KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 3, No. 4 N. M. Whitehouse, Clare College, to read Economics. OXBRIDGE AWARDS AND ENTRANCES 1971 Oxford T. G. C. Bird, Magdalen College, to read AWARDS Chemistry. Cambridge D. C. Bromage, Trinity College, to read Metal- C. B. Jones, Scholarship in Natural Sciences, lurgy. Pembroke College. N. J. Cleverley, Magdalen College to read S. M. J. Arrowsmith, Exhibition in English, Classics. Queens' College. A. K. Morgan, Corpus Christi College, to read J. M. Burling, Exhibition in History, St. John's Physics. College. M. J. Cardinal, Exhibition in History, Magdalene College. RUGBY FOOTBALL R. G. Maltby, Exhibition in History, St. Cathar- ¡ne's College. The First XV has enjoyed mixed fortunes this G. H. Smith, Exhibition in English, Selwyn Col­ season, and by Christmas it had registered six lege. wins as against seven defeats. D.C.E.'s XV was easily beaten, but then the XV lost twice to strong sides A. R. D. Starr, Exhibition in Engineering, Clare from Warwick and Denstone. A detailed list of College. results appears at the end of this report, and of Oxford these, undoubtedly the most pleasing was the W. A. Ewers, Scholarship in Engineering, Wor­ match against Worksop. This was a game in which cester College. the XV gained the initiative at the start and never N. J. Faithom, Scholarship in Physics, St. John's lost ¡ts control of the game. P. L. C. Knee scored College. 22 points, and this match seemed to bode well for the future. Unfortunately, the side could not A. Mitra, Scholarship in Classics, Keble College. maintain the flair and urgency which it had A. J. Morris, Scholarship in Music, The Queen's demonstrated in the match against Worksop, and College. slipped to defeats by Lawrence Sherrif, Broms­ R. J. Nicholas, Scholarship in Physics, Christ grove and Wrekin. A narrow win over Solihull Church. and wins against Cotton College and Universities S. P. Slade, Scholarship in Modern Languages, XV at the end of the term restored the confidence Oriel College. of the side. A. C. Smith, Scholarship in Classics, Exeter College. During the Christmas holidays, S. G. Johnson, G. T. Ruston, A. R. D. Starr and A. L. Burn played P. A. G. Friend, Exhibition in History, Pembroke for Greater Birmingham Schools, and S. M. Hol- College. lingworth played for the 2nd XV. Two perform­ P. D. Goakes, Exhibition in History, Exeter ances in particular stand out. In the match against College. Herefordshire, Starr, with a forceful display of PLACES wing three-quarter play, ran in four of Birming- ham's seven tries, while laying on another for John­ Cambridge son who is to be congratulated on his selection D. J. Aspinall, Selwyn College, to read Engineer­ for the Midland Schools XV—a notable achieve- ing. ment. J. Burnie, Downing College, to read Natural Sciences. A glance at the results of the other XV's shows that school rugby is flourishing. The Second XV A. D. G. Cumming, Emmanuel College, to read has recorded several notable victories and its Engineering. strength is indicated by the fact that a selection A. C. Foster, Sidney Sussex College, to read rota has been instituted. The Third XV is having Natural Sciences. ¡ts best season in l¡v¡ng memory and the hard core A. T. M. Freeman, Gonville and Caius College, of ¡ts players must be congratulated on their un- to read Classics. failing enthusiasm. The U.16 XV has had a difficult S. R. Harris, Selwyn College, to read Geography. time, although it has some promising players. The J. P. Minkes, Downing College, to read Law. U.15 XV, after losing ¡ts first two matches to War­ A. D. Monk, Fitzwilliam College, to read Engin­ wick and Denstone, has been undefeated. This eering. team has all-round strength and it ¡s to be hoped that this success will continué ¡n the sénior teams. P. A. Morris, Gonville and Caius College, to read The record of the U.14 XV is equally encouraging. Mathematics. After a disastrous 35 point defeat at the hands of R. Osborne, Peterhouse, to read Natural Warwick in the first match, this team carried all Sciences. before it and registered a 44 point win over J. M. Shaw, Peterhouse, to read Classics. Lawrence Sherrif. Their success is based on a G. P. Tranter, Sidney Sussex College, to read strong, mobile pack, supported by incisive three- Classics. quarters. The U.13 XV suffers from lack of size, D. R. Williams, Magdalene College, to read but despite this handicap, still manages to play Engineering. good rugby. lst XV Results Type A. It is interesting that not many members D.C.E.'s XV Won 17--3 of Type A can level any actual criticism of the course other than the fashionable remark " It's Warwick School Lost 12--29 such a drag." Conclusión: Professional drop-out. Denstone College Lost 3--21 DOES know but doesn't care. If thrust upon him Tettenhall College Won 19--3 at an earlier age, before he grew his hair long, Worksop College Won 28--3 might this course have yielded better results? Lost 5--13 Lawrence Sherrif The Type B boy knows slightly more of the Bromsgrove School Lost 16--28 topic under discussion than Type A, and is there­ Solihull School Won 9--8 fore more ¡nterested in it. His comments will be Ratcliffe College Lost 3--20 mainly concerned with each lecture week by week. Wrekin College Lost -13 Many people might get a lot more out of the King's School, Worcester Lost 3--5 course if they thought of the relevance of each week's topic to themselves now. Cotton College Won 15--12 The course was not ¡ntended as a mammoth Universities XV Won 17--6 history lesson, but the lessons to be learnt from Overall Results all the lectures have a bearing on contemporary P. W. D. L. F. A. society. For ¡nstance, the underrated talk on lst XV ... 13 6 0 7 153 164 monasticism was dismissed by some as being irrele- vant and boring in contení. Looked at in the light 2nd XV ... 10 6 1 3 116 66 of contemporary society, it can be seen that monas- 3rd XV ... 7 4 1 2 89 107 teries and monks can offer a refuge and a useful U.16 XV ... 8 2 0 6 49 146 occupation to those who wish to withdraw in U.15 XV ... 9 6 1 2 136 64 part from modern society. Monks at least have a U.14 XV ... 9 7 1 1 187 80 creative belief whereas the 20th century Hippie U.13 XV ... 10 4 0 6 114 94 has a destructive and isolating belief. The Greek "Polis" system, as was pointed out, had the fol­ The following have represented the lst XV lowing to offer: democratic ¡deals, rights and during the Michaelmas Term : respons¡b¡l¡t¡es for the individual, community spirit P. L. C. Knee, R. J. Sheppard, A. R. D. Starr, and involvement, a high cultural level, and free­ J. P. Burton, T. L. Wenman, G. T. Ruston, dom of expression. These ¡deas outlasted Grecian R. C. Crocker, P. S. Russell, P. Wright, S. M. civilisation and are today held to be of paramount Hollingworth, G. P. Tranter, A. L. Burn, C. G. ¡mportance to society. Watkins, S. G. Johnson, A. T. M. Freeman, Once all seminars start to discuss contemporary P. J. Southern, P. M. Biddle, R. N. Webb, P. A. problems, the amazing potentiaMty of this course Glover, R. H. Pope, H. J. Smith, J. E. Hamlin, becomes apparent and the " mass apathy " of R. G. Tries and their scorers : Maltby's article ¡n "Chronicle" Vol. 3 No. 2 dis- Starr 3, Ruston 3, Biddle 2, Burn 2, Webb 2, appears. I would reply to him that ¡t ¡s not so Wenman 2, Knee 2, Burton 1. much " mass apathy " as unfortunate ¡gnorance of of the relevance of contemporary problems to the Dropped goals : individual which pervades our school. Incidentally, Knee 1, Pope 1. ramming an article like this down people's throats Colours have been re-awarded to C. G. Watkins will certainly not help. and awarded to S. M. Hollingworth, S. G. The "Background to Western Culture" series Johnson, G. T. Ruston and A. R. D. Starr. offers a remarkable opportunity for people to ANDREW BURN reflect on why and how contemporary society became as it now is, instead of taking many other turnings (notable turning points being dealt with THE BACKGROUND OF WESTERN under the headings " Greek Science, Humanism, CULTURE Protestantism, Renaissance Art and Arehitecture"). It will be a measure of the success of the course This year, to replace English and Divinity les­ if, in two years' time, the present Divisions do not sons in the Divisions, a compulsory syllabus has have to conceal ignorance when faced with some­ been devised which deals with topics which have one using the word " Manicheanism," and have the contributed to the development of culture in the knowledge and ¡ntellect to submit and defend their West. The timetable has been arranged so as to own possible, reasoned and fair judgment of the have one lecture a week and two periods in which topic. the Block is divided ¡nto seminars for discussion, and one more period for extra study of the week's CHRISTOPHER HODGES topic or matters arising from it. The lectures are not so much a history of western civ¡l¡sat¡on as THE HOUSE MUSIC COMPETITION necessarily rushed educational discourses on topics Part I—Tuesday, 15th December which Divisions ought to know more about. The outcome of a competition on the Games The lectures and lecturers for the Christmas Field is such that points for a House Champion- Term were : ship may be awarded quite objectively. The referee can do little to alter the fact that the The Holy People. M.J.G. team with the most innate talent or brute strength The Polis. M.J.T. will win. An orchestral competition, however, Greek Science. R.P. cannot be as clear cut, and the adjudicator's task Humanism. F.J.W. is so subjective that it is nearly impossible. Should The Román Imperial Ideal. F.J.W. he give credit to a House whose choice of piece The Third Race. M.J.G. is exciting even if ¡ts performance is precarious, The Break-up of the Empire. R.G.L rather than one whose pedestrian offering ¡s com- Byzantium. R.G.L. petently played but dull for musicians and audience The Holy Román Empire. C.H.C.B. alike? Should he reward a large orchestra with Monasticism. A.J.T. a wide range in ¡ts members of age and perform- The Nordic World. W.M.J.H. ¡ng ability, compared with a smaller group of Music in the Church.> R.M. older, more experienced players, leaving out the Four ¡llustrated talks on Classical throaty recorders and the squeaky violins best to Romanesque Art. J.B.H. played only on open strings? Reactions to the course are conditional on each One suspects that most adjudicators rely on a individual boy's interests, knowledge and aims. general impression, and using this guide the per­ They fall, however, ¡nto two predominant cate- formances of Vardy and Levett stood out from the gories. rest. Vardy let the imagination of Gray play on ¡deas of Bach. A very suitable creation for the the joyful and the mystical elements of the Christ­ available resources, it was played with great con- mas story. fidence, but the steady ¡ncrease in tensión pro- gressed towards a climax which was quenched The St. Nicolás Cantata displayed some fine before it had really happened. In a very different singing from the soloist, Philip Russell, especially style, Levett played a motet by Thomas Weelkes. in those lyrical passages where Nicolás dedicates The ensemble playing was excellent and the con­ himself to God, and in the final death scene. He trapuntal texture of the music was clear. Most executed the taxing part with power and feeling. jmportant, the movement was tightly controlled Perhaps the most notable sections from choir and and without this it could have been disastrous. orchestra were the Boyhood of Nicolás, where This type of piece is not particularly approachable the varied combinations of voices and instruments at first hearing, but it was a good choice for com- led to an exciting climax; the Creation of Nicolás petent players. as Bishop, where the gallery choir (ably trained by Miss Douglas) played an effective part ¡n working Gifford's Mozart rondo—essentially a trumpet up to the splendid fugue passage; and the story concertó—was immediately attractive, and a good of Nicolás and the pickled boys, in which chorus, sense of rhythm kept it going near the beginning, gallery choir, orchestra and soloist combined to when a few notes went astray. Heath also pre­ make it the most moving section of the Cantata. sented a trumpet solo, and their arrangement The storm scene was a little disappointing, since worked well within the scope of the considerably —although the music does not perhaps equal that smaller resources. Timothy Newman's " Quod- of the storm in " Noye's Fludde "—there is scope libet" was played from memory—in itself an im­ for more excitement in the build-up and at the pressive achievement—and the flute and piano height of the storm than was made manifest here. sections were extremely effective. Jeune would undoubtedly have been higher placed had the However, the evening, taken as a whole, was guitar sections seemed more an integral part of most enjoyable, and high praise must go to all the the piece., participants, and especially to Mr. Massey, who had Evans had by far the largest orchestra, and prepared this delíghtful—and delightfully varied attempted two movements from Handel's " Water —pre-Christmas festival, and who conducted with Music." The effect was, of course, marred by the such verve and infectious enthusiasm throughout. parts which sank from time to time, but the prob­ And, at the end, a note of appreciation too, to lem had deeper roots : the performance was hesi- Christopher Hodges and his team of bell-ringers, tant and lacked the sparkle it could have achieved who sent us home with such a lively and disci- had there been adequate direction. Charles Spicer's plined medley of Christmas cheer. original composition for Prince Lee produced interesting timbres and a variety of orchestral JONATHAN HOMER (O.E.) colour. Intonation problems seriously hampered its effectiveness, but the piece itself seemed to lack unity and a sense of direction. Cary Gilson's choice was perhaps unwise, even if we attribute some of the insecurity to an absent violinist. Pur- cell's music can be excruciating to listen to if the performers do not have the necessary confidence and technique. BLINDNESS The task of the adjudicator may be difficult, but Blind people see in colour, that of a House Music Director is worse—per- Not monochrome, suading unwilling boys to appear for rehearsals at That would be too dull the extremities of the school day. But at least And add to the monotony; the competition itself is no longer the stomach- Instead, perception is heightened, jellying ordeal before 600 boys on the Big School They see maroon, ultramarine, stage that it was when Professor Willis Grant was And the sky. Director of Music at KES. They see the blood pulsing through their eyes, P.G.W. The veins in their eyelids stand out blue. They see the colour of the pupil And wonder what colour is, CHRISTMAS CONCERT, 1970 Try to remember orange, And read the braille telling them which flower The Chapel Choir carols were perhaps the most they smell. enjoyable part of the first half of this concert. The NICHOLAS COOKE standard of performance was very high and the enunciation of the words especially noteworthy. Once or twice, particularly in the now familiar 18th century versión of " Adeste Fideles," the attack of the choir should have carried rather more conviction, but this was outweighed by the accu- rate and rhythmical singing of the mediaeval carol " There is no rose of such virtue," and by the ex­ VOLCANO cellent balance between the soloist (Christopher Hodges) and the choir in "The Three Kings." Hot gore vomits from the torn earth's crusted hide Of the orchestral section of the programme, the and bright fires claw the stars; Vaughan Williams' Marches displayed great feel­ the riven ground explodes in fury; ing for the music combined with accurate rhythm the air is fume and fire. and tuning. The Intermezzo seemed unhappy at the beginning, but the pleasant wind solos helped The land tilts and crumples. to gloss this over and the strings gained confidence Fire wheels turn in the smokey madness as the movement progressed. The Air of the and the ash-falls, 4 Water Music" showed off some warm and like the rains of hell, flowing string playing, while the Bourrée was also link the burning sky and the ruined world convincing, especially when the whole orchestra in a maze of fire and thunder. was playing. The very well-known Allegro was competently played, but could have been more The scorched earth splits lively. and blood fountains from the raw wound. The organ solo, " Rapsodie sur les Noéls," is an But.. . framed in fire, the question: interesting piece, and Mr. Pryer exploited ¡ts full Who wields the blade that wounds a world? range of emotional effects in ¡ts juxtaposition of THOMAS HOSTY a statement Yes folks, it's take-over time. RICHARD BARLOW a article Restless farewell a letter (being a third attempt to communicate) Dear Sir, This article is a culmination of thoughts and l'm standing there watching the parade/feeling opinions expressed and improved upon in two pre­ combination of sleepy john estes. Tve reached the vious articles which didn't get printed—the first conclusión that a writer can achieve more from reached Editor-in-Chief stage and was rejected on beyond the grave. the grounds that we'd heard it all before. (Point This is my suicide note. One: constant repetition and revelation of new ARLO ¡deas—new to this school ideas—is the best way of P.S.—This is a joke. having them accepted); the second reached Editor stage where it was mutually decided that it would P.P.S.—Honest. never be printed anyway. (This is by way of an excuse for having this article printed after Tve a review safely left school—it just happened that way, really). This isn't another Cali to the Barricades, " Don't Look Back " and " Monterey Pop ' (both because I know that the attitude of the Masters directed by D. A. Pennebaker). has to change before the attitude of the Pupils " Don't Look Back " is the better film, as a film, will . . . It's dat ol' vicious circle, honeh. Anyway, mainly because Dylan, like Clapton, is God; but "A Cali to the Barricades" (what barricades? also because Dylan, his music, and everything else we start off with nothing, and we end up with about him, will last longer than most of the artists less), suggests an inherent violence, perhaps to in " Monterey Pop." Dylan gained immortality hide an inherent weakness, and it's a lot nicer, if because he's a genius; Jimi, Janis and Otis were less realistic, to change things peacefully. Hunter all good, yes, but they gained immortality because Thompson uves. they died early. "Don't Look Back" is a sort of "Hard Day's Night" for real—there's nothing There's a lot of quasi-revolutionary rubbish like Ringo Dylan walking soulfully through London talked at school: the destructive things (mostly), photographing soulful milk bottles and sandwiches school uniforms are outmoded, CCF and Scouts curling up at the edges—but it's hard to know should be disbanded, the Sixth Form Common how real it all is: " l'm glad l'm not me," says Room is badly situated and badly planned; the con- Dylan as he reads the articles about himself; and structive things (a small voice of innocence), there's people like Donovan and Eric Burdon try- there's never any soap in the washrooms, things ing to be cool and ingratiating at the same time. that the Big League consider below their dignity, " We play a lot of your numbers and we try to uncool, untrendy. That, admittedly, has all been get the kids to listen to the words," says Mr. said before; but no-one ever tries to really do Burdon. "Well, you shouldn't do that, you should something. The Sixth Former never has an oppor- just play and if they wanna listen they'll listen," tunity to express his opinions; he may not have says Dylan. Eric immediately agrees with him but any (probably hasn't), but the opportunity should still thinks the words are ¡mportant. be there. There is the possibility of an oppor­ tunity in the General Committee Meeting of the The surprising thing is that Dylan comes out School Club, which, apart from electing officials, of the film so well: his songs really are as good could be extended to make suggestions about as you always thought they were. He never sings syllabuses, etc. (The Chief Master asked for such a song all the way through because they're always suggestions at an Upper Sixth period after the cut up (after all, this is documentary), but he starts Oxbridge exams. No reply. Never is. The exams off " Come gather round, people, wherever you are over). When first proposed, this ¡dea was ridi- roam," and never sounds tired of it; he's still going culed: "Well, those things can be rigged, any­ to get people to listen. He always will. way." Which means: " Well, we rigged the elec- " Monterey Pop" scores over " Don't Look tion of the Captain of Tiddlywinks. That's Back" because it's in colour. It's a record of the Power." The General Committee is the perfect Monterey Pop Festival of 1967, that's all it sets ou. example of being given "power" without having to be, but consequently it's a bit dated—not by any Power. To resolve this, to make it so that the music (except for Scott McKenzie), but by things don't need to be rigged, to make it so that the signs saying " A Festival of Music, Love and more ¡mportant things are done than electing the Flowers." However, it is ¡mportant since it was School Tiddlywinks1 Captain, the General Commit­ one of the first big Festivals, the beginning of the tee should consist of all Sixth Formers, and any­ yellow brick road to Woodstock; and it introducea one else who's ¡nterested, and should meet ind America to Hendrix; it introduced Janis Joplin (and pendent of the Chief Master. Thus any proposals showed what a terrible band Big Brother and the of which it approved would be put before the Holding Company was). Amongst other things. Chief Master as the proposals of the School and The film doesn't carry any great message, except not of an individual. Obviously the Chief Master perhaps that the Festival was a success because could veto any proposals put forward, but then everyone wanted it to be a success (there's a it's up to him to decide whether he wants to make girl cleaning the seats, of which there are around the School a contented society or a collection of 50,000: " How did you get to clean these seats, individuáis each bearing a grudge and doing nothing did you have a friend somewhere? " " No, l'm just for the Schooí because of it, or whatever. lucky, I guess."). It merely shows the Festival, or at least part of the performances, some of which That's the only proposal I have to make. If that (Hendrix, The Who, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar) is ever achieved, you may be able to get something are really exciting; others (Canned Heat, Eric Bur­ done about school uniform, lack of contact with don, Jefferson Airplane) make you wonder what the Girls' School, and all the other stuff you have the fuss is about. But it makes the Festival seem to put up with. very clean, very cosy, as if nothing went wrong RICHARD BARLOW (even the cops are smiling), as if nobody ever did wonder what happened to all that money. Per­ Well done, Richard, this year's winner of the Ornar haps Mr. Pennebaker was dazzled by his own Khayyam Cuppe. co our; black-and-white does help make things look sordid. And Dylan never got a penny from his film. RICHARD BARLOW KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 3, No. 5 Results : Moseley Modern Drawn 0—0 G1FTS TO THE SCHOOL LIBRARY Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Won 6—1 The Library accessions team is being kept busy Moseley Modern Drawn 0—0 this term by a very large influx of books. Many of Moseley Grammar Lost 0—3 these are the result of exceptionally generous gifts. Stanmore Drawn 0—0 Warwick U.16 Won 9—1 Many leavers have made gifts of money to the Queensbridge Drawn 3—3 Library, and we are very grateful to T. J. Savage, Solihull Won 2—1 departing School Librarían; R. W. G. Eglin, School Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Won 2—0 Captain; TJ J. Bishop, Librarían; G. J. Upton, G. R, St. Philíp's Won 4—0 Young, J. R. Burston, and of this year's leavers, St. Phil¡p"s Lost 2—4 J. P. Minkes. Lordswood Won 3—0 The Common Room has also been generous, Pickwíck Won 4—3 the Chief Master, the Librarían, and Mr. Tennick COLÍN BROMAGE have all made extensive contributions, while many books were given by Mr. E. V. Smith and Dr. Mayor STEVE SLADE when they moved houses. Presents have also been received from two Oíd SHOOTING Edwardians, S. A. Atkin (1960-1968), and a large This has been a year of somewhat mixed success. gíft of books on chess from Mrs. Winterton from The N.S.R.A. competition resulted in our usual the collection of her late Oíd Edwardian husband. mediocre position of 108th out of 133 schools who Finally, we have received a wide-ranging collec­ entered, despite the valiant efforts of our vener­ tion of books on America from the U.S. Embassy able captain. However, there is a small consola- in London. lation for the Rugby Football fans among you— One very pleasing aspect of these gifts is that Bromsgrove were llOth, and we beat them in a the whole Library has received additions rather postal match! The team, though comparatively than a small number of sections. Those responsible young and inexperíenced, has performed adequately for running the Library naturally hope that this during the season and shows promise for future highly-valued generosity will be maintained in this years. Our postal matches this year have been very and future years. successful, thanks mainly to the consístent shootíng of the captain and secretary, Geoff Bird and Bill C.H.C.B. Workman. The inevitable First colours were re- awarded to the secretary, and D. J. F. Collier ¡s to be congratulated on the award of his Second HOCKEY colours. The School VIII this year has consisted of T. G. C. Bird, W. A. F. Workman, D. J. F. Collier, The Hockey team has enjoyed a highly success­ N. L. Burton, S. J. Kitchen, G. A. Mann, J. Burníe ful season, losing only twice in 13 outings. The and A. C. R. Lawton. highlight so far has been to reach the final of the