THE SHIRBURNIAN

Michaelmas 1990

'Souls have complexions too: what will suit one will not suit another.' George Eliot: Middlemarch

Editor: R. J. Dymock-Maunsell Art Editor: N. S. Ridout Assistant Editors: W. R. Duke, R. Hands, R. W. R. Hillier, J.M. Nurton, P.H. Purchase

Photographs by: o.c., p57 M.J.H., p53 Sir David Ford, ., 69 E. Moorhouse, PP Jo. 32 Mr. Hammick, 1> 16 J-M.P., p8 P. Hammond Giles, "so R. Welchman, rr 19. 21. 22. 23, 24 J. Harper, PP 39 - 4J, 21. 2s

Shelleys Printers, Sherborne THE CHRONICLE

Academic Cambridge Places

The following have gained places ac Cambridge on che basis of their A-level results.

House Name College University Course a J. D. Mitchell Magdalene Engineering g M. A. Turner Clare History d C. M. Wilson Christ's Natural Sciences

Three or more 'A' grades at A-level House Name A-levels a J. D. Mitchell Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry h S. T . F. Davis French, English, History e J. T. L. Fox Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry h J. E. Rickett Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry e H. H. W. Shek Mathematics, Further Machematics, Physics g M.A. Turner Latin, Spanish, History, Machematics d C. M. Wilson Spanish, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Chemistry e A. T. Wise Economics, Mathematics, Physics Six or more 'A' grades in GCSE, or Additional Exams Number of 'A• grades Name 11 J. D. Laidlow (b) 10 D. H. Caesar (m), D. J. Carter (d), A. E. de Mestre (g), A. J . Harris (h), V. S. Harutunian (a), J. C. Hopkins (e}, A. P. Jackson (a). 1. M. Nurton (m), J.B. H. Reed (h) 9 A. M. C. Crawford (b), C. G. 0. Keatinge (h) 8 M. R. Chantrey (g), S. D. Clark (g), J. E. East (g), J. W. 0. Freeth (d), N. J. G. Gardner (d), J. S. King (c), B. P . Oliver (m), B. E. J. Powis (h), H. C. M. Rogers (a) 7 J. H. Allan (m), N. J. Boyd (b), D. L. J. de Seider (e), D. A. Glenday (f), R. Hands (b), R. C. Harris (h), B. W. Morris (I), S. J. T. Palferman (f), D. W. Price (e) 6 C. J. Colby (b), R. W. R. Hillier (a), S. A. Jones (h), J. P . Kershaw (b), D.R. Lamont (m), J. F. Powell (b), J.E. Rogers (a), J. D. Upton (I)

Internal A wards

The following have won internal awards as a resulc of cheir performance within the school and at GCSE: Award House Name Scholarship m J. M. Nurton Exhibitions m D. H. Caesar d D. J. Carter g J. E. East h A. J. Harris b J. D. Laidlow

6 Army Scholarships

The following have won Army Scholarships: A. J. Harris (h), W . B. A. Cook (b), H. C. M. Rogers (a).

Music

The following were awarded distinctions in Associated Board examinations: House Name Instrwnent Grade Points h H. I. Graves Clarinet 6 138 d B. R. Maidment Oboe 4 132 a G. C. Reynolds Violin 8 132

Sport

Athletics The following represented Dorset at the Independent Schools' National Championships: *A. M. P. Macbeth (b). 400m; *E. C. A. Raymond (m), 3,000m; G. R. Treverton (c), Javelin; *M. G. A. Pearman (d), Long Jump; *D. J. Craig (m), Long Jump. • denotes winner of the event.

A. M. P. Macbeth (b) represented Great Britain at a European meeting in Belgium in August, winning a gold medal in the 4 x 400m relay and coming seventh in the individual event.

Cricket S. M. Stevens (c): final trial for HMC Schools Ul9 side. B. D. Atwell (e): Captain of Hampshire U 19 side; trial for HMC Schools U 19 side.

Fives M. R. Dougal (d), J. Field (b), A. J. H. Lea (d) and T. K. W. Maidment (d) broke lhe world record for playing fives non-stop. They played for 40 hours JO minutes and raised £1,200 for Cancer Research.

Sailing At the Schools' Sailing Competition at ltchenor, A. C. R. Davey (b) and T. R. J. Nicholson (m) came third.

Shooting J. A. Keith (f) won the ·Schools' Pistol Shooting prize at Bisley.

Tennis M. P. Honer (c) and C. M. S. Lytle (h) represented Dorset Schools in the South-West regional final of the boys' doubles. They lost to Devon (Exeter School).

General

J. D. Mitchell (a) was awarded an honorarium by lhe B.B.C. and given work and training in their engineering department during the holidays while he is at university.

Compiled from information supplied by House Masters, Heads of Department and the Masters in Charge of Sport

7 'The Grove' "as opened b:>• Mr. John Gray, Ambassador to the Organitation for Economic Co-operation and Development

TO THE EDITOR

From Lt. Col. D. E. C. Russell, O.S. Sir, I greatly enjoyed watching School Football last winter after an absence of forty-eight years. But I was sad to hear the XV being urged on by no cry better than 'SHER-BORNE!', something associated in my mind more with the railway station than the Upper. What a 'hwyl' (as the Welsh call it) was pro­ duced by the roar of 'SCHOOOOOOOOL!' There was such a nice touch of proper arrogance about the assumption that there could only be one School! Why, I wonder, was it ever changed? Yours faithfully,

D. RUSSELL Sherbome, Dorset. 3rd September, 1990

8 In 1961 577 Cadets, (the whole School less the New Boys), took part in the Parade laid on for the J.P.R. late Earl Mountbatten, and there were both War 1956 - 1990 experienced and National Service Officers to call upon. By 1970 the Corps had become completely Most boys in the School between 1966 and 1989 voluntary, numbers bad shrunk to 30, excluding the probably thought of John Riley and the Corps in Band, and experienced Officers were in short the same breath, and rightly so. His twenty-three supply. The Inspecting Officer in 1970 even greeted years in command made him Sherborne's longest John with the comment, 'I thought you lot had serving Commanding Officer, and none of his folded up.' There was to be no such debacle. predecessors could claim to have achieved more Despite the softer alternatives available on a than he. By his enthusiasm and tenacity he first Wednesday afternoon, the C.C.F. not only sur­ saved the C.C.F. from the real danger of extinction vived but began to build up its strength. Proper and then built up a Contingent humming with recognition was still given to formal training, but activity and regularly in receipt of first-class official the range of activities was considerably widened to reports. include parascending, the Ten Tors expedition, the

19 formation of a Royal Marine Section, more profes­ sional help from the Services and more exciting Camps, to mention only some. Thus the smaller G.H.J.F. numbers were turned into a positive advantage, 1969 - 1990 recruiting ceased to be a problem and for some time the strength has been a steady 180-200, about the maximum the facilities allow. G HJ F had been educated at Epsom, done his The quality of this new C.C.F. was impressively National Service in the East Surrey Regiment, read demonstrated at the Corps Centenary Celebrations Chemistry at Oxford and had taught at King's in 1988, a memorable and superbly organized occa­ Canterbury and Dulwich before he and Judy came sion, accompanied by the publication of John's to Sherborne in 1969. Within a year he had become beautifully produced book Schoolboys in Uniform, Head of Chemistry and within four years Head of the history of the Corps 1888-1988. We should not Science, both posts which he held until appointed forget that without 'Colonel Riley' the Centenary Housemaster of School House in 1983. For much might never have been achieved and would certainly of that time we overlapped at the Heads of Depart­ not have been so glorious. ments meetings and I recall with warmth and John's quiet zeal and determination were a respect the way in which he advanced strongly the major factor too in the revival of Shooting. ln 1966 requirements of all the sciences, yet listened to and the closure of nearby ranges and the cost of coaches supported the claims of other subjects in a fair and brought an end 10 f1,11l bore shooting, the loss of a balanced way. To a wet-eared Head of Department sport enjoyed by many boys. In 1971 John acquired it was a good lesson in wisdom and tolerance. the use of a minibus, so half-holiday trips to Mere Like all good school masters, academic matters and Langpon became feasible and School Shooting were G HJ F's first priority, yet hi s interests ranged was revived. It is excellent news that in his retire­ widely beyond the classroom. Though he ran the ment John will continue to run the Shooting. Ii Science Society for years, for example, it is the would be a filling reward for countless hours spent nature of the man to be involved in all sorts of other on the ranges if one year the VIII returned trium­ things. I suspect G HJ F would put near the top of phant with the Ashbunon Shield his interesti. his sixteen years in charge of the Royal In less warlike vein he has taken a large part in Naval Section of the C.C.F., marked, fittingly, by a the life of the town from the '60s, when he was on presentation to him at the last C.C.F. Dinner. the District Council; for many years he has been Goodness knows how, but GHJF always seemed President of the Youth Club and be is on the com­ able lo spirit a helicopter from somewhere or mi11ee of the Royal British Legion in Sherborne. 'arrange' that a minesweeper happened to be exer­ Many of us will remember him too in the enter­ cising from Portland on the day that the C.C.F. tainment sphere, running the Commemoration had their Field Day. How typical that, despite dance which was the modest predecessor of the pre­ demands on his time as Housemaster, he continued sent gli11ering social occasion; and above all on the to run the R.N. Section; and numerous generations stage, in nearly every staff play, memorable as the of boys will recall his organisation of Night Ops. pet of the Foreign Office in Hay Fever, as the when 'Enemy forces were hoping to capture a lost lunatic brother of the murderous old ladies in nuclear warhead (usually a milk crate) somewhere Arsenic and Old lace, and as part of a trio in Free near Middlemarsh.' · as Air for the Sherborne Amateur Players, urging For most people that would be involvement on us as a rule of life: enough. but we must add his huge commitment to School games. For years GHJ F ran the Under 14 'Let the grass grow under your feet Till it grows knee high.' XV long before the present system when it was much more of an individual commitment. It is no Head of the Physics Department, House Tutor of accident that many of the unbeaten teams of the Westcott and of School House until he succumbed '70s had their initial grounding under GHJF on to the sound of the flute and married Jill (their Pitch I. For just as long he ran the Junior Colts three children the leaders of the smarter set among Hockey XI, his loud exhortations and instructions the Shcrborne young), running the Colts hockey leaving no room for misunderstanding. When back with the assistance of the then Headmaster, in problems - 'Too much scrummaging in my charge of make-up for many school plays and for youth' - prevented much further active involve­ Dorset Opera in the summer holidays, he has filled ment, he took to refereeing and umpiring, for years his life among us with varied and well-appreciated umpiring the Hockey 1st XI and on one occasion activity. He is clearly now embarking on an equally refereeing a 1st XV match, from which he claims well filled 'retirement'; and we are all glad that it never to have recovered! In the summer term there will be among us still that John and Jill will live. was cricket umpiring, social tennis and always a Sherbome owes them much, both Town and Gown. willing hand for the Sailing Club, particularly the Round Brownsea Race. Oh yes, while all this was M.R.G.E-D. going on, GHJ F was also House Tutor in Westcott R.S.G. under W. A. Cooper, Esq. in those days when the 20 Housemaster and Tutor twosome ran Houses In 1983 GHJF was appointed to School House without the plethora of the modern tutorial system. at very short notice and a new dimension was added Clearly, then, an insular school master? Not to an already busy life. The value of a wide range of a bit of it. Life outside school continued experience was clear when, after the normal apace: Chairman of the Sherborne Conservative delicacies of a Housemaster's first year, School Association; Chairman of Sherborne Round Table; House ran smoothly, increasingly so once GHJF and, since its very first performance, Orchestral gained the confidence to establish his own set of Manager for Dorset Opera, cutting through red ideals and standards. He would be the first to admit tape and ruffling a few feathers in his desire to this. It was in this phase of school mastering, bring about a happy and successful orchestra that perhaps more than any other, that GHJF's concern would want to return next year. Outward looking for the individual came to the fore. Never one to still, in 1981, GHJF and Judy undertook a year's suffer fools gladly - woe betide the selfish, the exchange with Phillips Academy, Massachusetts. A thoughtless, the careless, the teller of lies or tittle­ new Facer returned, resplendent in sneakers, tight tattle, for he would suffer the awesome wrath of fitting tracksuit, baseball cap and colourful wind­ GHJF's irascible tongue - but real problems met cheating coach's jacket: Sherborne's Hockey genuine concern, strong support, sensitive advice umpiring had not seen anything like it. and practical help. This extended to boys and

21 masters outside his own House and l, for one, have How quickly that first year went by: Chris living reason to be grateful for his ability to look at things in Greenhill, Pepe the cat acquired; House tutor­ in a different way and for his assistance in finding a ing, hockey coaching, organising football at Trent s1raight path 1hrough the shades of grey which sur­ School, helping with athletics, spiritual tutoring: all round house-mastering. these things done with a lightness of touch and such Some collegues will no1 have known him 1his good sense of humour. well. What might their perceptions be? GHJF as a member of assorted committees, for inservice train­ ing, the curriculum, salaries, recreational activities; as a plain speaker to boys, parents, colleagues, who were left in little doubt where they stood; as a generous listener to the doubts which exist amongst members of any community; as a stickler for discipline, staff as well as boys; as a passionate identifier with 'causes'; as a possessor of encyclopaedic knowledge of the rules of House competitions and woe betide any team that didn't conduct itself properly, or Housemasters who in­ advertently played an 'ineligible boy'; as a bed­ ridden Housemaster (his back again) running com­ plex School House from his bedroom; perhaps as that round-shouldered, stooping, slightly dishevel­ led figure, papers in hand, either looking for a boy or hastening across the Courts, late once more for Chem. Lab 3; as the deliverer of sermons - 'I don't think I'd die for religion. or my country, but I would for my family'. Fittingly, perhaps, a summing up shoul

D.P.J.

C.M.B.H. The second year brought new challenges: 1987 - 1990 appointment as Head of Department foremost. Weekly Departmental meetings were instituted, felicitous occasions, especially with hospitality My first meeting with Chris was at interview: we from Westcott. There Chris informed us, guided us thought we were being interviewed for the same and gently kept us on the rails. He introduced a job, as we sat sipping the Chaplain's sherry. But, as Field Day for the Fourth Form: a trip to a things turned out, there was a job for both of us. ' I synagogue, mosque and cathedral - an invaluable think we can work together.' was his verdict after aid to the GCSE course. This was followed up by a an evening out before our first term. By then Chris Field Day for the Third Form, visiting churches of had sprouted a beard, as indeed had our then Head different denominations within Sherbome. Chris of Department: I began to think there was also organised the revamping of the Theology something of a conspiracy. But beards were to classrooms, with redecoration and carpeting: quite come and go over the next three years. a transformation was achieved.

22 By the end of his second year Chris had bought his own home (I vividly remember the move and nearly losing some furniture on the A30 when driv­ T.P.C. ing a van with a faulty rear door!). He was also 1989 - 1990 engaged to Cathy, and their wedding took place in the summer holiday. I think it says volumes for Chris that four members of bis Upper Sixth 'A' level set came to wish Chris and Cathy well on their wedding day. (The photographs in the Department are there to prove it!) The boys had a genuine regard for Chris which extended to taking him out for supper to celebrate his engagement. Certain eyebrows were raised on this occasion, but Chris's understanding of these in­ dividuals was profound, and his methods bore fruit, as the results in the summer were to testify. Chris was always prepared to lock horns over any issue which he felt strongly aboul. He would often express his feelings most eloquently on paper: he did not let matters slide. Injustices and un­ fairness really affected Chris and he spoke out where he found them; not the back seat for him. 'Conscience pricking' was the headmaster's description of him. This quality was present whether Chris was in the classroom, abroad on an art trip, tutoring in Wallace or, as on one extreme occasion, acting as comp~re for the Summer SYCOSS concert. When he felt something needed to be said to those enjoying the concert he said it firmly but without spoiling the atmosphere. His superb photographs of an earlier SYCOSS concert have provided much pleasure in the JCR. Indeed I have spent many happy moments browsing through his photograph albums: Sherborne, town and school; marvellous pictorial accounts of art trips to There can surely be no greater contrast than Paris and Amsterdam. between the multi-racial city of Washington, the IL was Chris who introduced me to Simply Red nation's capital, with its many white and imposing and live concerts. His penchant for Phil Collins was edifices, and the quaint but often sleepy town of well known. Less well known I suspect was his Sherborne in deepest Dorsel. No surprise to us, striking singing voice and his guitar playing. perhaps, that Richard and Jen Kershaw decided to Leweston was treated to these at morning assembly pack their bags and do a spot of bird watching on on one occasion, as were attenders at certain the other side of the big pond. What were we to do Chapel services in school. A new piano has been in the interim? purchased for the new home in Exeter: it will be a We needn't have feared because Thaddeus P. great source of pleasure to both Chris and Cathy. Cavuoti, born in New York, one of seven brothers Their voices will be missed in Music Society this and sisters, with an appetite which was to cause year. such bewilderment in the Dining Hall, not to In the Staff play in the summer Chris played the mention a huge hole in its budget for the rest of this part of a soldier (a sense of irony here, surely!) who decade, arrived from the Landon School in was selling off in another direction. Well, he has left Washington, to fill in for Ri chard. As we all know, us now, and he and Cathy are enjoying the new however, he did far more than just 'fill in'. challenges of Exeter. 'We shall miss his voice', as 'Tad', as he very soon became affectionately one member of staff put it, having attended the known to his pupils and colleagues alike, was not a Abbey Service which Chris conducted: an early typical American. Of course, being a musician and morning trip to Glastonbury had been beautifully one who relished the sights and sounds of an brought to life for us in the Abbey. Chris spoke of English cathedral, he had visited this country on climbing hills. He has great determination: be many other occasions and was consequently won't avoid the hills, he will climb them. thoroughly immersed in the Anglican Church tradi­ tion. His knowledge not only of its music but also its liturgy was remarkable and proved to b~ a major H.H.D.P. source of inspiration to me during the year.

23 In the Music Department, Tad taught at both GCSE and 'A' levels. His approach was refreshing and immediately showed that he was well in touch Olivier Loubiere with the various demands of our exam-orientated 1989 - 1990 courses. He also taught some piano, but his main and lasting contribution was undoubtedly to the Chapel Choir. Having been entirely responsible for rehearsing and conducting the choir for the Olivier spent last year in Sherborne as French previous eight years, it was a delight to be able to Assistant to the Modem Languages Department, work with someone with Tad's flair and enthusiasm having completed a degree in Business. Administra­ for choral singing. While the boys were at first a tion at the University of Bordeaux. Hts confidence little guarded, they soon responded to the challenge and easy manner with both boys and sta.ff was i~­ of another conductor's interpretation. Tad also mediately apparent, and, far from se~king :esp1te used his gifts as composer and on several occasions after several hours' French Conversauon with the either made arrangemems or composed original set­ former he would enjoy their company around the tings. His Preces and Responses, for exampl~, School'. His knowledge of and interest in French received lheir first complete performance in institutions and affairs made his lessons lively and Chichester Cathedral during one of the choir's enjoyable, so that linguis~s p~sitiv~ly looked regular visits, much to his delight and gratification. forward to their weekly meeting with him. When asked, Tad was more than willing to help School tennis players benefited significantly organise or appear in one of the many House from Olivier's enthusiasm for the game, and the Concens. Virtually every House has cause to thank very high standard of his play. He coached and him for his help and inspiration. He was equally in­ managed a very successful second six, and his volved in school societies: Mus. Soc., where his disciplined approach and high level o~ concentra­ sonorous bass voice could often be heard plumbing tion on court rubbed off on the boys m the many the depths in the Berlioz Te Deum, not to mention hours he spent sparring with them. the many tenor and bass sectionals that he took; ~he Sailing Club, where he could often be seen sporting shorts and sun hat; and most impressively, to my mind, he had the ability and confidence to get up into lhe Abbey pulpit and deliver a sermon on 'Corpus Christi' wilh just a little help from the 'gospel singers'! . . . . Another reminiscence which springs to mind 1s, for example, the time he was visiting Salisb~ry Cathedral and met a group of American tourists who inquired about the extensive restoration work being carried out on the spire. He explained lhat it had been in danger of collapsing but also men­ tioned the vision of the architect who had suggested that the Chapter, as it approached the twenty-first century, should seriously consider the commercial potential of the building. ~s a result ~f subsequ7nt meetings, it had in fact decided to bu1Jd a revolving restaurant half way up the spire. 'Gee, what a good idea!' came the reply. On another occasion, Tad reported his, or to be more accurate Richard's, c~r missing presumably stolen, only Lo stumble across ll five days later parked at the top of Greenhill. The most amazing thing about this is that the car receiv­ ed no parking ticket! I know that Tad enjoyed his time at Sherborne and hope that he will remember us with affection. In fact he returns next year with some boys from the Landon School to give concerts and sing ser­ vices at a number of cathedrals. He made bis mark and a number of very good friends and we lhank him for considerable contribution to Sherbome life and wish him well for the future.

P.C.E.

24 Olivier made the most of his opportunities and lost, even though the sides were by no means as thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Sherbome talented as more recent, beaten sides. His work with community for a year. He proved himself to be a junior teams was of the same stock. No boy was great devotee of Guinness, and his stay over here allowed to be negative about his own ability; each culminated in a pilgrimage to Ireland to sample the member of each side had a specific role in the genuine article. He is currently completing his team' s success. The standards he set himself were Service Militaire, after which he hopes to work for expected of the boys too - dress immaculate, kit a French firm with business interests in England, so clean and in good repair. There was also his rapport we shall hope for a vi sit in the future. with the boys - how many of them gained their nickname from Chris, how many of them had their M.J.A.S. legs pulled mercilessly, or were led along on the longest and most far-fetched of shaggy-dog stories! Dorset County Cricket also witnessed Chris's talent. He made his debut and gained his County Cap in 1982, and since then he has filled an impor­ tant niche in the county side. We hope that he will Chris Stone be able to serve under a fourth captain next year. 1982 - 1990 Highlights of his career are manifold, but he did ' play for the Minor Counties representative side against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. How many Since 1982, Shirburnian cricketers have indeed people can claim that they have bowled the great been exceptionally fortunate Lo have been able to Viv Richards? He would have played more if he had enjoy the coaching skill and knowledge of Chris not been so committed to Sherborne cricket. Stone. Those who know Chris will remember a man of Chris had previously been coaching at Harrow principles, who was not afraid to speak his mind, and briefly at MillhiJI when he arrived. His early and who did not suffer fools gladly. There have Sherbome winters were spent improving standards been fewer more loyal supporters of Shirburnian in South Africa, at Woodridge College and at cricketers, and they have a great deal for which to Rondebosch Boys' High School. IL is a measure of thank Chris Stone. We wish him well in his trip to Chris's talent that latterly he was Coach to the the new pastures of Nelson, New Zealand, where I University of Port Elizabeth and that he was am sure he will be able to find new and more employed by the Eastern Province Cricket Union to challenging walks, more obscure wines made by look after their 'B' team - a brief that included itinerant Bulgarians, and more raw material to tum looking after some of the stars of the 'A' side too. into talented. confident and above ail successful What marked Chris out as an outstanding coach cricketers. was his ability to get the best out of the boys. ln his two years in charge of the 1st XI, no match was G.C.A.

