THE SHIRBURNIAN M ichaelmas 1993

'A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. ' Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice

Editor: T. W. Scott Art Editor: K. T. Kassem Photographic Editor: G. R. Greenwood

Assistant Editors: S. J. Bernard, J. G. W. Conlin, W.R. Hadley, B. L. Russell

Photographs by: N. B. Ashfield, PP 3. 21. 24. 26. 21. 29 J .-M.P., PP Jo. 45, 46 B.A.B., p 1 D.J.R., p11 G. R. Greenwood, PP 11. 13, 14. 1s. 49. A.J.S., p 47 64-74 [cricket fric>.cl. 70, 73 J.B.T., psJ Mrs. P. Harris, PP 28, 31 P.M.H.W., p 11 S. D. Hunter, Esq., pso J. S. Wright, Esq., p41 T. Kaneko, P 19

Artwork by: C . A. de Lisser, PP 9, n G. R. Greenwood, p61 H. R. Wood, pn

Printed by Shel/eys, Sherborne implications of our actions. Boys are far more Editorial likely to comprehend fully what the School has done for them, and to realize just how good it has The town of Sherborne is steeped in a history been, after they have left. (A testament to this is the which stretches from the days of the Norman high number of Old Shirburnians who send their Conquest, when it was owned by the highest sons here.) nobleman in England, Roger of Salisbury, and Despite this, 1 feel that boys should show a more beyond, when it was little more than a monastic obvious pride in what is a very good school. Shir­ community. Thjs School is very much a part of that bumians who have experience of other public heritage, and remains to this day an integral part of schools invariably claim that, overall, this is the the town community. Moreover, Sherbome is an best to which they have been. It does, of course, inherently beautiful town. At its centre is the have some faults, as does every school, but what is dominating presence of the Abbey. The School has so good about Sherbome it that it does take been built up around this magnificent, archetypal positive steps to eradicate them. example of Gothic architecture, via the There are, of course, examples of genume construction of the Courts. There are many visitors school pride being displayed, such as the who come simply to admire the view of the rear of tremendous support given at I st XV matches, but the Abbey. bordered by the Chapel, the BSR and even this has been known to degenerate to an School House, complemented by the dash of colour unacceptably low level of behaviour. So I ask all provided by the carefully preserved lawns. As any boys at Sherbome to stop and reflect on our first-time visitor will confirm, this picture is situation and consider the institution which stands stunning, and we are hugely privileged to be able to around us and of which we are all a part. We should Jive in such an environment. I believe that the vast be proud to belong to the line of boys that the majority of Shirburnians do appreciate this School has produced through the generations, and panoramic feast whenever their busy schedule gives make an effort to impress visitors, not just with our them a moment to stop and reflect on their buildings but with ourselves. surroundings. A school of Sberborne's stature is not, however, mainly dependent on its buildmgs, but on its pupils. One of the consequences of the School's being so embedded i.n the infrastructure of the town of Diary Sherborne is that it automatically becomes a centre of attention, open to the scrutiny of many. And people do take notice of what they see and hear My work is not a piece of writing designed to about the School, no matter whether it is unfair or meet the taste of an immediate public, but was unfounded. As a result, therefore, we, the boys, are designed to last forever. Thucydides on show and it is our responsibility to behave in Unlike Thucydides, my intention is purely to accordance with the demands of civilised gratify the tastes of an immediate public and to last behaviour. This especially includes the qualities of no longer than it takes to read. So read on and tidiness and general politeness. These two are vital allow me to bring to your thoughts some memories and should be a matter of personal pride, not just of the Trinity Tenn, 1993. at school but all of the time. Whilst at school, This was the term that saw classy action on the however, this pride takes on an added dimension, cricket fields, the expertise of the sailors, the efforts colloquially known as 'school pride'. of the athletes and the last of the Upper Sixth, We should care what people think of us and the (amongst other things, naturally). The 1st XI, led School. There have been several occasions this term by Jerry Costello, enjoyed a vintage season, losing alone when I have felt thoroughly embarrassed to only three out of ten matches. Five players deserve be a member of the School, thanks to actions of special mention for being awarded their colours - some of my contemporaries, for there is a tendency Messrs. Costello, Cossins, Rankine, Garrett and among some to be particularly anti-establishment Firebrace, especially Jeff Garrett who scored the minded. Many boys become funnelled into this line only century of the team. The sailors proved that of thinking through a desire not to be considered they, too, have certain talents by not only winning 'different' from their peers (a subject covered by the Datchet Trophy (the first time that it has ever my predecessor last term). Admittedly, this derives been presented) at the National Championships, partly from the rebellious nature of the young, but also knocking out one of the best teams in the which is a healthy attribute, allowing our society to country - King Edward's. However, for all the develop normally. Likewise, it is only human details I strongly advise that you read SK W's report nature that we do not always fully appreciate the a few pages on. The athletes also deserve some complimentary the Shrew, the Abbey House play, and finally the words, with the likes of Jason Cox and Rick unforgettable Commemoration presentation of The Williams making it to the Nationals for their Canterbury Tales. The Schola Musicae also laid on running and jumping skills respectively. But, of many concerts throughout the term to entertain us course, there were many others who no doubt and others, both nationally and internationally. performed dazzlingly in their various sports, such There were concerts for many different as tennis, squash, fives and many more. Sadly, I instruments, including piano, woodwind, strings, know nothing of them, so let us proceed onward brass and percussion, all of which were with the other news. immaculately performed. However, the laurels It is quite certain that last term will go down in must go to the Swing Band who undertook a very the annals of the School as one which harvested successful tour to Bermuda, and, by all accounts, some of the best ever A level results. With a 970Jo knocked the hair off the island with a number of pass rate, of which 5711/o were A-B grades and 800Jo old hits, which gained them standing ovations A-C grades, the chances of the present Upper Sixth everywhere. bettering it are equal to those of Robbie Coltrane This too was the term that was, sadly, to see the achieving a 32" waist. However, we will do our best last of RACK, MLM, AGFF, JPW and CJW. to disprove Mr, Lapping's dictum that 'nothing is Their services to the School were many and various, overcomeable'. The GCSE grades were of the usual and memories of them all will remain with us for expected high standard. Many of the candidates many years to come; we wish them all the best in gained straight As, some of them in up to twelve whatever they are doing now and wherever they different subjets. might be. Moving swiftly on to further events and achieve­ Well, there it is - the Trinity Term, 1993, (as I ments, we arrive at the world of the arts. Both remember it). And as Captain Scott wrote, as the drama and music played major rOles in the Trinity last entry in his diary: Term and attracted rave reviews. On the acting front we saw the Junior play, Unman, Wittering It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write any more. and Zigo, directed by SKW and starring several budding young actors. Then there was a magical performance by Richie Walker in The Taming of The Sherborne Diarist .. The Chronicle

Academic Cambridge Places The following have gained places at Cambridge on the basis of their A level results. House Name College University Course b M. J. Bawtree Christ's Music d M. C. Geddes Magdalene Land Economy d M. R. King Emmanuel Mathematics m T . Yasaki Gonville and Caius Mathematics Three or more A grades at A level House Name A levels e B. V. Bennett Ancient History, Latin, History h C. A. de Lisser Art, Ancient History, English Literature m C. J. S. Donald Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry b R. J. Forrest French, Latin, History b B. C. Hawkins Ancient History, History, Religious Studies g A. Ishida Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics d M. R. King Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics b E. J. K. Lee Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics h T. G. Rankine French, Spanish, History m D. P. Reid History, French, Mathematics e A. D. Sawle Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics g C. J. Smart Latin, French, Mathematics m T. A. J. Williams English Literature, French, Latin m T. Yasaki Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry Certificates of Excellence The following were awarded Certificates of Excellence by the Oxford and Cambridge Schools' Examination Board in recognition of outstanding performance in an A level syllabus. House Name A warded for: b M. J. Bawtree Music e B. V. Bennett JACT Ancient History 7 or more A grades in GCSE or Additional Examinations Number of A grades Name 12 P. C.H. Harvey (g), A. E. M. Lewis (f), J. H. Neill (e) 11 B. J. Harrild (a), N. J. Henderson (f), B. R. LaidJow (b), M. T. Porter-Davison (c) 10 M. J. Cox (m), E. D. L. S. Havard (f), J. R. Mead (h). P. T. R. Mosse (a), G. R. Shaw (f) 9 T. J. Ambrose (h), W. P. W. Bristow (g), M.A. M. Buchanan (f) A. P. McAllister (b), R. J. Moncreiff (m), A. D. Nurton (m) 8 N. R. de Mestre (g), C. A. J. Martin (m), A. F. D. Siggers (e), 0 . J. W. Smallwood (g), D. E. Wallis (a), J. W. J. Warren (d) 7 E. A. Bellew (e), M. R. Candler (a), R. A. C. Fidgen (a), R. M. Tutt (a) Internal A wards The following have won internal awards as a result of their performance within the School and at GCSE: Scholarship House Name f A. E. M. Lewis Exhibitions House Name h T. J. Ambrose m M. J. Cox b A. P. McAllister a P. T. R. Mosse m A. D. Nurton f G. R. Shaw d J. W. J. Warren

A.H. Cruise (g) and E. J. W. Moyse (f) have been awarded U.C.L. Sixth Form bursaries for Science and Engineering.

Music The following were awarded distinctions in Associated Board Examinations: House Name Instrument Grade Mark f 0. C. Gibbs Organ 5 140 a 0. N. Bednall Harpsichord 7 134 f H. J. E. Shirley Piano 7 132 g R. E. Carvell Piano 7 130

Sport Oicket: E. T. Elliot-Square (g): Dorset Ul5

Hockey: S. J. Hill (h) and B. J. Scott (c): West of England UJ6 assessment squad. B. J. Scott (c) and M.A. Shearer (b): West of England Ul5 assessment squad. M. A. Hammond-Giles (m): Dorset UJ8. S. J. HiJI (h), T. J. Scott (c), J. L.B. Cheung (f), B. J. Scott (c), M. J. Simon (m): Dorset U/6. M. A. Shearer (b), C. P. R. Prentis (d), D. P. Reece-Smith (b): Dorset Ul4.

Athletics: M. J. Cox (m) ran the IOOm in the National Championships at Blackpool, achieving a time of 11.2 seconds in the second round.

~neral

J. W. J. Warren (d) was selected as best Section Commander at the Royal Marines' Cadet Training Course during the summer.

Compiled from information supplied by the Headmaster, Housemasters, the Director of Music and the Masters in Charge of Sport. .. R.A.C.K.

Roger Ketley and 'We are sending you to Sherbome,' said my Supervisor at the Department of Education in the Geography Department Cambridge who was organising the allocation of student teachers. 'There is a good man there called To commemorate Roger Kelley and his years of Kelley. You'll learn a lot from him.' How prophetic service to Sherbome School, the Geography those words in 1968 were. I wrote to Sherbome to Department hosted a celebration dinner on Friday, make contact, visited Sherbome at short notice at 21st May, 1993, in the Old Schoolroom. It was a the end of a busy term and was entertained warmly tribute to Roger that so many past members of staff by Roger and Andrea before leaving with my and pupils were able to attend. teaching schedule for the following term. The latter C.V.J.F. was meticulous. The time-table was generous but demanding, beginning with three periods a week and ending with thirty. There were names of all those in the sets and advice to learn them; the topics to be taught in some detail; the books I was to use; notification of the Comish field trip to which I was invited, plus lots of practical, sensible tips and advice. It was my first taste of this good man Kelley's organisation. 'Oh yes,' said the follow up letter from this man, ' I've arranged accom­ modation for you in the town, so you don't have to bother with that and if Jane wants to come to visit she can stay with Andrea and me.' Many people reading this will have felt cossetted in the same way at their arrival in Sherbome and thereafter, by RACK. In the last twenty-five years, none of that has changed and in consequence it is almost impossible to know where to begin to catalogue Roger Kelley's contribution to Sherborne. Following his National Service, RACK earned his degree at the University of London followed by a Certificate of Education at Queen's College, Cambridge. He then taught for several years at Latymer Upper School in London - 'Well, Andrea was in London and it meant I could go on playing for Rosslyn Park' - before coming to Sherborne to join W. A. Cooper's Geography Department in 1961. Since then, barely an aspect of School life was not in RACK's charge at some time or another, often many simultaneously, entailing a formidable workload and clear-thinking innovation. Yet, whatever other duties may have occupied his mind, RACK was first and foremost a teacher of classroom priorities, and woe betide The photograph represents 159 years of geography pupils who didn't absorb quickly the need for teaching at the School. From left to right, bottom to top, classroom discipline. Even if he had been teaching they are: W. A. Cooper (1952-83), R. A. C. Ketley all day in Room 25, RACK's room at the end of it (1961-93), M. R. G. Earls-Davis (1954-86), J. R. J. Burrows (1968-72), D. P. Jones (1971-), all was as immaculate and tidy as at the start of the R. A . W. Sharp (1963-68), K. L. Millar (1990-), day. Generations of Geography teachers teaching S. Tommis (1980-), G. J. L. Kene (1984-89), next door to him, separated by only a thin, sound­ N. W. Lawson (1984-89), C. V. J. Ferrario (1987-) and amplifying door, have had their thoughts distracted B. A. Bayman (1991-, taking the photograph). by some interesting point being made - and .. learnt - next door, before those same ideas were meticulously prepared XV. It was a lesson not incorporated in their own teaching. As a practical forgotten, nor the score. During these early days, exponent of teaching RACK was beyond com­ Roger ran the School Exams from 1965-69 and also pare; his blackboard work put to shame the the Blue Book and the White Book for many years. indecipherable scrawls seen elsewhere; film strips, In the middle of all this, he was appointed Head of slides, latterly videos, were incorporated into all Department in 1966 and those in the School had lessons (not, you understand, the whole thing confirmed for them RACK's ability to hold down shown from start to end, but carefully selected several important jobs at once. From 1966-74, snippets used to illustrate particular points); a despite whatever else he may have been doing, the bottomless well of newspaper cuttings, evidence of Department became the focal point of RACK's an indefatigable search for the latest and most energies even, dare I say it, when he became appropriate data; map extracts carefully prepared Housemaster of Lyon in 1969. Not surprisingly, the (not much 'off the cuff' teaching in Room 25); and Department gained a national reputation for the a life transformed by the advent of the O.H.P. quality of its teaching and the pupils that emerged Suffice it to say that if RACK 's collection of from it. All who have foUowed RACK as Heads of transparencies came up for auction, members of the the Department would want to be first to say that, Department, past and present, would be first in the without ever interfering, he always managed to queue to bid for the fabulous resource, totally up­ keep them on their toes and retained, right up to his to-date, with the added value of the knowledge of final Department meeting, a constant Peter Pan­ the countless hours spent in their careful like enthusiasm, rigour and up to the minute preparation. knowledge of geographical trends in education - If what has been written is not evidence enough and not just for Geography either. So, first and of a superbly organised and committed foremost, a teacher of Geography, his contribution Geographer, then RACK's rOJe elsewhere within to the School's department was awesome. the Department surely would be. In the early days it When, in 1969, RACK succeeded to Lyon was volunteering the School to help Alice House, it was at a time of great autonomy amongst Coleman's National Land Use Survey, the most the Houses and Central Feeding not yet in comprehensive since the Domesday Book. Each existence. In no time Lyon earnt for itself a weekend saw RACK and the Sherborne reputation as a tightly run ship, where discipline Geographers out in the field and never before or and order prevailed and, true to the Lyon tradition, since were Lydlinch and Sturminster Newton so no Housemaster could have been more parochial in meticulously examined and recorded. Then there the interests of his boys. Needless to say, not all the was the pioneering of field work and field days in a boys saw it like that at the time, but perhaps they school not accustomed to the practice. Battles had might reflect on the varied and extensive load to be fought and RACK won them and today every carried by RACK. Typically, RACK gave Lyon his Department takes field days for granted and all and immersed himself in running the House and benefits from them. There were holiday field work also beginning the refurbishment programme which weeks (sorry, TRB, we've been doing these things culminated in the building of the 'Sweat House' fifteen years before you came to Sherbome!) not at just before he left the House. Small wonder that official study centres, but elsewhere, where the Andrea would occasionally lock him away, programme was designed by, taught by and unavailable to anyone, to enable breath to be followed up by the Department, tailor-made for the drawn and sanity to prevail. Housemastering was requirements of RACK's Department. Under him not easy during this turbulent period of the late the Geography Department grew in numbers and sixties and early seventies, but ask RACK about not just numbers but numbers of clever boys taking these years and it is clear that he loved the House the subject at A Level, and the Oxbridge awards and especially the humour and idiosyncracies of his began to flow. Staffing in the Department boys, especially the 'characters', the annual Lyon expanded to meet the demand, recruitment ·House plays, contests on the games field, all of carefully undertaken and always sensitive to the which formed the bread-and-butter of school­ wider demands of the School. mastering. Any special moments? It is perhaps At this time there were clear signs of his appetite typical that RACK recalls the year when, never for schoolmastering. From 1961 he was Westcott's having won Seniors, the House seemed destined to House Tutor in the days when Houses had only one do so because the entire XV came from Lyon ... to do the work now done by many. From 1961-67 'and then the weather froze so hard the entire he put military experience to good use when he was competition was cancelled'. It is a tale he tells in charge of B Company of the then compulsory often, accompanied by gales of laughter at the and much larger CCF. His beloved rugby was not irony of it all. neglected either and from 1961-71 he ran the Colts In 1971, in his early days in Lyon, RACK was XV and well I recall bringing a fancied team from also made Director of Studies. It was a new job for Downside in 1968 only to go back again beaten by a which no job description existed, but RACK was prepared for this. Previously Secretary to the the School had it not been for the thoroughness and Public and Preparatory Schools' Section of the attention to detail with which they were conducted. GA, an 0-Lcvel examiner, a Committee Member of By this time, RACK was speaking with great weight the Schools' Council Geography Project and on the and authority, hardly surprising in view of the wide Standing Joint Committee for Oxford and cam­ range of his experiences. bridge 0 and A Level exams, RACK's experience Always with an eye to the wider world, RACK 's was already considerable. It is arguable that this outside commitments grew apace. In 1985 he r6le saw the right man in the right place more than became a member of the MEG Examining at any other in his time at Sherbome. The time­ Committee and, in the same year, a member of the table and curriculum were re-organised and new Oxford and Cambridge Examining Board. Insights subjects were introduced. If RACK would have gained from these involvements were used to keep liked some of these changes to go further, that they Sherbome fully abreast of national education didn't was more a reflection of his courtesy than his policy and, fittingly, in 1990 RACK was put in Jack of vision. charge of the School Curriculum Committee at a Then, in 1982, came the invitation to become time of greater education reform than any time Second Master, a surprise to no-one. If he was busy since R. A. Butler's Education Act. Countless before, how much more so now and for a while he hours in Sherborne and beyond were spent was simultaneously Second Master, Housemaster hammering out policies and it was no wonder that of Lyon and in the process of handing over RACK's skiJls in committee became the envy of all. Director of Studies. It is hard to envisage such a Such experience and wisdom gained wider burden being borne by one person again. Wisely, in recognition and in 1991 he was invited to join the 1983, RACK retired from Lyon House a year early panel of the Independent Appeals Authority for after fourteen ye.ars in the 'West End'. It was an School Exams. emotional farewell which took by surprise those Then, in the midst of this hectic life, came the who had not seen deeper than the surface of the Children Act. Whom else would the Headmaster man and were unaware of the emotion and want to turn to on such a sensitive issue? In sentiment normally kept well under control. typically thorough, careful and detaiJed manner, RACK began as Second Master to Robin the central issues for the School were identified, the Macnaghten and, in time, was to oversee the staff thoroughly briefed, difficulties addressed retirement of RDM and the appointment and squarely and regular contact maintained with the induction of Peter Lapping. Both men could not be Dorset Social Services. Eventually the formal more fulsome in their praise and gratitude for inspection took place, which proved over­ RACK's wise counsel, impeccable loyalty and whelmingly favourable, but the recommendations absolute discretion. Indeed, on three lengthy made were noted, acted upon and another aspect of occasions in 1987, 1990 and 1991, he was to act as school life was put in order. Yet there was still time Headmaster and it is significant that after the to present a paper to the staff on education longest period, an entire term, the Senior Common philosophy past, present and future, a paper whose Room saw fit to present him with a decanter and understanding and vision was the talk of the glasses in appreciation of the care he had taken of Common Room for weeks and is still in the back of them during this time. Meanwhile, RACK set most minds as a model for the future. Perhaps now about bringing order to a considerable range of was the time more than any other when it began to jobs and practices that had developed in an dawn on the Common Room what a gulf wouJd be idiosyncratic way in Sherborne and, fresh from the left with RACK's retirement and both affection job and aware of the conflicts and omissions and and respect for him increased still further. Official pressures of the r6le, he put the job descriptions farewells were as many and as warm as those of and contracts of Housemasters on a proper footing individuals, but I suspect that none will have meant for the first time. He didn't stop there, of course, as much to him as a gathering of all the colleagues and very soon no aspect of school life that needed who had taught with him in the Department since an overhaul or a review escaped his attention. The 1961 and former pupils, al a formal dinner. School Rules were rewritten, as was the Masters' RACK's speech saw him at his best - meticulous Book; codes of practice were laid down for every­ in expression, warm and light in touch, kind and thing from running a disco to BSR seating and very generous in spirit, a keen sense of humour and as soon anyone wanting to organise anything in the sensitive and charming a chief guest as be had been School found it prudent to check with him host on numerous occasions in the past. before.hand to avoid pitfalls and clashes seen by few It was hard to begin, how much harder to draw others. Co-ordination with the Girls' School, too, to a close with so much unsaid? Perhaps it is the became formalised and far more efficient. Such vignettes of the years that say the most. There was comprehensive reviews might have caused unrest in RACK's boyish excitement at singing in Dorset

IC Opera - 'You want to see my costume; it's M.L.M. great!'; the indefatigable companion/ teacher on field days - 'No, we are not finishing early. No, I'm not sunburnt because my life has been trans­ formed since Factor 32'; the enthralling speaker in the BSR, Junior Chapel or the Abbey (who will forget his farewell address?); the command of public occasions - prizes at Commem., quieting the BSR with a snap of fingers, collecting hedgehogs introduced into the Abbey Service by an errant prankster; the lover of Southern France and of modern poetry; the green anoraked figure always at the comer of the nets on the Upper for !st XV matches, supportive and analytical and charitable to players and coaches alike; the teacher described by a former pupil as 'the definitive schoolmaster'; the absolute family man sharing equal devotion and support with Andrea and loving and supportive always to Helena and Nicolas. We hear that he has just been appointed to the Dorset County Probation Board - a fresh challenge yet again and Sherborne too has probably not received the last of RACK's many contributions to the School. Perhaps the last word should be with him. At the start of this term each member of the Department received in the post from France detailed field sketches and extremely useful nood data following a deluge in Provence, 'I've just been recording this and I thought you might find it useful. Good luck next term, I'll be thinking of you. Roger.'

D.P.J. Michael and Dora Morton came to Sherborne in the spring of 1967 from Eastbourne and since then have played the fullest possible part in the life of Sherborne, both town and gown. First and foremost, Mike was a mathematician. He has been a kingpin in a highly successful department and has contributed much to the high and sustained level of achievement of that department, his particular qualities being a love of his subject, a deep concern for the welfare of those be bas taught, and patience. There has always been spare time for a pupil when the need has been apparent. But the academic was only one part of his contribution to the life of the School. He has always been a stalwart supporter of and performer in Dorset Opera from its inception, has sung in the Musical Society, and, at the other end of the spectrum, has been organiser-in-chief of countless SYCOSS concerts which have raised thousands of pounds for the cause. He was, for many years, also House Tutor of the former waiting house of Elmdene, under David Oldham, and subsequently helped in the same r61e in Abbeylands and School House. .. The Social Services in the School for many years and lively township and here too Mike has always simply was Michael Morton and be gave many been to the fore. He served as a Liberal Councillor years also to careers - many an 0.S. owes to bim in the newly formed West Dorset District Council, his place at University when, having fallen a point and on both the Sherborne Urban District Council or two short in A levels, he went, in MLM's holiday and its successor, the Sherborne Town Council, of course, to the man whose skill and know-bow being twice Mayor. He has been an active member ever found a way. Those of us whose memories go of Rotary and latterly its President. He was a back specially far will remember, too, his running Founder Member of the Sherborne Twinning of the Pound, (situated in what is now the Association and for three years its Chairman - Reference Library) and which supplied boys and and still serves on its Committee as well as on the masters with their stationery requirements, a Sherborne Douzelage Committee. He played for peculiarly demanding task. the town cricket side, too. The games fields fell equally within Mike's Dora has been no less omnipresent, involved for purview. Soccer has not always been as acceptable long in Marriage Guidance Counselling, teaching at at Sherborne as it is now and in those far-off days St. Aldhelm's School and, more recently, as Mike was the advocate and organiser of this sport, Housemistress of Mulliner. At the end of the day, which he ran with his usual acumen, efficiency and and it has been a long and sunny day, what has friendliness. To the end, too, he was involved in counted most is a couple for whom everyone, be cricket, latterly chiefly with the Lower, and saw the they town or gown, has always had a good word, Third and Fourth Xis through to ever-successful whom everyone counts as friends and knows they seasons. For his colleagues, it is his bowling for the can be counted on. Happily, they will remain in the Bow House team that will be remembered above town, and doubtless active too, after Mike's all. Year in, year out, unsuspecting opponents have retirement and we shall continue to see plenty of been befuddled by his slow, flighted guile, and to them. But not, alas, so much of Mike in the School, their chagrin. On one occasion in bis last season the man who was perhaps one of the best with JJB bowling at the other end, the combined Housemasters that Sherborne never had. ages of the attack amounted to 117 - and, at this level at least, Millfield were beaten! J.J.B. So much activity would have been enough for most, but Sherborne School is part of a vigorous

A.G.F.F.

