S. flMcbael's iltkljaelljouse,
Jlatal. Her., 1H3S.
MR. F. R. SNELL. S. ^Zticfyaels (Tfyronicle
CONTENTS.
Page
Frontispiece.
Editorial...... 1
The Rector: An Appre- ciation ...... 4
School Notes...... 8
Chapel Notes...... 10
Building Fund...... 12
Entertainments...... 12
Debating Society...... 24
Library Notes...... 27
Page
Literary Society .. Photographic Society
Cadet Notes......
Shooting Notes ..
Athletics......
Tennis......
Hockey ......
Rugby......
Old Boys' Notes ..
Our Contemporaries
28
29
30
31 32 34 38 57 88
EDITORIAL
THE RECTOR-ELECT
It is not often that editors have so obvious a subject for an editorial as ours is in this issue. The appointment of the Rector's successor is obviously a matter of paramount interest. 2 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
Mr. F. R. Snell is a Scholar of Winchester and a Scholar of Oriel College, Oxford. He obtained a First Class in the Final Honours School of Chemistry, and was then awarded a special Research Exhibition. After some time on research work, he went out to Agra, India, as a lecturer in Chemistry. On his return to England, to educate his children, he was appointed Senior Science Master at Eastbourne College, the post which he now holds.
He is very keenly interested in social matters, and is vice-chairman of the Eastbourne Unemployment Council and on the Council of the Distressed Areas Association. He is a keen musician, and plays the organ. Mrs. Snell is herself a graduate of Somerville College, Oxford. They have three small daughters.
By kind permission of the Editor of the South African Church Weekly Newspaper, we reproduce a photograph of the Rector-Elect on the frontispiece and, below, his message to this newspaper:-
"We have, of course, many friends in England from whom it will be hard to part, but it is no mere matter of form to say that my wife and children, as well as myself, look forward to our coming to South Africa to make our home there. I am well aware that to accept the Rectorship of Michaelhouse is to accept a great responsibility and a great privilege. It is very evident that under the present Rector the School has flourished increasingly, and that it will be my part to see that the steady development which has taken place under him continues without interruption. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
3
"I imagine that I shall find boys in Natal much the same as those in England. There, as here, I am sure the most important function a school has to perform is to give its sons knowledge and faith; knowledge such as may fit them to seek and recognise in life the good and true and beautiful as well as enable them to earn their living, and a faith which will be to them at once a compass and an anchor in these times of swiftly moving change.
"For the rest, I have received the training of a scientist and that has, I hope, taught me not to form judgments without having first ascertained facts. I shall come to Africa prepared to learn before I expect to teach."
F.R.S.
Eastbourne,
September 11th, 1938.
N.G.L. 4
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
THE RECTOR: AN APPRECIATION
Ronald Fairbridge Currey became Rector of Michael- house in July, 1930. He goes from Michaelhouse at the end of the year in order to assume the Headmastership of S. Andrew's, Grahamstown. After this comparatively short period of office he leaves behind him an enviable record of achievement.
In July, 1930, there were just under two hundred boys in the School; the roll is now three hundred and twenty odd. The increased numbers demanded, among other things, the creation of a new House and the building of two new self-contained blocks. These two blocks, together with the west side of the main Quadrangle, form the three sides of New Court, whose trim lawn and flowering shrubs enhance not a little the general beauty of the place.
The building of new Chemistry Laboratories outside the Quadrangle set free a room which now, fittingly altered and embellished, houses our excellent library.
The Sanatorium was extended and a new wing, com- pletely modern in its equipment, was added.
Physical Training, coming into the regular School curriculum, necessitated the building of a Gymnasium which, although not prepossessing to look at, yet serves its purpose admirably.
Another demand made by growing numbers was for new and better playing-fields. The old football ground was levelled and planted with kikuyu grass, and at the same time a second and equally good one was made. Two new cricket fields, on the sites of old ones, were constructed, and both of these have turf wickets. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
5
No account of Ronald Currey's visible achievements would be complete without mention of the vast improvement in the lay-out of the School gardens, a work in which he was so ably helped by Mrs. Currey. He has, besides, made it his object to cover with ornamental trees the hitherto waste and rather unbeautiful open spaces on the east and west sides of the main buildings. He and his wife mani- festly subscribe to Bacon's saying that a garden is "the purest of human pleasures, without which buildings and palaces are but gross handyworks," and their earnest belief in this has created for the School innumerable things of beauty which will indeed be a joy for ever.
Last of the "brick and mortar" developments (but last only in point of time) comes the founding of the new Chapel. That the School, increased in size as it is, should have a place of worship more worthy of its Christian ideals has for a long time been Ronald Currey's most cherished ambition. He worked hard to collect money so that a start could be made, and he will leave machinery whereby this collecting may be continued. It is now for the School's friends, in their generosity, to see to it that the Chapel, in due course, is completed as it was begun, not by means of borrowed money, but by means of donations freely given.
It is good news indeed that the work on the Chapel will be far enough advanced by Speech Day for Ronald Currey to assist at the laying of the foundation stone by the Bishop.
To all these greater forward steps can be added many such others as the creation of the post of School Bursar as a separate function, the introduction of the Entrance Examination and the free Wednesday afternoon, the throw- ing open of the front gardens to all members of the School, 6
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE and such smaller structural improvements as the continua- tion of the Cloisters along the north side of the Quadrangle and the partial grass of the Quad itself.
But to make a catalogue of visible achievements is easy; far more difficult is it to attempt in words an appraisement of Ronald Currey's influence upon the spirit of the School.
This can perhaps best be summed up in a phrase which is constantly on his lips-"good citizenship." It was always his object to inculcate all the qualities that this phrase denotes, and to relate the good citizenship of school- life to that of the wider life of the State.
He resisted strongly any tendency towards a myopic view of education, and refused to regard successes in examinations or in games as in themselves of any great merit. These were things to be taken in one's stride. He valued much more highly the thorough preparation which made these successes possible. That the conscientious worker, rather than the "blood" of the playing-fields, should have due recognition and should come to be regarded in the School as the salt of the earth was his steadfast aim, and most of his innovations had this praiseworthy end in view.
The shibboleths associated with "the old school-tie," in the accepted sense of that phase, are anathema to him. His loyalty is pledged rather to the South African Public Schools as a group, because, in his own words, "they make a real and valuable contribution to that full variety of type which I believe to be one of the distinguishing marks of a sound national life."
It is a commonplace that Michaelhouse, from the time of her foundation to the present day, has been singularly S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
7 fortunate in her Rectors. Each, in his own way, has done her valuable service ar.d each has left her better equipped for her purpose than he found her. For some this task has been more difficult than for others: for none has it been easy. Ronald Currey would be the first to admit (and the admission would detract in no way from his great achievements) that when he came the ground had, to a large extent, been prepared. He was able to forge ahead with a programme of development which was in itself no light task, but which he could undertake unhampered by anything except the normal set-backs and anxieties (for- midable enough in all conscience) to which the headmaster of a large school is exposed.
To the personal side of his work he brought an easy accessibility and a readiness to advise which enabled Staff and boys to approach him frankly with their difficulties. To the administrative side he brought a genius for organi- zation and a wide experience gained by keen and intelligent observation during his work in other schools. To the academic side he brought a mind trained in the best traditions of a South African university and in the classical virtues of Oxford. To the spiritual side he brought, besides that true churchmanship which is essential in a Rector of Michaelhouse, a sincere and effective Christianity which should be a lively example to those who merely call themselves Christians.
At Michaelhouse Ronald Currey has had the supreme happiness of seeing many of his dreams translated into reality. For her he has lived laborious days, and she is deeply grateful.
C.M.M. 8
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
SCHOOL NOTES
On Friday, 17th June, Their Excellencies the Governor- General and Lady Duncan were received Ad Portas. After His Excellency had inspected the Guard of Honour, under the command of Second-Lieut. A. H. V. Winter, the Latin address of welcome was delivered by G. H. Le May, as Head of the Sixth Form, and P. A. Dobson, Head of the School, called for six cheers. The Governors and Staff were then presented to Their Excellencies by the Rector and Mrs. K. M. Pennington, in Mrs. Currey's absence.
In the afternoon Their Excellencies watched the Rugby match against Hilton, of which an account appears else- where.
On Ascension Day, 26th May, the new statue of S. Michael in the niche over the War Memorial was unveiled by Colonel Cyril Baylis, President of the Old Boys' Club.
We welcome the Rector and Mrs. Currey back from England, after what must have been very much of a busman's holiday. In the Rector's absence, Mr. K. M. Pennington was Acting Rector during the Michaelmas Quarter.
We are also glad to have Mr. and Mrs. Barnard back again, even though Mr. Barnard is trying to convert us all to Nazism. During Mr. Barnard's absence, Mr. Pridmore acted as Housemaster of Founders.
In June we said good-bye to Mr. Ellison, and wish him all luck at Trinity College, Cambridge. We welcome in his place Mr. P. H. Simon, B.Sc., of Edinburgh University.
Sister King was absent throughout the Michaelmas Quarter, seriously ill, but we are glad to see her with us again, even more energetic than before, if such a thing is possible. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
9
We are all glad to hear that Mr. R. A. Jansen has been appointed to the permanent staff.
We congratulate Sergeant and Mrs. Walshaw on the birth of a daughter on 3rd July.
Once more there is feverish activity in the building trade at Michaelhouse. We congratulate Mr. D. de C. Pennington on his engagement to Miss D. Raw, of Lion's River; Mr. A. R. Chapman on his engagement to Miss H. Barnes, of Johannesburg and Balgowan; and Mr. R. A. Brown on his engagement to Miss C. H. Block, of Under- berg.
The foundations of the new Chapel are now complete, and work is proceeding on the crypt. The foundation stone will be laid by the Bishop on Speech Day, 23rd November.
All four Squash courts have now been roofed and the inside of the walls re-painted. The new pavilion on Hannah's has at last been thatched.
In the Trinity Quarter we had a severe epidemic of mumps, so that many of our fixtures had to be cancelled. The Prefects and Sixth Form, we hear, are still bemoaning the cancellation of their dance on 14th May.
The next number of the Chronicle will be under the capable and experienced direction of Mr. Chutter.
SCHOOL PREFECTS
P. A. Dobson: Head of the School; Head of Foundation East; Captain of Hockey.
A. H. V. Winter: Head of Foundation West; Captain of Shooting.
R. L. C. Cunliffe: Head of Founders.
G. H. Le May, Library Prefect.
R. Gathorne.
F. C. Lee: Captain of Cricket.
M. F. Reim: Head of Tatham.
C. J. Skelton: Head of Farfield; Captain of Rugby; Captain of Athletics. 10
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
HOUSE PREFECTS
Foundation East: P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray, W. J. Gough, J. M. Macnab, H. A. Harriss, J. Foaden.
Foundation West: A. H. V. Winter, R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, D. E. Button, A. J. Poynton, A. R. S. Doming.
Founders: R. L. C. Cunliffe, G. H. Le May, B. F. Berry, P. A. Jardine, A. R. Newby-Fraser, A. J. Smith.
Farfield: C. J. Skelton, J. W. Taylor, I. C. Dickens,
E. L. Crockett, C. H. Moss, W. H. Kelly.
Tatham: M. F. Reim, D. R. Currie, E. S. K. Tucker, P. K. Wright, R. de T. Horne, J. W. Horton.
VALETE
June, 1938: I. E. Allanson, D. R. Antrobus, A. D. Croad (April), H. F. Goddard, P. W. Nourse, A. A. Osborne, P. J. Walker, J. S. Ross-Elliott.
September, 1938: P. J. Susskind, S. R. Whiting, I. B. Cooper, J. H. C. Drummond Hay.
SALVETE
August: C. M. S. Booker, I. N. Brown.
CHAPEL NOTES
The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered by the Bishop of the Diocese on May 22nd. Once more the Service was held in the open-air, on the first terrace, and its dignity was enhanced by the singing of a processional hymn, the choir being robed in white cassocks and red girdles and led by the Cathedral Processional Cross (most kindly lent us, for this occasion, by the Dean). Until the new Chapel is built, it is likely that this service will always be held out of doors, the precedent established last year having justified itself, for the occasion was memorable. There were 55 candidates, including three Indians from the estate, Catherine, Ruth and James Jack. The following boys of the School were confirmed:- S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
11
East: Patrick Atkinson, Lewis Ballenden, Richard Cornwall, George Dougall, John Drummond-Hay, Harry Foaden, Joseph Harle, Anthony Large, Douglas Richards, Ian Sherratt, Desmond Wadsworth.
West: Christopher Beith, David Brown, Robert Earle, Hugh Hall, Hugh Isaac, Geoffrey Lange, Derek Lee, Rex Pennington, Christopher Stainbank.
Founders: John Broom, Desmond Kirkman, Henry Lawrence, Anthony Meyer, Geoffrey Milborrow, Gerald Payn, Desmond Webb, Franklin Young.
