learned that its recently completed room could not be used, but fortunately we obtained the use of the former Upper School Scouts' store. A show before a selected audience has been proposed to open the new premises formally.

Beyond that, no shows are contemplated this term.

BEEKEEPING SOCIETY Early this term it was decided that the Society should join the Maidstone Branch of the Kent Beekeeping Association. Through doing so, we are getting lecturers from Maidstone, whenever there is a suitable occasion.

It was noticed that a mouse was repeatedly entering one of the hives, so the hive was opened and examined. The mouse was destroyed and when the interior was found to be in poor condition it was spring-cleaned. Two frames with honey in them were found. The honey was eagerly extracted and at the same time some surplus wax was melted down.

The mild weather has brought the bees out earlier than usual this year. If the weather remains mild, we can expect a fair season.

42

THE SUTTONIAN CHRISTIAN UNION

This has been a very successful term for the Christian Union, and we have welcomed some twelve new members. As many of these are in Junior Houses, we hope that they will continue their membership and not fade away when they reach the Upper School. We have welcomed several outside speakers, including the Vicar and the Congregational Minister of Sutton Valence and our old friends Dr. H. Bird and Mr. L. Hayes. Owing to other commitments, R. H. H. White has been forced to give up the secretaryship, and this has been taken over by A. E. Ruffen.

LAMBE'S MODELS SOCIETY This term, membership of the Society reached a record high level. To begin with, we concentrated on the building of control-line models. Most members tried their hands at this, with the result that there are now several promising control-liners in the Society. Towards the end of last term, there were several diesel free-flight planes in the making, which we hope will have success. Several rubber-powered models are being made by the more junior members, most of whom hope to get diesel engines by the end of the year.

GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY This term has at last seen the formation of the Society, with Mr. R. P. Coutts as President. Its formation has been met with generous response, all meetings having been well attended. The Society has been very fortunate in having three very good talks during the term. The first by Mr. H. B. Rider on the subject of "Egypt," where he has recently been ; the second by Mr. P. P. Courtney, entitled "Madrid—the City which should not be there " ; and the third by Mr. D. K. Case, from Mass., U.S.A., on "New England." The term's activities started with a film on meteorological apparatus and finished with three films—" The Changing Earth," "Venezuela Looks Ahead," and "Persian Story."

Owing to certain deficiencies in apparatus it has not been possible to start meteorological observations this term, but it is hoped to start this and a local survey next term.

Scout Notes

HE Scout Troop has been busy in several ways this term. Undoubtedly the most

T exciting of these has been the building of a hut in King's Wood and we have to thank

Mrs. Lucy very much for giving us permission. The construction has been under the expert supervision of Case and Sunshine, and, in spite of appalling weather, they have already gone a long way in the building of what is planned to be an "American Wattle." As well as showing us how to build, Case and Sunshine have taught us a number of new games, and we are very grateful to them. Normal training instruction has been in the hands of Biggs, McCarthy and Capon, who have been invaluable.

Other activities have included signalling, both morse and semaphore. At present, Rodriguez is most proficient at the former, and several are fighting for the semaphore prize.

THE SUTTONIAN

43

Hunting Society President : The Headmaster.

Vice-Presidents : The Revd. J. E. C. Nicholl.

J. B. Simpson, Esq. Chairman : R. H. H. White.

Hon. Sec. : W. H. T. Willcox.

Clerk of the House : G. J. A. Hardy.

Committee Member : D. K. Case.

Guardian of the Gavel : M. J. M. Wooderson.

HE Society has managed to meet regularly once a fortnight this term. Although the attendance at meetings has been good, it is generally agreed that many people, especially the senior members of the School, are not using the varied opportunities of public speaking offered by the Society to the fullest advantage.

The Lent Term's programme was opened on January 28 with a debate : "This House believes that the World is Flat," which was proposed by Mr. G. J. A. Hardy and Mr. A. J. Cruttenden and opposed by Mr. P. J. Brown and Mr. B. M. Wells. The proposition's efforts of putting forward a revolutionary theory were rewarded by their win of 18 votes to 15.

On February 11, Mr. D. K. Case and Mr. M. J. M. Wooderson proposed a debate that " The British are no longer Sportsmen," which was opposed by Mr. N. L. Sarony and Mr. G. D. Cottle. The biting accusations of the proposition failed to deter the general spirit of patriotic loyalty, and the motion was defeated by 13 votes to 21.

Pressure of work and exhaustion after A and B steeplechases unfortunately prevented many of the more experienced orators from attending the debate on February 25, "This House considers that Dancing is the First Step to Demoralisation," proposed by Mr. N. F. Lemon and Mr. F. D. de B. Hovel' and opposed by Mr. A. W. Jones and Mr. P. G. F. Norwood. Owing to a dearth of speakers, the house proceeded to a division earlier than usual. The motion was defeated by 10 votes to 20.

The Hunting Society is looking forward to another debate, "This House considers Advertising a Social Menace," and a mock election later on during the term.

T

Lectures

-) N Thursday, January 24, W. A. Gibson spoke to the Sixth Form on "The Steel

(

Industry." He gave us a clear picture of the steel production business, and illustrated his points with some rather significant facts and figures. His talk was made all the more interesting by the showing of a film about the working of the open hearth furnace. " T.V. Production" was the subject of the next lecture, on Friday, February 8, in the Almshouses, given by Paul Johnstone. A producer himself, he began by describing the arrangement of a T.V. studio while a programme is filmed.

Mr. Johnstone makes a special study of history and archeology, and he described in detail a programme he produced about a human corpse recently discovered eight feet deep in a Danish peat bog. Experts estimated it to be about two thousand years

44

THE SUTTONIAN

old and concluded that the man was hanged, and also that, as he seemed to have met his end in a peaceful frame of mind, he had been willing and indeed honoured to be offered as a sacrifice to the gods in a time of famine.

Then a telerecording of one of Mr. Johnstone's productions, " Buried Treasure," was shown. This dealt with excavations and discoveries made near Maiden Castle, in Dorset.

A week later, on February 18, A. I. Polack spoke on "Preparing to Live in a Community." He dealt mainly with the problems of the colour bar, and gave examples with the aid of two gramophone records of the unfeeling attitude of some British people towards foreigners and coloured folk. Unfortunately, he concentrated entirely on this undoubtedly serious problem without suggesting any practical solutions to it.