With his dual nationality, l was never very He and Leigh arrived at Sherborne in September certain whether Geoff was born in England or 1984 and immediately impressed everyone by their Australia: but, at least I know now; he was born in warmth, friendliness and willingness to join Zimbabwe! His education, though, was Australian wholeheartedly in the life of the School. Not for and, having graduated at the Australian National ·them a period of suspicious reconnaissance of the University, he moved to Melbourne University to shallow end of Sherborne life: instead, it was the do his Master of Science degree. Education, plunge into the deep end of full involvement. Geoff though, was in his blood, with three generations of has many qualities, but it is his ability as a Headmasters preceding him in the family; and communicator which immediately created an therefore it was with a ready understanding of the impact on the School. His broadly based Natural pitfalls of the job that he decided to join the Science degree may not have been the ideal prelude teaching profession. At the same time, he decided to A level Chemistry teaching, but any problems he to forsake the Australian sun for the icy blasts of might initially have experienced were soon washed Edinburgh where he taught for three years before away by the skill and enthusiasm with which he seeking the mellower, damper climes of South West communicated new ideas. As a colleague in the England. department, he was always cheerful, supportive and

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- - ~ ~ ~ ··-..... willing to think constructively about the future ll is, of course, as housemaster of Wallace from development of the subject. 1987- 1993 that he will be best remembered at In the classroom and outside it, he had the Sherborne. He is the youngest housemaster ever to indefineable knack of commanding instant respect have been appointed at the School, and this, in without ever being seen as an oppressive threat. itself, bears witness to the quality of the man. There This was aJways particularly evident in the way in was never any doubt about the way in which Leigh which he dealt with the age old problem of the and Geoff cared for the boys in the house: it was untucked shirt: he never shirked the responsibility aJways an open, friendly society in which com­ of admonishing a boy but, since there was never munication at all levels was consistently any malice in the command, the shirt was always encouraged. ln days gone by the door between the adjusted cheerfully. boys' side and the private side in boarding houses For a number of years he ran the 2nd XV, was not only a physical divide, but also a con­ combining skill, enthusiasm and humour in his siderable psychological barrier between coaching so that boys who played during that era housemaster and boys. This, though, has never wiU undoubtedly remember that they enjoyed their been the case in Wallace, either during the Barker senior rugby at Sherborne. or the Fisher regime. Boys in the house knew that As soon as Geoff arrived at the School, he there was a genuine welcome for them on the became a house tutor in Abbeylands: his popularity private side and that problems would be addressed was immediate because boys enjoyed his company sympathetically and with care for the individuaJ and, with the unerring discernment that the young rather than just the corporate body. In any possess, they sensed that he really cared about housemaster's life, difficult and unpleasant them. So much so, that, when he became house­ decisions occasionally have to be taken, but no one master of Wallace, some asked him whether they could doubt the care Geoff took over each decision, could still keep the same tutor. The answer was, of nor the hurt that he inflicted on himself, when course, yes, despite everything that needs to be particularly unpleasan1 judgements had to be made. done as a new housemaster. Not only was the door on the private side of .. Wallace open for all the boys, but it was a haven for J.P.W. many members of the staff and their wives. In particular, the younger members of the common room could find a housemaster who was neither balding nor grey, with whom they could share their problems. During their time in WaJJace both their children, Charles and James, were very young and it was typical of the Fisher generosity of spirit that Leigh set up a mothers and toddlers group in WaJJace so that staff wives and children could aJJ meet together. Leigh's contribution to the life of Sherborne School was inestimable and far above that expected of a housemaster's wife: house­ keeper, matron, tennis coach, make-up artist and hockey umpire were just a few of the roles she filled. Most houscmasters like to give the impression that they are busy day and night; and much too overstretched to take on extra commitments, but Geoff still found the energy to take an Advanced Diploma of Educational Management through the Open University. His skills in this area and his insistence on the importance of pastoral care were of great benefit as he put forward constructive and imaginative ideas in housemasters' meetings. The leadership course developed for prefects owed a good deal to his ideas and organisation. In this day and age, when the right to privacy is regarded as an important concept, many house­ masters use the holidays as a time to recharge batteries, unencumbered by the sight and sound of anything connected with Sherborne. The Fishers, indeed, bought a retreat in Brittany - but retreat is entirely the wrong word. Countless people involved with the School have already stayed there When Julian left Sherborne as a boy in 1974 he and many more have received a warm invitation. In was destined to follow the family tradition of a their language, be it Australian or English, 'do successful career in the Services. Sadly for them, come and stay' really means precisely that, and is but fortunately for the teaching profession, he was not the platitudinous and insincere parting shot of invalided out of the Navy in 1981 having completed so many people in this country. Now they take their a degree in Electrical Engineering at the Ro~al skills to Cairo, where Geoff has been made Head­ Naval Engineering College at Plymouth. After two master of the British International School: but they highly successful years at Rugby he was lured back will not be lost to us, because, with their generous, to his old School in 1984 to join the Physics welcoming spirit, there is little doubt that the path Department. to their door in Cairo will be just as well trodden as By 1986 he was appointed Head of Physics and the approach to their house in France. Geoff, it was through his drive and initiative that the Leigh, Charles and James take with them our School later adopted the Nuffield approach. His warmest, best wishes. involvement as a GCSE Examiner and Coursework Moderator, the National School Physics Group I.R.E. Founding Committee and the Association for Science Education ensured that he and his department were at the forefront of the developments in Physics education. Julian brought a freshness and an enthusiasm to the teaching of Physics and this, combined with his considerable administrative and organizational skills, ensured that he was a much respected teacher at aJJ levels. But Julian was a classic example of the difference

IC between the schoolteacher and the schoolmaster. C.J.W. His involvement in school life extended far beyond the confines of the Kelvin Lab. Coaching on the Upper, hockey, windsurfing, Adventurous Training, Ten Tors, tutoring in Harper, Lyon and The Green, and the CCF were but a few of his many activities. The knowledge and firsthand experience he brought to the Naval Section ensured a steady stream of boys into the CCF and then on into the Royal Navy itself. Julian was the obvious successor to John Riley as Officer Commanding a Combined Cadet Force which was short of young officers. Within two years he had persuaded several members of the Common Room to exchange the tranquility of Wednesday Afternoon Activities for a more demanding involvement in the CCF. One of Julian's particular interests was the development of leadership skills. A trial run on Salisbury Plain was quickly followed by a highly successful Prefects' Course in North Devon and his involvement with the Post-16 Life Skills Diploma further emphasised his belief in education in the widest sense. Many will remember Julian as the schoolmaster who was quick to discard the jacket for the pullover, who valued custom and tradition at the appropriate time, but had little sympathy for old fashioned and outdated concepts. Many boys were grateful for his concern and support as a tutor, his genuine interest and belief in them as individuals and his indefatigable energy. In the Common Room Julian and Buff will be remembered for their enduring friendship, for the importance they placed on family life, for their flamboyant dancing and for the love of parties. San Paulo wiU be one more Robert Prance once described Christian White challenge which Julian, Buff and the girls will face as 'an Elijah figure', and this comparison with a together. They will enjoy it, because they have a fiery Old Testament prophet is a fruitful one: like zest for life which is infectious and unquenchable. Elijah, Christian feh passionately about things, and convention did not deter him from speaking out, M.J.H. either to colleagues or boys, on matters that moved him: injustice and unfairness, tradition for tradition's sake, inefficiency and wasted effort. There are frustrations in an environment such as ours and Christian was someone who articulated them very clearly, both vocally and on paper. As with Elijah's ministry, so too with Christian's time here, there were peaks and troughs; like the prophet, Christian possessed courage' and vision; and as with Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Christian must have felt at times to be a lone voice. He was indeed a very singular young man when he arrived at Sherborne from Keble College, Oxford, at the age of twenty-one. He was possessed of great talent in his own academic field; Dr. Rowell, his chaplain at Oxford, spoke of his great promise. There was never any doubting Christian's commitment to high standards and academic .. rigour. This bore fruit in successful and the occupants of rooms 11 and 12. His musical inspirational A level teaching and the results are talent was often in demand at house concerts and there to prove it. More illuminating were comments house services, and he gave generously of his time. from pupils such as Alistair Harris (a former Head He ran the St. John's Choir and assisted with of School) who cited Christian's teaching as a sectional rehearsals in Music Society; he became a major spur to 'Oxbridge': he is now reading guest conductor of the Sherborne Chamber Choir. Theology at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. T here was an interesting mix of 'town and gown' in Christian's intellectual capacities were brought Christian's activities at Sherbome; he wanted to be to bear on departmental matters, and Christian involved in the community as a whole, and he proved a good foil to Paul Carling at the depart­ contributed much to both spheres. mental lunches. He was a most effective presence at Christian's musical talent brought him into Sheppards Meetings, with some challenging contact with many, as also did his culinary skills. questions and illuminating insights. His talk at He was a most generous host and many boys 'Symposium', eotitled 'Human Nature and the enjoyed teas and suppers, whether they were Gospel of False Freedom', provoked lively members of the St. John's Choir, spiritual tutees, discussion amongst such luminaries as Messrs. house tutees, or others such as the 'Chordwanglers' Lloyd and Barker. (Christian's Barbershop group which delighted In terms of departmental contribution, audiences at the Leavers' Ball and at Community Christian revamped the internal examinations, Service tea parties). Certainly I always enjoyed his reworked the Third Form Field Day and introduced tiramisu (an Italian trifle?). the use of a computer to much of the work As a member of the Theology Department, undertaken (even if there were a few teething Christian was much involved with pastoral care, problems with one of the mark-sorting both as a spiritual and house tutor (Harper). programmes!). Various boys sought Christian out, and his home The keyboard of the computer reminds me of became a haven for some; there was always a warm one of Christian's innovations: The Logos. He felt welcome and something good to eat. As a preacher, strongly that positive news of boys' achievements Christian was challenging and articulate; nothing and activities should be circulated and made lightweight or fluffy here; often pure undiluted known. Some schools achieve this by means of a Theology: Christian himself was wrestling with weekly assembly; for the past two years The Logos various issues of faith. has done this job. Obviously The Shirburnian I was delighted to hear that Christian was records much of what goes on, but Christian was appointed as a lay-clerk at Chester Cathedral, for keen to highlight the ordinary day-to-day we did not really hear enough of his singing voice at achievements which are so easily forgotten or Sherbome. This position will be a refreshing ignored in a busy school. So anything from success contrast to his busy job at King's School Chester, in driving tests to activities undertaken for charity where he teaches Religious Studies, Philosophy and were included. The Logos was truly catholic in its English - quite a work-load! Christian sounds scope. happy up there, and we wish him well, and record Keyboards were Christian's/Orte: it was he who our thanks for his time with us. Like Elijah, was on the console at the Wednesday morning Christian was not always comfortable to be with: he Abbey services; there were certainly some original felt things too passionately for that. Truth and hymn harmonisations and delightful voluntaries, honesty are quite often uncomfortable, and much appreciated by musicians such as Robert Christian was relentless in his pursuit of them. I for Prance. Christian was also part-time organist at the one am grateful for that pursuit, for we were all Roman Catholic church in Sherborne. He was an challenged by Christian: in department, in chapel, accomplished accompanist: he and John Willetts in house and in school. put on a joint recital in the BSR and he entered several competitions, accompanying the singing of H.H.D.P. Clare Bourke-Jones, for which he was highly praised in the local press. Certainly I shall miss his A valedictory feller from CJW appears regular practices in the BSR which often delighted elsewhere in this issue (Ed.)

IC Obituary

H. F. W. HOLMES

H.F. W. 'Hughie' Holmes was born in Ireland It was at this time that he faced a great dilemma, in 1910. His father died very young and Hughie was whether or not to continue with an Army career. ' I brought up by his mother, a lady both perceptive loved the life for the cameraderie, but the visions of and determined in character. He was sent to reduced rank in a peacetime army made a return to Haileybury before going to Gonville and Caius Sherborne a far more palatable choice.' Thus, in College, Cambridge in 1928 to read French. He 1945, he returned to Sherborne, an experience he enjoyed Cambridge - ' Marvellous friends in a found most unnerving. ' I knew the town, the marvellous place at a marvellous time,' and while School and the way it ran and most of the staff very doing enough to get by academically, he immersed well, but not a single boy and they all wondered himself in College and University life. Having where on earth I had come from.• Whatever the hooked for the English Public School's XV while at boys may have thought, the school establishment Haileybury he almost got a ' Blue' at Cambridge, clearly knew the calibre of the man and almost at but played for the LX Club instead - 'Too small once, in 1946, he took over Lyon House from the and too slow; didn't deserve to get in', while legendary Alex TreJawney Ross who had built the playing cricket and very good tennis in the summer. House and run it for thirty-two years. Hughie ran Lyon for fifteen years, until 1961, He came to Sherborne School in 1932, and what successful years they were for Lyon and appointed by Headmaster Charles Boughey and, perhaps some of the happiest for Hughie. Like so typically, threw himself into the life of the School. many Sherborne stalwarts, Hughie managed to do There was teaching, of course, but also time to rush many things at once, becoming master in charge from last period to flight ducks on the River Yeo, of rugby in 1948 {he coached the forwards and or to rear trout in the stream where the Sports Hall M. M. Walford the three-quarters) and also having now stands. There was games coaching as well and an active r6le in the CCF, but it was the House that tutoring and tennis and the CCF, in other words a absorbed him. Lyon was run with a distinctive typically full and active bachelor schoolmaster life. combination of eccentricity and military precision. In 1939, he received his call-up papers and was Lyon House under Hughie became a marvellous posted to office duties in London. These he found advertisement and filler of Sherborne School in the entirely irksome -' I'd far sooner have been with precarious post-war years. Friends from service my pals at Sherborne. I suppose I was bored.' It days sent their sons to him in numbers and he, in was a feeling Hughie disliked more than anything turn, launched boys into a variety of careers, not and so he volunteered for active service and joined least the army. For a while the Royal Irish Fusiliers the Royal Irish Fusiliers as a Captain. He was became known as 'Holmes's Own' regiment. The posted to North Africa and became part of a Lyon regime was a tough but fair one, that gave spearhead unit that fought the length of North stability to and inspired confidence in the members Africa, through Sicily and on northwards past of the House. There can be no greater compliment Monte Casino. For this he was Mentioned in than that. Each afternoon boys not playing games Despatches twice. By this time he had become would report to the prefect in charge of 'Aggers' Colonel Holmes and after the War was attached to who would direct them to useful tasks in the House, the General Staff in Cairo with the rank of the gardens or in the School, ensuring that there Brigadier - 'Marvellous time; never been so well were no idle hands for the devil to employ. Hughie paid in my life.' Here he was involved with the also developed at this time an interest in gardening disbanding of post-war armies and the dispersal of and generations of Lyon boys recall waking to the military equipment, but still found time for tennis sound of Hughie hoeing the paths, flowerbeds and throughout the Nile delta. vegetable patch well before breakfast. .. It was the same in the classroom. He would have Frome and make periodic forays to the shooting been lhe last to claim to be an academic high-flier, coverts. As a companion for some twenty years on but Hughie's teaching of French was a meticulously our Tuesday expeditions to the river, Hughie was thorough grounding and one radio broadcast on entertaining company, grumpily and amusingly Sherborne in the 1950s featured part of Hughie's opinionated on a vast range of subjects and, classroom teaching, which prompted numerous whether sharing tangles, losing flies, or just falling telephone calls from teachers all over the country in and having to be heaved from the water, he was saying, 'That man has got it right. He's got them an eternally engaging and generous partner. going.' Discip)jne was firm, but fun; boys not In service to the Dorset community, Hughie concentrating in class were )jable to be hit by a gave unstintingly. For many years he was Chairman squirt from Hughie's water pistol or by Hughie's of the Governors of Foster's School and of Lord soft woolly ball kept for the purpose (and on his Digby's School in Sherborne and also of Shaftes­ desk to this day) - and were then allowed to bury Grammar School. Whether appointing throw it back as hard as they could, 'But I was a headmasters or supporting school functions, his better shot than them!' Hughie's ears, made attitude was unequivocably to stress the importance sensitive in war-time years, meant anyone who of the character of the individual - 'Experience is dropped a pencil on the floor qualified to join the far less important than getting the right man. Get pencil-rollers club at the end of term when, for half­ the right man and he'll learn the job.' Many will an-hour, all present had to repeatedly roll a pencil recaJJ with respect, whatever their political on to the floor and pick it up. Hughie wanted boys inclination, Hughie's doggedly successful attempt to be tidy and disciplined and if they weren't he to preserve Sherborne's grammar schools, devised benign systems to make sure that they something achieved for many years. Hughie was became so. also the Chairman and driving force behind 'North In 1952 Hughie married Daphne Woosnam, Door', the local support group for Mencap, for who proved a tremendous support to him both in whom the annual fete in the Holmes's garden was a Lyon and in his subsequent teaching in the School, highlight and major fund raising event. Here too, and they had three children to cement a marriage Hughie had a major achievement in seeing through already strong. to a successful conclusion the sheltered housing In 1964, Hughie was appointed Second Master scheme in Stalbridge, enabling mentally by the then Headmaster Robert Powell, whom he handicapped people to live in the community. was to see through to retirement. He was then It is clear that the time from 1932 until 1980, granted an extension of duty to see to the when Hughie finally severed official connections welcoming of incoming Headmaster David Eirnns. with Sherborne School, is a period of service Retirement from teaching at Sherbome came unlikely to be matched. When he finally died in the eventually, but Hughie then taught for a while at Yeatman Hospital, Sherborne, on 17th September, Millfield before returning to Sherbome as Registrar 1993, the community of both School and town lost in 1975. Final retirement came in 1980 but, )jving in one of its most stalwart servants. There is no Sherborne, Hughie was the most constant sup­ doubting that Hughie was one of the great porter of the School, especially 1st XV and 1st XI schoolmasters of his generation. He had the matches on Sherborne's Upper. He maintained a wisdom, tolerance, principles and convictions of a close interest in and contact with the School generation that had fought and won a war; he was a community and his regular summer tennis parties forgiving disciplinarian who inspired affection were famous. from his charges; he was an excellent orator who Throughout his years at Sherborne, Hughie had spoke simply, directly and consequently with continued playing tennis, representing Dorset for weight - 'The most important things for you boys many years. Continuing in retirement, he latterly to learn in life are truth, taste, tact and timing, but reached the final of Senior Wimbledon only to lose above all truth.' to one Drobny and partner - 'Had a smash to win it, funked the shot, deserved to lose' - ancf D.P.J. continued to find time to fish for trout on the River

IC Commemoration Music

Orchestral Concert

The traditional Friday evening concert of The remainder of the concert was devoted to Commem. was given in the BSR by the Concert works played by the First Orchestra. Possibly some Band and the Combined Schools' First Orchestra, smaller-scale items or some choral music at this to a packed and enthusiastic house. It is hard to stage might have offered greater variety, as in avoid using the word 'rousing' when describing previous years, but with an orchestral concert, two Elgar's fourth Pomp and Circumstance March, and chamber concerts and a garden concert to give in I shall not even attempt it: the Concert Band, under the space of less than twenty-four hours, not to the flamboyant baton of Owen Clarke, left the mention music for the Commem. service, Speeches audience well and truly roused. There was precision and the Leavers' Ball, the Music department was here, an attention to detail, and considerable obviously at full stretch! The orchestra, under their variety of tone and texture; the piece is no mere conductor Ian Davies, played four pieces which in patriotic tub-thumping exercise, and its subtleties themselves provided considerable contrast. Richard were nicely brought out. The band's second Kershaw's Commemoration Overture, written for offering, the Symphonic Overture by Carter, was the Commem. of 1985 and given here for the third certainly less familiar and perhaps partly for that time, was played at an energetic tempo yet well reason less immediately satisfying, though the within the capabilities of the youthful performers; musicians' enthusiasm was never in doubt. The the brass in particular excelled themselves. ensemble and intonation seem to improve every The next piece, George Butterworth's A year. Shropshire Lad Rhapsody, written shortly before .. the composer's lamentably early death in the Chamber Concerts trenches of the First World War, was by comparison lyrical, restrained and at times The first of the two chamber concerts - mysterious. Its brooding passages in the ~or key, presented as usual in the splendid setting of the its use of 'dark' instruments such as the VIOias and Abbey - featured music well-suited to the cor anglais, required a sensitive interpretation, and architectural surroundings. The programme was the orchestra responded magnificently to Ian largely devoted to composers from the 17th and Davies' subtle variations of tempo. The two big 18th centuries except for William Byrd (16th climaxes were gloriously done, spine-tingling century) and Thomas DunhiU (20th). T~e exq_uisite affairs, and the subdued, almost resigned, ending Mass/or Four Voices by Byrd was the highpomt of was magical; the clarinets were superb. this mainly instrumental concert, and was given a There was magic of a different order when clear, well-projected performance. Interesting too Michael Bawtree stepped forward as soloist in the was Monteverdi's Deus tuorum militum with its first movement of Shostakovitch's second piano select string ensemble and continuo, and the two concerto, written originally for the composer's own Concerto pieces: a Handel Concerto Grosso with son. We are almost more accustomed to see Guy Martland, Duncan Reynolds and James Michael appearing as conductor and composer than Richardson-Chapple forming a compatible as a performer, but we were soon reassured that he 'concertino' and a 'Cello Concerto by Eccles had not lost his touch as a pianist! The concerto is a featuring J;mes Richardson-Chapple as a soloist jolly piece: it may lack subtlety, but it does require equal to the musical demands of this fine piece. The precision, a certain wittiness in the phrasing, and programme was framed by effective ' Restoration' evenness and clarity in the quicker passages. trumpet pieces at the beginning, and a final opus Michael managed all this to produce a performance for organ (played by David Bednall) and strings by of real authority, ably partnered by the orchestra. Thomas Dunhill. The ovation which greeted the conclusion of the The BSR Concert on the Saturday - always a piece was richly deserved. In a way it was a pity that selective affair - revealed a capacity for the last two pieces in the concert could not have sophistication among the chosen performers. been reversed, though this is not to detract in any Dutilleux's Sonatine for flute and piano was played way from the splendid rendition of the Chaconne by Tim Pratt who showed a natural sensitivity to from Holst's Suite in E flat, which brought the the refined shapes and colours of this subtle and concert to an end. expressive piece, with Jenny Coultas providing an These Commem. concerts are always tinged with expert performance of the rich and fascinating a little sadness as one realises how many of the piano part. Chopin's large-scale Polonaise in F talented players are giving their final performances sharp minor was played to rousing effect by in the School - and this year was no exception. Matthew King who takes his rightful place among Yet somehow, miraculously, the high standard is our small band of pianistic giant-killers! The always maintained from year to year. Moreover, creative impulse was reflected in two excellent with the first ever OSS choral and orchestral pieces: Michael Bawtree's Serenade for Clarinet weekend scheduled to take place next Spring, there and Strings was given a smooth and finely phrased will be an opportunity to hear once again the performance by Glyn Jones as soloist, the com­ musical skills of Old Boys of all ages - now that's poser himself conducting. The final item, a witty something to look forward to! and effervescent piece by Simon Skinner, scored for pizzicato strings and ingenuously entitled Vita Beata, employed a roguish 7/8 metre, bringing the concert - and the year's musical performances - to a spirited and happy conclusion. K.R.W.

