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THE THORNBURIAN THE THORNBURY GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE JULY, 1951 Editor: P. M. HARVEY No. 17 SCHOOL OFFICERS, 1950-51 School Captains: Mary Clutterbuck (H) and M. D. Lewis (S). School Vice-Captains: Joan Timbrell (C) and R. M. Teague (C). School Prefects: Kathleen Withers (C) R. Rosser (S) Pauline Robson (S) G. A. Dicker (H) Patsy Harvey (S) D. R. Cooper (5) Mary Hulbert (H) R. D. Biggin (H) Pat Brown (C) D. J. Malpass (C) Frances Riddiford (S) M. H. Dunn (C) Ann Phillips (S) J. S. Cantrill (S) Barbara Hedges (C) E. J. Locke (C) Pat Arnold (H) D. J. Hamilton (H) Dorothy Rudledge (5) D. G. Hawkins (H) Mary Nicholls (C) 1. P. Blenkinsopp (C) Maureen Weaver (H) House Captains: CLARE: Joan Timbrell and R. M. Teague. STAFFORD: Patsy Harvey and M. D. Lewis. HOWARD: Mary Clutterbuck and G. A. Dicker. Games Captains: HOCKEY: Ann Phillips. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL: D. J. Hamilton. RUGBY FOOTBALL: M. D. Lewis. TENNIS: Joan Timbrell. CRICKET:D. G. Hawkins. Games Secretaries: Pat Timbrell, D. J. Malpass. Magazine Editorial Staff: EDITOR: Patsy Harvey. SUB-EDITORS: Mary Nicholls, D. R. Cooper. SECRETARY: Wendy Mogg. THE THORNBURIAN EDITORIAL Discord almost always originates from misunderstanding of the other’s point of view, and this explanation is just as applicable to nations as to individuals, whose characteristics and environment usually differ less wide ly. We can best increase the fellowship of nations by visiting other countries and living among their peoples for a time, and this is what many English, and particularly the younger generation, are now doing. Recently, thousands of young people have been able to travel in foreign countries, even if only by hitch-hiking, and difficulties of language and finance, which some years ago would have seemed insuperable, are being overcome. Old Thornburians, too, have been availing themselves of opportunities of foreign travel, and besides the somewhat equivocal pleasure of being “posted” to distant ,parts of the world in the course of their National Service training, some have visited Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden and even Yugoslavia. Not only Old Thornburians have been able to travel; an interesting development this year has been the participation in the Bristol-Bordeaux Schools Exchange scheme, by which pupils will entertain the French children who were their hosts at Easter, in the last week of term and for part of the summer holidays. These most welcome guests should have arrived at the School by the time this issue of the magazine is in print. Our party included Juniors as well as members of the Middle and Senior School; some of us are beginning early to qualify as citizens of the world! So Thornbury, too, is taking part in this world experiment whose result, we all hope, will be to achieve “peace in our time.” MR. W. G. RABLEY It is a sad thing to bid farewell to Mr. Rabley. Some of us remember him when his hair was red and his sportsmanship more vigorous. Certainly no red-head was ever blessed with a more even temper, and no all-round sportsman of his calibre was ever more patient with the eager but unhandy learner. Hundreds of pupils have gained skill and confidence from his understanding advice, as well on the playing field as in the wood-work department and the class-room. He has always had his own happy methods of obtaining results and of maintaining discipline, and not the least of these has been the example he has set by his own high personal standards of workmanship. When Mr. Rabley married in 1919 he brought a new friend to the school in Mrs. Rabley, who has always taken the warmest interest in our doings, and whose kind hospitality so many of the staff have enjoyed. Both of them are well known in Thornbury for their public-spirited activities in local affairs, and we are proud of the esteem in which they are held throughout the neighbourhood. As Senior Master, Mr. Rabley has accumulated an amazing number of responsibilities, small and great, and he discharges them all so faithfully and unobtrusively that perhaps not everyone realises, at first, how much he contributes to the well-being of the School. All sorts of carpentry are his special care. He understands also the locks, the clocks, the lighting and heating; he keeps a check on National Savings, on bicycles, and on seating accommodation, and yearly provides us with that ingenious and intricate daily itinerary known as the time-table. With it all, he rarely seems hurried or worried; he is never too busy to exchange a cheerful word or to he concerned with other problems besides his own. 3 It is no empty phrase to say that Mr. Rabley