On the following evening, Brian Vesey Fitzgerald gave a fascinating talk on "Natural History as a Hobby." He explained that the habits of many animals, especially the bat, are still something of a mystery to scientists. He also gave some vivid descriptions of the peculiar habits of different animals and told of some amusing incidents he had experienced with them.

Cecil J. Allen spoke about "Renowned Feats of Railway Engineering" on Saturday, March 16. He devoted most of his time to the history of the construction of some famous tunnels and bridges of the world, including Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Forth Bridge.

Prefects' Concert over four years' interval, the rag concert has been revived under the A FTER above name. This concert took place in St. Margaret's where a stage had been constructed for the House plays.

Highlights of the programme were the songs, written and composed by Sarony, a production of Pyramus and Thisbe, a night-club scene, a pantomime and a melodrama.

Both cast and audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and we hope that an old tradition, now revived, will continue.

Cast: Sarony, Hardy, White, Case, Sunshine, Evershed, Marsh, Cottle, Hollingsworth, Sheridan, Cruttenden, Jones, Barker, McCarthy, Willcox, Brown, Hovell, Quinton, Selby, Starkey, Homer and Catt.

A

Cinema Notes s a result of the chaos in the Hall, the films this term have been shown in the

Almshouses. Shortage of space has necessitated two showings of each, on Saturday and Sunday evenings. The standard of films has been high and in the more confined space of the Almshouses the sound reproduction has been better than it usually is in the Hall.

We have seen " The Blue Lamp," " Where No Vultures Fly," " Colditz Story" "Johnny Dark" and " African Queen."

THE S UTTON IAN

45

Music Society has held four meetings so far this term. The first took the form T HEof aMusic programme entitled, "In the Beginning was Melody," an illustrated talk by Mr. Lynas on music from the earliest times until the beginning of the seventeenth century. At the next meeting, Mr. Horn and Mr. Foulkes presented a programme of songs by Schubert and West Indian negro spirituals, which was most enjoyable.

On another occasion, we listened to a recording of Schubert's Quintet for Strings in C Major.

On Sunday, March 24, Brian Davis, O.S. (1955), brought down a string quartet, whose members were Peter Poole (violin), Hilary Bartlett (violin), B. P. Davis (viola) and Robin Davies ('cello). They played Schubert's String Quartet in E Flat, Opus 125, No. 1, Mozart's Clarinet Quintet (A. G. Foulkes, clarinet) and Haydn's String Quartet No. 83.

On a number of Saturday evenings, several boys and members of the staff have met in Mr. Lynas's room with the intention of forming a Madrigal Society, although we have not assayed any madrigals yet and have restricted ourselves to fairly easy four-part songs so as to get used to singing together.

For some time there has been no regular string group in the School, but this term a few fiddlers, the solitary 'cellist and a pianist have got together regularly and had plenth of fun. They have not yet attempted performing for anyone's enjoyment but their own. Reference is made elsewhere to the need for money to buy more School instruments.

Choral Society, 1957 THE Annual Concert will be held on July 24 next term. As this will be the first Concert in the rebuilt and redecorated Hall, an item of a ceremonial nature will be included in the programme. This will be Handel's Coronation Anthem, " Zadok the Priest."

The Society will also perform Bach's " Peasant Cantata" and Stanford's "Songs of The Fleet." It is hoped that a guest singer, Owen Brannigan, of Sadler's Wells and B.B.C. fame, will appear.

Sutton Valence Castle

E

XCAVATION was started in the summer by G. Bateman and G. K. Homer of Sutton Valence School according to plans worked out in conjunction with Mr. Groves of Maidstone Museum.

Digging took place along part of the inner side of the North Wall of the Keep.

A number of pottery fragments were found which appear to indicate about 300 years of continuous occupation dating from late eleventh or early twelfth century.

Further digging has taken place in the north-east corner and along the outside of the north wall, from which it is hoped to clarify some details of the structure, but work has been suspended for the winter.

Copy of a note sent to the local correspondent of " Archceologia Cantiana."

46

THE SUTTONIAN

Ashford Dance last term's much-talked-about dance at Ashford School, we were extremely A FTER pleased to hear that another such occasion had been arranged on March 21.

After the regular sorting out procedure, a Paul Jones, and several elimination dances, the evening became most lively when the boys tied balloons around their ankles and tried to puncture those of other couples. In spite of the fact that several quick-minded members deflated their balloons, the polka turned out to be more of a marathon. The evening was highlighted, however, when one of Sutton Valence's more distinguished representatives landed on the floor (partner and all) during an active musical chairs !

The tasty supper, congenial companions, the most efficient M.C.'ing of Miss Abbott, and Miss Nightingale's kind hospitality, were especially appreciated when we reluctantly arrived back at school after such an enjoyable evening.

Explication Litte rai re " Dites-Moi .

A Dites-moi, mon petit chou, Dites-moi la verite, A As-tu la figure grune ou Bleue ? Si c'est A Grune ne sois pas vue, Si c'est Bleue Parbleu Je suis fort heureux A De n'are pas tu.

(Georges-Jean-Jacques-Jules Histrionique, 1897-4918.)

Georges-Jean-Jacques-Jules Histrionique was one of the original Starko-Realists (as distinct from the Surrey Sun Lovers). Dites-moi . . . " was written immediately after the poet's return from the Front in 1917 where for six weeks he had served as a latrine orderly. Despondent and disillusioned, Histrionique penned this fragment in a right-bank bistro. The inspiration of the poem arises from the author's grim experiences on active service. " Grune " refers to the effects of gangrene from which he suffered as a result of catching his finger in a cigarette-roller, " bleue " to the effects of frost, accentuated in his case by the cold steel of bucket handles.

This is an unique example of the " Sonnet a Mouton," the only new form of sonnet introduced since Victor Hugo's time. It consists of ten, instead of fourteen, lines, the last four being omitted for brevity's sake. This interesting designation was coined by a select committee of the Academie Francaise which mistook the beginning of the author's explanatory rhyme scheme for ovine sound effects. This poet had been anticipated fully 140 years previously by Louis XV, when he said : " After me the wet ! "

THE SUTTON IAN

47

It will be noticed that the first line of the poem contains seven syllables, the fourth line three syllables, the seventh line one syllable, and the penultimate line, incredibly enough, five. This, of course, adds up to sixteen syllables. Comparison of the last line but two with almost any other line in the piece has led an influential body of critios to assert that it should be pronounced trisyllabically, i.e., Par-ber-ler (cf. 1933 edition of Toshheimer's Interstellar Phonetic Dictionary).