Birmingham Schools Festival without conceding a Results of postal matches : goal, only to lose 1—0 to Moseley Grammar, who K.E.S. 759, Warwick 752 Won have proved the only Birmingham school superior K.E.S. 760, Monmouth 775 Lost to our side. The key to our success is the experi­ K.E.S. 762, Solihull 750 Won ence gained by many of our players in club hockey, K.E.S. 761.8, Bromsgrove 757 Won which has not only improved individual skills, but K.E.S. 765, Glasgow 754 Won also encouraged a more professional attitude and K.E.S. 756, St. Edmunds 707 Won produced an increased will to win. BILL WORKMAN The outstanding team members have been Colín Bromage and Phil Parker in the defence (both SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY were selected for the Birmingham U.19 side), inside-right Nick Whítehouse (11 goals this season, With meetings being held ¡n the lunch break on despite his allegations of unfavourable bias on the Tuesdays and Thursdays, the attendance at Scien- part of every referee he plays against), Graham tific Society gatherings has been good. In par­ Holt, a talented mímic with 10 goals, and goal- ticular, we were pleased to welcome a number of keeper Dave Kilvert, penalty save expert in the non-scientísts, who seem to find the lectures just Gordon Banks mould. The defence, with captain as interesting as do those for whom science ¡s a and strong man Steve Slade unshakeable, Tim special ity. Newman as sweeper, and Tom Burgess at left- The first lecture of last term was by an external half, has always been uncompromisíng. The míd- speaker, Dr. Whítworth. He gave an interesting field work of Whítehouse and the unorthodox Phil talk on the elastic propertíes of materials. This Jones has produced brillíant flashes, and the inci- ¡ncluded some impressive demonstratíons of the sive attacking play of wíngers John Hall and Geoff way in which crystalline propertíes convert cad- Bird should also be noted. Our thanks must go to mium from a tough metal to a substance resembling Mr. Buttle and Mr. Lambie for their often contro­ chewing-gum. All who carne left this lecture in an versia! umpíring and their help, and we now look appropriately enlightened state. forward to going one better in the Pickwíck Fes­ There must surely have been a record attend­ tival, in which we were runners-up last year. ance at the next meeting, ¡n which the School's First team record : Played 13, Won 7, Drawn 4, newly-acquíred láser was demonstrated. The seats Lost 2. Goals for 35, against 16. and gangways of the Ratcliff Theatre were packed solid, but seats were ¡mported from the Biology " TWELFTH NIGHT99 lab., so that no one was turned away. In a play of such sophistication as " Twelfth Mr. Parry first gave us a 20-minute resume of the Night" the most important elements are co­ 'A' level light syllabus, ¡ncluding ¡nterferometry. ordinaron among the different departments and The láser was then manipulated in the competent an overall sense of unity. Thus the first meeting hands of Mr. Mcllwaíne, who demonstrated some of the members of the Dramatic Society concerned of the effects about which we had been told. with direction, costumes, set, lighting and music, Towards the end of term, Mr. Wright proved took place during June last year—in a sleazy that Chemistry can be just as stimulating as Chínese restaurant in Selly Oak. The fundamental Physics, when he talked on Inert Gas Compounds. theme was a simplificaron of Tudor patterns: the There was an impressive gallimaufry of appáratus set was designed from a Tudor architectural facade; on the bench which, we were assured, was capable the costumes were of a basic Tudor style; the of producing Xenón Fluoride, had eíther Xenón or music was a Tudor theme withín Kevin Lee's dis- Fluorine been avaílable. An amusing film was then tinctive style. The lighting was propounded in its shown, ¡llustrating a research project carried out earliest form to accommodate and enhance the set. ¡n an attempt to synthesíse Inert Gas Compounds. By September, therefore, when the cast had been It clearly showed how the Americans would like selected and the first full company meeting had us to believe their research ¡s conducted. assembled, much of the planning had already been At the beginning of this term, our ex-Physics accomplíshed, and four months of extremely hard Master and Astronomer Royal, Mr. Matthews, and ultimately rewarding work loomed in front of returned to give a talk on galaxies. His reputation the actors and stage staff. The most immedíate produced a substantial attendance at the meeting. problem was the creation of an irregular framework The structure and methods of examination of the set, with the strength to withstand not only a Milky Way were expounded in some detail, and a week's performance at school, but also a conti­ the talk was illustrated with several slides. nental tour the following summer. Such a struc­ The next meeting of the Society will be on ture required, if possíble, an alloy like aluminium, February 18th, when Mr. Rushton will tell us but the representative of Brítish Aluminium took about the scope and function of an engineer. This one look at the model, swooned and almost suf- will be of special ¡nterest to those considering fered a nervous breakdown. As a result, half term engineering as a career, and those of us pursuing was spent wielding a propane gun and welding 250 other courses will see what we have missed. feet of plástic tubing into positíon. The paint and an extra 300 feet of tubing were donated by Those who saw the film about Inert Gas Com­ various philanthropíc firms ¡n Birmingham. pounds will be ¡nterested to see what research ¡s really like. To this end, Dr. Cumming is giving a The integratíon of lighting and sound took place lecture towards the end of term of Hexagonal once the set had been completed, and it is a tri­ Hierarchíes in Nature. This is a new scientific bute to the patience of all those involved that theory which has evolved to explain the construc- both had an exceptional degree of professíonalism. tion of such diverse objects as towns, trees, rivers Three neurotíc evenings were spent at school ex- and lungs. The lecture should be of ¡nterest to perimenting with the largest range of theatre mathematicians as well as those concerned with lighting ever used on the School stage. The music the other sciences. Non-scientists are, of course, also took two sessions of recording to perfect, and welcome as always. employed the most accomplíshed musicians the School had to offer, as well as a number of recent DUNCAN CUMMING Oíd Edwardians. DEBATING SOCIETY The central part of any production remains, of course, the rehearsals, and these continued, with a The Debating Society, despite good attendances few breaks, from September until January; thus and ¡nnovations in the style of meetings, appears on the essential energy and vitality had time to emerge the surface to be ¡ntellectually sterile. This is due and grow withín the production, rather than be to four causes, which could easily be removed. forced and distorted just before the first per­ Firstly, the slickly-worded motions, such as " This formance. It was the growth of this vitality of house would hijack KEHS," invite fruitless discus- emotion, language and movement, which can only sions on their meaning: " What I understand by the be achieved by concentrated application to the motion ..." has been heard too often. Secondly, rehearsals, that created the tensión evident in there is a tendency to be parochial; the existence the performances. Rehearsals were often gruelling of secret school files does not indícate that " 1984 and tedious, but on occasions provided infinite is not far away." Thirdly, no one except the satisfaction. This was particularly noticeable when speakers bothers to think the subject over before- the lighting and music were first ¡ntroduced, hand, which scarcely ¡mproves the quality of floor addíng a new dimensión to the play and a wider debate; and lastly, recent debates have been chaired context wíthin which to act. When the costumes by boys, who do not have sufficient ¡nherent were finally completed, another of the necessary authority for the task. but tiríng jobs, dress rehearsals could take place, However, these faults do not prevent the Society mostly during the Christmas holidays. It is interest- from serving the useful purpose of giving members ing to note that as much atmosphere was some- of the School practice in discussion and debate. tímes generated during holiday rehearsals as on There is no lack of individual views at meetings, some of the actual performance nights. The word and everyone is allowed a fair hearing, Politically, "atmosphere" ¡s here crucial: it gave life to a attenders range from neo-Fascists to Maoists. play already based on a sound technical foundatíon. There has lately been a tendency to be despondent Performances themselves were the final expres- about the present day; recent motions have ¡n- síon of síx months of work among nearly 60 cluded: "This house belíeves that society is members of the Dramatic Society. But every per­ doomed " and " This house thinks that the 20th formance had its own ¡ndividuaíity: Tuesday was century knows the pnce of everything and the competent; not until Wednesday did the company valué of nothing," which were both carried; but feel that the play was fulfilling its potentíal; by this can only reflect School opinión. The standard Saturday such a pitch of emotional strength had of debate is not at present very high, but this is been developed that, in the last scene, several of beca use most people are still learning the art; the cast, unknown to the audience, were in tears there is a great deal of " promise for the future." —a situation which rarely arises in school drama. Finally, although the Chairman's adulation of The audiences also varied from a noisy, popcorn- the late General de Gaulle continúes unabated, munchíng first night to a responsíve and riveted meetings do not yet end with the singing of " La last night. By the Saturday evening a sense of Marseillaise." elatíon was pervading the back-stage área and an ANDREW FOSTER aura of success was prevalent. The next day there was total depression at the thought that it had of this plot Andrew Summers produced a perform­ fmished. ance which was complete from the first crisp It was particularly exhilarating in " Twelfth entrance to his barefooted, stumbling exit. A single Night" to watch the co-ordination of the various movement of the hand crystallised absolutely the departments into the whole play, the crystallisation core of Malvolio's self-love. In the first act's con- of months of planning and continuous work. But struction of Malvolio's hard, arrogant shell, and in ultimately the object of "Twelfth Night," and ¡ts subsequent destruction, his comprehension and school drama in general, is not merely to satisfy command of the character was never in question for those participating in it, but to carry to the public a moment. a performance worthy of recognition, and to try Despite certain ambiguities ¡n the interpretaron to convey to the school an interest in drama—not handed him, Charles Spicer carved a credible and merely the self-perpetuating and languishing tra­ largely sympathetic Feste out of the text. One's dition of the " school play." reluctance to associate him specifically with any JON BROMWICH particular incident or exchange is proof enough of the necessary elusive quality he brought to his As the basic interpretative premiss of his catalytic role. extremely successful production, Mr. Parslew selected the strain of wistful melancholy which The battle waged by the romantic plot for at infuses much of the text of "Twelfth Night." least equal attention with Malvolio's troubles was Ensuring that it was accurately reflected by the considerably aided by the striking vulnerabílity of spare economy and strict relevance of the set and Hilary Day's Viola, whose sensitive performance lighting, and echoed in Kevin Lee's remarkable was marred only by a slightly wooden approach music, he took the crucial step of opening with a to her movement about the stage. Teresa Rogowski, sombre, downbeat scene instead of the set-piece as Olivia, moved extremely well, and her stylish of Orsino's court, and the correct melancholic aura progression carried definite aristocratic overtones. was immediately established round the action for But she lacked the vocal flexibility of the other the rest of the play. two girls, and there was a resultant dimínution of contrast between her resolute rejection of Orsino The word " sombre" accurately suggests the and her overwhelming passion for Cesario, a con­ necessary shade of a melancholy " Twelfth Night," sideraron central to the constructíon of her but it equally implies the correct density of character. She seemed happy to settle, however, approach. Melancholy is neither intense grief ñor for Sebastian, with whom David Jackson struggled deep sorrow, and some of the cast seemed a little valiantly. As his companion, Tim Newman looked slow to register the ¡mportance of this. Inactive immensely impressive and drew as to the manner scenes, e.g., Sir Topas' visit to Malvolio, were kept born, which is quite adequate for any Antonio. in dramatic motion by the ability and good judg- ment of the players concerned, but inappropriate After a somewhat unimpressive first night, Peter heaviness occasionally crept in. Once the light, Biddle's Orsino developed to a stage where no sad touch of the opening scene had attuned the character, other than Malvolio, seemed quite so audience to the level of intensity which the director credible. The obvious enjoyment which the actor was dictating, we could register the wider signifi- deríved from his more fulsome passages carne cance of Cesario's rejection of Antonio without i ron ¡cal ly to act as relief from the darkening con- (special sixty-four dollar couplet voice . . . ) volutions of the " comic " sub-plot. But once again there appeared the occasional odd emphasis. Fancy, " In nature there's no blemish but the mind: the blossoming ¡magination or the idyllic element, None can be call'd deform'd but the unkind." was subdued and largely devoid of shapes; and The message is quite plainly there—it doesn't the high fantastical was notable chiefly by ¡ts need a " serious " delivery. However, more gener- absence. ally the actors were extremely acute in reflecting SIMÓN ARROWSMITH that particular interpretative responsibility which the melancholic tbread laid on their lines. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Also uppermost in the director's mind was the strategic ¡mportance of Feste. But in this case Sir, the Clown's exact position in relation to the The School having given the experiment more remainder of the play seemed ambiguous, and the than a fair chance to prove successful, I am writing interpretaron of the role sometimes appeared to to you as my only means of registering total dis- contradict itself. Although the audience saw Feste approval of the five-day week. at the centre of the action, ¡t was quite clear from Since this was ¡ntroduced in the academic year his costume and make-up that he wasn't there as 1969-70, nothing but chaos has ensued: long lunch- a committed participant, but as a catalyst to the hours, short lunch-hours, fifth period at 12.30 or rest of the characters. But how far from the is it 1.10? The whole affair has proved most con- human involvement inherent in the interplay of fusing. In addition to this, the loss of a second the others was Feste standing? At times he was free afternoon, previously available for training ór the incidental commentator par excellence: playing games, has lowered the standards of all our " Truly, sir, and pleasure will be paid, one School teams—the XV has had poor seasons both time or another " last year and this—and caused the death of the House system as a basis for games organisation. and Feste throughout the play watches payment after payment. At times he seemed more involved The Chief Master made it clear that he and the than anyone, e.g., his assistance of the injured Common Room had considerable reservations Aguecheek. Feste is clearly more aware of the about the new scheme, reservations which, I feel, pathos and melancholic potential of a given situa­ have been more than justified. Is it too much to tion than any other character, but how far, if at hope that this mistake may some day be rectified? all, should this commit him to positive action? As it is, many of us merely spend Saturday morn­ Ambiguity haunted this feature of the production. ing in bed. The constant reminders of " the winter's wind MARK CHECKLEY and man's ingratitude" inevitably brought Malvolio Sir, and the sub-plot to the forefront of the action. In reply to Mr. Checkley's letter, there are eight Chris Gibbons' ¡ntelligent interpretaron of Sir points : Toby was refreshingly distant from the stereo- typed bloated sot. Stuart Rogers as Aguecheek, 1. The experiment has not had more than a and Andrew Forbes as Fabián provided lively and fair chance to work, since we are only in the fifth extremely able support, and Angela Bowes' María term without Saturday morning school. was approached sensibly with humour and zest 2. Mr. Checkley mentions chaos—what chaos? while never letting the audience forget who Long and short lunch-hours have always existed. originated Malvolio's humiliation. At the centre On Tuesdays, under the oíd system, morning periods began at 9.55 and ended at 12.55, totally the moment and standards will be far higher when confusing the week's pattern. We suggest that our present U.M.s reach the top of the School. Mr. Checkley should look at his oíd time- tables. Since a more flexible and catholic yearly pro- 3. There is no justification for regret at the gramme has replaced the solemn ritual of the Lent loss of a second free afternoon. Training for rugby Term Oratorio and the Autumn or Summer teams, athletics, badminton, swimming, fives, Orchestral Concert, choral and orchestral enthu- fencing, basketball, cross-country, etc., have all siasm has mounted. It seems, therefore, that con­ been amply catered for during long lunch-hours. siderable improvement over the next few years is Society meetings have, if anything, benefited. certain and that current mediocrity will prove transient. 4. The statement that " the XV has had poor seasons both last year and this" is statistically Although there will in time be automatic insupportable. The captain of rugby notes that in recovery in some respects, there are further serious the last nine years before the abolition of Satur­ defects which cannot be expected merely to day school the First XV recorded 56 wins, an vanish. The Chapel Choir which, we are told, has average of just over six wins per season. Last year achieved a " professional " standard, and has made five victories were achieved, and this season the a record, is wasted. Four or five times per term total so far is eight. If the team wins, say, two of it sings Evensong, which at the moment consists its remaining five matches (a not unreasonable largely of unadventurous, sometimes boring, and hypothesis in view of its record to date) it will all too often repeated music. It also sings a few fmish the season as one of the two or three most jolly little carols at the Christmas concert, and successful KES XV's of the last decade. practises all this for an average of one hour per week. A choir of such calibre might manage a 5. Mr. Checkley's letter significantly omits any few elabórate motets or even polyphonic masses reference to academic standards which, in terms from time to time, both in Chapel and in concert. of Oxbridge awards, have been outstandingly good While evensong is obviously worth singing purely in the last two years. Is this mere coincidence? as a religious offering, the pretence of being a 6. Socially, family weekends are no longer great public school is beginning to wear a little wrecked, and the School is now in alignment with thin without more and better music to reinforce its neighbours. it. More enterprise on the part of the management and more frequence practices might be welcome 7. Boys living at a distance from the School no here. longer waste so much time travelling for merely four periods on a Saturday morning. Under the While small ensembles are arranged for the oíd system the law of diminishing returns operated. House Music Competition, which is, incidentally, 8. " Many of us merely spend Saturday morning regarded as a frustrating chore, there are no in­ in bed." So what? Sleep never did anyone any formal chamber groups which meet to play purely harm, and it is better done at home than at school. for enjoyment. It is virtually impossible to get up a group to sing madrigals or to play chamber music MARTIN CARDINAL at a Musical Society lunch-time concert, let alone PETER WYLIE for an evening's prívate entertainment. This further restricts instrumental accomplishment and MUSIC AT KES reflects lack of musical keenness. The success of this year's Christmas Concert, Lastly, for inadequately explained reasons, music with both nights sold out, could be regarded as does not form part of the general School curricu­ an. indication of the improvement of music in the lum after the Remove. There are occasional music School over the past two years. There has been a scholarships to Oxbridge, and poorly subscribed, large amount of favourable criticism from outside half-hearted Sixth Form options sometimes lead the School, both of this concert and of the Oíd to a few music " O " level successes, restricted to Edwardians' evensong earlier in the term. the top of the School. This system relegates music from being an ¡ntellectual discipline to mere pas- There is, however, no room for complacency, as time, resulting in gross ignorance throughout the music at KES has several serious shortcomings. School and an omnipresent spirit of lackadaisical Perhaps the most obvious of these is the execrable amateurism. Perhaps the establishment of musTc standard of the Orchestra. There can be no doubt scholarships on¡ entrance to KES, and music periods that in comparison with other schools of the at least as far as the Fifth Form would help. same academic stature, instrumental music here is Serious musical study would certainly justify such of a very inferior quality. Mr. Mason's criticism, vast expenditure on the Music School. in the last but one Chronicle, of Christopher Hodges' concert, inadvertently makes an ¡mportant Although these are at least five serious defects, point: there is in fact nobody in the School who there is nothing that a little more enthusiasm and is capable of playing the violin obbligato in the effort from both management and pupils cannot piece mentioned, which reveáis the Orchestra's improve in the course of a few years. A large main weakness. The standard of string playing is amount of talent in the Lower School, coupled so poor that it is impossible to raise even a reason- with a new, enterprising direction, both of which ably competent string quartet. This is partly already exist, should elévate music at KES to a explained by the attainment of a nadir of musical level comparable with that of our acadamic equals. morale during the middle sixties when, with a few JULIÁN BURLING gifted exceptions, most people in the Lower School were not interested in music, mainly because of the boring way in which it was taught. Thus the FURRY ANIMULES dearth of skilled musicians in the Upper School at A puce nose-tip, silhouette against the tree the moment is responsible for the uninspiring signifies mole presence; the wading hands Orchestra. loop in ares the yellow leaf mystery, thread tides through his mystic bands. The Choral Society too, suffers from the indif- ference of the upper half of the School. Last term Playful pouches, stuffed with porridge crumbs, only three members of the Upper Sixth and some look out, through gimlet eyes; rods of steel. six or seven of the Sixth Form were involved in Here connexion lies: the quick, pink thumbs the Society. If one refuses to make allegations of parallel outside-cage tactics, I feel. mass philistinism in the School, the lack of sup- port can only be attributed to stultifying Lower Show me a flop-eared rascal, pub spaniel, School music periods in the mid-sixties. and take your artifaets: for are we np greater than nature? It is encouraging that today's Lower School does For: a hámster to dance to Bach gavottes! Well, not exhibit the same degree of apathy. The num- let's say Fellini or Warhol, but let's be demure. ber of júnior boys singing in the choir and learning all kinds of ¡nstruments is increasing rapidly at PETER GOAKES KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Within minutes of the general issue of this edi- tion, the Editor confidently expects to wade again through an ankle-deep swathe of " Chronicles" papering the locker-room floor. In the Cartland Room he will pause once more in speechless admiration before the assorted collection of darts, hats, mats, scorecards, bookmarks, spittoons and other domestic ornaments (all from a few pages of newsprint) which he has come to know and love so well.

In a short while he will creep dauntlessly out from behind the battered hulk of his journalistic reputation. He will organise events and report them himself. He will leave no stone untumed in his search for the Editorial Board. He will put out more flags. And at irregular monthly(?) inter- vals, he and his publication will probably continué to sink without trace.

To judge from such comment as he has received, he thinks that most people would miss " Chronicle " if it wasn't there. This never seems to prevent 95% of the School from suppressing any reaction to it other than sporadic and per- functory grunts of largely destructive criticism. It's also traditional for middle-school heavies to mutter darkly from time to time about dique dic- tatorship. Speaking for himself, the Editor-as-one- man-clique would greet the advent of anything up to 700 or so new recruits with nothing but enthu­ siasm and certain encroaching symptoms of nervous exhaustion.