Farfield! Michael Austin, Bryan Bird, Raymond Clausen, Rollo Cochrane, John Duff, Graham Garbutt, Duchesne Grice, Neville Jones, Reginald Lewis, Roland Meyer, Terence Rouillard, Barry Stacey, Robin Walker.
Tatham: Peter Caswell, Charles Chaplin, Robert Crass, Peter Lawton, Harold Pauling, Derrick Shand, Thomas and Richard Shipster, Hugh van Hasselt, John Wallace, Michael White.
The Service for Old Boys on Ascension Day was also held out of doors, in front of the War Memorial. The statue of S. Michael was unveiled.
The Rev. G. Wiles, Secretary of the Students' Christian Association, preached in the Chapel on May 29th; the Vicar of Karkloof, Rev. C. T. Stanham, on September 4th; and the Rev. W. H. T. Gahan, Vicar of Isipingo, a Governor of the School, on Michaelmas Eve. We were disappointed that Archdeacon Heywood Harris, for reasons of health, could not come on September 25th.
The voluntary evening Services on Saturdays at 7.30 have been continued, and to some extent systematised to include four types of short devotional service, one of them a specific Service of Preparation for Holy Communion, and another Compline.
The following have been the Chapel Servers this year: Dobson, Le May, Jardine, Wright, Berry, Horton (who is also Sacristan), Button, Sinton, Steele, Heywood Harris. Birch has acted as Remembrancer.
On Wednesday, 26th October, Barbara Ann Walshaw was baptised by the Rev. J. B. Chutter. 12
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
MICHAELHOUSE CHAPEL BUILDING FUND
Generous donations have been received from:-
D. G. Truscott, Esq.
R. H. Mason, Esq., on behalf of Charles Mason.
Dr. W. May, on behalf of Ronald May.
K. Trotter, Esq., in memory of Charles Basil Offord.
L. Trotter, Esq., in memory of Charles Basil Offord.
Miss Nancy Trotter, in memory of Charles Basil Offord.
L. M. Anderson, in memory of Charles Basil Offord.
Rev. C. H. Chater, on behalf of Basil Chater.
H. R. Hickman, Esq., on behalf of Timothy Hickman.
Capt. Blampied, on behalf of Gordon Blampied.
Miss Westwood.
J. J. Crookes, Esq., on behalf of I. C. B. Crookes.
W. J. Antrobus, Esq., on behalf of Dennis Antrobus.
G. Vercoe, Esq.
And from one anonymous donor.
ENTERTAINMENTS
On Saturday, May 7th, we welcomed the Estcourt Staff for the first time in an extremely amusing play, "The Patsy," by Barry Conners. It was perhaps rather too obvious from the start what was about to happen, and had the play been shortened to one act it would have been considerably improved. However, this did not detract from the performances of the actors who all distinguished themselves, David Turner and Miss Leiper being especially prominent. Altogether the family scenes were rather stormy, the two sisters invariably telling each other truths or untruths in a most fascinating manner. The lightning change of the father of the house from a benevolent husband to an ogre-like despot caused much amusement at the expense of his wife, unaccustomed to such behaviour. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
13
CAST OF CHARACTERS (In order of appearance)
Mrs. William Harrington
Bill Harrington ......
Grace Harrington ......
Patricia Harrington ....
...... Eric Reid.
Jane Watkins-Baker.
Edith Munro.
Jean Leiper.
Billy Caldwell Tony Anderson "Trip" Busty
Brandon Laight. . David Turner. .. Trevor Parry.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES.
Act I. Living Room of the Harrington home. Evening.
Act II. Same. Next Monday evening.
Act III. Same. The Friday night following.
Play produced by Mr. Brandon Laight.
On 21st August the finals of the Reading Competition were held in the Hall. The standard was generally good, though some of the juniors had not realized sufficiently how difficult it is to read audibly in Hall. Horton won the Senior competition, with Lloyd second, and Anderson ii the Junior, with Brown ii second.
On 27th August the House Singing Competition was won by Tatham, with West a very close second. The general standard was deplorably low, and it was obvious that at least two Houses had put very little effort into their preparation. This is a pity, as the wide choice now offered in the voluntary section should lead to considerably more enthusiasm.
On 28 th August, Mr. H. Kolb gave us an enthralling hour and a half, describing Modern Turkey under Kemal Ataturk, which he had recently motored through. His lecture was illustrated by attractive colour-slides made from his own photographs.
On Michaelmas Day the Dramatic Society produced four one-act plays.
"The House with the Twisty Windows" was dis- appointing. The inexperience of the actors was painfully obvious; the entire cast was wooden and too prone to take no interest when not actually speaking. In places the action hung fire, and all spoke far too fast. 14
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
Chater, as Lady Ponting, looked regal. Stubbings, as a rather sentimental girl, showed promise and could at least be heard. As the desiccated lawyer, Stewart spoke his lines with monotonous determination, but tended to stay in forced, unnatural attitudes. The whole point of the play, which was in the narration of the fairy-tale, was lost because scarcely a single word Clausen spoke could be heard. Cox, in a very difficult part, showed promise, but was rather forced.
On the whole, the play was too ambitious. The char- acters entered into the atmosphere of their parts only in the last few minutes. Then only did they hold the audience's attention.
Mr. Senior's "Unfinished Symphony" began uncon- vincingly, for, as in its predecessor, enunciation was bad. With the entry of Horton, as the Baron, the playlet came to life, and the rest of the action was good. The excellent costumes went far towards creating the right atmosphere. The closing scene-Schubert sitting before his piano while the music of the Symphony was heard off-was particularly effective.
"Thread o' Scarlet" was easier ground, for melodrama lends itself to successful production. Certainly this play was convincing and well-characterised. Attention was held, and one could hear what people were saying. Barnby and Pennington were excellent. Lange made a portly, genial landlord, and Chaplin was true to the part, in an appropriate bowler. Fleischer and Caswell were rather less successful, the former speaking too rapidly, and both being too stiff in their movements. Altogether, it was a satisfactory and vigorous performance.
"Sister Clare" was an unusual and pleasing play. Once more the elocution was insufficiently clear. The setting was impressive, as was the attire of monks and maiden. Barnby acted well, even if he did speak rather too quickly; he should learn to wait for laughs, as many of his best remarks were drowned in the audience's responses. Father Francis (Nicol) was a lovable figure, but his words-though his voice is pleasant-were not quite weighty or slow enough to be as telling as they might be. Anderson, as Sister Clare, was charming and natural. The S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
15 cast survived the tricky switch-over from the hilarious to the devotional, and the monks kneeling in prayer around the sleeping Sister Clare made a memorable picture.
"THE HOUSE WITH THE TWISTY WINDOWS"
By MARY PARKINGTON.
Characters in order of appearance:
James Roper, K.C...... A. Stewart.
Charlie Clive ...... J. B. Cox.
Teresa, Lady Ponting ...... G. Chater.
Heather Sorrell ...... O. Q. Stubbings.
Anne Sorrell ...... B. Bird.
Derrick Moore ...... R. Clausen.
Scene: Room in a Viennese Lodging House.
Time: Evening, January, 1825. Written and Produced by Mr. J. L. Senior.
"THREAD OF SCARLET"
By J. J. BELL.
Characters in order of appearance:
Migsworth (village tradesman) ...... C. M. T. Chaplin.
Smith (village tradesman) ...... R. F. Pennington.
Butters (village tradesman) ...... H. G. Barnby.
Landlord ...... G. V. Lange.
Breen (an odd-job man) ...... P. A. Caswell.
Traveller ...... D- s- Fleischer.
Scene: A Country Inn. Time: The Present.
Produced by Rev. J. B. Chutter.
"UNFINISHED SYMPHONY" (Episode from Life of Schubert) Characters in order of appearance:
Schubert ......
Mayerhofer ......
Schober ......
Baron von Schiinstein
R. T. E. Morrison.
...... B. F. Berry.
...... I. S. Lloyd.
.... J. W. Horton.
Produced by Mr. N. G. Lyon. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
"SISTER CLARE"
By LAURENCE HOUSMAN. (From "Little Plays of St. Francis") Characters in order of appearance:
Brother Juniper Brother Bernard Sister Clare Brother Elias .. Brother Angelo . Brother Giles ... Father Francis .
H. S. Barnby. . J. O. Harle.
S. A. G. Anderson. C. H. van Hasselt.
J. A. P. Smith.
T. C. M. Monk. .. W. Q. Nicol.
Produced by Rev. J. B. Chutter.
A SONG OF SCORN
I am a cat; give ear unto my song,
Ye human crew, presuming to despise •
My air of studied calm, my lovely shape,
My silken grace and faintly scornful eyes.
And who be ye to scan with leering gaze-
Ye common herd, ye walri gross and fat-
The shape that old Bubastes deified,
That paragon of beasts, The Sacred Cat?
Ye call me glutton, ye who gormandize,
Replete with prawns, liqueurs of vintage stock,
With aspic'd quail, and devilled fowl and such,
And wines from old Champagne, and mellow hock. But scraps and watered milk ye deem enough For me, the Sacred Cat ye patronise;
But your forefathers were the barking apes,
And mine were ancient gods, revered and wise.
And ye revile me when my mellow tones
Waft up from bowers on a frosty night;
Bow down, ye shameless Philistines, to Art,
And learn to love my voice's tune and might.
Am I a hypocrite? I do not fawn
And dribble honeyed words on those I hate.
I am a follower of old Disdain,
Aloofness points my way and guides my fate. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
17
Mock while ye may, ye babbling fools;
Soon the millennium comes; with vengeful leer, Then see the Cat, in regal purple clad,
Fixing the human throng. Take warning. Fear!
G. H. Le M.
THE CHARACTER OF THE CAT
THE DOG'S ANSWER.
A hater am I of cats great and cats small For the canine race likes not the feline at all.
The cat, after all, is an underhand beast,
Who as long as he sees in the offing a feast Will worship his master with love in his eye And shortly thereafter with bloodthirsty cry,
His pigeons, his ducklings, his chicks and his geese Will he ruthlessly murder, affording them peace Only after their souls have retired in haste From the bodies the cat sees will not go to waste.
The duty of dogs is to persecute cats,
(Who, how very rarely, are catchers of rats).
How easy it is in the thick of the night
For a schlippery cat with his eyes gleaming bright,
To go forth with a yowl in the darkness to prowl,
And-leaving the rats to a willing old owl-
To attack some defenceless and gibbering fowl,
And rend it asunder with frightening howl.
Yet the cat is a coward and ready to flee From danger though ever so slight it may be.
When a dog with a friendly and frolicsome yap Endeavours to play with a cat there's a scrap.
The Paragon flees with a hiss and a cry And the dog running after him wonders just why.
The cat is degenerate, very much so!
For he'll creep and he'll crawl, and he'll fall very low Just to get from his master a something to eat.
If necessity calls he will roll at his feet For a saucer of milk or a morsel of fish,
And when he has satisfied his every wish,
He will sleep, thinking only of saucer and dish- S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
Forgetting his master-rememb'ring the fish. Such is the cat and a glutton full foul Who deserves but a snap and a rumbling growl, For the cat he is faithless, an absolute blot On a decent horizon a pleasantish spot-
And to say he's a Paragon, what utter rot,
A gluttonous beast, but a Paragon, NOT!
R.G.
ECHO
You roaming ghost of the lonely glade Hover o'er the valleys green;
And o'er the stony hillocks fade Into a hazy whisper.
Mysterious voice of the mountain crags,
Spirit of the hills,
Your answer floats through the mountain air, Near many bubbling rills.
Brush aside your cloak of mists,
Your veil of evening haze;
Tell us all you know that rests In unknown by-gone days.
Instead of haunting echo, tell us All that you now hide,
Tales of monarch, tales of chieftain,
Who haunt the mountain-side.
What rumbling sound of beating drums Have you rolled back towards the plain? As a combing breaker roars, it comes, Churning waters in its train.
What eerie drums of war were those From the spirits of the gloom,
Echoed by a curious grumbling More gruesome than the tomb? Spirit of forgotten years,
Dwelling in mountain caves,
Send your echo to our ears,
And to our soul that craves;
Ghost of the craggy mountains bare, S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
19
Spirit of the earth,
Lingering through wooded vales,
The country of your birth.
P.K.M.
THE SPIRIT OF BEAUTY
Down by the river, down by the lake,
Down in tKe meadows green,
The spirit of beauty lies awake,
Lies in the shade unseen;
Reclines at ease in a shady bower,
With a mossy bank to rest his head,
With an eiderdown of the golden shower,
And the fragrant turf as his simple bed.
And the resonant hum of the noontide bee, And the lulling lilt of the stream Has closed his eyes beneath the tree,
And sweetened his noontide dream.
H.G.B.