The rhyme scheme is limited to three rhymes rather than the conventional five.

An emphasis of poignant pathos is achieved by the mournful echo of the A rhyme in the ultimate line, especially in view of the rhythmic "force majeure " of the preceding three C's.

The agricultural term of endearment in the first line is an expressive reflection of the author's bucolic youth ; " petit" cannot but refer to the continually stunted condition of the produce of his father's smallholding. There is a difference of opinion regarding the intended recipient of this sonnet. Boshheimer maintains it was meant for Clotta Puff, but she died of consumption in 1915. Bishheimer says it was Hildegarde Klumpf who, in 1916, threw herself into the Seine from the top of the Eiffel Tower ; Tishheimer, yet again, maintains he aimed it at Sarah Whumpfski, but she was asphyxiated in Petrograd during 1917 by her own halitosis. The true target, like Shakespeare's Dark Lady, will probably remain an enigma, shrouded in the mists of time.

The theme of the poem (as interpreted by the great body of critics) is the author's mental attraction towards, but physical abhorrence from, the Gare du Nord. (There is a small school which claims it was a physical attraction and mental abhorrence.)

The French probably have a word for it.

Judgment of the poem is made difficult by the fact that the fourth line is probably apocryphal. Moreover, it is doubtful if an unbalanced poet deserves a balanced judgment.

Appended is Miss Emily Scorton-Brunay's increasingly well known translation :

Tell me darling, tell me true, Is your face green or is it blue ?

If it's green don't let it be seen, If it's blue I'm damn glad I'm not you.

Crumpet and Banana.

Hockey Retrospect, 1957 one looks back on the first complete term in which hockey has been a W HEN school game, the outstanding impression is that hockey has been accepted as fun ; the chief justification for any game must be that its players find it enjoyable, and it becomes more enjoyable if played moderately well. There is no doubt that this general enthusiasm for the game has made possible such success as has been achieved—an enthusiasm encouraged of course by the fact that other alternatives have been available. There is much to be said for two such contrasting options as hockey and cross-country ; most boys are likely to find some interest or ability in

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one or other of these sports. The other essential ingredient of successful hockey is good pitches ; excellent progress has been made towards these by Williams and his "ground staff," who have worked so hard to allow games to be played even when the weather was all against us. Thanks to their efforts, B.M. has been almost unrecognisably improved.

It was with some trepidation that we embarked on a full match programme, playing the 1st Xi's of all our school opponents except St. Lawrence ; of these matches we won three and lost two, and we can feel that we have made a fair start. Our forward line relied too much on Elmitt to score the goals—his personal tally of 27 out of a total of 50 speaks for itself ; the insides put too many close-range shots wide of, or over, the goal, and the wings were reluctant to "have a go" themselves. The defence had the advantage of remaining unchanged throughout the season ; Jordan and Selfe were the mainstays, both playing consistently well.

Jordan has been deservedly selected for one of the Kent School's teams in the Seaford festival, and Elmitt would have played if available.

Of our other teams, the 2nd XI achieved modest success until their massacre at St. Lawrence ; the Senior Colts were a poor side, though with two or three promising players ; the Junior Colts coped well with a rather curious fixture list; and the Under-14 Team showed that there is keenness and some talent to develop for the future.

Hockey 1st XI Matches, 1957 Jan. 26 v. Sutton Valence H.C. Won 7-0 The School forwards had an enjoyable game against a defence that allowed them plenty of space and time. The insides combined well and the wings showed dash and determination, and goals came at fairly regular intervals from Sheridan (3), Elmitt (3), and Parker, in spite of many good saves by Dr. Stewart.

Sarony made one excellent save but was otherwise not greatly tested. The School defence seemed sound on the whole, Jordan playing well at centre-half.

Team : Sarony ; Selfe, Gordon-Smith; Block, Jordan, Harrison ; Lister, lmitt, Sheridan, Parker, Crawford.

Feb. 18 v. The Staff. Won 6-1 Goals for the 1st XI scored by : Elmitt (4), Sheridan, Parker.

Feb. 27 v. Dover College. Played away.

Lost 2-3 The weather was fine and the Dover ground a good deal better than anything we had been used to so far, even though it cut up towards the end. Although we lost, this was quite an encouraging game. Individually, especially Elmitt, Sheridan, Jordan and Selfe, we had the better stickwork, but Dover's teamwork was better and it was this extra experience which won them the match. Elmitt scored both our goals through beating the goalkeeper by stickwork. On the whole, though our goal was harder pressed, especially in the second half, when their inside-left on several occasions found our halves lying too far up the field and Selfe and Gordon-Smith standing Square. Sarony did well to stop a

THE SUTTONIAN number of hard shots and put in some strong kicks. The game was all but drawn when first Elmitt and then Sheridan both shot over the goal in the last ten minutes.

Mar. 3 v. King's School, Rochester.

Played on Upper. Won 6-1 In the first half Sutton attacked more consistently, but seldom looked dangerous in the circle, and the inside forwards, although combining well, could not quite press their attacks home. Elmitt hit one glorious reverse stick centre across the circle which left everyone standing, and scored the only goal of this half after a good run.

After the interval the School forwards got into top gear, were far quicker in the circle, and gave the King's defence a really bad time. They scored three quick goals, from Parker (2) and Elmitt ; then the side relaxed dangerously and King's scored. However, Sutton soon regained its grip, and Jordan and Sheridan scored further goals.

Jordan was excellent in defence and attack.

Mar. 6 v. Maidstone H.C. Played on B.M. Lost 2-4 The Club side was a strong one, with a particularly good half-back line which put an effective barrier between the School's defence and the forwards ; the School halves also played well, but there was a lack of cohesion in the side, and the wings took little part in the game.

Three of Maidstone's goals came from corners. Ehnitt scored from a penalty bully, and Parker, after lofting one shot high over the crossbar, hit his next one almost through the netting.

49

Mar. 9 v. Eastbourne College. Played on B.M. Won 4-1 The re-arranged School forward line took some time to settle down, and was never a complete success. In the first half much of the play was in or uear the Eastbourne circle, but on a muddy ground the forwards lacked the ability to shoot hard or flick accurately. Eastbourne looked dangerous in their occasional breakaways and scored from one of them in reply to a beautiful reverse stick shot by Elmitt.

In the second half Sutton gave the Eastbourne goalkeeper, who was good, a much busier time. Wade followed up very well to push home a shot from a short corner, and Elmitt scored twice more, in one case after dribbling straight through from a centre bully.