Ultimately, it's not just the remedy which lies in your hands — it's the responsibility as well. Ironically, in ¡ts present decline, "Chronicle" con­ tinúes to reflect more accurately than most people realise the mood of this school. Because if this paper seems dead, a great many of you do, too. Vol 3, No. 6 celebrating Hogmanay. Between them they sup- ported a signpost! As to their identities and RUGBY TOUR TO DEVON and motives we can but speculate, but one did leave a visiting card inscribed " G.T., Publicity On the afternoon of February 18th, 19 School Agent, Notre Dame." rugby players, flexing their right arms in anticipa­ ron, clambered on board two Devon-bound Bed- Our last match was on Monday against Tiverton ford vans (driven by Messrs. Benson and Everest). G.S., a hitherto unbeaten side, ¡ncluding an Once the vehicles had been crammed with assorted England U.19 Trialist centre and an England U.16 luggage and S. M. Hollingworth's week's supply of full back. At first, Tiverton were on top, but in Polo mints, the party moved off. the second half we carne back, our three-quarters outstanding—Tim Wenman and Andrew Starr Stopping only to answer the calis of necessity, both scored tries. Unfortunately, however, the we stormed ¡nto Sampford Peverell. The antici- opposition held onto the lead they had built up pated difficulty at the Devon customs never aróse: early in the match, and we were narrowly beaten George Tranter's foot and mouth was confirmed, 11—13. but they couldn't spare a bullet. The Green Head- land Hotel contained all the requírements so Andrew Burn repeated his shield act, and Chris ¡mportant to a touring rugby team, and our first Watkins accepted a gift for which he has, how­ evening was spent testing the local rocket fuel. ever, found no useful purpose. That night we travelled back to Birmingham. Next morning we were galvanised ¡nto unaccus- We would like to thank Messrs. Benson and tomed activity for a training session on the Samp­ Everest for taking us on the tour, which was a ford Peverell F.C. (amateur) football pitch. The sporting and social success. Everybody certainly match that afternoon was against Shebbear; the rated it very highly. They certainly did. journey was over rough country roads. Behind schedule and one puncture to the good(?) we SIMÓN HOLLINGWORTH took a hurried non-alcoholic lunch and trundled on, negotiating hílis of 1 in 4 like bats out of hell and, thanks to directions from friendly natives, eventually reaching our destination. The match was a cióse one, and by half-time CCF.—ARMY SECTION COURSES K.E.S. had taken a six-point lead through two penalties by Peter Knee. Shebbear recovered well In addition to the many ¡nternal activities avail­ in the second half, however, scoring two penal­ able to members of the C.C.F. at KES, there are ties, the second of which was conceded only two many holiday courses, arranged either by M.O.D. minutes from time. Andrew Burn presented a or by District, which cadets in the Army Section shield to our opponents' captain after some tech- may attend. nical difficulties with his pocket. Various strange There are, in fact, two types of course—those ailments were common next day, mostly self- concerned mainly with military training, and those induced by the previous night's activities. teaching technical subjects. An example of the former, which a group of cadets recently attended, Messrs. Benson and Everest had earlier expressed is Combat Engineering. their intention of participating in a coarse rugby match; on Saturday they carried out their threat. The course began with a study of knots, lash- A fair percentage of the party decided to watch, ings and temporary bridge construction, followed and were rewarded by having to push the van to by a whole-day exercise building a rope bridge the ground, owing to a shortage of petrol. across a fairly large frozen pond. The following day was spent studying elementary surveying, The atmosphere built up before the big game. ¡ncluding a certain amount of practical work, and Chris Watkins, obviously carried away by it all, the theory of watermanship. The latter led up to admirably demonstrated how to drop-kick and fall the next day's exercise, spent driving Army boats base over apex without really trying. Andrew Burn up and down the River Avon. A day-and-a-half in his Tommy Cooper outfit acted as cheer-leader, was then spent studying explosives before the and Peter " Muttley" Knee filmed the bizarre highlight of the course on the last afternoon, when happenings, both on and off the field, for posterity. a few of us who were attending the advanced This incredible game was climaxed by a lucky course set up and exploded a " ring-main " con- solo try by D. C. Everest, Esq., at which the sisting in all of about five pounds of high explosive, spectators, ¡ntoxicated with delight, invaded the strategically placed so as to make a large bang pitch, but were forced to retire to a chorus of without destroying any of the buildings nearby. obscene Devonian grunts from the players. Unfor­ Also included in this category are the courses tunately, the team to which our masters had run by the Corps of Signáis on various aspects of attached themselves lost. military Communications, and various Leadership After the game, the van ran very well on Red and Adventure Training courses, which offer an Barrel back to the club house, a converted barn unparallelled opportunity to any who feel fit with a permanent smell of manure, cigarettes and enough to seize it. hops. We felt quite at home there. Included in the technical group are the Mechani- On Saturday night, the entertainment was cal Fitting course, which gives an introduction to varied. Paul Glover and his belligerent " kiddy metalwork, culminating in the construction of a cart" mob went to a dance, a highly enterprising G-clamp as a practical exercise; and the Mechanical idea, but ¡ts success was dampened because only Vehicles course, where a certain amount of the one other person turned up. The more sénior theory of the motor car is taught, and then cadets members of the party—the " geriatric ward "— are allowed to strip down and, if possible, re- stumbled onto a skittle alley. assemble various Army vehicles. One of the most On Sunday we played our worst rugby of the popular of these courses is the "Basic Radio" tour—and won 11—0, against Tiverton R.F.C. course when, after a period of ¡ntensive study of Colts. During the game Peter Knee reached the the theory of electronics, cadets are presented with 150 points mark for the season. Afterwards, in seven-transistor radio kits which they assemble the club house, interest was directed towards the and are subsequently allowed to keep. incongruity in the barmaid's jeans by the leering The rapidly increasing popularity of these Peter Knee. An on-the-spot survey revealed to courses shows that not only are they often useful, what lengths this incongruity extended. Mr. Ben- but are also immense fun. There is, in the Army son's eyes lit up visibly. course, a unique opportunity to enjoy an extremely cheap yet thoroughly enjoyable and practical Later, at Sampford Peverell, we were visited by holiday. two strange apparitions, an unassuming walking gargoyle and what seemed to be a Scot, belatedly PAUL COOKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY to make reports and to give advice to the Chief There have been three meetings of the Society Master and his staff on our opinión on any non- so far this year, all of which have been well academic matters. The general intention is to keep attended, when the apparent refusal of non- the Chief Master aware and ¡nformed of current specialists to attend is considered. Indeed, the School views. Society is experiencing a slow revival of ¡nterest, As Richard Barlow so gloomily predicted, th¡s since last year, as few as four people bothered to proposal was not passed, or even voted on, because turn up to one meeting. ¡t d¡d not conform to Rules 30-33 of the School In the Christmas term, P. T. Wylie gave a very Club. A revised proposal, fully conforming, will lucid and informative talk on "The Popish Plot"; go before the meeting of March 29. This may not the speaker succeeded in providing as clear a pie- sound very much to the Maoist sixth formers, but ture as possible of a period in history which still it is a beginning, realistic, and worthy of all the puzzles historians and gives rise to much specu- support it can get. lation. JONATHAN SPECTOR Earlier this term, P. D. Goakes spoke on "The Inter-relationship between Art and History, 1600- LETTER TO THE EDITOR 1850," a talk ¡llustrated by some '50 examples on Sir, film-strip, kindly loaned by Mr. Hurn. For a sub- ject so large and complex, the material was well The sad and misguided perverseness of Mr. selected, covering, if briefly, a considerable number Spector's whole approach is typified by his eccen- of national and international schools of art. tr¡c description of Richard Barlow. He's not really that dangerous; a heavy pixie, perhaps, a Maoist— The topic for the third meeting of the school never. year was " Scribblers and Peers; Literature and Politics, 1660-1745 "—a talk given by Mr. Trott. Yours faithfully, This was a most interesting and entertaining meet­ A. N. ONCE (Marx Div.) ing, during which the speaker examined the political works of Milton, Marvell, Dryden, Swift and Pope, within their historical background. FILM SOCIETY Next term it is hoped to hold at least one, per­ The main point about Jiri Menzel's " Closely haps two, meetings. Scientists and mathematicians Observed Trains" is that it is beyond doubt a are always welcome to a society which is much satire on human insufficieney, or the ironies of life. more than a mere extensión of school history Thus we see the small town railway official, still periods. his mother's darling and what one would describe as an " ordinary," therefore very lifelike, situation. MARTIN CARDINAL The film was shown in monochrome, which also brings out its earthy quality, the trains coming and MODERN LANGUAGE SOCIETY going in very routine style and the colourless life brightened only by the prospect of sexual fulfil- In the course of this school year the Modern ment. Language Society has met four times, to hear two talks in French, one in Spanish and one in Germán. It would be easy in such a state of affairs, for the Naturally, the Society can only appeal to a limited director to make the film tedious, but, true to sector of the School, but some of the titles of this life, there are amusing and unlikely anecdotes year's lectures have failed to attract even the sprinkled here and there in the story. The sénior linguists. There certainly seems to be little attempted suicide; the tears in the station master's ¡nterest ¡n European politics, as the two talks on settee; the rubber-stamping of the young lady in this subject provoked no reaction whatsoever from an unusual quarter; all these incidents seem in- the audiences, who appeared thoroughly bored by significant, even trivial, but all are essential to the the whole proceedings. On the other hand, the theme of the film. lectures on Perú and the French cinema were much The hero begins the story by donning proudly enjoyed and involved some discussion. the railway uniform, and his complete innocence The moral is clear—if some linguistic benefit is was betrayed by laughter from the stalls, indicating to be available from the Society, lectures might that the look on his face transcended the innocent as well deal with topics of more general ¡nterest, and became infused with a weird ¡nsanity. The which will at least be listened to attentively. routine jobs at the station are all plied with the Nevertheless, the quality of the speakers has been same isolated expression. Even when attempting consistently high, and linguists are indebted to to make love, he wears his railway hat, and the Mr. Tomlinson for securing their services. same expression haunts his features. It is not sur- STEVEN SLADE prising, then, that sexual gratificaron is his only requirement from life, and this finally arrives near the end of the film. But in accordance with the A REPLY irony of human life, he dies, after escaping from (Being a first attempt to communicate) the Nazis because they see his scarred wrists, when there is far less of a risk: gazing down in wonder If all that Richard Barlow can do to further the at the bomb he has just planted on a Germán cause of Democracy in this School is to write a ammunition wagón, he is spotted by a machine- 14 letter to Chronicle," and that only after he has gunner and, with his girl waiting for his ¡nitiation left, then in my view, he is the sort of person on the platform, he blows up with the train. that the School will not miss. Several aspeets of the film lead one to believe If he really believes in the views which he set that it has been directed with skill and care. There out in his letter of January, 71, during his seven is the firm precisión behind every train coming years here he should have at least had the courage into the station: early on our hero is standing to stand up and do something, instead of literally ready to kiss his girl goodbye when the train running away. The list of complaints (to which I moves off with her aboard. The synchronisation could add dozens of others) is not " quasi-revolu- of the two actions is more difficult than ¡s at first tionary rubbish," but perfectly legitímate com­ ¡magined. We also see a train stopping to reveal plaints and points of view. I am writing this letter, the man standing behind and between two wagons: however, just to point out that something IS being such an effect places a premium on aecuracy. done, or to put it on his own terms, the oppressed masses are rising up. On January 11 my proposal There is, finally, the explosión which is a fitting to set up an " Advisory Sub-Committee to the climax to the film. We see the train explode, and School C ub " was submitted to the General Com- the scene switches back to the station, where the mittee. It made provisión for about 10 people, heroine is waiting. The violence of the shock representing every Block, to meet twke a month drives her coat behind her and sends various objects spinning her way. A hat rolls by, then A MAN thick smoke covers the entire scene. This coup de grace is the quintessence of all that is best in Escalated automate " Closely Observed Trains ": it expresses the irony Wearied waits until the feet are snatched away, of death, and the pain of thwarted love, possesses Forcing him to walk an element of humour, and exhibits masterly Now moved away from station friends photography and effects work. It would cause Rebounding cries of haste. even Antonioni to think again about his ending to Lethargic crates, unfabled, double-decked " Zabriskie Point." Direct to housing, Deposit and withdraw, PETER GOAKES Depart. The dreary haze " RIPPING!99 Of afternooning mornings, Denying the day ¡ts order, T. W. Hutton's history of King Edward's School Shimmers like a central-heated dream, is an amusing book, if only because the author A sleepless dream urbanic bus-stop barrack gate. generously tries to deliver praise even when the And from inside grounds for it are, to say the least, dubious. There The outside's cold, is, for example, Charton Collins, who " might And friends forget. have been a critic of note, but somehow just missed it." The most obvious double-edged remark, Oppressive light—or was it heat— however, is applied to Alfred Hayes, the author of Burns eyelids red, sockets sore, the School Song. All that Hayes' songs are admir­ And leaves the blind man purged to his contení. able for, apparently, is the fact that they " have Yet mattress'd to his death survived much criticism." The implication is that He thinks even should the songs be found to be devoid of And knows lyrical merit, they are at least robust, they have an The difference. unshakeable stolidity which defies anyone who Still Eve represses knowledge—drives him on. should be so rash as to criticise them. The window free, uncurtain'd, I shall now attempt yet another assault, how­ An Urban Tree mocks loud, ever, upon this formidable bastión of English Throbs a swollen sadness, idiocy, and in particular, of course, to comment But keeps its branches open. on that absurd congregation of bumbling inanities —our own School Song. JOHN MALLATRATT When the Repertory Theatre staged " Forty Years on " last year, the programme included a selection of school songs which, presumably, were meant to represent all that is most ridiculous about the " public school spirit." Our own song headed the list as a matter of course, but it was in good company. There was a corrective reminder from Harrow that we " Come short of the giants of oíd Who grew more mightily, all in a row Than ever was heard or told." Also present was the cheerful prognostication JUST LIKE THE HEROINE IN THE from Uppingham that SAW-MILL OF TIME'S BLUES " The school, the school shall win (Oh the royal game and free)," "She paused—' apparently simply because The moment is sharp and crisply sawn " (Short out, short out, long in) by the stainless knife which is the line between 'Tis a goodly companie. (Merry England)." such moments It is irónica! that the song which is meant to be "—and began again ..." a eulogy of the school, combined with an en- The edge cut swiftly in the cold dry gloss couragement to ¡ts members, should have become and the rigid months it cut stand up an ¡nstrument which can so easily be used to hold with only the gap which is left by the breadth of the school up to ridicule. the knife The common factor shared by three of the songs between them. Everything in them is over now, (¡ncluding ours) in the Rep.'s programme is that they stand like the marble canopies they all preach the simple but obviously erroneous over the graves of our memories, lying philosophy that life can be compared with a rugby/ in the leafy groves of our neurological cemeteries. cricket match to the advantage of anyone besides And the l'mks between them are like the links the satirists. This philosophy has been extremely that join the dead; popular, particularly at the turn of the century, when the high-priest of the public school playing- They were the moments when she said that word, field, Sir Henry Newbolt, was at the height of his when ill-deserved fame. (One reviewer was so stunned he switched off the light, when by the implications of Newbolt's work that he the H bomb fell, or could only describe it as " Ripping! "). It ¡s ex­ when walking out of the open door, tremely doubtful, however, whether such a philo­ the thread was cut between himself and days, by sophy was of any worth at that time, and it the same blade that separates the units of certainly is not now. recordable time When an O.E. wrote to " Chronicle" from And cut off the flower'mg of his organic thought. Chicago three years ago, he said that " the valúes " Rigor mortis has set the bodies which he had been taught " related to a world of both the memory and the cadáver which does not, and probably never did, exist." And lying in their glass-topped boxes Those valúes are now deservedly in disrepute, but they stand for a movement that was stilled we still have the complete statement of them Even in a moment there is room for movement. before us in the School Song. It is a pity (short Even in a lifetime there is room for moments. out, short out, long in) that the goodly companie of King Edward's still has to exercise ¡ts lungs on The wax flowers around them know their place this Merry English absurdity. and do not move. GORDON SMITH PETER DANIELS KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 3. No. 7 on pensión straight away! It does not seem to me King Edward's School, that it has been recognised that the job of " a Birmingham B15 2UA. leader" is to lead. Your monthly paper, to which 20th April, 1971. I much look forward, shows a dreadful absence of Dear Editor, planning. It also hints at a sort of schizophrenia revealing an editor who is permanently disaffected. To you, as the head of " our local Press," I write this letter primarily as a former member You must recognise that there is privilege in of the Press Council, secondly as an avid reader getting your words into print. The Press is an of your productions, and thirdly as a critic who ¡mportant médium. The reputation that you have is getting increasingly bored with the monotone built up since the new Chronicle does not do to that you present oí apathy. In this presentation its editors in the eyes of the public at large the ¡t seems to me that you* are misinterpreting your credit that was hoped. It is doubted whether you job. You have the privilege of print, and this is appreciate your job as that of one who goes out a privilege to be most highly valued and carefully to look for news, and who so plans his columns guarded. that there will be in them something to ¡nterest I wonder whether you have really given any each member of his readership, and also something thought to the editor's role. I have the privilege to attract new readership. Your job as a of knowing well a number of editors of local Chronicler is to present both news and views and newspapers. I have myself, in war-time, been res- to see that these cover just as wide a spectrum as ponsible for the production of a school magazíne. you can possibly imagine. In producing the I recognise, and so do editors of local newspapers, Chronicle you are writing history. In offering a that the editor does not just sit in his chair wait­ forum of opinión you are inviting all kinds of com- ing for material to come on his desk. It is his job, ments and reactions, but you are at fault if you as that of all journalists, to go out and seek for allow the public print to become the vehicle for news. There are in our community gifted indi­ prívate controversies. viduáis to be discovered. It is your job to keep I write to you thus because I have the interests your fmger on the pulse of the community and of the Press very near at heart. I hope that some not just on a few individuáis in it whom you may of you who serve on the editorial board here may happen to know. You continually complain of find this the jumping-off point for an interesting apathy. I did not see you in the Choir, for and successful career in the public Press, and I instance, at the Easter Concert, or in the Eton wish that people responsible for our House Maga­ Fives team in the Public Schools Competition. I zine could recognise a little more fully their res- very much hope that you have arranged for rep- ponsibility and the nature of their job. resentatives to cover these and many other activi- Yours, ties here. R.G.L., Chief Master. We are going through a stage of diversification, and this will add to the complication and also the A LINK WITH NEW STREET interests of the editor's job. You are the editor of our House Magazine. Upon you depends the pub­ The School has received back gratefully from lic image of the community. It is ¡ntended that Stirk-Adams, O.E., F.R.C.S., a master's chair and you should give to our grown-up friends, some of desk, previously given by the Governors to his whom subscribe to the Chronicle, a picture of mother in 1936, as a memento of his father, A. W. activities and interests that go on here, that you Adams, who served as an Assistant Master from should be a real newsman and not just a critic or 1883-1905. At present the chair may be seen at presenter of impressions that you have received. the back of Big School; the desk will be preserved The true critic looks deeply first into the work in the Library. to which he has been invited to attend, and only The chair and desk were almost certainly part after a deep look does he feel it timely to produce of the original Barry-Pugin furniture, designed in a judgment. This is a fundamental of book review- 1833 for the Big School in the New Street building. ing, art appreciation, and the best type of They can be ¡dentified on early photographs about journalism. half-way along the great 19th century Schoolroom, I saw with interest the work of your confréres raised several inches above the stone paving on in American schools, where, of course, journalism a wooden platform, surrounded on three sides by is taken much more seriously than here. They saw a wooden rail or book rest of suitably Gothic it as their job to go out and look for news. I character. The chair was built into the oak recognise that this is a difficult, demanding and panelling which lined the walls of Big School. highly-skilled job. I have been disappointed that An examination of the oak chair reveáis housing so few of our editors here have measured up to it. joints at the level of the wooden platform. The I have sometimes felt that if the Birmingham Post present back of the chair was in fact structural gave such a poor ¡mpression of our city as you do backing to the panelling of Big School, and was of our school, then the proprietors would be abso- never ¡ntended to be seen, the Une of the original lutely right, from the point of view both of sloping back can be seen on the inner surfaces of profits and of the public, to change their editor. the wings, the woodwork above the arms of the You have established quite a good standard of chair. English writing, but the trouble is that it is usually It is interesting to reflect that in all probability about nothing. It is the duty of a House Magazine the present light-toned English oak of Sapientia to show ¡nvolvement. Yours is far too apt to was, until the move from New Street in 1940, reflect contracting out- If your maturity is such blackened, like this Master's chair, with a typically that all you have to say is criticism of your juniors, Victorian overlay of dark stain, linseed oil, wax then I am tempted to say that you could best go polish and grime. J.B.H. HOUSE REPORTS School Chess captain; and C. J. S. Hodges, who has CARY GILSON devoted a great deal of time and effort to the Choir, and to whom our success in the field of Whereas Cary Gilson failed to stake a claim to Music must be largely due. a fair percentage of the School collection of silver píate last term, this cannot be attributed to lack We are not noted for our performances in the of effort. summer sports, but nevertheless if the whole House tries hard to secure Swimming and Athletics Although the desire to play rugby is not one of standards we have an outside chance of winning those intrinsic to the hearts of Cary Gilson sixth the championship. formers, the House has managed to field a ROBÍN NICHOLAS modérate XV in its first team matches. It has subsequently lost them all, but the older members HEATH of the House returned defeated to the changing The sun, alas, shows signs of setting on the rooms harbouring nostalgic thoughts of the days Heath empire of last year. The reign of terror by when fielding a full team was synonymous with this sadly fading House is nearly over, and the winning. However, the days of beating non- Cock House trophy, symbol of all our endeavours existent, depleted or recalcitrant opponents are in this place, may soon be lifted from ¡ts glorious disappearing, and a depth of talent—sadly lacking pedestal by one of the upstart combines of th¡s in the sénior part of the House—has become a School society. Gone are the days when teams prerequisite for Cock House Championship points drawn against Heath would throw up their hands as far as rugby is concerned. in horror, let their jaws drop, their hearts sink, Happier outlooks, however, can be taken of and their minds boggle as the great yellow band Fives, Chess and Music. The traditional House of gypsies, oiled to perfection, purred onto the Choir carried an air of confidence supported by sports field. Cynics within the House may curtly practice which earned them a position of equal remind the world of Heath's overwhelming success second, and the Chess team also holds a respect- on the Rugby pitch, but how fickle that claim now able placing. An aura of doubt surrounds Fives seems, a mere paper wall against the slings and results, with announcements by the captain, J. H. arrows, violins and cross country markers, fives Berry, attracting greater attention to the phrase- balls and chess queens which now mark the pre­ ology than to the content. viously spotless record and lilywhite complexión of the House; indeed, its appearance is now dis- Generally, last term was one of mixed fortunes tinctly jaundiced. for the House, substantial efforts by some mem­ bers not being rewarded with championship points. Since this is supposed to be a House report, some brief mention should be made of what the JOHN MALLATRATT House has done this year. Despite the constant feeling that they were being got at, the Rugby EVANS teams won Rugby by a massive margin without Last term saw the arrival of a new games system actually winning any of the individual leagues. which aimed to involve as many people as possible Extra time jokes were treated with some reserve in House competitions by running the Rugby and by the first XV, forced by hook or by crook to Cross Country competitions concurrently. This play prolonged matches on two occasions. Any­ caused certain selection problems, but the House way, no other House carne near the consistency first XV was almost the same under the new sys­ shown by the Rugby players of Heath (no-one in tem as it would have been under the oíd system. Heath knows the ñames of any of the other However, it was very surprising when the first Houses in any case). XV beat some quite strong opposition in Jeune, Heath and Gifford to reach the final, where they Apart from this success, the House did a list of were beaten by an outstanding Levett side. Posi­ other things which lack any real interest but need tions of seventh in second XV Rugby and fifth in mention. Music proved to be a cacophony (or third XV Rugby gave us an overall positFon of perhaps a catastrophony) for the third year second in Rugby- running, showing admirable consistency if lacking art. Cross Country was enjoyed by younger boys While House Rugby was being played, the Crpss but loathed by the seniors; the new points system Country competition was also taking place. This giving the sport a bigger share in the House Com­ took the form of two ordinary races, one road petitions obviously lacked any sales research. race and a relay for both age groups. In both age Although there are enough boys of the required groups we ran up against the same problem, that mentality to provide a School Cross Country team, of having two very good runners in each group few Houses can claim to be able to divine a team with no other recognised performers. But after from the unplumbed depths of their fleshy Upper some clever mathematics we managed to come School section. second overall in Cross Country. Chess achieved some kind of success—the House At the end of term the House Choir performed carne second overall and won the first team cup; in the House Music Competition, but only managed but inexplicably this did not help the Fives team to come sixth. Positions of fifth in Gym, third in to bring off similar success in their competition. Fives, and seventh in Chess helped us to an over­ The Gym team did quite well with fourth place in all position of second in the House Championship, the competition, while Basketball was received just half a point behind the leaders. This is as with some enthusiasm, though perhaps a little much due to the administrative efforts of the cap­ more thought was required in the selection of a tains of various sports as to the sporting ability team. in the House. Thus most House activities have been given a WARWICK EWERS mention, and, I hope, more power to their elbows, for the season of Cricket and Tennis is upon the GIFFORD School like a golden chain of clouds before a final Last term Gifford was very consistent in all the sunset, or gathering rainclouds, depending on competitions, our lowest position being that of whether you like Cricket and Tennis. However, equal fourth in Rugby. Unfortunately, despite this the contents of the last paragraphs would be record, we won only one cup and shared another. irrelevant without the members of the House This consistency is reflected in our present lead themselves. Who could ask for better chaps, in the Cock House Championship of half a point. " good sorts" every one; boys with character, There have been outstanding individuáis in every charm, wit and not a little mischief are rapidly sport, notably P. J. Southern and P. A. Glover in over-running the brave oíd world of bat and ball, Rugby, both members of the School first XV; and " playing the game." Their tinkling laughter M. A. S- Oates, who was second in the sénior Gym ripples down the ancient corridors of the School, competition; J. T. Goold and P. G. Prescott Tn appreciating the amusing inconsistencies of House Fives—both represent the School; A. D. Lloyd, the Prayers, while sensibly refusing to be moved to tears by exhortation or subtle ¡nnuendo- These forcé at Chess, and yet again we carne eighth— are the boys of the seventies, the ones who know but the situation may be improving, since A. F. where ¡t's at, and while we, the oíd lags of the Forbes was happy to report that we had actually House, wish them every ounce of luck, deep inside won a match. On the range our marksmen per- we know where they will be in a few years" time, formed superbly, and we carne first in the N.S.R.A. and really does it matter? competition. The Country Life results have yet to be announced, but we are expected to win this ANDREW SUMMERS as well, thus completely sweeping the board. In JEUNE Cross Country we carne seventh, and our high hopes for the Squash competition were dasfied As one of the most popular opinions of the pre­ when it never took place. We also recorded posi- sent time is that the House system still exists tions of sixth in Gym, seventh in Basketball and only to provide organised competitive games, it eighth in Fives. ¡s quite pleasing to report that although games are obviously the major item in House life, there On the games field, Levett is a very strong forcé are other factors present. One of these has come in the upper part of the House, but a lack of solid to the fore with the advent of the House Prayers team-men in the lower half will make it difficult week. These prayers are left entirely to the House for the House to continué the run of comparative to organise, and the result is that we are as likely success which it has enjoyed over the last few to hear Bach as Lennon on record, and Dylan years. Thomas as the Bible in readings. House meetings ANDREW FREEMAN are usually more than mere reports of games and team selections, as it is becoming the custom for PRINCE LEE 11 offícials " to attempt to slander each other fol- Prince Lee seniors have, counter to tradition, lowing the examples set by the House minutes, performed with greater success on the sports field which have been likened in the past to a very poor than have the juniors- The delight engendered by man's script for " Laugh-ln." sénior successes in Rugby, Cross Country, Fives On the games front we are having an ¡ncredible and Gym was slightly palliated by poor júnior year, with the sénior Rugby team losing each of results. Nevertheless, the Chess team and the its first three matches by three poínts or less, and squad entered for the team section of the Gym then proceeding to show its true worth by crush- competition both won commendable victories. ¡ng Cary Gilson to give them the wooden spoon. Prince Lee Music was not appreciated. The House The juniors actually conceded some points in has energetically disregarded repeated pleas to winning their event, and the minors suffered from enter for Athletics heats, and performances in the same sort of luck as the seniors, although they swimming are decidedly unpredictable. Cricket finshed fourth. Simón Hollingworth is still (lovely Cricket) again remains the only sport in astonished at our final position of third. In Water which glory seems solidly attainable. Unfortu- Polo we met Levett in the first round, and although nately, Prince Lee relies too much on one or two we surprised ourselves by taking the lead, this outstandingly versatile people, and when support lasted for only 90 seconds and we lost 2—1. Cross for these gifted individuáis does not materialise, Country carne and went leaving us fifth. Music may the inevitable result is mediocrity. But for all that, not be a sport, but it does figure in a competition the social atmosphere of the House is good—and and we again offered originality in both parts. THAT, after all, is more important than mere Overall we carne fifth, despite presenting what success. many people considered the best orchestral piece MUNNA MITRA together with an average choral offering. As usually happens, orthodoxy won the day . . . yet again. VARDY Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Ramsay for Vardy is no longer plagued by visions of its his tolerance of my minutes, and to commend seven-year supremacy in the Cock House Cham- Messrs- Everest, Russell and Tomlinson for their pionship. There are no tremendous all-round forbearance. sportsmen to domínate House teams, and this has GEORGE RUSTON led, paradoxically perhaps, to more co-operation and enthusíasm than before. Certainly there are LEVETT talented individuáis, but they seem outnumbered The academic year 1970-71 has so far been one by the philosophícal and reliable moderates who of very mixed fortunes for Levett. Our apparently are always prepared to turn up and " have a go." everlasting superiority in the Music competition The House offícials have succeeded in fielding full was dealt a slight blow when we learned that we teams for every match so far, with the result that had only shared first position, and the gallant the House is currently ¡n third place ¡n this year's efforts of the House First XV, who won both Cock House Championshíp. The position, how- Rugby competitions, could not nullify completely ever, doesn't matter. If co-operation and enjoy- the disappointing results of the second and third ment are considered, Vardy must surely be winning teams; our overall position in Rugby was sixth. easily. In recent years Levett has never been a strong MARTIN CARDINAL COCK HOUSE CHAMPIONSHIP (to Easter, 1971) Water Cross Polo Rugby Country Gym Fives Chess Music Total Position Cary Gilson 1 3 2 2 4 5* 5 22\ 8th Evans 8 21 14 4 6 2 3 58 2nd Gifford ... 6 13* 12 6 8 5i 1\ 581 lst Heath 4 24 6 5 2 7 1 49 4th Jeune 2 18 8 8 3 4 4 47 5th Levett 7 9 4 3 1 1 321 7th Prince Lee 5 6 10 7 5 8 2 43 6th Vardy • • • «3 13* 16 1 7 3 6 491 3rd

While compiling the ofñcial House Reports, we Ask not why the House is decaying, but rather, o/so received the following article, and we pub- why should it not díe? Half the House are cynics, lish it as the expression of a sentiment which, we some are just not bothered, and the rest are think, has a number of adherents in the School. Shells, for whom a Tuesday morning pantomime It should perhaps be noted that although the is enacted, starring half-a-dozen sixth formers Quthor writes specifically about his own House, propped up against the radiator, " Pilgrim's Pro- the subject of his reflections is the system as a gress " on a leprous piano, and news of a great who/e. Needless to say, they by no means reflect victory on the running-track. A little boy's eyes the opinión of everybody. light up- And so to the House Report. Looking through direction the School Choral Society is clearly oíd Chronicles I search for clichés: " Despite the capable of adventuring upon great things. exodus of talent last year, the House rallied to F.J.W. the cause nobly; up to the dizzy heights of sixth in Squash, but, oh dear, that cuddly oíd wooden CHESS spoon again in the dining hall. Not through lack In the 1970-71 season, the School chess teams of enthusiasm though ..." I have never been produced their best results for several years. In enthusiastic. I cannot quite grasp the veil of happi- the Sunday Times National Tournament the first ness to draw across room 72 and ¡ts esoteric team has reached the last eight, beating Calday family. What can I say? We have a Rugby cup; Grange G.S. 4—2 in the second round of the we, or rather they, carne seventh in Cross Country. fináis. The second team reached the zonal final. But I bore you; if you were really ¡nterested, you In the Birmingham and District Júnior League the would know the answers already. We are well first team won the first división with unexpected well overdue for relegation. ease, the third team won the second división, and "House" implies a dwelüng, and ¡n the a young fifth team was second in ¡ts section of " matured " boarding schools one eats, sleeps and the fourth división. plays in the House. There you have to grin-little- Probably our best result was in the Midland boy-or-they'll-have-you-weeping. We needn't smile Schools Championship at Burton, where, despite though, or even see the House, save through sleepy the unavailability of several players, the title was Tuesday morning eyes. To crush the final palsied retained. limb of the House system would do no harm: the Predictably, the best individual results were soldiers will still creep off to the pits to kill their achieved by Tony " Superboy " Miles, who won cardboard cut-outs; the cricketer will not be the 1970 Midland Open Championship, was sixth parted from his bat; ñor will the playing fields be in the British U.21 Championship, and represented overeóme by briars and brambles. And the pretty England in the Glorney Cup, the U.18 team cham­ cups? Leave them be; the P.D. boys polish them pionship of Western Europe. At the beginning of CHRIS JONES April, 1971, he represented the British Chess Federation in the Nice Júnior International Tour­ LENT TERM CONCERT nament, where he carne equal first. At the Bir­ On Monday and Tuesday, 29th and 30th March, mingham Easter Congress he easily won the U.18 a Choral and Orchestral Concert (the same pro­ title and retained the titles of Midland Open and gramme on both occasions) was given by the Júnior Champion. (In case anyone is wondering, School Choral Society, the Chapel Choir and the I did once see Miles lose—I think!). M. J. Coward combined King Edward's Schools* Orchestra, con­ won the U.14 title. ducted by Mr. Massey. For most of the performers Miles, Lloyd, Stoker and Wilson represented and the audience the substance of the programme the Warwickshire Sénior Team, and Coward, was in the second half: the Passion Music from Klemperer, Szreter, Wagstyl and Unitt have also Part II of Handel's " Messiah." Before the interval played for the county júnior team. we were given a miscellany of items for orchestra. In recognition of their performances during the Chapel Choir and oboe with continuo. season, full colours were awarded to C. J. Wilson At the Tuesday concert the combined Orchestra and half colours to A. Forbes and P. Hanks. (generously reinforced by some mature players) Prospects for next season are bright, as only produced fluent and shapely performances of two of the School players are leaving, and several Nicolai's tuneful but over-long overture to " The young players, notably Coward, Klemperer, Wag­ Merry Wives of Windsor " and Vaughan Williams's styl, Morley, Unitt and Partridge are constantly " Fantasía on Greensleeves "; the melodic and bass improving. lines were always clear, even if the middle parts Finally, our thanks must go to Mr. Hurn and were sometímes thin. We salute the first appear- Mr. Jones for their constant help and encourage- ance at these concerts of the Hodsdon harpsichord ment, and to Mr. Bailey and Miss Chaffer for (on permanent loan to the School from the allowing us to practice in the dining hall after B.B.C.), which for some years has more or less schooL silently graced the Harold Smith studio, and has A. D. LLOYD now been rehabílitated by Mr. John Pryer (with (School Chess Captain) assistance from a specíes which the programme note describes as "sundry boys"). Mr. Pryer him­ A. J. STOKER self played it on this occasion with great effect, (Secretary) both in the " Messiah " items and in the Telemann We subjo'm two of the games that M/7es won Sonata in which he collaborated with Michael at the Nice Júnior International Tournament. Cockerham (oboe)—a notable performance, with some masterly shaping of phrase. In the three WHITE: A. J. Miles; BLACK, P. Szekely (Hungary) well-known lollipops by Handel ("O the pleasure" 1, P-K4, P-QB4; 2, N-KB3, P-Q3; 3, P-Q4, P x P; from " Acis and Galatea") and Thomas Morley, 4, N x P, N-KB3; 5, N-QB3, P-QR3; 6, P-B4, Q-B2; the Chapel Choir sang with exquisite precisión and 7, B-Q3, P-K3; 8, O-O, QN-Q2; 9, P-QR4, P-QN3; delicacy. But the four songs from Elgar's " The 10, Q-B3, B-N2; 11, P-KN4, N-B4; 12, P-N5, Bavarian Highlands" not unnaturally defeated KN-Q2; 13, B-Q2, P-N3; 14, P-N4, B-N2; 15, them. This is music which demands more mature QN-K2, N x B; 16, P x N, O-O; 17, QR-B1, Q-Ql; and resonant voices (the sort that come from full 18, N-B6, Q-Kl; 19, Q-B2, R-Bl; 20, N (B6)-Q4, bosoms and beer-soaked larynxes), and larger N-Nl; 21, R x R, B x R; 22, N-KB3, Q-Ql; 23, forces- Anyway, ¡ts heavy Teutonic coyness ¡s B-K3, N-Q2; 24, R-Bl, P-QR4; 25, N (K2)-Q4, difficult to take seriously. But this performance P x P; 26, N-B6, Q-Kl; 27, B x P, P-N6; 28, B-Q4, brought one tour de forcé: John Pryer's agile and P-K4; 29, P x P, P x P; 30, B-N2, B-QR3; 31, B-R3, resourceful piano-playing ¡n the impossible redac- B x P; 32, N-K7 Ch, K-Rl; 33, R-B8, Q x R; 34, tion of Elgar's complex orchestral score. N x Q, R x N; 35, Q-Q2, B x P; 36, Q x N, B-B4; 37, Q-N7, P-K5; 38, N-Kl, B-Q5 Ch; 39, K-N2. For the " Messiah " music one can only say a Black resigns- very sincere " thank you." When a masterpiece of this scale is performed with such intense life and WHITE: Barle (Yugoslavia); BLACK: A. J. Miles conviction, and with so vivid a sense of its sub- 1, P-K4, P-K4; 2, N-KB3, N-QB3; 3, B-N5, P-B4; limity, there is no more to be said. The School 4, N-B3, P x P; 5, QN x P, N-B3; 6, N x N Ch, Choral Society was joined on this occasion by four Q x N; 7, O-O, B-K2; 8, Q-K2, O-O; 9, P-Q4, young soloists—Gillian Coomber (soprano), Bar­ N x P; 10, N x N, P x N; 11, Q-B4 Ch, K-Rl; bara McGuire (contralto), Philip Dennis (tenor), 12, Q x BP, B-Q3; 13, Q-R5, P-QN3; 14, Q-Kl, and Jonathan Gibbs (bass)—whose dignified yet B-N2; 15, P-KB4, QR-K1; 16, Q-N3, P-KN4; 17, expressive singing of the arias well matched the B-Q3, P x P; 18, Q-R3, R-K2; 19, B-Q2, R-N2; 20, ¡nspired vigour of the chorus work. Perhaps the R-B2, R (Bl)-KNl; 21, K-Bl, Q-N4; 22, P-KN3, great fugal chorus " He trusted in God " was the Q-Q4; 23, B x P, Q-R8 Ch.; 24, K-K2, R-Kl Ch.; supreme experience of the evening; but it was a 25, B-K5, R x B Ch; 26, K-Q2, Q x R. White peak among many heights. Under Mr. Massey's resigns. KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 3, No. 8 House Reports have done this. But towards the House system there has always been, rightly or SPOT THE DELIBÉRATE MISTAKE wrongly, a certain amount of apathy or even oppo- On the front page of the last ¡ssue we published sition: henee, from our point of view, the inclu­ a letter from the Chief Master, which presented a sión of Chris Jones* article. If Chronicle doesn't broad critical analysis of the progress of Chronicle reflect the School as fully as it can, warts and all. 44 44 from its first news-sheet issue in May, 1969, until then our grown-up friends " will receive a pie- Easter, 1971. A number of these points seems to ture of activities and interests which go on here " me to be worth argument. that is distorted, and correspondingly reduced in valué. The first charge laid against recent Chronicles concerns the Chief Master's increasing boredom The Chief Master draws a parallel with the with " the monotone that you present of apathy." Birmingham Post, and suggests that if the city This observation has presumably been made and received as unfavourable a press by the Editor of reinforced by reading a number of issues over the that paper as, I am informed, this School does last couple of years, but what probably sparked from me, then the Post's proprietors would be off the specific complaint was my article about justified, in terms of both economics and reader­ ship, in dismissing him. The parallel is tenuous by Chronicle and the School, which sat in splendid 44 isolation on the front page of the last issue but any standards; profits" are mentioned, which one. It should be fairly obvious from the presen­ are, unfortunately perhaps, ¡rrelevant to any taron of this onslaught, and from its tone of Chronicle Editor. A minority of people think cheerful exaggeration, that the article was no Birmingham is an appalling city to live and work more than an updated versión of previous appeals in; a majority can probably find some fault in its from previous Editors for more copy—duly sensa- construction, atmosphere and administraron. If tionalised because those earlier attempts had, in these people cannot find a voice in the Post along- recent years, met with such scant success. In other side more faithful or less critical Brummies, then words, it was propaganda. As a result, perhaps, that paper would do well to reconsider its treat- of this article, we have had more than enough ment of local social issues. As for Chronicle, we present no monotone, either of apathy or of copy for two consecutive issues, sent to press 44 within a fortnight of each other, instead of after everything in the garden is lovely." I would be the usual month's interval. The ends, I would sug- the last person to suggest that I edit the perfect gest, have amply justified the means. School Magazine, but I am convinced that this policy, at least, is the right one. The implication that we print a constant flood of articles reflecting apathy at KES, and none (the Of course I criticise my juniors and my contem- word was "monotone") reflecting the manifold, poraries if they seem to me to be at fault. And widely various and enthusiastically pursued sport- as the publication of the Chief Master's letter ing or extracurricular activities in the School, is demonstrates, I am only too pleased to allow quite unjustified. During the past year there have juniors and seniors from classrooms and Common been three articles, excluding my own, which Rooms to criticise me and my attempts at editor­ touched on the subject of apathy to any significant ship. This article itself implies an essay ¡n self- degree, and one of those, Richard Barlow's four- examination and self-críticism. On the whole this part extravaganza, was in reality an attack on seems to me to be a healthy tendency. And if I try what he identified as the root causes of the apathy to incorpórate views on School life from as many syndrome. " You continually complain of apathy " angles as possible, I don't think my personality has —this is simply not true. split under the strain yet. If I were disaffected, I wouldn't bother to reply The Chief Master goes on to discuss the to the Chief Master; I wouldn't even have started reportage and general news contení of Chronicle. to edit Chronicle in the first place. However un- Although it is easy to derive a false impression likely this may seem, I do take my job seriously; of the construction of the new Chronicle from the and good luck to my American confréres. But it fact that original articles and poetry tend to stick must be obvious that I do not consider it in my in the mind longer than the day-to-day reportage, the bulk of the news-sheet invariably consists of ¡nterest to drive away half our readership and bore just what its format implies—news. the rest to death. I do not doubt that the Chief Master has " the interests of the Press very near The Chief Master pays tribute to " quite a good at heart." I do realise that print is a privilege. standard of English writing," but he complains 44 But I think that the Chief Master is suffering that it is usually about nothing." The copy for under a serious misconception of what Chronicle this issue contains reports on Borth, Genspec and can and should achieve. It is clear in his reference Cross Country; the travelogues range from naval lightweights on the Clyde to classical heavies on to the Birmingham Post; it is clear also in his Hadrian's Wall; there are two articles on the Staff courteous wish that boys will gradúate from the Play; there is also some poetry. What precisely Chronicle editorial board to careers in the public is the Chief Master looking for? If these subjects Press. In the public sense, Chronicle is not, ñor has are nothing, then where and what, in terms of it ever been, a newspaper, and to use the same life in and around the School, is something? guidelines in publishing or criticising botH would be an exercise in total unreality. No newspaper Subsequently, the duty of a House Magazine is would sell a single copy if all its reportage was ¡ndeed defined : it is " to show involvement." necessarily ten days to six weeks out of date. No This is where I begin to quarrel with the Chief newspaper would give itself away free. We try to Master's philosophy of Chronicle editorship. It is be aware of our duties and responsibilities; we try the duty of a House Magazine to show involve­ to report comprehensively and to reflect a wide ment when and where it exists—our orthodox spectrum of comment. Our controversies are, by our very nature, public (like this one) and not, as nant, and overplayed, comic element of the play, the Chief Master suggests, prívate. We are a pub­ rather than appreciation of matchless balance and lication, with the ideáis of any publication, but timing. with limítations as to síze, scope, format, contení, When Wednesday's performance carne, the piece readership. was being played almost solely for laughs, and the The Chief Master's letter seems to me, if based brunt of the element of pathos, largely to be borne on the wrong conception of school (not public) by Mr. Tennick as Guildenstern, was more of an journalism, at least full of a large number of highly obstruction to be ridden than part of a blended laudable precepts and principies. But I have a mixture. However, Mr. Trott, in a natural casting growing suspicion that if he could ever face just as the First Player, the last of the showmen. one week's Chronicle editorial problems, not from helped to correct the balance. Mr. Gudgeon, as the top of the tree but from inside the tangle of as Rosencrantz, made the most, with Mr. Tennick, branches, he would discover a great many of his of Stoppard's brilliant repartee, the high points praiseworthy journalistic ideáis crumbling before being the question game and the " dead-in-a-box " the hard facts of delayed deadlines and recalcitrant interlude. contributors. On the technical side, there was less polish than SIMÓN ARROWSMITH in recent productions; stray noises and crackling loudspeakers marring the expected and customary CCF GENERAL INSPECTION perfection. The General Inspection 1971 will be memorable To conclude, the production problems ¡nvolved to me, not only because it was the first one which in presenting this unique play, which employs I had attended as a spectator, but also because of Absurd Theatre eccentricities against a background the ambitious enthusiasm with which it was so of Shakespearean drama, must be countless. The successfully approached. A very precise and military inability of words to express man's emotions, the drum band led the Contingent in ¡ts marching, and disintegration of reason, the breakdown of the obviated the necessity for the step to be called. walls separating appearance from reality, and the This in itself, matched by the clarity of the limbo existence that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern C.S.M.'s orders, provided a touch of profession- are experiencing; these are some of the tragic alism which, unfortunately, has been lacking at themes of the play, but nevertheless they are some of the previous Inspections. Following the themes suffused with comedy, and the success of actual inspection of the troops by Rear Admiral this production must be measured by the lllingworth, a number of sepárate demonstrations naturalism with which the pathetic limitations of of training took place around the School. the central characters, representatives of mankind, The R.A.F. had to bale out of their crashing air- are portrayed. There appeared to be insufficient craft, which strongly resembled the School diving strength of character to evoke any great feelings board, and jump ¡nto the sea to make their sur- of pity from the audience. vival in an inflatable dinghy. It was with great JOHN MALLATRATT relief that we saw them right the upturned dinghy —a formidable task after the righting strap had The Staff Play was performed in Big School in broken. The swimming pool was then used by front of enthusiastic and appreciative audiences. the Naval Section to demónstrate their ability with The long-awaited debacle proved, in fact, to be a canoes. highly accomplished production, well up to the Various sections of Connolly Company showed right standard of KES drama. Under the direction how to scale a wall, and how to beat a team of of Mr. Parslew, both actors and technicians dis- ex-cadets and N.C.O.'s over the assault course, tinguished themselves, bringing out the full mean­ while the perennial static displays remained scat- ing behind the text without allowing any of the tered at various points round the School grounds. superficial comedy to slip. Enunciation and projec- After an unfortunate start, when it was tion were at all times good, overcoming the poor announced to the platoon which was advancing acoustics of Big School. The pace was exactly across the South Field, " Slim Platoon, you have right, although it slipped towards the middle of not yet started your demonstraron," an able and the third act; but it was recovered, and led the efficient demonstraron was given of a night patrol. way to a very powerful ending. Whether the prisoner survived the return to H.Q. Mr. Trott was excellent, as expected, in the is unknown, but it was plain that the successful demanding role of the First Player. He achieved soldiers had never heard of the Geneva Conven- the correct proportion of crudity, mixed with a tion. verbosity