MY OWN PRISONER
There frets a ceaseless yearning in my breast, That fumes, a captive in some inner cell:
That beats upon the door with awful zest,
And cries: "Unlock! Relieve me of this Hell.
"Why I a captive am I cannot tell:
Of crime committed I am unawares.
Unlock this door! And I will rush pell-mell To breathe in ecstasy the clean fresh air. "How long a captive in this wretched room I can remain and live, I do not know.
Oh, God! The very walls are thick with gloom, And e'en the atmosphere is thick with woe."
And I alone can set the captive free:
And speedily I'd do it, were I sure Where from he came, and who the creature be. Till that is known, the pain I must endure.
H.G.B. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
EVENING BREEZE
Waft thy sweet warning, Evening Breeze,
And kiss the flowers with gentle lips asleep, Murmur drowsy lullabies in the trees,
And spread thy magic spell like ghostly veil, Whose silken fingers drift and swirl and peep, In the darkest, deepest, secret niche and nook: And homeward send on dreaming wings the rook And quiet the mournful bleating in the dale.
H.G.B.
REFLECTIONS AT A PIANO
Thy strings, measureless fount, did often bear The touch of greater hands than these that lie On thy pale keys: but ne'er such ecstasy Did they arouse than when from its rich lair Was poured the sound of some triumphant air, Or when some plaintive chant did softly sigh, And die away to immortality.
It leaves me with a sight, a vision rare:
There before me great Beethoven lies,
His hands pressed hard against his failing ears. Neglected is his work. The toil of eyes Is sacrificed to avert the toil of years.
But now the boom of besieging cannon dies.
The stillness shatters hope, leaves useless tears.
J.W.H.
A SONNET ON WAR
The clouds of war may gather in the sky,
And people walk abroad in mortal fright,
Fearing the shrouding darkness of the night, Lest some vile death shall rain on them from high Or nation choose to champion the right Of overwhelming power and fearful might,
And loose its kites of war into the sky, To fade into the darkness flight on flight. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
21
But I will spare myself their fearful song,
And swiftly to some Isle of Hebrides,
Where Nature's turmoil is the seething seas,
I will myself remove, only so long As on the busy streets and crowded quays Khaki predominates amid the throng.
H.G.B.
A SATURDAY NIGHT'S ENTERTAINMENT
The attendants lurking behind the projector signal frantically. At last the lights go out and a strong beam of light is thrown on to the screen. A news reel of 1934 is shown, shortly to be followed by a Disney cartoon. This in turn is followed by a "short" on how to split the atom. The film does not meet with much approval, for who does not know how to dissect the odd atom? Why, even Mahabia is reputed to have some vague notion on how to conduct the experiment. The film comes to an end. After the usual round of clapping there is a dead silence. "There will-er-be a-er-ten-m-minutes interval, m?" is announced by someone in the vicinity of the projector.
The lights go on and some of the latest jazz records are played for "the-er-ten minutes, m?" The interval ends, and after more frantic secret signs by the projector- workers the lights go out. The main film is flashed on to the screen. The drama opens with murder. Everyone sits tense with excitement. The murderer is just going to shoot when-the film breaks down! A loud groan rises from the school. After a short delay the film reappears. Fifty feet had to be cut out, and by now the murderer has shot and is well on his way to safety.
Again a climax is reached. The police are just going to-another black-out! Has the film broken again? No, it is only the end of a reel. After an ecstasy of fumbling by the experts, the next reel is shown. The heroine is dying. The school sit hushed. A sudden howl of Asiatic glee breaks out from the gallery. What is the joke? None 22
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE of the Natives knows. In fact, they have not understood any of the film so far, but someone's sense of humour seems to have got the better of him.
The show goes on, and the last reel comes to an end only too soon. The lights go on. There is a moment of vigorous clapping, then everyone rises to go out. What an enjoyable evening!
C.H.H.B.
THE GAS MASK
It came to me in parcel small,
With A.R.P. writ o'er it all.
What was it? I untied the string And soon disclosed the hideous thing.
A mask-supplied to all the nation,
The devil's own low fabrication.
I put it on with cautious hands And fastened tight the rubber bands.
The stuffy rubber soon gave rise To violent sneezing, while my eyes Were smarting with incessant pain.
I tore it off-no, ne'er again-
I hurled it on the floor in rage,
I'd rather die than wear that cage.
C.H.H.B.
BEES AGAIN!
In the bathroom there was peace with not the faintest bit of noise;
On the floor reclined some slippers in a very graceful poise. They looked so very innocent one simply couldn't think That therein lay the clue, in actual fact, the missing link Of the tragic episode which came about a little after, Causing one terrific pain and, many more, a dose of laughter. * * *
In the bathroom there was schlipping, there was schlopping on the floor,
And a washing and a splashing as there'd never been before. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
23
At last the noise subsided and the water ran away,
And then began a towelling while noises very gay,
Of whistling, etcetra, came sharply through the door. But all at once there rent the air a loud and hearty roar.
In the room was all confusion-towels here and slippers there,
And a figure that reminded one remotely of a bear.
Like a dervish it was hopping, it was jumping in the air, A sight which was undoubtedly extremalily rare!
"My toe, my toe," it bellowed, "it is most severely stung; A bee has done its dirty work, my knell of death is rung. For oh, I am afflicted! Yea! For oh, I am distressed! For a brutal bee has stung me; I am quickly going west.
I declare the beast was lurking in my slipper on the floor, For oh, the bee has ambushed me; my toe is very sore.
'Tis true I'm passing fast away, and soon I'll be no more." This was followed closely by another anguished roar.
He clasped his toe and squeezed it hard, but, no! the sting would stay;
He cursed his slipper and the bee, he cursed that fateful day;
And now he hates with hate supreme, the bee and all his clan;
I do believe he SLAUGHTERS them-as many as he can!
R.G.
MISQUOTATIONS
In each of the following extracts there is one slight inaccuracy. No prizes are offered for correct solutions, but some of the more literary-minded of the Chroncile's readers may feel constrained, purely by a love of accuracy, to discover the misquoted words.
(a) In his hands are all the corners of the earth. (Psalms). (b) A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (Pope).
(c) Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread. (Pope).
(d) None but the brave deserve the fair. (Dryden).
(e) Oh, to be in England, now that April's here. (Browning). 24 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
(f) The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft a-gley. (Burns).
(g) To-morrow to fresh fields, and pastures new. (Milton).
(h) What do they know of England who only Eng- land know? (Kipling).
(i) Rule, Britannia, Britannia rules the waves. (Thomson).
C.M.M.
DEBATING SOCIETY
All the debates this year have been well attended, and the standard of speaking has been high. For the first debate, on April 30th, the motion read: "This house main- tains that dictatorship is the only solution to the present European situation." Mr. K. M. Pennington proposed the motion, and was supported by Mr. Brown; Mr. Lyon opposed, supported by Mr. Chapman. The motion was lost by 28 votes to 15.
On May 8th, Gathorne proposed that: "This house considers that heredity exercises a greater influence on man- kind than environment." He was supported by Goldsmith, and opposed by Lloyd and Steere. The motion was lost by 7 votes to 30.
On May 15th, the motion that: "This house does not approve of co-education in schools," was proposed by Cunliffe and Barnes i, and opposed by Skelton and Sinton i. The motion was carried by 28 votes to 22.
On Saturday, May 28th"there was an inter-debate between Hilton College and Michaelhouse. The motion was: "This house is in fullest accord with the principles of the United South African National Party." Unfortunately, as we were in quarantine for mumps, Hilton could not send up its strongest team.
Le May, proposing the motion, outlined the Party's history, and went on to show what its principles were, and to what extent it had lived up to them. MacGillivray, who spoke third, elaborated-in rather too much detail-on the achievements of the Party during its five years of office. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
25
He wrung the corporate heart of the House when he told them how the Government had distributed free cheese to two thousand, nine hundred and twenty-three blind people.
The Hilton team had obviously no clear idea of the Party's principles, and neither speaker grasped the full significance of the motion. Scott, the opposer, painted a glowing picture of South Africa as it would be under a Fascist regime, and witheringly indicted democracy. Addi- son, speaking fourth, was pro-Dominionite, but contradicted much of what his colleague had said.
After some most interesting speeches from the floor, the motion was put to the vote and carried by 26 votes to 19.
On June 5th, in accordance with a resolution passed at the beginning of the session, a variation from debate was tried. Mr. Traill gave a very informative outline of the development of Afrikaans. This was followed by an interesting discussion, and the innovation was voted a great success.
The natural sequel to this was a motion on June 12th that: "Efforts to make South Africa a bilingual country are doomed to failure." Whiting and Morrison proposed this, and Dobson and Blampied opposed. The motion was lost by 9 votes to 22.
On June 18th the motion read: "This house maintains that disputes are better settled by war than by arbitration." Le May and MacGillivray, for the motion, were opposed by Winter and Allanson. The motion was lost by 9 votes to 27.
On June 26th, Wright and Batchelor proposed that "This house maintains that a man cannot get rich honestly." Poynton and Johnson i opposed them, and the motion was lost by 12 votes to 15.
The second half of the session opened on 6th August with a hat night.
On August 14th, a motion that: "In the opinion of this house, scientific inventions of the twentieth century are exercising a detrimental effect on mankind" was pro- posed by Horton and Moxley, opposed by Berry and Alex- ander, and lost by 6 votes to 23. 26
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
On August 21st, Mr. Birks maintained that: "This house considers that woman's place is in the home." Pen- nington seconded him, and Mr. Traill and Bain Marais opposed him. The motion was lost by 11 votes to 17.
On August 28th the motion was: "This house disapproves of the exploitation of the Coloured races by the White." MacGillivray and Crass were opposed by Winter and Sharp ii. The motion was lost by 14 votes to 16.
On September 4th, Batchelor, seconded by van Hasselt, proposed that: "Too much attention is paid to Sport." Skelton and Baber opposed the motion, which was lost by 7 votes to 21.
The meeting on September 10th was similar in type to that held on June 5th. Mr. Chapman read a most inter- esting paper on "Socialism," which formed the basis of a keen dicussion.
On September 17th September the motion debated was: "In the opinion of this house, Western civilization is declining." Wright and Chater spoke for the motion, and Lloyd and Morrison against it. The motion was lost by 5 votes to 29.
On September 24th the inter-debate with the N.U.C. Law Students took place. This debate was both topical and of general interest. The motion read: "That the present discriminating policy of the Censorship Board in banning certain literature is not in the best interests of South African morals."
Le May proposed the motion, and in a brilliantly witty speech, during which the extreme case of buying "Turning Wheels" in Lourenco Marques was mentioned, he pointed out that literature must find its own level. He gave the failure of Prohibition in America as an example of tne result of trying to "spoon-feed" the public. Mr. Green, who opposed the motion, accused the proposer of treating the subject too lightly. He afterwards dealt with the perils of allowing the Natives to acquire obscene literature. He also asserted that the morals of European cities, especially Paris, were shocking and must not be allowed to influence South African morals. The opposers did not perhaps make the best of the subject, which was won by 26 votes to 10. Dobson seconded Le May, and Mr. Stevens seconded Mr. Green. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
27
LIBRARY NOTES
"The Daily Tribune" has been added to the list of newspapers now taken.
The work of supplementing and replacing present stock has gone on steadily. Purchases are too numerous to record in detail, but in particular, books dealing with modern world politics have been acquired in some number. The Library now subscribes to the Scientific Book Club. We find the monthly choices of the various Clubs of this type to which we belong on the whole valuable, and certainly inexpensive. As an experiment, 50 Penguin editions, at 6d., were bought to encourage still wider reading, though the life of these "paper-backs" is naturally not very long.
Our method of indicating the withdrawal of a book- by inserting a coloured card-is extremely simple, and for success depends on the care and good faith of borrowers. We are glad to record that, despite occasional carelessness, it is working extremely well.
The Fiction register in the Gallery is kept by Le May (Library Prefect), ably assisted by Moss, Barry, Walker aud J. A. P. Smith, a newcomer to the Library Committee.
C.E.B.
LITERARY SOCIETY
"Arms and the Man," by George Bernard Shaw, was started at the beginning of the second Quarter, and occu- pied three meetings. For the last meeting Gathorne read a paper on modern light verse. His subject matter was good, and his choice of extracts excellent.
"Caesar and Cleopatra," another Bernard Shaw, was read during the third Quarter, and was definitely appre- ciated.
Throughout, there has been a generally high standard of keenness. At the end of the third Quarter Lloyd, MacGillivray and Dobson were co-opted as members of the Society. 28
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
A very successful exhibition was held on the occasion of the Governor-General's visit in June. It was satisfactory to find that the photographs were not exhibited by one or two individuals only, and, partly for this reason, the photo- graphs showed a wide range of subjects.
It is hoped that there will be another exhibition on Speech Day, and that this will be as interesting and representative as the previous one.