Sarony showed himself to be a cool and competent goalkeeper.

Mar. 13 v. Hockey Association Xl. Played at home. Won 5-4 The match was played on the Upper on a true, fast surface and after fifteen minutes the School were two goals down.

The ball was running more quickly, and this, together with the reputation of the opposition, made the School appear slow and nervous. However, this didn't last and the forwards made several good attacks before half-time. Elmitt always looked dangerous and the goal he scored from a short corner was a fine shot. At half-time the Hockey Association led 3-2, but the School was gaining confidence the whole time and a large part of the second half was spent near the Association circle. Three more goals came, one a really vicious shot by Elmitt from a narrow angle. Parker was quick in following up to flick home another. The

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last goal was scored by the Association and, for a time, it seemed that there might be a tight finish, but the match ended with the School attacking.

As usual, Barony was safe in goal and, after the first few minutes of panic, the backs played well except that they were often too far back. Jordan had an excellent game and, apart from some air shots, Harrison kept a close check on his wing and played well. The inside forwards at times missed good scoring opportunities—one of Parker's shots was a good 15 feet over the top. But on the whole they moved much more as a line and played some good hockey.

Mar. 16 v. St. Edmund's, Canterbury.

Played away. Lost 2-5 We started quite well and play was even for the first quarter of an hour ; then their centre forward picked up a long clearance and went straight through to score the first of several similar goals.

Sutton attacked spasmodically in the second half, but never really looked like saving the game.

Team : Sarony ; Selfe, Gordon-Smith ; Harrison, Jordan, Block ; Hollingsworth, Wade, Murat, Parker, Lister.

Mar. 20 v. Marden Russets. Played away. Lost 0-8 Once the home side had settled down to their hard hitting and good covering, the School lacked the experience to find any answer. If Sarony saved the first shot—as he frequently did—there always seemed to be an unmarked forward ready to put in another ; whereas the Sutton attacks were foiled by an elastic defence and quick tackling in the circle. We should have learned something from a game played in a good spirit by both sides.

Team : Sarony ; Selfe, Gordon-Smith ; Harrison, Jordan, Block ; Hollingsworth, Wade, Elmitt, Parker, Lister.

Mar. 23 v. Old Suttonians. Played on Upper. Won 6-1 The O.S. probably surprised themselves—and even their most vocal supporters—by holding the School to a 2-1 lead in the first half. Radford scored with an excellent shot.

In the second half, stamina, training, or comparative lack of beer began to tell, and the School rather unkindly added four more goals. Johnson showed all his old form—in spite of or because of being emblazoned in a Richmond rugger jersey.

The 0.S. are to be congratulated on mustering such a useful side in hockey's early days as a school game, and thanks are due to Nash for his team-building efforts.

O.S. Team : Johnson ; Catt, Fulljames ; Faulks, Kay, Smith ; Dunsmuir, Cooper, Radford, Nash, Coates.

Reports of the last two matches will appear in next term's number.

2nd XI Results March 2: v. King's School, Rochester. Away.

Won 4-2.

Under-I6 Results February 27: v. Dover College. Away. Lost 1-2.

March 2: v. King's School, Rochester. Home.

Lost 2-3.

March 16: v. St. Edmund's, Canterbury. Away.

Lost 0-7.

Under-I5 Results March 2 : v. King's School, Rochester (under-14i).

Away. Won 8-0.

March 9: v. Eastbourne (under-16). Home. Lost 4-7.

March 16: v. St. Edmund's, Canterbury. Home.

Won 4-2.

Under-I4 Result March 16 : V. St. Edmund's, Canterbury. Home.

Won 1-0.

Other results of above teams will appear in the next number.

THE S UTTON IAN

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Cross-Country Retrospect N the last few years, we seem to have been fated with one good runner and a moderate pack. Wilcockson, Vant and Booth have passed their mantle on to Cruttendenand right nobly has he carried the team on his shoulders. In the five competitions against other schools (twenty-seven in all) he has been unbeaten. Only at Mote Park, where windscreen wipers would have been useful, and on our own course against Blackheath, where a bulldozer would have been more fitting, did he fail to beat all opposition. But much as he has been an encouragement and inspiration, it is sad to relate that never once was another member of the School second to him. Gilham came closest to it, being third, fourth, fifth and sixth at different times.

Hollingsworth and Hovell had averages slightly less. Morgan was another who improved during the season, with Higgins and Knight battling for sixth place.

With better packing and more solid backing for Cruttenden, things might have been so different. If only one of the other runners had got a place one higher, we would have beaten Tonbridge. As it was, the Under-16 team had a very successful season. Mr. Craven had arranged three fixtures for the first time. All of them were won quite decisively, which augurs well for the future, and was an achievement on its own account. The Hill twins S. A. S. and T. B. A., ran really well. Smith, R. C. G., proved, on average, the second best, and Edbrooke held a fourth place. If this enthusiasm can be maintained in future years, Cross-Country will have nothing to fear from the expanding tentacles of Hockey.

The Steeplechases Division A. Run on Monday, February 25.

Conditions were reckoned to be among the worst ever, when Divisions A and B were run. Division A was won by Cruttenden (W.) in 30 mins. 39 secs., with Parker (F.) repeating his performance of last year in beating the rest of the Running VIII in taking second place.

Westminster, with some good packing in the 20s, won by 210 points to St. Margaret's 248, with Lambe's 393 and Founder's 402.

Division B. This race resolved itself into a struggle between Morgan (W.) and the Hill twins (W.), and they finished over a minute in front of the rest, Morgan winning in 22 mins. 6 secs. from Hill (mi.). Westminster won with 79 points, St. Margaret's 146, Founder's 138 and Lambe's 189.

Division C. Run on Thursday, February 28, under much improved conditions.

The race was won by Smith (trts.) (F.), who shook off last year's winner, Edbrooke (M.), in the Weald and went on to win in the fast time of 19 mins.

9 secs. Jeffryes and Scott (L.) finished third and fourth inside 20 mins., with Macdonald (mi.) (W.) running well to finish fifth. Lambe's won convincingly with 51 points to Westminster's 83, St. Margaret's 95 and Founder's 96.

Division D. This race, the closest of the four divisions, was finally won by Bentley (F.) in 14 mins. 10 secs. from Clegg (F.), with Waters (B.) a close third.

COMPETITION FOR THE NATION Cu Lambe's and Founder's, competing separately for the first time, were outclassed in the two Senior Divisions.