somewhat akin to Flamineo in " The The Final Parade commenced with a Trooping White Devil "; but he rightly lacked all of Fla- of the Colour. The Colour, escorted by Vyse mineo's vitriolic sycophancy. The bluff, genial Platoon, was slow marched through the Contin­ character carne over, giving the audience much gent with a militaristic precisión that would surely cause for laughter and acting as a perfect foil to equal that of many regular regiments. Following Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. this superb demonstration of drill, the Rear- Admiral presented the Dolphin Trophy to L./Sea- The rest of the cast also distinguished itself. Mr. man Claughton, and gave a brief address in which, Hames proved an excellent Hamlet, seizing the I have no doubt, he made many friends in the part as if it were a large leg of mutton, and chew- ranks, and one or two enemies among the parents, ing remorselessly through it. Two very good by advocating that every boy should have a motor- cárneos were forthcoming from Mr. Worthington bike, which he should maintain himself. as Polonius (who suggested a frustrated wood- pecker) and the all-seeing Mr. Ganderton as the The Colour was marched off, to the beat of the all-seeing Horatio. The most pleasant surprise of drums, to conclude one of the most memorable the night was Mr. and Mrs. Benson as Claudius and successful Inspections of recent years. and Gertrude. Their performances as the bour- ROGER COOKE, O.E. geois king and queen, always in a hurry, always with some major problem being reduced by them ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN into a banal irritation, were absolutely right. ARE DEAD The major part of the credit, however, must go It was an ambitious decisión to choose " Rosen- to Messrs. Gudgeon and Tennick (or is it Gudgeick crantz and Guildenstern Are Dead " as the play and Tennon?) as Rosenstern and Guildencrantz to break the Common Room's dramatic pause of themselves. They had developed a Laurel-and- the last seven years; and it proved to be a decisión Hardy-like understanding in rehearsal, which they which met with mixed success. The audience each exploited to the full in production. The dialogue evening was duly satisfied, but the cast must have between them alone, containing some of the most felt that this was a result of the naturally domi- difficult passages in the play, was sustained all the way through, and they coped in a most ¡mpressive final, where he brassnecked a very tricky customer fashion with the rapid-fire exchanges of the word with masterly aplomb. Unlimited free liquor game. seemed ours for a song. But we overdid it, WAF­ Also ¡mpressive were the changes of barréis by Bill lost in the fina!, his manager and treasurer the stage staff, and the ¡nterchange of the actors were both fired, and all we could conjure up was as well; ¡n fact, the whole of the third act was of half-a-pint between ten of us. a very high technkal standard and the entire We sailed over the bay to Ayr on Sunday, via company was obviously very tightly disciplined. Lamlash harbour, Arran, where Geoff Bird and lan Let us hope, therefore, that there will be another Page caught pollock with abandon. At Ayr, dis­ staff play in the near future, and that it is just as tress and discontent were rife among the crew— enjoyable as " Sterencrantz and Rosenguild Are everywhere was closed. Tiny Tim's second sober Dead " evening of the week got on everyone's nerves, CHRISTOPHER GIBBONS but time was passed by a cricket joke competition, Le., every third man dismissed was bailed over- CLYDE M.F.V. board. (or there's an enigmatíc title ¡f you like) By now Richard Pope had been revealed as the Galloping Gourmet of the Clyde and was awarded 44 l'm not putting my uniform on," stated boring, the Gordon Blue by Mr. Benett. He must also be defiant, muscular NA/AFBill W/orkman. Half-an- credited with the ¡nvention of can throwing, a hour later, 12 uniformed cadets awaited the arrival highly complicated and skilful sport enjoyed by of Messrs. Benson and Benett at the ticket barrier, the whole boat. Glasgow Central. Upon their arrival all the bags and suitcases were thrown into a passing taxi, On Monday we steamed up to Little Cumbray and Largs. As if that wasn't enough for one day, together with Alan Buchanan, and quickly des- a 44 man overboard " competition was held, won patched to Queen's Street Station, where we by the most competent, skilful and highly know- imbibed foul coffee (there follows a joke so bad ledgeable cadet on board (and modest too, it that the Editor has no intention of typing it out, seems). The evening was spent at Greenock, where let alone having it printed), while awaiting the Hughie lived, so it wasn't much of a place. Simón Helensborough train. forced the follow-on, leaving WAFBill out again We next met food at Faslane naval base (at this plus a few other equally tremendous talents. The point it should be stated that the Editor takes no next day we returned to Faslane and Birmingham responsibility for the accuracy of the placenames on an uneventful journey (i.e., he's run out of mentioned, since he's experiencing some difficulty anecdotes at last). ¡n reading Geoff Bird's handwriting). Here Geoff Our thanks go to Mr. Benson and Mr. Benett, Bird was put in charge of suitable naval word whose knowledge, advice and ability to play bridge the rations to two boats. We got a complete were invaluable. Thoughtful regards also to Niel, monopoly of the tinned, ready-peeled potatoes. Adam and Hughie in Scotland. We hope they all That night in Rothsay, WAFBill Workman, enjoyed the week as much as we did. Supporting Simón Hollingworth and Dave Williams — for cast on the trip comprised Andy Downton, Phil whom the sun was shining, although it was rain- Jones, Derek Jones, Rodney Rounce and Paul ing in his heart — visited every establishment and Davis. through a good bit of bowling, WAFBill was ¡Ilegible leaving Simón ready for another ¡nnings. GEOFFREY BIRD AND THE BUSTED The following day, Thursday, we steamed up TYPEWRITER KING the East Kyle to stop at Loch Riddon, where a walking/geological party was dropped off. Mr. Benett and Geoff Bird were subsequently deluged MARINE BIOLOGY COURSE with samples of every rock for miles around— BORTH, 1971 including concrete. After a mere 10 miles the mob grew tired of this little game, especially as The Marine Biology Course at Borth has become the ship carne ¡nto view at Otter Ferry. After a an essential ítem for biologists at School, and the brief ¡nterlude at Tarbert, where WAFBill estab- accumulated knowledge of 18 previous courses lished his reputation as the only authentic darts ensures a thorough acquaintance with al! the player north of the Tweed, we burned up Loch terrain offers. Fyne to Inverary on Friday. W¡th tears ¡n our The course, which is supervised by Mr. Dodds, eyes, we drove off ¡nto the football match of the with the assistance of Mr. Rigby and Mr. Russell, century. Niel (sic), the young skipper, and caters for three distinct requirements; an intro- Hughie, the even younger ship's layabout, were of duction to field work for beginners, an oppor- reputed internacional standard and needed a game tunity to develop original research for " second to keep in trim. They got one: N.C.O.'s plus timers," and unlimited scope for dedicated bird - Niel and Hughie, stick the Rest of the World. watchers to observe and record the birds which The Rest won 11—4, although by Niel's Scottish frequent shore, estuary and wild bird sanctuary. ruling the N.C.O.'s won by scoring the last goal. Laboratory equipment is taken down and set up Hughie lay fíat out, steam rising from his shat- in the Youth Hostel, and provides a proper scien- tered corpse. Something euphemistically entitled 44 tific background for research. The course is a Night Op," followed, notably only for WAF- divided ¡nto lectures, field work and lab. work. Bill's amazing enforced sobriety: we didn't arrive ¡n Rothsay until 2 a.m. The Borth área consists of an área of rocky shore, abounding ¡n rock pools, the sand dunes, Saturday saw us moving on to Lochranza on the estuary, and the peat bog. As the coast ¡s not the Isle of Arran, where raised beaches and false polluted to any great extent, opportunities exist bedding created wild excitement in tiny minds. to study wild life which has been exterminated ¡n Next stop Cambie — defmitely the worst town many similar áreas, but one field of research did since Birmingham; we found ourselves in an estab­ concern the incidence of DDT in shellfish, and in lishment crowded with Celts. One particularly birds found dead without apparent injury. dirty and ¡ll-spoken specimen took a fancy to the irrisistible WAFBill, whom he ¡dentified unhesi- Borth Youth Hostel faces the sea, therefore no tatingly as Tiny Tim, that bosom buddy of all time is lost in travelling to the área where people illiterate Scottish alcoholics. Tiny Tim was press- are working, the timetable is governed to som^ ganged ¡nto the local darts competition after glow- extent by the tides, and everyone works very hard. ¡ng reports from those two fast buck promoters, The rich variety of sea creatures, anemones, fish, Shylock Bird and Masher Hollingworth. With seaweed, crabs, starfish and shellfish amazes those suitable líquid support between rounds, Tiny Tim accustomed to find discarded ¡ce cream containers, Performed very creditably, particularly in the semi­ tin cans and broken bottles on the sea shore. The windswept sand dunes show ampie evidence of which had been seen in Newcastle three days of the adaptability of plants, and overhead the before. sea birds wheel and cali ¡n the clear air. Excursions along the wall successfully Iled days The entire course is an adventure in noting the 5 and 6, with stops at the forts of Housteads, ecology of the seashore. The discipline of the Curvoran and Vindolanda, a little way off the wall course, which consists of collection of specimens, on the original supply route. This site was especi­ identification and examination, is consistent with ally interesting as it provided an opportunity to the best scientific tradition. watch exvacations in progress, ¡ncluding the un- The masters give directions to the beginners, earthing of an astonishing hoard of Román shoes. On day 7 the team journeyed to Carlisle vía the information to the researchers, and also ensure bridge at Willowford, Birdoswald fort, and Laner- the performance of those duties with which Youth cost. During the next and final day time was Hostellers are only too familiar. found to visit Carlisle Cathedral and the Tullie The atmosphere of Borth Youth Hostel during House Museum. the course is compounded of chemicals, cooking and rubber boots—an unforgettable combination. The success of the tour was undoubtedly due to the amount of time and effort spent by its A MEMBER OF THE EXPEDITION organisers, and especially by Mr. Williams. We would all like to thank both him and Mr. Tennick TOUR OF HADRIAN'S WALL for transporting rucksacks, which made the trip much more enjoyable for all concerned. Finally, The season was brought to a satisfactory con­ we want to express the hope that we have set a clusión by a visit of an uncommonly strong team precedent for similar expeditions in the future. to the Border Country. The team of 28 was led and captained by Rev. F. J. Williams, M.A. BY VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO (Cantab.). The opposing captain-in-chief was the SHOULD KNOW BETTER Emperor Hadrian, and the travelling umpire the Rev. J. Birdoswald Bruce. The following made guest appearances: Canon and Mrs. R. G. Lunt and THE RIOT friend; the Gnome of Acomb; Verónica (remember Verónica?); episcopus salta( r)trexque; Rosen­ Red tensión glaring crantz and Guildenstern; R. G. Collingwood, And bulging eyes staring; A.B.S., P.W.P.M., C.M.S., Q.C.P.S. and answers on Clenched knuckles gripping a postcard to this address: The Emperor Hadrian, And finger nails ripping; A Fragmentary Inscription 2^cm. x 1 cm., A Plástic Chanting and stamping, Marmalade Sandwich, Museum of Antiquities, With ¡ron boots tramping, Newcastle. The mob's hate is swelüng— Its power is compelling; Guest disappearances were made by: Canon and A senseless, raging, vicious herd Mrs. R. G. Lunt and friends; Rev. F. J. Williams That never heeds the reasoned word. and friends (vide supra); Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Tennick and vehicle; Hadrian's Wall (aedificatorum ANTHONY BURT (Shell 3) operumque publicorum ministerium falcit). Matches played were as follows : At Acombe Y.H. v. Oíd Miners' Association— CROSS COUNTRY "In case of urgent need use ladies above." The Cross Country team suffered last term from At Hexham Abbey v. St. Acca— a totally unjustified and highly damaging sense of " Every step down equals 100 years of superiority. The attitude that " we will beat them, history." come what may," affected, naturally enough, the At Chesters v. Mrs. Lucullus and her astonishing performances of the team. The situation deterio- Asturians— rated further because of our inability to field our " Isn't there a fort around here somewhere? " strongest team; on no occasion were all our top At Once/Twice etc. Brewed v. The Flying runners available for selection. Dutchman— There were also other problems, caused by in­ to six p Dutchmen: " l'm sorry, I juries. At the start of the Lent term both the captain and the secretary suffered foot injuries. thought you were some of my boys." The captain was unable to run for six weeks, and At Corbridge v. The Corstopitum Lions— only the meteoric rise to fame of C. N. Morris, " No, you can't go up the tower. The grave- who was for a period our best runner, the work- yard's too full already." manlike support of our two vice-captains, M. After arrival at Acomb on day 1, following a Lawley and G. I. Dunn, and the bravery of the brief visit to the Newcastle Museum of Antiqui­ valiant secretary, who ran on despite the pain in ties, days 2 and 3 were spent in visiting various his foot, prevented several humiliating defeats. sites around Hexham and Newcastle, ¡ncluding the When the captain finally returned he ran ex­ two most ¡mportant Christian buildings on the tremely well, and the team performance improved tour: Hexham Abbey, which stands on the site considerably. He has appeared for the Birming­ of Wilfrid's original abbey, and incorporates a ham League, for whom he carne fifth, a very crypt constructed with stones taken from local creditable performance. Román settlements; and St. Paul's Church, Jarrow, the church of the venerable Bede, where interest ROBÍN NICHOLAS lay in those surviving parts of the church con­ temporary with Bede himself. The main Román Results site was at Corbridge, where the Corstopitum Jan. 20th: 1, St. Philip's; 2, KES; 3, Moseley. station was found to be quite a typical example of Feb. 13th: The lst and 2nd teams both beat ¡ts kind, and which provided a background to the Bromsgrove. more complicated forts the team was to see during the next two days. The lst team was also placed: 3rd in the Kings Norton championships. Day 4 was occupied by the journey from Acomb 3rd in the Kings Norton to Redditch road relay. to Once Brewed, taking in on the way the fort at Chesters, remarkable for ¡ts state of preserva­ 13th in the Rugeley inter-schools race. ron—particularly the Bath-House, a typical ex­ 12th in the Lichfield schools relay. ample of Román ingenuity and expertise with 3rd in División 1 of the Greater Birmingham heating and drainage systems; and the Mithraic Cross Country League. The 2nd team was placed temple at Carrawbergh, a full-scale reconstruction 3rd in División 3 of the same league. KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 3, No. 9 From Dampier began the five-week trip back across the Indian Ocean, past the Cape and up the EDITORIAL Channel. We went through three hurricanes in

44 the Indian Ocean—it's quite something to see a A large part of this edition of Chronicle " is ship this size (820 ft. x 104 ft. x 60 ft.) thrown devoted to creative writing of one kind or another. 44 about like a Wayfarer " in a Forcé 6 : the wind We are able to print some games results, but full was 90—110 knots. Rounding the Cape safely reports from the summer games clubs will not be amid the usual whales and Russian trawlers, we available until the season is complete and will are due in Bremerhaven in a few days, and we therefore appear in the next issue, which will also hope to get some mail at last. Thence to Rotter­ report on the various events that pepper the dam, and after a round trip to Brazil I am hoping calendar at the end of the summer term. This to pay off back in Holland, half-way through June. will include Cricket Week, Swimming Sports, Speech Day, Music Syndicate Concert for I have learnt a great deal so far in my short 44 Shelter," and the Dramatic Syndicate plays. time at sea. Now that I have been right round Between them, the two issues cover quite a lot of the world I can see that it is really a very small school. place, and can see many things differently now. I have enjoyed learning the navigational part of the job very much, and I have gained my steering AN O.E. CIRCUMNAVIGATES THE ticket, which means I shall probably have to take WORLD the helm in the Channel. (EarÜer this year, a member of the Common Room The work on deck has been mainly bosunry received a letter from a very recent O.E. describing stuff—renewing ropework in lifeboats, as well as his life in recent months on a large cargo ship. The overhauling deck equipment, and a few odd paint- account is so interesting that we print a substantial ing jobs. I am very grateful for all I was taught in extract from it). the Scouts with regard to knots, splices, etc., and I thought I would write and let you know how 44 have now also learnt to splice wire, which is very things are going on Naess Talismán." different. As I think I told you, I joined the ship in Rotter­ There is a lot more to tell you, but I hope I dam on December 27th last year. She is a 72,000 can come and visit the School sometime when I tons deadweight bulk carrier, capable of carrying get home, and see everybody then. any bulk cargo, but only carrying ¡ron ore and coal on this charter. At present we are nearly back ANDREW ECCLESTON in the Continent with 66,000 tons of ore for Ger- many from Port Dampier ¡n Western Australia. " A starved crow sits ¡n the field attentive : and ¡n the wood the owl rehearses the hollow note We sailed from Rotterdam on New Year's Eve of death."—T. S. Eliot. and into the Atlantic bound for Norfolk, Virginia, in ballast. The trip across was pretty severe, it A starved crow sits in the field attentive : and being winter, of course. For much of the time I in the wood the owl rehearses the hollow note of was keeping the 8—12 watch with the third mate death. They are the only crow, and the only owl. on the bridge at night, and working on deck in the The classic fairy-tale symbols : blackness, the morning. In America we de-ballasted and loaded devil, the supernatural; and wide-eyed scientific coal for Fukuyama in Japan. In the ballasting wisdom; these two, and I—we are the only ones operation we loaded 43,000 tons of water ballast in left, rehearsing for destruction. We have held the 24 different tanks and two holds. The three pumps final dress rehearsal, and as we three sit upon our pump 1,250 per hour and there are about 60 stage-property seats, we contémplate the end of valves to opérate, which make it quite a sizeable the world. and complex job. I was staggered to find myself I do not know why only we three were allowed put in charge. to live beyond the first cataclysmic rehearsals. Sailing from America on January 15th, we passed But when the play was conceived, when two through the Panamá Canal on the 22nd—the remote planets, Neptune and Pluto, crashed to- largest ship ever to do so: a beam of 104 ft. 6 in. gether with such celestial forcé that the whole left 6 in. to spare on either side in the huge locks. solar system was blasted out of its regularity, and when the moon went spinning away from its After a three-day stop in Japan, we sailed on to mother and left her desoíate, when the floods Australia, crossing the equator en route. Two days carne, and went, and carne again—then only three from Dampier, the main engine-room switchboard living beingl remained : the hungry, dusty, blew up and caught fire. I was about to turn in spiritual crow, the doomed, material owl, and the when the alarm bells went, and I had to dash off man, waiting for the performance. to carry the breathing apparatus to the engineers' changing room—my duty in the event of fire. So the crow, having little else to do but wait, Fortunately, the fire was controlled and extin- sits on the sodden post of a fence and ruffles his guished quickly, the damage being contained in feathers, then flattens them and grooms them the switchboard itself, but we were stopped for with his beak. He is bored, waiting, and repeats 24 hours and had no gyro compass, radar, refrigera- the process many times, sending up clouds of dust. tion and a few other things until Dampier, when Perhaps he is saying to the post, 44 l*m alright, the generators could be shut down. We have fire Jack," for the devil thinks he is invincible—death drills and boat drill once a week, but when the cannot harm him, but merely change his state from bells go at night and you know it is for real, it is mortal to ¡mmortal. The same is true of his coun- quite terrifying. At that time we were a couple terpart, God; indeed, it is true of all such celestial of hundred miles from land, which would have beings—all are sure that they are invincible and been a long swim. that death has no dominión over them. It happens to be the cíevil , the crow, who has been chosen fidence and ¡mproved ¡ts skill, but was only able to represent the supernatural clan in this play. to win two matches out of 12. The first two or But he shuns reality. He refuses to accept that three matches were needed to organise the team he will soon be a pitiful mass of black, oily into playing as a unit and to provide some match feathers, floating on a gigantic ocean which experience. The team played well against obliterates all the land, with his beak open and Moseley and would have done better if Steve his hideous wagging tongue waving with the flow Johnson had been able to play, but only just of sea water as it corrodes his body away. The managed to beat Lordswood, the weakest team in crow does not believe that reality is almighty, the league. King's Norton are this year's English even over the soul, and he goes on grooming his schools champions, and so defeat was inevitable. In plumage, waiting for the first night. the return matches the team ¡mproved and could have beaten BournvMIe, Five Ways and Moseley But the owl—the real, wise owl—he is re- but for the fact that it lacked the ability to take hearsing his part. He has been practising for a control of the game once it was in the lead. long time now. He predicted with his computer Against King's Heath and King's Norton a different many years ago that the two planets would crash key player was missing each time, but Lordswood and that the earth would drown and die. He were beaten more effectively. The team fmished knows that at that time, cold sea water will enter sixth out of seven in its section. The friendly his lungs, and he will be unable to breathe, and games have been more successful and the team he will die and cease to exist. He has trained his played well on each occasion. The leading players mind with an electronic simulator to accept this. have been Alan Homer, Cliff Grover, lan (Joe He sits on a branch, alert, waiting for his predic- Davis) Hankinson and Roy Clarke, with Steve tions to come true with callous precisión; perhaps Johnson outstanding. These players have scored a he says to the trees, " I told you so." But neither total of 779 points in all matches. Robert " Sandy " he ñor the crow, the mundane ñor the immortal, Shaw has the unique record of being sent off at can foretell what will really happen after the least (he's lost count) four times in ten matches instant when the wave comes and sweeps him ¡nto for five personal fouls, but the fouls have been its eager mouth. tactical and effective. And then there is me, the rather stup¡d, unsure man. I sit on a mound of mud, composing elegaic This season saw the formation of the júnior couplets in Latin to preserve my sanity. I have a team, which also played in the Birmingham vague ¡dea that I will go somewhere when I die, League (U.15). The team played ¡ts first match " depart this life," either to the crow's home or after only two practices, which for most of the to some other hell, the home of another heavenly side was the first time they had played basketball being, depending on my performance during the seriously. After rather a nervous start, the team play : but there again, I also think that when ¡mproved considerably as the season went on, and water enters my lungs my life will end and I will even won a match, although still lacking experi­ not exist any more. I have been pressed from ence and skill. The júnior team eventually fmished both sides, like a shopper being tempted by a new an unbelievable fourth out of six in its section, product, from the crow and from the owl; but having won four matches, three by default. still I cannot make up my mind. Perhaps that is This year was only a start, and both teams even a virtue—at least I shall not be taken by sur- should improve season by season, especially as prise. But I do not know . . . basketball is now played in the lower half of the And so we three sit and wait for destruction. School. As a result of their performances during The crow, the ¡mmortal, complacent, sure of him­ the season, School colours have been awarded to self, despising everything else, confident in his Steve Johnson, Alan Homer, Cliff Grover, lan belief that he will never die : the owl, wise, scien- Hankinson and Roy Clarke, and for his great en­ tific, mathematical, real, predicting the exact point thusiasm, Tim Shaw has been awarded his half- in time and space when he will cease to exist : colours. Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Birch and I, middling, philosophical, unsure, ¡gnorant. for all the work he has done for both teams. And then the curtain rises, the wave comes, we three are swept up. Which one was right? ALAN HOMER JON GIBBS