25 supreme reach of human learning; from there, he descends to his eventual destruction through a Amadeus series of choices (and failures to choose) which are all conceived dramatically and are highly effective on the stage. Superficially, Shaffer's central character, Antonio Salieri, is similar in making a descent from success to humiliation. But Shaffer bYPeter Shaner handles this material very differently. The use of a narrator, Salieri himself, makes for monotony which only an outstanding Salieri will avert. A producer needs to work very hard to achieve con­ We came to this production with high expecta­ tinuity between, and conviction within, the scenes, tions. Dr. Faustus had been a notable triumph and which threaten to become a tiresomely reiterated was this not, as it were, the Wittenberg team, under illustration of the state of mind of Salieri. the same management, playing in Vienna? It must Separated by, and occasionally interspersed with, be said at once that we were not disappointed: the passages of narrative, the other characters can Commemoration performances of Peter Shaffer's easily decline into figures contemplated only by Amadeus were a remarkable achievement. Salieri and not evoking a response from the Shaffer's text has been presented in various audience. Over three hours in a theatre, a strain is forms: first seen in 1979 at the National Theatre, it felt in a play which sets out, as this one does, to has been broadcast as a radio play and transformed explore a sickened mind, unless the audience can into a film. It is not easy for a stage production to see fully how that mind came to be sickened. For evolve and establish its own interpretation with that reason, all the other characters have to come to modern material already so popularly exploited. life too. Yet Shaffer's use of his central character as Nor is the play itself easy to produce, particularly at the narrator makes that difficult to achieve. school: not only is it technically complex, but the And when it is achieved, it is difficult to sustain play itself is problematic. a balanced production. At the heart of the play is Comparison with Dr. Faustus may illustrate. an idea which is quite simple: good musicians are Marlowe's play, though cluttered up with passages not necessarily good men. This idea, which it and scenes of so unsatisfactory a nature that their requires very little experience of either men or of authenticity is to be doubted, has a clearly dramatic artists to appreciate, is one which Shaffer's Salieri structure. When we first see him, Faustus is at the cannot bring himself to accept. He pledges himself

27 to defy the God who creates such a monster as make-up, training of voice and movement which Mozart (a good musician who is not a good man) were its constituent parts? The separation is no less and he destroys himself (a good man who is not a difficult with the principal characters: the integra­ good musician) in the process. Shaffer's use of tion of music with Salieri's narrative, for example, Salieri as narrator enables him to explore fully the was fraught with technical problems one prefers to hatred of Mozart and of God which results from guess at rather than experience, yet it is all­ this view, but his response is so out of proportion to important. It is Salieri's response to Mozart's music its cause that it seems inadequate to sustain our which is the motive of all his actions in the play. attention. (Shaffer's attempt at the end to present Here music and speech were linked with a degree of Salieri as a representative of mankind's general timing which was without apparent effort: it pro­ uncomprehendingly mediocre response to genius duced some notable moments, such as that in Act I does not work: he seems too special a case.) So our when Salieri describes his first hearing of a Mozart attention tends to dwell upon some of the serenade. One thinks also of the scene in which fascinating material out of which Shaffer has made Salieri first meets Mozart. A producer's Mission his play, and the producer's task is then to ensure Impossible here: 'your task, J H, should you wish to that Shaffer's presentation of Mozart's life and accept it, is to stage a scene in which two characters music does not become detached from the work as have, in effect, a piano competition on stage, in a whole, in which it is presented. which one appears as a brilliant virtuoso at lt was therefore no easy task for the producer improvisation'. Without the achievement of such and his cast to find a unified style in what is in­ effects, the production would have foundered. completely unified material. But here a simple idea The performances of each of the principals were such as thal of using (as the scene removers) the also strengthened by their support for each other. madmen from the lunatic asylum in which Salieri is Sarah Webb, as Constanze Mozart, was subjected confined was most effective. This provided the to treatment from her husband, and from other audience with the sense of a link between the time males, which few can have seen represented on a of the beginning and end of the play and the course Sherborne stage before. It is a testimony to the way of events in Salieri's narrative: the madmen's in which she and Paul Clarke, as Mozart, had grotesque appearance was juxtaposed with the achieved an understanding of their roles that such splendours and frippery of the court to produce an gross indecencies in action and word did not arouse eerie effect which was wholly appropriate to the in the audience an embarrassment fatal to the conflicts within Salieri's mind. The performances dramatic effect: they were not extraneous to the by the madmen also testified to the discipline of this characters represented. Sarah Webb had to convey production: they held their roles and sustained Constanze's insensitivity, quite unable as she is to throughout the play the atmosphere they created. understand either her husband or Salieri when their The court scenes were presented with gusto. motives ran deeper than her own worldly ones. Here the production bad been conceived visually; at Some may have felt a lack of variety in her perfor­ the first appearance of the court, the principals, the mance, which did not depart very far from the Emperor Joseph II and his brocaded courtiers, keynote of passive acquisitiveness in her repeated stood frozen like figures in porcelain. And in all 'Ta very much'. But the flatness in her character that they do in the play, they have accordingly no derives from the writing, notably in the scene where life of their own; their roles, even their feelings, are Salieri attempts to seduce her, where one felt that predetermined by their place in a social hierarchy. the actors had difficulty in realizing dramatically Unlike Mozart and Salieri, they have no perception 1he motives and tensions in Salieri himself. of art or of religion beyond the function of such Paul Clarke as Mozart was obliged to check a activities within that social hierarchy. To convey tendency to overact, a tendency all the more this, it was appropriate that the manner of the court difficult to resist by nature of the character of scenes, in speech and movement, should be highly Mozart, a creature possessed by a frenzy, as Salieri stylized. Richard Masters, Robert Crawford and sees him. Mozart is a creature of passion, who in­ Rupert Dymock-Maunsell achieved this difficult voluntarily expresses the inspiration which feat: their roles were utterly inflexible, but they possesses him. He is unable to explain his inten­ managed to inhabit their roles comfortably, so that tions, chiefly because he does not comprehend their gestures and stances were convincing, and them himself, except in the crudest terms. He is an genuinely amusing. image of how art emphatically does not refine The Emperor has some of the play's best nature. At the same time, his character must be moments. Spencer Hanlon's sustained representa­ presented in such a way that we feel that, in his own tion of the slowness of the royal brain was a delight. words to Baron Van Swieten, 'though my tongue is It is difficult to write about the performance of stupid, my heart isn't'. Paul Clarke never seemed any of these characters without recognising the quite at ease with those parts of the play where extent to which they depended on the production as Mozart's feelings are explicitly expressed, as in the a whole. How can one separate Spencer Hanlon's scenes dealing with his relationship with his father, performance from the total effect of costume, or with Constanze as the undutiful wife, or even

29 with his avowed enmity with Salieri. This mattered less than one might imagine: the essential character of Mozart is established in Act I, where Paul Clarke A Penny For A Song excelled. He had the right presence: his movements were coltish and his voice disconcertingly strident. He played the jester with gusto, at home in his aptly inept costumes. The Stall Play bY John Whiting Luke Baker's Salieri derived its strength as much as any of the other parts from the production as a whole. His scenes with the Venticelli (Nicholas The staff play of Trinity Term 1990 was an event Master and Oliver Richardson) were particularly much looked forward to as an opportunity to see notable ror pace and for lightness of touch. The the staff in a different light - and that we did! scale of his part, however, made his individual per­ With memories fresh in our minds of the previous formance remarkable. He had to be mad and sane, staff play, expectations of this year's production aged and youthful, villain and victim, virtuous and, were high, and in many ways these were fulfilled. variously - I noted envy, gluttony, lechery and The play is set in the garden of a Dorset country pride - vicious, narrator and protagonist. He mansion owned by Sir Timothy Bellboys (Robert achieved many of these variations with a sure Prance), an amiable caricature of the eccentric touch. The part allows little relaxation - some or English country gentleman. The year is 1804, and J H 's cuts deprived him or a certain light by-play the imminent invasion of Napoleon's Grande with the audience which, it may be foll, disrupts the A rmee means that the inhabitants of this part of the characterization but which also left an uninter­ country are in a state of nervous apprehension. rupted intensity in the role. That he should have These inhabitants are tricked into believing that the managed to sustain this intensity is worthy of the invasion has arrived when the somewhat disorgan­ warmest congratulations. There was a note of awe ized local volunteer defence force decides to stage a in the response of the audience to his performance, mock battle in the vicinity, unannounced to the and to all of this fine production. residents because of inadequate communication. As part of his plan of victory against the French R.G.P . forces, Sir Timothy masquerades as Napoleon himselr. hoping to throw the non-existent French­ men into confusion and ultimate defeat. The result of this, perhaps rather predictably, is that the bumbling motley crew of brave defenders mistake Sir Timothy for the genuine French article and, after much effort, capture the indignant 'Napoleon'. Sir Timothy's real identity is discovered by the men, and they leave to arrange a game of cricket, allowing peace to fall once more on the Dorset countryside. There were many engaging performances from the staff, notably from Robert Prance as Sir Timothy, whose misguided vigour and gusto were immediately endearing. Stephen Wilkinson was the foppish Hallam Matthews, a conservative but disillusioned man whose constant now of calm irony provided a sometimes welcome contrast to the extrovert eccentricities or Sir Timothy Bellboys and his equally eccentric brother, Lamprett Bellboys (John Sutherland-Smith with an entertaining perrormance). There were many comic moments throughout the play, but perhaps the most memorable were those involving William Humpage (Huw Ridgeway), the village idiot employed as a lookout by Sir Timothy. The play was not farcical throughout: the comic scenes were interspersed with serious and thought­ provoking discussions on the nature of war. Christopher Huxtable produced a fine perfomance as Edward Sterne, a disillusioned former mercenary eager for social reform, who influences Dorcas

30 Bellboys (Catherine Huxtable) the daughter of in the play he says to his wife: ' If only one could buy Lamprett. ready-made children at a shop, and not have to make The local defence force, made up of Michael them at home.' But the inconsistencies of the narration and his own frequently inappropriate auitudcs and tones Sugden, Chris Hamon and Peter Lapping and led combined to reduce the full strength of the satire. by Robert Glen (who also directed}, provided much Theobald's wife, played by Jane Nash, was suitably meek entertainment. It was perhaps notable that Peter and obeisant; and. as much of the writer's criticism Lapping as Rufus Piggot had to be reprimanded for seemed directed at her servility, she was able partly to ill-disciplined behaviour! counteract the weaknesses in Theobald's portrayal. The director, J onathan Holloway, seemed to have Pat Harris as Hester Bellboys, Lamprett's wife, a fixation with symmetry upon the stage. The visual delivered some excellent one-liners; and Giles effects produced were consistently charming - but they Reynolds as Samuel Breeze won our sympathy as retarded an understanding of the plot, as well as obscur­ the long-suffering servant to Hallam Matthews. It ing the theme. Characters were grouped decoratively and was nice to see Diana Lapping making a brief 1heir movements were rhythmic and patterned. Perhaps appearance as Pippin the maidservant. this was to enhance our perception of 1he artificiality of 1he situations being enacted. The use of props and The staging of the play was simple but effective, cos1ume was minimal (except in one ins1ance of family thanks to the talents and hard work of Andy interaction in which masks were amusingly and cffec1ively Stooke and Tony Combridge, who did the carpen­ employed) bu1 1his. when almost every performer played try for the set. However, the B.S.R. was perhaps two or more parts, proved a disaster of confusion. Jane not a good place to stage the play, as the room was Nash darted beween Christina and Mrs. Jupp; Susanna Hamnell doubled as Alethea and Ernest's wife, Ellen; so big that the actors were hard to see and hear, and Ernest reappeared as his brother and as a variety of especially from the back. The costumes, however, other minor pans. The alterations in character were were striking and brought the needed colour to the convincing, but when there is no corresponding change in stage. Thanks to Leigh Fisher, the make-up was ex­ appearance an audience is likely 10 be baffled into pertly and subtly done. boredom, or into supposing an epidemic of schizo­ phrenia. The choice of play was slightly dubious: the Some aspects of the produc1ion stand ou1 as being humour was at times dated and did not really ap­ particularly effective. The set was an ingenious stage peal to the younger people in the audience. Perhaps upon the stage - with its own curtains and bare something of a more modern nature could be proscenium - and this was a shrewd if bla1ant means of selected for the next staff play. suggesting the theme of conscious contrivance and deceit in the characters' lives. It also contribu1ed to the exciting It was obvious, however, that the staff had great visual impact of the play. But these touches lost 1hcir fun doing the play, and thanks should go to them value in the ligh1 of the play's more fundamental for putting their time and effort into providing us weaknesses. The narration, presented by Michael Sheldon with an entertaining couple of evenings. (who was also Edward Overton). began in 1he tone of a wry observer - but tended towards the end to indulge in Theo Stephens sentimental moralizing. It did no1 fulfil its purpose of linking the sequence of events, whose time course spanned decades. This, and the confusion which sur­ rounded an understanding of the basic plot, made tedious what could have been a consistently amusing and dynamic production. Professional Theatre Richard Dyson

THE WAY OF All FLESH THE GOVERllMHT lllSPECTOR Red Shut Theatre comoanv

This play was scripted by Robin Brown from Samuel Tara arts orouo Butler's semi-autobiographical The Way of All Flesh. IL pokes fun at the Victorian authorities of state and church, The success of Shakespeare in the most radical adapta­ but more centrally it satirizes the hypocrisy and com­ tions indica1es how well strong plays can respond to a placency within the middle·class family. The plot traces creative approach. Gogol's The Governmen1 lnspec1or is the life of Ernest Pontifcx from a boyhood dominated by one such strong play. A sa1ire on the provincialism of his rector father, to public school, Cambridge, marriage Tsaris1 Russia, it is equally a satire on provincialism to the alcoholic Ellen, and finally death in middle-age. everywhere: its array of sycophants, i1s portrayal of Ernest was played by Eric Maclennan: the complex, and wrangling and back-bi1ing in a claustrophobic society arc almost contradictory, characteristics of boyish naivety all simple 1ru1hs, communicated through humour. This and sly intellectuality were successfully portrayed. Of all adaptation moves 1he scenario to India. The atmosphere 1he actors, he seemed most compe1en1 in overcoming the of provincial life and corrupt bureaucracy remains some1imes confusing and jumbled script. David Prescot strong, enhanced by the myth of Britain and the nobility as Ernest's father, Theobald, had 1he most important role of the British, which gives a convincing backdrop to 1he in directing our attention towards the discontent and charac1ers' longing and particularly with 1he females, antagonism underlying the Pontifex family life. Early on 1heir deadly state of ennui.

31 The Tara Arts Group is an Asian Theatre Company integrate the scenes at the Battle Front with those at which has a particularly strong visual sense. The actors home. The former are shorl and self-explanatory and the work as a highly integrated whole and, in this production, cast managed to give them form through lighting and they were highly effective in communicating the imense delivery of lines. Peter Snelling and Chris Marks atmosphere of each scene. Whether it was the mayor sur­ acted excellently, with Ian Roger, the army officer, inject­ rounded by his 'advisers'. or the Englishman fantasising ing cold realism. In a sense, 1he play's structure would wildly about his successful career to a rapt audience, the benefit from staging in Accrington but, when acting can movement on stage created the unity of a picture. This point up how the 'Pals' comradeship is so different from was helped by the acrobatics, which were often stunning. that p0nrayed to the women back home, problems of Their styli zed, mannered movements emphasised that this transition seem less important. was a world where people were playing out their roles, This production's most moving movement was the and knew exactly what they were doing. The Indian portrayal of Annie's breakdown. Annie is a terrifyingly accents were superb throughout, particularly in scenes brutal mother who succumbs to the pressures of depriva­ when the supposed Inspector was addressed. The whole tion and tension over the war. Clare Hicks was ex1remely Indian dialect of formal, stilled yet magisterial English powerful bo1h as the blustering 'monster' and the was used to great effect. homeless woman. Whelan's script brushes the glaring The wife and daughter of the mayor are particularly symbolism of a supposedly blood-stained carrier pigeon, good examples of 1he strength of acting in this produc­ a fault which suggests a tendency towards over­ tion. Their competition to ingratiate themselves with the simplificalion - bul this was ~Lill, theatrically, probably Englishmen, barely concealed in public, erupted in the most effective moment. private. The actresses brought ou1 the peuiness of such a The major problem of The Accrington Pals is the world superbly, particularly the childishness of both monotony of dialogue. The cast could not avoid boredom mother and daughter. The daughter's sulky dreams about on several occasions, but 1he excellence of staging and the England (dreams handed down from generation to superbly sustained Yorkshire accents carried the audience generation) were brought into sharp contrast with her through. The grow1h of emotion towards the end was also naivety over 1he visitor and her humble position, hidden communicated. As a period play, The Accrington Pals is ou1 of sight in the house. somewhat mannered and laboured in its social comment, The visual element in this play, then, was consistently as May so often falls into the role of mouthpiece, but striking. Bright colours. exuberant make-up, mime, dan­ Yeovil College's production created a real atmosphere cing all created an immediate impression. The percussive through some fine acting and strength of pace. music chosen also con1ribu1ed 10 the theatrical effect. At times, the 1ext was clouded by the activity around it, when Philip Purchase the superb delivery of the Indian English could have spoken be11er for itself. The evening was, undoubtedly, visually memorable and a delight because of the language. The gap between Russia and India was less daunting than it may first have seemed. Philip Purchase

THE lCClllGTOI PALS

Yeovll College

We so often look at the First World War from the soldiers' viewpoint. from the squalor of the trenches, that it is easy to forget the women at home. Yet ii is through the war that they first found a voice, socially and politicall y. In The Accrington Pals Whelan has 1aken the smallest 1own in England to raise its own baualion for Kitchener's New Army, and concentrated on the women the 'Pals' left behind. Against this background, we see a rugged, apparently cold woman moving up the material ladder, and her lover, a dreamy Utopian torn apart by 1he war. May, the rugged stallholder to become shop-keeper, was particularly strongly acted. She takes the role of 'philosopher' in the play. Although she is superficially an archetypally Thatcherite woman, she emerges as the pro­ foundest character in 1he play through her social action. pushing for the truth, and the personal tragedy of her doomed love affair. Kay Galpin captured her stoicism and dignity which conceal emotion. The male characters in the play are less developed: Tom and Ralph. (the former, May's scarcely acknow­ ledged lover). were not really given room to develop in 1he script. One of the play's major difficulties is how to

32 Andrew Strange was an excellent soloist in Telemann's G Major Viola Concerto. After a Commemoration Music tentative start, the piece demonstrated a sense of architecture and control of tempo - particularly in the lively Presto. The Andante was sensitively Commemoration is an opportunity to hear handled by soloist and orchestra. much of Sherborne's huge variety of music­ This c-0ncert concluded with works for the making. Many hours of practice go in to rehearsals Chamber Choir and Orchestra. Thaddeus Cavuoti, and lhe evoluLion of concert programmes - this on the eve of his return to America, conducted was reflected in the high standard of performance Monteverdi's Laudate Pueri. Here, weak trebles over the lwo days. Several items demonstrated and an absence of rhythmic crispness conspired to particular talent, balancing solo and ensemble play­ undermine the clarity and structure of the piece ing finely. Additionally, lhe qualily of choral music with its alternating choir and tenor sections. By of the Abbey Service was as expected, the trend contrast, Mozart's Missa Brevis, under Paul Ellis, towards excellence now well established over produced a feeling of overall shape, with a well­ several years. integrated texture. The 'Credo' had a particular bite, and the 'Agnus Dei' was stirring, the rhythmic ORCHESTRAS drive well sustained. At Friday evening's Orchestral Concert, the A switch of venue to the Big Schoolroom for Second Orchestra's performance of Saint-Saen's Saturday afternoon's concert. The Brass Group Carnival of the Animals was distinguished by the was less successful on this occasion: in Purcell's surprising malurity of lhe two solo pianists. Trumpet Tune the soloists were uneven, while the Michael Bawtree and Glyn Jones projected the piece could well have been shorter. Among the brilliance of the keyboard figuration with style and most impressive performances were the two wood­ flair. There was life and humour in their perform­ wind soloists. Alastair Crawford's playing in ance, unfortunately lacking in an otherwise Taffanel's Andante Pastorate had an effortless colourful orchestral accompaniment. There were quality to it, with beautiful legato phrasing and few smiles from the players or, for that matter, sweet tone. Joe Hawksley's Bassoon piece, from the audience. Sici/ienne and Allegro Giocoso by Grovlez, effec­ Alasdair Strange was 'cello soloist in Tchaikov­ tively communicated a sense of drama. In both sky's Rococo Variations, the First Orchestra being pieces, Jennifer Coultas' professional expertise at directed by guest conductor, David Strange. This the piano provided a sympathetic and sensitive was a tremendous theatrical opportunity to which support. Alasdair responded with vigour. Technically and The Sonata for Two Clarinets by Donizetti, emotionally this was playing of high potential, con­ played by Marcus Chesterfield and Jonathan veying an intensity and projection of line only Sturtridge, was difficult and played variably. sporadically malched in the intricate and de­ Pianist Andrew Law, in Brahms's E Minor manding orchestral part. There was some fine lntermez.zo, demonstrated a mature and articulate detail, particularly in the woodwind, and lhe conception of this elusive work, which demands so overall effect was enough to set lhe audience afire much more than mere facility. with enthusiasm. Finally, a romp through three The Chamber Orchestra made yet another Strauss waltzes, with lhe assembled orchestras, appearance to conclude the Concert with Bach's provided a suitably rousing, if tasteless, conclusion. Violin Concerto in A Minor and Elgar's Suite from The Spanish Lady. Joshua Powell as soloist in the CHAMBER CO.CERTS Bach displayed considerable prowess in lackling a Of lhe week's two Chamber Concerts, the first difficult work, which is often a challenge even to was held in the Abbey on Friday afternoon. The experienced players. Brass Group's performance of Grieg's Funeral The Elgar could well have been omitted, since March was one of the most impressive of the whole the concert was already too long, and the audience weekend . The sensitively handled contrast gave the already well satisfied. This problem is certainly not piece a dramatic edge, the dynamics thoughtfully new, although this year's overlap was highlighted worked out being highlighted by the Abbey's by the strains of the now topical Euro-anthem resonant acoustic. filtering through from the Modern Language Block The Chamber Orchestra's performance of opening ceremony. Albinoni's Adagio for Strings, directed by Ian Only a stoic few were prepared to sit in wind and Davies, represented one of the best achievements of rain at the Garden Concert which could otherwise this orchestra so far, the effect being so much more have been pleasant and relaxing. The question re­ spacious and atmospheric in this setting. The organ mains whether Commem. needs to include quite so pan (Robert Hands) and violin cadenza (Dominic much in so short a period: it is easy to identify with Price) deserve special mention. those who complain of being saturated.