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Westminster won the competition for the first time for some years from St. Margaret's, beating them on every division, and winning by 372 points to 489, with Lambe's narrowly beating Founder's by 633 points to 636.

Kent County Cross-Country Championships

Run at Farningham on Saturday, January 5. The School was unable to run a full team because of injuries to Parker and Hollingsworth. The field of ninety made a fast start in cold, windy weather, and after a mile Cruttenden was with the leaders, with Faulks in nineteenth position, which he held to the end.

Cruttenden finished strongly, improving from fifth to third over the last half-mile.

Gilham finished forty-seventh.

Senior and Junior Matches v.

St. Dunstan's College

Run at home on Wednesday, January 30.

The Senior Match resolved itself into a struggle for the lead between Cruttenden, and Bell and Copley of St. Dunstan's.

After they had run together until the hill before Boyton Court, Cruttenden went ahead to win convincingly in 29 minutes 43 seconds. St. Dunstan's occupied the next three places. Gilham came fifth, and Hollingsworth seventh for the School, but St. Dunstan's won by a clear margin, with 32 points to 19.

The Juniors, running over" B" course, had a much closer race, Shrubsall of St. Dunstan's winning in 21 minutes 41 seconds, with Hill (mi.). close behind.

The final issue was in doubt until our last scoring men were home, resulting in a narrow win by 37 points to 41.

School v. Maidstone Harriers

Run at Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday, February 2. The three-mile course was very soft and muddy after two days of continuous rain, and slowed the pace considerably. After a fast start, Chapman of Maidstone Harriers went into the lead, and won comfortably. Cruttenden was running second, well clear of any opposition, when he went off course half a mile from home, and finished fourth.

Maidstone runners occupied five places in the first six, but the School occupied nine in the next ten places, with Hill (mi.) running extremely well for his age, and chasing Hollingsworth home for seventh and eighth positions. Scoring ten a side, the School won narrowly by 106 points to 113.

School v. Blackheath Harriers

Run at home on Saturday, February 9.

Once again we welcomed our old guests for our annual fixture. Mindful perhaps of their narrow victory last year, they fielded a strong team. After a fast start, a bunch of four Blackheath runners and Cruttenden set a cracking pace along Chartway Street. By the Alps two visitors had dropped back, and it was not until after East Sutton Lake that Cruttenden was dropped by WeeksPearson and Woodrow, who went on to win in 29 minutes 31 seconds. Cruttenden secured third position after a tight finish with the fast-closing Pritchard. Only the extremely muddy and sticky course prevented much faster times. With six runners in the first seven, Blackheath won easily by 51 points to 85.

Senior and Junior Matches v. Sevenoaks School

Run at home on Saturday, February 16.

In the Senior Match the visitors started

THE SUTTONIAN too fast for a five-mile run, and dropped back by the Alps. Cruttenden won easily from the Sevenoaks Captain in 30 minutes 10 seconds. In third position was another opponent, but the School packed their next six runners inside one minute, winning by 31 points to 51.

The Juniors secured another victory by occupying five of the first six places, with Morgan of Sevenoaks winning in 21 minutes 50 seconds. The School won by 31 points to 48.

--Senior and Junior Matches v. Emanuel School Run at home on Wednesday, February 20. This fixture resulted in two clear victories, with five School runners in the first six in both matches. In the Seniors, Larkum of Emanuel went straight into the lead, but was overtaken by Cruttenden near the " S " bend in Chartway Street.

Cruttenden went on to win in 29 minutes 50 seconds, and the rest of the team recorded their best times of the season on a heavy course. The match was won by 27 points to 59.

In the Juniors, Smith and Edbrooke were followed home by Hill (mi.), Jeffryes (mi.) and Hill (trts.), with Phillips in seventh place. The School scored only 22 points to Emanuel's 64.

Inter Schools Cross Country Run at Hayes on Saturday, March 2.

The course was dry for the most part after a spell of fine weather, and the field of 150 competitors from twenty-five schools set off to a very fast start along the first quarter-mile of the almost four-mile course. School runners wisely began at a more sensible pace, and after 200 yards Cruttenden was lying about thirty-fifth. As the place slowed after a mile, Bell of St. Dunstan's had a 20-yard -

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53

lead over the field, but was challenged and passed at 2 miles by Cruttenden, who went on to win by over 20 seconds in 21 minutes 16 seconds. With Hollingsworth and Gilham forty-eighth and fortyninth, the School could only secure tenth position in the team race.

School v. Eastbourne College and Tonbridge School Run at Eastbourne on Saturday, March 9. The match was run over a somewhat unusual course, including several dykes, over a mile of loose shingle, and a finishing stretch along Eastbourne Promenade. The restricted start along a narrow lane caused a fast start, notably

by Tonbridge. Cruttenden went into the lead after one mile, and despite running off course over the shingle, won comfortably. Hovell finished fifth, and after lying well back Gilham finished fast to take sixth place. Good packing by Tonbridge in places seven, nine, ten and eleven resulted in a close victory for them with 54 points, with the School 56 points and Eastbourne third with 64 points.

School v. Dover College Run at Dover on Wednesday, March 13.

The last match of the season resulted in a narrow win for the School over the hilly Dover course. In warm, windy weather, and with firm running conditions, the Dover team made a fast start, and at half way Cruttenden was in the lead with three opponents, and Hovell close behind, and a points check showed that the scores were level. On the second half of the course, a steep climb, a long flat stretch and a precipitous downhill finish, Hollingsworth and Gilham improved their positions to give the School a two points win by 38 points to 40.

THE SUTTONIAN

54

Fives Retrospect this term has been disappointing on the whole, although the courts were very F IVES often unplayable owing to bad sweating, which did not allow sufficient practice to be put in.

There was again this year very little to choose between the doubles pairs, Fenton and Archer, and White and Girard, but more serious practice would possibly have produced better results.

Both the Colts and Under-15's, winning three out of four and two out of three matches respectively, have had a successful season and hold great promise for the future.

We are, again, entering a team for the Public Schools Tournament at Whitgift during the holidays.

Fives Results School 1st and Under-16 IV v.

St. Dunstan's College, played in the School Courts on Wednesday, January 30.

Results : 1st IV lost by 100 pts.

(80-180). The Under-16 IV won (103-98).

School 1st and Under-16 IV. v.