IC Strange Loud Noises in the BSR The Amnesty Concert

The beginning of May heralded a supreme worked skilfully, giving the players a very concen in aid of Amnesty International. Alasdair professional air. Strange, O.S., returned to Sherborne to Beethoven's String Quanet in B flat major was demonstrate his remarkable flair for the 'cello, next on the programme. This quartet is from Opus playing in a quartet consisting of members of the 18, of which Beethoven stated to a friend: 'Only Royal Academy of Music, where he himself is now have I learnt to write quartets properly'. The studying. The quartet was appropriately named boisterous first movement's syncopation (a 'The Loud Quartet', Nicola Loud, the BBC Young Sherborne School quartet's worst nightmare) was Musician of the Year 1990, taking the position of handled excellently. After a somewhat predictable first violin. We had the pleasure of hearing the second movement, Beethoven decides to test the quartet play for the second time ever, the first ability of the players. Overcoming the bewildering performance being at St. Catharine's College, cross-rhythms of Beethoven's ingenuity, the Cambridge. quartet passed through the lugubrious adagio and Sporting red bow-ties and dress, the group into the German dance of the finale. This ended started dynamically with Mozart's String Quartet in with a fast, brilliant Coda. C major. This piece gave each player a chance to The highlight of the concert for me, and for show his individual skills, no single part being more many others I conversed with afterwards, was important than another. The dialogue between the without doubt the Shostakovich Eighth String players, which is essential for quartet work, was Quartet. This quartet was particularly fitting for .. the occasion, being wrillen after a visit to war­ The second half of the programme opened in a scarred Dresden. It also quotes a song that was then modern vein with a string quartet, led by Edward known to all Russians: 'Exhausted by the hardshjps Havard, playing a piece by Trew followed by a of prison'. Both of these themes are associated with Carillon on the church organ, played this time by Amnesty International David Bednall. The organ and strings then came Sombre, strange harmonies started the work, together in the Canticum Fidei by Dunhill. moving swiftly and without a break to the harsh Michael Bawtree took the baton for the first second and third movements. The pace slowed performance of his Serenade for Clarinet and down towards the end with two largo movements Strings, Op. 18, which featured Glyn Jones on which left the audience wonderfully entranced. clarinet. If the audience had not already been Emotionally, the players excelled themselves and impressed by his organ playing, then the quality of there was an extremely highly-charged performance this composition confinned Michael as a truly from Loud. gifted musician. The entire concert was of the highest standard. The audience were then set a challenge by Ian Playing in the BSR is a hard task for any musician, Davies to determine the time signature of the final no matter how accomplished, but this could not piece, Vita Beata by Simon Skinner. This was no have been better. What we have seen is a brief mean task, as the signature continually changed glance of a budding excellence. Who can tell how during this lively and amusing 'finale' to the far it will develop? The Loud Quartet, who were concert. themselves exhilarated by the success of this It rounded off a most enjoyable evening in the concert, have agreed to return to Sherborne next warm and friendly atmosphere of Corscombe year. It promises to be another memorable Church. The audience certainly appreciated the occasion. high standard of all the performances and I am sure the orchestra were equaUy grateful to all those Guy Martland at Corscombe who made the event possible. Hopefully, 'Music in May' wiU be firmly established as an annual event - and one not to be missed.

David Havard Corscombe Chamber Concert

The parish church at Corscombe was the venue, last May, for a delightful evening of chamber and church music. The small church was filled to overflowing for the concert given by the Sherbome School Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Ian Davies. The setting itself provided an intimate and idyllic atmosphere for the evening's music. The varied and balanced programme opened in classic style with the whole orchestra, led by Guy Martland, playing Handel's Concerto Grosso in E ff,1·@~ minor. The mood and style then changed as Matthew J(jng performed the Adagio from the Concerto in C minor for Oboe by Marcello, both soloists and orchestra playing with remarkable sensitivity. We were then treated to a sample of church music from the pen of one of the most prolific composers of organ music - Bach. The organ, whlch had recently been renovated, was played in this instance by Michael Bawtree. The Eccles Concerto in G minor for 'Cello concluded the first half in a moving fashion. The soloist, James Richardson-Chapple, performed with an impressive confidence and provided a beautiful rendition, aided by a tender accompaniment. SYCOSS 1993

There was something very different this year at The first band, 'Infinity', was unlucky. There SYCOSS; that it was held at the Gryphon School were three factors lhat went against them: they were was certainly an important distinction from earlier not a Sherborne band, they had the first slot and years, but also the general hype preceding the event they did not play rock music. The fact that they was not as great and the atmosphere was slightly were not a Sherborne group meant that neither the less energetic and impressive than before. boys' nor the girls' school were in any hurry to go A concert in the Abbey bad forced the event up and see them and thus the real crowd arrived half­ to the Gryphon at slightly short notice and the way through their act. The music they played was lighting system was not a patch upon the rig very much in the style of 'Erasure' or 'Pet Shop available in the BSR, where the concert is normally Boys' and not many people were in the mood for held. In addition to this, the Gryphon's hall was hearing this. Their stage presence was pretty bad not able to produce a complete black-out and thus and for much of their act the computer seemed to people were slightly more wary of their actions, be the most active participant. They were aided by since they could be seen in the subdued light of the chaiiman of the SY COSS committee, who took evening. However, the P.A. system that was it upon himself to walk on stage in a black leotard brought down from London was superb and the and golden cod-piece. This was a good idea in some sound quality was able to dispel some of the respects but it largely went unnoticed by the groups misgivings 1 had over the site of the concert. There sitting around the sides of the hall, trying to avoid also seemed to be a wariness on the part of the the dance floor. Unfortunately, Infinity's assertion Shirburnians who found themselves in an that they had been together for four years did not unfamiliar environment. manifest itself in the quality of the music, although,

.. to be fair, there were no real slip-ups, just a lack of Therefore, che night was generally disappointing cohesion as a group. except for the impressive performance of Hated They were followed by an all-Sherbome band Mass. The venue, I think, should return to the BSR called 'Hated Mass', who played heavy metal and which had much better lighting and atmosphere. rock. By now the audience were ready for the music Another problem was the lack of numbers, for and the band was in good form to supply it. Their many thought that ic would not be so good since repertoire consisted mainly of songs by groups such chey knew nothing of the bands, after the banning as 'Metallica' and 'Pantera' and went down very of the pre-concert leaflet last year; and also all the well since most people knew the music and it was Upper Sixth were encamped in the JCR. SYCOSS played well and loudly. By now some vestiges of this year did noc have che same buzz that I have feh earlier SYCOSS performances were beginning to in the run-up to similar concerts and accounts for return and soon the floor was filled with a (small) some of the lack of atmosphere. mass of heaving bodies as the music boomed forth. Unlike Infinity, Hated Mass did indeed have a stage Hugh Crawford presence which was enhanced by the appearance of Paul Fowler's (lead singer) new hair style, which had gone from long and shaggy to a perfect crew­ cut, making him look more of a 'meat-bead' than ever before. For a band that had been together for barely a year, their stage presence was astounding and the quality of music impressive, even more so when it is considered that the majority of the band were then in the Fourth form. Paul's popularity certainly created a more heady atmosphere and made the whole concert come alive. I hope they continue to perform in further concerts. The final band to play was 'Mr. Obnoxious', a semi-professional band who managed to produce a few of their own songs after half an hour of technical faults. The guitarist's string managed to break twice in a row and so the audience were kept 'happy' for the time by a continuous drum fill, which, although impressive, was not quite music and did nothing except drown out some of the mutterings of the crowd. When they did actually get to play, although their music was good, no one knew the songs and so did not become quite as involved as they had with Hated Mass. All in all, their shifc was disappointing considering they had been together for quite some time and had been touring pubs and gaining much experience. It left many of the revellers slightly annoyed that the concert had not ended on a high and there were quite a few disappointed faces seen leaving the Gryphon. School Productions

The Commem. Play

THE CANTERBURY TALES

'Mum, why do we have to go to this, it's not As the tales were portrayed, each one seemed to even part of Commem.?' Such was the agonised depend on the attitude of the actors involved which plea of a Sherborne younger brother, obviously dictated their degree of success with the audience. vexed at having to attend Commem. even 'before it The first tale was an amusing insight into how far started', whom I overheard as the audience were the actors could take themselves seriously. The ill­ shuffling into the Powell Theatre on the eve of the stifled smirk on the face of one young Hen as he final day of term. This attitude is one which finds pronounced his woe distracted the audience from support at Sherborne, in that the play shown at the the message of the tale, despite an impressive end of the Trinity term each year is performed portrayal of the calculating, malevolent manner of largely for the benefit of parents and governors the Fox by Stuart fance. The amusement felt by the while the School itself does not really notice its audience at the excellent portayal of the Miller's existence. However, because the play is indeed very much part of the Commemoration programme, it is important that the tireless work of the director, producers and actors, some of whom are in their A level year, is remembered by all. The Canterbury Tales, directed by Stuart Harg.reaves and Patricia Harris, should be no exception. One could not help wondering as the lights dimmed, bow The Canterbury Tales, a vast work of literature of extensive variety and depth, could be condensed into an evening's performance. The pre­ performance Jongleurs, having set a mediaeval tone for the evening with their juggling and fire. swallowing antics, accompanied by a very talented fiddler, had instilled in the audience a readiness for a mediaeval spectacle, and this 'olde worlde' atmosphere was continued by the musical accom­ paniment provided by George Tatham & Co. As the stage was slowly populated by pilgrims, the Host, played by Ben Russell, gave us a gruff and slightly apathetic introduction, an attitude which seemed to dominate the Host's view of the world and other people for most of the play. At the beginning, one saw the entire cast as the band of pilgrims gathered around the Host. Ben Carlton-Paterson gave us an excellent portrayal of Geoffrey Chaucer, mainly because he succeeded in being one of the pilgrims and simultaneously the chronicler of events. His somewhat timid demeanour when confronted by the Host was skilfully swapped for a more authoritative manner when addressing the audience. .. Tale and the Reeve's Tale was due entirely to the illustration of the continual ill-feeling between the way the actors involved obviously enjoyed Friar and the Pardoner, and was well presented by themselves hugely, but also, and most importantly, the appropriate malevolent but quiet manner they kept straight faces. The animosity between the employed by Peter Richards and Stuart Fance. The Reeve and the Miller was convincingly put across, final tale of this performance was one which will both in the talcs and in their relationship among the remain in the minds of all who beheld it. The pilgrims, and also the way in which each is insulted Franklin's Tale involves very liule humour and by the other in their respective tales is an object of conveys a moral message to the audience. The great mirth for the audience. The first half of the atmosphere created by the singing of Andrew play was concluded by a superb presentation of the Cruise, the delivery of the tale, and the silence of false Pardoner by Stuart Fance, a presentation the protagonists completely stunned the audience. which was made all the more successful by his black This admirable presentation of a moral and refined and red attire. He told a tale which, though tale sent the audience away with the memory of a amusing, was a little more thought-provoking, due stimulating and thought-provoking final spectacle. to the introduction of Death into the play. The staging throughout was highly imaginative: After the interval, during which Patrick the rolled beds, for example, were an effective way Firebrace gave an impressive display of how to of conveying the situation while keeping the injure ones' self on stilts, Patricia Harris gave a attention of the audience focused on the action and startling demonstration of her experience and dialogue. However, the effective costuming and flexibility by playing a chatty Wife of Bath at very enthusiasm shown by the actors overshadowed the short notice. This tale allowed Robert Eaglesham to set. The format of each tale was varied, despite the display his talents in portraying the conflicting repeated use of the same actors. values of a virtuous and honest Knight. The more The memories the audience will retain will no serious and moral tone of the second part of the doubt include Patrick Firebrace's mastery of his play was continued in the Friar's Tale and the stilts, the atmospheric mood of the Franklin's Tale, Merchant's Tale. The Friar's Tale was an the amusing japes of the Miller's and Reeve's Tales, The French Play

VICTIMES DU DEVOIR

Unlike other Powell Theatre productions, this one was a low key and quiet affair, not expecting to generate huge support and audiences. It had no 'personal' stage, but relied on the Canterbury Tales woodwork. The props were only chairs and a table. The dialogue was in French. No, the Powell Theatre was not set alight by a dazzling display of acting, nor was it one of the smoothest productions in the Powell Theatre's distinguished history. The cast were under no illusions of being the best, but were simple A level students eager 10 carry the study of their subject outside the realms of the classroom. We were doing this play, in the words of Jean-Marc Pascal, 'for ourselves as much as for any audience.• With only a few weeks of rehearsal time the cast put on a convincing and interesting interpretation of the French pseudo-drama that was enjoyed by actor and audience alike. The play actually includes only four 'characters' but, with the difficulty of line-learning in French and the sheer length of the parts taken into consideration, the play was split into five sections and the actors were changed accordingly. This turned out to be very successful and provided much needed variation, not only with the new faces, but also with the actors' different interpretations of and the enthusiasm shown by the entire cast of a their respective parts. play which, to my mind, succeeded in representing Mention of individuals is unnecessary. The play the principles and ethics of Chaucer's Canterbury was bigger than any single character, and was not Tales. I even fancy that one younger brother will unduly influenced by any of them. retain a memory or two of the production and will The cast got on well and will take with them have stopped complaining! from the performance many happy and amusing memories. In MalJo(t/ d)?'s no doubt worthless Ben Wilde opinion, the rOle of drama in a school is to encourage enjoyment and participation on the stage allQj_n the subject once the actors have left the instifiinon and reached the outside world. According to this theory, the memories are what is important, and not the technicalities of the performance. Let this be a lesson to all those who doubt it. The credit for this play must go almost completely to Jean-Marc Pascal who conceived the idea, cast the actors, chose the play set and added bis own individual touches to the production. He combined these duties with constantly ingenious direction and a sympathetic and understanding concern for each and every actor. He was 'he who keeps a cool head when all around lose their's'. He may never fully realise his contribution to this play, .. but MaJlo(t/ d)? assures him that no writer, no The play, an intellectual one in another mauer how skilful, could come close to paying language, was graphically brought to life by him. tribute to it. The art of being liked was once The cast of the play and no doubt all those who described as •... being talked about kindly behind have had the luck to have been taught by him wish one's back'. This is exactly what the cast did about him a fruitful year abroad. He will be mjssed. Jean-Marc Pascal. Mallo(t/ d)? has great pleasure in bringing this fact to light. - Mallo(t/ d)? The Abbey House Play

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

To mount any Shakespearian production is a (Richmond Walker) arrives in Padua and, hearing challenging and demanding lask. Therefore, when I that the shrew, Katherine, will bring a very large realised that Abbey House were performing The dowry, resolves to marry her. Baptista then Taming of the Shrew, I decided that this was an auctions Bianca between Gremio and Tranio. occasion not to be missed, especially as it was the Tranio bids higher on behalf of his master, first Shakespeare play to be enacted by the School Lucentio, but is required to produce Lucentio's for about five years. There was certainly a feeling father to authenticate his bid. Petruchio marries of anticipation in the air as I entered the Powell Katherine and carries her off to his home, where he Theatre for the first night. 'tames' her by his rages and by depriving her of Here is a brief summary of the plot: Baptista's sleep and food. Hortensio, having observed Bianca (Peter Burdon) daughter, Bianca (Annarella Clay), courting the 'schoolmaster' Lucentio, abandons has two suitors: Hortensio (Edward Ferguson) and her as not worthy of him. the elderly Gremio (Richard Forrest). When Tranio persuades an old man to impersonate Lucentio (Giles Adams) arrives in Padua, he too Lucentio's father, to vouch for his bid for Bianca. falls in love with her. He disguises himself as a Baptista agrees to the marriage. Lucentio's real schoolmaster to get access to woo Bianca. His father, Vincentio (Ben Hawkins), arrives while servant, Tranio (Matthew Bell), meanwhile, Lucentio and Bianca are being secretly married. impersonates his mas1er and pretends that he is also Everyone is astonished that Katherine has been a suitor to Bianca. tamed and they realise that Bianca is now more of a Baptista, however, insists that Bianca's elder shrew than Katherine was. sisler, Katherine (Joy Hewgill}, is married before he One of the most important features of the will allow Bianca to be married. Petruchio Abbey House version was that the director, Peter .. Wellby, decided to make it a traditional Amanda Hargreaves, Emma MacBean and production. Unlike many Shakespeare plays Chris Hamon deserve praise for their work in the nowadays, when the director decides to adopt a make-up department, which was particularly more contemporary style, this remained totally convincing on Petruchio's servants. I was very 'conventional'. I prefer this approach because it impressed by the vulgarity of the servants, who captures the kind of atmosphere that Shakespeare appeared generally as a diseased bunch thanks to would have had in his day. When I walked into the the splendidly obscene imaginations of the Powell Theatre for the first time I could bear the aforementioned make-up artists. gentle strains of a guitar, played by George In order for this play to have been such a Tatham, and a lute, played by Ian Suddards. This success, a great deal depended on the reliability of created just the right atmosphere before the play the production team. Therefore, credit should be started. paid to all those, particularly the Stage Manager, The set was kept very simple. It was just a Edward Wills, who were concerned in this straightforward stage divided into two sections by a department for providing such a fluent and curtain and a black background. The colourful smooth-running play. costumes, organised by Patricia Harris, Ros Finally, I would like to congratulate the MacBean, Emma MacBean and Kathleen Lock­ director, Peter Well by, for an extremely wood, amply compensated for the simplicity of the entertaining evening which was accomplished in set. such a professional manner. What J found most The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy and so, as impressive was the way in which the level of comedy one would expect, it contained a lot of amusing was maintained. The standard of acting never moments. One of the most popular characters in lapsed, the words were clearly audible throughout the play was Oremio, played by George Malim. and there were many clever and inventive touches in Being Petruchio's servant, he appeared on the stage this memorable production. frequently and always attracted a round of Laughs. It was his common accent and the maltreatment he B. J. WiJlcock received from Petruchio that caused all the jocularity. Another humorous character in the play was the tailor, played by Henry Wood. He became involved in the plot when Petruchio was taming Katherine. The tailor had sewn a beret and a dress for Katherine and yet Petruchio forbade her to have them. This caused a lot of befuddlement for the tailor, who failed to see anything wrong with the garments. His expressions and frivolity when responding to Petruchio were hilarious. The greatest credit should be given to Richmond Walker. who played Petruchio, undoubtedly the most onerous part. His skill when dealing with soliloquies, such as the one at the beginning of Act The Junior Play IV, was striking and intense. His ability to treat the blank verse of Shakespeare with such an eloquent passion was truly commendable and subsequently UNMAN, WITTERING AND ZIGO earned him the Pitman Award for Acting. It is interesting to see how differently Petruchio can The plot is set in what seems to be a typical appear physically from one production to another. English public school. A new master has just In the BBC film version of the play, Petruchio is arrived. He is anxious about his new appointment played by John Cleese, who, as one can imagine, and is eager to please his austere headmaster. His appears quite different from Richmond Walker. anxiety is quite understandably increased when his Joy Hewgill was very well suited to the part of form claim that they were behind the mysterious Katherine. Her belligerent and boisterous voice death of his predecessor (they were not what you successfully characterised her as a shrew; not to might call a 'pleasant' bunch). The play centres mention her high-pitched screams which certainly almost entirely around the new master, John made a few people cringe! Her rival, Bianca, played Ebony, as he tries to unravel, with the help of the by Annarella Clay, was an effective foil, a quiet and art teacher, Cary Farthingdale, the mystery amicable woman contrasting markedly with the surrounding his class and their shocking claims. powerful ferocity of Katherine. The boys manipulate Ebony, who is somewhat overawed by the whole business, to such an extent In my opinion, Alex Edouard was the most that they pay him not to teach them! The boys are, gifted actor. He oozed confidence as the laid-back of course, paragons of academic rigour and Cary Farthingdale, and I felt that if he had been excellence when the headmaster appears. Groups any more relaxed he would have fallen asleep! I are apparent amongst the boys, and a fierce rivalry expect we wilJ sec more of him in future pro­ develops between them, which reminds me to a ductions. Philip Cramp had the difficult task of certain extent of the rivalry of the boys in Golding's portraying Ebony's wife, and, although he coped Lord of the Flies. Wittering, however, is victimised pretty well, his voice was rather expressionless and by all, and, in the crucial part of the plot, it is monotonous. Perhaps more emphasis could have discovered that he was behind the master's death in been placed on the tension between the Ebony order to gain popularity from his peer group. couple (she basically resented the time he spent at This production moved at a good pace, the school and with Cary). Their arguments were rather scenes changing rapidly from the classroom to the tame and unconvincing. There was good potential Ebony home, and to the local public house, where here for some serious marital strife which would Ebony speaks his mind to Farthingdale. The have given the play an extra interesting dimension. smooth progress was helped by the inventive set The minor parts were all reasonably well acted design - courtesy of Amanda Hargreaves and her but Philip Robinson, who played Mrs. Winstanley, gang of helpers. A block of tiered staging, upon wife of a teacher, was outstanding. His enthusiasm which the boys sat for the classroom scenes, was at was obvious, and he gave an effervescent per­ the centre of the stage. On one side was the formance as a bubbly and gossipy wife. It is a pity pleasantly furnished drawing-room at the Ebony that his part was so small...Also Chris Hattarn, who home, and on the other side was a bar. played Fred the barman, is worthy of a mention. It There was no scene-changing as such - the could be said that he was more a piece of scenery lights simply concentrated on the appropriate area than an actor, although he must be commended for while the rest of the stage floor was in relative the way he kept himself busy at the bar (cleaning darkness. For each classroom scene, the boys glasses, etc.) throughout the whole performance, filtered in, took their places, and a register was whilst not distracting the audience's attention from subsequently called. This became slightly repetitive the main action - except, of course, in his and annoying, but in retrospect I concede that this moment of stardom. The thoughtful way in which was probably the most convincing way of changing he delivered his one and only line, 'Last orders scenes while keeping the play going at a brisk pace. please gentlemen', displayed his supreme eloquence (Incidentally, the curious title of this play is simply and his subtle understanding of Fred's character ... the last three surnames on the class register.) On the whole, the rabble of schoolboys was well The acting was of a pleasing standard, although ponrayed. A couple of boys stood out, namely it must be said that the clarity of some actors was Tom Horder as the cocky Cuthbun, and Crispin not as good as it might have been. There were also a d'Apice, who stood in at the last moment to play few, albeit minor, mix-ups in the dialogue - a Wittering. more thorough learning of the lines would not have Needless to say, the technkal and behind-the­ gone amiss. scenes work was up to the usual high standard of Neil Duncan coped well with the r8le of the the Powell Theatre crew. The costumes were plain central protagonist, John Ebony. He was con­ yet appropriate, as were the lighting and the make­ vincing as a man bewildered by the strange events up. It cannot be easy trying to organise and direct a he has experienced, although he does need to work school production, especially when one is dealing on his voice projection. John Warren was with young, inexperienced actors. I therefore think impressive as the headmaster. His infallible a great deal of credit should go to the director, precision in playing his part echoed the ruthless and Stephen Wilkinson, for turning out a production almost robotic efficiency with which the head­ which, despite a few minor hiccups, was, neverthe­ master ruled the school. less, successful and immensely enjoyable.

Stuart Paterson Professional Productions

ZOO STORY LIARS, FAKERS AND Charterhouse School on Tour PEOPLE BEING HONEST

WiLh Chanerhouse's performance of Edward Albee's Talking Pictures Zoo Story, the new exchange scheme between Independent Schools has proven to be a success. The Looking through the collection of plays at the production was of an exceptionally high sLandard. beginning of term, this stood out as looking rather odd The play has two actors, a publisher, Peter (Giles and very 'arty'. The posters showed the actors Hazan), and a distraught young orphaned adult, Jerry superimposed sideways over a man with a lampshade over (Guy Ladenburg). The play is set in New York's Central his head. This all gave the impression that it might be a Park, around two benches. It begins with Peter quietly play for the art-house intellectual crowd. reading, when Jerry arrives wanting to talk. Peter agrees Thus, when I sat down 1. thought I was about to be to hold a conversation, so Jerry proceeds to narrate his very bored for the two hours I would spend in the Powell life story, which is laden with numerous problems and Theatre. I was very pleasantly surprised: the play was a traumas, such as his landlady, who is constantly drunk, modern farce with a number of characters all coming and her vicious dog. Peter, on the other hand, is a well together in the end. There were only three props, which established publisher with a wife and children. As the play consisted of different coloured hollow quadrangles that progresses the author subtly reverses the situation, so that were cunningly used as paintings, newspapers, the audience begins to feel that Jerry is actually more holograms, windows and many other mundane objects fortunate than Peter due to his stronger character, rather for which any other company might have used separate than Peter being superior because of his material wealth. props, but I think that this innovative approach was much This point i.s developed in the last scene when Peter more effective as it drew the attention away from the initiates a duel with Jerry over his space on the bench. props and on to the actors. Jerry, in an attempt to irritate Peter. takes Peter's regular The five actors, two women and three men, performed place on the park bench. Peter is unable to accept this and amazingly, acting with great emotion and sleight of hand, forcefully tries to get Jerry off the bench. During the which was very important for this play as it involved ensuing fight, Jerry throws himself onto a knife. lo his many pick-pocketing and thieving scenes while other last words before dying Jerry explains how he had actors were looking the other way. These are difficult to planned this to happen and gets Peter to flee before he is do in any production but Talking P ictures based a whole seen. He also apologises to Peter for involving him in his play around it, and did it very well: it is not difficult to see death, which he was unable to carry out by himself. why Talking Pictures has won the Edinburgh Fringe First The producer and director (Charles Harriman) suc­ Award which is a very high accolade. cessfully brought out the play's theme, keeping the action The play depicted the life of a hologram museum relatively subdued, and concentrating on the dialogue. curator who was always swamped by the schoolchildren The simple set was also beneficial as it did not take the that he had to show round. He was a weak person, audience's attention away from the story. He also did fascinated by the holograms io his museum. The play very well in maintaining a feeling of suspense during the followed him into his private life, where his wife was play over Jerry's previous actions that day, keeping the going mad with boredom. She would try to convince her pace from slackening (which can occasionally happen io husband Lhat she had a secret lover who was hiding in the dialogue-based productions). The acting was of a very cupboard. This was always untrue and the curator knew high standard: Jerry was especially good as he had it, which just annoyed her more. The curator's brother numerous long and uninterrupted passages, all of which also came into the story with his angry wife whom we first were carried out well. saw in an argument with him. The brother worked for a It was a superb play in all aspects and I look forward newspaper and came to do a story on the museum, but he to future exchanges. took advantage of his weak brother and became his brother's wife's lover but the curator just imagined it was Nigel Rouse another of his wife's fantasies. The third man was an artist who also became a lover of the brother's wife. Eventually the curator found out about the artist and his brother's wife; this all confused him so much that in a bizarre and fast-moving scene he turned into a tortoise! The play may not have been too intellectually inspiring but it certainly captivated the audience. My thanks to Talking Pictures for a very enjoyable evening. David Harding .. MACBETH Red Shift

When I heard that Red Shift were to do a modem Generally the play was quite good, but there were one dress version of Macbeth, I had mixed feelings; on the or two problems. The most important was the lack of one hand, Red Shift consistently produces some of the change in Macbeth. At the beginning of the play he shouts best drama seen in the Powell Theatre; on the other hand, aggressively, during the play he is loud and aggressive, I was unsure that I wanted to see yet another version of a and at the end, surprise, surprise, he is shouting very well known play and that modern dress would suit aggressively. The use of a Scottish accem improved some the work. of the speeches, and the actor certainly looked the part, To begin with, we were presented with an extremely but in the end it is very difficult to care too much; you stark set. It was painted a dull grey /blue colour and know with absolute certainty that, no matter what befalls shaped roughly like the letter 'W'. Two promenades Macbeth, he will still be hollering red-faced at a tortured jutted out towards the audience, whilst at the back, audience. For not only did we have to contend with between these, were two recessed entrances set at an angle Macbeth, but also unbearably loud drumming between to each other. The promenades each had three pairs of every scene (for no apparent reason save to annoy - pillars holding up a mesh roof, forming an open corridor. which it did). The modern dress worked fine, although At the ends of both promenades were two chairs facing some scenes seemed faintly ludicrous; I couldn't quite the audience. Shafts of light shone through the mesh roof understand why, at the end, Macduff yells at Macbeth and across the back entrances giving the set a real sense of about being 'untimely ripped' from a womb when he is foreboding. This was more or less what I expected from standing there with a machine-gun facing an unarmed Red Shift; simple but stylish, and very, very effective. adversary. It slightly deOates the tension of the scene Then I saw the bodies. when the fight is so obviously unequal; we all know that Lying on top of each promenade were two headless Macduff cannot lose. dummies dressed in suits. Naturally, the headless necks The highlight of the play for me was the use of the were painted red, and equally naturally these faced props. For instance, during the banquet the table was towards the audience. It was then that I began to get an represented by a triangular piece of cloth arranged so the idea of just how oppressively symbolic this play was going larger end was nearer us and the Macbeths were in the to be in places. Every so often throughout the distance at the small end. At first I thought that this was performance we were bludgeoned with one meaningful just to give a nice sense of perspective, then suddenly event after another meaningful event. For example, reset Banquo's anguished face pressed through, giving in the entrance alcoves at the back were two reel-to-reel Macbeth (and me) a nasty shock. For once I could tape machines. When some dire event was about to appreciate Macbeth's ranting and raving; it was happen next, the one on stage right played nightmarish spectacularly unnerving. The set was also very good, with wailings; otherwise the machine on the left played more the back entrances turning out to be hinged so they could normal music. This began to get very tedious after the open as castle gates, and the promenades rotating first ten or so scenes. together to form a long corridor for Macbeth to skulk The text had been altered quite substantially in some along (with the dummies forming a gruesome arch places, most notably with the absence of the witches' above). Another nice touch was the use of red scene, and the addition of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth handkerchiefs to represent blood. burying a dead child at the very beginning. Some sub­ I had mixed feelings about this production; it was plots were a.lso removed, to cut down the length of the brilliantly designed, but occasionally seemed to get play. I think the loss of the witches was a good idea; as the carried away with the symbolism. The acting of the lesser programme said, it is very difficult nowadays to take the parts was fine, but Macbeth was awful. In the end I was idea of witches seriously and so they no longer have the left with thoughts of what it might have been, but in the sinister effect desired by Shakespeare. The first few scenes end wasn't. An inventive but flawed production. gave a bit more depth to Macbeth and his wife. Every so often during the play one or other of them would take a Edward Moyse brief look at a photograph they both carried of the child and look suitably upset.

