The Abingdonian
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THE ABINGDONIAN THE ABINGDONIAN volume eighteen, number two July 1984 O.A. Editor: R. C. B. Coleman Treasurer: W. H. Zawadzki Photography: C. Biggs C. Parker Editor: R. S. K. Mearns Sub-Editors: Adam Spring Robert Dwek Alex Hunt for management of the School over several EDITORIAL centuries. In at least one of these cases, there is more of interest than Preston himself was aware; In the archives of Pembroke College, Oxford, is and there are other collections of material in a letter written at the end of 1934 by Arthur Oxford, principally in the Bodleian, which have not Preston, the Abingdon antiquarian, to the Senior been used so far. Tutor at that time, who was greatly interested in Even in the central matter of the School's own the links between College and School. Preston historic possessions, Preston under-estimated the remarks: "At the time I was putting together my case. Since his time, the deed boxes of the notes on the early history of the School, I School's solicitors have yielded up a not remember that I was rather astonished to find inconsiderable treasure trove of documents of there were no records in the hands of the varying ages and significance, which allow us the Headmaster containing information of the past." chance of adding substantially to our Such surprise was understandable, for the understanding. The most valuable and important School's history is long, and not lacking in of these documents, the original 1563 occasional episodes both of distinction and of ordinances, and an indenture sealed by John scandal - the latter, perhaps, even more likely Roysse which transferred part of his London than the former to leave behind a litter of property to the use of the re-founded School, are documentation. But much has probably been about to be properly conserved, mounted and allowed to disappear from sight in the periods of displayed, through the generosity of the O.A. dullness and decline which have repeatedly Trust Fund. Others are being catalogued and followed the episodes of interest. Furthermore, at stored - an undertaking in which I am employing all times until the present century, the School has at least part of the sabbatical term which the been so small that it would most likely have Governors have generously granted to me this seemed a luxury to attempt the internal keeping of summer. archives. And, lastly, Abingdon has been too In sum, we are increasingly conscious and "typical" through most of its history for people careful of our past, and are finding that there is generally to think it worth while recording what more of it than we had realised. (Nor does this must have appeared to them routine, obvious and apply only to documentary relics: heirlooms of all insignificant. sorts, and most particularly, pictures, are coming The period since the last war, however, has to light in surprising quantities and are being given seen considerable development in this, as in other such attention as we can afford.) aspects of the School's business. Changes in the All this activity will perhaps be of direct interest size and status of the establishment have only to a few; but it will have a more general value generated quantities of archival material which if it enhances popular awareness of the past to will, if allowed to survive, afford fascinating which we owe so many of our present resources for future historians. At the same time, opportunities. There is no logical reason why we the growth of a fresh attitude towards our past should see more c1early where we are going if we has brought in a trickle, slight in volume but very know where we have come from; but it does worth while, if "heirloom benefactions" from Old appear to be a truth about the behaviour of Boys and others. (To do full justice, in fact, we institutions and communities that they show more must trace the origins of this latter process a good collective confidence, and thus bestow more deal further back, beyond the activities and gifts confidence on their individual members, when of Arthur Preston, mentioned above, to another they have a strong and unworried sense of their Old Abingdonian, W. H. Richardson, who gave us history. Such confidence can breed arrogance, of a quantity of material at the end of the last course, but lack of it is even more likely to breed century.) anxious aggressiveness. By increasing our Nor were the prospects for historians of the collective self-knowledge, we may hope to avoid School so limited as Preston's remark, taken in both extremes. isolation, might appear to suggest. As he himself We live in times full of possibilities for schools went on to point out, there is much such as Abingdon, and not lacking in perils. So, as documentation relating to the School in the we reach one hand out to grasp the future, it archives of other institutions - notably the seems only prudent, as weil as pious, to tighten Borough of Abingdon, Christ's Hospital, and our grip with the other on the past. Pembroke College, the bodies chiefly responsible M. St. J. P. 1 ENTRIES TO OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE AUTUMN 1984 CAMBRIDGE College To read OXFORD College To read Awards Award J. Lee Pembroke English J. E. Robson Pembroke Classics (Scholarship) (Scholarship) P. J. Owen Trinity Hall Medicine (Scholarship) Places S. J. B. Reynolds St. John's Natural Sciences S. J. Dewhurst St. Anne's Engineering (Exhibition) J. R. Flynn Oriel Medicine A. W. Jones Magdalen History P1aces P. W. May Christ Church P.P.E. B. R. Keeping Trinity Mathematics D. A. Sperry Pembroke Medicine P. J. Ladmore Robinson Law R. N. Ward St. Edmund Hall Biochemistry P. J. Rodgers Queens' Mathematics (7) (6) COMMON ROOM NEWS House. Teddy assists in the Boat Club, and as weil as teaching Hebrew, has galvanised the Film The end of the summer term saw a number of Society into showing a dazzling array of departures. Alan Futter and Nikos Georgiakis left continental features. It was wit/7 regret that we us for fresh numerical pastures. The latter's saw the departure of two people from the English vitality was formidable and although we never Department. Mark Jones left us to seek further actually saw him play the bazuki, we more than possibilities in publishing. His place has been suspect that he will be regaling his colleagues in taken by William Marston, now a resident tutor at Charterhouse with its finer subtleties. They have Waste Court. William is also the editor of the been replaced by Mrs.• since Dr. Fitt - and on the Record, the concise chronicie of the term's addition of this latter appellation we heartily activities which he has inherited from David congratulate her - and Peter Jones who comes to Smith. We have abiding memories of David's us fresh from St. Stithian's College, South Africa. vigour, intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for Both have been heavily involved in the Boat Club drama. We wish him and his wife weil at Mal'Y and Peter's influence has been particularly Hare. David's place has been taken this term by marked, as he is a leading authority in this activity. Patricia Esler whose knowledge of all things This year too saw the departure of Paul Simpson dramatic is remarkable. For the whole of the Lent to be a resident Housemaster at the Mary Hare Term we were without Hubert Zawadski as he National School for the Deaf at Newbury. Paul's was engaged in the complexities of research at verve, talent for playing the organ and master Oxford. His place was taken by Richard Sharp, minding Lost Property are very much missed. The and Richard's reflections on a term at Abingdon latter chore has fallen the way of lan Smith who are printed on the opposite page. Common Room joins us from York to teach Physics. A man of has also been fortunate to share the skills and many parts, lan has already taken boys to Iinguistic interests of Clive Johnson and Bridget Dartmoor on the Ten Tors trip. He replaces Dr. Wade for two terms, the former has been teaching Edward Mallia who has taken on the difficult task Latin, the latter French. One final point: last year's of furthering the cause of private education in his number may have given the impression that native Malta. We wish him and his family every Lacies' Court was designed by Lutyens; this is not success. Paul Simpson's place has been taken so, it is simply in his idiom. over by Teddy Birnberg, resident tutor in School 2 CHAPEL NOTES These notes are written at the end of a term which has seen two encouraging developments within the life and worship of the Chapel. The first has been the emergence of a group, consisting largely of fifth and sixth formers, which meets each Monday lunch-time for Bible study, prayer and discussion. One of the attractions of this C.C.F. group is that it gives others, apart from the Chaplain, an opportunity to lead this sort of Since the early 1960s the C.C.F. has been activity and my hope is that it will go from housed in a breeze-block-built, poorly heated and strength to strength. unsightly hut behind the Bursary. With the The second development has been the development of this area as car-parking for the reintroduction of voluntary chapel on a Friday Amey Hall, new Technology Centre and morning. This occasion also provides welcome Maintenance Building, a move for the C.C.F.