Philip Purchase 33 A Reactionary Proposal pick up a thread of conversation at the JCR on a Saturday evening! And with that achievement behind us, it may be possible to instigate a more extensive set of reforms. I entreat you to read in the next issue of The Shirburnian my REACTIONARY Sherborne School seems to be suffering a period MANIFESTO - an unexpurgated, step-by-step ac­ of social and intellectual depression. How recent or count translated into Simple English. In the mean­ how fleeting a condition this may be I cannot while, your personal responses will be deeply ap­ judge; but l think that it can, through a few un­ preciated. fashionable and possibly unpopular measures, be cured. From the sight of executive-aspiring Third Richard Dyson Formers darting about the quadrangle, their brief­ cases clutched to heart, to that of the Upper Sixth Formers wallowing in noise and alcohol every Saturday night in the JCR, I am Jed to suspect that few boys involve themselves in informal discussion (except where the topic centres upon the inad­ Tickets. Pl&asel equacies of Central Feeding, or the extortionate dealings of the school prefects behind the bar). The root of this evil stems primarily from our connec­ tions with Sherborne School for Girls. It would When I learnt, at the end of last term, that I had seem that previous and present authorities of our not been allocated a ticket for the School produc­ own school have been seduced into imagining tion of Amadeus, I thought that I was just one of something of credit in the co-educationalist the unlucky few boys for whom there never seems philosophy - in fact, have been lured so to be room in the Powell Hall. However, as it has thoroughly into believing in it, that they are willing since appeared that only ninety boys (one-seventh to go so far as to encourage integration between of the School) were allotted tickets, and then only students of opposite sex! It is a sad and for the dress rehearsal, and that large numbers of unreasonable concession to the trends of the time. parents were refused tickets as well, I am compelled There are two ways in which a boy might learn to wonder whom the other seven hundred or so to respect women. Firstly, he could meet that rare tickets were given to. sort who inspire the ego-crushing combination of There seems to be a large group of people who terror and abject devotion. Secondly, he could be can claim tickets, either because they are staff, starved of all contact with women until, through members of the town, or connected with Leweston, the sheer scarcity of their company, he is drawn S.S.G. or Sherborne Prep. Does this mean that the into appreciating them fully. Genteel establish­ boys should have to forfeit watching what was ments such as Sherborne School for Girls do not essentially a Sherborne School production? The seem to furnish the correct environment for the question arises, who is the play actually put on for? breeding of the species requisite in Method One. (In The answer is surely the boys and the parents. I do fact, the girls of that school unashamedly thwart not dispute that as many people as possible should their own cause. While the sacrifice of prancing be encouraged to support the play, but if this means through mid-winter Sherborne in a pair of stock­ staff inviting groups of guests, then surely this is ings and a handkerchief is worthy of some admira­ going too far. Boys should be given an equal chance tion, it can hardly provoke any sacrifices - or to watch the play. demand a great deal of effort - on the part of the In a previous article in The Shirburnian, Ed boys.) The second method is thus the only viable Moorhouse complained that School plays, exhibi­ one. tions and concerts were not well enough attended, My proposal, then, is that we sever all contacts and that it was this typically apathetic behaviour and communications between the schools; that we that prevented Sherborne from being 'the best avert our eyes from the figures lewdly draped upon school in the country'. ls this perhaps the reason every post-box and telephone booth in Cheap why Shirburnians were put lowest on the ticket Street; and that the authorities make it known that priority list? - because they would be just as any Girls' School trespasser is liable to be pro­ happy watching Sylvester Stallone spill the blood of secuted. For those few boys whose relationships a crazed Russian, as watching what was, I hear, a with girls revolve upon an intercourse which is truly professional production of Amadeus. This is purely social, a chit signed by the Headmaster could not the case; many boys would prefer watching permit them to continue meeting one another their colleagues (perhaps even their brothers) in a - perhaps in their Housemaster's kitchen. School play to watching a House video. It is a The consequence of these alterations to our shame that such a mess was made of allocating ethos would be a surge of energy in a more product­ tickets for Amadeus, after it had been rehearsed for ive direction. Coherent or not, one might be able to an extra two terms.

35 The instances when boys are outnumbered at as the 'Great' Court. Two sides of the 'quadrangle' Powell Hall productions are numerous. l suggest were now in place; the drainage problems that that it is not apathetic behaviour on the part of the plagued them in their early days did not affect the boys that causes this, but that the ticket allocation buildings, although today it is possible to see how system is at fault. In the future, I would hope that the foundations of the Big Schoolroom are not tickets for obviously popular productions are level, as a result of the poor drainage - not as a distributed more carefully, so that those for whom result of the bomb damage in 1940, although this the play is performed actually get a chance to see it. did not help the level surfacing of the Courts. To the north of the Abbey, on the site of the Jeremy Allan Tower and around it, were some delightful lime trees and a shrubbery, where masters would gather at break; one tree became an impromptu cricket wicket for the boys. The old school gate, built in the 1850s and now relocated at the first entrance to courting 01sas1er the Upper, marked the entrance to the school, until replaced by the Tower in the early part of this century. For a number of years, a topic of discussion By the time Harper left, the Cloisters block and within the School has been what should cover the the Big Schoolroom (without its extension) en­ Courts, Sherborne's answer to the famous closed the west side, thus removing the fives courts quadrangles of Oxford. It is not so very long ago out to their present position beyond the Carrington that the type of gravel (which is not wholly satis­ buildings. Over the years, the classrooms that are factory) was changed, but now there seems to be sited on the north side sprang up: Rooms 9-12 in the likelihood of grass adorning the Courts. l n this 1883, 5-8 in 1913 and the Tower Block (1-4) in 1923, article, I shall be writing something on both the being incorporated with the Lodge. Apart from the history behind this area of land and what I believe Medlycou block, a more recent addition, and the would be right for the future of this Sherborne B.S.R. war memorial extension in 1956, the Courts creation. I would like to acknowledge the help have remained unchanged, leaving the intended given me by an article from the Michaelmas edition quadrangle incomplete. The intention was there: of the 1942 Shirburnian, written by the late Abe the 1917 Shirburnian reveals that the idea was to Gourlay. extend the building round to School House from The first question that ought to be asked (but the Lodge. no-one ever does) is why are the Courts in the People move on but buildings remain, stolid and plural? If we take the whole area from the Abbey to austere. The debate has swung round full circle; the Tower, leaving out the Va Green and Bow what was, in the beginning, a grassy patch of the House garden (originally known as the 'Little' Abbey's garden is now gravelled, but the idea has Court and 'Old' Court respectively) and the School been mooted to restore much of that grass, to add a House barge-yard (perhaps a 'Ball' Court was the more quintessentially Oxonian feel to the Courts. intention, but nothing came of this), there have The question must be whether it is right that the been several courts on the site of the Courts. In the School should change to grass once more. Is it nineteenth century there were originally two courts, practical? a ' Bell' Court and a 'Ball' Court. The former com­ A completely grassed Courts would certainly not prised the area from the School House front door be practical as areas would soon become muddy at to the edge of the Slype, and up to the wall running the points of most use. However, a Courts with parallel with the Abbey. It was so named after the several highways in a zig-zag formation across Bell Buildings (which have lost their identity over might be feasible, though at certain points conges­ the years), which are part of School House, there tion might be a small problem. There would also be being a belfry there. The latter is the area next to the necessity of keeping boys from destroying the this 'Bell' Court, running into the angle between turf either by playing games on it (which would be a the Abbey and the Library. Fives were played in shame, as boys have played on the Courts for many that corner. Thus we have two courts in the same years) or merely by wanton abuse. Loosely based area. on a SL Andrew's cross formation, the grassed area In the middle of the nineteenth century, with the would surely enhance the beauty of the existing arrival of that great headmaster Hugo Daniel buildings and be more tranquil, grass being infin­ Harper (1850 - 1877), the character of the school icely preferable to any gravel on both scores. It is changed. The Chapel, Library and what are now true to say that parking in the Courts would the Headmaster's offices were acquired in 1851. become limited, and the possibilty of holding the The main block of School House was built nine Commemoration speeches in the Courts would years later, and the Sixth Form Green came into almost certainly be ruled out, but surely this is not being at the same time. What was the old Abbey greatly important. Is it expensive? Compared with garden, now the site of the Couns, become known some projects the School has undertaken in recent

36 years, I would say no. However, the point is, I intimidated by the presence of Shirbumians, of would have thought, that it should be done well. course, and will feel compelled to maim and beat So, with the murmur of a thousand and more boys on the busy streets. years in the background, this is a project which is The vast majority of boys have sufficient sense unambitious but needs to be thought about in not to waste uncountable sums of money on buying earnest. No doubt the Ridout Committee are better stop-on-contact-with-skin watches and other such placed than I to discuss the merits of the project, delights, and are aware of the dangers of dodgy but it would be welcome to see this improvement to dealers. The myth that everything in Pack Monday the setting of the School's buildings in time for the is worthless and a waste of money is unfounded: I year (which I shall refrain from naming, on a myself purchased a perfectly adequate blazer for diplomatic basis) when we shall have to think on a ten pence. It seems to me that Pack Monday is not broader scale. the terror it is made out to be. Our education is not irrevocably savaged by the subversive influences of Robert Hands the market and I would suggest that much can be gained from Pack Monday. I am sure I am not alone in feeling somewhat alienated from the town I inhabit for two-thirds of the year and uninspired by the endless dragging of feet by what seems to be half of England's popula­ tion over retirement age. The archaic charm of the a Posmve Approach to Pack Monday town wears thin after your first term at the School. Pack Monday is a chance to present to the younger members of Sherborne's society the more positive On Monday, 15th October this year the travel­ aspects of Sherborne. This is really the one and only ling market came to Sherborne and Shirburnians, it time in the year that the town comes alive and I see seems, were flung out in its wake. It is not mere no reason why the Shirburnian should be sent away coincidence that on the same day that the market from this. A good example of what can be gained is occurs the Upper Sixth had leadership training, the the selling of raffle tickets by certain members of majority of the Fourth form and many from the the Lower Sixth in aid of the Yeatman Hospital. higher years went on a CCF field-day, and the This was a chance for improved boy-town relations Third form had either a Biology or a History field and understanding, and a chance for the Shirbur­ trip. Either Pack Monday has the consistent mis­ nian to feel more pan of the town, as he joined in fortune to occur on the most popular day for field with the salesman's patter. trips in the year or it is felt that there is something So, I would suggest that Pack Monday is not an there that a Shirburnian should not see. So what is occasion to be avoided by the boys, but something it we should not see? I can suggest a few theories on to be cherished as a different side to Sherborne and the subject. a genuine opportunity for the Shirburnian to meet It is a well-publicized idea that anyone who is the town in which he lives. It should be presented unfortunate enough to be forced into buying much more as a positive occasion than a day on something at the market has been well and truly which boys are led astray and waste their time and ripped-off and swindled. It has been a few isolated money. incidents in the past that have set off the idea and each year the classic 'brick' story is circulated. Chris Colby A few years ago an unfortunate Shirbumian pur­ chased what he considered was a one-in-a-million bargain radio-cassette player. He eagerly rushed back to his house and joyously plugged in his sparklingly new machine. It did not work. Unper­ turbed by such a minor inconvenience, he gaily shook the offending object, upon which he discovered the reason for the lack of sound. There was a fairly ordinary, fairly average and somewhat ageing brick inside. Blt1ll:1UfS NOT The circulation of such stories, although necessary in warning the few boys who make such \ INCLvDE~ . purchases, does create a negative attitude towards the market. The fast food industry revels each year in those Shirbumians lucky enough to escape the field trips. Innocent boys are introduced to the terrors of hot dogs, hamburgers and food you can taste. Visitors to the town will feel aggravated and

37 that these symboli ze 'inner sanctity' and have a 'soothing effect' when he is trying to work. The Ideal Homes plants are present in just the right quantity to give Lhe room an air of freshness without making it seem like a jungle. Earlier 1his 1erm we sen1 our 1wo corres­ pondenls, Alaslair Crawford and James Nurlon, and pho1ographer James Harper 10 record 1heir im­ pressions of a number of s1udies considered 10 be panicularly ar1is1ic and crea1ive. Here the owners discuss 1heir influences and inspiralions 10ge1her wilh revelations of 1he unique qualities of their sur­ roundings. • Hugh Pugsley's study embodies Lhe classic elegance of an Engli sh Public School. Detached and luxurious, it includes an en-sui1e bathroom and balcony, which ampli fy the sense of space, and commands a view across the fields and hills unrivalled anywhere else in Lhe School. When he first acquired the sLudy, Hugh's immediate concern was to unblock the window, which had been painted over. Since then he has been at pains to redecorate the study in a manner which renects his in nuences. A sense of history and tradition is achieved by the subtle but distinctive placing of a top hat, an old family heirloom; the display of several glistening bottles, reminders of near-forgouen parties; the Head-of-House-desk at which many famous names have laboured; an old saucepan full of pot pourri and a 'graffiti cushion'. Also revealing is Hugh's choice of artwork, The lighting is subtle and selecrive. The lack of reminiscent of his childhood: a minimalist picture central illumination necessitates strong side-lamps of Hodge the Cat, his grandmother's companion creating prominent bright and dark areas. The con­ for twelve years; a Hargreaves-innuenced 'Mr. sequen1 shadows, combined with the paJe walls and Pugo' picture; and an assortment of 'Be a Womble' heavy furnishings, induce a monochrome effect. tapes. However, his gallery demonstrates a gradual The bathroom accentuates this theme, being maturity and includes works by Cezanne, Sisley and almost entirely white with specific ornaments in a Renoir. He rues that 'most schoolboys are not contrasting black. The impression of space is over­ sufficiently culturally aware' and attempts to riding and Hugh believes he is 'very fortunate to counter this deficiency by exhibiting books such as have such a homely study, and not to have to queue Western Philosophy, The Oxford Book of Prayer, for a bath'. Turner and Blake. Similarly cullural is his taste in music - consisting of works by Black Sabbath, The Cure, Rachmaninov and The House of Love. Opposite. a collage of postcards and bold pictures contrasts with the soft beige background. • An Australian nag (a gift from Freddie lngarfield) Theo Stephens' study is almost identical in size disturbs the regularity of the study, being situated, to Hugh Pugsley's bathroom. The bed is set at an as it is, across one corner. The study (penthouse?) angle, as it will only fiL inLo the room diagonalJy, has a spiritual ambience, with a range of brass and this adds to the overall sense of tightness and rubbings as well as a wooden crucifix and a Green intimacy in the study. The door opens, almost, to Party manifesto. (Hugh wanted to join but could displace the carpet, casually placed over the floor. not afford the membership fee .) Opposite, a window is left adroitly open to provide There is also a proliferation of vegetation, an emergency escape. Adjacent, a red light used notably spider plants, in the study; Hugh considers 'for no particular purpose'?

39 The Doors. His hero, Babar (a French elephant), can also be seen flying in his aeroplane. Theo's influences stem from one distinct inspiration - that is from within his study. If you ask him why he positioned each of the posters in their particular place, the reply is always 'that was the only place they would fit'. However, let it not be thought that the room lacks size. Theo says there is ample space but 'it cannot be used as I am as yet unable to levitate'. He also concluded that the architect must have been of Hibernian origin, as the radiator is placed under the window and conse­ quently no heat stays in the room. Though 'not at all similar' to Theo's home - his bedroom has space for a chair as well as a bed - the study contains several reminders of his family and friends. They reflect his 'fundamen­ tal interest in human characters', something which ensures that there are always many amiable visitors trying to find a space to sit. These characters in­ clude Toby Jones, Theo's neighbour and alarm clock, who says that Theo's study is 'a waste of space'. and Andy Robertson, who thought, until he saw Theo, that it was 'a cupboard' . • The fact that the two occupants of Study 4, Abbey House 'would prefer the outside Joos as their abode' is a fair indication of their satisfaction In addition to the feeling of closeness, the study with their Michaelmas Term accommodation. They suffers from a complete lack of proportion, with sum up the study as 'repressive', in that it restricts the walls being considerably higher than they are body movement, and the colour of the walls is broad. Thus the impression is that the room has described as a delicate ' Hospital Pink'. Thus it is been constructed sideways and, consequently, lying easy to comprehend the degree of personalisation on the bed feels like standing on the floor. As a to which this study has been subjected; for the in­ result, Theo likes to spend much of his time lying mates wish to create a more agreeable atmosphere. in bed 'to induce the sensation of normality'. In The walls are adorned with the sketches of an fact, Theo recently broke his lampshade while 'A' level An student, inspired during instances of attempting to be normal. boredom (that is, hall). Will Sargent believes that The walls are painted white, and a deliberate this period is best spent train-spotting, but denied placing of scratches and cracks in the paintwork of this right, he has resorted to practising his artistic gives the impression that the study has been well­ ambitions. Even the radio has undergone substan­ used and renects energy and diligence. Ln addition tial change to its exterior. The end result is a there are constant reminders of Theo's studies: a refreshing and entertaining alternative to the creature named Alf who is regularly hanged, a normal Shirburnian 'buy-a-Yogue-and-plaster-it­ present from the German family with whom he randomly-to-the-wall' policy. The theme is under­ stayed; a desk cluttered with work; and a variety of lyingly feminine, but other subjects are dictionaries distributed over the bookshelves. encountered. A curious menagerie, or 'mosaic', Posters cover what little wall space there is. An lends character to an otherwise unassuming door. informative canvas depicts the story of 1972 - the The purpose behind it? Purely for its 'aesthetic year Theo was born. It was notable for being the value', though the origins of the main constituent, first year in which an A300 Airbus flew. Near this a carpet, are far from pedigree. Appropriated from are kept Theo's Wishing Dolls, which 'solve your a nearby skip, the subject matter's association with problems if you place them under your pillow at refuse is, apparently, 'consistent with the ambience night'. They have been tested several times, despite of the surroundings'. The Independent, which is being recognizable only as matchsticks. The re­ attached 10 the mosaic. is not representative of maining posters are representative of Theo's habitual reading material, but has not been dis­ musical interests, predominantly Pink Floyd and carded because 'the bin is 100 small and they are

40 concerned about ecological issues and re-cycling, in these too had once resided alongside the aforemen­ particular', so they maintain. tioned carpet. The question 'Why is this study so Their taste in music is, judging from their own bizarre?' is posed and after some deliberation an view and the number of groups on their tapes, assortment of responses are produced, the best be­ wide. Too broad for the narrow study itself, it ing that it is on a ley-line and there is a natural seems, for there is little musical ostentation; merely tendency towards psychedelia throughout the a few surreptitious A4 posters, which complete the room. However, the most profound and inex­ internal decor. A guitar provides the best indication plicable suggestion is proffered by Josh Powell, the of musicality, its case emblazoned with a copy of a other inhabitant, who ripostes that ' I love this study 'picture by Pushead' (possibly a pseudonym) in a more than I like this one' - a fitting and medium as yet unexplored by the majority of mysterious epitaph to this unconventional study. today's budding artists: 'Tipp-ex'. A violin case could be mistakenly interpreted as further evidence, but its contents do little to sup­ port this: 'some people collect stamps; I collect used cigarette packets,' I am told, as if this were a The most striking •feature of Guy Douglas's normal pastime. Will Sargent displays his collection, still as yet in study is the massive chalk picture stretching across embryo, of fluffy toys - Glory and his sidekick one wall. It was created during a 'period of Spike are the foundation of the projected ac­ boredom' after examinations by designer Richard cumulation. Spike, aptly named owing to his rather Dyson. Typically modest about the result, Richard menacing collar, is the favourite for sentimental says that it was inspired by Tolkien's lord of the reasons, but he does have one major defect in that Rings (one cannot fail to notice the stylistic simil­ 'his front legs are longer than his back pair' and this arity) and he acknowledges the contribution of hinders his performance as a guard dog, for he is other artists. unable to stand. Other sketches by a previous owner - another A collage, gradually accumulated over the years, Richard - are evident and this artist has left his hangs to the left of the desk. Composed, supposed­ Christian name marked in various places in the ly, of 'friends, ex-wives, lovers, ex-hippies and ex­ study. Guy and Richard agree on the inheritable politicians', it would be no surprise to discover that quality of the mural and Guy says that 'it improves the aesthetic value of the study'. He has built on this and Richard considers the later contributions 'delightful'. These contributions are based on Guy's interest in and concern for wildlife and the environment, and his affection for animals. He has a penguin, a woolly owl from Bristol, four cuddly monsters from crisp packets, and a little teddy, as well as pictures of a panda and a seal and a variety of cats - these latter three his favourite creatures. There is also a representation of Mickey Mouse. Guy says that he 'used to love them all but has since grown up'. He also sports posters for the Blue Cross, World Wildlife and two publications entitled The Importance of Wild Plants and Animals and, finally, Jungle. The natural theme is extended, by a series of posters, to cover an international field. T here is a French Gas Board plate, a Madagascar picture, a Chinese dragon plant and oriental style curtains, as well as a number plate from California. Guy's collection of number plates also includes several examples of the British variety, which he 'picks up off the side of the road'. Interspersed with these, there is a collection of beer towels, donated by Guy's brother and in­ cluding works by Arkells, Wadworth, Hofmeister, Carlsberg and Triple Crown. Guy's attitude to the beer towels is that they are 'sometimes useful', although one wonders whether or not he is referring to their intended purpose.