Members of the Society contributed to a portfolio of photographs collected from schools of Johannesburg, the Cape and Natal, and at an exhibition subsequently held in Johannesburg, the Michaelhouse prints were highly praised. Another portfolio is now being collected.
There have been a number of interesting and informa- tive lectures by members of the Committee. The most recent of these was an Epidiascope lecture by Berry on Composition.
The Society is indebted to Mr. Lawrence for a new and much needed Print Trimmer.
RAINFALL
In the December, 1933, issue of the Chronicle were published details of the rainfall for the previous five years (see page 51). Mr. K. M. Pennington has supplied figures for the second period of five years, showing also the average for the last ten years. It is again considered more valuable to give the season's fall, beginning on the 1st August.
1933-34 1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 1937-38 Aver. August . . .19 2.32 .60 .05 .22 .61 September .. .73 1.72 .73 1.38 .98 2.02 October 1.96 3.75 1.97 3.54 2.67 3.07 November .. 8.00 6.27 1.82 9.51 4.04 5.31 December .. 7.36 6.60 4.94 5.22 7.60 6.52 January 8.20 5.29 6.04 4.39 6.71 6.31 February . . 4.19 6.79 6.79 8.77 6.82 5.67 March .. 6.65 4.41 4.19 5.72 5.18 5.83 April 3.87 2.13 1.34 .73 5.85 2.42 May 1.98 1.56 3.56 .09 .53 1.12 June .02 2.82 .00 .79 .83 .85 July 1.95 .05 .37 .01 1.94 1.15 Total 45.10 43.73 32.35 40.20 43.37 40.89 A comparison of these figures with those of five years ago is most interesting. Although many of the monthly S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
29 averages have altered quite considerably, it will be noticed that the season's average has only changed by .06 inch. Each spell has had a particularly dry year, the fall for 1935-6 being the lowest yet recorded. We have not yet registered over three inches in twenty-four hours nor ten inches in a month; November, 1936, is the highest to date. We have had the first month, during which no rain fell at all, and appreciated then the cloudless skies of some parts of the Union, where rain never falls for even years on end.
CADET NOTES
Since the last appearance of these notes the activities of the Corps have been confined almost entirely to cere- monial drill and musketry. A Guard of Honour of fifty cadets, under the command of 2nd Lieut. (S.O.) A. V. Winter, was provided for the visit of His Excellency Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor-General of the Union. The Guard paraded on the forecourt, facing the School, and was complimented by Sir Patrick on the extremely smart turn- out. The Band on that occasion was particularly good, thanks to a great deal of hard work put in by Drum-Major Andrew, of the Royal Durban Light Infantry.
The annual inspection of the Corps was held on the 21st October. Lieut.-Colonel Daniel, Officer Commanding Natal Command, was unable to be present, the inspection being carried out by Major Sparks who praised the Corps for its very smart turn-out and efficiency of the drill. Lieut.-Col. Baylis and Officers of the Royal Durban Light Infantry were present at this parade.
The appointment of 2nd Lieut. P. H. Simon has been gazetted. Mr. Simon joins us with considerable O.T.C. and Territorial Army experience, in England and Scotland, where he served with the Edinburgh University Engineer Unit and the 52nd Divisional Signals.
Capt. P. D. Barnard returned from overseas at the beginning of this quarter, and has reassumed command of the detachment.
A full report of the musketry activity, under the very able control of Lieut. N. G. Lyon, will be found elsewhere in this issue. 32
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
JUNIOR.
1. Founders: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 27. 45 points.
2. West: 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 20. 69 points.
3. Tatham, 122 points.
4. Farfield, 128 points.
5. East, 138 points.
Individual placings: 1, Stewart; 2, Chennells; 3, Isaac;
4, McKenzie ii; 5, Ellis-Brown; 6, Bain-Marais. Time: 21 min. 5 sec.
On September 3rd, Button and Cunliffe represented the School in the Invitation Mile race at Estcourt, and though not in full training ran very creditably, Button finishing second and Cunliffe third.
TENNIS
During the Winter Quarter, matches were played against the Staff, St. Anne's and the Maritzburg Old Boys. That against the Staff was not finished owing to bad light, St. Anne's were beaten comfortably, only their first couple providing much opposition, and the Maritzburg Old Boys (who included Maurice Pennington and Douglas Turner) were defeated by 12 matches to 4, the School first couple, Hall i and McFie, winning all their matches.
The finals of the School Championships were played on September 25th. In the open singles, Hall owed his victory to greater steadiness and accuracy, but Gathorne played an attractive game and was unlucky not to win one sett. Results:-
Open Singles: Hall i beat Gathorne 6-4, 8-6.
Junior Singles: McFie beat Springorum 6-4, 6_____4.
Open Doubles: Reim and Sinton i beat Gathorne and Dobson 2-6, 6-4, 10-8. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
33
SQUASH
The work of covering the four courts was finished in September. From the outside the malthoid roof and regu- larly spaced windows make the block look as attractive as such buildings ever are. The whole of the interior has been painted white. This has given an even light in all courts, excellent with a bright sky and reasonable when it is dull. At any rate, the game can now be played on the wettest afternoon. Mats and coat-pegs have been provided at each door. The removal of the small meshed wire netting has added greatly to the enjoyment of the spectators, and should persuade players to avoid the excessive use of high shots on to the front wall-a sign of bad Squash.
In September a twelve-a-side match was played between the Staff and boys. The margin in favour of the masters perhaps rather unduly flattered them, several games being particularly close. The results were:-
Mr. K. M. Pennington beat MacGillivray, 3-0.
Mr. P. J. Hall beat Sacke, 3-2.
Mr. A. P. Woods beat Harris ii, 3-2.
Mr. C. M. Melville beat Dobson, 3-0.
Mr. A. R. Chapman beat Gray, 3-2.
Mr. F. van Heijst lost to Pennington, 1-3.
Mr. R. A. Brown beat Wright, 3-1.
Mr. C. E. Birks beat Susskind, 3-2.
Mr. D. Pennington lost to Barry, 1-3.
Mr. J. Pridmore beat Poynton, 3-2.
Mr. G. J. Beukes lost to Barnes iii, 2-3.
Mr. R. A. Jansen lost to Caswell, 0-3.
Totals: Staff, 28; Boys, 23.
The Staff thus won by eight matches to four.
MacGillivray succeeded Antrobus as Captain of Squash in August. 34
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
HOCKEY
Captain: P. A. Dobson. Vice-Captain: A. R. S.
Doming.
Although the 1st XI record (played 6, lost 5, drawn 1) is a dismal one, yet in some ways the team has shown real promise. In spite of missing the brilliant individuals of the last few seasons, the team as a whole has produced some excellent Hockey. Strange to say, the main weakness has been in defence. Reim may be brilliant at times, but he can never be relied on, and we have always been short of a really good centre-half. Of the defence, Sacke and Lee i show the most promise, while Doming i, in goal, can always be relied upon. The forwards played consistently well.
In School Hockey brilliant stick-work and individualism seldom pay. The ball must always be moving from player to player, and the comments of opposing teams have proved how successful this type of garnet has been this season. Unfortunately, this advantage was offset by an inability to score goals. Forwards cannot wait for the ball to tee itself up, but must take a "first-timer" the instant the ball is in the circle.
This year the Punch Bowl has been used for 1st XI practices and matches, and is a decided improvement on the Meadows. This has meant that Junior games have often been able to play on better grounds than before, which may account for the general improvement through- out the School, noticeable in the House matches.
1st XI MATCHES.
1st XI v. N.U.C. Played in Maritzburg on 18th May. Lost
5-1.
1st XI: A. R. S. Doming; M. F. Reim, P. J. Susskind; D. N. Sacke, H. J. Goddard, R. L. C. Cunliiffe; C. J. Skelton, R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray.
The team never really settled down to a very fast and bumpy ground, and although continually on the attack failed to make use of many chances. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
35
1st XI v. Nomads. Played on Punch Bowl on May 28th.
Lost 9-1.
1st XI: G. M. Doming; M. F. Reim, A. H. V. Winter; D. N. Sacke, R. L. C. Cunliffe, G. M. McFie; O. W. Dyer,
R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray.
In spite of the huge score piled up by the Nomads, the game was by no means uneven. Our forwards were always dangerous until they got into the circle, while the majority of the Nomads goals came from individual rushes which caught the backs out of position.
1st XI v. Wanderers. Played on Punch Bowl on June 8th.
Lost 7-4.
1st XI: A. R. S. Doming; M. F. Reim, K. B. Hall;
D. N. Sacke, R. L. C. Cunliffe, D. R. Lee; O. W. Dyer,
R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray.
This match showed a decided improvement in the team, the defence particularly being steadier, although not good enough to stop the forward rushes of Bert Jackson and Raw.
1st XI v. Wanderers. Played in Maritzburg, August 24th.
Drawn, 3-3.
1st XI: A. R. S. Doming; M. F. Reim, A. H. V. Winter; D. R. Lee, W. F. Gough, D. N. Sacke; E. L. Henderson, R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, C. J. Skelton.
An extremely scrappy game in which the team only began to find their form in the last ten minutes. Again we found the change from slow grass to fast, bumpy ground very disconcerting. After half-time the School forwards were continually on the attack, but good keeping by Fein- berg saved the Wanderers over and over again. A few minutes from the end Jackson, with a fine effort, put the Wanderers ahead 3-2, but a beautiful shot by Dobson from a long corner brought the scores level. 36
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
1st XI v. N.U.C. Played at Punch Bowl on October 31.
Lost 3-6.
1st XI: A. R. S. Doming; A. H. V. Winter, K. B. Hail; D. N. Sacke, W. F. Gough, D. R. Lee; C. J. Skelton, R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray.
The School did well against a strong N.U.C. team, but again it was a tale of missed opportunities. The backs were extremely slow and the whole team always seemed to be beaten to the ball. Gray and Dobson were very good on the right wing and were responsible for the School's three goals.
1st XI v. Nomads. Played on Punch Bowl. Lost 6-5.
1st XI: A. R. S. Doming; K. B. Hall, P. J. Susskind; D. N. Sacke, W. F. Gough, D. R. Lee; C. J. Skelton, R. Gathorne, F. C. Lee, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Gray.
This was quite the best match of the season; a very fast game in which the forwards on both sides were always dangerous. Lee ii and Sacke showed how good they can be, and Dobson and Gray were the mainstay of the attack. But again careless positioning by the backs gave away easy goals. The opportunism of Collins in the circle was an object lesson for the School forwards. School goals were scored by Dobson (2), Lee, Gray and Gathorne.
HOUSE MATCHES.
West found their hardest opposition in the first round when they beat East 4-3. From the first bully, Dobson went right through the West team to score, but after that there was very little to choose between the two teams. The West defence was steadier, while their forwards slowly improved and towards the end were always dangerous. Owen, on the right wing for West, showed great promise, and Sinton, at back, played well throughout the match.
In the final, West were too good for Tatham, although in the first half the Tatham defence, especially Reim and Wright, played extremely well to keep the score level. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
37
1st XI HOUSE MATCHES.
First Round.
West beat East, 4-3.
Second Round.
West beat Farfield, 6-1.
Tatham beat Founders, 2-1.
Final.
West beat Tatham, 6-0.
2nd XI HOUSE MATCHES.
First Round.
Tatham beat Farfield, 6-3.
Second Round.
Tatham beat Founders, 6-3.
West beat East, 2-1.
Final.
West beat Tatham, 1-0.
TEAMS IN FINAL HOUSE MATCHES, 1st XI.
West: G. M. Doming; A. H. V. Winter, J. S. Sinton; K. B. Hall, D. R. Lee, A. R. S. Doming; G. Owen, P. J. Susskind, F. C. Lee, R. Gathorne, W. A. Hall.
Tatham: E. I. Sturgeon; M. F. Reim, P. K. Wright; K. S. K. Tucker, D. N. Forsyth, J. E. M. Barnes; G. Chater,
G. E. Wallace, P. A. Caswell, I. B. Cooper, T. Monk.
FINAL HOUSE MATCHES, 2nd XI.
West: F. W. Doming; C. M. Adams, A. V. Johnson; S. H. Harris, A. Seager, P. K. Moxley; J. Poynton, D. E. Button, I. S. Barnes, G. Baker, A. Tatham.
P.J.H. 38
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
RUGBY
GENERAL NOTES.
As an innovation, two trial matches to pick the Natal Schools XV were played at Woodburn on Wednesday, June 22nd. In the first game Maritzburg College and St. Charles' easily accounted for the Northern Districts team. The second match between Hilton-Michaelhouse and D.H.S.- Glenwood was a splendid game in which the weight of the Durban forwards was the deciding factor and enabled them to win 11-8. P. A. Dobson, A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne,
M. F. Reim, C. J. Skelton, I. B. Cooper, J. M. Macnab,
J. W. Taylor played in this trial. F. C. Lee and J. W. Gray were unable to play owing to injuries.
C. J. Skelton is to be congratulated on being chosen for the Natal Schools XV.
At a meeting in April, C. J. Skelton was elected Captain and J. W. Gray, Vice-Captain.