IC An Interview with the Reverend Mark Aitken conducted by Jonathan Conlin

J.C.: What positions have you filled in the past? J.C.: From that it could be deduced that you think M.A.: For the last eight years I've been vicar of Sherborne is a rather enclosed and limited Sprowston, which is a large suburb on the environment - do you believe this is true? edge of Norwich, with a population of about M.A.: I think my honest reaction is to say, 18,000 people and has two churches, one surprisingly, not. My experience of a boys' Victorian, and one the classic ancient school has to be coloured by my own time English parish church; rather strangely there, which was in the late 1960's, in North positioned so that they are on either end of Oxford. We had very littJe contact with the the parish. town and we were allowed out, but only under very strict regulations. I have a sense of the boys here wandering about the town J.C.: It must have been quite a shock moving quite a lot, just on their everyday business. I from a parish environment, where you were think there is something very healthy about dealing with people of both sexes and all this, so that it actually doesn't feel as close social classes and races, to a school like or cloistered as I expected and as I think Sherborne, where you are dealing with a some other schools must be. It does provide limited congregation of only young members some sense that there is a world outside the of one sex and class. Are you finding that school. difficult to adapt to? J.C.: Religion at Sherborne is quite M.A.: It certainly feels different, particularly in institutionalized. Are you concerned that terms of the church setting. On the whole, boys might, in seeing religion as indissolubly the Church of England at the moment has a connected with school, give it up during the larger proportion of women attending holidays or once they leave school for public services than men, so quite often, university? particularly in mid-week, you would be at a M.A.: I think one of the problems is that many service where there were very few members of the male sex. Thus it was something of a people see their religion as separated from whatever they do in life. It is true for an change to come to an environment where you often haven't any members of the awful lot of people that religion is something which happens almost in a box, and possibly female sex. I don't think that it has actually happens only on Sunday. My hope is that if been a problem, because I think I was expecting it, but it does actually give a some boys see it as institutionalized, and I different feel to what you are doing in terms must take their observations seriously, then of leading worship. others may feel that religion has become so much a part of their lives that they want to continue their worship in the church after J.C.: Are you trying to adapt to this situation in they leave. One of my anxieties is that what any ways, perhaps by trying to narrow down they will find in the Church of England the focus of your activities? could be very different in form to what they M.A.: I think that there are two responses: one is have come to expect here. to feel that there are specific things about J.C.: Do you think that there is any way in which living together in a school community which you can prepare them for this change? are worth addressing, and often worth M.A.: Well, I hope that one of the things which is celebrating. The other reaction is to going on in the school, at the present time, is recognize that il is actually quite a specific the wide range of worship being offered - community. I think it is important that there is a great difference between being people see the worship in chapel as set within involved in a house communion and being in the wider context of the church. I think the the Abbey on Sunday morning. So it's not as Chaplain is partly there to remind the if they are taking part in a completely community of the wider life of the world. monochromatic style . .. J.C.: Would you consider institutionalizing more been very important. I'm not entirely informal Christian groups such as Christian convinced that there is a completely 'right' Forum, possibly as a way of encouraging age, as I see Confirmation as an act of larger numbers to attend? commitment rather than an act of saying, M.A.: Well, the honest answer is that I haven't 'Well, I'm getting confirmed because I know been to the Christian Forum in this first it all .• month, so I've been working on my assump­ tions of what they are, rather than on J.C.: Do you thus see Confirmation as something experience. Nevertheless, I think it is which marks a beginning rather than an important that there are some occasions end? which really are run by the boys, or the girls, M.A.: To some extent I am actually more for each other, and that they may well not concerned with what happens after need to be brought into line, so to speak, Confirmation than before. I think that the with the rest of school services. Certainly, Church spends an awful lot of time the strength of the Christian Unions, the preparing people for Confirmation, has more evangelical wing of the church, is very them confirmed, and then, I suspect, in the considerable in universities and colleges at majority of churches, doesn't actually offer the moment, so those who go from here to very much after that. Where I worked more university will find that that is where recently, we've tried very hard to keep in Christian life seems to be most vibrant. They touch with those who have been confirmed may well find the transition easier if they through follow-up courses and weekends have been involved in Christian Forum than away, so that they actually have a chance to if they have seen the 11.30 service on a describe and discuss how it has been once Sunday morning as their main act of they have been confirmed. Obviously, lots Christian commitment. of boys and members of staff give up a lot of time to preparation, but I am also concerned J.C.: What is your experience of Confirmation? about what happens to the boys once they Do you accept thirteen or fourteen as a have been confirmed. In many ways it is not suitable age for boys at the school to be only a symptom of the school but of the confirmed? church as a whole. How do we help people M.A.: Again, it is quite hard to make a judgement with the development of their faith? I have after only a month, but in the parishes in spoken to lots of adults, and the only time which I have worked, by the time I left we that they have really sat down and discussed were confirming more adults than we were their faith has been when they were being teenagers - in fact, in the last couple of prepared for Confirmation - often twenty, years we confirmed hardly any teenagers at thirty, or even more years ago. We need to all. I found preparing adults to be a very work at methods to provide ways in which different experience to preparing teenagers, we can honestly talk about how we feel which is what I had done in my first two about our faith, what the main issues of our parishes in London and Hertfordshire. faith are, and how we are coping with prayer Adults had simply so many different - all those sorts of questions. experiences of life to relate their faith to, but I was confirmed at quite a young age and I The concluding part of this interview will appear was grateful for that. There have been times in the next edition of The Shirburnian. when to be able to receive communion bas ~Pasta versus the Chip'

Sherborne School First

Sherborne has become the first school in West prov1S1on of healthy food choices, standards of Dorset to win a 'Heartbeat' Award, on the training for food handlers, and the application of recommendation of the West Dorset County food hygiene regulations and good working Environmental Health Department. The Award standards and practices. Our Catering Manager, was presented by Council Chairman, Mrs. Jane John Wright, pointed out that the school catering Cockerill, as part of the County's 'Look After staff have worked very hard to win this Award and Your Health Programme', not just in schools but in they, in turn, are pleased to see that the majority of all types of catering establishments. The Award is a boys readily try the healthy options available on the national symbol of recognition that the school menu, although some would still prefer chips with caterers play an active part in the fight against everything, accompanied by the odd gallon of coronary heart disease. The criteria include the ketchup, given the chancel

.. 6 1 was there'

There was something in the air, no doubt about that. Perhaps it is the start of spring? Newly-born lambs are sheltering behind wise ewes, themselves sheltering in the lee of hedges; daffodil clumps, wherever they happen to face south, are about to burst into flower - a nationalist portent, perhaps? Snowdrops are everywhere in the hedge bottoms, a definite first breath of warmth following a long wet winter. Perhaps it is that once over the bridge there are more cars, filled with men travelling west, men on other days more accustomed to the family Saturday shopping expeditions. Here and there is a flicker of red and white, ephemeral flickers that will eventually merge into a stream, a torrent and finally a roaring sea of scarlet. Yes there is something up, definitely. The first real portent is the local railway station. After an early start from Sherborne and a long journey I have met my host for breakfast, put on extra warm clothes, had my hip flask topped up and I am repeatedly checking my inside pocket for the all important ticket while we drive to the station. It takes ten minutes to get there, but there is no room to park in the normally quiet cul de sac of Station Road. It is as well that we have been driven by my charming hostess. Men again, mostly, just an occasional red bobble hat above a slim figure to indicate otherwise. Men of all ages, all sizes, all nervous, all anxious, queuing for today's 'special offer day­ return' at the ticket office, or from the extra ticket-seller in the waiting room. On but twice a year is he needed. For the young, perched on the platform trolleys, the six­ pack is obligatory to establish street cred: for the more elderly the excitement is contained, but it is there. Close by stand tall piles of The Western Mail folded, today, back to front and piled back page up. They vanish quickly as nervous eager hands turn the pages to read the plausible predictions of the pundits. On the platform I see a worried frown here, an outburst of bravado there, nervous stamping of feet and hand rubbing. It isn't that cold. Anyone would thing we were playing today. The sounds are distinctive. There are no plummy Twickenham West Car Park­ charnpers-from-the-boot noises here: earthier, rougher, more monosyllabic, shorter sentences, more ribaldry, less laughter, different accents, a definite sub-culture, until ... 'I say,' (definitely not a local), 'I say, why aren't they stopping? I've been waiting ages and none of them are stopping.' It is a plaintive voice, perhaps querulous, bewildered certainly as, at periodic intervals, two-carriage sprinter trains race through the station, down the valley, southwards, one of many valleys leading today to a roaring red sea. Each sprinter is full, men pressed tight in the carriages, standing, red and white, all moving south. Again ... 'Why aren't they stopping? What is going on? I'll miss my connection to Reading.' 'B ... Reading,' comes a blunt response, 'Everybody's going to Cardiff for the match.' 'What match?' Silence. Incredulous silence. 'And we're goin' to give 'em a bloody 'iding,' says another, not very convincingly. 'Eh, quiet butt, they've got an 'ell of a big pack,' says a third. 'But who is playing? I'll miss my connection to Reading.• Silence again, even deeper. The echoing tannoy saves the day. The next train is stopping here, but not thereafter until Cardiff. We all get on a train seemingly full already. Men again, tightly pressed. We stand in the corridor, braced legs intertwined, our vantage point providing ample opportunities to research the effect of a six-pack consumed too early on a cold morning. Out of the window glimpses of fields, sheep and lambs, Cwmbran briefly to remind of Geography field days and then Newport. An unscheduled stop, perhaps to allow for a Reading connection, is a chance for many more to force their way aboard. There is no such thing as a private conversation. 'Should be a dry ball,' says Optimist. 'Won't make any bloody difference to our lot,' says Pessimist. 'Why they pick 'im beats me,' says another. 'Look out for Dooley - good player mind,• says Fairness. ' Not as good as 'im that lifts 'im, • retorts Realist. ' 'Ope somebody lets Moore 'ave it,' suggests Pugilist. 'Aye, right Butt.• 'Fancy bloody Dewi playing for that lot. Shame 'in it.• 'I know someone who bought a dog from his father,' says neighbour on my left. 'What are the plans for lunch?' I ask my host on my right. The-moderately-English voice brings conversation to a halt. One of them? 'Damn good dog, too,• I add in Welsh, to allay fears and the conversation begins again. Acceptance on so little today. Many, many streams from valleys near and far flow into Cardiff Station today and a noisy and red river pours out of the exit. 'Got a ticket?', we are asked at every doorway, every comer as we make our way. 1 feel inside my coat to check again that mine is there. It is no different outside the County Club as we meet our hosts and queue to get in. 'Got a ticket?' 'Bloody Burton's got 'em all,' I hear an anguished voice say. 'I'd like to give 'im bloody corporate 'ospitality.' The County Club is packed with men, apart from seasoned waitresses who have seen it all before. The bar is ten deep but our hosts conjure pints from the throng and we join them where there seems an inch or two more space. Credentials are established nearly as rapidly as the banter develops. With both hosts the rapport is immediate: Peter I is wearing his Llanelli 'Sospan' tie, Peter ll is a schoolmaster, three of us are fanatical fishermen with rivers in common. Time races by, but whatever we discuss the conversation returns to 'the game', hypothesising, imagining imponderables. Surrounding conversations that catch a moment of silence are the same. Our conjurer manages another miracle and finds four seats at a table. Soup; steak and kidney or beef; rice pudding or cheese - today it all costs the same and interminable rows of wine bottles stand to one side, opened ready. An adjacent table goes quiet as a stout, florid-faced octogenarian, 'Baa-baas' tie worn proudly, dispenses tickets to his guests. 'Got any spare?' come raucous shouts from all over the room. A large glass of port - where on earth did that come from? - and it is time to go. As we rise to leave I bump into Old Shirburnians - Jim from School House, 'Hello Sir. Do you remember telling me I was the fastest winger in England but hands like chopsticks? I was lucky to make the 2nd XV.' - and Richard, his sartorial elegance no different from the day when no one was in more demand at S.S.G. - and Paul, unchanged from the days when he cheekily dominated The Upper from scrum half and enjoyed an unbeaten season. 'Good days, but l 'm playing centre now - safer!' Coats, and we are outside, part of the milling throng, all steps hastening, accents from East Wales and West, North and South, familiar, yet not as familiar as the occasional English voice. It is a strange feeling. We pause to watch two extremely glamorous blondes, wearing English rugby jerseys, waving a car pass at an elderly, rnufflered, peak-capped steward who is having none of. 'But you must let us in, we are friends of Will Carling.• Impasse. We chuckle and hurry on. Climbing now, concrete steps in the bowels of the new stand, anxious to be in our seats in time and, without knowing it, alreading joining in the singing coming from inside the ground. A bright light and suddenly we are there, a part of this wonderful, wonderful ground - the Arms Park. (The National Stadium? Ugh!) The green is so, so green. Horne? In a way, yes and Jong overdue. The teams are already on the field, our seats are to hand and the anthems begin. English first, not a bad rendering either, although thin on tenors as usual. Then it is 'Mae hen wlad Fy nhadau yn annwy! i mi' and hackles are up on spines that are tingling. It is singing and emotion beyond belief. 'Gwlad, gwlad' pours out - and before it is over Guscott breaks from the English line-up and runs off into the open spaces of the field. Has it got to him, 1 wonder? He wouldn't be the first. I hope it has and that it may be an omen. A French referee and kick off, the oval ball turning end over end, languidly, is accompanied by a deafening roar and preludes the clash of forwards. There is total engagement from thirty people on the field and two thousand times that from the .. spectators. White jerseys are pouring forward everywhere; Dooley held up short; Teague, of all people, sidestepping Proctor before Moore drops the telling pass; Clarke and Byfield seem unstoppable. Tackles cause the crowd to wince and tension causes hands to grope for hip flasks, eyes never leaving the engagement below. There is genuine applause for Guscott's drop goal, Webb's penalties and outrageous approval of Jenkins' penalty in return. England are ahead and deservedly so, but by less than they should be. 'If we can get ahead by half time we're in with a shout,' I declare to nobody in particular. 'Definitely' comes a female voice from behind me. I turn round: she could be my Aunty Gwyneth - knowledgeable women in Wales! Then, from nothing, leuan Evans is chasing a half desperate kick by a hard pressed forward. Underwood is there - plenty of time - but he looks over his left shoulder not his right and fails to sense Evans. The crowd see it at once - a chance! Evans hacks on and before he dives we are already on our delirious feet for the score - and a kick to come. Half time and we stand breathless, hearts pounding, like the players, gathering ourselves for the second half. It is, if anything, more frenetic: Dewi Morris everywhere, England so ubiquitously ominous, Webster, Gibbs and Rayer, making impossible tackles for Wales, penned in their own half. Morris is over! No, not allowed, Sixty thousand sigh in anguish or relief. 'I promise I'll go to France for my holiday - and learn French,' comes from somewhere. 'Good ref. 'en 'e,' says another instant Francophile. An unnecessary late tackle and the crowd groans belly deep in dismay, but the upright deflects the ball away. Ten minutes to go and the crowd senses the pendulum swinging away from England. Llewellyn wins consecutive lineouts and the siege lifts. A minute to go, an English penalty and laughter of disbelief as England refuse to try for goal, Llewellyn wins the ball again, Jenkins clears and, almost unawares and certainly unheard in the cauldron of noise, the whistle goes and red jerseys leap into the air. It is over. For a while we stand and watch and savour. The pitch is invaded, players of both sides mobbed, it is a flood after a drought. After a while we make our way down the steps, stop to say 'Hello' to the incomparable Gerald Davies in the press box and move out on to the field, still perfect underfoot. The tannoy asks all to leave the field. We have already done so, but there is little hope of shifting the remainder who are still singing. We all share incredulity, English at having won so much possession and lost, Welsh at having made bricks without straw. At the County Club the noise level defies belief and post mortems abound. An hour later, on our way back to the railway station, the streets are still thick with people, some purchasing red rosettes in commemoration. The train to go up the valley arrives at the platform at the same time as we do and we manage to get a seat this time. There are red faces grinning and red scarves everywhere. Then one talks of a 'Grand Slam', but I think of Scotland at Murrayfield, keep my counsel and enjoy the moment. For some it is clear that even a six-pack won't be enough tonight. There are regular shouts of 'We did it,' echoed by howls of approval and it is a memorable journey up the valley. At the station we share a minibus taxi with a horde of people going our way, more or less, and arrive at mine host's home safely. I suggest that I leave for Sherborne and am squashed flat by my hostess's ' I've booked a table for 8.00 p.m. ' A short drive and we are there and from the menu comes delicious !aver bread, bacon and cockles, what else on a day such as this? The dining room is not small nor anonymously large and it is full. At intervals the conversational hum is disturbed by otherwise modest and urbane adults getting to their feet to ask of us all, 'What's the score?', each time answered by a dining room chorus, laughter and a conversational hum - until the next interruption. We are a strange people. The following morning I do leave early although my hosts are up before me tending to the lambing across the farmyard. I inspect a lamb that hasn't made it and more that have before adjourning for a proper farm breakfast. As I leave we talk of Twickenham next year and we agree to try. A few miles along the road I am constantly puz.zled by large writing on my dirty rear wi.ndscreen. When I decipher it I burst out laughing, for a patriot, seeing the English garage name-plate in the back window has sent me on my way with a message. 'Wales 10 - England 9.' He need not have bothered. You see, I was there.

D.P.J. The Browning Version

Paramount Pictures descended on Sherborne in story, taken from Quiet Days in Clichy. July lo film scenes from their production of He must have liked our collaboration Terence Rattigan 'splay, starring Albert Finney and since he got in touch with me for this Greta Scacchi. Many Shirburnians were employed one. as extras. Here is a transcript of an interview conducted by Jean-Marc Pascal, with the camera­ J.-M.P.: What do you think of Sherborne? man, Jean-Franr;ois Robin. J.-F.R.: I am very pleased to shoot in Sherborne ... I find it so typically English. The J.-M.P.: How did you become involved in The Browning Version? first time I came, I thought: 'it's going to be strange . . . a Frenchie's point of J.-F.R.: I didn't know that l was on this film, view on such an English place . . . so before the last week in May, while on many things escape me ... there a.re so location in Holland. Actually, it many things I don't understand.• My sometimes happens that you have to first visit with Mike was in term time, in decline an offer when a film is not quite early June. I spenc chree days, taking finalized, and you've got to move on to pictures and walking a.round the school another project, in the meantime. I for possible locations ... I wasn't thought I would have to decline Betty surprised by the boys' uniform ... what Blue for this very reason, but, luckily, surprised me most, later on, was the the shooting eventually fitted my own Etonian uniform prescribed for the boys working schedule. in the film. J.-M.P.: Had you worked with Mike Figgis J.-M.P.: Don't you think that the film falls into before? the common Hollywood cliches about English public schools ... all these very J.-F.R.: I had already worked with Mike on a old masters and their fairly oldish wives 30-minute film, entitled Berthe, an with plums in their mouths ... not to adaptation from Henry Miller's short mention the impeccably dressed boys?

.. J .-F.R.: Not at all ... It is very sincere and it is the screenplay. Jean-Jacques also not addressed to any particular audience bought the rights of Betty Blue's sequel ... American or otherwise. Mike and I which he might film, one day . . . never discussed it, anyway. The he doesn't feel like working on it, right Browning Version is not meant to be yet now ... another 'public school movie', or something inspired by Howard's End . .. J.-M.P.: Who are the directors of photograph) It is its own reference. you admire most? J.-M.P.: You worked with Jean-Jacques Beineix J.-F.R.: My favourite is undoubtedly Vittorio on the French cult fiJm Betty Blue. Why Storario (who photographed The Last was there a second version of the film? Emperor and Apocalypse Now, amongst others), but I also like the great J.-F.R.: Well ... actually, it wasn't so much a Hollywood directors of photography, second version as the intended first such as Gregg Toland (Citizen Kane) or version. What happened was that, when Arthur Edeson (Casablanca, The we edited the film for the first time, we Maltese Falcon). The problem is that, realized that we had four hours of just Hke film directors, cameramen filming and the production people rarely meet, as they never have the insisted that Beineix cut the film down to opportunity to work together. The two hours and ten minutes. Three years British camermen have just started a later, Jean-Jacques decided to release kind of guild to promote more contacts the integral version, which showed within the profession. Betty's gradual fall into madness, more vividly. J.-M.P.: Do you sometimes feel like making your own films? J.-M.P.: Wasn't it a bit artificial to alter an original film, the way an author would J.-F.R.: Not at all ... I was tempted a long time decide to add to or subtract material ago, but not any more. I want to make from an already published work? films . . . to be on a set . . . not to be troubled with meeting producers and J.-F.R.: No, I don't think so, as the film had a financing films ... If I made my own second life, thanks to its new editing. fiJms, I would shoot once every three Beineix had acquired the rights of years and what l want is regular work Ojian's novel, but the latter was not ... from that point of view, lam lucky remotely interested in collaborating on to be quite busy.