41 The only non-academic book to be seen is How complementary colours. Dave Hall, Lyon House to be Green and Guy practises this by recycling and veteran, epitomizes this struggle. The door is advertising environmental issues. He also describes stamped wnh what has been termed 'the Ruther­ himself as a 'Gadget Man' and despite not doing ford factor', a pedal-punctured hole providing a C.D.T. he has many inventions to his credit, in­ memento of a past visit. Within, there are further cluding a walkie-talkie link-up with a neighbouring defects: one window, though affording a wide angle study. He uses it to benefit his work, which he finds view of Sherborne School for Girls, is consistent in 'very laborious'. The only benefit of it is 'looking its refusal to be forced open. Near the centre of the forward to the end'. He started the tradition of room the floor seems to be suffering from sub­ labelling his shelves with the names of his subjects, sidence, for the carpet makes a threatening since emulated by most of his colleagues. His wall is downward movement when stamped upon in this area; furthermore, the lack of insulation in walls that can hardly be termed solid produces a Siberianesque temperature in the winter months, though it is advantageous in that he can hear any approaching footsteps. However, it is the colours that have been employed by a former occupant that are the most striking aspects of the study. Though it smacks heavily of a colourblind, there is a possibility that his predecessor had some inkling of what he was doing. The walls are divided into strata of pink and purple, and this and the stained, and thus mottled brown, carpet result in the very antithesis of har­ mony. The curtains, which are composed of 'shades' of orange and pink that almost dent the eyeballs, and can only be described as obscene and worthy of a Parental Guidance certificate, exacer­ bate the internal colour scheme. Despite this nox­ ious clash, the study retains some sobriety, for the purple is not a colour which accentuates the small quantity of light that filters through the windows. In the evening he complains that it is particularly dark and he resorts to the use of artificial illumina­ tion for most of the afternoon. However, despite such deficiences, Dave is con­ tent with his study, which is out-of-the-way; and thus he is rarely disturbed by visitors who, no doubt, rarely wish to have to endure the experience of beholding the room. He has no qualms, therefore, about what he displays in his room as it is for mostly personal, rather than public, viewing. On the floor lie two mats, made by his sister adorned by a thermometer which he refers 10 Caroline, of Mr. Sneeze and an anonymous regularly. Frequently his study is too cold. elephant; when asked, he did decide to christen it His room, positioned between the toilets and the and excelled himself in choosing, with extra­ bargeyard, ensures that he has all amenities close at ordinary originality, the name of 'Dumbo'. hand but suffers from noise pollution. The bars His desk is draped with a sheet that seems to over the window are for the protection of the occu­ have been the target of the after-effects of a heavy pant, as objects have been known to be propelled drinking binge and attempts to blend wine with the towards the ground floor studies. Guy summarizes lower pink half of the walls, albeit unsuccessfully. by saying that he likes 'the light and pleasant The shelves are decorated with books that are an ostensible tribute to Dave's philosophical knowledge: Nictschze, Plato and Aristotle are prominent features and even some Martin Amis, which he confesses is the only author of the four • whom he has read. ' I was going to do philosophy atmosphere' of his study but occasionally he feels a once,' he says, 'but the idea rather caved in on me. bit lonely. One has to look at these things philosophically.' For eons, mankind has been striving to achieve On the walls hang many indications of Dave's that perfect equilibrium between contrasting and 'taste' in music, this more representative than that

42 Changing Courses

AYear·s Exchange In Mew York

Al its best, teaching is its own reward, offering the satisfactions of a minor creative act. So, at least. beleaguered teachers of English like to think in those dark moments when some solace for their lot seems called for. To impart to one's students a tolerable understanding of a literary work is to share in a small way in the achievement of the author, even though one can never hope to emulate the original. There is much to be said for a life devoted to the subject one loves, even much to commend, and a passionate involvement with literature may often be felt as consolation enough when one contemplates in idle, envious moments the large salaries of one's friends from university days who pursued more lucrative courses than one's own in subsequent years. However, those same years spent in teaching take their toll, and even the most dedicated lover of literature is likely to become jaded enough to have doubts at some time about his chosen career as yet another generation of students performs all too familiar acts of desecration upon his favourite works. I have known those whose desire for a challenge, or at least a change, was so strong that they abandoned their youthful vocation in mid-career to become lawyers, or his literature, and much or this space has been journalists, restaurateurs or real estate agents, but covered by posters of the groups. Dave complains their numbers are inevitably small. Most remain that there are too many shelves for reading material bound to their old ways. Yet, for a few, teaching and he would prefer 'to rip them from the waJls, has another consolation, the educational exchange, given the opportunity'. He tries to further people's which does offer temporary escape and the knowledge and appreciation of 'thinking' music challenge of working for a year in another country, rather than 'chart trash' by displaying such bands an opportunity denied to most people with the as Senseless Things, Nevana and Loop-photos exception of such favoured groups as diplomats selected from his favourite magazines Sounds and and the employees of multinational corporations. NME - and has produced a magazine on this The significant decisions of one's life are theme called the 'Other Side', which is massively sometimes taken in the most undramatic ways and oversubscribed. The door is decorated with a vari­ appear important only in retrospect. I have only the ety of pretentious clothes, rarely worn within vaguest and most inadequate memories of the school boundaries. He also has 'cheap Marks and November day, damp and dreary as only an English Spencer' boxer shorts which 'renect my social November can be, when 1 happened to read a class'. Dave says his study is 'out of the way' and British American Educational Foundation notice this is its principal advantage. He also believes it is about teaching for a year in the USA, and wrote for not possessed, despite the colour scheme's evidence further information. Voltaire once remarked that to the contrary. Asked whether distance engenders November was that dank, foggy month when respect, his response is firmly negative; but then, England seems so depressing that the English are perhaps respect is not a prerequisite for a Lyon most prone to shoot themselves. A foreign ex­ House Prefect. change seemed a more reasonable alternative, though l had no idea what reply, if any, my letter might bring. At the time, I had been teaching Alastair Crawford English for a dozen years or so at Sherborne in and James Norton Dorset, a school typical of the large boys' boarding

43 schools that are the essence of independent educa­ and to celebrate the end of another school year. I tion in England. There was much that was amact­ doubt if 1 was the only member of the staff who ive in the life I and my colleagues led. Sherborne is feared that his youth was fading faster than violets an improbably picturesque small town of some and that, idyllic as Sherborne life could be, idylls 8,000 inhabitants in one of the most unspoiled would be small consolation, when I awakened one regions of the English countryside. lts history. morning soon to find that my working life was stretching back to Saxon times and earlier, is evi­ over. After all, I had been there long enough to dent in the buildings of successive centuries that still have witnessed more than a few of my colleagues' survive, including one of the finest abbeys in heads turn grey. Horace's carpe florem undoubted­ England situated at the heart of the school itself. At ly has some merit as a philosophy of action, first sight, Sherborne is a passable relic of an all but especially perhaps in the middle years of a teaching vanished England, and, making allowance for a few career when the even tenor of one's daily life has of the trappings of modernity, a visitor might read­ come to seem too even and opportunities for ily suppose that little has changed there since change, rare and fleeting, and by then, at least, one Thomas Hardy celebrated the area in his Wessex may hope to have sufficient experience in the novels a century ago. profession to be confident about teaching in new The life that Sherborne offered had its rewards, (and possibly very different) circumstances. especially for those who could devote themselves to It was my good fortune that Sherbome had a the school with the vocational earnestness of its headmaster inclined to favour exchanges and, monastic founders. Yet, even for the most com­ despite some unfortunate experiences in the past, mitted, the burdens were considerable. To have prepared to accept the a11endant risks. Though constant charge of over seven hundred boys, aged steps are taken to ensure the quality of applicants thirteen LO eighteen, is onerous even when all is for exchanges, no school can be sure that the alien going well, and, boys being the creatures that they creature temporarily replacing an established are, this is rarely to be expected. Nevertheless, member of staff will prove adequate. The under­ despite the incessant demands upon one's time and standable apprehension of the would-be exchange one's frequent sense that a personal life was a teacher may be justly matched by the collective luxury one could scarcely afford, in term time at fears of the institution about to receive him. least, after a few years of rural seclusion, the pattern of daily existence could all too easily come to seem tediously predictable. One term after another slipped away in an habitual flurry of examinations and repon writing. Each fall there was rugby, afternoons of coaching in the chill autumnal air, and, late in the season, the walk back from the fields at dusk among tired and muddied players. whose breath steamed in the fading light, 10 evenings of grading papers, duties in a boarding­ house or, more rarely, dinner and discussions with friends. With the return of spring, no matter how cold it might be, we turned to such summer pursuits as cricket and would while away hours supervising the mysteries of that most arcane and absorbing game. Fortunately memory is selective, and one tends to forget the agonies of umpiring on April days in a keen east wind that so chills the ex­ tremities, one fears frost-bite. The thought of cricket always evokes for me the fragrance of newly mown grass on sunlit afternoons (rare at the best of times in England) that echo with the distinctive sound of the game as innumerable boys over the vast expanse of Sherborne's playing fields, attempt to win a little temporary glory among their peers by thrashing the life out of a leather ball in accordance with complicated, time-hallowed rules. It may have been a trick of the imagination only but the seasons seemed to pass more quickly with each year. No sooner had we begun in September. it would seem, before we were decking ourselves out in full academic regalia in July and trooping to the Abbey to commemorate founders and benefactors,

44 Organizations such as the British American As any teacher will attest, however experienced Educational Foundation with whom I dealt do one is, occasional difficulties in dealing with what they can to mitigate such concerns. I was students and teaching the course will inevitably obliged lo write to them explaining my reasons for arise. New teachers are regarded quite dispas­ seeking an exchange and to present myself for inter­ sionately as legitimate targets to be probed and view in London. In due course, I was offered a tested. I knew how to cope in England, but choice of three schools, two east coast boarding wondered how I might do in what l imagined were schools, one of which even indulged in such the utterly different circumstances of New York whimsical pursuits as rugby and cricket, and the City. I was well acquainted with the sons of the Browning School in New York. I had no hesitation English professional and upper classes but had no in choosing Browning. Though, at that time, New knowledge of their Manhattan counterparts. York City was Little more to me than a confused There were certainly differences as I soon collage of images culled from TV and films, and discovered. How could there not be when one Browning no more than a name, l was reluctant to group of students had spent the formative years of embrace a transatlantic version of the life I already their lives at a boarding school in the depths of the led. If, as seemed likely, this exchange was to be my English countryside while the other attended a day sole chance of a break from my customary way of school in the heart of Manhattan? Such different life, then whatever the consequences, New York milieux and the variance in cultural assumptions had all the allure of a siren's song. inevitable in two societies of different history Whether for good or ill, to arrive for the first and composition were bound to affect the lives of time in the cauldron that is New York City is those exposed to their influence. However, these inevitably a memorable experience, especially if the differences were largely superficial. Affluence, confused visitor, such as I was, stunned by the travel, TV and films, the ubiquity of teenage frantic pace, energy, vibrant life and diversity of culture in the west, and the perennial interests and his surroundings, has just emerged from years of concerns of adolescents meant that my English and country seclusion. l arrived alone, somewhat American students proved to have more in common apprehensive about Living in the city and teaching in than I expected. Adjustment to my new life, circumstances very different from any I'd especially in the classroom, was not as difficult or experienced before, and my concerns were not as testing as I had anticipated. diminished by the immigration official at JFK who US high school education with its four year stared at me, an expression of bemused pity on his structure differs in important respects from English face, when I told him what my intentions were. It secondary education in private schools in which would be folly, of course, to deny that New York three years (the equivalents of grades 8 - 10) are can be a difficult and dangerous place in which to devoted to the study of a wide variety of subjects, live, but, despite some moments of trepidation in followed by two final years of narrow specializa­ my initial weeks, as, for example, when my im­ tion. The English system is closely tied to a nation­ perfect mastery of the subway system landed me in wide public examination system while that of the parts of town where, I had been told, it was better US is not. The character of teaching is affected not to be, I soon felt at ease, and indeed, more since a teacher in England has much less to do with · energetic and alive than I have anywhere else, the final assessment of .a student's work than his delighting in the constant exhilaration of the city American counterpart, and thus has a role closer to and captivated by its enchantments. that of coach than umpire. My concern about taking up my duties proved 1n other respects, the classroom at Browning equally ill-founded. As it happened, I could not proved to be a familiar place. The courses I was have made a better choice both professionally and asked to teach were very similar to those I was personally. Browning is a small boys' school (K-12) accustomed to teach in England though, quite which, because of its size, prides itself upon its naturally, there was a greater emphasis placed upon family atmosphere and attention to the individual. American literature, and l found that, where the It was much easier there to get to know the student teaching of literature was concerned, I shared the body and the faculty and to feel oneself a part of aims and values of my new colleagues. the school than in a larger institution in which a l was somewhat surprised too by the readiness year or more might well not be enough. l have met with which I took to living in Manhattan. On both people who have found New York a nightmare, but sides of the Atlantic, I have often been asked about my own memories of my time at Browning are my encounter with 'culture-shock' and I have had among the happiest of my life, and, for this, l owe to confess that, despite my love of England, I soon much to my colleagues, my students and their found New York and Browning so agreeable that it parents who, from the first, whatever their private was indeed rather a shock to return to the misgivings about the stranger in their midst might customary rural ways of Sherborne. The fact that have been, made me welcome and received me with Browning is a day school, working a five-day week, a warmth and friendliness that exemplify the finest was a pleasant novelty for one accustomed to the American traditions of generosity and hospitality. incessant demands of boarding school life. I found

45 I would spend hours wandering on foot thoughout the city, sometimes walking a hundred blocks in a day, observing and delighting in the details, quirks and eccentricities of the swarming life around me. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the city and its people, and the city rewarded me with a rich variety of experience, the smallest details of which, even now, spring readily to mind, evoking the New York that from the first enchanted me. I loved especially my early morning walk to school, twenty blocks or so down Park or Lexington. as the sun rose above the East River to cast a rosy glow over the buildings. Once, I recall, I was so absorbed in these sights that I very nearly walked through a TV interview that the mayor was recording at the top of the steps of his favourite 17th Street subway station. It must have been during the primaries. On crisp fall days, my path took me down Fifth where I watched the leaves in the park tum and fall as the season advanced, and shivered inwardly for the hopeless figures on the benches. Often 1 would wander in Central Park and, though my guidebook informed me that it is statistically unwise to be found there after night­ fall, the memories of the park I treasure most are of winter nights when I returned by taxi from Broadway or a concert at Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall and saw the trees decked with sparkl­ ing lights. In this city of stark contrasts, of splendours and miseries, such memories of simple, rewarding moments tend to remain with one. When I arrived, I thought that I was merely passing through and that my stay was destined to be that I was less tired than usual and becter able to no more than a temporary sojourn. After a year, function effectively, especially towards the end of a Sherborne would beckon me back to the old ways long term. As a result, I was able to enjoy my and to a future essentially charted in advance. So it teaching more and, I hope, to do a reasonable job. seemed then, but the city was kinder to me than I In a country boarding school, it is inevitable that expected or, perhaps, deserved. While I was living the school is always, and, perhaps, too much with there, I met my wife, as she now is, and have since one. There are advantages, of course, in this returned. a year's exchange of an old life for a new. arrangement, especially in the time and attention one can devote to students who are permanently on Ronald Murison, who taught at Sherborne for campus, but a day school in New York City, with fourteen years until July 1989, is now Head of its many legitimate demands upon one's time and English at the Riverdale Country School, Bronx, allenLion, struck what was for me a more agreeable New York. balance between the claims of professional and private life. It was a balance that I relinquished most reluctantly. Auden, l think, once said that every person carries a special landscape within him, a landscape of the mind that is the setting of early and treasured memories. The beauty and character of the This arlicle is reprinted with the permission of The southern English countryside is so much a part of Parents league Review, New York, U.S.A., in the topography of my mind that I doubt if l shall which it was firs/ published earlier this year. ever lose it. Yet, I think I knew with my first sight of the Manhattan skyline that l had found another to which inevit?.bly I would return, drawn by what Scott Fitzgerald, speaking for many of us new infatuates, called in The Great Gatsby, 'a wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty of the world.'

46 Being Part Of It

Obvio Year. In 'escape' O• l tcew Yortl Diary of them ha Long Islam those that st<> Times Square When I lived in New York, up until last year, I and covered " never really thought about criticizing it. I slept in an right moment. apartment stacked on top of other apartments. The steam quietly as country was somewhere I went at weekends to Spring was al. return in the darkness of Sunday night - where school (that is, the stars couldn't be seen any more and the Avenue. Here all streetlight outside bathed my bed in a sickly sodium shops were, that , yellow. much, but proud! ~ Upon coming to Sherborne, I saw the other emblazoned with th view. I was told in shocked tones that, Rome, Paris, London unbeknownst to me, my friends were being shot, with only 250 pupils in mugged, or buying, selling or taking drugs. I Space was obviously a assumed that happened in other neighbourhoods. were concerned, we onl> Upon further questioning, I was led to the conclu­ the stairwell of the Modl sion that London was devoid of such difficulties. games of softball, we wen. However, I have not written this to emphasize the at Sherborne, the school w lop-sidedness of this argument, but to try and set and seemed to attract mainl. the record straight. from Saudi Arabia, France, New York can be a nice place to live and grow up. we were let out at three o'cloc around the umbrella-ed hot do. or to go home and watch telev. The town itself was not al. spring. Weak trees were chivvie very little soil in deep canyons l constantly fanned by vehicle exha ingly, many looked bleak in spring. old ladies and their small dogs hurrit an auempt to give purpose to what n a useless existence.

summer

During the Summer New Yorkers exasperated - those that stayed behind. Ju August brought intense 100°F heat - and pa1 Apart from the Fourth of July, there wert ethnic parades, Irish, Central American and rest, which caused 5th Avenue to be lined with Ii, blue cordons, with the yellow taxis they block behind them bristling with shrill toots. Occasional. one would spy a balloon noating up am up - where it was cooler - and the jets flew to Hawaii ... In the Park, thousands tanned and jogged. The murder rate went up another two percent. All the small expensive shops along Madison Avenue had air conditioning and kept their doors open, with

47 -braided guards standing to outside. from school to my mother's office enue, one would be pleasantly shocked ming of each shop door -' Bijoux 'Pironesi' - as a blast of cold air from the dark interior. re lucky in that we lived near a public pool. Most of its clientele seemed to be from way uptown - previously only in the pages of National Geographic Around the corner was also the deli, ne could get a litlle shopping and maybe well-stuffed sandwich, which is their ty. This was one of the hubs of the nity. For me, however, a most special place the basement of the building, a second-hand ore running here and there, under the stacks anity above. Heating pipes, both bare and eeced, ran above. Most of the books were acks with faded titles and did not cost much. s a wonderful place to escape the heat. autumn Autumn in New York meant the leaves. Unlike lain, where many trees simply stay green, New rk trees turned brilliant reds, yellows and owns - as red as traffic signals, as yellow as a xi and as brown as you. Walking through the ark was like sailing in a traffic jam, but without he noise and baseball bats. Like many things, snow turns bad when it hits the My mother worked for several years at the streets. Pavement gutters become boot-swamping English Speaking Union, a society for British ex­ torrents and walkways are sheeted with ice. All the patriates. IL was also set just off Madison Avenue, good snow falls in Central Park, where one can sled and many nags new outside. Upstairs from the up and down on one particular hill or skate just marble-noored entry hall, afternoon teas were below the facade of the Rockerfeller Center. served and talks given. It was there that I first Down. on 42nd Street a huge Norway Spruce, caught sight of the old-fashioned, tweed and nuuy­ maybe eight s!Oreys tall, would be raised and brown British - leafing through Country Life and decorated. Often the President would be present helping check for coats. I was always pleased that l at the lighting ceremony. All the shop windows was given tips on the way out: I got given excessive glowed with yuppie mannequins amid drifts of amounts then - especially after a 'wine and plastic snow. cheese'. We bought our tree from a man whose large stall As the days grew longer I would practise basket­ stood near the A & P Supermarket. There all the ball for an hour or two in the sunset. Ahead of me trees stood, colour coded for price. The man would was a tall 1960s white tower, and behind me the straighten up a prospective tree and, beckoning us river. On the opposite bank were two tall closer, proceed to stare at it very focosedly until towers - part of a coal plant. In between I would a translation of the blue tag was asked for. If we shoot baskets as the high heels of the women finan­ did indeed buy it, it was a short walk home with me ciers clipped home from the distant whine of the at the front - our small living rooom looked bus. Occasionally, ahead of me somebody would wonderful with it. walk out on to their balcony and look. Finally the I enjoyed living in New York City very much. I streetlights came on, winking al the red eyes of the agree that quite a bit of it must have been due to a two towers. I would go home. love for my home, but still I believe cities have always been fascinating, albeit sometimes misunderstood, places to live. Proximity of races, Winier cultures, classes, and occupation has not produced only hatred and segregation but contrast which is Snow in New York City has two aspects: one, in all forms a wonderful thing. ' the lyric-wonhy, light airborne variety; the other the despised grey slush that stays on the streets'. Jonathan Conlin

48 Perth Hockey Down Under ' Throughout our stay in Perth, we were looked after very well and billeted with members of On 3rd July, 1990, after months of organization Willeton Sports Centre. We were well entertained and preparation, a party of sixteen boys and two in the evenings and during our free time were shown masters met in Terminal 3 of Heathrow Airport, the sights of Perth - an extremely beautiful city ready to spend what turned out to be a most characterized by lots of open space and single enjoyable and successful three week hockey tour in storey houses. Australia. The flight was on time and relatively The hockey in this area was taken very seriously comfortable, and after li1tle sleep for most we and was of a high standard at all levels. We wit­ arrived at Singapore Airport, where we spent three nessed several Premier Division games in which hours before departing to Australia. some Aussie internationals were playing and one We arrived in Australia at Perth Airport at could even see a hockey video in MacDonalds. about 1.30 a.m. and were all relieved to be able to In Perth we played four games - lost three and stretch our legs at last. Customs were strict and won one. We felt that this was the product of the Justin Ricketts, the youngest member of the party, strength of the opposition rather than weakness on had a minor setback when Customs Officers did not our part. Generally we had very close games, with believe that he was the boy in his passport the exception of that against Hotspurs, a team of photograph. We were also made to clear any mud ex-internationals, who outclassed us everywhere on or grass from our shoe> to prevent any disease from the field. We did, however, learn a lot about entering the country. Australian hockey and were to win the rest of our Eventually we all passed through and were matches elsewhere in Australia and Singapore. greeted by Val Kelly, the organizer of the Perth part Magnus Hammick reminded us that he was a of the tour. We were then taken by coach to our member of the front row in the I st XV and that 'A' hotel in Perth. On the way we heard the most disap­ levels had not made him any wiser when he came pointing news of the tour: England were out of the back from a shower and said: 'Freezing? Freezing World Cup. isn't the word - it's ... cold.' Findlay Hughes,

49 envious at not having made the first 'stupid' match and was our first played on grass. However, comment, was soon to catch up when he was heard the visit was far from pointless as we were provided saying: •Are there a hundred cents in a dollar'?' and with the first of many barbecues which included ' I'd really like to be an air hostess.' enormous steaks. Monday was a free day upon which we decided At Sydney we were joined by Gavin to go to Rotness, a small island west of Perth. The Featherstone, who livened up the party with his boys decided to sunbathe and swim in order to rest, half-time talks and his ability to ensure Messrs. whilst Messrs. Allen and Scott had the energy to go Scott and Allen were out in the evenings. According cycling round the island. to Gavin, it was his presence that caused our On Wednesday it was time to return to our hotel unbeaten record as from our arrival in Sydney. in Perth, but first we had a day of shopping and After a four hour journey into the New South sailing. Our first week had been great fun and an Wales Bush we arrived at a Httle town called experience that would not be forgotten. We were all Denman. For many this turned out to be the very grateful for the hospitality of our hosts and highlight of the tour, as most hosts seemed to spend were sad to leave en route for Sydney. all day and night in the pub. Following a long night out, we played three games on Sunday which we Sydney won but were exhausted at the end of the day. The next day was one of touring and we visited Rosemount Winery, at which we tasted and bought Our first place of accommodation was north of some Aussie wine. The journey round the country Sydney, at Colaroy, in a Salvation Army hotel. The was itself beautiful and we had plenty of photo first day was free of any matches and we went by opportunities. minibus to the famous Palm Beach, where most of By Tuesday it was time to depart back to the team forced themselves to go swimming. Dinner 'civilization' in Sydney. After a four hour journey was taken in the hotel and was followed by a night along a picturesque route, we arrived at our hotel cruise around Sydney Harbour which proved to be (the Claremont Inn) in the centre of Sydney, in the very worthwhile. The next day started off early red light area - Kings Cross. Unlike its surround­ again, and after breakfast we set off towards ings, the hotel was very smart, providing us with the Sydney to play the Sydney Church of England luxuries of a sauna, spa and swimming pool if Grammar School. This turned out to be an easy wanted.

