St Bede's Magazine Bradford
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ST BEDE'S MAGAZINE BRADFORD SUMMERI9S6 VOL. VII. No. -4 CONTENTS page SCHOOL NOTES 161 FROM THE CLASSROOMS 165 SCHOOL CAPTAIN'S REPORT 167 LIST OF PREFECTS, 1955-56 168 SENIOR SOCIETY 168 SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY 170 THE CATHOLIC SOCIETY 170 MUSIC NOTES 172 DANCE COMMITTEE REPORT 173 THE LADIES' COMMITTEE 173 PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 174 THE ROWING CLUB 174 THE BADMINTON CLUB 175 SCOUT NOTES 176 SWIMMING 177 ATHLETICS 177 GYM CLUB 178 FOOTBALL 178 BONN 181 'KIDNAPPED l' 182 AN APPRECIATION OF 'MR BYCULLA' AND OTHER NOVELS " 183 THE BARD AT BEDE'S 184 THE FELL ..... 186 THE VINTAGE 187 HARVESTING 187 CAR-GOES ..... 187 HIGHLIGHTS OF HITCH-HIKING 188 THE RULE OF THREE IN THE BALLROOM 188 EXAMS 189 RETIREMENT OF MR COOGAN 190 MRS ASHBY 190 ODE 191 CHOIR 192 NIGHT 192 SCHOOL PARTY IN BELGIUM 193 JOURNEY TO AUSTRALIA 194 EASTER IN POLAND 195 THE STARLIT SKY 196 SOME LIMERICKS 196 HOLIDAY SYMPOSIUM 197 ROUND THE WORLD WITH DRAKE 201 MATER ADMIRABILIS 202 UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES 202 SPEECH DAY 208 EXAMINATION SUCCESSES, 1954-55 209 OLD BOYS' NOTES ..... 213 OLD BOYS' J.OTTINGS 2;1:4 STAFF, 1955-56 220 Produced by Lower Sixth Arts THREE OF THE 18 TROPHIES FOR SPORTS ST BEDE'S MAGAZINE VOL. VII. NO.4 SUMMER 1956 SCHOOL NOTES SEPTEMBER The commencement of the School Year, 6th September, with the arrival of 151 new boys found us with a roll of 812, a number that strained our capacity to the utmost. Every type of room was called into service as a classroom. Even the senior dining-room served other things than dinners. The friendly and familiar sight of Mrs Ashby, absent owing to illness, was missed in the office. In her place we welcomed Mrs Wright, who came to assist Miss Bottomley in the administration. An addition to the Staff was Mr Jones who joined the Technical wing: we also welcomed M. Carrasset who came to us as French assistant for the year. A shadow was cast over the early days by news of the death of Ernest Exley (IlIB), killed in a cycling accident. We offer our deepest sympathy to his family. R.I.P. OCTOBER Great changes are taking place in the science department. For some time now there have been noises of demolition and reconstruction on the top floor. The Chemistry laboratory is being refitted and refurnished to accommodate larger numbers in the Science Sixth. Meanwhile, we gaze in awe at the skill of craftsmen and suffer the hammering that distracts our lessons. The Prefects' dances are running successfully. The symphony concerts are greatly appreciated, the Senior Society has had its . first debate, the Jazz Society is in session, football has begun with satisfactory victories. We are well in the swing. Congratulations to J. McManus, P. Burke, C. Rayner on gaining prizes in the Joseph Wright Centenary Essay Competition, organized by the Yorkshire Dialect Society. St Bede's is proud to have gained three out of five prizes awarded. NOVEMBER After a welcome break at half-term (how soon it came upon us) we returned fresh and eager for the final gallop to Christmas. The reason for the few anxious faces among the Seniors was the G.C.E. supplementary examination, held late in the month. Subsequent results proved for many of them that their extra work had not been wasted. The November Fair run by the Ladies' Committee is reported elsewhere. Many of the boys helped in the preliminary arrange ments and many more thoroughly enjoyed the function on the I62 ST BEDE'S MAGAZINE Saturday. The Children's Corner, run by the Prefects, was a howling success; the Hobbies Exhibition was a popular innovation; the Bottle Stall never had a dry moment; and the Book Department had an immense circulation. Mr Neville left us at the end of the month to take up a post in Ireland. During the two years he had been with us the School benefited greatly from his capable teaching in the Science department. He made many friends amongst staff and boys during his stay. We wish him every success in his new career. DECEMBER There is always a pleasant air about December. Perhaps we feel that, once the month starts, we are entering on the last lap of the first term. It may be we appreciate the pleasant break afforded to us on the 6th, with the celebrations for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, including High Mass, relaxation from work, and Staff v. ISt XI in the afternoon. The Staff having succeeded in importing new blood (or should it be bloods!) succeeded in losing by only 2-I. Then there are Speech Days. This