Whitgift School, played at Whitgift on Wednesday, February 6. Results : 1st IV lost by 102 pts. (78-180). Under-16 IV lost by 35 pts. (137-172).

School 1st IV v. Old Dunstonians, played in the School Courts on Saturday, February 16. Results : 1st IV lost by 82 pts. (91-173).

School 1st and Under-16 IV v. Forest School, played in the School Courts on Wednesday, February 20. Results : 1st IV won by 109 pts. (181-72). Under16 IV won by 102 pts. (175-73).

School 1st IV v. The Jesters, played in the School Courts on Saturday, March 2.

Result : 1st IV lost by 81 pts. (99-180).

School 2nd and Under-15 IV v.

Whitgift School, played in the School Courts on Wednesday, February 6.

Results : 2nd IV lost by 103 pts.

(69-172). Under-15 IV won by 43 pts.

(162-119).

School 1st IV and Under-16 pair v.

Eastbourne College, played at Eastbourne on Saturday, March 9. Results : 1st IV lost by 39 pts. (103-142). Under-16 pair won by 13 pts. (69-56).

School 1st and Under-16 IV v.

St. Paul's School, played at St. Paul's on Saturday, February 9. Results : 1st IV lost by 68 pts. (104-172). Under-16 IV lost by 38 pts. (122-159).

House Matches

School 2nd and Under-15 IV v.

St. Paul's School, played in the School Courts on Saturday, February 9. Results : 2nd IV lost by 98 pts. (82-180). Under-15 IV lost by 39 pts. (121-159).

Westminster v. Lambe's, played on Wednesday, March 13. Result : Westminster won by 111 pts. (178-67).

Westminster v. St. Margaret's, played on Tuesday, March 26. Result : Westminster won by 82 pts. (174-92).

THE SUTTONIAN

M

55

Mr. J. W. Thomson R. J. W. Thomson has left after twenty-one years on the staff in order to take

up other work. He took part in many ways in the life of the School ; he achieved excellent results as coach to the Colts XV and was in charge of fives and golf, at which some boys have already shown proficiency, and of the Senior and Junior Scouts. He was also in the Choir and took leading parts in Staff plays. But his chief contribution was as housemaster of Lambe's House and as a painstaking teacher of Middle School Mathematics. He saw his House through the transition from Junior to Senior House and left it firmly established on an equality with the other Houses. These varied activities show what a big gap his departure has left.

OBITUARY Miss M. Abbott a regret which will be shared by very many Suttonians that we report I Ttheis with death of Miss Abbott at Blackpool last summer Miss Abbott was Head Housekeeper at the School from 1934 until 1947, and at the onset of the war, when faced with doubled work and a serious staff shortage, she managed swiftly and skilfully to adapt our internal economy to unaccustomed conditions.

She will be remembered, especially by those who were in Lambe's, for her ample cheerfulness and helpfulness ; by those with whom she worked for her friendship and easy co-operation ; and by a wider circle of those who enjoyed the cricket lunches and Christmas dinners which she delighted to produce, even in the most difficult times.

C.S.M. Norman Dumbrell

W

E record with deep regret the death on February 20 of C.S.M. Norman Dumbrell.

He was appointed P.S.I. and P.T. instructor in the September term of 1945, and for four years influenced greatly the careers of several generations of Suttonians in the J.T.C., later renamed C.C.F. He took up his appointment towards the end of the war after a hiatus of some terms, after a succession of part-time visiting serjeantsmajor, and inherited, where quartermaster's stores were concerned, a back-lag of confusion which he spared no effort to remedy. His kindliness of heart and general spirit of helpfulness may have belied the typical serjeant-major, but his attitude and never-failing wit did much to maintain the morale of the Corps in the difficult post-war period. He also gave much willing service in connection with athletics and swimming. When he had to resign as the result of an accident playing hockey for the R.W.K., it was many months before a suitable successor could be found.

There will be many Old Suttonians of the immediate post-war generations who will mourn his departure.

Gifts to the School D. J. Newell, 0.S.—a cheque to help with the purchase of musical instruments.

We shall be very glad of any more contributions towards this cause, as the cost of instruments is very high, and unless the School owns instruments for boys to play, it is difficult for their parents to let them start.

J. P. Wallis—a collection of coins of historic interest. Mr. Simpson would welcome any other gift of a similar nature.

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O.S. Notes Air Vice-Marshal M. L. Heath, O.B.E. (1926), Director-General of Personnel, has been appointed C.B. J. F. Tyack (1927) has been appointed Manager of the Westminster Bank, Fareham. Address : 50 West Street, Fareham, Hants.

T. N. Reid (1929), who has been in charge of the marketing of industrial and agricultural chemicals for the Shell Petroleum Co. in Turkey since 1953, hopes to be home on leave in June. Besides being Churchwarden and Secretary of the Crimean Memorial Church and on various committees, he has been Chairman of the Board of Governors of the English High School for Boys in instanbul.

W/Cdr. J. Ellis, 0.B.E., D.F.C. (1934), returned home from Cyprus last December.

He had been on the M.E. Planning Staff.

He is now at a Group H.Q. near Nottingham. Address : 11 Manor Way, Purley, Surrey.

After painting for several years in South, Central and East Africa, E. II. G. Knight (1934) returned to England last year and set up his studio in Brixham.

Address : Torcroft, North View Road, Brixham, Devon. Since his return, a painting by him of the Victoria Falls was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Rennie, High Commissioner for Rhodesia and Nyasaland, at the Royal Empire Society's Headquarters in London.

G. L. Thornhill (1938) returned from Baghdad last year and is working in London. Address : 108 Parkside Drive, Watford, Herts.

N. R. Lee (1939) has been appointed a J.P. for the County of Kent.

C. R. Wampach (1939) returned from Port Said before Christmas and is now in Singapore. Address : W.0.1 C. R.

Wampach, R.E., Asst. Officer i/c Stores, 3304 E.S.D., G.P.O., Singapore.

B. S. Berting (1940) got his commission a year ago as British Columbia Land Surveyor, and last summer directed a survey of a way across the Gulf islands to Vancouver Island from the mainland for the B.C. Telephone Co. He was expecting to open his own office at Ladner at the mouth of the Frazer River in January. He has met D. J. Rowlandson (1948) whose address is Suite 36, 1386 Nicola Street, Vancouver, B.C. G. H. Haggis (1942) is in the Physiology Department at Edinburgh University. Address : 31 Swanston Drive, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh.