50 Wednesday was a free day in which we separated Tour Porty: J ames Alderson, Andrew Baines, and went to the famous sights of Sydney, which for Luke Baker, Nick Barber, Charlie Brooks, Andy Crowe most included the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, (Captain), Elliot Davies, Magnus Hammick, Peter Hammond-Giles, John Haskins, Findlay Hughes, Sydney Tower, Sydney Aquarium and many more. Michael Ratcliffe, James Richardson, Justin Ricketts, Tom Sutton and Simon Watling. lrtSblnl Results: Played 11, Won 8, Lost 3, For 31, Against 18. By I p.m. on Thursday we were waJtrng at Como High School Won 1 -2 Brisbane Airport ready to travel to Ipswich to meet Willet on Won 4 -0 our hosts. James Alderson was heard asking: 'Are Y.M.C.A. Lost 0-3 Hotspurs Lost 1 - 6 we staying somewhere east of Brisbane?' Sydney C of E Grammar School Won 9-0 Our stay in Ipswich was only short and we Denman A's Won 3-2 managed to beat our hosts, Ipswich Grammar Denman U21 Won 2- 1 School, convincingly. We then travelled to the QE2 Denman Ul7 Won 4-3 Centre, where the Commonwealth Games were Ipswich Grammar School Won 4-0 Valley Won 2-1 once held, from where we departed on another Singapore Colts Won 1-0 team outing to The Gold Coast to visit 'Sea World'. Having been billeted again, we returned to the QE2 Justin Ricketts Centre on Sunday to play Valley. After a poor first half we managed to win 2-1. We then had our last free afternoon in Australia before an early start the next day.

s1n1apore Ten Tors We arrived in Singapore late at night and were all amazed by the intense heat and humidity. It was Expedition 1990 yet another sman hotel where we had fabulous breakfasts. The first day was spent looking around but we tried to save energy as we had a match at While others relaxed inside, watching the out­ 5.30 p.m. The match was a new experience as we come of the replayed FA Cup Final, six boys worked had never played in such hot conditions, but outside in the garden while dusk turned to night, eventually, after numerous substitutions, we won testing a pair of tents. Spare clothes, sleeping bags, I - 0. The match ended our hockey on the tour and ration packs and ten1s - although it had the ring the final day was spent shopping: bargains of a C.C.F. field day, it was in fact the Lyon House galore - after a little negotiation. After a final Team preparing for the Ten Tors Expedition. meal we set off back to Singapore Airport in order Each year Lyon sends six Third or Fourth to catch our return night to the U.K. Formers and six Lower Sixth boys to take part in this annual event on Danmoor which needs stamina, speed and either good navigational skills Reflecllons or lucky guesses at the right direction. That Friday afternoon in mid-May, we travelled down to Okehampton Camp, situated in the north of the It's a long, long way to Australasia. moors. For the first year ever our C.C.F. also Australia really is enormous and many parts of entered two teams, one for each age group. That it are very beautiful. evening we were kept busy, having our rucksacks Our hosts were extremely frie ndly and generous. scrutinized - to check we had everything The Aussies play their hockey well and hard. necessary for a couple of days on the moors; Singapore is clean and wonderful for shoppers, watching the official Ten Tors video, on which we but hot and crowded, particularly when compared recognized certain boys from the House who had with Australia. taken part in previous years; and planning our route for the following day. Than kl The following morning we arose even before the sun had risen and packed our sleeping bags away in Sixteen boys are indebted to many people: our rucksacks. One unexpectedly large cooked Sponsors, fund raisers, well-wishers, parents, breakfast and we were on our way to the starting hosts, organizers at home and abroad (especially area. It was about a quarter to six and the air was Mr. Mapp), coaches (especially Mr. Featherstone) becoming just slightly warmer by then as the white and of course Mr. Scott and Mr. Allen for arrang­ sun was half an hour into the sky. Immense ing the tour and giving up so much of their time. numbers of keen-looking boys and girls were

51 TEN TORS EXPEDIT ION

1990

- -Ourrouie

0 - S1ar1 and Finish

c::J - Night-lime stop

o Manned Tor Assbtance Point

already at the start, including Mr. Mitchell-Innes' from the one printed on our sheets - and a gun Milton Abbey team, scheduled for the same route was fired. Some teams broke into a run, to gain that as us. We joined the crowds and lay down to keep vital 50 metre advantage out of the 35, 45 or warm and preserve our strength for later. A female 55 miles they were to cover, depending on their age. M. P. wilh a vaguely familiar name spoke for a Groups of teams emerged, heading in four or five short while about the event we were to embark on, different directions. Our route took us more or less the Ten Tors prayer was said - a different version clockwise around the moors. Helicopters took off

52 and disappeared into the distance, symbols of the Feeling jubilant after having our card stamped highly sophisticated organization needed for such at this last tor, and hearing the news that we were an event. After a couple of miles, the teams had first out of fifteen teams on our route, we were spaced out and we continued on our bearing for spurred on towards the finish back at Okehampton another three or four miles. An unfortunate inci­ Camp. However, three gruelling hills slowed us dent concerning a bog occurred just before the first down again until we reached the track which led to tor, but that apart we kept fairly dry. The weather the camp. Anyone who had been lagging behind was fine and luckily not too hot and we continued soon caught up on seeing the crowds lining the walking at a fair speed, pausing occasionally for track further ahead. Congratulations being called water and, briefly, for lunch at a convenient tor. In out, people clapping; we walked between them in a mid-afternoon we wearied a little, and by evening son of daze, not expecting this sort or welcome. we were ready to stop, yet persevered till light began Thea we walked beneath the large 'Finish' banner to fail, when we stopped at our eighth tor and at about 10.40 a.m. and were still not allowed to pitched our tents. The wind was buffeting and the stop. A recruit led us to a rostrum, where we were temperature dropped sharply. A ration pack meal presented with medals and a certificate. At last, we didn't taste too bad, which shows how hungry could return to our tents and lie down in the sun­ we were after a day's walking, from 6 a.m. to shine, relieving worn feet from the agony or their 8.30 p.m. Cramp and blisters made themselves felt boots and relaxing to await our other teams. most harshly, until sleep overtook us. The C.C.F. Lower Sixth team returned next We attempted breakfast, but just weren't and, some time later, their Fourth Form team hungry at 5.30 in the morning, so a mug of hot appeared. Our Lower Sixth team had had two un­ chocolate had to suffice. Tents were packed up and fortunate casualties, which set them rather behind we started up once more, feeling blisters worse than time, but the remaining four returned in the late the previous evening. The next tor was a good way afternoon. off and appeared from the map to be just beyond As we lay there on the grass in the sun, eating the top of an unending hill. Hopes were shattered sandwiches and drinking, we wondered how we when it wasn't where we assumed it to be, but on would possibly manage those ten steps to the climbing to the summit we discovered it hiding minibus. beyond a ridge. Now a downhill walk to the last tor, just a few miles away. Chris Smart

53 little upstream, and those who wanted could jump into the whirlpool which sucked you down; you Exercise came up about ten seconds later but it felt like five minutes. There was also a bridge at the end which Pond Jump West you could climb up and jump about forty feet into the water, which was very nerve-racking but good fun. Because of the CCF's affiliation to 76 Battery Then finally we returned to Wainwright for one Regiment at Larkhill, l managed to join the Battery day to hand over the guns to 3RHA (Royal Horse for ExPJW in Canada last summer. I joined the Artillery). Then we flew back from Edmonton in a Battery at Larkhill on 2nd July and spent five days VC-10. When we got back to Larkhill we were training on Salisbury Plain before we left for RAF debriefed by the Battery Commander. At that stage Brize Norton to fly to Edmonton Airport. From Iraq bad just invaded Kuwait, and the Battery had there we were driven to Wainwright Camp in the to be ready to leave at a week's notice, despite their Prairies. It is a Canadian camp but visiting English having four weeks' leave starting the following day. units go there to train. I went home the next day completely shattered, The first day was spent sorting out all the kit and although I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip and 105mm guns with which we were to train for the would jump at the chance to do anything like that next three weeks. The next day we left for a 'bivvy' again. area where we spent the next five days training in infantry skill and with guns. After that we moved to Toby Hancock a new area, which was to become the fire base. Here we spent three days 'digging in' the guns and the trenches. Once the guns were fully dug in we did a few fire missions from the fire base supporting 2RGJ, the infantry battalion out there with us. A Fortnight in London After a few days within the fire base I left my gun to go and join a small group of about ten gunners called the OP's, who spend their time actually with the infantry directing fire for them. Their job at the The inner Cities volunrary projects are adver­ time was playing enemy to the fire base and seeing tised through private and state schools across how quick their reactions were to an attack. On the Britain. The organization sorts and distributes ap­ second night I was with them we went to attack the plicants to work on independent programmes under fire base. We were a section of eight and got right various authoriries and within various cities. up to the wire surrounding the fire base and then fired off rounds of blanks. When they started to Unable to secure a ticket allowing me to arrive come around the wire to catch us, we stopped firing and start in Kennington on the Monday, as detailed, and under the cover of the night ran round to the I could only reach London from Harare by other side of the fire base and started firing again. Wednesday, 15th August. l went from the airport Then we cleared off quickly before they caught up to the centre in Carlisle Road, Lambeth, and met with us. For the next week we did many such little immediately some of the police officers and helpers attacks and tested their reactions. responsible for the project, and some of thi: Then it was time for our six days' leave: l went children for whom it was run. About a hundred and with three university students and one officer. In twenty had 'signed in' - by producing a form of the six days we hired a car and visited Edmonton, parental permission; they could attend the centre or Calgary, Lake Louise and Ban ff: I had a great time. participate in the outings from it voluntarily, and at The night I returned to the fire base I rejoined no cost. They were all between the ages of eleven the OP's and we left to meet a company of 2RGJ and fourteen. who were preparing for a dawn attack. After the Between private schools and a pleasant home in Engineers cleared a minefield we joined the Zimbabwe, I have avoided discomfort without company. Just before dawn the gunners called great effort - certainly I experienced no physical down artillery fire on the hill which was to be cap­ discomfort in Kennington; from the start, all with tured. A fire support group of 6GPMG's opened whom I came in contact were tolerant and fire as the company moved forwards. The whole generous, my lodging charming and even the attack only took ten minutes but it was very children not more than unkind (my mongrel accent impressive. was embarrassingly difficult to shed). But there The final few days in Wainwright were spent were different sorts of people to contend with, clearing up. We then went on to Jasper for five days ideas and manners of expression which shocked up in the Rockies. There we went biking, horse­ intellectual complacency - and that was a dis­ riding, canoeing, walking and white water rafting. comfort altogether new. lt was not a 'culture­ Half-way down the river we stopped and walked a shock', for I am often no more at ease in the

55 English society of Sherborne School than I was in While I am naive of the roughness and street­ the English Society of Kennington - even if it is wisdom of those children, I think they are naive of Sher borne with which I am more familiar. I realize the weapons and hazards more readily known to that I was spared extremes, but even conversations our weallhier circles. They are ignorant of chat with the social worker (in whose house l lodged) whole trick-box of posture and pretence; subtle and a visit to the BuU Ring beneath Waterloo manipulation and influence; contrivance and Bridge, a camp-site of the homeless, was less felt (if intricate deceit - and self-deceit. Their crimes are only because it numbed too quickly) than the more blatant, not designs around image or appearance. subtle distinctions of people whom I met. Poverty They are used to first saving and considering their was not a shocking or unfamiliar sight - it only bodies - I think we are inclined to first saving seemed less necessary, more unexpected in such a face. I had never before been among people whose wealthy capital. academic and professional prospects were so grim. It was not a culture-shock, but a shock to fixed The nets which Sherborne School erects beneath its expectations: the self-satisfaction which tends to leavers' jumping-off point are secure against most believe that everything desirable can, at will, be accidents. A sense of privilege is heightened. understood. One becomes used to hearing wisdom offered with prettiness and articulacy; only to Richard Dyson recognizing intelligence when it boasts of the books it has read. A subtle arrogance inclines one never to value the physical above the intellectual, nor the frank above the beautifully expressed. The project disturbed the foundations of a readily accepted, middle-class aspiration in academic achievement; it rocked the contempt so easily felt toward those out­ side that class. And this is the complacency which shook: not only did I meet people who confessed Norway '90 indifference to literature, art, music and to the very style of thought which I most revere - these same people smote me with their insight, with a different but as worthy knowledge, and with a disturbingly high regard for content rather than package. The Swing land Tour I was unprepared for the roughness of the children, unfamiliar with bad language used in so unfashionable, unconscious a way; unfamiliar The School Swing Band has established a special with quibblings over a few pence (although this is rapport with Norway recently and this was our no meaner than the stinginess of greater wealth) second trip in as many years - it was particularly - and unfamiliar with their early instincts of self­ pleasant for some of the senior members of the preservation in fighting, lying, running. They were band to recurn afcer a fairly short lime, even though insolent, lazy, selfish and ungrateful; quick to fight we were based on the return visic in a differenl loca­ for places on outings, never thankful for them; tion. slow to help or tidy, and impossible losers on the We left Gatwick on July 3rd, a time when it is organized games. Not aU were these, but most; always enjoyable 10 travel: at che beginning of the although in each I am sure there was something else summer holidays. After a four hour boat crip and a to be liked - affection, general sincerity. The short car journey we arrived in Erd and were met by police and helpers could not, in four weeks, enable and introduced to our hosts, most of whom them to acquire those characteristics which, thankfully spoke fluent English. They immediately perhaps, the society of Sherborne might value. presented us all with a formidable itinerary. One of And, if that was what we were trying to do, I am the benefits of travelling in a small and informal not sad at the failure; for the greatest thing of these group of fifteen is that accommodation is provided children and of all the people I met in Kennington by families: this offers a far greater insight into real was their straightforwardness to others and Norwegian life than any hotel can do. I would themselves. The qualities of selflessness, especially like to stress the hospitality and patience graciousness in loss, and gratitude are hideous with which we were all received, things that are when activated by a switch; when their appearance ofcen overlooked in hindsight. is calculated (consciously, or more insidiously evil, We played in several places, including the local unconsciously) for effect. I thlnk that the hocel, town centre and school, buc undoubtedly for behaviour of the children - and of some of the me the most enjoyable venue was the lavish Alexan­ policemen - was coarse, but thac the coarseness dria Hocel at Loen, an establishment worthy to was a revealing; and I think that where there is match the massive and beautiful Brinksdalen affluence there is more often vulgarity, vulgarity Glacier a mile away. Everywhere we performed, which is a concealing. our enthusiastic audiences made us feel very

56 welcome. It was very pleasant to travel to all con­ Apart from the last night, when there was an all­ cert venues with our hosts and their families and night disco and a swim in the nearest fjord, the trip they all gave us tremendous support. Everything was extemely relaxing and restful. I would like to seemed worthwhile. thank Owen Clarke for organizing a fantastic trip. Almost every night, the Norwegians arranged discos and barbecues wherever we were, and one Andrew Strange time they even managed to rig up an old television so we could watch England's World Cup semi-final match! Whenever we had free time, there was always some diverse activity available to make every day memorable. PersonalJy, I will never forget the night when a few of us went fishing in a remote and com­ pletely peaceful mountain lake flooded in The Road To Beat moonlight, stopping for coffee in an isolated log cabin on the far side. The Norwegians were so com­ mitted to helping us enjoy our visit that we man­ aged to fit a tremendous amount into each day: we never travelled to a concert venue without doing or carolrn cassadr 111111 Sherborne School seeing many things on the way. There was a great spirit of integration in our music, as our band and the local Hjello School and During the Trinity Term 1990, selected members Fjordan Music Camp bands often joined ranks. of the Sixth Form had the privilege of listening to The highlight of the concert in the school hall was Carolyn Cassady give a talk about her life as the undoubtedly when Jonathan Sturtridge and Marcus wife of Neal Cassady and lover of Jack Kerouac. Chesterfield played the saxophone solo in 'Splanky' The audience comprised those who bad been on one instrument, one using onJy his hands and following a General Studies course in 'Beat' the other onJy his mouth! writers, although the talk proved sufficiently

57 interesting a prospect to draw in other members of lo write novels and poetry. The thing that united the Sixth Form. Unfortunately, those pupils from Jack and Neal was their compassion; the chief Sherborne School for Girls who had been on the attraction between her and Neal was intellectual. course were unable to attend. The most important part of Neal's life was bis Jack Kerouac was one of the most influential ability to hold down a job and to support their post-war writers and was himself influenced by his family. Carolyn said that Neal's greatest failing was friend and travelling companion, Neal Cassady. believing he could please everybody all the time. The character Dean Moriarty in Kerouac's book Neal and Jack both suffered from insecurity; and On the Road is based in some detail on Neal from the moment Neal lost his belief in himself Cassady. Cassady as a writer himself also had a after being sacked from his job as a brakeman she more direct influence on Kerouac's style of 'bop knew this would be the indirect cause of his death. jazz prosody'. There was also something intriguing about These two men formed an integral part of a Carolyn herself, which I had noticed when we had group of young writers, dissatisfied wilh the had tea with her earlier on in the afternoon, stiflingly materialistic society of Post-War because she had felt that she should meet us inform­ America. who were labelled •Beat' writers by the ally before the talk. She always appeared to be media. 'Beat' was Jack Kerouac's own term, to slightly remote from her audience and she showed a which he gave several meanings. It can be taken as certain diffidence. Although she was keen that referring to a drum beat or to a rhythm. This is we should enjoy her talk, she also seemed a little connected to the idea of speed, an important aspect nervous. When she was told that we had been of Cassady's approach lo life. II also reflects the studying selected parts of Neal's novel The First strong sense of rhythm in his writing, a rhythm Third, she replied that she hoped they were selected which frequently derived from those of bop jazz. because she would not want any eighteen year old 'Beat' captures the idea of being nobly exhausted son of hers LO read the whole book. by the world, of being 'down but not out', and of I found it very difficult to resolve the incon­ being beatific in a saintly sense. sistency between the Carolyn Cassady we met and Carolyn Cassady met and fell in love with the the Carolyn Cassady we knew from our knowledge enigmatic Neal while he was still married to his first of Neal, Jack and other 'Beat' writers. Despite her wife. It was through Neal that she became the seemingly conventional attitudes, this was the friend and lover of Jack Kerouac, and after she and young woman who had married a man whose Neal were married the three formed a menage-a­ father was a vagrant drunkard and whose only t rois. schooling had been at reform school. She lived with In her talk Carolyn Cassady told us about her both her husband's best friend (Jack) and her experiences of the antics of Neal, Jack and their husband simultaneously and brought up children in fellow writers. These included the time Neal was the face of Neal's constant wanderings. She had driving across America when his car broke down in also caught Neal not only in bed with his former a blizzard in the Rocky Mountains. He was towed wife but with the poet Alan Ginsberg at the same almost all the way to his destination without using time. the brakes. Perhaps this experience could, in some The vividness with which she recounts this inci­ ways, be taken as being symbolic of his approach to dent and her reflections on it is one of the main life in general. enjoyments in her book Off the Road. The book is Another acquaintance of Carolyn was William also interestingly illustrated with several Burroughs, an early patron of the younger 'Beat' photographs, many of these previously unseen by writers. He is famous for his somewhat outspoken Kerouac's readers. political views and for shooting his wife through the As well as her talk being greatly appreciated, head by accident whilst imitating William Tell. Carolyn also enjoyed visiting Sherborne and she The talk shed a new light for many people on the returned later to see the Commemoration Play, characters of Jack and Neal. As Carolyn was so Amadeus. As a former student and professional close to both of them, she was able to separate them in the field of theatrical design she was able from the images imposed on them by the media, to comment on our production with informed who chose and still choose to present them as competence. She said: ' I can not believe this is an the fathers of the American counter-culture. She entirely amateur production.' We have every reason showed us Neal as a man bent on self-improvement. to hope that Carolyn's association with Sherborne He read avidly and was dogged in his pursuit of new School will be a lasting one. experiences. Indeed, Neal was introduced to Jack in the first place because he wanted to be taught how Andrew Fullerton

58 altogether - the fish and chips purchased when our return was so delayed that we missed tea were Sea Fishing eagerly accepted. So despite the elusive 'big ones' much pleasure was had by all and it proves a welcome break from I should like to be able to start the first report by work. describing the delicious taste of fresh fish which Before ending, I think that Mr. P. Riley should followed our various trips but unfortunately the have a mention for giving up so much of his time, only edible catch was a large spider crab which was although I suspect that he enjoys it just as much as consumed and enjoyed. The captor's cooking can't anyone and just needs the excuse! be too bad as there were no ilJ effects! Although small, the club is gathering support In the Lent term, south-westerly gales always from all areas of the School and I hope that larger seemed to blow up the night before each trip and so fish may be encountered next term. the choice of marks was somewhat limited - that's our excuse for the small size of our fish, the Spencer Shute reputable Chesil beach always being too rough. In the Trinity Term the weather was much more agreeable - blazing sun and very Light winds P.S. Repor1s are now coming in of a black greeted each trip. Unfortunately the size of fish rubbish bag which was hard to carry after the first didn't improve with the weather, but being human trip in the Michaelmas Term, and there are rumours we must blame something other than ourselves circulating which suggest that perhaps the smell of - and we've chosen the weather again: for being sizzling fish isn't as elusive as it was - has the too good! club's luck changed for good? Only time will tell. Although the smell of sizzling fish didn't waft Perhaps the members are gaining experience as time out o f any Houses, we didn't miss out on edible fish goes by.