IE lmpro. We are all familiar with the improvised comedy their colleagues and they also develop' that shows on television that have increased in invaluable quality of valuing other people's ideas. popularity so much in the last few years. These are They are often surprised that an idea, which to largely based on the teaching and methods of Keith themselves seems to be obvious or even banal, is Johnstone, a member of a very talented group of thought by others to be original, interesting, and directors and writers who worked in the 1950's at often just right for the situation. On a more the Royal Court Theatre, London. practical level, many have found that interviews are I met Keith in 1980, and was amazed by the much less of an ordeal if they are skilled freshness and sheer fun of his approach. A key irnprovisors, and more than one has claimed that he point is to reduce discussion to a minimum and to has turned a sticky interview with a member of staff encourage all of the group to take part in the to his advantage by using 'status' techniques. Most activities, but in such a way that they do not feel importantly, and without formal teaching, they threatened or embarrassed. William Gaskell, a well­ find out how to interrelate in the group. It is known director, writes 'Keith started to teach bis extraordinary how crude and obvious any attempt own particular style of improvisation, much of it to 'show off' becomes. based on fairy stories, word associations, free When a group is reasonably confident and associations, intuitive responses, and, later, masks. willing, public performance is possible. Sherborne All his work has been to encourage the rediscovery groups have performed in churches, at Pilsden, at of the imaginative response in the adult and the our French twin town, Granville, prep. schools, refinding of the child's creativity.' local primary schools, and at Commem. Next In schools, pupils are normally conditioned to summer we hope to visit one of the 'Douzelage' link seek 'success'. High grades and marks, competitive towns, Holstebro in Denmark, to work with Danish sport, and, increasingly, competitive everything pupils in a joint production. seems lO be the norm in education. There are few The essential element in lmpro. is taking part. If activities in which an individual can simply go you want to try it, contact me. through an experience for the sake of that experience, without it being labelled, scored or J.S.-S. discussed. In Impro., students can discover their abilities to cope with the unknown or unexpected. They find that their ideas are used and valued by .. Letter to the Editor Obiter Dicta Dear Sir, S.H. (during play rehearsal): 'Could you just get on As I did not have the opportunity to reminisce with everyone else, but do it quietly.' to the School last term about my time at Sherbome, I thought I would write to you in the hope that you G.A.F.W. (to P.J.S.): 'You've got everything I would allow me the space of your pages to rectify want.' this omission. As you know, I came to Sherbome in 1990 straight after leaving University. In many A.E.R. (to new Third-former, just arrived after ways, I believed that the School would be an P.E.): 'You're late - who's been extension of college life, a belief which was teaching you?' strengthened by the physical appearance of the Third-former (still out of breath): 'Er, Mr. Clot School as well as by its timeless qualities. I think, and Mr. Satan, Sir. looking back, I was mistaken. The boys here have a vigorous approach to life and a friendliness which I P. Ri.: 'Even though I do say so myself, I've got think is unparalleled. There is a refreshing 'down­ fairly good equipment.• to-earth' reel at Sherbome which quickly dispelled my pretensions and enabled me to take part more R.M.W.: 'God in the 17th Century was a powerful, fully in the business of learning and teaching. And I all-knowing bastard.' believe, most strongly, that I have learnt much during my time here - certainly as much as I have C.W.M.A.: 'I've got three sex videos to watch taught. Nearly all of that learning has come from before Wednesday.' the boys themselves. There are many things about which the School M.J.C.: 'I have a very long chain and I know how - and, particularly, the boys in the School - can to use it.' be proud. I have witnessed excellent drama, music and sport over the last three years. In addition, I C.D.H. Hepworth: ' I can't get these 3D pictures: have been privileged to be part of the nurturing of when I stare at them I concentrate so hard those strong academic abilities which have enabled I forget to breathe.' some of my pupils to achieve the highest honours. But perhaps the abiding memory will be that my life G.D.R.: 'I'm one of those who has more than an has been touched quite profoundly by the lives of academic interest in you boys - but those I have taught. Sherbome boys display all of don't put that in Obiter Dicta.' the characteristics that one could hope for in the [Sorry - Eds.] very best of our society - kindness, under­ standing, sympathy, openness and friendliness are J.D.: 'A man's car is supposed to be a symbol of just some qualities which I would like to commend. his virility.' There have been many occasions when I have Boy: 'Can you drive, Sir?' needed my spirits lifted, and, almost without fail, J.D.: 'No.' those spirits have been lifted by the company of the boys. And I think it is important to make clear that And finally, a recently issued Dining Hall l have enjoyed the company of all the boys in the punishment: School, right across the age range. The consequences of living in such a small 'Tardy Book, for arriving early for tea.' community as Sherborne can, I know, make many facets of school life frustrating. But I am confident that, if the boys continue to treat people in the way that they have treated me over the last three years, Sherborne will continue to thrive. Their welcome wiU be the thing I wiU miss most. I hope to be able to visit on occasions in the future. I will carry the boys in my prayers and I wish them all the very best for their futures.

Yours faithfully,

Christian White

IC Surfing Sherborne - Nearly

To be a cult you have to die young: Marilyn The second problem was waves - to begin Monroe, James Dean, Elvis Presley, and a motley with, Mother Nature played a cruel joke - half crew called the Sherborne School Surf Club aU foot waves just were not appealing. Then, after testify to this. One in the above list is perhaps an some weeks, the waves came and we went. Out of odd man out - Elvis Presley: he reached forty­ the twenty original names wanting to go only seven something, was fat, and, when his time came, was turned up, the rest claiming they had 'too much not considered a great sex symbol. However, when work to do'. Never mind, we thought, as, from Marilyn, Jimmy Dean and Sherborne School Surf now on, the same eight members surfed week in, Club died, boy, did they all look good (thanks to week out. Suddenly, however, the dream became a Nick Edouard)! They had trendy haircuts (James nightmare: out of the blue we were told that the Dean v Ed Nicolson - no contest). But they all School were no longer going to fund the surf club, went out for different reasons - Monroe (maybe) because not enough people were interested. took drugs, Dean had a car accident and the surf The experience was unreal and brilliant fun club suffered a financial crisis. while it lasted. lf you say you want to go surfing, The whole idea was hatched by Mr. Lewis, go - if you have an interest and are in the Vlth Henry Mowbray and myself, and, before long, form do give it a try. You don't have to have long surfing became a reality. blond hair (Ed Nicholson) or have a beautiful body 'Surfing - that sounds cool - I' ll do it - put (Giles Greenflash) - you've got to be wiJling to my name down'. The project, in theory, appeared have a good time, get wet, get exhausted and be hugely popular and soon twenty names were down able to make do with packed teas for two hours. l on paper. However, soon a problem arose: how hope this is one legend that will rise out of its couJd people spend Thursday afternoons in financial grave; if you don't go, you don't know. Pageant Gardens talking about surfing if they actually were surfing? Application was Giles Greenwood needed - simply signing a piece of paper wouldn't do.

.. A Year in Sherborne

perfect, so 'English', I thought. But I couldn't help feeling somewhat edgy, as I knew little of the true England. To me, The Queen stood side-by-side with Dr. Who, Blackadder and James Bond; the rest were greyish scenes of Victorian fiction and - of course - proper manners. Moreover, I knew even less of the 'public school' other than what I had read of it in Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall. Naturally, it was important to ask lots of questions. On the other hand, I felt that too much prior knowledge could affect my own impressions or leave me with a very dry experience. So with the BAEF's prep and pamphlet on the English 'vocabulary' and English 'public school' in hand, I decided nothing more was needed and took the plunge. The first few months were full of some confusion. I had to steady myself with a list of new words: 'tea' for 'supper'; 'biscuit' for 'cookie'; 'post' for 'mail'; 'hall' for 'homework' - to mention just a few. Unsurprisingly, these cost me several misunderstandings and a few embarrassing moments. But, whereas words were only an occasional puzzle, the subtleties of public school life were somewhat more challenging. Suddenly l had to keep in mind the dress code, the staggered class schedule and the week ls and 2s. As my previous school had been a (four-year) co-eel ' math and science' high school of about 2,200 + students located in Lower Manhattan, you can understand my problem. Alt.hough there were some difficulties, The Domestic Bursar makes his bid to join the teaching most of the new changes were what I had hoped staff. as an extra in The Browning Version for. Gone were the classes of thirty-odd students, the crowded hallways, the silly red-tape and bureaucracy, the odour of exhaust fumes, the sight Wally Patawaran, a New Yorker, spent the last of hot-dog vendors selling rotten sauerkraut. academic year as an Abbey/ands Upper Sixth­ Having now finished the year, let me give you ! ormer. Here are his reflections on the experience. my impression of the 'public school' English. I think they are similar to Mozart's music, in the The bright lights of New York City had faded 'restraint', the 'light touch', the 'well-balanced' away and, yes, even the loose night life had attitude, the wit and humour, the 'elegant' somehow turned dull. I was anxious for a quick disposition and the clearness and economy of change and knew immediately what I was looking expression, all of which are qualities well prized in for: an old town, deep in the English countryside, the public school environment. On the other hand, far secluded from the thoughts of subway delays, having grown up in New York City, I don't think 1 noisy traffic and heavy street repairs, a friendly could give you such a generalised view of what place where I could finally have some calm and Americans as a whole are like - maybe Scott quiet. Joplin, maybe Carter, maybe Cage . . . which The British American Educational Foundation brings me to the point that stereotypes are of suggested Sherborne, and from their description it limited use and can be misleading. So, finally, let was the ideal place. 'About 125 miles Southwest of me take this opportunity to squash some popular London, surrounded by pasture'. It all sounded so misconceptions about America. First of all, rest IC assured your language is still very safe; we might was taken into a group. People are very friendly. occasionally spell a word differently, but we have They are nice. They may seem a bit too nice at not gone so far as to accept that Hollywood times, but on the whole it was a good experience. creation 'nite'. (But be warned of 'political But that's about the people, not the school. correctness'; American feminists, among others, I was in a minority, not just because I am have decided that the best way of achieving equality English, but because I am a white male. The school is by radically altering our vocabulary. For instance was made up of 49o/o whites. This was a humbling wo'man' is now gyno-American, 'his'tory is now experience and it was good to see how minorities 'her'tory, etc ...) And foremost, trust me when I must feel. I know 490/o is not much of a minority, say that not everything made in the USA is going but compared to what I am used to (990/o white the way of fast-food and silicon implants. America male) it was quite different. There were also 100 is still a very respectable and beautiful country!! more women than men. So that was good - ethnic, cultural and sexual diversity. W. B. Patawaran There was another aspect, the amazing size of the buildings. There were three theatres! The main one was huge, with tiered balconies and many fancy little additions. The stage was about four times the size of the BSR. The back-stage equipment was about the same standard and quantity as in the TAC. A whole TAC just for the theatre. The other Summer School in the USA two theatres were about three times the size of the Powell Theatre. And it was not just the theatre that I know that this title will be greeted by was huge. Everything was colossal! The computer predictable groans, but bear with me. Summer centre had about 100 Apple Macintoshes and was 'school' is NOT school. Sherborne is fully staffed until 10 each night. That made me School - Summer school is education! This appreciate how under-used the computer centre is summer I went to a summer school in America. here. The library had over 100,000 books on almost People have mixed opinions of summer schools. all subjects. It was also computer referenced and Some favour the opinion above, others think of it cross-referenced. Yes, this school was well as a summer 'camp' - a typical Disney film scene. equipped. It is neither of these. The choice and freedom in the dining hall was I applied in March or April and after a while my also quite overwhelming. Frozen yoghurt every letter of acceptance came through. This is the first day, and a generally huge choice. AND we were misconception people tend to have - you have to actually allowed to take things out of the dining be accepted, it is not a free-for-all. hall! I chose to do three courses, Speech and Debate, To cut a long story short: if any of you want co Social Psychology and Introduction to Japanese. (I diversify and see life from a different perspective - would like to see Sherbome offer this kind of DO THIS! It is one of the best things I have ever diversity . . .) The first of these was my done. You have a lot of fun, you wilJ make a lot of major - twelve hours per week. The other two good, international friends, have access to excellent were minor courses - five hours a week. The facilities and you WILL enjoy it. entire session lasted six weeks. This is the second misconception - it is not a 'catch up' session for Ed Dowding those who did badly in some aspects of their regular school. It can be but it is mainly an excellent opportunity to diversify. So, I flew over to Boston and drove to Andover, Massachusetts, having very little idea of what to expect, simply because I had never done anything like it before. It was an American school, different society, different people and all the normal things that people worry about. There was a typical welcoming ceremony: a speech from the College Dean and 'cookies' and a drink on the lawn. This is where the first difference manifested itself. I knew no one there and so I had no one to talk to, apart from the teachers to whom we were supposed to talk about our courses and introduce ourselves. Within about two minutes I .. Voices from the Past

The following two extracts appeared in The Shirburnian, one hundred years ago and fifty years ago, respectively.

GAMES FUND.

vVe are requested to insert the following letter:­ ScHooLHousE, SHERBORNE, DORSET, July 6th, c 893. D EAR SrH, The Treasurer of our "Games Fund," ( l'vlr. C. H . Hodgson), has latterly found it a very difficult matter to arrange for the proper maintenance of the School games, owing to the lack of Funds. It has occurred to me that many Shirburnians will be prepared to help their old School by subscribing annually any ~um from five shillings upwards, to a •Bowling Fund,' with the object of securing for the School XI., efficient and regular' coaching.' We a re anxious to obtain the services of J. R. Painter as a permanent cricket instructor and groundman. This can only bP managed by the raising of additional monies year by year. Mr. Hodgson has promised me that the subscriptions already kindly paid by a few O.SS. shall be devoted to this object, and we all greatl_v hope that others \\"iii follow their example. There should be no difficulty in raising £50 or more a year. I myse lf shall be happy to subscribe £10 annually and I am sure that other friends an

From The Shirburnian, December, 1893

IC To the Editqrs of" The Shirburnian." DEAR SIRS, May I make a timid suggestion ? Could not rugby football be run on a voluntary basis ? I am sure there are many people, like myself, who would be only too glad if this happened, especially those people who have little or no chance of ever rising above the dignity (or indignity) of Senior pools. No doubt work could be found for the non­ rugger .players. I am sure they would prove most useful to harassed agriculture prefects. Finally, let me add that war-time conditions have caused cricket to become voluntary (in one House at the least), so could not this war finally sweep away the outworn shibboleth of " the Battle of Waterloo being won on the playing fields of Eton," and the tyranny of compulsory games ? Yours hopefully, FAIR PLAY.

From The Shirburnian, December, 1943

A bird's eye view of the Digby's horse-shoe-carrying ostrich, gazing serenely out towards the Terraces .

.. FOUR 'FOUND' POEMS

These poems consist entirely of words token from external, often unexpected, sources. These sources ore given at the end.

The Statement On the Road

When you pay A changed man, We are waiting Under the greenwood tree, Where this happens A pair of blue eyes, Overdrawn. Far from the madding crowd. Other services. Charges relating to A walk in the wood; Details. He knew he was right. Be pleased to provide ... The way we live now, can you forgive her? The Duke's children kept in the dark. Ben Shirley Most secret round the bend; Ruined city, The Square Towers of silence.

Monday the Fifth, The light and dark, Heroic gesture, The conscience of the rich. A column of four Square he bought - Of this and other worlds, And dramatic They asked for a paper. Scholars of the heart, Charlie Venn In defence of the imagination, Escape from the shadows.

In Memoriam Ben Shirley

Youth, Truth, Sources of 'Found' Poems: Sincere, Hear, The Statement: A Midland Bank statement. Mind, The Square: An Amnesty International poster Kind, featuring Tiananmen Square. Sedate, In Memoriam: Last words of each line of a memorial Great, in Sherbome Abbey to Robert, the second Thine, son of William, Lord Digby. Divine, On the Rood: Titles of books by Thomas Hardy Doom, (verse 1), Anthony Trollope (verse 2), Tomb, Paul Scott and Neville Shute (verse 3), Shore, C. P. Snow (verse ef) and C. S. Lewis No more, (verse 5). Relief, Grief.

George Malim .. The Tall Tree Fell FOUR POEMS The tall tree fell, BY ALEXANDER WOOLLEY Another piece of the forest dead. The tall tree fell. The sound of the axe rang out like a bell. The creeldng timber downwards sped, Like a wise man murdered in his bed, The tall tree fell. Outside Grill The flames leapt high, The lonely family gathered round. Beach leaf heat The flames leapt high. And the people sit round a table Clouds of black smoke hung in the sky. Laughing The farm was burnt to the ground, Speaking through tomato mouths The crackling of fire was the only sound. and happy smiles The flames leapt high. Thinking through cinder ash and stained grass feet Andrew Macintosh Moving with the summer ways and sticky promises And then they cook their inspiration UntiJ it's too dry to eat Untitled Then they talk the Summer rain The chipped Beech leaf heat. stone path slides over the neat, combed, apple-green grass, so tender on my feet in the summer. (A bit like Mum's fur coat, I reckon.) Thinking Electric Danger! Beware! Electric live. Shouts red in my bead, Element of abstract jive. stamped there by big boys, Continue the town mood with my humming song Mum, Dad and Grandma. Which only exists within the (Because.) Evening song.

The path Electric time. is lost Piece of strange sign. in long grass, thickets, Make the remembrance of that happy or lonely face bracken, entangle­ Which only exists within the -ments of thorny bushes Hidden face. (and hidden darkness). Electric thought. Brown heaps, Strange that always taut. soft leaves, Summon up the places that I went to or the places of who steaming and damp; a I was. coiled green snake, ready to Which only exists within Snap! wrap rotten rings round Who I was. (my leg!) Electric fire. No way, Burning in the mind's wire. . not there - Bring back a re-kindled flame of thought which you have rusty rakes and Oh! Burnt. Spiders! Not spiders! Which only exists within the Spin on my heels and Memory burnt. (run back to the kitchen for my tea).

Stuart Fance A Bloody Consequence of War

The man sits gazing upon the wall Images wash through him like a tide Images of when he rode his last ride It doesn't concern anyone now but him And there's no need to worry from the consequences Of that almighty fall. The man sits drooling from a dazed smile Visions of interference and colourless shapes fill his mind And pass his day But it won't trouble the person who enters the room And blocks the man's only glimmer of blurred light It doesn't matter to them but it matters to him, The man in the corner effortlessly drooling.

The man sits captivated by his apparent loss of limbs. To the other men just stubs of flesh, But to the man in the chair sitting in the lowlight Stubs of his soul and life butchered and then thrown away But that doesn't matter, not even to him. He doesn't even know where he threw himself away or remember the past He just sits still in the chair in the Darkened room slightly conscious of himself Hanging on the edge looking inside from the rim.

Strange Days

Strange days are when you Are all alone You don't know where you've been, Feeling so unreal. The cinefilm days light up your room And thoughts arrive like wounded flies Riding on a troubled wind. And you're running away from yourself For pride Or have you just lost your way, Left something behind? And there you stand, in the light But somehow in the dark Can't see or be seen Can't understand or be understood And so you look out the window Through the dirty rain In hope to see that face again But all you see is the pain, Knowing that strange days will come again. .. The Devil's Game The steeple is silent now. Goodbye Gone be the mourners and the strange faces of your family, Which 1 never met. I sit with a yearning In my heart. Gone all the ties, Tomorrow we leave the black dresses, With only our the vertical red ribbons, memories. the cries, the sobs, the hugs and handkerchiefs, What will become of me? the pats on the back, the complimentary refreshments, As I look ahead the colours of the stained glass with the sun. I fear What is in store. In the space of silence ... I fear that my my mind plays back wishes, dreams will evaporate the kaleidoscopic recordings in today's heat or of our sweet times together. die in tomorrow's freeze. The hand, pallid, What will become of us? slim and languid, dancing along to your witty voice as you spoke. The paths that Brought us together now separate. It survives .. . So close we have grown, It remains .. . but so much is left on the inside . . . I, your devotee undone. I fear and you, the beautiful Jesus of my heart. my life without you will be incomplete. Anon What will become of you?

Defeated As if my path wasn't Dark enough, The sail unfurls, I have no sight of yours. The wind obliges, No longer Proudly filling those radiant colours, can I stand beside Edging her to take her first steps in my aged wisdom. Out into those unforgiving oceans. I know (fhose menacing laughs were not forgiving.) You'll be fine, but yet I fear The colours grow dim, that you will She whimpers in the shade of forget the times The laughing clouds. we spent and The sun is absent, slowly They've had their fun. even forget me. She shivers at the bottom of Those mocking oceans. Anon Defeated, And without a hope.

Edward Olsen Bothering Eeyore

Tigger came bounding down over the only ever-so-slightly bumpy ground towards Rabbit's house, just as Rabbit had finished sweeping away the heaps of golden-brown leaves that Autumn had planted on his doorstep. 'Hello Rabbit!' shouted Tigger. 'Hello Tigger,' answered Rabbit, not too excitedly, remembering that things were never as right as things should be when Tigger has something to do with anything. 'Guess what, Rabbit?' 'Which what, Tigger?' 'The what that 1 know, and you don't know, of course!' 'Well, that's a little difficult Tigger, because there are probably lots of things that you know, and I don't know.' 'Well try and guess the one that I'm thinking of now,' said Tigger a little crossly as he reached Rabbit's newly-cleaned doorstep. 'That just makes it even harder though, doesn't it?' answered Rabbit. 'Oh, alright, I'll tell you anyway. I've just run around the six Pine Trees over near Pooh's house, in less than the time it took for Christopher Robin to say the alphabet twice. I bet that's the fastest ever.' 'How on Earth did you expect me to guess that, Tigger? Besides, I can run faster than you - everbody knows that - I'm a rabbit, after all.' Then followed one of those silly arguments where the silliest person wins, rather than the right one. You know, it starts something like: 'Can not!' and then the second person says; 'Can too!' and it goes on like that until the least silly person stops, or until Christopher Robin comes along, which is exactly what happened. Christopher Robin had got bored with saying the alphabet and waiting for Tigger to come round the other side of the six Pine Trees, so he realised he must have gone off somewhere without telling him. The two arguers presented their problem to Christopher Robin. All three 'hmm'ed and 'haa'ed for a while (with a great deal more 'hmm's than 'haa's, because 'baa' is not a very usual son of thing to say, even when 'hmm 'ing and 'haa'ing), until Pooh Bear came along. When they presented the problem to Pooh, he (being a Bear of very little brain) said; 'Well, being a Bear of very little brain, I don't know the solution to the problem, but I bet Eeyore does - he's good at solving problems like this.' So off they went. 'Why did you have to come and bother me?' asked Eeyore. 'Of all the animals in this forest, why did you have to bother me? I'm the furthest away; 1 live in a damp gloomy place, and you still find the time to go bothering me. I must be a very botherable donkey.' 'We dido 't mean to bother you Eeyore, we just have a problem we'd like you to solve,' said Pooh, as kindly as possible. 'That, Pooh, is one of my many definitions of bothering, and you are doing it - deliberately at that - so how can you say you didn't mean to bother me?' 'Eeyore,• said Rabbit, 'let me explain. I can run faster than Tigger, because I'm a Rabbit. 'Why is that a problem now, Rabbit? We all know you're a rabbit, Rabbit, but I've never complained, so 1 don't see why you should come bothering me about it now. I was just getting down to being really sad and gloomy.' .. 'I haven't finished yet, Eeyore. The problem is, Tigger doesn't believe me.' 'That isn't a problem, Rabbit, and I still don't see why you should have to go around terrorizing the forest with your bothering. I don't suppose Piglet would mind being bothered: why don't you try Piglet?' 'Why isn't it a problem, Eeyore?' asked Christopher Robin. 'Because, all you have to do is race each other.' 'Of course!, why didn't I think of that?' exclaimed Rabbit. 'Right, off we go then. We'll go to the six Pine Trees and draw a starting and finishing line, and Christopher Robin can judge.' So off they all went lo the six Pine Trees, Rabbit in front, the others trailing behind, with Pooh Bear at the back, because, as well as being a Bear of very little brain, he was also a Bear of very little legs, and if it weren't for Christopher Robin hurrying him along, Pooh would have been left behind. They were all very excited about seeing who was the fastest out of Rabbit and Tigger, but they did have the decency (or, as Eeyore would have put it, 'bothersomeness') to stop by Roo's and Piglet's houses to invite them to come and watch. 'Right,' said Rabbit. 'Tigger and I will stand here,' he said in his usual business­ like manner, 'and you can all stand over there, except for Christopher Robin who can wait at the finishing line.' Everybody did as they were told, as Rabbit and Tigger set their marks, and Christopher Robin tried to remember his alphabet. 'On your marks, set, go!' shouted Christopher Robin. 'A, B, C ... er' 'D' called Pooh helpfully from the crowd. As they looked, Christopher Robin said his alphabet. Then Piglet shouted, 'Oh look, oh look, I can see them!' just as Christopher Robin reached 'Q' for the second time. Rabbit and Tigger came nying around the corner towards the finishing line. Everyone cheered as they both crossed the line at the same time. ' I won, I won!' shouted Tigger excitedly. 'I won, I won!' shouted Rabbit, almost as excitedly. 'What do you think, Christopher Robin?' asked Pooh. ' I think you'll have to settle for being the same,' said Christopher Robin, 'because I have the feeling that Eeyore won't welcome being bothered again!' So off they went for their supper, all happy because they now knew that Tigger and Rabbit were as fast as each other. Except for Tigger, who was happy because he knew he was still the fastest - and Rabbit, who was happy because he knew he was still the fastest - and, of course Eeyore, who is never entirely happy. 'Why don't they come and ask me to sort it out?' he muttered to himself in his damp, gloomy corner of the forest. ' I suppose it's too much trouble for them to visit someone as unimportant as me; and who cares what /think, anyway? Who ever bothers what Eeyore thinks at all?' And he took another bite from his favourite clump of thistles, shaking his head sadly from side to side.