SOME CRICKET RESULTS BASKETBALL RESULTS 1970/71 May 1—D. H. Benson's XI 148-8 dec, KES 149-3. Won by 7 wkts. Sénior Team : May 8—Wrekin 124, KES 126-1. Won by 9 wkts. League matches: v. BournvMIe (h) lost 32—66, May 12—KES 209-1, Waverley G.S. 77-7. Won by v. K.E. Five Ways (h) lost 25—63, v. King's Heath 13?, runs (G.S. Cup). (a) lost 33—87, v. Moseley (a) lost 52-90, v. May 22—KES 203-9 dec, R.G.S., Worcester 154. Lordswood (a) won 48—38, v. King's Norton (h) Won by 49 runs. lost 38—119, v. BournvMIe (a) lost 30—42, v. K.E. Five Ways (a) drew 61—61, v. Moseley (h) lost May 26—Commercial Union Assurance Co. 143-7 49—56, v. King's Heath (h) lost 47—77, v. Lords­ dec, KES 105-9. Match drawn. wood (h) won 67—39, v. King's Norton (h) lost June 7—Denstone 224-7 dec, KES 206-7 Match 31—121. drawn. june 10—KES 132-9, K.E.G.S., Aston 131-6. Won Friendly matches: v. K.E. Five Ways (h) won by 1 run (G.S. Cup). 52—42, v. Oíd Eds. (h) lost 73—76, v. Warwick June 12—KES v. Warwick. Cancelled. (h) won 71—36, v. BournvMIe (h) won 83—66, v. Moseley (h) lost 55—72. june 16—KES 181-6 dec, Solihull 182-8. Lost by 2 wkts. Júnior Team : June 19—KES v. Trent. Cancelled. League matches: v. Stanmore (a) lost 10/—51, June 23—King Henry VIII, Coventry, 152-3 dec. v. Lordswood (h) lost 12—75, v. Óldbury Tech, Kes 156-5. Won by 5 wkts. (h) won by default, Oldbury Tech, (a), won, with- June 24—K.E.G.S., Nuneaton, 61, KES 62-1. Won drew from league, v. Stanmore (h) lost 36—48, v. by 9 wkts. (G.S. Cup). Holly Lodge (h) won 40—32, v. Lordswood (a) June 27—Bromsgrove 77, KES 78-3. Won by 7 lost 18—65, v. George Dixon (h) lost 38—50, v. wkts. Holly Lodge (a) won by default, v. George Dixon (a) lost 11—21. BASKETBALL Friendly matches: v. Warwick (h) lost 16—22, In its first season in the Birmingham League the v. Lyndon (h) lost 18—60, v. Moseley (h) won sénior team gained vital match experience and con- 30—17. POETRY From " REPRIEVE " AWAKENING I remember that afternoon with the sun. Earth on wood: Flicker the torch. the priest turns his back Doom. and returns through the graveyard. Fires leap, leap high ¡nto the chimneys of The lost wife Despair scatters flowers on the ground, To light me on my way. scarcely believing the words on his headstone; DevMs creep out onto the greasy promontory, the tune dies. Before the gates that open ¡nto Hell, Whereon the victim slithers down That was the first night, Like a trickle on a slimy branch. when eye and hand discussed the day where once they talked together. You are doomed, simply rings the voice The morning will bring work, not sorrow. Behind the barbed-wire strands and spiral. Door slams outside: the nightmare ends: And I walk to the beckoning devHs. she dresses in front of the mirror, for company. They do not have green eyes, Ñor are they black and impish, ANDREW SUMMERS But wickedly ¡nnocent and obscure. From " INSIDE A WHITE CHRISTMAS " Large hands sway back and fore, I knelt on the crimson velvet, I cannot see their grin or smile, on the velvet so many have touched, I walk, and nearer, on the velvet before the snow-white altar They come nearer, and I see watched by the stone-grey faces Agony swept across them, in their eyes. struck ¡nto life so long in the past Let the drums beat while I descend. to gaze at the women as they sew. As they walked across the lawn And did my children arrive safely? The wind poured the sail, and my boat lurched. In the big towns I was sure they would lose their A wave flapped like a flounder in the bilge way. And fled. There. There. Gone. And do my children eat well, The cork in the bottom of the boat blew out, do they run over the park-green land Pop. to the bronze statues at the gates; Water gushed. do they shake hands with the oíd men; The ninepins drinking tea on the church lawn do they play with the tame town dogs; Did not see the sail submerge, do they keep clean; For Death is invisible. do they remember my advice; And they talked away the sun are they remaining young? Of this and this and that and The glow from the window seemed to hold Not a mention of Death, them, They could not see Death, half their faces perfect in every feature. And the sun shone on their blessing. half in darkness. The minister glanced at the green sea And Mary gazed like this, And saw no ships. ¡nto the eyes of her Christmas chüd and drank the well water. The sun set, grinning, ANDREW SUMMERS And its smile turned ¡nto the moon, Melancholy moon w¡th seas lashing up to seas of PORTSMOUTH CENTRAL PARK 1970 sand. Cut out my heart, The silver surf roared, rolled And leave it here Onto the seaweed streaks, In God's church; And the pebbles washed the willows ¡n the field, Cool sorrow tends And the hedges ran rings around the bluebells The flowers now. Black with night and Death, As the sea mounted, reluctant to receive the In these bright fields Dead. Let my chained soul stay. EWAN BOWIE Don't make me wander From these snow-borne lilies, Let me keep my peace For ever here. In God's ñame I ask you, Stop my errant nature, Free me from my bonds of Everlasting space, SO ARE YOU Let me lie here, God's own, if for only I saw you coming through the long grass, A thousand years, (the grass was greener) But let me stay. Long orange dress, long yellow hair I see too far, not far enough, (your hair was irrelevant), I cannot see all, yet Standing pointing accusing fingers at the 1930s Must; O God, unchain me, Playing with me and our minds touched, our Make me know, or freeze minds touched, My very mind, Softly touched each other with our minds Crossing thoughts But for pity's sake, And when you're not with me you're not Let me rest. without a doubt MICHAEL JACKSON Without me RULE And when l'm not with you Wonderful men, a facsímile l'm there, and so are you. Army struts onto the field: One fine day 1*11 carry you away, Rameses, Napoleón, Joffre and Slim Seal our fingers at break of day . . . Give command, fight, fa.ll. You move for me and your hair blows wild— And fight again, smashed in tactics, Mother of Grief and Mother of Child. Made humble, then, reborn, The time ticks along crossed-over wires Every metal man marches forward, Now's the time for blossom-time . . . Sweet cherries ¡n his mouth, brittle roses in his One fine day l'll carry you away. hat- MICHAEL JACKSON PETER GOAKES WITH TRAIN HAZE This lazy bay of solitude Is sunk with rays, with deaths of smoke, And motion, like a snake, is hurled Against the frames of shattered night: Indubitable rays of snakes And motion, one dead horse, once trapped, Within the past is tamely wrapped. O wanderer, come cióse this night And guard, my soul, ¡ts troubled flight. BEING YOUNG PETER GOAKES Being young and ¡ndolent He wished to be carried SILENCE—" WHAT CAN I SAY? " By every current of contemporary thinking Remember So much so that he remained forever When l'm a gurgling grandpa In the same place. Shock white-haired, a wrinkled foetal head STEPHEN SMITH Inside my mind the words fly round and round More words than you've yet seen A swarm of depression, malnutrition, pride, SONG FOR THE PEOPLE Bees that sucked all reason dry And stored the honey God knows where Inside us all, the dirty urban streets Remember Touch lasting memories: When my mewling face runs backward to the Grey faces, black; seeing only oíd days brain as burnt-out candles, new days, And you think you have frightened it menacing, threatening, similar. Remember Which pass ¡nto the dark The words are now locked in before coming to Mght. I alone the key Pavements crowded, people empty. And when you wheel me off with glee— Physical forcé lacking mental energy, My false teeth confiscated, a dummied baby— Mental forcé lacking physical energy. And store me with more " senseless souls " But on, on, on, anywhere but somewhere, In the stench of urinated wards Lost in a nightmare of fallen angels. And are gone Inside us all, the dirty urban streets Remember Touchí lasting memories. That you cannot see us talking each to another You do not see us flout our faces STEPHEN SMITH In argument, but yet We Can communicate; I am an ¡ncubated child RUGBY With arm and leg stumps waving in the air PLAYING RECORDS, 1970/71 Like a cripple Who has that within which passes speech P. W. D. L. F. A. But not understanding. lst .... 22 10 1 11 245 258 JOHN MALLATRATT 2nd .... 15 7 2 6 155 127 3rd .... 8 5 1 2 103 120 SECOND COMING U.16 ...... 8 2 0 6 49 146 Like a twisted drawing pin, Spun from a schoolboy's hand, U.15 ...... 12 6 3 3 151 78 I spin and travel nowhere U.14 ...... 14 10 1 3 259 138 Until I fade and fall. U.13 ...... 18 8 0 10 217 153 But sadistic child Picks up my broken corpse Reminds me of a cross; I spin once more and fade. And now I live in fear Of being picked up again, And also in the fear Of not. JOHN MALLATRATT KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 4, No. 1 colour throughout the production. They could also sing. Some Syndicate Reports I mention three people by ñame. The elabórate DRAMA work behind the stage was tied together smoothly I am just recovering from post-play depression; and firmly by the excellent Jon Bromwich, stage I am tired, my throat is sore, I have been with- manager. Robert Osborne suffered musical degra­ drawn from the breaches. A company of about 30 daron by both playing " Goodbyee " and similarly have been totally ¡mmersed in "Oh, What a inspired works, and making us sing it, or at least, Lovely War," and even though many of us had articúlate it. Without the wholehearted, indeed, never acted here before, I feel that we were soon passionate direction of Mr. Parslew, the play could working as a unified cast, sympathetic to the script not have been; he showed us the guiding hand, and to the direction. The actual performance gave or rather, the grip of ¡ron that makes a play me great satisfaction, but I am no critic. succeed. The time allotted to syndicates was a fortnight, Finally, I mention the theme of the play, for me, and we worked solidly through two weekends. the inspiration behind the acting. Throughout, we Most afternoons were eaten away by games, and see the disturbing balance between gaiety—hope we were hampered by other school obligations, and glory—and the sinister, beckoning realities of such as Speech Day. A mere 36 hours were spent the War. August, 1914, saw the beginning of a in stage rehearsal, but our aim was achieved. We party game: take a gun, knock a Hun, and we'll claim to be the hardest-working syndicate. be back for Christmas. A boy is beguiled by patriotic and sexual taints, dressed in khaki, taught We began by gloomily reading through the the killing game with a rifle, and sat in a trench. scripts on stage, and blocking in various stage Gradually the optimism and colour of the first half directions with considerable uncertainty. The of the play gives way to 1915 and the pitiful reali- run-throughs became progressively less catastro- sation in the later years of the second half. The phic, and gradually songs and dances were slotted last three songs are bitter. And yet still the facade, in; finally the lighting and sound effects. the prattling fools at home, supporting a cause Apart from the fact that the syndicate furnished that did not exist, a front that was meaningless. a scratch company, there were some special diffi- It was a fagade. "The war to end wars . . . killed culties inherent in the play. The show demanded ten million . . . wounded twenty-one million . . . continuity between the individual sections, each missing seven million . . . oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely of which was developed to a rather grotesque war." caricature of some particular portrait or event. CHRIS JONES This was the most difficult task, to put the ball- back-home alongside the gas mask, to fit them into the same show. There were also the stupen- dous complexities of sound effects, in which artil- MUSIC: SHELTER CONCERT lery fire had to be distinguished from the sniper's The first group of items was sung by the Chapel bullet, and follow it by seconds. One does not Choir and technically they sang very well. In fully appreciate the lighting or the lantern-slides pieces by Vecchi and Morley, their entries, leads from the stage itself, but the effects were both and diction were good, and the overall sound was subtle and dramatic. The technicians' cue-sheets disciplined and pleasant. But the style left some­ were formidable. thing to be desired. They continued to sound (and Costumes and propertíes were necessarily look) like a chapel choir, in spite of the gay, limited by a self-imposed budget, and indeed, secular music that they were singing. Their in- availability. Attics yielded tin hats and gas-capes, herently " ecclesiastical " tone coped better with we distinterred our greatcoats, and although the the deliberately ironic melodrama of "The C.C.F. was unwilling to loan out their playthings, Gosling " and the fruity sentiment of " My Evaline." we scrounged a few belts and caps, and shot A group of soloists followed. Michael Cocker- people with broomsticks. In the original produc­ ham's oboe playing was technically and artistically tion, by Theatre Workshop in London, the cast excellent and his sympathy with the subtlelies of wore pierrot outfits, but I believe we looked pre­ Britten's writing for the instrument quite out­ sentable in the functional black outfits which standing; his performance was truly poetic and attempted uniformity. Hair-length was naturally spellbinding. Christopher Hodges sang two songs a problem. We did trim our locks a little—warily by Stanford and one by Warlock. Apart from an for fear of hormonal upset—and did our best with occasional lack of rapport with his accompanist, odious Brylcreem. I like to think that the hair these were polished and relaxed performances, and lent an extra germ of parody to the performance. that of Stanford's " A Soft Day," a deeply com- Many parts were difficult to learn: if one played mitted one. Robert Osborne's playing of Debussy's four different soldiers, there was a risk of mixing " Les Collines D'Anacapri " was expressive and them up, for military commands are so tediously thoroughly enjoyable, though perhaps not quite similar. The trench scenes were most difficult to extravert enough. He overlooked, for ¡nstance, the learn, when one had to intersect some brief order comic possibilities of the bouncy first theme. or spontaneously witty comment every sixth line The remaining pieces were ensemble items, and in a lengthy section. Cues had to be picked up of these, Jeremy Gray's " Concert Variations " was K quickly, and this is where were were most likely the most unusual. Scored for a strange assortment to fail. The girls were lovely. of instruments, it had plenty of musical substance The tarty cabaret girl, the stylised Tiller-girls, from which ¡ts use of electronic noise should not the pathetically beautiful Austria, the refined, arro- be allowed to divert attention. Messrs. Massey gant France—these were key parts giving life and and Pryer played a duet for piano and organ in which the dynamic and rhythmic variety made up The fourth project was an attempt to replace for its lack of structural subtlety. Their perform­ the existing relays in the Vibrator, which is used ance convincingly captured the spirit of the piece. in the "A" level experiment on capacitors, by a The inclusión of Haydn's " Toy Symphony " (which new type of relay known as a reed relay. By en- is almost certainly by Leopold Mozart—Ed.), was closing the contacts in a dustproof glass tube, the an odd item for inclusión. It was both musically life of the relay is greatly prolonged. In practice, disastrous and highly amusing; but the music is however, the reed relay does not seem capable of funny enough in itself without attempts at comedy the high switching speeds used in the experiment. by the performers. The final project, which was by far the largest, Vaughan Williams' " Benedicite," sung by the involved building five complete sets of logic boards Choral Society and Miss Gillian Coomber formed and plug-in circuitry. Each set comprises a base- the climax of the concert. Balance between board, made out of plástic guttering, which has soloist and choir was good, and, after some initial four 11-pin valve sockets in it. These can be inter- vibrato trouble, Miss Coomber achieved a very connected by a set of short leads, with small pleasant tone. Her phrasing and diction were ex- wander plugs on them. Into the valve sockets are cellent, and altogether she coped very well with plugged any four of the nine basic modules. These her difficult solo line. The choir enunciated well, are small plástic cubes, containing the electronics dealt efficiently with some high staccato runs, and of a partiular logic gate or associated circuit, and managed their leads well enough. Yet something they took most time to build. The following was lacking. Of course, this was partly the result modules were made : of replacing an orchestra by a piano—even when 1. One multivibrator. This produces pulses of played with Mr. Pryer's virtuosity—and partly the electricity at a fixed frequency. fact that Vaughan Williams' choral writing is simply out of the range of most young singers. But 2. One frequency divider. On receiving a set of it was more a lack of conviction, of panache, an pulses, this unit transmits only half of the anxious concern to avoid mistakes rather than to pulses. Henee the output frequency is only half communicate the sense of the words in the de- the input frequency. clamatory, almost operatic style of the work. 3. Two lamp indicators. These convert sets of This was a very good concert of its kind. Per­ pulses into flashes of light. formers and audience clearly enjoyed it, and there 4. Three basic units. So called because of its were many ¡mpressive performances. But there is many uses, this unit may be used as an ampli- a lot more to musical performance than getting fier of pulses, and as a 3-¡nput ÑOR gate. A the notes and dynamics of a piece right. And until ÑOR gate is a logic gate which only gives an a greater sympathy with the music and a greater output when there are no pulses at any of the subtlety of performance is achieved, the standard three inputs. will not rise above that of an averagely good 5. One beam switch unit. This is a specialised school concert. The art of programme building is unit which is used for converting single beam to choose what you can really do in the time oscilloscopes ¡nto double beam models, and is available. used in conjunction with a square wave Abridged from a vast original by generator. NORMAN MACDONALD, O.E. 6. Two AND/OR gates. This is another logic gate which only gives an output pulse when SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS SYNDICATE there are pulses at the first and second inputs, 1971 or the first and third inputs. These modules may be assembled quite easily This year's Syndicate concentrated on five pro- by Upper Middles, to make burglar alarms, person jects, the first of which was a piece of apparatus counters, automatic traffic lights; indeed, the list to demónstrate the superposition of sine waves. is almost endless. Its valué in teaching logic, It involved cutting pieces of plástic tubing to the especially to mathematicians, is immediately appropriate length and fitting them onto a set of apparent. As a Syndicate activity, it has provided vertical rods, so that the tops of the plástic tubes a valuable insight into basic electronics, and, fur- displayed a sine wave. A small horizontal rod thermore, into the design and modus operandi of keeps a second set of plástic tubing above the computers. This apparatus was originally ¡ntended first. When it is released, the top row of plástic for the Nuffield Science Course; commercial ver- tubing falls onto the lower row, and the resulting sions of our apparatus are available at £28 a set. waveform displayed is the sum of the two initial As our equipment cost only £7 a set, a clear saving waveforms. This apparatus is at present on display was made in building these logic boards, as well in the art room. as providing the Syndicate with what must have The second project involved designing and been the most interesting and rewarding project building a small electric motor, suitable for con­ for many years. struction by Removes. It was built out of everyday materials, so that it might be built and ¡mproved at home. With the exception of two small bar COMPUTER SYNDICATE magnets, the motor consists of components which The first week of the Computer Syndicate con- are easily obtainable at home: two candles, a cork, sisted of rather feet-uppish sittings in the Four a matchbox, 12 metres of insulated wire, a small Citizens' Room while some of the less programmed knitting needle, and a few short brass strips. The of us learnt the rudiments of Algol, the language to strength of the magnets could be ¡ncreased by be used at the Computer Centre in the University winding a few turns of wire around them, and of Aston. Time passed remarkably quickly with a connecting these to the 6-volt battery off which suspect four afternoons free for games and Friday the motor works. afternoon activities. What we all learnt then was The third project was a system of push buttons just enough for some to confuse with Fortran and to be fixed outside the Science Master's Common not quite enough for those to whom computer Room, and connected, by multicore cable, to 16 language was new. lights inside the room. Each master has his ñame However, during the second week, the mys- printed against one push button and one light. terious world of the computer was revealed in all The caller must first knock on the door, in order its splendour in the Computer Centre. Mr. Double- to draw the masters' attention to the light indi- day, our guide throughout this magical tour, was cator panel. The lights only remain on while the an extremely pleasant man who impressed upon buttons are being pushed, and in this way the us strongly the urgent need for coffee breaks. He problem of little boys playing with the system made this clear on the first day after an arduous has been alleviated. The system is built so that it tour of the centre, and an equally exhausting ses- will eventually run off the mains, by means of a sion in which he drew pictures of Aston and step-down transformer. commented on catering services. The first afternoon was passed mainly by play­ The availability of the Ratcliff Theatre en- ing golf with a par 1 computer. The player at courages the use of the much-advertised médium the keyboard end was always at a disadvantage, of film for educational purposes. Yet it continúes caused by randomly variable wind speeds from to be very difficult to secure good and effective 0 to 25 m.p.h. However, one inspired shot with films. The career films that are produced are too a 6-¡ron brought the ball to four yards from the often made up of advertising blurb, and films on hole. 44 Not enough data, next shot please? " personal relations are too often tawdry and un- Perhaps disappointingly, our ¡dea of the super convincing—it is a cause for surprise that at this science fiction computer with flashing lights, rows date in the history of film as an art so many films of dials and violently circling needles was hope- should continué to be so bad. lessly dashed. George consisted solely of four The time this year was short, and also broken large blue boxes with ICT or ICL stamped on into by the incidence of such late "O" level papers them, according to their age. The computer room as Additional Maths. and Classical Studies; out of itself was decidedly clinical. the five afternoons of each week, three were We were all fascinated by the speed of every­ scheduled for games and services. All this meant thing. Mr. Doubleday reeled out figures such as a break in continuity which limited the effective- 0.005 of a second and 360 revolutions per second. ness of the Conference. Mysteriously, the computer insisted on using buckets for something, and for finding the answer An Opinión to a simple equation : This year, as ever, a Conference was arranged F = (x + 3)/(7 + 6x + x2) for all fifth formers on their return from "O" ¡t used fire buckets, a cooling system perhaps? level leave. The stated purpose of the Conference was simply " to broaden horizons." Did it do this? Mistakes were far too frequent. At the be­ To find out I spent some time just asking people ginning our programmes were reeled out with as for their opinions of the Conference. Complaints many as seven syntax errors in one short line. were unfortunately very numerous; films were One simple spelling mistake can throw the whole poor, discussions unplanned, irrelevant and dis- system out. It did. organised, lectures inaudible, organisation often Our most enjoyable pursuit was sitting at little 44 chaotic," and the careers talks far too narrow in type-printers, printing out cards galore to give to scope. In ¡ts present form the Conference has no George, but the highlight of the week proved to theme, no cohesión or co-ordinat¡on from one day be the Business Game. We were split ¡nto three to the next and ¡s badly lacking in substance. firms and mysteriously, the firms which sold Thus one ends up with a flaccid, gutless, ¡II- bicycles at £23 and watches at £22 ended up with assorted collection of little bits; it is scarcely sur- assets of £43,000 and £6,000 respectively, while a prising that this programme failed to captivate the firm selling model mechanícal diggers at £20 ended vast majority of its audience. In spite of all the with assets of over £130,000. George's calculations criticisms, praise and constructive ideas were not were extremely suspect. lacking. Everyone was highly interested ¡n at least On the last day, with the disruption of Big Biz, some of the lectures; most found a great deal of we turned to the golfmg computer again, and fed new ¡nformation ¡n the various careers talks. in other programmes. As time progressed, our At KEHS the girls were given the choice of doing code ñame 44 Home " became the operative word, social work or attending this Conference. Who, and we took leave of Mr. Doubleday, thanking I wonder, benefited most? Doubtless our own him warmly for his friendly instruction, and for Personal Service Group could find plenty of work giving us a taste of enjoyable learning under such to be done, if it was wanted. The remedy for the carefree conditions. malaise which this annual Conference has caught EWEN BOWIE is quite simple. If next year's fifth forms are asked beforehand what they would like to do, what sort of films they would like to see, where they would THE FIFTH FORMS* CONFERENCE, 1971 : like to go, what subjects should be discussed, and A GENERAL REPORT what the general theme should be, then they will The Conference this year contained in it a num­ be able to report truthfully that their Conference has been interesting, worthwhile and useful. ber of new features, some of which were un­ doubtedly beneficial, but as a whole it encountered JONATHAN SPECTOR difficulties from the Calendar and conflicting claims which prevented the members of discussion ARMY SECTION ANNUAL CAMP, 1971 groups from really getting to know one another and producing reasoned considerations of the deep FOLKESTONE problems presented. Certainly the organisation was This camp differed from previous ones in that this year less effective than sometimes previously. transport was exclusively by road; the C.O. ex­ The Conference started with a presentation by a plained that this was to avoid changing trains in psychiatrist of the working of the ego, under the London, and so having to rush across the city in title 44 At least we are this." The clarity of this the rush-hour. Transport was provided by two and the doctor's following presentation near the coaches and a lorry. The small party which end of the Conference were much appreciated, travelled with the baggage in the lorry was warned but some of the outside speakers failed to make that it might be asphyxiated by exhaust fumes, themselves properly heard; others, however, and although smoke was frequently seen issuing opened new horizons. In most cases there was from the vehicle, I don't think it was caused by a felt to be a need for more time for discussion. fault in the exhaust system. Talks by groups of young O.E.'s, one group now We did eventually arrive at Folkestone, how­ up at various Universities and Colleges, and the ever, and immediately encountered a problem; other in the early years of professional careers, there seemed to be 72 people present, although offered useful advice about the decisions that have only 71 were expected, and there were only 71 soon to be taken in respect of higher education beds. The problem was solved when a mysterious and career plans. It was a pity, though, that there character called Softon finally turned out to be were so few scientists among the visitors. two people, Soper and Sefton. This major adminis- Social needs, personal relations, our national trative error ¡nevitably meant a little confusión as role, were among the subjects tackled under expert to who was sleeping where. guidance. The object of this post "O" level course Training started the next morning with shooting is to present grown-up problems, to open new for the sénior members of the contingent, some­ spheres of interest, and to help members to thing in which Connolly were not allowed to par­ become more articúlate—and certainly the presen­ ticípate, much to their disappoíntment. The tation of reports this year showed that quite some training as a whole was remarkably interesting and advance had been made towards this last objective. varied, far more so than at other camps. It catered for all interests, from a signáis exercise and demo- the season as an opening bat, developed extremely litions to canoeing under the able leadership of a well and scored fifties against the O.E.A. and the member of the N-N-Naval Section, plus Captain XL Club. Unfortunately, the original opening bat, Benson and Mr. Birch. G. C. Holt, failed to live up to last season's pro- We were honoured by the visit of a General mise. He was nevertheless an efficient secretary from Southern Command, who had undoubtedly and never failed to keep the team amused with an come to see today's equivalent of the Home Guard endless stream of C.R. impersonations. R. H. Pope learning how " to show Jerry a thing or two." He played some attractive innings, none more so than saw an efficient demonstration of booby traps, in a match-winning 65 not out against King's School, which one cadet was blissfully unaware that he had Worcester. Of the other batsmen, A. C. Lewis, been lying on one for 20 minutes, and also an D. J. G. Mutteen and P. R. K. Bristow looked very obstacle-crossing exercise performed by Slim promising, and P. L. C. Knee played some useful Platoon. He finally left as he arrived, in his heli- innings. copter. P. M. H. Jester and J. P. R. Hall formed the The hut accommodation was quite good, and opening attack and both bowled well on occasions. the food improved after Captain Ramsey had a Jester's outswing was generally more dangerous word with the Italian gentleman who seemed intent and he ripped through the early batting of Wrekin on either poisoning or starving the entire contin- and Bromsgrove. Hall often bowled steadily with gent. The lighting system in Vyse Platoon's hut little luck. The remainder of the bowling fell was not helped by numerous games of cricket, but largely to P. L. Knee, A. Mitra and S. M. Holling­ fortunately it seemed to display remarkable powers worth. Knee's médium pace was at its most of regeneration; either that, or certain members devastating when he took 6—26 to dismiss Broms­ of the continent showed that they have a trade, grove for 77, and Mitra's off-spin seemed to bene- albeit an ¡Ilegal one, to fall back on if their intel­ fit from the psychological threat of being Indian ectual powers ever fail them. in