59 I William Christopher, the current President, and Chris Thomas-Peter, a former Chairman, who have Sherborne given the club ambition and a healthy outlook, allied to a desire to be successful. The committee, Rugby Football Club too, under the present chairmanship of Simon Clothier, have contributed enormously, both in financial and organizational terms. One of the strengths of the club is the phenomena.I number of The Terraces might suggest to the average Vice-Presidents, with more than enough to grace a Shirburnian something far more interesting than a senior club. These 'V.P.s' are the backbone of the rugby club (and indeed other sports as well take club, and frequently produce large sums of money place up there); perhaps some members of the for development purposes. The club also School are ignorant that there is such a club. This acknowledges the generous loan of the playing area anicle has been written to make people aware of the from the town council. presence of this club, and its enormous success thus However, it is the coaches who deserve attention far on the playing field. for the playing performances. The club current.ly In 1980, a local man by the name of Tom Kelly runs four senior sides, a Colts and a Minis XV (for founded the club, originally a Sunday pub side with the uninitiated, at club level, a 'Colts' team means a players drawn from other local teams in the area. team of players under nineteen rather than under Kelly, the club's first President, and Doug sixteen), none of which could be sustained without Hamilton, as Chairman, established a firm founda­ good coaches. Dale O'Loughlin, who began at the tion upon which the fledgling club could build. club as a player before tragically breaking his neck They made an arrangement with the already whilst playing, has been a tremendous motivator existing cricket club to share the facilities and for the club and has managed to attract two formed the '81 Club' (no longer in existence) which excellent coaches, Rod Oakes and, a more familiar promoted the interests of both clubs. name, David Scott, to the club. These coaches have On the pitch, the first few years were not introduced a flowing style into the players which ma.rked by immediate success. Yet, in their fourth makes for an attractive brand of rugby, as is full season, they achieved promotion from the reflected by the growing numbers of spectators who lowly leagues of the county. For each successive make the journey to the Terraces each week. season since (barring a slight hiccup in the 1988-89 I believe it is the family atmosphere that makes season, when they finished third) they have this a club worth joining: wives and girlfriends and achieved promotion to a higher level, and during the young are actively encouraged to join in at the the present season they are battling it out in the club; a new clubhouse has recent.ly been built and Southern Counties League. They narrowly missed the 1st XV pitch has been changed from a sloping out last year on winning the Dorset and Wilts Cup, pan of the ground to a level one. Sponsors from the which would have won them a place in the first locality are numerous and the club thrives. Only ten round of the Pilkington Cup, the national knock­ years on from its inception, Sherborne R.F.C., still out competition. Amongst the playing members of a junior club, has its sights set high and the drive to the a.II-black strip (shades of the ambition of Neath, get there. Let us hope that the club goes from perhaps) is our very own Giles Reynolds. strength to strength. The real drive behind the club, on the administrative side, has been the work of two men: Robert Hands

60 Ben Atwell can be proud of his team's achieve­ ment. The cares of captaincy may have affected his Cricket own form with the bat but the opportunity of taking on the captaincy and all the responsibilities it entails, both on and off the field, will have made him a wiser and more mature young man. Fear of 111 XI dismissal inhibited his stroke-play and it was only towards the end of the season that Ben demon­ strated that attack is often the best form of defence. He needs to play straighter, keeping the face of the Statistically this was the most successful season bat towards the ball in order to eliminate his in the history of Sherborne School's cricket. Twelve vuln~rabil~ty on or just outside the off-stump. We matches were won and three drawn. For those, Like ~ wish him well at Durham University, where he !llyself, who prefer to judge a team's performance will have plenty of opportunity to continue his m other ways, it was equally satisfying. There was cricket education. evidence, as the season progressed, of the import­ . Marcus Ford was an able lieutenant and prov­ ance of playing the game for enjoyment. High ided confidence and enthusiasm with his contribu­ standards of performance and behaviour are tion to all departments of the game. He bowled necessary for a team to perform to the best of its essentially in a defensive manner but was able to ability. Cricket is no different from any other move the ball both in the air and off the wicket to school sport in that it can only be worthwhile if it trouble batsmen even when they were well set. Mar­ educates and stimulates boys to want to continue cus plainly enjoyed batting and was always keen to playing the game after they have left school. It o.ccup~ should not be primarily concerned with producing the crease. As his judgement of the quick ~mgle improved, he developed into a reliable open­ first-class county players or Test cricketers but ing batsman. His final innings against Cheltenham rat~er suggesting an opportunity for boys to make social contacts and use the increasing amount of at the Festival demonstrated his ability to play a match-winning innings under real pressure. leisure .time in a challenging and satisfying form of James Tweedale was always exciting to watch recreauon once they have left school. and played several mature innings. He concentrated 'Achievement is but another milestone on the upo~ playin~ straighter this year and not hitting the highway of progress; the end of the journey lies ~all m the au so often. This reduced the risk of get­ ever beyond.' bng out early but did not inhibit his ability to

67 dominate good bowling. James Pexton showed field; of Mervyn Brown and his groundstaff; of the enormous promise. If he can discipline himself to catering staff; of the faithful supporters and the concentrate harder next year, he should develop parents who gave so much encouragement; of the into an outstanding all-rounder. Richard Preston scorer, James Nurton; of the umpires, in particular never quite produced the results of which we all Jerry Stickley; of Mr. Reynolds and the 2nd XI. AlJ knew he was capable but worked hard to improve these made a valuable contribution to the success of his technique and proved a reliable fielder close to the side and I extend my gratitude to them. the wicket. Undoubtedly the greatest contribution to the Simon Watling, Ewan Sangster and Findlay individual coaching of the boys was the massive Hughes all gave ample evidence of the contribution contribution made by Alan Willows. He spared no they will be expected to make next year. Watling time or effort in ensuring each boy was well needs confidence to play more positively at the start prepared for the task ahead. Alan almost convinced of an innings and refrain from the temptation to me that 'cricket as a passion is distinctly con­ use his pad, rather than his bat, as a defence. He tagious', but 'Long ago I discovered that there was was a particularly safe catcher at slip. Sangster still more to life than cricket: and more to cricket than tends to use too much bottom hand in his shots, runs and wickets'. with the inevitable result of playing across the line of the ball. However, he made a conscious effort to Team: B. D. Atwell (Captain), M. W. D. Ford, improve his technique and to learn to play more off S. W . Stevens, J. R. Tweedale, J. L. Pexton, his back foot. His concentration is good and he C. R. J. Levy, R. J. Preston, R. H. F. Pugsley, A. J. Rutherford, E. J. Sangster, S. C. G. Watling, keeps a cool head in a crisis. Hughes perhaps tries W. F. F. Hughes. to play too many shots. Experience should teach him which balls to hit and which to defend. He plays well on both sides of the wicket and off both Results: front and back foot. I hope his inclination to hit the Sherborne 186 - 8 ball is not retarded by fear of failure next season, Sberborne Town 211 - 8 dee. Drawn when he should be capable of putting some big scores together. Sherborne 169 - S Andrew Rutherford performed better as the Dorset Rangers 168 Won by S wickets season progressed and as he was given more respon­ Sherbornc 200 - 3 sibility. He remained calm in a crisis and steered the Free Foresters 199 - 9 dee. Won by 7 wickets team to several exciting victories. Sherborne IS3 - 7 Colin Levy improved with each game as a Taunton lSl Won by 3 wickets wicket-keeper. Certainly there was no better Sherborne 97 - 8 performer behind the stumps from an the teams Mill field 1SS Drawn who played on our circuit. Sherborne 168 - 4 Hugh Pugsley rarely lost his length and Jine even King's Taunton 167 Won by 6 wickets when the opposition were looking to score quiclcly. He took some vital wickets and extracted some turn Sherbome 182 even on the flattest of wickets. He began to learn Clifton 77 Won by IOS runs the art of varying his pace and was able to produce Sherborne 148 - 2 an effective 'arm' ball. He will earn a lot of his Canford 14S Won by 3 wickets wickets with tight control of line and length rather Sherbornc 198 - S than prodigious deviation off the wicke.t. Downside 19S - 8 dee. Won by S wickets Scott Stevens was the most successful bowler Sherborne 140 - 4 and thoroughly deserved to create a new school Blundell's 137 Woo by 6 wickets record of 55 wickets in a season. The same can be Sherborne 241 - 7 said of Scott as was once said of Hedley Verity: Geelong College 132 Won by 109 runs ' Bowling to him was never a job to be undertaken lightly. Almost every ball he bowled was sent down Sherborne ISO - 6 with a purpose.' M.C.C. 148 Won by 4 wickets Both Atwell and Stevens were selected for the Sherborne 209 - 9 H.M.C. Schools Trials at Oxford. Pilgrims212 Drawn Hugh de Selincourt wrote in The Cricket Match: Sherborne 121 - 4 " •Ahl That's the beauty of cricket! ' declared old Marlborough 120 Won by 6 wickets John heartily, wiping his face all over with a large Sberbome 171 - S handkerchief. 'That's the glorious beauty of Cheltenham 170 Won by S wickets cricket. Every single man-jack of us helped, one Sherborne way or another, to win that game.' " Haileybury Abandoned - rain These sentiments are true of the Sherborne XJ this season: of the boys who performed on the M.D.N.

68 Footnote to Isl XI Report cons a For only the second time since the war the XI were unbeaten, and were poised to make a clean sweep at the Festival before rain took a hand. Yet, perversely, in this summer of batting records at As the results would suggest, this has been a first-class level, it was the achievement of a bowler, reasonable season for the Sherbome Coils XI. Scott Stevens, that was outstanding. Stevens' nag­ Some of their opposition was woefully weak, but gingly accurate line (he hit the stumps twenty-one the other side of the coin became clear too, in that times) brought him 55 wickets, thus breaking a winning at cricket against weak opposition who do record that had stood for 67 years. It is true that not want to lose is not always easy. Winning Stevens bowled more overs (from playing in more margins of 143 and 136 runs (Taunton, Blundell's), matches) than his illustrious predecessors, but this and nine, seven and seven wickets (Downside, does not devalue the achievement at all. Overall in King's Bruton, Marlborough) suggest that this side his two years in the XI, Scott took 99 wickets, a was not always able to complete the task at hand, tribute to his consistency. For the fC(;Ofd, the top whatever the strength of the opposition. There was ten wicket-takers in the cricket history of the XJ a slightly disappointing draw against Millfield, since 1895 are listed below: when we had them on the rack, and the games against King's Taunton and Cheltenham should Year Name 0 M R w Avge most definitely have been won with time to spare. 1990 S.W.Stevens 329 94 795 55 14.45 However, the side fought back tenaciously to en­ 1923 R.G. Forbes-Bassetl 230 4 1 597 54 11.06 sure a draw against Clifton after all seemed lost. 1900 G. R.Birks 292 57 900 54 16.66 The batting was dominated by Colby, Ricketts 1904 R.W.F.Jesson 2 16 830 53 IS.66 and Wingfield-Digby, though Gillett also supported 1938 H.J.C.Bashford 256.3 71 630 51 12.35 well. All four scored freely against all types of 1977 J.G.8.Fish 186. 1 57 344 49 7.02 bowling, though at times their coach was perturbed 1896 W.O.Prichard 293.2 79 692 49 14.60 1919 R.B.Wyau-Smith 202.2 14 843 49 17.20 by the apparent lack of selectivity! Colby scored 1955 S.P.Tindall 216.1 53 632 48 13.16 four fifties, Wingfield-Digby two and Ricketts a 1906 E.S.Hornidge 251 722 47 15.36 fine unbeaten hundred on the Upper against Taunton. Keatinge and de Mestre also played a Robert Hands couple of useful team innings. The main feature of

70 all the batting was the speed with which the boys 2nd XI gathered their runs, which enabled the captain to declare early and thus leave his bowlers time to do A review of the season as might have been written by their job. The middle order also ran very well M. D. Nunon buL under the pseudonym of Simon Hughes/CM-J/'Blowers'/The Alderman etc.... between the wickets, which put enormous pressure I sat on the hard wooden bench for quite possibly the on opponents from the outset, though the openers final time. Suddenly my ears were filled with a brief but will need to put in some sprint work over the vociferous exclamation. A man, suitably attired in white, winter! nodded his head and I reluctantly stood up and started the The main wicket-takers were Ricketts, Hart and long walk . Heads swivelled as eyes followed my path. I Freeth. Keatinge, de Mestre and Colby also had eventually came to a halt, looked around at the expectant audience, slowly turned back to face directly in front of some success. It is, however, clear that greater con­ me and in a clear voice announced: 'Our second reading is trol of line and length would have brought quicker taken from ... • ends to several of the games - here is an area at My ordeal was soon over but the sermon epitomised which all of the bowlers will have to work, if they our season. The preacher was drawing our attention to are to make an impact in 1st XI cricket. the thin, yeL definite, difference between being stable and being static, the latter being less desirable because it tends What certainly helped the bowlers was the to herald the onset of stagnation. Stability was very much enthusiastic and, at times, extremely courageous present, for the only stagnation in the dressing-room was ground fielding displayed by every member of the developing around Jamie Alderson's blue socks. Static team - no-one was afraid to throw himself around describes the scoreboard in our final match, as our in the field, though unfortunately the side was opponents gave one and all cause to disagree with the Lancasuian point of view that God is a Yorkshireman by not always able to match this standard when it came convincing those playing (and watching) that God is, in to catching. This attitude towards the fielding fact, an Old Blundellian. extended also towards ensuring team unity - Although stability was the key to our success (we, too, the boys wanted to do well because they wanted to were unbeaten) one is fearful that the average 2nd XI do well for each other, and therein lies one of the cricketer has not changed beyond recognition from the freshly scrubbed urchin who played 'A' leagues in the greatest contrasts with some of our opponents. Fourth Form. The achievements of individuals vary from This was certainly a happy team, and it had an season to season and yet: enjoyable season. Even those who played a small A. Baines and F. Hughes 'got themselves out to loose part in the performance seemed to do so willingly, shots when set for a big score.' MCA. but special mention must be made of 'David Capel' S. Hayward: 'Most stylish of our batsmen and possibly Stiles, who ensured that everyone was kept amused. most correct.' 2nd XI 1989. Justin Ricketts led by example, and with a con­ C. Brooks: 'Good on the leg when he got himself in.• 2nd fidence and firmness that ensured that each XI 1989. J. Richardson: 'lusty blows of an effective nature.' JCB. member of the team felt an important cog in the N. Rintoul 'Made useful scores, unable to capitalise on machinery. I would also like to thank DAS for his early concentration.' 2nd XI 1989. support, Ed Smith for his enthusiastic encourage­ P. Evans 'rarely let side down, tidy bowling.' JCA. ment, the members of the 'B' team for their J. Alderson: 'extra pace often enabled breakthrough.• enthusiasm, A. Willows and C. Stone for their pro­ JCA. M. Jackaman: 'keeping enthusiastic and unpolished.• fessional guidance, Mervyn Brown and his ground­ SCA. staff for ensuring that we played our home matches T. Macpherson 'showed tremendous enthusiasm with the and practice games on good surfaces, and especially ball.' JCA. Fergus Llewellyn for his neat and efficent scoring. A. Tall 'had his moments with the ball.' 2nd XI 1989. Also warranting a mention in this report is R. Parsons Team: J. D. Ricketts, W. H. Wingfield-Digby, C. J. Colby, who was safe and, well, safe, in his first season at S. Gilleu. C. G. 0. Kcatingc. J. E. Stiles, J. W. 0. Frecth, Sherborne. Those who don't deserve a mention are A. E. de Mestre. A. C. M. Hart, R. C. Harris, M. R. Chantrey. E. Sangster, S. Watling, H. Maclellan and J. 'huge great whopping O' Boucher. So one fears that as cricketers we Also played: S. C. G. Thompson. H. f. Macaskill. do not change in our five seasons at Sherborne, as the J. C. Hopkins. biased facts indicate. The alternative conclusion is that there are twelve cricketing cliches used in reports and one Results: Played 10, Won S, Drawn S. particular individual is allotted each hackneyed phrase and cannot shake it off. The choice, 0 My Best Beloved King's Bruton Won by 7 wickets (MON now assuming the guise of Kipling), is yours. Marlborough Won by 7 wickets However, changes in the altitude of the 2nd XI were Taunton Won by 143 runs apparent throughout the entire season, so all claims of Millficld Drawn 'stagnation' can be refuted. Nick and Sam have become King's Taunton Drawn 'rounded' players (the latter deserving his place in the XJ Clifton Drawn for the Festival, the former deserving all the stick he got Can ford Drawn for being a touch slow between the wickets!). Mark, Downside Won by 9 wickets Jamie and Paddy apparently took an interest in helping Blundell's Won by 136 runs Matt King in the scorebox for five minutes at a time. Fin Cheltenham Drawn took an interest in the spectators (his biggest score of the season was called Amanda) and one of the spectators G.C.A. surprisingly took an interest in James (God knows why!).

71 We finished as we started, unbeaten, smiling, caring an awful lot about our fielding and with eleven fit players. 3rd XI Our umpires were made up of that motley crew - the A mixed season in terms of success, partly owing to 3 G's: Giles, George and Mr. Hunter. To them go all our our own inconsistency and partly owing to the very thanks for actually keeping a straight face when Alderson variable opposition. We had good fixtures against appealed. My personal thanks to everyone involved with Marlborough, Sherborne Town and King's Taunton, but the 2nd XI - thanks for the advice (everybody!!), the the remaining matches were one-sided. photo (minus the Macpherson-mug) and the chance to bat As captain, Nick Waaler was a willing if uncertain (twice). leader. He handled the bowling quite well most of the time but field placing was less assured. On the other hand, Andrew Tall he had a natural, easy manner and, apart from occa­ sionally looking disconcerted, the team responded well to his leadership. Mention should be made of the real contribution made We had quite a strong batting line up, with Jeremy by A. Tall, who belied his prose and showed great Boucher the most promising, hitting hard and well and intelligence in his captaincy, being able to get the best out with increasingly assured temperament. Ben Patten and of individual players. He led by example, and the team Harry Clark formed a secure opening pair, and, although was a pleasure to coach. the former never quite fulfilled his promise, the latter made one or two good scores. Quiatkowski, Harper, G.D.R. Dougal, Maclellan and the captain all made useful con­ tributions with the bat when required. The bowling, often useful, lacked consistency and Terun: A. D. M. Tall (Captain). A. R. Baines. W. F. F. Hughes, only periodically produced sufficent bite. Nick Waaler S. R. Hayward. R. C. D. Brooks, N. R. E. Rintoul, J . A. Richard· was fast and often unlucky, while Robin Marchant-Smith son. P. A. Evans, J. R. Alderson. M. J. E. Jackaman, T . D. Mac­ frequently caused havoc in his own inimitably disarming pherson, R. w. Parsons. way. Giles Haigh-Austin bowled nicely but, again, often unluckily, while the remainder of the attack tended to Results« Played 9, Won 6. Drawn 3. play the batsmen in, with the exception of Mark Brodie who improved considerably as the season progressed. The Claycsmorc Won by 38 runs fielding was competent, with some good catches, and we Marlborough Won by 110 runs Taunton Won by 108 runs were lucky to have two good wicket-keepers in Ed Holme Milllicld Drawn and Dave Harper, although the former took the principal Milton Abbey Isl XI Drawn role. Clifton Won by 10 wickets An enjoyable season, with a pleasing approach to the Can ford Won by 10 wickets game by the members of the team no matter what the Wells Cathedral School I st XI Won by 6 wickets result, and the umpire, as ever, found the matches gave Blundell's Drawn both pleasure and moments for contemplation.