Paul Marshall (with apologies to A. A. Milne) Cricket between the coaches that this was how the game should be played. Both sides took equal turns in the 1st XI final session of the game either to strive for a win or eschew defeat. As Jack Pollard once wrote, 'When somebody told me that a man once died from 'A dirty look is the only acceptable expression of excitement at a cricket match and another spectator dissent, and we don't even like that.' This was gnawed the handle of his umbrella in a nervous quoted some years ago in The Sunday Times by a spasm, it was hardly a shock. It seemed a pleasing cricket umpire. It may seem an unusual text upon way to die.• It was a fitting way to end this which to start a 1st XI Cricket report. However, it particular season. It is the personalities that remain was a 'feature' of the season how much noise was in the memory Jong after the results are historical created on the field - a fact which did not go facts recorded in another Shirburnian. unnoticed by spectators, umpires and cricket staff. Garrett was an amateur who played like a Encouragement is necessary and, indeed, professional and one could not fail to admire his essential for most schoolboys. What young men self-confidence. Cossins, both on and off the field, must be taught is to direct verbal remarks politely was like a dormant volcano. Giles could never quite to their comrades and to avoid any possible mis­ decide whether his loyalties were on the field or off interpretation by the opposition. it. Rankine never failed to disguise his enthusiasm Schoolboys are natural imitators and what they for the game in whatever rate he was performing. see and hear they wi ll copy. Recent examples on the Hargrove demonstrated that there was no substitute international arena unfortunately only exacerbate for hard work on the cricket field. Robertson never such attitudes. quite appreciated what a naturalJy gifted cricketer The scene today is a far cry from that described he was. Wheatley was not sure how dedicated he by Sir James Barrie:- should be and Bishop tried to hide both his 'It is surely the loveliest scene in England and determination and desire to excel. Johnson needed encouragement and responded accordingly. the most disarming sound. From the ranks of the unseen dead for ever passing along our Percival perhaps tried too hard and Firebrace country lanes, the Englishman falls out for a refused to be anything other than a 1st XI player. moment to look over the gate of the cricket field Gavin-Brown proved his class as a batsman and and smile.• Hyde his potential. Costeloe led by example and never gave less than There are aspe.cts to every team performance total commitment whether it be at practice sessions which are forever beyond the reach of any or in school matches. He experienced the rate of a recording, because they take place in situations captain as described by D. J. Insole: 'A PR officer, which agricultural consultant, psychiatrist, accountant, A. are concrete, nursemaid and diplomat.• He coped admirably. B. are subject to contingencies, There was much good food provided by Mr. C. involve novelties, John Wright and his s1aff and, as always, served D. are affected by luck, with great efficiency by Jeannie and her assistant E. are beset by obstacles, and Peter Wright. The ground and playing surface were F. are benefited by opportunities. as always prepared immacula1ely by Mervyn Brown and his staff. Tom Singleton umpired with his usual Some detail of the 1st XI results are printed at attention to detail and natural charm. GCA the end of this report. This was a season affected negotiated the organisational variations with not only by examinations but also by the weather instinctive, positive and attacking style. Rupert and confusion over fixtures. Bolingbroke kept both an immaculate and accurate There were highlights that will remain in the score-book and was more important to the team memory. For both excitement and compulsive than some of the players. George Tatham gave watching, the final game of The Festival against advice only when requested, but it was always Marlborough took pride of place. There was drama inspired. Nick Lamb made a massive contribution with virtually every balJ bowled; there was sensible, in producing match programmes. Alan Willows positive batting; there was outstanding fielding but again instilled his own enthusiasm into all those there were also crucial mistakes when chances were who experienced his coaching. Alan would surely missed; there was a sustained spell of hostile have agreed with the Duke of Dorset when he asked bowling and there was the subtlety of spin; there 'What is life but a game of cricket?' was tactical awareness and typical schoolboy To all these people, and indeed to everyone who naivety; there were divided opinions about the final has contributed to the promotion of cricket on The outcome; and there was constructive dialogue Upper, I extend my gratitude. Results: Played 16, Won 6, Lost 3, Drawn 6, Cancelled J, Blundell's 216 - 8 declared Abandoned I. (Bransden 111 , Costeloe 6 - 61) Placing at Festival = 3. Sherborne 120 Lost (Firebrace 40, Stormouth 4 - 45) King's Bruton 140 Sherbome 143 - 6 Won M.C.C. 230 - 5 declared (Thomas 4 - 38) (Mitchell 101 • , Ellison 63) Sherborne 231 - 7 Won Sherborne 169 - 7 declared Lost (Cossins 87) (Percival 48, Giles 47•, Ballantyne 4 - 66) St. Andrew's Grahamstown 173 - 3 Canfield School, Melbourne 229 - 7 declared (Grace 75, Ballantyne 84•) (Keown 4 1, Haviland 109•, Warburton 47*) Sberbome 222 - 7 Drawn Sherborne Town 152 (Gavin-Brown 109, Rankine 45) (Sawney 65, Robertson 5 - 57) Sherborne 153 - 7 Won Sherborne Pilgrims 228 - 6 declared (Moore 4 - 25) (Atwell 78, Gent 67, Giles 4 - 55) Sherborne 232 - 8 Won Millfield 227 - 6 declared (Garrett 44, Cossins 90) (Mitchell J 17, Barrett 42) Sherborne 177 - 8 Drawn Sherborne 82 Lost (Garrett 78) Cheltenham 84 - I Sherborne 194 - 3 declared Won Haileybury 223 - 7 declared (Garrett 53, Rankine 70, Cossins 47•) (Walker 77•, Fettes 41) Free Foresters 139 Sherborne 185 - 6 Drawn (Bretten 41, Costeloe 4 - 47) Sherbome 245 Drawn Sherborne Abandoned (Giles 58, Firebrace 54, Spender 4 - 15) Dorset Rangers (148 - 4 [Turrell 58]) Marlborough 188 - 9 (Murgai 63, Ratcliffe 49, Costeloe 5 - 63, King's Taunton 215 Robertson 4 - 58) (Wrail 42, Robertson 6 - 104) Sherborne 193 - 8 Drawn M .D.N. (Garrett 100•, Giles 57, Diment 5 - 41) Sherbome v Canford Cancelled Downside 129 (Walker 47, Robertson 6 - 39) Sherborne 130 - 3 Won

IC assenive batting and remain not out at the conclusion of 2nd XI our innings. For this match only, we had the undoubted benefit of Ben Bishop to create a lively opening attack in Unforeseen circumstances contrived to produce a partnership with Butler. Worrall took a staggering catch foreshortened term of competitive cricket, with three at first slip and Milton Abbey were reeling at 18 • 4. matches in the first half and two in the second and, for However, two fine attacking innings brought Milton once, adverse weather was the culpable factor in only one Abbey close to our score before Bishop returned to take match. These enforced longeurs created an under­ the final wicket. How refreshing it was to see Gavin­ standable sense of frustration but, 10 their collective Brown persisting with the spin attack and, aided by credit, the team responded well in the five matches played excellent catches and a run out by Lawes, his faith was and provided whole-hearted spirited performances to rewarded. remain unbeaten. A further hiatus of three weeks passed before the final The season opened on the Terraces against Sherborne game at Blundell's for which Charles Noonc's team had Town. Resolute batting, led by Justin Chantrey, been weakened by promotions to the ls1 XI and post 'A' established a position at 121 - 6 from which Jomy Butler level defections. Bolstered by regular net practice and and Matt Knowles launched a vigorous assault that frustrated by lack of competitive action, Butler produced brought the declaration at 177 - 6. The game ended in a a devastating opening spell which, together with draw with the town at 112 - 4. Six bowlers were rotated in Worrall's nighted spin, saw Blundell's falter to 69 • 8. an unavailing effort to open up the game and our lack of But 'cometh the hour cometh the man• and Struan Coad's strike bowlers became apparent: a recurring feature of the elder brother, su mmoned back from Bude after an all­ term, except in the the final game. night party, arrived at the crease dishevelled but visually The trip to Marlborough was safely negotiated in a unimpaired and proceeded to score a boisterous half. mini-bus and effective batting, including a fine half­ century. Blundell's total of 171 all out created a worthy century from Nick Hyde, enabled us to declare at 153 - 4 target for our final performance and how well we aner 39 overs. A fearsome pull from Butler narrowly resp0nded. The patrician Gavin-Brown now firmly placed avoided Mrs. Hyde on the boundary but such aggression his distinctive imprimatur on the match and indeed the was absent from the Marlborough reply. A magnificent whole season. In previous matches he had threatened to running catch by Knowles inspired the fall of several reveal the panoply of his stroke-play and now he wickets but, despite some enterprising bowling from our proceeded to score an elegant 85• and led the side to a 7 trio of spinners - Tim Scott, William Worrall and Nick wicket win. Towards the end he was partnered by Peter Hyde - and two eccentric overs from Paddy Firebrace, Richards - a fine striker of the ball - and another who Marlborough clung on for a draw. had few opp0rtunities to reveal his abilities during the The MiJJfield match - played on the Upper - enter­ season. This match also saw the return of off-spinner tained and fluctuated before ending in a draw. MiJJfield James Warren - injured after the first match - baned first and in 35 overs rattled up 203 - 8. Despite enabling him not only 10 take his only wicket of the the onslaught, three excellent catches were taken, a neat season but also to remind us what we had missed. stumping executed by Nick Edouard, and William The fiJ

Scorrr: T. C. Pike. Anyone who has not read A. G. MacDonnell 's chapter on lhe cricket malcb from bis work England, their Results: Played S, Won 2, Drawn 3. England is strongly recommended to do so. The extract above puts me in mind of my 3rd XI over the years. Sherbomc I 77 - 6 declared Drawn Unfortunately, 1he final stroke did not always meel wi1h Chan1rcy 43 the same success as in the story, indeed, Charlie Scott­ Shcrbornc Town 112 - 4 Malden, who must have read the tale and had visions of grandeur, usually ended up yards down 1he pitch, Shcrbornc !SJ - 4 declared Drawn stumped. Hyde S9• But what fun it has all been. Just as Disraeli is Marlborough 81 - 8 sometimes said to have done the right things for the Millficld 203 - 8 declared wrong reasons, so indeed have my 3rd XI, so who was I to Worrall 4 - S9 suggest otherwise? I have winced at bowling/ fielding Sbcrbome 182 - 8 Drawn changes and found myself swallowing words that I might Gavin-Brown SI have uttered. I have prayed that our most secure batsman doesn't get himself out only to see him run out by his Shcrborne I 87 Won by 36 runs partner. I have scowled at the positioning of a long-stop Gavin-Brown S9 to cover both third man and fine leg, to realise that the Milton Abbey !Sl extras total ends up remarkably low (to balance the large Blundcll's 171 number of edged fours). Coad S4, Butler S - 36 The 1993 season was a rather disjointed one. The team Shcrbomc 172 - 3 Won by 7 wickets experienced three captains, Nick Dawson, Tom Hartigan Gavin-Brown ss• and Charlie Scott-Malden, all of whom displayed a distracting lack of awareness, although Charlie had the G.T. great merit of enthusing everyone. The batting was variable in both quality and effectiveness, although James Steele-Perkins looked good on occasion. Ed Oldrey sometimes succeeded with bis golf swing, Tom Hartigan grafted well, Robert James scampered between the wickets and looked promising both as bat and bowler, James Mason bad 'style', and we lost Peter Richards, who could malce runs, early to the 2nd XI. Nick Dawson, the most likely looking anchor man, had a disappointing season, often bciag unlucky. The bowling was keen and energetic, if not always consistently accurate. 'Chas' Haque would get 'fired up', and Tri~ Barton always bowled well, if often unluckily. The most successful were Alex Hannah, whose disarming inswinger proved batsmen's undoing and Paddy Firebrace, who once IE achieved 5 wickets. Other good supJ>Ort came from Ben 4th XI Wilde, Matt Raleigh, Andrew Cruise, Mohammed and Ben Wallis. The fielding, as always, was keen at the start and at the Long ago I learned that there was more to life than fall of a wicket, but drooped horribly during a long stand. cricket and more to cricket than roru and wickets. ' The wicket-keeping was shared between Charlie Scou­ David Foot Malden and Nick Edouard and both kept well. Worth a mention, too, are Nick Butler, who fielded well, and How true this statement is when trying to describe the Chris Morton, who once/twice? graced us with his 4th XI. Although we did not play many games, due to the presence. normal jinxes of the cricket season, like rain and All in all, another typical season of enjoyable cricket shrinking fixture lists, what we did play we thoroughly as only members of the Lower can play it. Good luck to enjoyed. them - I hope they will continue to wield the willow for The games before half term both ended with many years to come, which indeed I wish all my old 3rd Sberborne on the losing side. Against Millficld's XI players as I sign out from this most happy and strengthened 3rd XI we had little chance of victory. Their pleasurable activity during my many years at Sherborne. bowling attack was fast and athletic and had us back in the pavilion with just 96 runs on the board. Only There is one word that moved me as a boy, A. Cruise, coming in at seven, managed to notch up 23 That moves today: runs. Our bowling attack, opened by S. Haque and it's when the umpire, to the general joy, M. Raleigh, although good on paper, had very linle effect Pronounces 'PLAY'. on their opening pair who together made 93 of the required runs. Resul1s: Played 6, Lost 2, Drawn 4. Evidence from the past indicates that the fixture against King's Taunton is always a real tester for the 4th King's Bruton 2nd XI Drawn XI. Taunton always put their best foot forward and Marlborough Drawn choose a top standard 3rd XI, not to mention a scorer Bath CoUege of Higher Education Lost by 79 runs too! The teas at Taunton arc delicious, but can cause King's Taunton 2nd XI Drawn problems to the learn coming in 10 bat second, as a ion of Thom ford Lost by 19 runs cake lies heavy on the stomach. As it happens, they batted Downside 2nd XI Drawn first and scored 196 runs against the rather fast but sprayed bowling of S. Haque, Mohammed, B. Wilde and M.L.M. A. Dibben. The loss of a few early widcets after tea, thanks to those scones, meant that we were always going to struggle to win. S. Haque was the only batsman who seemed to gain an energy boost from the cane sugar and put on 55 impressive runs. After half term we flipped the coin and turned the results in our favour. Against Downside the bowling attack came into its own and had the opposition all out for 114 runs. Once again it was S. Haque who made good use of the willow to score another fine 56 not out. Support came from B. Wilde, who opened the score card with 24 runs. The second victory was against Blundell's, where we once again opened the bowling. This game saw S. Haque up-rooting the stumps on three occasions. A. Cruise and R. James 1ook two wickets apiece for just one run. Such fine bowling meant that Blundell's could only manage 75 runs. This was obviously not a big enough target and B. Wallis and R. James made 65 of the required runs. Were it not for a momentary lapse of concentration, the team would have finished the season off with a ten wicket victory. Match statistics aside, all the team and myself wish to pay tribute to MLM for his fine coaching and friendly bantering, and have some words or advice for him: .. II is good to bowl with an action high be able to take wickets in a good standard of cricket or to smite the leather hard and far, and it did make the games more enjoyable when he But it is far better to wear the proper tie bowled. Bristow was a great ally behind the wicket and keep your end up in the bar. with some excellent stumpings. He kept superbly on Team: M. Bell, A. Cruise, A. Dibben, S. Haque, R. James, many occasions. Like most good 'keepers, he Mohammed, R. Martin-Davies, J. Phipps, M. Raleigh, J. Rix, makes the fielding appear tidy (GDR please note!). B. Wallis, B. Wilde. Sherborne had only ten minutes plus 20 overs to score the runs. A poor start and the situation was Results: Played 4, Won 2, Lost 2. hopeless. But with only eight overs left 89 were Mlllfield Lost by 9 wickets required. Hallam, aided first by Ambrose then by King's Taunton Lost by 59 runs Bristow, scored 65 runs off the last five overs. Downside Won by 7 wickets Hattam score 54• and struck the ball powerfully - Blundell's Won by 8 wickets including a superb straight six. One is tempted to suggest he concentrates more on batting than his B.A.B. bowling with this potential. In the event, Sherborne finished 12 short. Another over would have sufficed. The game against MjJlfield ended in a disappointing draw. The fear of losing dominated Colts A the thinking of the Captain, Harvey, and the School batted for 44 overs. Fidgen and Nurton The season began well with an easy victory batted well and scored quickly. However, the against King's Bruton. Fidgen batted well, striking momentum was lost and the declaration came too the ball well, as did Harvey. Both scored half­ late. Millfield were given only 28 overs when centuries. Bellew scored 42, but was dropped Sherborne had batted for 44. MDN has written several times. His No. 9 iron placed the ball extensively on the subject and I would heartily between the fielders on this occasion. Subsequently endorse the view that the game is more important he was to hole out having scored only a few runs. than winning or losing. Ambrose bowled only in the He should take note that it is necessary to hit the latter stages when a win for the opposition was ball a long way in the air or not at all. However, he impossible, but 19 overs of medium pace was not is a very attractive player and wiJI score a lot of runs acceptable in this situation. if he can stay at the crease long enough. The King's Taunton batted for 49 overs in scoring opposition were very poor and only two players 195 - 5 declared. Sherborne got off to a poor start, reached double figures - one scoring 68. The with Fidgen dismissed first ball. Bellew batted wickets were shared, no bowler taking more than extremely well and, together with Warren, added two, although Ambrose bowled 11.4 overs for 22 runs quickly. With the score at 129 - 5, Sherborne runs - a good start to the season. continued the chase and although 45 runs were Marlborough, too, provided poor opposition added in twenty minutes the target was again too and scored 91 - 9 after nearly two hours' batting. A demanding. further forty minutes passed before they declared at Downside proved very poor opposition, and 141 - 9, having batted 54 overs. The slowness was were fortunate to reach 92. Bristow bowled off-spin reflected in the fact that Martin bowled seven overs in this game and Luard kept wicket very well. The for one run!! Ambrose bowled well and took 5 former is a very talented games player and he could wickets. He is capable of tempting and beating develop into a good off-spinner were he not an quite good players with flight and spin. However, excellent keeper. His fielding too was of a very high experienced players will watch the ball off the pitch standard and one catch in the single-wicket until he is able to bowl a lot quicker. He should still competition was as good as any I have seen in any IE cricket. This game was finished before live o'clock Harvey captained the side well, changing the and this was partly due to Fidgen depositing the ball bowling and field placings when necessary, but was into the trees severaJ tjmes. He does punish bad too conservative in his use of slow bowling. There bowling and should score lots of runs. His main was also an overriding fear of losing which must weakness is a tendency to shuffle forward instead necessarily rule out the possibility of a win. He is a of getting well forward with a definite movement of sound batsman and could possibly develop into a the front foot. good quick bowler. His height and strength seem The all-day game against BlundelJ's was a good admirably suited for the task if he is prepared to one, particularly as the opposition provided the work at length and direction. There appears to be a best bowler by far to play against them. desperate need in school cricket for bowlers of Fortunately, he didn't fire on aJI cylinders initially genuine pace. Nurton captained the side for the last but after dismissing Bristow when the latter was two games and, although they were against weak well set with the score at 80 without loss he then opposition, he showed great enthusiasm and dismissed the next five batsmen all clean bowled to imgination with the side. He looks a good batsman put Sherborne in a poor position at 136 - 8. Some and is technically quite sound. The back foot needs very sensible batting by Ambrose, and some good to be more firmly anchored, but he is beginning to defending by Martin enable the school to declare at hit the baJI harder. Some fine off-side shots were over 200 - a partnership of over 60. Blundell's played, and he should take note of M. J. Brearly's had little batting and eventually were winkled out, comments in The Art of Captaincy: 'His prospects Ambrose again bowling well. are not good because his batting lacked class.' It was a great pleasure to work with such a Certainly not true of A. Nurton nor MON!! pleasant group of boys. They were all keen to My thanks to GCA for the impeccable arrange­ improve and put considerable effort into every part ments. To the groundstaff for preparation of of their game. Some may not play at the highest wickets, and above alJ to the boys who made the level in the next two years, but I am sure they will season so enjoyable. enhance any side by their enthusiasm. Warren and Ambrose were two who batted well, and were Results: Played 6, Won 3, Drawn 3. perhaps unfortunate not to score more runs. The Sherbome 192 - 5 declared Won former is a great enthusiast for whatever he does Fidgen 53, Bellew 42, Harvey 57• and will ultimately do well. He suffers from the King's Bruton 119 left-hander's disease and was out caught at slip on Marlborough 141 - 9 decla.red severaJ occasions. His running between the wickets Ambrose 5 - 39 reminded one of 0. C. S. Compton in his prime - Sberboroe 129 - 6 Drawn not a quaJity to be coveted! Ambrose strikes the Hattarn 53• ball well, but needs to improve defensively if he is Sherborne 206 - 5 declared Drawn to make runs in a higher standard of cricket. The Fidgen 47, Nurton 30, Harvey 49° right-hand predominates and off-side shots were at Millfield 137 - S a premium. King's Taunton 193 - S declared The bowling was poor and there was a general Sherbome 175 - 7 Drawn belief that the opposition would not be bowled out. Bellew 49, Warren 30 This proved to be the case in the majority of games. Downside 92 Hattam bowled the occasional good delivery, but Hatta.m 4 - 30, Ambrose 3 - 23 would be severely punished at a higher level for his Sberbome 93 - 4 Won inconsistency. MaJtby and Martin do not bowl Fidgen 38 quickly enough to cause good players any Sherbome 204 - 8 declared Won difficulty, aJthough the former did move the ball Bristow 44, Nurton 32, Ambrose 32 away. Blundell's 118 Ambrose 5 - 43 Obelix dicit.. Colts B Junior Colts A

A short but successful season can be recorded. Though The season was challenging, demanding and difficult only playing four matches, victory was achieved over at times but also rewarding in many respects. I was Marlborough, Milton Abbey and Blundell's, with a draw disappointed that so much was taken for granted in the against Warminster's 'A' team. The team occasionally way of coaching and facilities and regretted having to lacked necessary concentration, but contained some impose standards which boys ought to set for themselves. quality players and was capable of batting, bowling and Nevertheless, most came through the season the wiser for fielding to a high standard. it (including myself) and we can reflect on some successful P. J. Luard captained, kept wicket and topped the cricket. batting averages with 35.75. Ellis and Dibbin provided There are undoubtedly some very able players in this healthy support. Stokes was something of a wrecker with year group and others who developed rapidly through the the ball, taking 16 wickets at just over 5 apiece, including season. Searson and Hill scored nearly 600 runs between a spell of 7 - 17 against Milton Abbey. Rogers and Mead them, with the former, in particular, playing some match­ also took vital wickets, and de Mestre's Botham-bag winning innings. His 65• against Marlborough was one of mixture of line and length, long hops and full tosses the best from a junior colt in recent years. Prendergast beguiled five batsmen into making the long walk back to batted well on occasions but lack of foot movement early the pavilion. Catch of the season went to Wallis, who on caused problems. Kitcning struck the ball cleanly and took a skied catch in the deep with such ease that even he could score many runs at a higher level if he disciplines his seemed surprised. approach. Cheung's batting and fielding were often Many people played, and to those who did so at short impressive but be struggled to control Iris bowling. Cima notice I am particularly grateful. We can travel to the and Clarke are talented all-rounders capable of making West Indies this winter with confidence. Well, maybe not. quick runs and taking middle order wickets. Clarke, in particular, deserves credit for establishing himself this Team from: P. J. Luard (Captain), B. F. T. Ellis, A. C. Dibben, season as a leading •A' team player. S. D. Stokes, R. J. Rogers, J. R. Mead. R. L. Woodhouse. . Elliot-Square played a fine, courageous innings C. R. Waaler, T. Arunandoochai, S. R. J. Cook, N. R. de Mestre. against Millfield but has yet to prove himself in the 'A' B. J. Harrild, 0. E. Wallis. 0. J. W. Smallwood, S. H. Coad. team. Scott's injury robbed the side of a genuine opening T: P. Newbald. bowler with a smooth action. Morgan's keeping and general contribution eventually improved when he gained Results: Played 4, Won 3, Drawn I. confidence and enjoyed his cricket more. Walmsley showed persistence and patience, despite some self-doubt G.T.W.R. and picked up useful wickets. Pugh and Sanderson eamt