During the season, Colours were awarded as follows:-
1st XV Colours: J. W. Gray, M. F. Reim, F. C. Lee, J. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, R. Gathorne.
Blazers: M. F. Reim, P. A. Dobson, J. W. Taylor,
A. A. Osborn, D. R. Currie, D. N. Sacke, P. J. Susskind, R. S. Whiting, P. K. Wright, D. E. Button, A. V. Johnson.
1st XV MATCHES.
We started the season so well that it looked as if the side might do great things, but unfortunately the epidemic of mumps completely upset everything and the team met with only moderate success. This was due to the cancelling of fixtures just as the team was getting into its stride, and required match practice, as well as to the absence of several players through illness or injuries. The weakness of the side was the lack of speed on the wings and weight in the forwards. The latter were also not very fast and were weak in anticipation and in knowledge of the finer points of the game.
We had the unique experience of defeating both the Durban Old Collegians and Durban Rovers, but neither side S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
39 was at full strength. As captain, Skelton was good, but just lacked that extra bit of brain-power and judgment in detecting the weaknesses of our opponents. He led the forwards weil and played really magnificent Rugby through- out the season. Gray was handicapped by illness, but was consistently good. He should learn to throw out a longer pass. Had he been fit he would have been chosen for the Natal Schools XV. Up to a point F. C. Lee was good, but one expected greater things from him, as he had all the attributes of a great fly half, but just lacked that final dash.
Reim and Gathorne played remarkably well together at centre. The former was good in defence but tried to do too much in attack, while the latter was splendid in attack but was not a strong enough tackier. Doming started the season in great style but seemed to lose interest halfway through the season. Sacke tried hard and showed plenty of dash, but did not know enough about the game. On the whole Dobson played well, but as his positional play was not strong one got the impression that he was often in difficulty. Macnab always played hard but was too slow as eighth man. Cooper was probably the next best forward to Skelton, but he was unable to use his height or his hands in the line-out. Taylor was somewhat disappointing. He was not fast enough for a loose forward. Currie did not improve as was expected. He was lock forward but was too fond of playing loose and constantly got offside. Osborn did not fulfil his promise of last season. Wright filled his place as hooker after June and was a big improve- ment.
Susskind and Whiting were two forwards who were showing marked improvement when they were both crocked. It was their continued absence which seemed to upset the forwards as these two were heavy, tall, quite fast, and good both in the scrum and line-out. Button and Johnson piayed in a number of matches. The former was not robust enough in his play and was somewhat slow, while the latter was slow and did not know enough about the game.
To sum up, our backs were good except for lack of speed on the wings, but were not given enough opportunities by the forwards, who were unable to obtain possession from the scrums arid line-outs. 40
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
P.
14
1st XV GENERAL RESULTS.
W. L. D. F. A.
9 4 1 197 117
SCHOOL MATCHES.
P.
10 w.
5
L.
4
D. F.
1 136
A.
81
MICHAELHOUSE v. ESTCOURT HIGH SCHOOL.
Played at Michaslhouse on April 30th. Won 30-3.
This is the first time in recent years that Estcourt High School has played the 1st XV. Playing with a slight wind, Michaelhouse pressed at once and, following a short kick across by Lee, almost scored. Soon after, Doming missed with a penalty kick. Following a quick heel from a tight scrum, Reim and Sacke took the ball from halfway for Reim to score. Doming did not convert. A minute later Reim broke and gave an overlap to Sacke, who scored under the posts. Doming converted. Estcourt now pressed with a series of forward rushes, and from a five-yards scrum Rodel scored an unconverted try.
The Michaelhouse threequarters were combining brilliantly, and Doming capped a good handling movement by side-stepping the full-back and scoring well out. Sinton converted. After a line-out on the Estcourt "twenty-five," Doming again ran hard to score close in. Sinton did not convert.
Although held in the tight, the Michaelhouse forwards, with Skelton always prominent, were superior in the loose. To counter the faster Michaelhouse threequarters, Estcourt packed seven forwards in the second half and played an extra full-back. After four minutes' play Sacke, on the wing, finished a good handling movement by the forwards by passing inwards for Skelton to score. Doming did not convert. From a handling movement after a quick heel from a tight scrum, Sacke scored again. Michaelhouse were now right on top. Doming dived over in the corner, and converted. Just before the end Reim broke and scored.
Of the tight scrums, Michaelhouse won 18, Estcourt 15. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
41
1st XV: E. L. Crockett; A. R. S. Doming, P. A. Dobson, M. F. Heim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, A. A. Osborn, I. B. Cooper, J. Macnab, J. W. Taylor, P. J. Susskind, D. R. Currie, J. S. Sinton.
MICHAELHOUSE v. MARITZBURG OLD COLLEGIANS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 14th. Won 16-3.
The match opened with a period of desultory play, with Michaelhouse slightly on top. Lee came close with two penalty drops from difficult positions. The first score came when the Old Collegians' fly-half dropped the ball in liis own twenty-five. The Michaelhouse forwards dribbled on, and Skelton scored. Gray converted. The Old Collegians pressed hard. They were awarded several free kicks in easy positions - two under the posts - but their place kicking was very poor. Michaelhouse then pressed. Reim kicked ahead and followed up. From the tight scrum that followed, Reim broke again and scored far out. Whiting converted. After some scrappy play, Taylor scored from a loose maul. Collegians fought back and scored after a series of scrums near the Michaelhouse line. Just before the end Sacke ran well. Gathorne then broke brilliantly but was tackled on the line. Reim kicked over and scored.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; E. L. Crockett, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C, J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, A. A. Osborn, P. J. Susskind, S. R. Whiting, D. R. Currie.
MICHAELHOUSE v. S. JOHN'S COLLEGE.
Played at S. John's on May 21st. Won 13-3.
In this game we played really good Rugby against a heavier and faster team. The forwards frequently got the ball back to the threequarters who handled splendidly. After ten minutes of even play, our backs took the ball to the S. John's line where our forwards heeled quickly for Reim to obtain an overlap and score, for Dobson to con- vert. This was the only score up to half-time. We started the second half with some fine movements, from one of which Doming scored in the corner after a great run, despite an injury to his leg, a misfortune which made our 42
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE victory all the more meritorious. This try was followed by a grand break by Lee who scored close in, and Dobson converted. Only some fine tackling by the S. John's backs kept the score down. S. John's pressed towards the end, and scored far out just on time.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. Macnab, J. W. Taylor, I. B. Cooper, R. S. Whiting, P. J. Susskind, A. A. Osborn, D. R. Currie.
MICHAELHOUSE v. DURBAN OLD COLLEGIANS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 24th. Won 12-3.
Michaelhouse pressed from the kick-off and, after a few minutes play in the Collegians' half, was awarded a free kick, from which Dobson scored. A few moments later the Collegians were penalised again. Dobson's kick was short, but from the resulting loose scrum Currie kicked over and scored. For the rest of the half Michaelhouse was pressing hard. Michaelhouse pressed hard at the beginning of the second half, and twice nearly scored. Then, following a loose forward movement, the Collegians carried the ball from the halfway line, and Siedle scored. Almost immediately aCter, Sacke ran strongly to within a yard of the line where the Old Collegians were penalised. Whiting scored with a good kick. Michaelhouse continued to press, and the final score came when Dobson scored with a free kick after the Collegians had been penalised yet again.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; E. L. Crockett, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, A. A. Osborn, J. W. Taylor, P. J. Susskind, D. R. Currie, S. R. Whiting.
MICHAELHOUSE v. OLD BOYS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 26th. Lost 11-26.
This was a fast open game in which we could not settle down, after allowing ourselves to be rattled by the Old Boys' forwards, magnificently led by Eric Miller. The Old Boys pressed from the kick-off, and Banham and Harvey S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
43 scored two tries, the second of which Dawson converted. Michaelhouse now recovered, and Gray broke round the blind side of a tight scrum on the Old Boys' twenty-five, and passed inwards to Skelton, who scored. The Old Boys increased their lead when Dawson scored with a free kick. Just before half-time Hindson scored from a loose scrum on the Michaelhouse line.
Dawson, who had been playing a brilliant game, broke well, side-stepping three opponents, and passed inwards for Miller to score. Dawson converted. The Old Boys con- tinued to press, and from a forward rush Anderson scored. Then, from a five-yard scrum, Egeland intercepted a pass from Gray to Lee, and scored. Harker converted. From the kick-off, Susskind broke, and after running twenty yards passed to Skelton, who scored. Michaelhouse was now pressing hard. Reim kicked ahead, Gathorne gathered and passed inwards to Skelton, who scored his third try. Dobson converted.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; E. L. Crockett, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, J. W. Taylor, I. B. Cooper, P. J. Susskind, S. R. Whiting, D. R. Currie, A. A. Osborn.
MICHAELHOUSE v. DURBAN ROVERS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 31st. Won 22-3.
This was a scrappy game, in which neither side's three- quarters were seen to advantage. After a period of even play, Gray opened the scoring with a try from a loose scrum near the line. Dobson converted. Michaelhouse was now pressing hard and, after a quick heel from a tight scrum, Reim broke and scored. Dobson converted. Soon after, Currie scored when the scrum wheeled close to the Rovers' line. The Rovers pressed hard at the beginning of the second half, and after a series of forward rushes Hesom scored. For the rest of the match the Michaelhouse forwards were well on top. From a loose forward movement Skelton scored, and soon after Gray went round the blind side of a loose scrum and scored. Just before the end, Macnab scored from a movement in which Sacke, Skelton and Gathorne were prominent. 44
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; E. L. Crockett, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, S. R. Whiting, A. A. Osborn, D. R. Currie, D. E. Button.
MICHAELHOUSE v. HILTON COLLEGE.
Played at Michaelhouse on June 17th. Drawn 6-6.
This match was made to coincide with the visit of the Governor-General and Lady Duncan, and both teams were presented to Their Excellencies before the match.
The game began at a fast pace. Hilton kicked off, and pressed at once, but the handling of the threequarters was ragged and several movements broke down. Michaelhouse was missing Gray at scrum-half, and Dyer seemed very slow by comparison. Neither side was heeling cleanly and the ball was inclined to hang in the tight scrums. Michaelhouse's first attacking movement came when Reim broke, but he was tackled in possession. There was almost a score when Macnab gathered the ball after a long dribble, but he was tackled on the line. Michaelhouse was now pressing hard. Lee tried a drop kick, but the ball did not rise. At last Hilton was penalised for a scrum infringement, and Dobson scored with a place-kick from about thirty yards out. Hilton equalised when Thompson scored with a free-kick, and for the rest of the half pressed hard. The handling of both sides had improved. In the last few minutes of the first half only determined tackling prevented Hilton from scoring, Struben being particularly well marked.
Michaelhouse attacked at the beginning of the second half, and after a forward rush, Macnab scored in the corner. Doming did not convert. Hilton was heeling the ball repeatedly from the tight scrums, but the Michaelhouse centres were coming up very fast, and Thompson was con- stantly forced to kick to touch. Hilton again equalised when Thompson scored with another free kick. Michael- house narrowly missed scoring when both Doming and Lee hit the upright with free kicks. A try seemed certain when Skelton broke, but Struben cut across from the opposite wing and tackled him within a few yards of the try line. Late in the half Gathorne broke and ran up to S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
45 the full-back, bub Reim, who was up in support, did not take a difficult pass. Hilton rallied, and at the end were pressing hard.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, O. W. Dyer; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor,
D. R. Currie, S. R. Whiting, D. E. Button, A. A. Osborn.
MICHAELHOUSE v. GLENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
Played at Kingsmead on June 25th. Won 22-13.
Once again this match was the first curtain-raiser to the Natal-Transvaal match. It was an interesting game in which there were many spectacular movements. With Gray, F. C. Lee, Susskind and Whiting on the sick list and Skelton playing for the Natal Schools' XV, we were somewhat handicapped, but the side rose to the occasion and played enterprising Rugby. Gathorne and Reim were too good for their opponents and soon after half-time we had the big lead of 22-3 to our credit. The team seemed to slacken off a bit and Glenwood scored two quick tries which were converted by splendid kicks just on time.
1st XV: D. R. Lee; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; P. A. Dobson, O. W. Dyer, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, D. N. Currie, A. A. Osborn, D. E. Button, A. V. Johnson, R. G. Strachan.
MICHAELHOUSE v. D.H.S.
Played at D.H.S. on June 29th. Lost 0-9.