72 Ttom: N. S. Waaler (Captain), B. T. Patten, H. J. L. Oark, term, or jus1 the fact 1ha1 this team never entertained the R. H. Marchant-Smith, M. J. QuiaLkowski. E. M. N-R. Holme. possibility of defeat. It was a happy, close-knit side, D. C. Harper, H. D. Maclellan, M. R. Dougal. J. E. G . Boucher. playing cricket for the pleasure of the game, in between W. M. Brodie, G . J. Haigh-Austin. ChappelJ's moans at the talkative slips as another bye slipped down the leg side, Glenday's sarcasm at being Results: Played S. Won J, Lost 2. passed over to bowl for the umpteenth Lime, and those equine noises that were heard whenever 'the man who's Marlborough Lost by 22 runs there 10 make up 1he numbers' Hands fielded the ball. Fosters 1$t XI Won by 159 runs The season started off with 1he bowling of Chantrey Sherborne Town 2nd XI Won by 2 wickets and Hopkins, and a little batting from the former, in King's Taunton 2nd XI Lost by 7 wickets concert with Harris. All three were lost to the 'A' 1eam, Downside 2nd XI Won by 9 wickets Hopkins the only one to return. Macaskill and de Seider also turned in useful bowling spells, the latter on a more M.L.M. consistent basis. Typically, in the modern era of pace, they all bowled to a (reasonably) quick degree. Alas for 1he under-used off-spin of Atherton and er ... um . ..(!); 41b XI but seriously, it was more often than not the bowling and fielding performances (we will conveniently forget that The 4th XI had a rather mixed season, playing with dolly of a catch that Wills embarrassingly dropped great skill and authority against Claycsmore 2nd XI in tbe against Cheltenham) that won the game. The batting first match of the term, proceeding to snatch defeat from wavered at times, (not helped by the skipper opting out 10 the very jaws of victory in a couple of fairly undemanding watch • t' Cup Final' for two games or by Richardson's fixtures, and finishing with spectacular commitment delight a1 seeing his brother's high scores in the score· against a dazed and dazzled XJ from BlundclJ's. book and then failing to emulate them) notably against Nevertheless, 1he team spirit was generaJly good Taunton and Wells, but Lamont and Swanton both con· throughout and there were some memorable moments tri buted a tidy share of runs, with able support from with bat and ball, especially Chris Sargent's cavalier Atherton, Kassulke and Moncreiff. innings against King's Taunton. and Chas Raymond's In short, then, everyone played a part - yes, even eighl wickets against Blundell's on a fairly unhelpful game old Jones, who never got to bat or bowl, but fielded wicket. gallantly. It remains for me to thank 1he honourable In retrospect, perhaps, there were one or two coach, DAS, without whom practices would have started weaknesses in fielding. A number of close catches were on time, and his part-lime assistant, MAW, Macaskill's missed against Millfield and Warminster, and poor beloved acquaintance; GCA for arranging the fixtures (it running between the wickets by both those teams should was not his fault no-one could come within catching have been punished much more severely. On the other distance of this fine team); and anyone else who hand, the early arrivaJ of exams did make it difficuh to contributed to this most enjoyable cricket season. retain the core of 1he team and changes did not always make for smoothness and fluency in the field. Team (from): W. H. A. Chappell (Captain), J. H. Allan, On the whole, then, it is impossible to be 100 negative. C. E. A1her1on, M. R. Chantrey, D. L. J. de Bclder. This was yet another enjoyable season and the cricket was D. A. Glenday, R. Hands, R. C. Harris, V. S. Harutunian, always a pleasure to watch. My thanks to everyone who J.C. Hopkins, M. N. E. Jones, P . B. Kassulke, D. R. Lamoni, helped with the coaching and umpiring - and especially H. F. Macaskill. M. P. Moncreiff, 0. F. Richardson. 10 MLM, whose advice about 1eam selection proved R. D. J. Swanton. A. J. Wills. inspired on more than one occasion. Results: Played 6, Won 6 Team (from): C. E. W. Raymond (Captain). C. T . Sargent, J. R. Easterbrook, D. R. James, D. M. Old, B. P. Keeble, King's Bruton Won by 9 wickets M. J. Quiatkowski, J. A. J. Persse. E. C. C. Madgwick. Marlborough Won by t9S runs J. R. Adams. J. D. S1. C. Lapping, D. Brooks. T. J. Donne, Taunton Won by 4 wickets C. J. Murray-Smith. Junior Leaders Won by 9 wickets Wells Cathedral School Won by 76 runs Results: Played 7, Won S, Drawn 3, Lost I. Chehcnham Won by 8 wickets Claycsmore 2nd XI Won by S wickets Robert Hands Warminster Isl XI Lost by 32 runs Millfield 3rd XI Won by 2 wickets King's Taunton Won by 2 wickets Junior cons l Clifton 3rd XI Drawn Won by22runs Downside Ted Dexter once said: ' If you're going to lose, you Blundell's Won by 113 runs might as well lose good and proper and try 10 sneak a A.K.J.M. win.• Costeloc obviously had this pearl of wisdom clearly in mind when declaring at 139·3 at tea against Millfield. A few hefty blows later this became the only loss of the cons a season. I should point out that with 28 wickets at 10 runs apiece, an otherwise sensible and knowledgeable Six games were played; eighteen players were used. I approach to captaincy and a match-saving innings against suppose that sounds like the indecision that has surround· the competent King's Bruton side, he more than made up ed national sides in the past. Not so, I am afraid - all for this aberration. matches were won, and, dare I say it, won with a bit to Undoubtedly this was a side brimming over with spare each time. Often I found myself wondering whether talent. However, individual and team performances were it was higher standards at Sherborne than at other 100 frequently impaired by poor concentration. The team schools, the decline in popularity of cricket in the GCSE did not get on as well with each other as one mi.ght wish

73 and, though cricket depends very much on individual Clifton Drawn skill, it also needs a solid basis of teamwork. Nevertheless Can ford Match abandoned there were many notable individual performances, for Downside Won by 6 wickets example C. Firebrace's 98 against Marlborough, Cossins' Blundell's Won by 9 wickets 74 against Oundle, Costeloe's 5-24 against Downside and Oundle Woo by S wickets Giles' 4-17 against King's Taunton. Mention should also Plymouth Won by 6 wickets be made of Garrett, whose 319 runs were scored with patience and watchfulness. R.E.H. I was cheered by the side's keenness to improve their individual technique, by their politeness at away fixtures and cspcdally by their turnout in practice and on the Junior Colla II field. I was somewhat depressed by negative tactics of our opponents and by our own over-frequent appealing and This season produced an unusual mixture of triumphs constant congratulation of any bowler who managed to and disappointments. A fine start to the season get the ball roughly on the wicket and avoid being clubbed culminated in a highly satisfying victory at Mmfield, a for six. thrilling finish against King's Taunton and a massive win My thanks go to M J C for his advice and umpiring and over Clifton. After half term, however, our record to Alan Willows for his help in coaching. I look forward was much less impressive: the draw with Milton Abbey to seeing several of this side on the Upper in a exposed weaknesses in batting and bowling; and, couple of seasons. although the last-over defeat by a very powerful Poole side was no disgrace, our performances against Wells Team (from): F. M. J. Costcloc (Captain). G. W. Garren. Cathedral School and King's Bruton were uncommonly J. N. Chantrey, A. J . Robenson, T . G. Rankine, feeble. C. J. S. Fircbracc, J. F. C. Han. S. W. Giles, B. R. Maidment, This was not a season of high scores: the most T. A. P. Hubbard, N. I. Gavin-Brown, J. L. Warren. memorable innings were Jago Ridout's rapid 73 against J. W. G. Guy. Clifton, Justin Chantrey's attempt to bring a win against the odds over Milton Abbey, Ed Oldrey's enterprising 53 Results: Played 11, Won 6, Drawn), Lost I, Abandoned I. to save the match against Oundle, and the courageous stand between John Guy and James Moriarty which King's Bruton Drawn rescued us from the depths of 22 for 4 against the hostile Marlborough Drawn Poole attack. All of these batsmen should become very Taunton Won by 114 runs good players, and others, without ever settling lo play an Mill field Lost by 7 wickets innings of real substance, showed that they have pleaty of King's Taunton Drawn ability. Of the bowlers, the opening pair, Spencer Shute

74 and John Guy, were I.he most impressive. Guy, in order but his unonhodox style proved inconsistent. panicular, bowled with great heart and stamina; in 115 Carlier's knock against Downside was as good a captain's overs he took 29 wickets, and his 9 for 45 against King's innings as you could wish for, as he guided I.he team to an Bruton was an exceptional performance. Our wicket­ exciting last wicket win, protecting the number 11 keeper, Jago Ridout , distinguished himself by making batsman for ten overs and finishing 26 not out. three stumpings against Clayesmore. Overa.11, the most pleasing aspect proved to be the The season taught us valuable lessons: one of I.hem is number of boys who were selected to play with the Junior that defeating weak teams with relative ease is not good Colts ' B' team and who handled themselves well at the preparation for playing against more competent oppos· higher level. Oldrey, Mildied, Hartigan, Bolingbroke, ition. Inexperience in this respect and tactical naively had earlier, Campbell and others performed creditably and I much Lo do with our poor performance against King's hope il whe1ted their appetites to continue playing at the Bruton. On a more positive note, the events of the season higher level in future years. made clear the great deplh of talent and interest I.hat exists at Sherborne: several boys who had started the Team (from): C. A. Cartier (Captain), E. N. Oldrcy, season in the 'C' team played for us with credit. Their M. C. N. Amell, R. L. Bolingbrokc, A. R. Campbell, progress was one of I.he most satisfying features of the B. V. Benneu, J. J. Keeble, S. J. Pratt, L. P. Withers, season. G. S. Hussaunndee, R. J . Cullen, 0 . C . S. Bullock, T. P. G. Har· tigan, R. J. Gribbin, B. M . C. Kent, J. A . Harper, D. J . Reynolds, Team (from): M. J. Green (Captain), R. L. Bolingbroke, A. J. St. J. Hannah, H. C. Mildred, C. A. de Lisser. C. A. Cartier, J . N. Chantrey. R. J. Cullen, N. E. Dawson, S. R. Everard. P. D. R. Firebrace, J. W. G. Guy, A. J. St.J . Hannah, J. F. C. Hart, T. P. C. Hartigan, T. A. P. Hubbard, Resulis: Played 5. Won 4, Lost I. H. C. Mildred, A. J. Mills, J. R. Moriarty, E. N. Oldrey, D. J. Reynolds, J. S. Ridout, S. J. Shute, L. P. Withers. King's Taunton Lost by 85 runs Mill field Won by I wicket Resu/1s: Played 11, Won S, Drawn 3, Lost 3. Shiplake Won by 104 runs Clayesmore Won by 87 runs Downside Won by I wicket Marlborough Won by S wickets Fosters Won by 24 runs Warminster Won by 9 wickets Mill field Won by 4 wickets R.K. King's Taunton Drawn Clifton Won by 201 runs Milton Abbey Drawn Poole Grammar School Lost by 6 wickCLS Mini Colts A Wells Cathedral School Lost by 8 wickets King's Bruton Lost by 92 runs Oundle Drawn One cricket match alone made this a memorable season. We came to King's Taunton after a number of P.T.S. disappointing draws in which I.he opposition had concen­ trated on avoiding defeat. The game did not begin auspiciously, with our main run-scorer back in the Junior Colts c pavilion without troubling 1he scorers. Worse was 10 follow when his opening partner was out with the score on The I.bought of a newly arrived Australian offering 8. The bowling was accurate and hostile, I.he fielding keen cricketing advice in England may have raised some and the 1wo new batsmen were made to fight for every eyebrows, initially, amongst I.he members of Sherborne's run. Slowly Lhe score mounted - 10, 20, SO - until the J unior Colts 'C' team, but their response throughout the spinners came on. Still nothing was given away and the season was most pleasing. With a training squad of nearly atmosphere was electric. The pitch gave just enough twenty, enthusiasm was high and, despite limited fixtures, assistance to the skilful bowler, as the spinners replaced competition for places in the side was always healthy. the openers. After a disappointing beginning to the season, involving a Devotees of the game had so much to admire. The loss to a strong King's Taunton side, the team improved movement of the ball both in the air and off the wicket, markedly and won all of their remaining school fixtures. I.he accuracy of the spinners, the selection of shot and The strength of the team was undoubtedly the depth of the straight bat were a joy to watch. This was first eleven bowling, for, after the initial loss, no opposing side cricket in its infancy. As in all good contests King's scored more than 87 against us. Keeble's left armers Taunton struck back as 93-2 became 109-S. Then we were proved lively on several occasions, despite his erring down treated lo some delightful straight driving played with a the leg side, and Bennett's raw pace bowling troubled full swing of the bat against the fastest bowling we had many batsmen. Campbell's and Prau's gentle outswing seen all season. T he total of 156-8 represented a good always gained wickets and Carlier, with the best tech­ recovery after the poor start, but also an excellent perfor­ nique, bowled sensibly and accurately throughout the mance in the field, with not a head drooping even at 93 season. The effon of bowling Shiplake out for 47 was the for 2. pick of the performances, albeit on a wet and lively uack. King's Taunton's reply was steady, although it was The bauing ability of I.he side showed promise even limited again by the accurate bowling and excellent though few high scores were produced. Many in I.he top ground fielding. A number of diving saves at cover and order had a sound technique but lacked the strength and several last-ditch stops on the third man boundary were confidence lo pierce the field consistently. Nevertheless, typical of this absorbing day. Al 77-2 with about thirteen the compact Campbell, Mildred, Hannah and Boling­ overs to go there was still the prospect of an exciting broke proved very difficult to dislodge. With greater finish. However, at 99-S the match was destined for a concentration and persistence 10 play off the front foot draw. If I.his was the thinking of the captains, the players more often, they have the ability to play at a higher level had not been told and three resounding sixes from balls in future years. Everard scored runs quickly in the middle obligingly pitched up, rounded off a marvellous day.

75 Whal a pity neither side was able lo force a victory. Team (from): W. P. Hargrove (Captain), J. D. V. Wheatley, Whal of the performers? The fast bowlers - 8. T. Bishop, J , N. Buller, P. A. J. Holmes, N. P. C. Hyde, Johnson, lefl arm in-swing, Bishop and Holmes, away­ S. R. Johnson, G. W. Lawes, T. J. Percival, A. M. Pinkham, swing, and Hargrove, in-swing - were a formidable T. W. Scott, J . A. Steele-Perkins, W. R. Worrall. quarlel and impressed on several occasions. Worrall's leg­ spin was a bonus in lhe second half of lhe season and con­ Results: Played 14, Won 8, Drawn S, Abandoned I. tributed greatly lo the winning sequence. The wicket keeper, Whcalley, made remarkable strides Lord's Taverners: bo1h behind the stumps and with the bat. His opening Milton Abbey Won by 198 runs partner, Percival, scored one century and several other Wimbome Won by 201 runs good scores - a left-handed opening batsman of some Poole Grammar School Won by 10 wickets promise. Notable contributions were also forthcoming Canford (Final) Won by 16 runs from Hargrove, Holmes, Hyde, Johnson and Butler. Lawes and Pinkham fielded exceUenlly and showed loyal­ Other Matches: ty lo a team in which their individual opportunities to King's Bruton Won by 2 wickets contribute with the bat were severely Limited. Marlborough Drawn Hargrove look on the captaincy and earned the respect Taunton Drawn of the whole team. When he was not leading by personal Millfield Drawn example, he kept up the encouragement and his sym­ King's Taunton Drawn pathetic handling of the leg-spinner suggested an old bead Clifton Drawn on young shoulders. Can ford Match Abandoned An account of the season is nol complete without our Downside Won by IOwickets sincere thanks lo Chris Slone for his many hours of Blundcll's Won by 110 runs coaching and support behind the scenes. The news of his Plymouth College Won by 7 wickets departure was not revealed until the last day of term. However, I know so many Shirburnians would like to join R.C.F.G. me in thanking him for his enthusiasm, his inspirational coaching and his friendship over eight very happy years. Our warmest wishes go lo him in his fu1ure career. Mini cons a Thanks as usual are due lo GT. ST and J AT for their contribution lo 1he success of the team and last but not 'Not a bad score-line for the season's effons.' Of least to Fa1chen for his loyal scoring and the preparation course, statisl ics do not tell all the story; they only pro­ of lhe following facts and figures: vide a framework upon which one develops the analysis

76 of play. This was a side beref1 of bowlers. Many a match fear that it would be more accurate to sec ir as a sad com­ drawn could have been turned into a win if the bowling ment on Lhe state of cricket in our competitor schools. had been s1raigh1er, perhaps faster, and more consistenl. We disposed of the Clayesmorc '8 ' team fairly com­ This is not 10 deny 1he effom 1hat went into the practices fortably, Lhanks to a 8othamesque innings from Ramsay, 10 'get things right', but o n the day wickets proved stub­ and immediately lost our star bowlers, Mason and bornly elusive and all the efforts in the nets seemed to be Raleigh. 10 our own '8' team. The next match, against frustrated at every 1urn. Top honours must go 10 Rob Marlborough, produced the biggest win by any School 'Terrier' James with 14 wickets, closely followed by team for at least five years. Cleverly carried his bat for James Mason (11) and 'Spike' Worrall (8). 145 minutes for a century which reduced the opposing A further weakness was the fielding; the side was often captain to utter despair ('When are you going to slow to respond to the opposing batsmen and thereby let declare?'), ably supported by Sclater. This feat was all the many unnecessary runs past them. Perhaps what was more impressive as there were few boundaries in the inn­ lacking most was the concentration needed, particularly ings, Cleverly physically running I SS times. Grime and in close positions as the afternoon lengthened. The Wright did the necessary with the ball in a mere 46 batting was dominated by James Gower (203 runs) who, minutes. We then lost Sclater (to tennis) and Ramsay (to like his namesake, is very stylish and potentially !st XI athletics). standard, but was ably supported by Peter Richards (186 The Millfield match produced a nail-biring finish. runs). Graham Lawes would have ended the season with a Their captain threatened to win the match single-handed high average had he not been promoted to the •A' team before running himself out, but we then allowed the last after the third match. wicket pair to put on 33 runs which were almost to cost us The captaincy settled on the shoulders or Richards and the game. Most of our batsmen fell to a succession of silly Tim Scott for the fim and second halves of the season strokes when grinding out the runs slowly was what was respectively; both showed intelligence and an understand­ really needed. Only Willis, a refugee from the '8' team, ing of the game but both could have made decisions that showed any application, and even he eventually lost his responded more sharply to the needs of the moment, wicket in a frantic attempt to get the runs before running whether it be in fielding positions or bowling changes. out of partners. Our last wicket pair came together with It is always the case in 1eam sports 1ha1 the individuals 17 still needed, and a most determined and patient display need 10 work for and develop an understanding of each by Wright, who farmed like a professional, and a nervous other if the side is to be effective. Though they worked debutant Butler, who blocked superbly, saw us home, hard to improve, the team effectiveness lost its edge taking six overs to accumulate the runs. The increasingly because there were too many individuals who were not desperate and eventually crestfallen look on the Millfield always able 10 support one another when the game faces was truly a joy to behold, but they had earlier taught demanded. Having said that, they were always sportingly us a lesson on the importance of holding catches. aggressive and tried to give of their best. It was, for ex­ Our final match was against our own Junior Colts 'C' ample, most reassuring to sec them practising on the team, both sides suffering from fixture starvation. The edges of the pitch before the game without any prompting J.C.C. were weakened by losing several players to cover from me. As usual, we all owe GT considerable thanks exeats in the 'A' and '8' sides, the result (won by 8 for his time and expertise so generously given on so many wickets) looks more comfortable than it was, but there occasions, not to mention the traditional strawberries and was a nice technical exhibition with the bat by Todd and cream tea! Cleverly. The most effective batsman (and the worst bowler - Tl'tlm (from): P. J . Richards, T . W. Scon, 0 . T . U. Taylor. four wides in his only over!) was obviously Cleverly, ably J . W. G. Go,.cr. J A. Sr~lc-Perkins, R. S. G . James. supported by a stylish Todd with help from Ramsay, B. R. Wallis. N. C. Edouard. J . R. W. Mason, M . V Raleigh, Sclater and Willis. The most successful bowler was Todd, \\ . R. Worrall, D. A. Campbell, M. C. Willis, G. W. Lawes, whose season's figures or 20-4-36-10 were an object lesson J. N. Burler, 0 . J . Craig. in how to tie up opponents by maintaining perfect length and line. Grime and Haque bowled steadily, Wright and R~ults: Played 10. Won 4, Drawn J. Losr 2. Abandoned I. Wilson furiously but wirh less success. Incidentally, we managed to bowl an average of over 22 overs per hour. an Clayesmorc Won by 7 wickers example for more famous sides to follow. The mos: Taunton Won by 7 wickers valuable single performance must be Wright's 18 runs King's Taunron Lost by 4 wickets against Millfield, a figure which will never appear in any Millon Abbey Drawn statistics, but which was indicative of the team's strength Downside Won by 166 runs in depth and determination never to give up. Net practices Marlborough Won by 8 wickets were always fully attended, with several boys still trying Mill field Drawn to get into the side as we ran out of fixtures. Please, Clifton Lost by 6 wickets Mr. Allen, can I coach the J.C.C. next year? Poole Grammar School Match abandoned Plymourh College Drawn Team (from): T. M. Barton. M. l'. R. Bell. N. G. Butler. E. L. Clark, J. R. Cleverly. C. J. Grime. S. S. Maque, S.T. J. R. W. Mason, S. E. Patcr)On. M. V. Raleigh. S. A. Ramsay, P. D. Sclam, G. A. 0. Todd, M. C Willis. E. M. Wills, N. 0. Wilson, T . E. S. Wnght. Mini cons c Results: Played 3. Won 3 Never before can Sherborne have seen a 'C' team which was as enthusiastic or as talented as this. There was Clayesmore ·e· Won by 16S runs fierce competition 10 get into the side, and inevitably Marlborough Won by 214 runs some were disappointed, a situation exacerbated by three Mill field Won by I wicket opponents cancelling at "Short notice. It would be natter­ ing to think that this was because of our reputation, but I J.A.T.