D. 0. Hill (1947), who was at Charing Cross Hospital, has taken his degree of M.B., B.S. (London), and is now working as House Surgeon at Wembley Hospital.

D. J. H. Longford (1947) is House Physician at the City Hospital, Belfast.

U. D. Longford (1947) took his degree of B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1950, and his degree of M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. in 1953. After holding various appointments, he is now in the R.A.F. Medical Service.

R. A. Nation (1947) has been in Australia since March, 1955. He is married and has a daughter, Fiona, born in March, 1956. His home address is Flat 4, Norfolk House, 248 Pacific Highway, Lindfield, N.S.W. Lieut. J. H. Gardner, R.E., A.R.I.C.S. (1948), has been promoted Captain, and has been elected as an Associate of the Institute of Arbitrators. He is still serving in Cyprus. Capt. T. E. Grice, Royal Signals (1948), is also in Cyprus.

R. A. H. Still (1948) is Farm Manager at Dane Court Farm, Chilham. Address : Danehurst, Chilham, Canterbury.

THE SUTTONIAN A. R. Beadle (1949) is at Trinity College, Cambridge, taking a one-year post-graduate course in the Theory of Structures and Strength of Materials.

He hopes to meet other O.S. at Cambridge.

Address:: 171 Chesterton Road, Cambridge J. Burton (1949) has returned from Kenya. Address : 4 Elizabeth Square, Maidstone.

D. P. Jeffery (1949), having finished his National Service, has returned to Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd. He is working in the Technical Sales Department at the London Office. Address : 75 Foyle Road, Blackheath, S.E.3.

M. R. Marchant, Lieut., R.M. (1949), took part in the Port Said landings by helicopter with the R.M. Commando Brigade.

R. F. Mackay (Master, 1950-51) is a Senior Lecturer in the History Department at R.N.C., Dartmouth. Address : 7 Mt. Boone, Dartmouth, Devon.

J. A. Hobson (1952) has been married and is living in Boston where he is attending Medical School. The address we have for him is 1902 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Conn., U.S.A. A. M. Patton (1952) is now in his third year at Caius College, Cambridge, studying Natural Sciences, in particular Metallurgy.

2nd/Lieut. G. A. L. load, R.A. (1953), and Pte. P. G. Pendred (1952), Green Howards, have met in Hong Kong.

R. A. P. Hunt (1954) has passed into the Merchant Navy as an apprentice.

He has been at sea for a year. Address : Chapel House, Skirmett, Henley-onThames, Oxon. A. J. Slee (1954) passed into Sandhurst last December.

J. H. Thyne (1954) is now an Assistant Manager of the Jokai (Assam) Tea Co.

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Address : c/o Balmer Lawrie and Co., Ltd., 21 Metaji Subhas Road, Calcutta, C. D. Gerty (1955) played rugger for the Mediterranean Fleet during a short visit to Malta recently in H.M.S. Ark Royal. M. A. Maberly (1955), 2nd/Lieut., Royal West Kent Regt., was in Port Said and is now stationed in Cyprus.

C. R. G. Shaw (1955) expects to be back from Korea in June.

J. P. Gleave (1956) and J. H. Haynes (1956) were at the R.A.F. 0.C.T.U., Jurby, I.o.M., at Christmas. They are both A.P.O.'s Gleave's address is : Officers' Mess, R.A.F., North Luffenham, Oakham, Rutland.

O.S.A. Annual Dinner The sixty-ninth Annual General Meeting and Dinner will be held at the City Livery Club, Sion College, Blackfriars Embankment, on Monday, April 29, 1957.

The chairman is Bob Lillico (1917).

The dinner secretary is M. H. Barclay Jones, 262 Kirkdale, Sydenham, S.E.26.

Old Suttonian Conjurors The Annual Reunion was held in London on Tuesday, February 5 last.

The evening included dinner at the Chicken Inn, Leicester Square, followed by attendance at the second house of the Magic Circle concert at King George's Hall, W.C.1. The latter was through the kindness of Mr. Peter Newcombe, hon. secretary of the Magic Circle. Amongst the artists who appeared were Geoffrey.

Buckingham and Alan Alan, the escapologist. Those attending were A. D. C. Turner (1948), M. A. Holford (1954) and M. St. J. Candy (1952). It has been good news that the School Conjuring Club

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is in existence again. May all possible support and success attend them.

With reference to the letter in this magazine for the Summer Term, 1953, our news sheet has not been issued for over two years now ; also the Maskelyne shows, which used to be staged, both with and without him, do not now seem to take place.

M. ST. J. C. Births BARCLAY-JONES.—On February 2, 1957, at Masons Hill, Bromley, to Alison, wife of Martin H. Barclay-Jones (1945), a sister for Peter.

ROFFEY.—On February 4, 1957, to Audrey (nee Hucks), wife of P. W. H. Roffey (1940), a first son, Christopher Myles.

VERNON-SMITH.--On December 20, 1956, at Dundas, Ontario, to Ann (nee Bentley) and Vernon Vernon-Smith, a brother (David Mark) to John, Mary and James.

Marriages AYLWARD-ROBERTS.--On May 16, 1956, Peter G. Aylward (1937) to Wendy Roberts. Address : 89 Brookvale Road, Southampton.

LONGFORD - NICUD.—On December 8, 1956, at Cobham Parish Church, Kent, U. D. Longford (1917) to Suzanne Helene Yvonne, daughter of the late M. Rene Nicud, of Indo-China, and of Mme M. Le Moine, and step-daughter of Dr. M. Le Moine, of St. Brieuc, Cote du Nord, Brittany.

MACKAY-ALLEN.—On August 18, 1956, at St. Clement's Church, Dartmouth, R. F. Mackay (Master 1950-51) to Second Officer Alison F. Allen, W.R.N.S.

STILL-WRIGHT. In July, 1955, Richard A. H. Still (1948) to Mary Pamela Wright, of Tovil House, Maidstone.

Deaths DAVISON.—On March 8, 1957, C. G. Davison, O.B.E. (1895).

LONG.—On November 3, 1956, E. E. Long, C.B.E. (1893).

Old Suttonians' Association— New Members * Denotes life member *1956.—Aisher, P. A., Ballards, Ballards Lane, Limpsfield, Surrey. *1956.—Andrews, J. S., Dykehead, Berry Lane, Chorley Wood, Herts. *1956.—Archer, R. J. G., Springhill, Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead, Sussex. *1956.—Ayres, M. A. H., c/o Messrs.