With Skelton, Whiting, Susskind and Currie on the sick list, our forwards were completely outweighted, with the result that our backs hardly got any opportunities. The match was a very dull affair, as the D.H.S. got the ball from almost every scrum and line-out, but their backs were very mediocre and made little use of their many chances. Up to half-time D.H.S. had scored a penalty goal. In the second half, first Lee and then Gray each made a fine break but Taylor was too slow, after receiving the ball 46
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE with an open line in front of him. D.H.S. scored two tries in the last ten minutes of the game as a result of breaks by their left wing.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray, J. S. M. Macnab, J. W. Taylor, I. B. Cooper, D. E. Button, A. A. Osborn, A. V. Johnson, P. K. Wright, G. M. Doming.
MICHAELHOUSE v. MARITZBURG COLLEGE.
Played at Michaelhouse on August 13th. Won 16-7.
The match opened with a period of even play, with the ball staying among the forwards. Michaelhouse opened the scoring. Doming came into the threequarter line for a scrum in the corner of the College twenty-five, ran through the iorwards and scored. Dobson converted. Cliff scored with a place kick when College were awarded a penalty close in. The Michaelhouse forwards, although out- weighted, were superior in the loose, and Michaelhouse pressed. After several movements had broken down, Dom- ing scored in the corner. College fought back at the end of the half, and Egner scored with a drop-kick.
Play was very even at the beginning of the second half. At last Reim broke brilliantly, and after running thirty yards passed inwards to Skelton, who scored. Dob- son converted. Shortly before the end, Dobson put Michael- house further ahead with a free kick.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, D. R. Currie, P. K. Wright, D. E. Button, A. V. Johnson.
MICHAELHOUSE v. MARITZBURG COLLEGE.
Played at Woodburn on August 17th. Won 19-3.
In this game, which was the curtain-raiser to the Great Britain-Natal match, we played at the top of our form and gave a grand display of fast, open Rugby. During the first quarter of an hour we attacked incessantly, but the College S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
47 defended well and several chances were missed because of dropped passes. However Reim scored, following a quick heel from the loose, and Dobson converted. Shortly after- wards Reim gave Sacke an overlap for the latter to score in the corner. For the rest of the first half the College attacked strongly and eventually scored a penalty goal. After the interval we recovered and were mostly on the attack. From an orthodox movement Doming scored in the corner. After some fine breaks by Gathorne and Reim, Sacke scored again after a great run. Gathorne then broke straight down the field and gave to Skelton, who scored under the posts. Dobson converted.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, D. R. Currie, D. E. Button, A. V. Johnson, P. K. Wright.
MICHAELHOUSE v. HILTON COLLEGE.
Played at Hilton College on August 20th. Lost 3-11.
This match began at the fast pace which we have learned to expect on these occasions. Hilton at once showed their superiority in the tight scrums, where Michaelhouse were outweighted. The Hilton centres, however, did not make the most of their opportunities. They kicked to touch instead of feeding Struben and Montgomery on the wings. As Gathorne and Reim were coming up very fast in defence, they were repeatedly caught in possession.
Hilton's first attacking movement came when Struben ran round Doming, but he was pulled down by Dobson and Gray. The Michaelhouse forwards were superior in the line-outs, and were holding their own in the loose, but Scott was out-hooking Wright in the tight.
Dobson and Doming both missed penalty kicks towards the end of the half. Just before the end of the half, Doming side-stepped Struben, but was well tackled by McNaughton.
Hilton pressed at the beginning of the second half. After about five minutes, Michaelhouse rallied and carried play to the Hilton twenty-five. From a quick heel from a 48
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE tight scrum, Reim broke to secure the overlap, and Crockett scored in the corner. Dobson did not convert. A few moments later Hilton equalised when Struben ran round Doming and scored in the corner. Thompson did not con- vert. Michaelhouse then pressed hard, and for twenty minutes the ball hardly left the Hilton twenty-five, although the Hilton forwards were still hooking monotonously from the tight scrums. The Hilton defence held out, and the Michaelhouse forwards could not keep up the pressure. In the last five minutes Hilton rallied. Montgomery ran for forty yards before being pulled down by Lee. Hilton kept up the attack, and after a try had been disallowed, Franklin scored. Thompson did not convert.* Hilton was now right on top. Struben, who was completely over- shadowing Doming, put in a fine run on the wing, but was well tackled. Just before the end, Newmarch scored from a loose scrum close in. Thompson converted.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, E. L. Crockett; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, D. R.' Currie, D. E. Button, A. V. Johnson, P. K. Wright.
MICHAELHOUSE v. DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL.
Played at Michaelhouse on August 27th. Won 13-8.
At the beginning of the match the centres on each side were kicking to touch rather than feeding their wings, and play was scrappy for the first ten minutes. The High School was pressing hard, and the first try came when Coombe dribbled from near the twenty-five line, gathered the ball and scored close in. Allen converted. Shortly after, Coombe broke again, but was well tackled by Reim, The Michaelhouse forwards were now coming into their true form, and the ball remained in the High School half. After a quick heel from a tight scrum, Reim short-kicked, gathered the ball and scored. Dobson converted. Michael- house continued to press, and Lee broke well after a quick heel from a scrum near the High School twenty-five. Miss- ing out two men, he passed to Doming who missed a certain try by dropping the ball. Reim, who was playing a fine game, made the overlap, and Sacke scored in the corner. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
49
Soon after the start of the second half, Lee reverse- passed to Doming, who ran through the forwards and scored. Skelton converted. Michaelhouse almost scored immediately afterwards, when Lee gathered the ball after a dribble, but his pass to Gathorne was forward. Another possible try was lost when Gathorne intercepted a pass, but the movement broke down when Taylor knocked-on. Michaelhouse were penalised when Dobson played the ball on the ground, and Allen was close with a prodigious place- kick from ten yards inside his own half. A few moments later Allen scored with a free-kick from an easier position, and for the rest of the match the High School were 011 top.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke; F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, P. J. Susskind, D. R. Currie, P. K. Wright, A. V. Johnson.
MICHAELHOUSE v. ST. CHARLES'.
Played at St. Charles' on September 3rd. Lost 14-18.
The conditions under which this game was played were far from ideal as the weather was extremely hot and the field was very hard. These factors, coupled with the offside tactics of our opponents, completely upset the side, and we only got going in the last ten minutes. St. Charles' opened the scoring with a drop goal, which was followed shortly afterwards by a penalty goal. We then attacked strongly, but with two forwards continually hampering him, Gray had great difficulty in doing anything with the ball. Skelton finally broke away and scored. Soon afterwards the St. Charles' loose forward scored under the posts, and converted. After half time our opponents scored twice- once from a good movement and the other apparently from a knock-on. At this stage we asserted ourselves and Skelton seemed to score, but the try was disallowed. He then scored again, for Dobson to convert. Tries by Sacke and Lee followed in quick succession, but our efforts were too late.
1st XV: P. A. Dobson; A. R. S. Doming, R. Gathorne, M. F. Reim, D. N. Sacke, F. C. Lee, J. W. Gray; C. J. 50
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
Skelton, J. S. M. Macnab, I. B. Cooper, J. W. Taylor, D. R. Currie, P. J. Susskind, P. K. Wright, A. V. Johnson.
2nd XV.
Compared with the teams of the previous four years, the 2nd XV of 1938 was a weak side. Although injuries and sickness interfered with the team to a certain extent, there was nevertheless lacking just that dash and finesse which characterised previous second fifteens. The forwards were slow and inexperienced and showed very little powers of anticipation. D. R. Lee, at centre, and H. A. Harriss, on the wing, both played consistently well, but the back division on the whole was not strong, being weak in defence and slow in attack.
2nd XV GENERAL RESULTS.
P. W. L. D. F. A.
11 7 4 0 91 80
SCHOOL MATCHES.
P. W. L. D. F. A.
7 5 2 0 62 45
MICHAELHOUSE v. R. A. BROWN'S XV.
Played at Michaelhouse on April 30th. Won 9-3.
2nd XV: D. Lee; G. Jackson, R. Cunliffe, A. Harriss, W. Gough; D. Antrobus, A. Poynton; D. Button, S. Whiting, I. Allanson, P. Wright, P. Nourse, G. Doming, K. Knutzen,
H. Goddard.
MICHAELHOUSE v. HOWICK.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 14th. Won 9-3.
This was a very scrappy game owing to the fact that our opponents were somewhat out of training and were constantly off-side.
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, R. Cunliffe, A. Harriss, W. Gough; D. Antrobus, A. Poynton; D. Button, J. Sinton, S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
51
I. Allanson, H. Goddard, K. Knutzen, G. Doming, G. Blam- pied, R. Strachan.
MICHAELHOUSE v. ESTCOURT HIGH SCHOOL.
Played at Estcourt on May 21st. Won 6-0.
As this game was played in a wind, the standard of play did not reach great heights. Our forwards did well to hold their heavier opponents.
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, D. Lee, A. Harriss, W. Gough; D. Antrobus, O. Dyer; D. Button, I. Allanson, G. Doming, H. Goddard, R. Strachan, K. Knutzen, G. Blampied, J. Sinton.
MICHAELHOUSE v. OLD BOYS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 26th. Lost 3-16.
Although enjoying as much of the game as the Old Boys, we were badly beaten because of poor handling among the backs. Antrobus was very weak and gave his oppo- nents two tries. Our forwards battled well.
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, D. Lee, A. Harriss, V. Holding; D. Antrobus, O. Dyer; D. Button, I. Allanson, G. Doming, P. Wright, K. Knutzen, H. Goddard, J. Sinton,
G. Blampied.
MICHAELHOUSE v. R. A. BROWN'S XV.
Played at Michaelhouse on June 11th. Lost 8-13.
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, D. Lee, A. Harriss, W. Gough; D. Addison, O. Dyer; I. Allanson, G. Doming, P. Wright, K. Knutzen, J. Sinton, G. Blampied, R. Strachan, A. Johnson.
MICHAELHOUSE v. GLENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
Played on the Old Fort Ground, Durban, on June 25th.
Won 10-9.
This was a most exciting game in which each side took the lead in turn. Henderson dropped a goal to win the match for us. 52
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, P. Perkins, E. Hender- son, A. Harriss; D. Addison, G. Chater; G. Doming, P. Wright, C. Adams, K. Knutzen, D. Birch, J. Barnes, P. Nourse, J. Sinton.
MICHAELHOUSE v. D.H.S.
Played at D.H.S. on June 29th. Lost 6-11.
As there were many absentees, the team put up a creditable performance. Although our forwards were out- weighted and our backs outpaced,'we defended with great determination.
2nd XV: W. Hall; G. Jackson, D. Lee, S. Forrester, V. Holding; D. Addison, G. Chater; R. Strachan, P. Nourse, J. Sinton, D. Birch, J. Barnes, K. Knutzen, J. Sulin, O. Dyer.
MICHAELHOUSE v. MARITZBURG COLLEGE.
Played at Maritzburg College on August 13th. Won 7-6.
This was another exciting game in which we got an early lead, but were defending desperately at the end. Addison dropped the winning goal.
2nd XV: O. Dyer; E. Crockett, G. Jackson, E. Hender- son, V. Holding; D. Addison, I. Dickens; G. Doming, J. Barnes, R. Strachan, C. Adams, C. Chennells, J. Sinton, K. Knutzen, D. Birch.
MICHAELHOUSE v. HILTON COLLEGE.
Played at Hilton on August 20th. Lost 7-13.
We played very poor Rugby in this match. Our tack- ling was distinctly weak, and the forwards were very slug- gish. D. Lee played well and dropped a splendid goal.
2nd XV: O. Dyer; V. Holding, E. Henderson, D. Lee,
G. Jackson; D. Addison, I. Dickens; P. Susskind, G. Doming, J. Barnes, C. Chennells, R. Strachan, C Adams, D Birch, J. Sinton. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
53
MICHAELHOUSE v. D.H.S.
Played at Michaelhouse on August 27th. Won 11-3.
For the first time during the season the team played good constructive Rugby, and won comfortably against a heavier and faster team. Harriss ran well.
2nd XV: S. Forrester; P. Perkins, E. Crockett, D. Lee, A. Harriss; D. Addison, G. Chater; G. Doming, R. Strachan,
C. Chennells, C. Adams, T. McLeod, J. Barnes, K. Knutzen, J. Sinton.
MICHAELHOUSE v. ST. CHARLES' COLLEGE.
Played at St. Charles' on September 3rd. Won 15-3.
Despite the terrible heat and the hard ground the team improved on its showing of the previous week and played really well. The backs, of whom Lee was outstanding, handled well and ran with determination.
2nd XV: S. Forrester; E. Crockett, P. Perkins, D. Lee, A. Harriss; D. Addison, G. Chater; G. Doming, R. Strachan,
C. Chennells, T. McLeod, J. Sinton, C. Adams, K. Knutzen, J. Barnes.
OTHER MATCHES.
BUNNIES v. HIGHBURY.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 28th. Won 24-0.