77 C. Wilson at second pair. Although they were capable of patches of brilliant, powerful and Tennis creative play, their results were not always consis­ tent with their ability. At third pair A. Loftus part­ nered L. Baker. It took time for the pairing to settle down, but it was worth waiting for. Loftus's power­ 111" ful serve was devastating, and Baker's artistry and consistency, combined with his shrewd understand­ The season promised well with four members of ing of tactical opportunity proved extremely last year's successful team remaining, and with a effective. T. Okada represented the team on two new highly experienced tennis professional occasions and distinguished himself with his coaching the squad. The results were most gratify­ consistently effective play. He will be an asset to the ing: the side was unbeaten, conceding only 12Vi team next year. sets and winning the remaining 54. The match margins were large, Exeter School In strategy, the emphasis was on commanding getting the highest number of sets against us (3 Vi the net and forcing errors; psychologically the aim out of 9). The tenor of the matches was competitive was to defeat Marlborough, so often the only side and uncompromising. Marlborough, who had re­ to beat us. mained the key team to beat and the focus of The pairings took time to sellle. The proven preparation, were dispatched with relative ease. partnership between M. Honer and L. Baker at first Thanks must go to David Kemp, our profes­ pair looked rather stale, so M. Lytle partnered sional coach, who did so much to inspire the team, M. Honer and they proved virtually unbeatable, harness their enthusiasm and direct their ability conceding only one set in school matches (against a towards success. Such was the team spirit, that his Devon County pair}. The secret of their success was key phrase 'Take it early' was seldom not followed excellent concentration and consistency combined by the appropriate rejoinder 'Top of the bounce'. with sharp volleying and intelligent court-craft. Many thanks to Mervyn Brown and his team of What Honer had in touch, Lytle matched in deter­ groundsmen for their hard work on the grass courts mination. The captain, A. Crowe, was partnered by throughout the whole year. These courts remain the

78 envy of most schools on the circuit. Credit must go Mention must also be made of an enthusiastic and to Alex Loftus for bringing the most delicious unbeaten 3rd VI, ably captained by R. Triggs. moment of the term for MJAS. In the Youll Cup The following rtp~nred rht sldts: match against Repton, he aced the U l7 England 1nd VJ: R. T. de V. Welchman (Captain). S. J. Welsh, Singles Champion three times in the opening game, 0 . W. Figgis, T. Okada, P . D. Hammond·Giles, prompting the following question from the fuU­ C. E. H. Pa1ttt0n, E. R. D. Davies, R. J. A. Triggs, time Repton tennis professional (now shifting ner­ J. A. R. Campbell, C. K. D. Brown, C. E. H. Fairlie. vously on his courtside seat next to MJAS) 'So how Jrd VJ: R. J. A. Triggs (Captain), A. T. Wise, J. R. Hosp, long do you spend on court with them each week?' W. B. A. Cook, C. E. H. Fairlie, C. K. D. Brown. The fact that we only won three more games in the entire match was immaterial. 2nd Ill: My thanks to all for a first-class and highly Results: Play~ 6, Won S, Lost I. enjoyable season. King's Taunton w 6-6 The following represented the side: M. P. Honer, Downside w 8-1 C. M. S. Lytle, A. J. Crowe (Captain). C. M. Wilson, Bryaruton w 6-3 L. Baker, A. J. T. Loftus, J. A. R. Campbell, T. Okada, Marlborough L 4 -S 0 . W. Figgis. Can ford w 7-2 Milton Abbey Abandoned (rain) Results: Played 9, Won 7, Lost 0, Unfinished 2. Clifton w 7-2 School Matches: Jrd n King's Taunton w 71/i - I Y: Results: Played 2, Won 3. Downside w 8 - I Bryans ton w 71/i - IV: Marlborough w S - 4 Marlborough w 71/i - I Y: Canford w 8-1 Can ford w 71/i -11/i Clifton w 7 -2 M.J.A.S. Exeter School w sv. -3 V. Other Matches: Hants Juniors Rained off at 2 Yi - 11/i Colla VI Pilgrims Match unfinished The Colts VI had a successful season, playing some Honer and Lytle were runners up to Bournemouth School good tennis and winning their matches. One of the secrets in the South-West Schools Doubles, but represented of their success was to have a squad of twelve players, all Dorset in the South-West Counties final, losing to Exeter of whom were keen to gel into the team. Strength in depth School (Devon). meant 1ha1 the inevitable crop of injuries and weddings did not necessitate a weakened side being produced. II In the P.S.L.T.A. Championships (Youn Cup) held at was also pleasing that the early arrival, and prolonged Eton College in the holidays, the team (Honer, Lytle, existence, of GCSEs did not distract from practice times Loftus and Welchman) defeated Clifton in the second or matches. round, and lost 10 Repton (the eventual winners of the The first match of the season against King's Taunton competition) in the third. has been a difficult fixture for the last couple of seasons, and this year proved no exception. New partnerships, M.J.A.S. fresh in misunderstanding, tend 10 reveal their weaknesses before a stronger side and so it transpired. Later in the season, I am sure that the ream would have acquitted itself more creditably. 2nd VI Thereafter victories were achieved, generally quite easily, against Downside, Bryanston, Marlborough and This was a very successful and enjoyable season, Exeter. Against Canford there were some good games, marred only by one unfortunate defeat against but the stronger side deservedly won. The weather Marlborough. The standard of play was very high for a brought an early end 10 the match against Hampshire second six, but characterised by inconsistency and Juniors. comparatively poor court-craft. As the term progressed, the players gained confidence S. Welsh and T. Okada proved a successful first pair, in their ability to volley al the net and thus the whole the former powerful but erratic, and the latter stylish and speed of the game quickened noticeably. This was a most consistent. O. Figgis proved determined and intelligent on welcome development and marked the transition from court with R. Welchman, who always rose to the occasion boys' to men's tennis. If they can build upon this, then and was always firm under pressure. He also captained their tennis will certainly improve. the side efficiently and inspiringly. The third pair, Stephen Clark was a most efficient captain who C. Paterson and E. Davies, had sound technique, but shouldered 11\UCh of the administrative burden, for which found it hard to produce results under pressure. 1 was very grateful. He also gave perceptive advice when it The Marlborough match was the most memorable, but came 10 the selection of teams and the formation of pairs. very closely fought. The team raised the standard of their play but narrowly failed to clinch the match. The following played: S. D. Clark (Captain), C. K. D. Brown, Olivier Loubi~re, the French assistant, ably managed P. S. N. Fidgen, A. A. Galswonby, J. P. Kershaw, J. J.B. Larby, the side and spent much time coaching and advising the J. S. Mackenzie, C. M. C. O'Callaahan, B. E. J. Powis, boys. J. A. R. Powis, A. E. C. Woodward.

79 Resu/1s: Played 7. Won 4, Lost 2, Abandoned 1. King's Taunton L 2-7 Swimming Downside w 6-3 Bryanston w 6-3 Marlborough w 7-2 Can ford L 3-6 The departure, en masse, of the outstanding Hampshire Juniors Abandoned Rain 1989 side meant that the Senior team was lacking Exeter w 7-2 somewhat in numbers and in experience. Once ill­ S.D.A.M. ness and other vicissitudes had taken their toll, suc­ cess proved at times predictably hard to achieve. A convincing victory was recorded early on against Junior Colts VI Kingswood, but the Canford and Taunton matches revealed some weaknesses in key areas. A highly A remarkably good season followed on from a rather competent King's Bruton side gave us probably the shaky start. The first match produced a draw at King's best fixture of the season, culminating in a Taunton. All pairs played rather hesitantly, not showing Sherborne victory by a single point. At other times, enough determination to win. The arrival of the profes­ the effort put in during training obstinately sional coach spurred the team on to show more of their failed to translate itself into match results. skills on court and produce a more aggressive and deter­ C. F. lngarfield showed his true form only intermit­ mined approach to their game. The team now began to show much more confidence in their wins over Downside tently, but even so managed to win most of his and Bryanston, the latter match producing an extremely races. Otherwise the team relied heavily upon good 7-2 walkover, which boosted morale no end. The R. Clay, M. E. T. Austen, P. C. Wreford-Brown move from the Hyle courts to the astro1urf proved and its captain, E. Chaffer. problematic, and the Marlborough match was plagued by With the Juniors it was a different story. Here the inability to gauge the different speed and bounce of the ball. The match against Hampshire Juniors was really there was strength in depth, matched by en­ beginning to test the team, who were all very surprised by thusiasm, and, under the discerning captaincy of the strength of their opposition, when rain stopped play I. M. Davies, impressive results were achieved. after the first round. Determined to end the season in Ac this level only Taunton showed genuine style and improve their record of play on artificial superiority, while victory against a strong Canford surfaces, the team played excellent matches at Canford and Clifton winning 8-1 and 5-4 respectively. team - our first for a number of years - was The frequent changes in partnerships meant that it was particularly gratifying. Davies, R. K. H . Masters, difficult to establish a regular squad. However, the team H. C. M. Rogers and the irrepressible W. J. Aldous was led from the front by the strong partnership of Field all produced powerful and stylish swimming and Thomas, who only dropped three sets all season. The throughout the season, while N. C. Southcott second and third pairs usually included the very able and J. A. Barnard from the Fourth Form, and Pearce, who earned the reputation of being able to hit back absolutely anything that came over the net. S. A. Ramsay and C. R. Monro from the Third The rival squash players Donald and Tyrwbiu-Drake Form, competed well against older opposition. added their considerable racquet skills to most of the 1991 should be a fine year for Sherbome swim­ matches, Donald with a powerful serve and Tyrwhitt­ ming. Drake producing excellent shots at the net. My thanks to all who swam, and to the army of Contributions from the Third Form partnership of Sclater and Woodall gave them good match practice for time-keepers and recorders who kept fixtures run­ next season, when I am sure they will be the backbone of ning smoothly. KLM trained the team throughout the Junior Colts. the Lent Term, and has my best wishes as she takes My thanks go to Jeremy Field for his quiet but capable sole charge next year. Thanks also to H H DP, most captaincy of the squad and to all the members of the team tactful of umpires, most severe of post-match for such an enjoyable season. critics. The following played: J. M. field, D. M. A. Thomas, C. J. S. Donald, M. J. Pearce, R. E. M. Tyrwhiu-Drake, M.J.B. T. A. Cartwright, M. T. Treadwell, F. Pakzad, S. J. Woodall, P. D. Sclater, M. A. Hammond-Giles, C. R. Monro, N. G. Maciver.

Resul1s: Played 7, Won 4, Lost I, Drawn I, Abandoned I. Athletics

King's Taunton 0 4!h-4 !h Downside w s -4 The Athletics season this year was perhaps not Bryanston w 7 -2 quite as fruitful as in previous years, owing to in­ Marlborough L 3 -6 jury problems and talent being perhaps at the Hampshire Juniors Abandoned Rain wrong end of the age groups. But, nevertheless, a Can ford W 8 -I Clifton w s - 4 lean year for Sherbome would stilJ be the envy of our competitors and on balance as a team, we main­ K.L.M. tain that we are still the best in the south-west; and

80 as you can see from the results below there were Shcrborne Relays Winners very few defeats for our teams. However, more and Area U 16 Championships Winners more individual athletes were achieving excellence, Ul6 Eight Schools (inc. Millfield) Winners as was displayed at the L.A.C. (The Public UIS Eight Schools (inc. Mill field) Winners Schools' National Championships) from which we came home laden with silver. Particular reference must be made to Matthew Macbeth, who seemed to be in a class of his own County Championships and never looked like being defeated aJJ season. He represented County Team: went on to represent Great Britain in August and Barber 200m came seventh in a European meeting in Belgium, Macbeth 400m Robinson 400m also picking up gold in the 4 x 400m relay. Ed Evans 400m Hurdles Raymond and Matthew Pearman (at the wrong end Animashawun L.J./T.J. of the age group) and Duncan Craig aJJ gained Caesar Discus memorable victories at those championships and Lea Javelin show much promise for the future. Raymond 3,000m Pearman L.J. My thanks as always to coaches Cameron, Treverton Javelin Harris, Thompson, Warren and Gibson for their Maciver 200m time and effort. Craig L.J.

Results: Plum1rccs/ 8ryans1on Ul5/UJ7/ U20 All 1eamswoo Notional Championships Millficld/Quccn's/ Grcnvillc/ Ul5/ Ul7 - Won Dorset Qualifiers: Clif1on/ Plymou1b/ U20 - 3rd Macbeth 400m King 's/ Daun1sey's Raymond 3.000m Trevenon Javelin Lutra Shield Winners Pearman L.J. Can ford/ Taunton/ Ul5/ Ul7/ U20 Craig L.J. Millon Abbcy/ Bryanston All 1eamswon Marlborough U20 - Woo UIS - 2nd Ul7 - 3rd S.J.C.

82 fourball better-ball format for this occasion; then Canford were beaten 4-2 in a borne match which in­ Golf cluded eight and seven victories for both Phil Brown and Ed Playfair in the top two matches. The third success came against Marlborough by a After the mixed fortunes of the Michaelmas margin of 5 Yz- Yi (sweet revenge for the defeat at Term during which, of the five matches played Burnham!) at Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club against other schools, two were won, two lost and on another very hot afternoon immediately after one halved, the results in schools matches during half-term but by the time we returned to Burnham the second half of the year were considerably on the last Sunday in June the weather had broken better. and it was quite a blustery day. However, a side As usual, our matches resumed near the end of containing a mixture of veterans and novices in­ the Lent Term in preparation for the annual visit to flicted a 6-0 defeat on Blundell's to end the season, Burnham-on-Sea during the Easter holidays co bar the match against the Parents, which this year take part in the West of England Public Schools' the boys managed to win 6Y2-2Y2 on the Friday of Invitation Golf Tournament. Playing on two suc­ Commemoration. The only summer match which cessive Sundays in mid-March, the team first used has not yec been mentioned is that their local knowledge to advantage in achieving between the School and Staff and the 0 .S.G.S. quite a surprising victory over new opponents from which was played on a Sunday in May when the old Bristol University and then the following week went boys succeeded in regaining the Tom Parry salver. to High Post and managed to prevail against both In School competitions the Kemp Cup was won Bradfield and Charterhouse in this annual by Phil Brown when he defeated Ed Playfair in the triangular contest on this always challenging final, and the Farley Cup by Stuart Gillett after course. beating Marcus Chantrey. The final of the Inter­ So the boys went to Burnham in good heart and House Foursomes competition produced a most pretty much at full strength. For once the course exciting contest in which Phil Brown and Stuart was playing quite easily as the weather was fair with Gillett of The Digby, having been three down at scarcely a bre.eze. In the first round we were drawn one stage, eventually managed to prevail over Matt against Cheltenham, always an unknown quantity Couzens and William Hargrove of Westcott but to us as we do not come up against them on the only at the second extra hole. circuit. Several of the matches were fairly close but in the end we won by 3 Yi -1 Yi. That afternoon we The following were regular members of the team during came up against Marlborough in the semi-final. All the 1989-90 school year: the matches were heavily contested and in the end M. D. Ratcliffe (Captain), P. C. F. Brown (Captain­ all depended on the outcome of the last match, designate), M. M. Couzens (Secretary-designate), which was in fact being played between the oppos­ S. J. Welsh, S. Gillen, E. H. L. Playfair, S. Lawn, ing No. l's as some late lunches had caused the R. E. C. Tregarthen. playing order to be altered. Our No. 1, Stuart Gillett, was three down with five to play but fought P.S.F. back to dormey one down on the 18th tee, and all of us watching were fully expecting this match to have to go to a sudden death play-off until we saw the top Marlborough player manage to get down in two from about 80 yards to halve the hole and take the match. For the first time for many years, then, Shooting Sherborne were not in action on the Wednesday morning in either the plate final or the final itself. This year the competition was won by 'dark horses' Monmouth, who whitewashed Marlborough 5-0. As in previous years, thousands of rounds have Early in the Trinity Term it was pleasing to gone down the indoor range during the course of secure a half at Sherborne Golf Club against a the two winter terms. So much so that the quantity Millfield second team but then came the heaviest of lead in the sand of the stop butt was reaching a defeat of the whole year, when we went down 6-0 to dangerous level. In fact, the range was closed dur­ a very strong Bristol G.S. team on a ing the summer term. Since then the sand has been scorching afternoon at Bristol and Clifton Golf replaced and the whole range has had a repaint and Club where several of their players are junior a facelift, which is a great improvement members. However, the remaining four schools The two main .22 competitions are those run by matches of the season were all won, an especially the British Schools Smallbore Rifle Association and creditable achievement as three of these were played the Country Life. In the former, four teams were on away courses. In the first we beat Milton Abbey entered in the Michaelmas Term and three in the at Ashley Wood Golf Club in the now traditional Lent Term. A number of possibles were scored on

83 five bull targets, including, for the first time, two holidays. Many of them were young and inex­ Third Formers, Dan Rogers and Ben Wallis, both perienced, being in only the Third or Fourth Form. of School House. This enabled the Under 15 team However, they did as well as could be expected and to win their division. showed a lot of enthusiasm. If they keep it up, we Two teams were entered for the Country Life can look forward to some good scores in the future. competition, consisting of group, snap, rapid and The meeting was not without some success. Jon landscape. Very few schools enter two teams. The Keith of Abbeylands won the pistol competition, in first team came 17th out of eighty entries and the which he showed a lot of determmation, and this second, 36th. This was not quite as good as last year was a great achievement. It was first won for but still very creditable. The rapid is the most Sherbome by James Laurence, of Wallace House, difficult section and it is here that more practjce is in 1984. (The Bursar has promised us a new pistol!). needed. The cadet pair, this time Ed Rogers and Chris With the coming of the Trinity Term, we got out Croft, came 12th, the highest position for many the 7 .62 full bore rifles and set off for Mere, usually years. The scoreboard, which shows the top twenty twice a week and mainly in the evenings, as the or so, did not have a printed sign for Sherborne so range was not available in the afternoon. There was it had to be wriuen up in chalk. Perhaps next year much enjoyable shooting during the lovely summer they will! In the Public Schools Snap Shooting weather. competition Ed Rogers got a possible, 50 out of 50; At the South-West District meeting the cadet this is excellent shooting. In the ensuing tie shoot he pair, Ed Rogers and John Rowe, won their com­ scored 48 which, unfortunately, was not enough to petition. Using the new Cadet GP rifle for the first put him in the first three. time, the team came second in both the snap 1989-90 has been a most enjoyable year in the shooting competition and the Marling. They would shooting world. There has been a great deal of also have come second in the 'Ashburton' had not interest and enthusiasm. However, having said one member of the team put his last shot on the that, any boy who really wants to get to the top in wrong target. Such is the need for continuous chis sport, and I am sure there are many who could, concentration in the sport of shooting! must show complete dedication, both to .22 and The team which went to Bisley was much full bore. This means, for example, joining a club depleted for various reasons, not least the fact that and shooting in the holidays and staying on for the the meeting was held in the third week of the main meeting at Bisley after the Schools meeting.

~fr~gA '\9'~ ~WO.t> QLut6!

'Small bore shooting•

84 There is a British Cadet Rifle Team (full bore) and we are indebted to English China Clay for called the Athelings. They go to Canada every allowing us to extend our licence. There is little summer to shoot against the Canadians, and the doubt that if we were applying now for the first Canadians come to Bisley. Some of you will have time for permission to sail at Arne, we would be seen them this year. Sherborne has not been turned down. We are grateful to our Commodore, represented on this team for a very long time. The John Riley, for setting up our first agreement in the squad consists of about sixteen cadets. I wonder if mid-Sixties. It is this long-standing arrangement there are any Shirburnians keen enough and and our good relat ions with the R.S.P.B. Warden dedicated enough to attempt to be selected for this and with the villagers of Arne that have made this team. lf so, they must start now. extension possible. In the event, there was no water in Sutton Bingham reservoir in September and so J.P.R. we also kept our 470s at Poole and held our home matches there. One of the encouraging things about the Club is the growing number of boys who can take charge of 470s without undue trouble. The experience gained from this responsibility is invaluable in maturing both the boys' sailing ability, and their personal Sailing confidence.

camps After several years of difficulty, the Sailing Club is now fortunate in having many masters who are After a small but enjoyable half-term camp, the willing to help. There are now so many experienced end-of-term camp proved as popular as ever, with helms on the teaching staff that the Common forty boys spending part of the first two weeks of Room should soon be able to produce a team to July at Arne. The wind was force 8-9 on the first challenge the boys! Sunday morning, but soon abated and it was poss­ SKW has taken over School Racing and, with ible to sail on every day except the first Wednesday, his expert coaching and Alex Davey's enthusiasm, when the rain and wind drove us to seek the relative the Senior team bas had a very successful season. safety of the Bournemouth cinemas. The Senior team was third in the Dorset Schools On the Friday of the first week, Crispin Tombs Competition, second in the B.S.D.R.A. at Theale. (0.S.) arranged for us to race six 1938 'Redwings' (We were fifth last year.) Alexander Davey and Tim round South Deep. These beautifully balanced Nicholson came third out of about 45 schools in the boats are very exciting to sail and the race was won Schools Sailing Competition at ltchenor arranged by SKW. by Dolphin Computers. Tim has been awarded his I am very grateful to Mrs. Smith of Abbeylands major colours for sailing. for mending tents and sails for us, sometimes at Next Easter, the School team is to tour the east very short notice, and to John Lord and his staff in coast of America, staying initially at Tabor the Dining Hall for all their help. Academy near Boston. Tabor visited England this The Sailing Club travelled 12,000 minibus miles year and won the B.S.D.R.A. Finals, so. competi­ last term and I am extremely grateful to CGBH, tion will be keen. IL, JSM, PR, DS and SKW for driving up and The Green, captained by Robin Durie, the down the road to Poole, for manning safety boats Cruising Secretary, won the House Sailing competi­ in some unpleasant conditions and for risking their tion by beating Lyon House in the final in our 470s lives by coaching inexperienced helms in lively at Poole. dinghies.

Racing Results Cruising Senior team: Won 10, Lost 4. A. C. R. Davey, T. R. J. Nicholson, R. Heron, 142 members visited Arne on a total of 764 J. S. Ridout, N. S. Ridout, R. B. Gleadow, T. Knapper, occasions in the Trinity Term, giving an average of J. C. Roberts, C. E. J. Sowerbutts, B. C. Hawkins. 5.38 days per member. The number includes 157 weekend stays (camping overnight) and 450 day Junior team: Won I. visits. N. C. A. Sowerbutts, T. I. B. Porter, N. J. Wright, For the first time ever, we had planned to keep T. C. de C. Clay, E. M. Wills, J. S. Ridout. our 420s, 5-0 -5 and Hobiecat and our windsurfers at Poole for the first half of the Michaelmas Term, A.J.Y.

85