IC their •A• team places by good 'B' team performances and Junior Colts B creditable efforts in practice. The best team performances were against Downside when promising opposition was dismissed chasing a good I shall remember 1993 as a truncated season, in which total and Marlborough who had all but killed the game by a number of our players gave us glimpses of their talent S.30 p.m. The drawn games against King's Bruton and but did not find the opportunity to display to the full MiUficld can be viewed as missed opportunities whilst the what they could do. Cancellations and bad weather defeats by Millfield (in the Lord's Tavemers) and Oundle reduced the number of fixtures to six, and blank cannot be excused merely by the strength of the Saturdays broke up the rhythm of the season. I cannot opposition. The team always struggled to bowl sides out. remember any previous season when, by half term. A more accurate and penetrative bowling attack will only neither of our opening bowlers had taken a wicket! come from hard work in practice, and this must be In some ways, then, this was a frustrating season, but complemented by more aggressive ground fielding. This is it also produced some excellent and memorable cricket. something that must be focussed on next season if the side All our matches were played at home, on excellent balling is to improve. wickets. Our batting was very strong indeed and quick We all benefited enormously from Simon Slater's to punish wayward bowling. Dan O'Connell and Mall assistance. His approach to sport was serious and Boucher made centuries of brutal power, and our other determined; he had little time for poseurs or those who batsmen provided very good support. 'I could not believe went through the motions. He gave up much of his time that each one coming in would be just as good as the last, to lhose who were keen to improve and set them a fine but they were', commented the disheartened coach of one example. Lance Bleekers, too, demanded very high opposing side. standards and some were unable to live with these. Many However, if our batsmen shone, our bowlers toiled for benefitted from his intense and expert coaching, both this much of the season; the most successful was Will season and last. Sanderson, whose left-arm spin troubled all our opponents. Andy Braxton produced a very hostile spell Also Pia~: W. Sanderson, J. Gardner, M. Boucher, against Blundell's, showing what he can achieve when J. Fradgclcy. given a little help from the pitch; and James Young produced the bowling performance of the season to spin Results: Played 10, Won S, Lost 2, Drawn J. out Millfield. The fielding improved beyond recognition as the season advanced, and Mark Elvy was very com­ King's Bruton Drawn petent behind the slumps. Marborough Won The first match of the season set the tone: having Mill field Drawn conceded a large score at a rapid rate, we proceeded to King's Taunton Drawn score the necessary runs even more quickly, winning with Exeter (c) Won several overs to spare. This left us with a lot of confidence Budchavc (c) Won in our batting and relatively little in our bowling. Andy Millficld(c) Lost Braxton proved an excellent captain, but he was Downside Won repeatedly faced with the problem of judging declarations Blundell's Won so as to put the opposition under pressure without killing Oundle Lost off the game. On two occasions. our declarations erred on the side of caution and, once the opposition had made a R.E.H. sound start, there was little prospect of a result. Against Millfield, however, we enjoyed one of the finest wins that I have seen at this level. Under pressure at 35 - 4, we recovered through a long, brave innings from Dave Pugh, and, with the tail contributing well, we made our way steadily to a commanding score. Set 175 to win in 110 minutes, a strong Millfield side collapsed against excellent bowling from the spinners. This was the season's best example of the quality of the cricket of which our side was capable. It is very much to be hoped that those who played with such enthusiasm this year will carry on to enjoy their cricket in the years ahead . .. Team from: A. J. Braxton (Captain), J. A. C. Anderson, busy running down to the boundary. Ln this respect their J . Boucher, J . A. Davis, J.P. Dutton, M. G. Elvy, J. D. Gardner, expectation was fulfilled, but the score was only J 82, two E. W. Hayward-Broomfield, D. C. M. O'Connell, runs short of the total we had scored earlier against T. D. H. Morgan, D. M. Pugh, G. C. S. Rees, Marlborough. This is what happened: an early wicket fell; W. D. S. Sanderson, G. A. W. Smallwood, A. J. M. Young. Rogers pushed the score along well, but got himself out in typical style (trying to push the ball through a gap in the Results: Played 6, Won 3, Drawn 3. ozone layer rather than the more evident one in the off­ side field!); Leigh realised that there were runs for the Marlborough 202 - 5 declared taking and claimed 66 of them before being run out; Sherborne 203 - 6 Won by 4 wickets Stanley had helped Leigh sensibly with important singles, O'Connell 103 but could not persuade in-coming batsmen to let him have Sherborne I 74 Won by 91 runs the strike, so we ground our way to a draw just some I Pugh 44 twenty runs short of the target. We all live and learn, Millfield 83 suppose. Sanderson 4 - I 8, Young 6 - 24 And that's that. Yet another pleasant, energetic, interested squad who made the season enjoyable. IL is Shcrborne 178 Drawn good to note that we still have a certain depth of potential Pugh 60 talent. Thanks to GCA, PTS, the Captain and Vice­ King's Taunton 130 - 6 Captain and all who played. Milton Abbey 154 - 4 Sherborne 99 - 7 Drawn Team from: H. O. R. Rogers, J . A. C. Anderson, J. C. Bishop, T. C. Blomfield, M. E.W. Chuter, J.P. Dutton, E.W. Hayward­ Blundell's 56 Broomfield, T. 0. M. Hulf. J. L. Leigh, C. E. B. Perry, Braxton 4 - S A. J. Purchase, G . A. W. Smallwood, C. Stanley. J. A. Taylor, Shcrborne 57 - 0 Won by 10 wickets A. J. A. Walker, A. K. Webb. Sherbome 232 - S declared Drawn Boucher 111 Results: Played 4, Won 2, Drawn 2. Oundle 190 - 6 M.A.W. P.T.S.

Junior Colts C Mini Colts A On the one hand relief: a short fixture list means a brief report. But on the other hand clisappointment: a Under Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Bleekers the Mini Colts squad of able and willing players and too few matches in A XI had a respectable season in which only two games which to develop their skills. were lost; we were also unlucky not to beat King's Victory by 63 runs against Marlborough was a Taunton and Blundell's who gave the impression that pleasant enough opening, giving some hint of the batting they didn't want to play cricket. (Leigh 38) and bowling (Anderson 3 - 19 off 11) to come. J ohn Fradgley stood out amongst the bowlers, taking The side then had to work hard for its draw against the a total of 27 wickets, including 8 - 5 against Warminster A XI which had more depth of batting than Marlborough. Humphrey Hardwicke matured as the we are used to in some opponents at this level. They also season progressed and was a more than adequate opening had two bowlers who controlled the ball well, bowled for partner for John. Will Newbery and Richard Hattam just about the entire innings, but still could not budge our both bowled well in the middle of the innings and our two tail-enders. Downside could not cope with the Purchase spinners, Ed Benbow and Charlie Dowdall, both spin and the Dutton and Taylor speed. Nor could they developed into great threats towards the end of the prevent Blomfield (52•) and Rogers (37) from ensuring an season. early finish and victory by 8 wickets. The encounter with As for the batting, who could ask for a more reliable The Gryphon School was the most interesting. Pre-match opening pair than Mark Goodeve-Docker and Charlie hype appeared to have got to the team, so they went out Dowdall? Only very rarely did they not set a firm base for expecting the opposition's County players to keep them the remaining batsmen. James Scorer chipped in well ii.LI IC season with twenties and thirties and he was unlucky not to go on to a half century (top score 47). Charlie Warren Mini Colts B scored a pugnacious 65 against Bryanston and a rather more sedate 60• against King's Taunton, but, Although the team had a mixed season in terms of unfortunately, he ran himself out a little too often. Hugo results, there were many pasitive signs in the way the boys Zoller made a splendid 36• against Millfield and also approached the game. All too often nowadays the desire caught some fine catches in the gully. Mark Simon, the to avoid defeat can manifest itself in some tedious and wicketkeeper, played very well throughout the season. It graceless cricket. This year's team showed a refreshingly was only in the last few games, however, that his batting balanced attitude to games: feeling suitably chastened talent developed, and his partnership with Will Newbery when defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory, yet against Blundell's was one of the best of the season - a realizing that as much can be learned from a defeat as fine display or attacking cricket. from a win. Finally. thanks must go to all the coaches who helped Regulation wins against King's Bruton and Marl­ throughout the season, LO all the groundsmen for borough showed what the team were capable of when the providing good pitches on which to play, and last to fielding was as competitive as the batting and bowling. Charlie Krasun, who was a papular and excellent scorer. Dean's 54 not out in the first game was a fine demonstration of concentration and controlled stroke­ Charlie Warren play. Our annihilation by Millfield in the third game was The Mini Colts took a bit of time to get into the swing caused as much by suicidal balling as by accurate and of things but, once they had, a wealth of talent was hostile bowling by the oppasition. Only Hattam really apparent. The general attitude of the boys was exceUent, troubled the scorers with a dogged 28 not out that and the way they respanded after being knocked out of demonstrated how tight and probing bowling can be the Tavemers' Cup was most impressive. Charlie Warren resisted by intelligent and calm batting. was a good captain who became more sympathetic as time The King's Taunton game was a wretched perfor­ wem on and be led by example. The fielding was exceUent mance against inferior oppasition. As the rain came down and even the 'donkeys' learnt LO catch carrots with ease. there was a need for our outcricket to become tighter, The team was keen to learn and everybody improved especially as we were defending a modest total. Instead, noticeably, match by match. My thanks are due to Lance our discipline waned and we became fractious at our lack Bleekers who helped produce a team with a professional of penetration. Our standard of play didn't deserve attitude, as he always has done over the years at victory, but defeat left us determined never again to let a Sherbome - his presence will be missed next year. game run away from us as this one had. Whittle's six wicket haul at Downside was the main T~m: C. C. M . Warren (Captain), E. A. Benbow, C. E. Dowdall, ingrediem to an easy victory, and just when we had bit T. G. EUen, J. M . A. fradgley, M. P. Goodeve-Docker, upan the best combination for a balanced side the season H. R. Hardwicke, R. E. Hattarn, W. J. Newbery, J. E. Scorer. was over. Rob Henderson was a popular and capable M. J. Simon, H . C. ZoUer. captain who at times was perhaps too rigid in his tactical approach. The Dean/ Bartlett opening combination was Results: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 2. Drawn 2. one we found late on in the season, but they should go on to make lots of runs together. Goodson-Wickes has a King's Bruton Won by 22 runs natu.ral outswinger that will brush many a coat of varnish, Marlborough Won by 9 wickets and Whittle will be a useful all-rounder when he develops Millficld Lost by S wickets some leg-side shots. My thanks to all those who played Bryanston Won by 104 runs and made the season so enjoyable. King's Taunton Drawn Canford Lost by 58 runs Results: Played S, Won 3, Lost 2. Downside Won by IOS runs BlundcU's Drawn Sherbornc 111 all out Won by 83 runs King's Bruton 28 all out Top Averages: Dean S4 not out Batting: Simon 43.S, Warren 30.8, Newbery 25 .25, Scorer 23. Marlborough 109 all out Bowling: fradgley 8, Hattam 9.2, Benbow 12, Hardwickc 12, Newbery 14. Sherbomc 110 - 8 Won by 2 wickets Henderson S - 31 O.D.R. .. Sberborne 68 all out Lost by 6 wicketS Abbey's palm trees. Bartlett and Rowland Jones again Millfield 70- 4 gave us a good start, but a little bad luck and some clumsy hitting left us in a delicate position until Anton Ambrose Sherborne 86 all out Lost by 2 wickets played a mature innings to wag the tail. Milton Abbey King's Taunton 87 - 8 were always up with the clock, but wickets fell steadily, Whittle 39 including consecutive stumpings by Chris Blandy off Sherborne 138 - S Won by 70 runs Bartlett, and we scarcely prevailed in a tense finish. Downside 62 all out The Canford fixture was rained off and Clayesmore Whittle 6 - 18 cried off, so a hastily arranged second match took place at Millfield, after a minibus mystery tour of south M.J.L B. Somerset, courtesy of your correspondent. The Millfield team was stronger than before, and the match was almost a mirror image of the earlier one. Higginson and Will Bray were the only batsmen to get set, and we struggled for 54 overs, leaving only 20 overs for Millfield, whose tum it now was just to fall short. The final match was against a spirited Gryphon team. Higginson was disappointed to lose his wicket shy of bis half-century, and the skipper, Tom Moon, at last played a captain's innings when needed, ably supported by English at No. 10. The Gryphon never looked like getting the runs as several bowlers shared the wickets. Moon's captaincy was solid throughout, if a little Mini Colts C cautious at times. Blandy's wicket-keeping was exemplary and he deserved to be in a higher team, although he will have to eliminate a tendency to swing across the line when Strenuous efforts by GCA produced an almost full batting, which several times was his undoing. Money fixture list, and a record six matches took place. We deputised behind the stumps on occasions, and in any batted ftrst against Marlborough and, after a shaky start, previous year would have occupied this position the middle order of Robert Money, George Mann, Jamie regularly. Higginson brought off the second 'catch of the Rowland Jones, James Higginson and Nick Whittle saw season' (I can't remember in which match), when be held us to a respectable score. The post-prandial thrash was a slip catch one-handed after the ball seemed to have disappointing, but Whittle, Rowland Jones and Alex flashed past him, and his batting was professional­ Woolley comfortably disposed of our opponents, looking. George Mann was solid and reliable, Rowland Whittle's performance being good enough to earn him Jones tireless (the only pace bowler I have seen who runs permanent promotion. This match contained the first back to his mark), English enthusiastic, and Bartlett 'catch of the season' when umpires and players looked to always willing to discuss bis many virtues. Ambrose the boundary but subsequently discovered a nonchalant exhibited good technique and Chris Rowse was always Mann clutching the ball at silly mid-off. keen, although his performances on the field never Millfield was the venue for the dourest match I had equalled those in the nets. Both of these players were seen for some time. Our bowling was good enough to pin handicapped by their lack of height, but they should them down, but not to dismiss them until the 54tb over, persevere as their basic technical soundness will pay and we were unable to get the necessary runs in only half dividends in years to come. Bray made good con­ that time. Ed Bartlett, who bad missed the first game tributions with bat and ball after his release from the B through injury, teased the opposing batsmen with a pot­ team. Whittle likewise before bis promotion and Woolley pourri of spinners and also batted very competently. took valuable wickets in his bustling style. Others who Bartlett and Rowland Jones produced a superb played were James Neilsen, Lucas Williamson, Tony opening partnership against Warminster, after which the Kidner, Jonno O'Keeffe, Tim Archer, Will Mann (from rest of our innings was a disappointment. Warminster the B team), Tom Pugh and Toby Wyatt, all of whom looked ominous early on, but Berry English and Rowland showed fortitude in spite of not being able to command a Jones earned an honourable draw. regular place in the side. I thank them all for giving me a The most exciting match of the season took place on wonderful season and hope that they all try for the Junior an idyllic afternoon against a backdrop of Milton Colts B/C next year. Results: Played 6, Won 3, Drawn 3. Sherborne 126 Won by 14 runs Bartlett 34, Ambrose 29• Shcrbornc 157 Won by 101 runs Milton Abbey 112 Whittle 43, Higginson 23 Woolley 4 • 12, Rowland Jones 3 · 14 Marlborough 56 Sherbome 126 • 8 declared Drawn Whittle 4 • 14, Rowland Jones 3 • 8, Woolley 3 • 9 Bray 38, Higginson 31 Millficld 99 Millfield 11 3 • 5 Bartlett 4 • 24, Rowland Jones 3 • 31 Shcrbome 175 • 8declarcd Won by 68 runs Drawn Shcrborne 7S • S Higginson 46, Moon 32•, English 26•, Rowland Jones 22 Bartle11 29• The Gryphon School 107 Sherbome 138 • 8 declared Drawn Bray 3 · 22, Rowland Jones 3 • 31 Rowland Jones, 34, Bartlell 33 Warminsm 110 • 7 J.A.T. English 4 . 22, Rowland Jones 3 • 27

.. successful formula, iJlustrious victories were Tennis scored, and catastrophic losses were few and far between. The team, by some dastardly means or other, 1st VI happened to remain unbeaten in school fixtures, (... shall we forget Hampshire Juniors where the Form is transitory, class is permanent. second and third pair managed only half a point between them, and the annual 'Can you get more In the immortal words of the poet Philip Larkin: than three points per set?' fixture against the quite many modern writings have a beginning, a muddle, ludicrously strong Pilgrims side?) and an end. Amongst the other teams despatched with convincing ease were Bryanston and Milton Abbey. In order to avoid this potentially tumultuous Instead of the usual inauspicious start, the team and rumbustious, even Satumalian mayhem, the kicked off in style and never looked back, the task of writing the end of term report was dumped unbeaten record remaining seemingly impregnable. upon the Tennis secretary. Perhaps this was The third pair, Charlie Donald and Mark because his tum of phrase has always been simply Hammond Giles were the pride of The Digby. too eloquent for others to contend with, or feebly Charlie wore a headband, Mark wore a baseball attempt to imitate. After all, other people might cap. Headwear was the medium which gelled these write this report, (in the words of Oscar Wilde): two players together in sickness and in health, in ... as if it were a painful duty. good times and in bad. Their chaotic natures forced their play to vary enormously. They were at times But no, not the Tennis secretary - he would inept, at times indescribably brilliant. prepare an elaborate and intricate piece of writing The second pairing was lively, with Rob with relish. The briefing from his superior was Tyrwhitt-Drake and Nicholas 'Ice-man Gordon' direct, even threatening, and wasted no words - Maciver. For Rob, Abraham Lincoln's words are ' I'm fed up with having a silly little report, I want a most fitting: big one, and lots of pictures this year, and hey - Better to remain silent and be thought a fool make it good.' So, under this great burden of expectation, this mantle of pre.ssure, the Shir­ than to speak out and remove all doubt. burnian proudly presents this humorous article. Nick was a joy to watch. He was imperturbable, serene and placid - where does he get it from? It would be true to say that this year's tennis team And then the way he always manages to get hirnsell epitomised the standard that the rest of the School into such incredible positions on court with relative could only strive to achieve. While the other teams ease. Must be coming from a tennis playing family. in the School went about their everyday business of In the first pair, Ben Maidment's Jekyll and losing and winning, the 1st Tennis Vl mercilessly Hyde character appeared to the viewing public only ploughed on through the opposition, ruining their occasionally. The wild beast inside him reveals itself seasons and destroying their unbeaten records. only on rare occasions, but don't worry Ben, you The explanation for this could be attributed to will be glad to know that you are not alone: John several interpretations, but was probably due to the McEnroe once said of himself: fact that if anybody had a problem, felt they were tormented with anxieties, driven to extremities or at When I walk out there on court I become a maniac. the end of their tether, they were advised by 'the It is obvious that I have a problem and need help . . . management' to talk it over with their partner. Something comes over me ... OJR then went on to say that if anybody had a It's weird, I just can't control myself. really serious problem such as the urge to dress up There's hope yet, Ben. in women's clothes, or a burning desire to kill their Ben's partner apparently had nothing to say for mother-in-law, they should book a personal himself, and so 1 guess that should be left up to the appointment with him. coach in the 'addition to the text' after this report. In the course of this se.ason, tears were shed, And then there was DJR. Here was a man who euphoria and exhilaration were commonplace, combined intellectualism in the classroom with commitment was total and determination was utter. flashily flamboyant flair and brilliance on the green The predominant characteristics of allegiance, grass of the Sherbome Upper. He could single­ loyalty and duty were of the highest order, one handedly set the scene alight, either with bis electric almost felt under obligation - that is to say backhand return of serve or his beaming toothy pledged and committed, bound in conscience to grin. He was the very personification of inspiration. win. Victory was mandatory. Thundering serves He was a team man through and through, and became the norm. The standard of tennis, without willingJy gave his all. Every team must have its putting too fine a point on it, was ineffably figurehead, its effigy, its idol, and we were lucky creditable, prestigious and brilliant. Due to this enough to have one of this calibre who, despite the hero-worship, always remained affable, superb condition, and to quote DJR in last year's approachable and kept his feet on the ground. report, 'made them the envy of all the other teams Finally, on a serious note (that would be a on the circuit.' pleasant change wouldn't it?), our thanks to l end, as ever, with a quotation: Jeremy the coach, without whom goodness knows Life is rather like a tin of sardines: what our results would have been. We all wish him We're all of us looking for the key. (Alan Bennett) the very best of luck in his training next year and we'll miss his crisp volleys. And, of course, thanks David Thomas co the groundsmen who kept the couns in such a

.. In agreement with this piquant analysis of the Colts VI 1st Vi's performance and character, the team, overall, did produce a winning season and some of The previous high standards of the Colts' tennis VI the results are worth a special mention. were challenged this year. The team seemed to have the The match against King's Taunton is always a knack of carelessly discarding winning chances in the tough one and the VI gelled ex1remely well, final sets of matches. After half-term, poor weather saved showing great court sense early in the term, only us from further humiliation. Spurred on by this we narrowly missing out on a victory. infiicted a dramatic defeat on Milton Abbey, but then returned to our previous low standards. At Downside the score was looking less The long-standing pannership of T. Warner and attractive after round two until the third pair of T. Maciver was maintained this year, although the latter's C. Donaldson and M. Hammond Giles turned the service was rather erratic. This deficiency was, game around with a well deserved victory over the unfortunately, complemented by the former's smashes opposition's first pair. frequently finding their way into orbit. It was a pity that both the Marlborough and The second pair, G. Adams and R. Moncrieff, offered an interesting double act. While Moncrieff returned Clifton matches had to be cancelled. With the reliably, Adams occasionally provided some quite advantage of being on home ground, the air was spectacular play, though not all of it entirely accurate. heavy with confidence, though all too soon this was We had problems in fielding a consistently good third manifested in the form of rain. pair, and our thanks go to A. Abbassian, N. Henderson, These matches were to be at the forefront of R. Hughes, M. Masters and S. Endacou for their good­ humoured willingness to have a go. practice for the Hampshire Junior game; one which Apologies and thanks go to the ever-imperturbable Sherborne has rarely won. Things were not to Mr. Hollands for his recognition of the team's 'unproven' change this year but the score line does not mirror (SN H) potential, and to Jeremy Priddle for his the closeness of the games and probably the best psychological approach to our game. tennis of the 1st VI all season. My thanks to our committed coach, Jeremy Results: Played 6. Won I, Lost 4, Drawn I. Priddle, captain Ben Maidment and secretary Tim Maciver David Thomas; of whom I provide the assessment. As quotations are clearly the order of the day, I must say he proved himself: ... a Volvo among tennis stars Golf (Peter Freedman, of Bjorn Borg) On occasion he could emulate a Ferrari, though Having been unbeaten in inter-school matches if conditions were dull or windy I had full sympathy io the Michaelmas term, the golfers were rather less with Ion Tiriac who said of Ilie Nastase: successful against other schools in their spring and I feel like dog trainer summer fixtures, winning three but losing five of who teach dog manners and graces these encounters. However, taking the year as a and just when you think dog knows whole, the balance sheet stayed in credit, as a glance how should act with nice qualities, at the results will show. dog make big puddle and all is wasted. When the season resumed in March after the winter lay-off, we began with the usual match Team: B. R. Maidment (Captain), D. M. A. Thomas, against Millfield at Yeovil Golf Club, but were N. G. Maciver, R. E. M. Tyrwhitt·Drake, C. J. S. Donald, unable to repeat last year's triumph in the face of M. A. Hammond Giles. strong opposition - a handicap range of 8 to 13 as contrasted with our span of 10 to 17. Unfor­ Results: Played 6, Won 3, Lost 1, Drawn 2. tunately, our first two players both lost heavily and, King's Taunton D 4Vi. 4Vi although the tail wagged a bit, we ended up losing Downside w 5 • 5 4 - 2. Normally we would have had at least one Bryanston w 5Vi-3Vi more match before the Easter Holidays tournament Canford D 4Vi - 4!1? at Burnham but, alas, our customary fixture at Milton Abbey w 8 - I High Post went by the board when first Charter­ Hampshire Juniors L 2V? -6V? house cried off and then we let down Bradfield due D.J.R. to mechanical failure - an exhaust pipe inside the transit van I had booked, instead of underneath it! Once again it was not to be Sherborne's year in the West of England Public Schools' Invitation Tournament, though we came much closer to success than the bare record of defeats at the hands of Radley and Malvern might suggesc. Both matches were lost by 3 - 2 margins and on both occasions there was a match that went down to the IC 19th, only to end up the wrong way for us. ln the Athletics morning, against Rad.ley, Toby Couzens putted beautifully to beat his 8-handicap opponents by 2 and 1, whilst Duncan Reynolds won by a hefty 7 The Athletics club this year comprised some 160 and 6, but unfortunately John Guy, having fought boys. A number of these were participating purely his way back into his match, lost at the first extra as a means of getting fitter, but most were looking hole. And so we had been knocked out in the first to test themselves against other like-minded round for the first time since 1989 when Radley had athletes. also been our downfall. In the afternoon we went The season started with the King's Taunton into the plate against Malvern and, although John eight-schools match at Yeovil and, after good and Duncan both won easily, this time it was Justin performances at all levels, we finished second to Chantrey's rum to lose out at the 19th. Thus the our usual adversaries, Millfield. Then, after a first tournament ended in disappointment for us but, place at Bryanston, we came second in the Lutra nevertheless, much enjoyable golf had been played Shield, albeit narrowly, again to Millfield. In the on an always testing links. Millfield invitation we finished second to them but The Trinity term 'friendlies' against other ahead of the rest of the field, including two schools began and ended with defeats but there 'touring' teams from Wales. We ended a rather were three good wins in between. We started by disappointing domestic season, in fact, by beating going down 4 - 2 to Bristol Grammar School at Millfield in the Sherborne Relays Competition, but Bristol and Clifton Golf Club, a course well known in the last event of the day we were pipped by a to several of the opposing team. Tom Williams had single point by Wellington College. It was as a convincing win that day but, unfortunately, the exciting a finish as any had seen, but it was a pity top two matches had already gone against us by that there were not more people to see the spectacle. narrow margins. However, we then embarked on a The Athletics Club would be very grateful for a winning steak by beating Milton Abbey 2 - I in a little more support from all quarters, and governors fourball better-ball contest at Ashley Wood, next would be made most welcome. prevailing over Canford by the uncomfortably If our domestic season was a little dis­ narrow margin of 3\12 - 2\12 at Sherborne Golf appointing, then the performances of our Club, and then defeating Marlborough by 4 - 2 at individual athletes certainly made amends at Salisbury and South Wilts in a contest where we representative levels. Over 78% of the boys selected won the first four games but two 'novices' lost to represent the North Dorset team were theirs. Our last school match of the term saw us Shirburnians and 30% of these went on to represent return to Burnham and Berrow Golf Club on the Dorset in the South West Championships. Three last Sunday in June to play against Blundell's and boys qualified for the National Championships at suffer a somewhat unexpected 3 Vi - 2 Vi defeat. Blackpool, but only Jason Cox was selected. He During the round, the present writer was amused to progressed to the second round where he ran a discover that the Blundell's hierarchy were unsure standard time of 11.2 seconds for the IOOm. whether Mr. Michael Mates, who had just resigned Richard Williams broke the school high jump as a minister, would be honouring his commitment record twice, eventually jumping 1.98 in the County to present the prizes the following Friday! In fact, Championships, some !Ocm more than the existing he did, no doubt deciding that be too was not going record. to let the 'b ... rs' get him down! Our new boys were a superb, tight-knit, self­ There must also be reference to a famous win by motivated group, extremely dedicated and the School and Staff versus the Old Shirburnians enthusiastic. In the absence of leadership from the on the first Sunday in May. Thanks to the Bursar Wallace senior boys, the Wallace Third-form group and Robert Tyrwhitt-Drake prevailing in the last took it upon themselves to organise their own game of foursomes, the match was won by Sports Day trials and selection committee. Jt was 4 Yi - 3 Vi and the OSGS were deprived of the Tom these boys who formed the nucleus of the very Parry Salver for the first time in four years. successful T.S.B. Cup team, who progressed However, on the Friday of Commemoration, the through three regional rounds to qualify for the Parents secured revenge for their defeat the National Team Championships in Carlisle, where previous year and won this greensomes match they finished a very creditable eighth in the country, against the Boys by 9 Vi - 3 Vi in brilliant summer particularly when one considers that they were sunshine. most! y U l 5s competing against U I 6s - we have great expectations next year! The following played for rhe Golf Team on at least two Finally, I would like to thank all the athletics occasions in inter-school matches during rhe Lenr and coaching staff who have worked tirelessly to Summer terms 1993: J. Chantrey (Captain), J. Guy maintain standards, and GCA, who, as retiring (Secretary), T. Couzens, D. Reynolds, T. Williams, A. Campbell, G. Lawes, A. Todd. master in charge of cricket, has always been sympathetic to the Athletics Club and has pointed Results: Played 13, Won 7, Lost 5, Halved I many an athlete in the right direction when not strictly a cricketer. P.S.F. S.J.C. .. Swimming Sailing