origin. Nevertheless, he took several useful wickets, notably against R.G.S. Worcester (4—58) Army food did not seem to be conducive to when, along with S. M. Hollingworth (4-59) he Chris Springall's human flamethrower act; Paul bowled the team to victory by 49 runs. Although Stone's attempt to grow a beard resulted only in Hollingworth's leg spin was often expensive, he low marks on an inspection; the fatal fascinaron provided the team with many humorous moments. of the Sun Super Girl Contest proved too much He would stride to the wicket beneath his acutely for Harry Calver to resist; but undoubtedly the angled snob-cricketer cap, bat at the ready, in the hero of the camp was George Ruston, when he attitude of a district commissioner bent on deal- luckily scored a brilliant goal to give us a 3—3 ing with " cheeky " natives. His reaction to the result against a Scottish side in the only football G.S.K.O. final, in which he unfortunately played match of the camp. no active part, was to pronounce himself " man of We returned to Birmingham one Friday after- the match." noon after a very enjoyable camp. This was a successful team and a very friendly S. D. JONES team to play in, and we thank Mr. Benson and Mr. Cockle for encouraging and coaching the side and Library Accession for their good humour in all situations. MEAT IS FOR SPECIAL DAYS Results from June 27 by MORITZ THOMSEN Bromsgrove beaten by 7 wickets; King's, Wor­ cester, beaten by 4 wickets; Bishop Vesey's beaten We are all deeply concerned about the poverty by 5 wickets (K.O. final); O.E.A. beaten by 7 and need in which two-thirds of the human race wickets; XL Club beaten by 5 wickets; draws with is living. Here is an admirable documentary of a Worcester Gentlemen and Hardye's School, Dor- farmer who in middle age volunteered from his chester; and a defeat at the hands of an M.C.C. California ranch to join the Peace Corps and work XI. ANDREW BURN in Ecuador. Vivid, realistic, sympathetic, heart- rending in his writing, this is a story of the en- deavours and the disappointments in trying to raise a poverty-stricken community to better stan­ dards of living. It is not, it cannot be, a success SQUASH story; ñor on the other hand is it, though it could With the opening of the School's own squash be, a story of despair. It shows human nature in courts last December, the number of boys playing its true proportions, it shows how hard it is, the game increased enormously. Before December, especially at the bread-line, to learn to work to- only about 20 boys from the fifth forms and above gether in any sort of co-operative. It sets the had taken any interest in squash, but the new scene quite admirably for anyone who is going out courts made it possible for people to play squash to tackle the job of community development. The in their lunch-hours and thus become more keen. whole narrative is well lightened with humorous The School team has improved considerably and touches and anecdotes. It is strongly recommended enjoyed some success. for anyone who is thinking in terms of V.S.O. It is hoped that in the coming season squash either as cadet or as gradúate. R.G.L. coaching will take place under the supervisión of Mr. J. S. Panell, who has also coached the tennis team. This will probably be on Thursdays during CRICKET REPORT the lunch-hour, and Mr. Tennick proposed holding Before the season began this was known to be a session to teach boys how to play the game at a team of great batting potential and of unknown some other time. A house competition will be run bowling strength. At the end of a successful on 20th and 27th October, involving three boys season, the batting (four batsmen scored over 300 from each house. We hope that squash will con­ runs) had more than lived up to expectations, tinué to make progress as a major attraction in the whilst the bowling had improved as the season had marvellous new facilities now available. progressed. Moreover, the fielding was generally JONATHAN GOOLD of a high standard, and this was a major factor in the team's success. The batting relied on a long line of ability led principally by J. G. Winspear (407 runs) and A. CHESS Mitra (369 runs), whose experience and skill Congratulations to Anthony Miles who, in July, played a big part in the team's success. Their shared the first prize in the open chess champion- partnership of 73 in 30 minutes in the victory over ships held in Manchester. This performance, in the King Henry VIII, Coventry, was one of the high- words of The Guardian, " confirmed his status as lights of the season. D. C. Bromage, who ended one of Britain's outstanding prospects." KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 4, No. 2 CHAPEL Chapel Keeper : P. H. Cooke In place of the traditionally ¡ll-attended Evening SMASHING THE BOTTLE Prayers and Evensongs previously held on Tuesday evenings, a new, and, we hope, better attended (Part Two) series of meetings has been arranged. A quick glance at the Calendar will reveal the general Since 44 Chronicle " was launched in its new for- structure of this system. mat three years ago it has steadily veered off course into the dangerous waters of unpopularity, The Chapel Choir will be singing in two Even- largely because of the lack of variety and ambition song services during the term, and will in addi­ in its contení. This year we are going to try to tion, give two recitáis in chapel. This is, in my lift the magazine out of the rut by broadening the opinión, the most beautiful and most meaningful scope and interest of the articles we print. One service of worship at the School, and I hope many of " Chronicle's " most ¡mportant functions as a others will attend and join in this form of praise. chronicler is to record the School's ¡ntellectual On five evenings during the term there appears 44 ability, and this we can do by publishing articles Bible Study—Holy Communion." In this, mem­ on scientific, cultural, scholastic and political bers of the congregation join in analysing and fmd- topics : this will not only make the magazine more ing the true meaning of certain passages of the interesting and worthwhile to read, but will also Bible. This term the readings have been taken show our outside readers that we can do more from Paul's letter to the Ephesians. These discus­ than just play games and write poetry. If, how­ sions are followed by Holy Communion. ever, we are going to achieve this aim, a large share Finally, on two occasions during the term there of the responsibility must fall on the School. A is a 44 Service by Boys." The exact shape of these browse through oíd 44 Chronicles" will reveal a is not known to any but the group of boys large number of articles by such memorable charac­ organising. There will be attempts by certain boys ters as Drury, Maltby, Wallace, Allanson, Arculus to put their ¡deas ¡nto prayer, and for the con­ or Craig, on such varied subjects as Apartheid, gregation to join with them. Communication without Wires, or Virgil's Fourth I would like to extend a welcome to anyone Eclogue. But although, at least in terms of who would care to attend any of these meetings, Oxbridge results, the School's intelligentsia has and would invite them to meet us in Chapel on a grown in number since then, yet articles such as Tuesday evening to join us for this act of prayer those have been less and less forthcoming. If and witness. pAUL COOKE only people would write about their academic subjects, or their ¡nterests, or their views on MUSIC current affairs, then we could restore 44 Chronicle " Music Circle Secretary : J. P. Gray at least to its former prosperity. Remember, as has been said many times before, and is worth Musical Society Secretary : R. M. Batters repeating, that 44 Chronicle" is your magazine, The Music School is going to see, and indeed and it is you who ultimately control its success. already has seen, a number of changes, improve- ments and notable events this year. The Music It is perhaps worth taking this opportunity to Circle and Musical Society are arranging for some state one or two points of editorial policy. In of their meetings to complement the General future we shall not print reports which are so Studies programme for the sixth forms and divi­ obscure in their attempts to be funny that they sions : Mr. Trott, for example, will be giving an are only comprehensible to the people who were illustrated lecture on opera to the Music Circle ¡nvolved in the event being reported. By all means towards the end of this term; and the Musical let reports be funny, and recount amusing inci- Society is planning a concert to ¡Ilústrate Mr. dents, but let the whole School share the joke too. Massey's General Studies lecture on 20th century As for controversial articles against the estab- music next term. Thus we hope to see a large lishment, we want to make it perfectly clear that number of the sénior members of the School at the board does not necessarily support the views these meetings, and at all others that we hold. expressed in such articles, but will print them if The invitation to attend is, of course, offered to they are well argued and seem to represent a pre- everybody in the School, right down to the Shells. valent opinión which should be chronicled. So anyone who disagrees with some articles in The Chapel Choir is broadening ¡ts horizons. " Chronicle " should not attribute them to some Last term it sang Evensong and gave a recital at back-scratching dique of revolutionaries who are All Saints* Church, King's Heath. This year ¡t is secretly running the magazine, and throw away going to sing at the President's Evening of the Bir­ his copy in disgust, swearing never to read it mingham Organists' Association (Mr. Massey is again : let him set down the arguments for his the President), and give a public recital for the own views, and see if they can stand the test of Association on another date; it has also been asked print. On the other hand, although we will print to give a recital at St. Agnes' Church, Moseley, some controversial articles, they must contain together with the School's very competent hand- well-argued and valid views, and make positive bells team. A set of handbells was acquired for suggestions : we will not publish articles which the production of " Noye's Fludde" two years simply amount to a leaver letting off the pent-up ago, and a team has since been formed which goes steam which has been mounting inside him for on carol-singing tours round oíd people's homes seven or eight years—we want articles to be con- and hospitals during the Christmas season with a structive as well as destructive. choir from School, and with the Cathedral Choir. The team also took part ¡n a public concert in the With that, we leave the matter in your hands. Cathedral last year. Any members of the School who want to hear the Chapel Choir will have the KING EDWARD'S THEATRE COMPANY opportunity at the two Evensongs, and two reci­ táis, which it will be singing on Tuesday evenings TOUR OF GERMÁN Y, SUMMER, 1971 this term. It is no easy task to take a party of 25 actors Anyone ¡nterested in taking an active part in and technicians, with all the necessary equipment, the musical life of the School can do so by joining completely out of the country to perform plays to the Choral Society, which is now preparing the foreign audiences. However, this was exactly the superb Mozart Réquiem for performance at Easter; job the School's Dramatic Society undertook when alternatively, he is very welcome to come to the the tour to Germany was planned a year ago. " Do it yourself Messiah " on the evening of Thuns- To have any hope of success it was necessary for day, 21 st October, and to bring along his family, everyone involved to devote a great deal of their friends, relatives, cat and anyone else who would holiday time and energy to the formidable amount like to come. of preparation required. Some notable events have already taken place : the Music Circle organised a very successful outing Two difficult modern plays, "The Room," by to hear Mendelssohn's " Elijan " at the Town Hall, Harold Pinter, and Samuel Beckett's " Endgame," preceded by a talk by Chris Hodges; Jeremy Gray had to be built from nothing, and the main pro­ won the Birmingham Grammar Schools* Festival duction of last January, " Twelfth Night," had to Competition and so will be playing Shostakovitch's be adapted and improved for foreign theatres, all Second Piano Concertó at the Town Hall in Feb- in the short space of ten days that we could allow ruary — an obviously remarkable achievement; ourselves. The complex "Twelfth Night" sét had Martyn Webster had his pages turned by David to be sectionalised and packed, new costumes and Willcocks; and Mr. Massey dined with the Prime properties had to be made, and both the plays and Minister at the Savoy. ROY BATTERS the members of the Company themselves had to be geared to meet any unforeseen problem. It required the closest possible co-operation between ART IN THE SCHOOL: actors, technicians, business manager, director, and PAST AND PRESENT the organisers ¡n Germany to co-ordinate this massive operation. Art Circle Secretary : J. H. Faulkner Art Society Secretary : J. P. Gray The task in West Germany ¡tself was no less difficult. We had to shake off the effects of the Once more at the end of the summer term the long hours of the journey, during which we had Art and Design Department erupted ¡nto frienzied to pass through three borders and a hundred miles activity in preparation for the Speech Day exhibi- of Communist territory, and adjust as quickly as hition of work done in the department over the possible to our strange surroundings. Our pro- past year. When the dust had finally settled, gramme ¡ncluded not only the performances, but paintings and sculpture from boys throughout the sightseeing tours, official receptions and visits to School stretched from the Science School to the the performances of the two other British youth Art Room, making an ¡mpressive display. As groups taking part in the festival in which we usual, there was great variety ¡n the work on were involved. The organisers of this cultural exhibition, ranging from carving ¡n wood and festival were as much concerned with showing us stone to an excellent series of lino prints from the as much of Germán life as possible as with the lower half of the School. Naturally, the entries plays themselves, and in Berlín we were given the from boys in the sixth form for the art and archi- invaluable opportunity of being escorted around tecture prizes took pride of place ¡n the exhibi­ the city by school-children of our own age. For tion, particularly J. P. Gray's study of Long Melford many of us, our experiences with them will form Church in Suffolk. However, the standard of work some of the most ¡ndelible memories of the tour. and originality throughout the School was very high, and it was only a p¡ty that so few people Our main business, however, was the perform­ found time to visit the display after the Speech ance of the three plays. From the Germans' point Day ceremony. of view it was a chance to see what standards a Now, however, the opportunities for art work British amateur dramatic group could achieve, and at School have been increased by the ¡ncorpora- we hope they were not disappointed. Certainly tion of Mr. Buttle's room ¡nto the department several Berliners expressed surprise at the quality during the summer holidays. This was achieved of our work. From our point of view, it was a by making an opening through the wall which chance to discover for ourselves exactly what divíded Mr. Buttle's room from the exhibition standards we could attain when removed from the room to give an overall sense of unity and space restrictive atmosphere of the school stage. The to the department. whole project was the logical follow-up to our This added room means that the conglomera- tour of the West Country; we were completely tion of sculpture, mosaic work, jewellery and lino divorced from the English stage, and able to test printing which had previously almost swamped our mettle against the very high standards of West the pottery área in the craftroom, can now be Berlín and Frankfurt, two major cities of one of separated out to allow each craft the space it the most advanced nations in Europe from the needs to be pursued enjoyably. In addition to point of view of drama. Overall, I think both this, help is now available in the pottery section parties were satisfied : the Germán audiences were from Mrs. Francés Moore (well-known in the Mid- very ¡mpressed by what they saw, and we were lands for her ceramic work), who has taken over pleased that the actual job of preparing and per- from Mr. Tom Reynolds. formíng three plays in three different theatres pro- The art room has also seen over the past year ceeded without any trouble. Inevitably, when a the attempted renaissance of the Art Circle, a group of 25 young people with widely differing Society which exists primarily to give people the personalices and ideas are forced to work and opportunity of seeing and discussing the large live in cióse contact with each other, frictions collection of art sudes which Mr. Hurn has now will occur; and it is a tribute to the sensible organi- amassed. This will obviously be of help to the sation of our life in Germany that this valuable Dívisíons' General Studies course, but is open to experience didn't degenerate into an ordeal which anyone in the School who is ¡nterested in could affect our work. attending. In the company now there is a great sense of Indeed, this applies to all the facilities offered pride in our achievement, but we must not allow by the art department; they are available to the ourselves to become arrogant or complacent. whole School, and in the long lunch hours particu­ There is still much to be done, future projects to larly, provide the opportunity for time which be planned, and plays to be rehearsed. From the might otherwise be frittered away, to be used wealth of experience gained on tour, perhaps the constructively and, more ¡mportantly, enjoyably. most important thing we learned was to blend JOHN FAULKNER pleasure with hard work, and this lesson can be very useful as a guide to what we must try to BEAUCE CROWS—A Sensitive Vignette achieve now the company is back at school. Two birds, to men an antonym of love, ANDREW FORBES guarded and black behind your hangmen's hoods, I wonder how you keep yourselves alive; seeming to be too closely kept by grief, CHESS alighting on the empty road ahead Congratulations are once again due to Tony (I thought it was a suicide attempt): Miles. In the British Chess Federation annual con- Failing with beaks stretched out towards a grave gress held in August at Blackpool, he entered the —mechanically to death your wings are clamped. Under-21 Championships. Despite the fact that PETER DANIELS he was six years younger than some of the com- petitors, and that several student internationals " CLOUDS AT DAWN 99 and Gorney Cup players were present, Tony won the title with a clear point to spare. He now A cloud sighs, sugared qualifies for the full British Championships to be Across a land of castles held next year at Brighton. Distant and melancholy as the worlds of child- dream princes, The implications of Tony's win at Nice last year Pursuing its odyssey are only now coming to light. Three of the players Amidst a sky sea vapoured as the morning. whom he fmished ahead of qualified for the World It holds a fleeting promise of rain, Júnior (Under 20) Championship, and one of This dawn rider of the jetstreams; them, R. Hug, of Switzerland, who fmished second Dull, mournful, grey as ¡ron, behind Tony, won the title. "The Guardian" The dawn birds echo ¡ts speeches. recently assessed Tony's chances of winning the title in 1973 (the last year in which he will be eligible) as " reasonably good." " AS CHILDREN " Once again, prospects are bright for School How they wept ¡n love, teams. The " Sunday Times" first team should How they sighed at the meaningless world, remain unchanged and has the potential to do Loving it, feeling ¡t, great things. We shall, however, be in the top As it crooned a lullaby age-group for much of the season, and this must In the voice of unhatched years. be a major factor in assessing the team's chances. ANDREW FORBES For the Birmingham and District Júnior League, the six best players have been divided between C.C.F. ADVENTURE CAMP the 1A and IB teams in order to give match prac- SNOWDONIA tice to some of the younger players. The 1A team, however, is still relatively strong, and sho.uld At nine o'clock on Friday morning, 27th August, be a contender for the first división title. We are seven members of the present Vyse Platoon once again entering five teams in the league, and departed for Capel Curig in the School's Transit. this necessitates at least 30 players. If you are of The first stop was to pick up Mr. Skinner, who a reasonable standard and would like to play, was to help Mr. Symes with the training, and fill please contact Tony Miles. the evenings playing a four-strong opposition at chess. Captain Cotter was also with us to com- ANDREW STOKER mand the base camp. The party was self-contained, with light-weight camping equipment and heavy-weight Army CRICKET: A. L BURN "compo" food; our base was to be a small con­ verted barn from which expeditions ¡nto the hills At the end of his cricket report in the last with tents would be made. All were pleasantly number of the " Chronicle," Andrew Burn noted surprised by the high quality of the Army rations, that last summer's XI was " a successful team and though, no doubt, these were greatly improved by a friendly team to play in." What he omitted to Captain Cotter's poetic handling of the Calor gas add was that the major factor contributing to that rings. He produced such feasts as " S.A.M. Irish happy state of affairs was himself. Now that he Stew Special," followed by " No-cream-spared- is safely off the premises we can say that he is rice-pud." the School's outstanding cricketer since Alan Smith. On the field he was a very knowledgeable Oun first expedition was a crossing of the and shrewd captain, and off it a very likeable and Glyder Miners' Track from PyG to Ogwen, taking popular one. When he said that there would be in a circuit of Cwm Idwal, a unique nature reserve, a fielding practice at 4.15 p.m., the team was there many biological and geological features of which —at 4.10 p.m.—and in the best of spirits. His were only glimpsed through a veil of driving rain. temperament, both as a player and as a captain, This rain continued, blown eastwards along the was admirable — professional, realistic, good- valleys like a liquid curtain, until 3 p.m. on the humoured, keenly ¡nvolved in the game without next day. Not welcoming a second soaking we any nonsense about its being a way of life. Burn waited for a lightening of the sky before snatch- was an immensely reliable batsman—a fact which ing Moel Siabod in the late afternoon. The ascent was borne out not only by figures but also by the up its north slopes, through mossy bogs and manner and authority of his performances. This drenching heather, seemed endless as successive summer he scored 542 runs at an average of 45.00, ridges proved to be false. However, the slog was and last summer 668 runs at an average of 51.38. rewarded by the fine views from the summit. If not quite in Boycott's current bracket, these North-westwards lay the highest ridges, peaks and figures put his aggregate for this season 140 ahead plateaus of North Wales; to the east stretched of anyone else in the XI, and for last season 300 the flatter border counties; and, to the south, ahead. There was, moreover, a little matter of coastline and estuary glittered in the sun. 139 not out against King's School, Worcester, in Monday dawned brightly, but the rain and wind 1970, and in 1971 of a not-out ton (101) against caught up with us near the shapely summit of Denstone, and of 93 not out against O.E.A. He Cnicht (2,265 feet), and made the use of map and didn't miss or drop much in the field either. So compass difficult as we took turns to navigate one way and another, cricket at K.E.S. during the through the miniature lakes and mountains of the last few years has owed more to Burn, A. L.— Moelwyns. considered as performer, as captain, as maestro, That evening, when we camped alone on the and finally as Grand Oíd Man—than to many a slopes of Moel Siabod, the weather eased, but the departing games-king. And this is what must go storm returned next day as we moved camp to on record. Llyn Teyrn, within the Snowdon Horseshoe. All A.J.T. night long a howling gale battered the four tents, and Messrs. Skinner and Symes needed to hang The Earth is some 24,900 miles in circumference on to the poles of their comparatively frail " Rob and weighs 5.8 x 1021 tons. We still cannot com- Roy " tent. The rest of us were grateful for the prehend these numbers, even though we are now security of the front and rear "A" poles of our talking about that minute speck of cosmic dust, M Forcé 10 tents. our Earth. Next morning, our route along the Pyg Track Our minds will never grasp the infinite, and to the summit of Snowdon was enveloped in probably never grasp the fmite numbers concerned cloud, and not until we were slithering down the with our Earth. DAVID NEWEY scree towards the Watkin Path did the sun break through to the twin peaks of Y Lliwedd, the SWIMMING southern limb of the Horseshoe. In their matches, the School teams main- Our last mountain of the week was Tryfan tained the success of previous years, the Sénior (3,010 feet), which was ascended by Heather team winning all their matches (very easily), ex- Terrace and the South Ridge. Again it rained, and cept one, that against Wrekin College, which was visibility was nil for much of the climb, though lost by 0.1 seconds on the final event. In all the we enjoyed the scramble over the huge blocks other matches our full team won comfortably, the which make up the summit. usual human torpedoes doing stalwart service, It was certainly disappointing to visit North well supported by the remainder of the team, Wales during a wet week, but it had been a happy who were always trying hard, even if they were group. We thank Messrs. Cotter, Skinner and a little unfit at times. Symes for making it so. The U.16 team swam well to win the majority C. M. ELLIS (Vyse Pin.) of its matches, and the U.15 team once again ITS QUITE A THOUGHT showed great promise, so hopes for the future are high. Water polo was, as usual, somewhat of a All the energy that the Earth receives is derived light relief for the team after the strenuous exer- from the nearest star, the Sun. It is a huge sphere tions of swimming, and the team was once again of glowing hydrogen, 93,000,000 miles from us and undefeated (the 14th time in 15 years that this 865,000 miles in diameter. Its size is very difficult has happened, which must be due to something). to conceive, being over one million times the volume of the Earth and 333,000 times as massive. Under the new games system the Swimming Its energy output is immense, and mostly originates Sports no longer counted towards the House at the centre of the Sun, where the temperature Swimming Championships, so in consequence they is thought to be about 20,000,000 degrees Centi- lost some of their appeal. The results were as grade, and the pressure about 400,000,000,000 expected; three of the five individual champions atmospheres. In fact, 99% of the Sun's mass is con- carne from Levett in the persons of Andy Free- centrated within 0.6% of the radius. Under these man (Sénior), and the Watton brothers, Dave and conditions, thermonuclear reactions occur involving Mike, who won the U.16 and lst year champion­ the conversión of hydrogen to helium. There is ships respectively. They are, perhaps, attempting a loss of mass in this reaction, mass being equiva- to " do a Reasbeck," so to speak. Crowder won lent to energy. It is surprising to learn that the the U.15 Championship and Herrod the U.13y. Sun is losing mass at the rate of 4,000,000 tons The swimming on games afternoons, the re- per second. placement for the sports, was successful ¡nasmuch The size of our own Earth is so small compared as it provided House Champions in Levett to that of the Sun that the human mind has (Sénior) and Heath (Júnior), but it was generally difficulty in getting an idea of the scale of the felt that some events developed into somewhat of universe. Today, the observable limits of our a farce as once four of the eight Houses were universe are 10,000,000,000 light years away. One forced to scratch because of their inability to find light year is the distance light travels in one year. 10 swimmers, despite the frantic efforts of their In the same way, the Sun is 8.2 light minutes from swimming captains. Something different next year, us. perhaps? Nearer home, the Earth and Moon form what Life-saving continued its successful trend and some astronomers term a double planet. This is Prince Lee won the Standards and Life-Saving Cup. because the Earth to Moon volume ratio is 81:1. Levett, as expected, were overall Swimming In other planets this ratio may be 1,000:1 or Champions and also won the Sports Cup and the greater, indicating that other satellites are much Sénior Relay Trophies. So, a very successful year, smaller compared to their parent planet. The and the prospects for the future seem very good Moon is 2,160 miles in diameter and is on average indeed, and if the teams trained, who knows what 240,000 miles from Earth. might happen. KEVIN GRICE

KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL CLUB STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT FOR YEAR 1 st APRIL, 1970, TO 31st MARCH, 1971 INCOME £ P EXPENDITURE £ P Governors' Grant .... 400-00 By Football • • • • 587•90 Heath Testimonial Fund .... 11-93 Cricket 582-01 Levett Trust .... 11-55 Athletics 86-48 • • • • • • • • Mayo Trust .... 15-11 Swimming 33-52 • • • • 8-45 Fives 96-41 Oíd Boys' Permanent Contributory Fund • • • • • • • • Solomon Memorial Trust 2-19 Tennis 94-56 Rowing Cozens Trust .... 17-50 • • • • 26-00 Honorary Members' Subscriptions .... 82-621 Cross Country 44-98 • • • • • • • • Boys' Subscriptions .... 1057-50 Fencing 12-73 • • • • • • Grant from School Stock .... 650-00 Squash Rackets 66-55 Basketball 23-20 • • • • • • •» (Signed) P. B. CHAPMAN, Hon. Treasurer Judo •... •. . - 1-89 97-60 Hockey • • • • 18-78 Examined and found correct, Life Saving • • • Chess 85-71 A. R. CLAUGHTON (Hon. Auditors) • • • • Volleyball 7-25 G. A. MANN 213-68 "Chronicle" • • • • Scientific Society 5-61 1-00 £2256-851 Geographical Society , Photographic Society 1-82 • • • • Debating Society 3-00 Déficit at 31/3/70 .... . 438-m Biological Society •90 • • • * Profit above . 13-37^ Printing and Stationery 146-80 Postage and Telephone 3-25 Déficit carried forward • • • • • • • • . £425-40 Bank Charges • • • • 1-85

£2243-48 KING EDWARD'S SCHOOL

Vol. 4, No. 3 records with screaming pretentious lyrics that YOUTH AND AGE CAN NEVER AGREE mean nothing. This is mostly the relatively harm- less mating display of the adolescent worsened by It ¡s obvious that on many superficial matters the increased spending power of the 15-25 age youth with its freshness, ebullience and ability to group, and the basic aimlessness of their uves. disregard traditional social customs will disagree with the oíd. This has always been the case; the However, one cannot deny the existence or young as part of their growing up at some point even the correctness of the young's basic have to break away from their parents. To show differences with the oíd; they are more extreme that they are independent they will often do some­ and worrying than ever before. Underneath is thing with which their parents don't agree. a final comprehension that, unless something is Normally, it is a relatively unimportant matter done soon, the inner contradictions of our of which stricter parents might complain but materialistic, over-industrialised, G.N.P. orientated which doesn't suggest a "complete breakdown in society will kill it within fifty years. Communications". In the 1870s, ¡n Victorian The delibérate cultivation of the drab and the England, the young men all had their hair cut bedraggled implies a challenge, a repudiation of to a "short back and sides" to imítate the style the dinner jacket and the dark blue suit and the of the victorious Prussian army. Their parents bourgeois respectability that they symbolise. Many may have disapproved but no more. There was of the young are moved by something deeper than always a basic continuity; fundamentally youth impatience with middle-class sartorial conventions. and age did agree. The aíms and valúes of society The members of the young generation most changed over centuries, not decades; oíd ideas dangerous to present society aren't the in-crowd, went, and new completely different ¡deas became the bright young things who simply follow a part of society, but never did the young completely fashion created by non-idols and exploited by reject the teachings of the older generatíons. men's fashion shops from Austin Reed down. They are those who don't mind what they wear. They Nowadays we are seeíng something completely are prepared to wear sports jacket and trousers different and much more serious. Long hair and or patched jeans and granddad vests and go bare- crude and noisy L.P. records are not simply a foot. They are not concerned with appearance. demonstraron of the ¡ndependence of the young. They are concerned much more seriously about There is complete rejection. Pop music, with the hypocrisy of a society that itself is so much typical youthful arrogance, claims that it can ignore ethos of that bourgeois society enshrined in ¡ts most musical forms which have been created over conception of "decency". They seem to be saying millenia. "We attach more ¡mportance to the purity of our Never before have ¡deas and valúes changed as motives and the nobility of our ideas than to the quickly. The classic image of youth, clean-limbed, neatness and appearance of our clothes. We are graceful, naive, beautiful, more spiritual than giving the world a lesson in priorities". They sensual, has gone. We have Casanovas not are protesting against the valúes, the standards, Romeos. Many university students have not and the assumptions of western civilisation. simply reached a new, more sophistícated fashion The mood to which this movement gives expres- in clothing or hair-styling which is aesthetically sion is negative rather than positive. Its tendency better than dark suits, baggy trousers, and the is to a moody frustration rather than revolt. "short back and sides". They look like oíd men Though many of those affected by it would gladly with their dishevelled hair running to seed and accept radical solutions for the problems of society their "casual" clothes. They have the cares of only a minority of them are proponents of any the world upon them. How often do people of political doctrine or followers of any political party. my generation really laugh? The basically false The movement is not a proletarian one; many of statement that "children are maturing earlier" the children come from bourgeois homes. The contains the correct ¡dea that adolescents regard young don't want standard political parties or themselves as grown-ups directly they enter their solutions, they are thoroughly disillusioned in that teens. Though not really mature they feel able respect. All Parliamentary political parties, with to preach to the middle-aged and completely reject the notable exception of the Liberáis, have no their valúes. mass appeal or even relevance to the young. The older generation, however much they There is from Katmandu to París in adolescents inwardly deplore this change, have not complained an aching uneasiness about the way the world is or, if they have complained, only on a very super­ going. Ordinary people, surveying mankind, can't ficial level. They deny the problem's existence, help but see a doomsday looming before their eyes explain it away, brush it aside as insignificant and which are desperately trying not to see the inevit­ finally agree that all along they were sympathetic able. They see racial and national dissentions and observers of the change. Not realising the great even simple hysterícal fear of an alien political significance of the youth movement they claim system threatening a nuclear holocaust. They that patched jeans are no more serious than see natural supplies of valuable materials being "Oxford bags". whittled away. They see starvation rife in two- Much of what adolescents do and say against thirds of the world. They observe the aims of their parents is ludicrously stupid. Many adoles­ society becoming every day more vulgar and cents are basically immature. One pities, as one materialistic. The citizen seems to be a victim of pities a lost man who takes a wrong turning at the tyranny of unseen powers that control the a cross-roads, the ¡n-crowd who stride up the society of which he is nonetheless a member, while school drive each morning with their long brass- the individual human being, entangled in a net- buttoned coats flapping in the breeze and nearly work of man's own creation, is so preoccupied tripping them up "looking like the chorus of a with the business of making a living that he is Ruritanian comic opera", brandishing their L.P. unable to live his life. The generation which is now the object of revolution will in the end lead to the victory protest is the middle generation, the middle-aged, of its most cynical and detestable members. They middle-class generation which dominates the life lack proposals even of superficial plausibility for of the West. Most of our parents belong to this bringing about what they want to achieve. In generation. I sympathise with them. They were short, many of these more perceptive critics seem children in the great depression, saw the rise of to realise that the Spartans beat the Athenians the dictators in Europe, saw the Spanish Civil War in history and there is no reason why that should and fought in World War II. They learnt the art not occur again. The young generation has a of survival in World War II. "In 1914 the young "Shelley-like sweetness", it lacks the toughness officers went to die in pursuit of honour. In 1939 of a generation which has been through two world they went not to die in pursuit of victory." World wars and a slump. War II moulded this generation ¡nto a hard, harsh, Many of the older people who say this seem to greyness. There is no flamboyant or extroverted speak more sense than either of the two genera- air around this generation. The virtues which our tions after them. But they have led a happy life parents' generation possess and admire are those already, with the most of the time a firm, of the "hard-headed businessman": logic, reliabil- secure society with no atomic bomb or pollution ity, practicability and administrative ability. threat. Many responsible critics haven't got such They are efficient, determined, and colourless. a strong realisation of the danger, physical and They live in the suburbs with the sepárate moral, we are in, as the young have. They cannot "nuclear" family of four. Their religious beliefs realise the almost hysterical pessimism this creates. are almost non-existent. Generally they seem to The perceptive adolescents "drop-out" surrender- have a strong doubt as to the existence of God ing to a nihilistic mood in which Art and Literature but believe it is wise to pray to him sometimes. seem ¡rrelevant, Law and Order a mockery, and They go to church for christenings, marriages and all individual effort, all human aspiration, pointless. funerals. To use a cliché, which is not less true "Destroy the system or it will destroy the world" for being a cliché, they are "dried-up inside". might be a slogan which has more sense in it There is no sense of the romance and the mystery than most and which in twenty years' time will of the world, nothing to uplift or excite them. either be the prevalent mood or will be treated as old-fashioned if our system has matured For many of them their attitudes to the young sufficiently. can be summed up thus: "Why aren't the young DAVID WILLETTS more grateful for all the opportunities we have given them? They might complain about the world into which they have been born but they have a SCHOOL NOTES better life than any of their fathers ever had". We returned from half-term on Wednesday, There is no realisation that modern youth is starved November 3rd, and soon were witnessing the of the greatest gift most of our forefathers have culmination of months of ¡ntricate planning. Yes, had. They had an aim for which to live. What- in Big School, a sketch on THE BROMSGROVE ever combination they were of materialistic, MATCH, imaginatively called "The Bromsgrove Christian, aesthetic, spiritual or national aims they Match Sketch" was in progress. Never before have usually been given a secure basis on which has the whole of the lst XV been seen together to live. Our parents have given us cars and on the stage and, despite the attempts of S. D. exhaust fumes, aeroplanes and noise, atomic power Jones to turn the proceedings into a fashion show, and total war, and an idolatry of a rise in G.N.P. they carne across magnificently if a trifle loudly. but they haven't given us Christianity or anything J. G. Winspear, moreover, demonstrated to the comparable. Our bodies might be flourishing but assembled populace that he was still in possession inside we are iconoclastic and lost souls. of—and, indeed, deeply attached to—his school cap. And so to the match itself. 2.15—prefects I respect that middle generation for their success out in forcé but no-one to forcé. 2.30—kick-off. and middle-class charm and appeal but they stand 2.45—J. M. Holder scores for K.E.S. and J. G. for what I believe to be a doomed way of life. Winspear converts to loud cheers and the strains I want to change the path of a society in which of N. Burnie's cowhorn. 3.17—Bromsgrove score they are contented and successful which requires and convert. 3.40—Bromsgrove score a drop goal a certain hard-heartedness. and the final score becomes 9—6. For both players A much more valid case against the young is and spectators this was an annoying and frustrating made by other people, many of them in my grand- game. Nothing went right for the XV and the parents' age-group. The burdens of our civilisation performance by both sides was unenterprising and oppress them as they oppress me. However, they haphazard. After the match the K.E.S. players sustain them more calmly. Many of them have felt frustrated and faintly frothy at the mouth. suffered much and know what it is really to suffer. This could have been due, as much as anything, to I am almost envious of them for what they have the fact that there were three bus loads of them gone through. Many have a humanist or possibly but more parents than boys supporting us. It Christian base from which to opérate. They think don't give a team much heart, do it? the young should not shout pessimistically and However much we try to isolate ourselves from frantically about a doomed civilisation. Too many the outside world it still loves us. This was of the young nowadays lack the "guts in the head demonstrated on (appropriately) November 5th, necessary to look the universe in the face and when all the schools on the Foundation were the still get a good night's sleep" is their attitude to victims of a bomb-hoax. Rumours were rapidly the ¡mmature idealists who never take it easy. circulating as to the originators of the (?) bomb. They claim possibly correctly that "the young are The I.R.A.? Bromsgrove? The Spanish Inquisition? incapable of compromise and unwilling to learn (Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.) Never from others". They don't suggest practical mind—we are still not amused. remedies for the manifold ¡nherent wickedness of the world. They unload upon their parents* The "Blue Peril Chronicle" (Vol. 82, No. 3) generation reproaches due to Adam and the stated in 1968 that matins was celebrated for the Creator who endowed them with individual sin. few and the fan-vaulting. Since then, however, Many young people are dupes of what Conrad the congregation at the Holy Communion has, called "the strange conviction that a fundamental thankfully, grown in numbers. On one notable change of hearts must follow the downfall of any occasion the Chapel Keeper triumphed in not only human ¡nstitution". They suppose that a clean ordering enough breakfasts for the faithful but sweep of "the system" will lead, not to the jungle, in doing a "loaves and fishes" act as well, as there but to a paradise where we shall all live happily were some breakfasts left over. ever after. The young want a dream world but Remark of the week, emerging from Room 45 should realise it is impossible. The young do not and addressed to a loquacious miscreant—"Stop understand the great power of selfishness even wasting the Foundation's air". But in the Science in characters as benign as they could wish to be. Corridor there have been anguished cries of "Bring They do not understand the danger that any back Dinsdale" (Something must be done about Science VIB). So, after all, despite the fears of during the fighting connected with the Bangla our ¡mmediate predecessor, something has come Desh insurrection, it was recently ravaged by of nothing. (Vol. 1, No. 1.) extensive flooding, and clearly needs all the help that we can give. We are hoping to raise £150, COMMON ROOM the cost of two houses, but as previous Cot Fund collections during the same period have raised Congratulations to Mr. Russell on his being approximately £120, increased contributions are awarded the Scouts* Award for Meritorious Con- needed. duct. And to Mr. Massey on being elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Church Proceeds from the Lent Term are once more Music. to be devoted to the Balsall Heath Association, but suggestions are welcomed for the Summer Term Cot Fund and for any other projects that REPORT ON THE SIXTH FORM CLUB are thought to be worthwhile. The beginning of the new school year meant ANDREW STOKER the beginning of the fmancial year for the Sixth Form Club and, more ¡mportant this year, the first full year of the Club's existence. A general CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME meeting of the sixth form was called and proposals For the last week or so a large notice-board for the committee were voted upon. The com­ has been evident in the Guild Hall. It shows mittee line-up that resulted was Richard Pope as starving, homeless Indians and quotes some of the secretary, Philip Jones as treasurer, David Williams views given by people who have gone out to the as supplier and Roy Clarke and Paul Williams as Indian sub-continent. It probably had some shock committee members. Messrs. Symes and Tennick valué first time round, but surely we are all com- had been appointed by the Chief Master to repre- forted by the fact that it is half a world away sent the Common Room, the former as president and not on our doorstep. Or is it? of the Club. "Shelter" officially states that there are two With the sign "Under new management" hung million "homeless" in the United Kingdom. This on the door the Sixth Form Club opened up represents approximately 4% of the total popu­ offering coffee, tea and exceptionally cheap biscuits. laron. Still our schooling and housing programmes With such attractions it was little wonder that are behind—mainly owing to lack of funds. Still many people joined and the number of members there are people who have to support a family staggered the committee—a total of nearly eighty. of four on £16/£17 a week, again because employers Towards the beginning of the term a pre- cannot afford to pay them more. Our mentally Marconi radio appeared and emphasised the need handicapped live in overcrowded conditions which for a record player or other music-playing would disgust any sane person. And, of course, apparatus. Luckily the Club was able to borrow there are the oíd pensioners, some of whom will one from the P.E. department. New goodies have freeze or starve to death this winter. now been added to the stock such as soup, crisps Yet we are asked by some organisations to give and an assortment of biscuits. We have also 1% plus of our gross national product to "under- ¡nvested in an electric kettle, a saucepan and other developed countries". I think it is about time domestic items. that Britain and the British stopped giving to So much for the achievements of the Club. these poor countries and channel ed that money Apart from the ideas mentioned above the com­ into helping the aged and the homeless, the men­ mittee has considered many others. One sugges- tally sick and the unemployed. There is a proverb tion was that smoking should be permitted in that charity begins at home. I agree with that the Club and a referendum amongst members proverb and I think that we should sort out this showed that a majority was in favour of allowing country first before trying to solve the rest of it. A committee is considering this opinión in the the world's problems. Therefore I think that the light of increasing evidence of the undoubted school should put down its binoculars and look health-hazards ¡nvolved. Another proposal which in front of ¡ts nose for social problems and con­ is receiving consideraron is that of inviting girls, céntrate all its funds on Balsall Heath. ¡ncluding the sixth form at K.E.H.S., to share our STEPHEN BINGHAM facilities on some occasions. Over the first half-term there was, unfortunately, CHRISTMAS CARDS a déficit in the Club's accounts because of the failure of some people to pay for their coffee and The school Christmas Card is being printed as biscuits. No doubt such characters will soon "Chronicle" goes to press. It will be sold at 3p realise that they are, by their actions, jeopardising in aid of a new charity called "MAKE CHILDREN the very existence of the Club. HAPPY", which works through local voluntary groups to provide leisure activities for deprived PAUL WILLIAMS and handicapped children. We hope that members of the school will HOUSE CHARITIES COMMITTEE support the charity as generously as possible by As most people are probably aware, the manner ordering cards on the Broadsheet published in the in which our charitable resources are organised porters' lodge. has been drastically rearranged for the present M.J.G. school year. Whereas there were previously sepárate groups dealing with the diverse charities, THE VALUÉ OF B.A.Y.S. e.g., a school "Oxfam" group, "Shelter" group, etc., it being mainly incidental that ¡ts members Despite reasonable advertising in the Science were all at the school, there ¡s now one large Corridor, the first two meetings of the West committee to deal with all charities. This com- Birmingham región of the British Association of prises Mr. Hill, Mr. Gudgeon and, theoretically, Young Scientists have been poorly attended by two members of each house. This has the possible members of K.E.S. In fact, I was the only person disadvantage of excluding sympathetic individuáis, from average attendances of about 150 to come but is certainly an improvement over the oíd from what purports to be the school with the system. best educated pupils. A sub-committee has been formed to deal with Although I realise that the fact that meetings all aspects of the School Cot Fund, and has, as do not finish until 7.0 p.m. may deter those who previously announced, recommended that proceeds travel by train or special bus, and they might from the Michaelmas Term should support an possibly ¡nterfere with homework, it would seem Oxfam housing project in the Chittagong región that in absolute terms the advantages are far of East Pakistán. The problems of this área will greater. surely be well-known to anyone who is, in any Early meetings have dealt with "God in Science" way, conversant with world affairs. Devastated and "The possibility of life on other planets". These consisted of excellent talks given by well- v. Stanmore Drew 0—0 known local scientists, followed by lively and, at v. St. Philip's Won 3—2 times, amusing discussions. Although such meetings v. George Dixon Won 1—0 are unlikely to improve A-level results they v. Dame Elizabeth Cadbury Lost 0—1 undoubtedly serve to edúcate more fully, which Festival— is surely what school is all about. v. Queensbridge Lost 0—1 ANDREW STOKER v. Kings Norton Won 3-0 GRAHAM C. HOLT, THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY Captain of Hockey The Scientific Society is one of the best sup- ported of the school societies. Only the Film 1971 CONSULATE INTERNATIONAL Society would appear to have consistently better attendances. Yet Science is still subject to serious CANOE SLALOM AT LLANGOLLEN misconceptions by many in the school. Their views At 9.0 a.m. on Sunday, 17th October, three cars nearly a ways fall into one of the following carrying 10 members of the Divisions and Sixth categories. Forms departed on a trip sponsored by the Naval (a) "Science is too difficult for me." Such a view Section to see the Consulate International Canoe would only be tolerable if held by the unini- Slalom being held that week-end at Llangollen. tiated Shells, yet it reaches the Sixths. All We had great hopes of seeing a comparatively the subjects presented to the Society have unusual and exciting water sport spectacular on been in an easily understandable manner. the River Dee, which had been swol en somewhat Innumeracy is no virtue. by recent rain. (b) "Science is the devil in disguise." Common, The slalom course was long, about half a mile, especially among the long-haired, paper-revo- with 30 forward and reverse gates over the rapids lutionary set, this naíve view is as false in to be negotiated. There were four sepárate com- respect of the Scientific Society as of society in petitions that afternoon—the Canadian Singles, general. The Scientific Society is certainly not the Men's Kayak, the Ladies' Kayak and the a group of megalomaniac Sixths intent OP Canadian Doubles events. The distinction between destroyino us all. Canadian and Kayak is that in the former the canoes are propelled in a kneeling position, and (c) "Science is stinks, dissection and Ohm's Law." in the latter in a sitting position. This view would appear to be prevalent among the middle school. Notwithstanding the The canoeing itself was of a very high standard, comment of a certain science master, too high in fact, for we were rather disappointed ". . . chemistry is cookery . . .", the Scientific by the ease with which the various obstacles were Society attempts to reflect the fundamental tackled and overeóme. We had gone to watch relevance of science to everyday life. the basics of top-class canoeing and to learn from them, but so few mistakes were made that it was What, then, is the role of the Scientific Society? difficult to determine these basics. As I see it, it has a three-fold function: It was obvious that the sponsors, Consulate (a) to present up-to-date scientific information to cigarettes, had been generous, as ¡llustrated by science students; the truly internacional flavour (12 countries were (b) to inform the whole school on scientific represented) and by the high quality of the com- matters; petitors, one of whom was the World Champion (c) to support members of the school wishing to Kayaker. But the arrangements were inadequate. carry out research, as happens in the Biological Spectators were not catered for at all, and the Society. unexpectedly large attendance made it virtually impossible to obtain a good, comfortable view- The Scientific Society, therefore, is ¡ntended to point. The loudspeaker commentary was also appeal to the whole school, and this year's pro- totally inadequate. gramme has been drawn up with such an appeal in mind. We hope you like it. In spite of these criticisms, we all had a ROBERT WILKINS, thoroughly enjoyable day and would like to thank those who made it possible. Secretary, Scientific Society PETER ROUNCE HOCKEY REPORT SOMETHING BIGGER The season has been highlighted thus far by Feeling like this the inclusión of three first team players, Dave I often think of where we Kilvert, Tim Newman and Martin Taylor, in the carne from, wombs and universe. Birmingham U.19 team, whilst four members of Existences and civilisations, the U.16 team, Simmonds, Lewis, Kerr and Teare, different arrangements on pieces of paper: have also been ¡ncluded in the Birmingham U.16 contraets; or patterns, team. The feature of the season, to date, was the gods or God, it seems life still goes on, like docks; Birmingham U.19 Festival in which we were or lumps of clay. expecting to do well. However, we carne up This is when I think against Queensbridge in the first round, the across a past without distance, of a man, eventual winners of the competition, and lost 1—0 at a desk in a field, writing due to some controversial umpiring. with a feather on a leaf. PETER DANIELS During the rest of the term, the team has performed creditably, recordíng five victories, one POEM draw and three defeats. The team is a blend of Perhaps you remember the bell-peal, experience and youth. Dave Kilvert, Tim Newman The cluster of tones clenched in snow and and Tom Burgess, our most experienced players, How long groans quivered the valley's length have formed the backbone of defence and have Whirled round a crowned spire. Your soft lips been ably supported by newcomers Graham mouthed Wooldridge, Steve Johnson and Henry Higgins. The mid-field dúo of Graham Holt and Phil Jones A shiver-warm breath spiralled in steam, have added experience to the forwards, and along I dreamed of love fractured in glass fire, with Dave Harris, Jeremy Deeley and John Kerr White wax's effluorescence melting they have helped Martin Taylor, our leading goal- Snow on a thousand grey hunched coats. scorer, to score six goals so far. At time's seeding the self's awareness Results: Grows. Was it in Tyrol, love's pain reached v. S. P. Slade's XI Won 4—1 Germination? Only in a snow-shuttered v. Warwick Lost 1—2 Linen-lost room silence rushed recrimination. v. Moseley G.S. Won 4—0 MALCOLM SPENCER