year we had two-Junior School and Senior School at separate times. Finally, there are the closing days, free from examination worries, marked by happy anticipation of the coming Christmas and climaxed here at school by the Carol Service in the hall. The customary pattern was followed this year with changed readings: there were taken from the Old and New Testaments and St Augustine. We regret to announce the death of Mr McCabe, assistant caretaker, after a long and patiently endured illness. We offer our deep sympathy to his family and relatives. R.I.P. JANUARY Without being severe the weather on our return was cold and wet-chiefly wet. The days, for Staff and boys, are made much longer by the lack of the break in the grounds and open air between morning and afternoon sessions. Dinner times have to be spent in the hall and classrooms-long periods when work is impossible and games are limited. The boys, under the charge of Prefects, are to be commended on their orderliness and restraint. We were glad to welcome our former scholars from Ushaw. They were rivals in a keen soccer match (I-I) and guests of the Headmaster to tea. We offered our Masses and prayers for Gerard Carroll (Vb), who died on the Igth. The School attended the Requiem Mass at St Joseph's. R.I.P. FEBRUARY Inclement skies prevented extended play on the feasts of the Purification and St Blaise, which were celebrated in traditional fashion in Chapel. ......... ---.. -~--.-~-- ----_._----- - ST BEDE'S MAGAZINE Examinations then wrapped the School up in serious and anxious looks. The tests cover every class, with reports to follow, but for the Seniors they are even more tense as they are full rehearsals for the coming G.C.E. examination in July. Entries can depend on the results, so they have a right to· be taken seriously. Congratulations to B. Jackson and M. Holmes who won prizes in the Essay Competition of the St Andrew's Society. MARCH Early this month we had our General Inspection. A strong force of H.M. Inspectors, representing every course of study and all aspects of school routine and administration, kept everyone busy, tense, anxious and even stimulated for three days. Looking back we can realize how thoroughly and efficiently their task was performed. Little was missed. The main iIIlpression is of courtesy and tactful help. We are glad to say that the general report was a very good one. Later in the month we were happy to welcome three teams from St Bede's, Manchester, to football and tea. We hope this is the first of many visits. We were honoured by the presence of His Lordship, the Bishop of Leeds to give us our Senior Retreat. The Middles' Retreat was taken by Fr George Dwyer, head of the Catholic Missionary Society. APRIL The Senior XI reached the final in the Inter-High Schools' Football Competition and, in a close and agreeable game at Valley Parade won the cup again by three goals to one. We thank Carlton for a pleasant and sporting match.· We regret to announce the death of Mrs Ashby (Miss Thompson) on the 22nd. As we wrote earlier in these notes she was absent through illness at the opening of school, but hopes of her recovery had been held. At the Requiem Mass at St Walburga's, on the 26th, in addition to boys and staff from the School, there were present many Old Boys, past masters (including Mgr Tindall, Fr Palframan, Fr Molony), representatives of the Governors and of the Education Committee. A personal tribute to a great worker appears elsewhere in this issue. R.I.P. MAY A visit to the Careers' Exhibition at St George's Hall was the chief event of note in this month. Each class in the school went in turn and all the boys appreciated the very numerous stalls and exhibitions covering almost every trade and profession. Whilst at St Bede's for the Retreat, the Bishop .of Leeds was presented with two pieces of craftwork executed by the Technical staff. He asked if this department could make him a silver chalice. B ST BEDE'S MAGAZINE At the end of May the chalice and paten, made in the Technical Department and gold-plated in the Science Department, were taken to the Bishop, who expressed admiration and gratitude for the finished work, which he praised as a beautifully designed and carefully executed piece of craftsmanship. JUNE There was a time when June saw a crowded examination room with rows of scholars perspiring over their papers, taking occasional nourishment from a milk-bottle. Once, even, jugs of lemonade were provided by a kind-hearted staff. Two alterations are to be seen in the order of things this year. Flaming June is raw and chilly and rather damp. Real Test cricket weather.