Gray, Dawes & Co., Ltd., 122 Leadenhall Street, E.C.3. .—Bailey, E. E. (Master 1950-56), 2 Bursar's Court, Welbeck College, near Worksop, Notts. *1956.—Bailey, W. D., c/o Major W. A. R. Bailey, c/o Barclay's Bank, Ltd., High Street, Bognor Regis, Sussex. *1956.—Barrow, J. R. J., 40D Palace Street, Westminster, S.W.1. *1956.—Bateman, G. B., 14 Pembroke Square, London, W.8. *1956.—Bayram, J. W. D., 99 Putnoe Lane, Bedford. *1956.—Beechey, T. E., Arrowmead, Saxonwood Road, Battle, Sussex.

Centuries, R., *1956.—Benaim, Sonning, Berks. *1956.—Bone, B. D., 31 Brabourne Rise, Beckenham, Kent. *1956.—Burrell, L. W., Churchfield, 108 West Common Road, Hayes, Kent.

THE SUTTONIAN *1956.—Child, D. M., Coombe Side, Coombe Lane, Kingston, Surrey. *1956.—Clifford, R. D. M., Belvedere, Horsted Keynes, Haywards Heath, Sussex. *1956.—Coates, R. A., The Colonnade, Tenterden, Kent.

1956.—Dandy, R. A. C., Cadmore End, High Wycombe, Bucks. *1956.—Day, P. G. M., The Old Parsonage, Sutton Valence, Kent. *1948.—Downes, J. P., Le Vanquiedor, St. Martin's, Guernsey, C.I. *1956.—Edmonds, R. J., 44 Hayes Close, West Wickham, Kent. *1956.—Ellis, W. E., Abberley, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone. *1956.—Filmer, R. N., Manor Farm, Cliffe at Hoo, Kent. *1956.—Frost, D. A., 25 Lonsdale Drive, Enfield, Middlesex. *1956.—Furneaux, C. S. S., 94 Warwick Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

1955.—Gerty, C. D., High House Farm, Kenardington, Ashford, Kent. *1956.-4leave, J. P., Willow Bank, River Gardens, Bray, near Maidenhead, Berks. *1956.—Grimwade, P. A., Oaklands, HaWord Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex. *1956.—Harrison, N., Merrilees, Wayside, Chipperfield, Berks. *1956.—Hastings, J. B., The Upper House, Loosely Row, near Princes• Risborough, Bucks. *1956.—Haynes, J. H., Ripple Lodge, Ripple, Deal, Kent. *1956.—Hickmott, W. L., Woodlands, London Road, West Mailing, Kent. *1956.—Hills, P. J., Long Meadow Cottage, Harriott's Lane, Ashtead, Surrey.

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*1956.—Ingram, J. F. W., Cotswold, Peter Avenue, Oxted, Surrey. *1956.—Jenkins, T. M., Elm Cottage, Oakfield Lane, Dartford, Kent. *1956.—Johnson, J. C., Rose Cottage, Starrock Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. *1953.—Ladekarl, S., Jomsborg, Lykkesholms alte 12, Copenhagen, Denmark. *1956.—Longden, A. J., Woodbourne, Ashfield Lane, Chislehurst, Kent. *1956.—Maberly, D. J., Red Heugh, Sutton Valence, Kent. *1956.—Marlow, C. A., 48 Bromley Road, Southgate, N.14. *1956.—Mills, W., 14 Kirkside Road, Blackheath, London, S.E.3. *1956.—Nash, A. C., Erriott Wood House, Linsted, Sittingbourne, Kent. *1956.—Pangman, J. F., 46 Albert Court, Kensington, London, S.W.7. *1956.—Payn, J. S., Malaya, Daines Way, Thorpe Bay, Essex. *1956.—Pierce, W. F., Orchard Place, Great Comp, Borough Green, Kent. *1956.—Prior, C. M., St. Cross, Linton, near Maidstone, Kent. *1956.—Radford, R. J. M., Sussex Cottage, Gorse Hill Road, Virginia Water, Surrey. *1956.—Redman, M. J., 30 Mimms Drive, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Herts. *1956.—Robertson, D. K., 16 Addington Square, London, S.E.5. *1956.—Saunders, H. W., Ferndown, 9 Shelvers Way, Tadworth, Surrey.

1956.—Sharpe, J. L., Flat 1, 32 Arthur Road, Wimbledon Park, London, S.W.19. *1955.--Smyth, P. R., Abbey Cottage, West Mailing, Kent. *1956.—Tyley, R. J., 341 London Road, Maidstone, Kent. *1956.—Tyrrell, J. E., 105 Whitehall Lane, Gravesend, Kent.

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THE SUTTONIAN

Correspondence Dear Sir,—A curious state of affairs has existed for some time with regard to the system of giving colours. A few years ago it was apparently decided at a meeting of the Sports Committee (though not even this seems certain) that every member of a major sport team should receive his colours at the end of the season. This rule, it seems, was not to have applied to minor sports ; at any rate, it has not done so.

I do not wish to venture an opinion on the debatable point as to whether or not it is desirable to give the whole of a team its colours. I may, however, mention an incident related to me by a member of the Staff. He was playing club cricket in the summer and his team was one short.

Someone was found who said he was an Old Suttonian and a cricket colour, which was considered to be a good enough standard to fill the place. In the subsequent game his batting turned out to be poor and his bowling not much better.

Presumably, then, he had received his colours as a result of squeezing into a below-average School XI. The impression created, this master said, was naturally not at all favourable to the standard of cricket at Sutton Valence, which in recent years has been good.

This story, I should say, speaks for itself. It may be argued, though, that anyone who has represented his school at a major sport deserves some reward for doing so. Even if this is true, can there not still be some recognition for the outstanding players ? What would be the objection in rugger, say, of awarding colours to each team member and caps to the outstanding players ?

This is a subject on which I know many people share my views, and it would be interesting to see the Sports Committee's reactiop to them.

I am, Sir, Yours faithfully, G. J. A. HARDY.

Late News The following awards are announced :— Hardy, G. J. A., Robbins (close) exhibition, to St. John's College, Cambridge.

White, R. G., English Speaking Union Scholarship, to spend a year in a school in the U.S.A. White, R. H. H., Open major scholarship, to Trinity College, Oxford.

The birth is announced, on March 27, of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Simmons.

A report of the Baton Race will appear in next term's issue. The result was : 1st, Westminster ; 2nd, St. Margaret's ; 3rd, Lambe's ; 4th, Founder's.