has devoted his life to the School. For forty years its members have been able to rely on his sound judgment and unfailing goodwill; perhaps our best expression of gratitude is a firm intention to imitate him, as far as we can, in the qualities which have won affection and respect from so many generations of pupils and staff. We offer to him, and to Mrs. Rabley, every good wish for a long and happy retirement. MR. W. G. RABLEY MR. RABLEY — AN APPRECIATION B.S.M. I have known Bill Rabley for nearly thirty years, and I hope I may say we have been friends throughout that fairly long period. I shall always remember his many acts of kindness to me. I feel that if you want to know what kind of person he is, you should watch his tennis. His game is not spectacular—though there are occasional flashes of splendour!—but it is solid and safe and achieves the desired result—usually a win! In the early twenties, when he was captain of the tennis club at Lower Marlwood. his tact, good humour, and common sense made of the rather heterogeneous lot of players a happy family. where jealousy never came to the surface: the stars were not temperamental and even the rabbits were content. For twenty-five years we worked together without a cross word at that dangerous trade of giving children ideas, which is called teaching: the staff-room had no quarrels, the school atmosphere was serene, and I am quite certain that T.G.S. would have been a different place and far less the excellent institution it is hut for W.G.R.’s quiet, kindly, unobtrusive forty years there. 4 GENERAL NOTES This year fewer members of Staff are leaving us at the end of the Summer term, but we are still unfortunate enough to be parting with Miss Burcombe, the School’s first full-time Physical Training Mistress, to whom we wish every happiness in her marriage to Mr. Eric Norris; Mrs. Hodge, whose Divinity lessons have been greatly appreciated, and who, with Mr. Hodge. produced this year’s School play; Mr. Johnson, who has been recalled by the R.A,F. for eighteen months, and to whom we offer our somewhat belated congratulations on his wedding, last November, to Miss Jones; and finally, with great regret, we say ‘~au revoir” to Mr. Rabley. Knowing him as we do, we feel sure that it is only ‘~au revoir’ and not good-bye, and we shall always be delighted to see him back in school. At the beginning of the School Year we welcomed Miss Walker and Mr. Beynon to teach Mathematics, Mr. Copley for Music, Mr. Young for Physical Training. Mr. Gunn as English Master, Mr. Silverthorne, who luckily arrived in time to prevent the complete destruction of the chemistry laboratory, and Mr. Wright, who has been faced with the task of explaining to us why all roads should lead to Rome! As usual, several students from Bristol University have visited Thornbury in the course of their training. The dancing classes for the seniors were held most successfully during the Autumn and Spring terms, and this year we have attempted Square Dancing as well as Ballroom Dancing. At the time of going to press, it is rumoured that there is a possibility of a Square Dance party for the seniors at the end of the term, though, so far, this is by no means a certainty. Our thanks are due to Miss Burcombe for teaching us so patiently and ably, and for training some of the girls in National Dancing as well as Gymnastics for the Speech Day display. Parents’ Evenings are now a regular feature of each term, and have provided welcome opportunities for parents to meet Staff. These evenings are -all the more valuable since the School is expanding so rapidly; and<without such friendly meetings we might become increasingly impersonal. Our growing numbers, and the permanent admission of three Second Forms annually, have increased the urgency of the need for more class-room and canteen space, especially as we have already had to requisition the Woodwork room. Fortunately, however, we have reason to hope that work on new buildings will begin soon, and meanwhile the canteen has been provided with a vegetable-storing shed, and various other kitchen equipment. There have been several new developments in sporting activities, notably the fielding of Netball and Rounders teams for the girls (who have also made up a Cricket team), and the introduction of new events in the Athletic Sports. There have also been changes near the Hard Tennis Courts. The courts were re-laid during the Christmas holidays, and the railings round the top have been painted. A more doubtful blessing has been the sudden appearance of “The Greenhouse,” but perhaps it has helped to limit rash and forceful shots! Inside the School, we are glad to have more pictures.

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