!he 1993 swimming team, captained by Atsushi I have always thought it unwise to volunteer and Ishida, had an excellent season, producing some thi~ expl.ains the absence of a Shirburnian report on outstanding swimming and exciting matches. The racmg smce I began coaching the teams. Finally, most notable success was the new addition to the events have caught up with me. team, Taro Okayama, from the International Study Centre.. Taro joined the squad, preceded by his First Team reputation as a Japanese National competitor. He Our philosophy in the Sailing Club is to dedicate was to prove his ability in every match, inspiring all our energies towards the National Schools' our team members and astounding the opposition! Championship at the end of each year. The first It was therefore a fitting reward that he broke the ob~t.acle to overcome is the pre-selection: only ten long-standing school 50m butterfly record in a time Bnush schools co~pete in this from an initial entry of 29.36 seconds at the Inter-House Swimming of about fifty. This year we ended up in a sail-off Competition. However, as in any dedicated team, against King Edward's, Southampton - one of the matches are not won by individuals. Excellent sm~ngest teams in the country. The first race, results were also achieved by Atsushi Ishida David against our crews, was difficult; Guy Shirley had Rigg and Alastair Loxton, who made ~P the first place but our other two boats had bad starts backbone of a very strong senior squad. and so we were always defending a weak position. Unfortunately, lhe senior team did fall prey to We held on to first to lose that race I - 5 - 6. In the injuries and the demands of A levels and as such second race, Al Speers (this year's captain) was not at its full strength for the matches against executed a brilliant wing mark trap to force King Canford and King's Taunton, who have always Edward's into a losing 2 - 3 - 4 position. Their ace proved to be our toughest opposition. helm Gorrod miscalculated the positions and we This year, the senior squad were rather outshone won that race and therefore the match. by the Under 16 team - definitely the most At the National Championships we were unable successful junior squad in many years. The team to sustain such strong team sailing; a cool was ~n~eaten all .season and every win was by a very temperamen.t is essential in close competition and convmcmg margm. tnere were umes when we failed to sail up to par. This year saw the return to the squad of Charlie Our final position - ninth out of twelve and Milton who produced outstanding wins in the winners. of the .Bronze Division - was probably backstroke, butterny and individual medley. The about nght but ll would have been nice to repeat squad was led from the front by Bradbury Preston, the form we had shown in the heats. who has developed into a very powerful and adaptable swimmer. Team from: N. Hawkins (Cap1ain), A. Speers, C. Dolman, E. Winga1e, B. Davis, E. Whipp, G. Shirley, My ~hanks to Atsushi Ishida for his strong C. Venne, T. Beard. leadership and knowledgeable captaincy of an exceptional team in 1993 and for his commitment to Results: Won 7, Los1 9. improving the skills of our water polo team. Second Team Open Results: Matches 7, Won S, Los1 2. The 'Fourth Form Lads' continued their strong support of the team and showed improvement Kingswood w 52 - 34 Clifton w 46 - 31 every week. They had some very good Taunton School w 48 - 27 results - and some disappointing ones. Their non­ Blundell's w 45 - 30 playing skipper, Nick Hamilton, contributed some Can ford L 33 - 42 style, but little expertise, to their events and I am King's Bruton w 52 - 38 King's Taunton grateful to others, particularly Charlie Venne for L 52 - 74 filling in for him on the water. ' U/6 Res1Jlts: Matches 7, Won 7. Team from: C. Venne (Captain), N. Hamilton, Kingswood w 50 - 37 E. Whipp, T. Beard, G. Bradford, T. Wallace, Clifton w so -26 T. Boltwood, T. Kaneko, J. Archer, M. Hillier. Taunton School w 45 - 27 Blundell's w 51 - 25 Results: Won S, Lost 6. Canford w 45 - 29 King's Bruton w 68 - 36 King's Taunton w 68 - 57 K.L.M. IE Third Team Moving on to the Summer term, our full bore One thing and another - lack of Third-formers season started with the G.B. National Coach, who wanted to race principal among them - led to Mr. Tim Elliot, coming to Sherbome to check over the Third Team being more or less a weaker version our rifles and then going on to Mere to give us a day of the Se<:ood Team this year. As a result they were of coaching. Then there was the South West a bit too strong for other third teams. Their one District cadet meeting in June at Perham Down. defeat was by Canford 2nds. Our day got off to a bad start when the minibus broke down two miles away from our destination, Team from: G. Bradford (Captain), M. Hillier, which delayed us for two hours. This meant that we T . Kaneko, W. Thomas-Ferrand, J. Archer, N . Duncan, missed the Ashburton, which was disappointing F. Crews. be<:ause the winners, Marlborough, had an easily Results: Won 3, Lost I. beatable score. However, in the afternoon we had some success, winning the Snap and coming second S.K.W. in the cadet Pairs. And so to Bisley in the holidays. The team was captained by Dan Rogers, whose brother Ed won a trophy the year before, but unfortunately this was not the year to retain it. However, Dan Rogers won one of Sherborne's three prizes in the Snap Shooting with 48/50. The other two prizes were won by Dr. Blakeley and J. A. Davis in the Sniper Com­ petition. Dr. Blakeley kindly volunteered to come The shooting team has had a very successful to Bisley and help Mr. Thompson with the team. season during 1992/ 93, both at .22 and full bore. In The Ashburton result was not too encouraging but, .22 shooting the team came fifteenth in the Country as we will have the same team next year, there Life Competition, out of fifty-eight competing should be a large improvement. The winners were schools, which is not as good as last year but is very Epsom with a score of 518.5/ 560. encouraging, as our team was very young and It was an enjoyable and successful year in many inexperienced. There were a number of other .22 ways, but there is still a lot to be done to improve competitions during the year, in all of which there the standard of shooting with the 7 .62 Parker Hale was a good deal of improvement over the previous target rifle and, hopefully, we will have a much year. In the Lent term, the C team won their more successful year at Bisley this season. division in the B.S.S.R.A. leagues, following up the B team's win the season before last. Bertie Stanley

.. School House

The Summer term saw much preparation for the external exams, A levels and GCSE looking all too close as the first half of term swept by. However, as expected, all the har work paid off and some fine results were recorded . At A level, John Claydon achieved tw As and a B, Paddy Firebrace, Anthony Waller and Fergus Llewellyn all achieved one A an two Bs, and Simon Watkins also performed well by achieving A, B, C grades. And sow say goodbye to another group of Upper Sixth formers, congratulating them all on thei results and wishing them the very best for the future. In GCSEs, the House again proved its academic worth, with almost half of that yea recording seven As or more. Ben Harrild impressed all with eleven As, but special mentio must go to Paddy Mosse who received an Exhibition for his ten As. That is not to say it was a term without sporting achievements and, most importantly cricket. Geoff Garrett and Simon Giles put in some valuable performances for the 1st XI Charlie Firebrace joining them for the latter half of term. Robert Fidgen again represente the As, and also made a splendid century against The Green in House Leagues. Yet ou talents spread further still - we came a valiant second in the House Swimming Cup, wo two shooting trophies, thanks to our new captain, Dan Rogers, and three of the House' Kung Fu participants passed their blue belt grading, a notable achievement. On the music and drama front, Tristan Barton passed grade 7 trumpet and Marcus Hillie performed in The Canterbury Tales, while Paddy Firebrace cavorted round the Sixth for green on stilts. Ed Gibbons gained a place in the Chamber Orchestra to join Paul (an Duncan) and yet another house concert went extremely successfully the day before half term. Next term holds much in store for School House, not least an eager Lower Sixth and new Third form. And, who knows, maybe even a rugby cup .. . ? Abbey House

As the bright colours of Commem. tied up the end of the Trinity term and as 'work crisis' orries were replaced by the mouth-watering prospect of nine weeks' unadulterated oliday, Abbey House saw the completion of yet another industrious term. Trinity term '93 ill be remembered as a term of warm sunshine, highlighted by events such as the joys of A evels and GCSEs, the House play and Paul Fowler shaving his head for charity. Although this is always a quiet term as far as sports are concerned, the House evertheless claimed its fair share of the action. The swimming team crawled to victory with close-run defeat of The Digby in the Inter-House Swimming Competition. Edward Wills nd Gavin Reece-Smith should both be commended for their performances, as well as Paul owler who, with his new streamlined hair-cut, came one step closer to being the House's ery own Duncan Goodhew. Abbey House also fielded a junior and senior athletics team for ports, in which we hope to do better next year (which should not be too difficult) and lastly he notorious Abbey House Sixth Form cricket team, the Duckhunters, took to the creases o lose to that formidable team 'Harry Brewer and Mates'. For Fifth formers and Upper Sixth formers the most important aspect of the Trinity term Public Exams. Although a step down from last year, the GCSE results were nonetheless ighly commendable. One boy who excelled was Benjamin Laidlow, achieving an utstanding eleven A grades, while Adrian McAllister has been awarded an Exhibition. The level results also provided the House with a legitimate reason to be proud, with Edward ee, Ben Hawkins and Richard Forrest all achieving straight A grade results and helping the ouse to a massive 43% of A grades and 87% at grades A to C, well above the average of he School's total results. The House also won two Oxbridge places, with Edward Lee and ichael Bawtree, and Richard Forrest will be applying for a place this coming year. The term also saw the rebirth of Shakespeare onto the Sherborne stage in the form of he House Play, The Taming of the Shrew. The production, much to the surprise of some ceptical Shirburnians, was a complete success and played to full houses for three onsecutive nights. George Malim, as the repulsive servant Grumio, Peter Burdon, as the fficious pillar of society Baptista, and Giles Adams as the vain, youthful Lucentio, should II be congratulated on their outstanding performances and the quite remarkable ease with hich they assumed their roles. The Pitman Drama Cup was awarded to Petruchio. The reatest recognition must go, however, to the excellent and meticulous directing of Mr. ellby and to Mr. Swift and his stage crew, especially James Mulvey who deservedly won is House Arts Colours as a result. The summer is also a time for reluctant farewells, and this one was no different as we ade adieu to an Upper Sixth who have imparted much to the House and those within it and nlivened Abbey with their variety and colour. We will miss those fabulous and believable Cramer stories' and the continuing saga of Cramer's extensive amours, which proved even ore intriguing than Eldorado. We will miss Jake's razor-sharp wit and that 'party animal', d Lee. But perhaps most of all we will miss the two Heads of House, Jerry Field and Tom larkson (or should I say Tom and Jerry), affectionately dubbed 'Space Cadet' and 'Farmer iles'. who led the House through a rich and fulfilling year. We will also miss Mr. Haigh, hose never-ending scepticism has found a new home in Wallace, where he now presides s Housemaster. We wish him good luck. But less of the past, and now to the future and the promise of another fruitful year under he leadership of Ben Russell as the new Head of House and with the addition of a new hird form, eight of whom have brothers in the House, and a new resident tutor, Mr. illetts, to whom we extend a warm welcome and good wishes for his time with us.

Wallace House

Take the fact that this was the term of A-levels and GCSEs, add one Headmasterles school in Cairo, one strippergram, several under-age spectators, the Governor of Bermud and a half-Scottish, half-Canadian Head of House. Stir it all up and what do you get? A average, but never less than tasty, Wallace summer term. When I put forward the question: 'Has anyone done anything worth mentioning in th House report?' there followed a wealth of thought but little sound. These are a few of th achievements picked up by the ultra-sound receiver: Henri Colens, Mark Woolston an Noosey Whittle all took part in the athletics team that came eighth out of four hundred i the Nationals. The Junior House cricket team came first equal in the league, and the junior yet again came first on Sports Day; whilst the Seniors came an equally impressive eighth. Hugo Zoller and Ed Benbow were both in the Mini Colts As; and their colleague Balthaza managed a place in the Junior Colts tennis team. There was no House play this year bu boys still showed an interest in school drama, notably Stuart Fance, who took part in Th Canterbury Tales. I didn't dare ask Ed Bellew what he achieved - but I'm sure he was i the As. In due course, all the exam candidates were successful, Blake Bennett getting three A and a Certificate of Excellence for his Ancient History paper, Ashley Sawle three As, and J. J. Keeble two As and a C. There were many passes into first choice universities. The GCS results were generally very good - James Neill, Aidan Siggers and Ed Bellew all receive prizes for their grades - highlights including eight A grades in French, five in Art and one in Additional Maths. On the 'miscellaneous' side there were various promotions in the CCF : Aidan Sigger and Charlie Milton to Corporal (Marines) and a host of others to Lance-Corporal. E Dowding got into the Phillips Academy Summer Session in Boston to do a six-week holida course in speech and debate and social psychology. Half-way through the term th gardener just couldn't handle the garden and quit, never to be seen again - not that Mr Fisher noticed! Rupert Maclaren went out to Bermuda with the Swing Band to foste Wallace's public relations by serenading the Governor with his bagpipes. And Hugo (Terry made a nutcracker in CDT. The time: the end of term. The place: Wallace House. Cameron Graham ceded th throne to chaos. It seemed that Wallace's population was about to be severely rearranged the earlier exit of the horticultural department now irrelevant. As well as all of the Uppe Sixth, we lost James Hubbard and Sam Heath from the Fifth Form - (you can now fin Sam prowling the streets, his quarry: a job) - the Fishers and Doc Hamon. It was a rar occasion when, at the House lunch at Commem., Mr. Fisher forgot how to spea coherently and backed down with tears in his eyes to let his wife translate. Jokes aside however, on behalf of everyone in Wallace, I thank him for the superb job he did for us an we wish him all the best in Cairo. There is one loose end, though: where did Bonnie go?

Harry Glas Abbeylands

The Summer term, as always, brought rain and, for the Upper Sixth and Fifth form. thoughts of public exa minations. In Abbeylands we were joined tor half a term by Mrs Mabey, a previous house matron, while Mrs Jeffery was awav Her dog. Fudge who was occasionally seen, was a different companion tor the House The annual 'busking day' took place in Cheap Street. displaying a fine select1un of top class musicians, which. combined with the goods sold at our produce stall raised a total of £300 - or £450 if one takes into account Jimmy Deehan's 'cut'. Amongst the superb musicians who played were three members of the Dorset Youth Orchestra Andy Lewis Guy Martland and Ed Havard. On the sporting field the House was, as evei , well represented. with Ali Robertson being awarded his 1st XI Cricket Colours. both Shaw brothers, Matt Treadwell and Hugo Shirley being se:ected for the Dorset athletics team and Abbeytands ctrnching the Combined House Athletics Cup, no thanks to The Green, who very narrowly beat our Juniors. Both of the Maclvers once again showed their tennis prowess, with Nick achieving his 1st colours and Tim captaining the Colts team in which Neil Henderson also achieved a place. The House magazine, Landmark, set a record for the profits it amassed, a mammoth £870, which amazed even those whose last-minute efforts produced the splendid edition. In it we discovered that the Lower Sixth did have some chat-up lines, and we were given a rare insight into the secret lives of 'The Posse' . There must have been many other shocked faces around the world as Abbeylands donated a total of £1000, shared between the Sherborne House rehabilitation centre in London and each of our sponsored Action Aid boys, one in Kenya and one in India. It remains only to wish all our leavers well in their chosen careers and to took forward to another prosperous year.

Howard Johnston Lyon House

Most tend to favour the Trinity term - the weather is good, the term is short. the long summer holidays impend and, in Lyon House anyway, the spirit and anticipation is high. This was indeed the case last term as the House really did excel in all fields. With A levels, GCSEs and end-of-year exams. work may be seen as a priority in the summer term and there were some outstanding performances by the Upper Sixth in their A levels. Justin Chantrey and Chris Smart were both given two E unconditional offers to Oxford. Justin preferred the more laid-back and vacant style for his A and two Bs, while Chris gained his three As and a Bin the .. . er .. . 'Smart' style. Atsushi Ishida overcame the English language barrier to gain an excellent three As and a B and a hoped-for place at Cambridge. Another fine performance came from James Nisbet who, as Mr. Hatch so succinctly put it, 'pulled it off again' with his three Cs. Congratulations also to all the other members of last year's Upper Sixth for achieving the necessary grades to go on to their universities. And we wave a cheery good-bye to them all as they go their separate ways. The GCSE results were also pleasing. Phil Harvey managed to gain twelve A grades (a very commendable achievement!), Whiston Bristow nine As, Nick de Mestre and Oliver Smallwood eight As and Ben Norris five As and four Bs. The rest of the House also worked hard to achieve some good academic results, and Nick Paulsen-Ellis won the prize for the most improved Geographer. I now move on to sport; and what a term it proved to be for those members of the Upper and Lower Sixth, who provided us with a dazzling array of silverware. With panache, style and grace they stroked their way to a magnificent tennis victory, dismantled all other opposition to win the cricket and came through to steal a close-run victory in the athletics. The cups just eluded Lyon in the lower part of the House but, overall, we were well represented in school teams. Nick Gavin-Brown managed to play his way into the 1st XI cricket, while no fewer than six people played for the 2nd XI. The lower part of the House also had a number of representatives in school cricket teams. not forgetting the athletics or tennis teams in which some members of Lyon were proudly involved. Meanwhile, the Lyon House Magnates matches took place from time to time and the rich entertainment provided by these games was enjoyed by all. So, as the Upper Sixth were departing, Lyon was on the look-out for new talent to set the House in good stead for the coming year. The Rockin' Honkies performed their first 'gig' and Lyon House was proudly represented by founder members - singer and keyboard virtuoso Rob Eaglesham, and guitarist Phil Harvey (who has since quit the band due to the pressure of Rock and Roll and one too many arguments). The acting talent was also confirmed following Lyon House's fine production of the previous term: Alex Edouard, Pete Richards and Rob Eaglesham (who played the part of a drunkard with uncanny realism!) all acted in a successful production of The Canterbury Tales. And let us not forget George Dixon and his sword fight, or Kit Whalley, who juggled and ate fire with great expertise and also starred in the French play alongside Nick de Mestre. The House continues to be run with the utmost efficiency by Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Turner and Mrs. B. who works tirelessly to keep us healthy and irrepressible. They lead the House into a new year, as we once again prepare to prove that we are head and shoulders above all other competition!

Oliver Smallwood Westcott House

In twenty years from now, if you were looking for an Upper Sixth 1993 reunion, you could do worse than address the invitation to the United Nations. In the plaid of nationalities there were strands from most corners of the globe - India, Italy, Connecticut, Jamaica, Spain, Iran, Portugal, Ireland and Monkton Combe - yet in their tolerance and friendship they combined to a quite impressive force. They covered the ground in terms of an academic spread too, from Art to Languages to Economics to Design . They provided the captain of the XI and its most accomplished all rounder, the winner of the School Art Prize, the School Design Prize, the Economics Prize, the Shooting Prize, the Vigilando Prize. We will not see their like again until next year when Tim Footner takes over the scented Pakzad Penthouse with its gracious views over the small bargeyard - a righteous reward for the leadership of the House. Despite the fact that most of the term was spent in hatching and plotting the Lower Sixth Dinner, the proxime accessits contributed more than their fair share to the School's music, drama and sport. Barny Bell and Rick Williams ran and jumped but Rick still went higher than any with a new School high jump record. Huw Crwys Williams went spiralling through the trumpet grades and Footy provided the ice cold tubas for the orchestra. Bish, Jon and William were regulars for the XI while Charley Dolman mooned at the Girls' School. The Fifth kept their heads down in pursuit of GCSEs (some) but still managed to come close to winning the U16s cricket in the final, even if a substitute did have to be found from among the Ambre Solaire XI on the Patch. The Fourth form divided their time between travelling to Arne and being on the water, although Dave Pugh, captain of the Cs, broke the habit and managed to score a fifty every time his Dad came to watch. Brax led the Bs and Simon Hill played for the As. Finally, the Thirds managed to bring their athletic input to bear in the competitions, which meant that we graced third place in both the major contests and won the cup for the Third Form Standards and, although this is a democratic competition, the more equal performers than others were Neil Woodger, who later went on to the Nationals, Ed Jones and Guy Welby-Everard. But it was sad to say goodbye to some who wouldn't return: Roan O'Sullivan who goes to Neural Networking in the States, Adam Vickery back to Hinnenburg, Jimmy Mead to Yeovil College and Toby Ouartley Watson to South Bank London. Others disappeared to France on a bicycling expedition, some to diving in Israel and Egypt, and some to the reconstruction of Churches in Latvia. The prefects for the Churchill Matrix term are to be: Tim Footner, Barny Bell, Charlie Dolman, William Hargrove, Ali Rismani, Jamie Steele Perkins and Jon Wheatley. The Digby

As the last luggage-laden car rolled off down that famous Digby Road , a solitary figur savoured, for the first time in many weeks, a moment of peace and, after a while, began t reflect upon the past few months' activities. And how much there was to reflect upon! Th time, he felt, had certainly not been spent idly. The Upper Sixth and Fifth Forms had indeed 'got down to some serious revision' and the hard working atmosphere had (he hoped) been consistently maintained by the other years . Various academic prizes were won and (with few exceptions) everyone did well. But he thought, it's not all work; not by a long way. The lads from The Digby had shown talents in many a field. On the theatrical front, Ben Carlton-Paterson gave a brillian performance in The Canterbury Tales, as did Mark Hammond Giles and Giles Mildred in the French play (directed by a certain in-house tutor), in which they both showed their linguistic and dramatic skills. James Taylor ventured up to the Girls' School to show his talents in other spheres. The figure paused for a moment, wondering what else had gone on. Of course! How could he forget the sporting achievements? Cricket, athletics, tennis, golf, swimming and Kung Fu: all were well represented by the House. Charles Donald, Bob Moncreiff, Tim Franklin, John Rigg , Toshi Yasaki, Dave Morgan, Duncan Craig and Giles Mildred all uplifted The Digby's tennis reputation; not to mention Mark Hammond Giles, our 1st VI player. Andrew Nurton (colours), Chris Martin, James Prendergast and Mark Simon all played A team cricket, with Graham Lawes representing the 2nd XI. Al Loxton and Dave Rigg both graced the swimming pool, the latter being appointed captain, and both receiving colours. Pete Reid, Toby English, Tom Przedrzymirski and Jason 'the man with pace' Cox all represented the School's athletics team. Tom went to the U16 Schools' Nationals and Jason became the South West U17 100m champion, represented Dorset at the Nationals and had his own set of starting blocks. What of music? The range of styles represented was by no means small. Bob Moncreiff appeared in the concert band, wind band and chapel choir, along with Tom Williams (the head of the choir), and Giles Mildred played in the second orchestra. On the slightly more modern front, Dom 'the Righteous DJ' Fatchen organised SYCOSS, the Lower Sixth Concert and Disco; the latter being DJ'd by himself and Dave Hague. Four Digby lads in all played in the Lower Sixth Concert and Tom Przedrzymirski showed his bass playing flair at SYCOSS. In the absence of one former housemaster's melodies, the evenings when ACM's record deck was not spinning were few. Socially, the House had not by any means fared badly. The Fifth form played host to various teachers and their wives and the Lower Sixth dinner, organised by Khaled Kassem, was a great success. And what, thought the solitary figure, of all the people whose contributions to the running of the House were priceless? Matron, Mrs. Morgan, the tutorial and domestic staff - the list was indeed long. When the figure had reflected long enough, he turned and walked slowly through the green doors, shutting them behind him, his first year in office completed. 'It has indeed,' he concluded, 'been a good term.'

Chris Martin