Bunnies: Nevin; Rouillard, Grice, Arkwright, Craw- ford; Gersigny, Earle; Challinor, Brown ii, Silk, Anderson ii, Barrett, Stubbings, Bobbert, Jennings ii.
BUNNIES v. HIGHBURY.
Played at Highbury on June 25. Drawn 3-3.
Bunnies: Nevin; Cleverly, Arkwright, Earle, WTol- marans; Gersigny, Meyer i; Challinor, Garbutt, Stubbings, Brown i, Brown ii, Dekema, Barrett, Silk. 54
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
BUNNIES v. CORDWALLES.
Played at Cordwalles on August 13th. Lost 10-11. Bunnies: Nevin; Harden, Cleverly, Draper, Wolmarans; Earle, Young; Challinor, Bower, Garbutt, Silk, Anderson ii, Miller, Barrett, Brown ii.
BUNNIES v. KING'S.
Played at King's on August 22nd. Lost 3-9.
Bunnies: Nevin; Arkwright, Cleverly, Earle, Wol- marans; Gersigny, Young; Challinor, Garbutt, Bower, Brown ii, Dekema, Silk, Anderson ii, Brown ii, Silk, Miller.
BUNNIES v. KING'S.
Played at Michaelhouse on August 29th. Won 11-3.
Bunnies: Nevin: Wolmarans, Earle, Draper, Arkwright; Gersigny, Young; Challinor, Bower, Jennings ii, Stubbings, Anderson ii, Brown ii, Silk, Miller.
3rd XV v. OLD BOYS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 26th. Lost 0-11.
3rd XV: Forrester; Kelly, Cunliffe, Barnes ii, Holding; Addison, Dickens; Birch, Smith i, McLeod, Strachan i, Johnson i, Adams, Sturgeon, Nourse.
4th XV v. OLD BOYS.
Played at Michaelhouse on May 26th. Lost 5---12.
4th XV: Le May; Thorpe, Wallace i, Perkins, Monk; Barnes iii, Poynton; Sulin, Schram, Blumberg, Dyke ir Cornwall, Orford, Robertson, Sharp ii.
1st XV HOUSE MATCHES.
It was unfortunate that by far the best .teams should have had to meet in the first round. The winners of this game had no difficulty in winning their remaining matches.
First Round.
EAST BEAT WEST, 3-0.
East were a trifle lucky to win by a penalty goal, but West threw away many chances. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE
55
East: Dobson; Harris i, Gough, Gray, Jackson;
Antrobus, Dyer; Macnab, Birch, Blampied, Sulin, Cornwall, Dixon, Orford, Owen-Jones.
West: Hall i; Susskind, Gathorne, Lee ii, Doming i; Lee i, Poynton; Button, Whiting, Johnson i, Strachan i, Adams, Sinton i, Doming ii, Chapman i.
Second Round.
EAST BEAT FOUNDERS, 22-0.
Founders: Allen ii; Ellis-Brown, Henderson, Stewart, Sacke; Cunliffe, Le May; Osborn, Chennells, Smith i, Dyke i, Jardine i, Robarts, Thompson, Diering.
FARFIELD BEAT TATHAM, 15-3.
Farfield: Crockett; Pape, Kelly, Barnby, Holding; Cox, Dickens; Skelton, Taylor, Allanson, Goddard, Robertson, Blumberg, Steere, Schram.
Tatham: Thorpe; Rawlinson, Wallace i, Reim, Barnes i; Addison, Chater; Cooper, Currie, Nourse, Knutzen, Stur- geon, McLeod, Horne, Sharp ii.
Final.
EAST BEAT FARFIELD, 19-8.
With four absentees from their regular side, Farfield could not hold East, despite some grand work by Skelton.
2nd XV.
Tatham, with a somewhat older and more experienced side, won this competition fairly comfortably. East and West had a marathon struggle to decide who should play in the final.
First Round.
TATHAM BEAT FOUNDERS, 18-3.
Second Round.
EAST BEAT WEST, 5-0.
S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE TATHAM BEAT FARFIELD, 17-3. Final.' TATHAM BEAT EAST, 8-3. Tatham: Forsyth; Monk, Perkins, Kellett, Fawcett; Haine, Wallace ii; Tucker i, Caswell, Smerdon, Fleischer, Beevers, Sharp i, Nicol, Gishford. Once again House Leagues were run successfully during the second half of the season, and the Junior House matches were dropped. Tatham won the First League and East the Second League. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 57 OLD BOYS' NOTES OBITUARY ALEXANDER CASKIE BLAND. News recently came to hand that Alex Bland died under tragic circumstances in September, 1936. He was having a very minor operation to his hand when he collapsed. He entered Michaelhouse in August, 1906, and left in December, 1908. Though he did not stay out his full time here his character and industry were such that he gave promise of growing into a fine man. We have not much information of his activities since he left School, but know he spent some years in the Harrismith District. We offer our sympathy to his Mother and Brother. 26TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 1938. The 26th Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys' Club was held at Michaelhouse at 11.15 a.m. on Ascension Day, Thursday, May 26th. Before the Meeting was started, the Chairman, Colonel L. G. C. Baylis, asked all present to stand in silence for a moment in memory of several members who had died during the year, Arch- deacon Pennington, W. Sparks, A. G. Millar and W. S. Fieldgate. 58 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE Present: The following attended or were present during part of the day: O. B. Andrews, H. L. Antrobus, R. W. Anderson, J. S. Aubrey, J. Aitken, C. Acutt, D. M. Blackhurst, W. R. Boast, C. Baylis (President), R. R. Butcher, G. W. Boyes, J. C. Bennett, P. G. Brown, J. B. Booth, W. Hudson Bennett, P. W. B. Banham, M. Campbell, K. Collins, L. C. Clarkson, D. H. B. Carlisle, W. G. Crockett, S. T. Chaplin, S. A. Coakes, G. L. Crossman, R. L. Crosoer, R. A. Carte, K. B. Challinor, T. G. Chater, O. C. Dawson, K.* Drysdale, B. Drysdale, L. T. Drew, R. R. Drummond, E. R. Dixon, J. A. Dunn, F. M. B. Duggan, J. J. Egeland, R. S. Everitt, J. Fenwick, E. J. Greene, V. Greene, A. Greene, L. Greene, A. Gowans, F. Greaves, E. W. Gibson, G. Goodricke, L. E. Greene, V. Grimwood, F. W. Hill, D. Henwood, E. G. Henwood, F. van Heijst, N. W. Hosking, J. H. Hammon, J. B. Harker, P. D. Hickman, J. R. Hickman, A. M. Harvey, R. Howden, H. G. Hooper, E. F. Hindson, E. R. Hindson, A. M. Henderson, D. C. P. Hathorn, M. G. Jackson, C. W. P. Kerr, L. C. Knight, M. Lindholm, N. G. Lyon, P. G. Large, K. S. Lund, W. I. Ladlau, A. A. Lloyd, T. S. Lister, R. C. Miller, E. R. Miller, C. Melville, D. H. McIntosh, R. G. O. Martens, T. H. Maling, J. J. McKenzie, A. W. Mackay, M. McGregor, T. C. MacMurray, A. Mason, J. B. Macaulay, J. Price Moor, E. F. Mitchell Innes, G. W. Moor, P. Methley, D. Mayne, S. Orbell, J. Pridmore, K. Pennington (Hon. Secretary), M. Pennington, D. Pennington, G. Pennington, L. W. Payn, G. B. Payn, E. M. Parr, J. Peycke, F. D. Pascoe, T. R. Poynton, C. A. Rawlings, G. E. Robinson, C. L. C. Reynolds, D. Robinson, J. F. Rethman, A. Clive-Smith, Rev. V. C. C. Shaw, K. W. Simpson, W. L. Storm, R. E. Symons, W. F. Short, G. D. Strachan, A. R. Strachan, T. A. Strickland, J. C. Traill, L. T. Trotter, K. Trotter, J. M. Thorp, D. W. Turner, J. S. Vermaak, R. I. P. Vaughan, R. S. Webb, C. R. Wickens, A. Winter, E. Winter, A. P. Woods, and the Rector, R. F. Currey, by invitation (132 in all). S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 59 The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. The President, Colonel L. G. C. Baylis, in the course of an interesting statement, referred to the very good attendance, the Rector's resignation after eight years of service, during which the School had made great progress in all departments, the pride all O.M.'s had in the School's excellent Examination results and good showing on the sports fields, the captaincy of A. Melville and R. L. Harvey in the last Currie Cup Cricket Matches of the Transvaal and Natal sides respectively, the promotion of R. W. D. Leslie to the rank of Major-General in the British Army, the satisfactory settlement of the School Coat of Arms, the need for greater branch and inter-branch activity, and the comparatively small support which had been given to the Jubilee Insurance Scheme. His report was received with applause. The Financial Statement, which reflected a very sound position and was adopted with acclamation, read as follows:- MICHAELHOUSE OLD BOYS' CLUB. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for Year Ending 31st March, 1938. EXPENDITURE. 1936-37 1937-38 £18 12 2 To Postages . 15 14 0 17 4,, Bank Charges...... 241 12 6 0 " Stationery ...... 8 12 6 73 6 7 " Chronicles...... 88 8 1 2 0 0 " Depreciation ...... 300 ------,, Registration Club Colours...... 10 0 10 17 6 " Typist...... 13 17 6 28 5 0 " Donations ...... 121 15 0 1 19 9 " Dinner...... ------,, Club Matches...... 10 6 208 18 5 "Balance to Capital ...... 15 17 8 £357 12 9 £270 9 4 60 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE REVENUE. 1936-37 1937-38 £78 8 7 By Interest Received...... 69 5 4 164 10 3 " Life Subscriptions...... 150 18 6 56 12 5 " Instalment Life Subscriptions .. .. 47 18 0 50 0 0 " Donations ...... 8 16 " Clothes...... 276 £357 12 9 £270 9 4 Balance Sheet as at 31st March, 1938. LIABILITIES. Capital Fund- Balance as at 31st March, 1937 .. 1,483 4 2 Add Balance from Revenue and Expenditure Account 15 17 8 1,499 i 10 Hugh Brown Memorial Fund 11 3 6 £1,510 5 4 Note: Jubilee Insurance Scheme Policies take out total £3,000. ASSETS Cash at Bank 54 0 1 Cash in Hand 6 6 6 Petty Cash 11 3 60 17 10 Investments- City Permanent Building Society, "A" Shares 1,250 0 0 City Permanent Building Society Savings Bank 18 18 9 United Building Society 5% Preferent 150 0 0 1,418 18 9 Suspense Account: Preference Dividend accrued on City Permanent Build- ing Society "A" Shares 23 8 9 Sundry Debtors: 2 0 0 Typewriter: 4 0 0 Less Depreciation 3 0 0 1 0 0 Stationery on Hand 4 0 0 £1,510 5 4 Examined and found correct. L. G. C. BAYLIS, Hon. Auditor. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 61 Arising therefrom, a proposal was carried that the Hugh Brown Memorial should be proceeded with immediately along the lines agreed upon at the 1936 Meeting, the President undertaking to be responsible for any balance required. The following officers were elected:- President: Colonel L. G. C. Baylis was unanimously re-elected. Vice-Presidents: These were re-elected with the addition of Mr. R. F. Currey, in view of his services to the School during his period of Rectorship. The list reads: Bishop Baines (Life), A. H. Adair, Dr. H. E. Allanson, Colonel C. Baylis, R. F. Currey, Rev. Dobree, C. W. Hannah, J. J. L. Sisson, A. T. Tatham. Ex-officio Presidents of the Club Branches: R. C. Miller, R. E. Bell, M. H. Forder, A. T. Tatham. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer: K. M. Pennington. Hon. Auditor: A. A. Lloyd was elected on the proposal of the President. The Secretary thereupon called for a very hearty vote of thanks, which was loudly given, to Colonel L. G. C. Baylis, who had carried out these duties for 18 years. Committee: The President and Secretary ex officio, W. Hudson Bennett, E. W. Gibson, C. M. Melville, A. T. Tatham, A. P. Woods, and the Secretaries of all Branches. Trustees: A. T. Tatham and C. Baylis. The following 51 members were elected: C. Acutt, M. Allanson, J. L. Baylis, D. M. Blackhurst, J. B. Booth, T. A. Boshoff, J. S. Braby, S. Brightman, P. J. Buzzard, J. Campbell, V. P. Cowles, S. G. Collier, B. Christopher, J. Brand, G. A. Cruickshank, N. J. Cullum, T. C. B. Crookes, R. de Gale, S. G. H. Fawkes, P. Fehrsen, P. B. Franklin, P. G. Henwood, A. W. G. Hunter, T. Heywood Harris, J. D. Kennan, T. C. D. Kennan, C. W. P. Kerr, W. I. Ladlau, J. D. Lawrie, N. B. F. Mann, C. R. M. Muggeridge, J. Orford, G. B. Payn, M. Park Ross, P. F. Pentreath, R. G. Poynton, J. Pryce, I. F. Robertson, A. M. Rosholt, E. P. P. Rose, R. H. Saker, J. K. Shannon, J. M. Simpson, A. R. Strachan, G. D. Selley, C. R. N. Starling, E. J. Theunissen, P. Wacher, P. Walker, D. P. Young, and Rev. P. C. Cazalet under Rule 6. 62 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE The Reports of the various Branches were read as follows:- DURBAN The Durban and Coast Section of your Club has the honour to present the following report of its activities during the past twelve months. This Branch has not been as active during this year as in the past. Several causes have contributed to this, the principal one being the difficulty of getting members whose interests possibly lie in other directions to attend functions arranged by the Club. Judging, however, from the excellent attendance of the adjourned Annual General Meeting, it appears that the difficulty will not be as great during the ensuing twelve months, and with a keen incoming Committee, prospects for the coming year may be viewed with optimism. The new office-bearers are:- Chairman: R. C. Miller. Vice-Chairman: L. T. H. Trotter. Committee: A. A. Lloyd, J. J. Holgate, W. F. Short. Secretary: A. Doull. Your Branch held a Dance at the Country Club in June, which was very well attended and was thoroughly enjoyed by all those present. Although not a success financially, nevertheless the object for which the Branch exists, namely, for giving the opportunity to Old Boys to keep in touch with their fellow Old Boys, was notably achieved and more than offsets any slight financial loss which might have been incurred. The Branch also lent assistance in the organisation in the Hudson Bennett Cup competition, which attracted entries from far and near and proved a huge success. The financial position of the Club is very sound. Our reserve is not enormous, but with the small amount which is required for the purpose of running the Branch, our reserve is more than sufficient to last for a considerable time even without further income, but of course there is always a steady income from subscriptions, which is more than sufficient to meet the outgoings of the Branch. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 63 During the year our Chairman attended many meetings of delegates of kindred old boys' associations and there appears to be at the moment in Durban a live body which is endeavouring as far as possible to bring all kindred Old Boys' Associations together. Unfortunately our Branch could not agree with certain of the proposals put forward by the kindred Associations, notably a suggestion that teams be selected from each Old Boys' Association to play teams selected from other Old Boys' Associations, both at golf and tennis, for it was felt by our Association that it would be impossible to obtain the necessary support from members to provide teams to play against other Associations perhaps once or twice a month. In fact, it is understood that so far nothing has come from this project. Another proposal put forward by kindred Associations was the formation of a Club to be available for member- ship to members of Old Boys' Associations only, but this was felt by our Branch to be impracticable at the present moment. J. B. CALDER, Chairman. TRANSVAAL The Club year under review has been a very success- ful one both socially and financially with the one exception, namely, that it has been most difficult to organise more sporting events with the other Old Boys' Associations. I propose to deal with the Club's activities under two headings, financial and social. 1. FINANCIAL. It gives me much pleasure in sub- mitting for your approval the Audited Revenue and Ex- penditure Account and Balance Sheet for the year under review. There is an excess of Revenue over Expenditure of £26 10s. 6d. which is obtained from the profit made on the Annual Dance. The Club's investments, which are represented by Unit Certificates, yielded very useful dividends during the year which amounted to £10 4s. 7d. A portion of these dividends, as usual, has been placed 64 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE to the credit Investment Reserve Account-a policy which you will no doubt agree is a very wise one. 2. SOCIAL. The Annual Dance was held on the 5th May at the Wanderers Hall and was attended by 528 people. The event was a very successful one, resulting in a profit of £48 to be shared equally between the two Old Boys' Associations. Generally speaking, the dance was a most enjoyable one. The Annual Dinner was held this year at the Victoria Hotel on Saturday, 27th November. There was an excellent attendance, thirty-seven sitting down to dinner, which is easily the best turn out we have had at this annual function since the Club began in the Transvaal. SPORTING EVENTS. Only two fixtures were held during the year, one was a friendly tennis match against the Old Johannians at Norwood on Sunday, 20th June. We were represented by Messrs. Bell, Hull, Paton, Boyd, Pond and Boyes; the result was a win for the O.J's. by eighty games to fifty-five. This event proved highly enjoyable and some surprisingly high class tennis was witnessed. The second was a most enjoyable golf day at Ohenimuri, which was organised by Mr. Hayward. Details of who carried off the prizes are unfortunately not avail- able. Several attempts were made by Mr. Hayward to arrange further golf fixtures, but there are many obstacles which prevent the carrying out of such matches. During the year the Club has been the recipient of many invitations from kindred associations, viz: (a) Old Johannian Association, Dinner, attended by G. F. Berry. (b) St. Andrews, Bloemfontein, Dinner, attended by D. W. Hayward. (c) Christian Brothers, Dance, attended by D. W. Hayward. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 65 (d) Old Diocesan's Dance, attended by H. E. Boyes. (e) Old Johannian Association, Dance, attended by H. E. Boyes. (f) Old Andreans, Dance, attended by R. Hull. (g) Old Kingswocdian's Dance, attended by G. E. Berry. (h) Old Diocesan's Dinner, attended by R. E. Bell. (i) Maris Stella Old Girl's Dance, attended by R. E. Bell. (j) Old Edwardian Dance, attended by J. D. Wilson. (k) St. Andrews, Bloemfontein, Dance, attended by R. Hull. Old Boys' Day at Balgowan is being held as usual on Ascension Day, 26th May, and I hope some of our members will be able to make the journey and attend, particularly as it appears that the old question of Club colours is again going to be thoroughly discussed. My opinion is that the present blazer is a very poor one and it remains for this meeting to decide whether this Branch should write a letter to headquarters at Balgowan, agree- ing to the suggestion as submitted by the Cambridge Branch. I would like to say that a hockey match has been arranged to take place against the Old Andreans on Saturday, the 11th June, at 3 p.m. at the Old Johannian Ground at Norwood. I hope all Old Boys will roll up and make a good show both on and off the field. Before concluding I would like to thank Mr. Bell, our President, for the tremendous interest he has shown in all the Club's affairs during the past year and for offering us his office as a home, without which we would be completely lost. I would also like to thank Miss Stephens and Mr. Stevenson for the tremendous amount of work they have done during the year in connection with the Club's affairs. Finally, I would like to wish the Club every success during the coming year. H. E. BOYES, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. 66 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE MARITZBURG I am afraid I cannot report a very satisfactory year as far as the activities of the Maritzburg Branch are concerned. The blame, to a great extent, must rest upon me, as I have found it increasingly difficult to give sufficient time to Branch affairs, and have now, to my great regret, had to tender my resignation from the position of Secretary. On the 24th of June we held our Annual Show Week Lunch at the Imperial Hotel. This was very poorly attended in comparison with previous years, and resulted in a loss on the number guaranteed to the hotel. Only twenty-two Old Boys turned up, despite the fact that the lunch was arranged for the Thursday of Show Week- the day generally agreed upon as being the most suitable for country members. In the evening the Hilton-Michaelhouse Ball was held. As usual, it was a brilliant social success and a financial failure. The combined Dance Committee exercised the greatest care in expenditure and must be congratulated on the way in which it kept down the expenses without spoiling the show, and as a result the loss was only about £3 10s. As you know, the price of the tickets was' reduced to 15s. and approximately one hundred and seventy were sold, which was twenty more than the previous year. Had we not reduced the tickets there would probably have been a profit of about £40. The reduction in \he price did not result, as we had hoped, in an increased sale, and the incoming Dance Committee will have to consider whether the tickets should not be put back to their original price. The whole question of the Annual Ball is one that must receive the serious consideration of the Old Boys' Club. It has become increasingly apparent during the last few years that the Ball is not being supported as it should, and unless a very special effort is made this year to put it back on its old footing I cannot see how we can continue to hold it. Up to the present we have been exempt from the payment of Entertainment Tax on the ground that the profits from the dance go to a scholarship fund. The Provincial Authorities have now, however, realised the fact that there have been no profits at all S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 67 for the last few years and have intimated to us that unless the Scholarship Fund benefits to an appreciable extent next time there will be no basis for the exemption, and Entertainment Tax (which will amount to something like £40) will have to be paid. In other words, if we make a profit we are in a happy position, but if we suffer a loss it is going to be a very big loss indeed. I ask you all to remember this, because, whoever bears the loss, the Annual Ball is after all a Club function and not merely a local affair. Whether it survives or not will depend on the support it gets this year. The annual Hudson Bennett Golf competition was held at Kloof on the 12th of September. The Maritzburg Branch sent down four teams, in addition to the Michael- house Staff team. Even though we did not carry off the Cup we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and hope to entertain our visitors equally well if we have the competition in Maritzburg this year. At the Annual General Meeting held at the beginning of the month, Mr. A. T. Tatham was re-elected Chairman and Messrs. Macaulay, Jackson and Robinson put on the Committee. Mr. L. E. Greene has taken over the duties of Secretary, with Mr. B. Christopher to assist him. A Dance Sub-Committee was also elected. The General Meeting (which consisted of eight members) duly passed a large number of good resolutions, and we enter upon our new year full of confidence and plans. M. GOWER JACKSON, Retiring Secretary. NATAL MIDLANDS This Branch has been fairly dormant since the last report was submitted. The usual Annual Ball in conjunction with the Estcourt Branch of Hiltonians has been postponed for a while and we hope to arrange a show about the middle of August. We were able this year to enter a Golf team for the Hudson Bennett Trophy competition. At a meeting held recently we had a general reorganisation, as a result of which I hope there will be more activity from this Branch. 68 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE The officers of the Branch are now:- President: M. H. Forder. Vice-President: D. B. Koe. Secretary and Treasurer: D. W. Turner. General Committee: President, Vice-President and Secretary (ex officio), with D. L. Hall, I. B. McFie and A. W. Mackay as additional members. Sports Organisation Committee: M. H. Forder, D. B. Koe and D. W. Turner. Our new Secretary, Mr. D. W. Turner, is very keenly interested in various branches of sport and we hope to be able to arrange matches with other Branches and perhaps also with the School. A. MACKAY, Retiring Secretary. GENERAL. The Secretary reported the outstanding successes of many O.M.'s on the various playing fields of Cambridge, in particular the selection of M. H. and E. H. Bennett to perform against Oxford in the Sports. He also referred to the appointment of N. N. Franklin to a Lectureship in Economics at Rhodes University College. They had held their Annual Dinner last June, and in December had inaugurated the first of what they hoped would be a long series of luncheons at the Criterion in England, a second following in March on the day of the inter-Varsity Sports. It was resolved that the Secretary write to the Bennetts and Franklin congratulating them on their achievements and on the honour they had brought to the School. The Branch is to be congratulated on its Secre- tary and Assistant Secretary, Noel Mann and David Edington, who spare no effort to make its activities a success. The Secretary reported that the Committee appointed to deal with the School Coat of Arms at the last Annual General Meeting had met in Maritzburg, and unanimously agreed that the President, Colonel Baylis, Messrs. A. W. Lister, J. H. E. Besant, and K. M. Pennington should meet the Sub-Committee, selected by the Governors of the. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 69 School, at Bishop's House and discuss the question, the Club's representatives being instructed to convey to the Governors a message that the Committee had unanimously resolved that, if at all possible, the Founder's conception of a Coat of Arms should remain the basis of any new design. The Governors had received the Club's deputation most sympathetically and after some discussion a new design was adopted with the old "Coat of Arms" in the centre, surrounded by a white bordure, interrupted at intervals by red croix pommey. The Secretary was instructed to convey to the Governors the appreciation of the Old Boys' Club that their representations had been so generously considered. The Secretary reported that the Cambridge Branch had urged a reconsideration of the Club tie and blazer design, and had sent sketches to illustrate possible changes. Many members spoke about the tie, and it was ultimately decided by a large majority that the tie remain unchanged, the chief reasons being that it was attractive, widely known and generally respected. There was not, however, the same consensus of opinion about the blazer, many present being obviously dissatisfied with the present sports blazer, but not clear about a substitute. It was finally agreed that the incoming Committee should go into the whole question and made recommendations to the next Annual General Meeting. The Rector replied to valedictory remarks from the Chair concerning his resignation, by explaining the reasons which had induced him to make the most difficult decision of his life, and at the same time asking Old Boys to give his successor the same support as they had given him. His speech was greeted with prolonged applause. The President eloquently pressed for wider support for the very worthy Jubilee Insurance Scheme, and sug- gested a list be made of those present who were willing to take out Policies. He was satisfied that individuals were not being asked to do very much in joining the Scheme, which now stood at about the £3,000 mark. After the usual votes of thanks, the Meeting adjourned for the ceremony of unveiling the statue of St. Michael above the Stone of Memory, and the customary 70 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE Commemoration Service. In the afternoon for the first time, since the Club put so many teams in the field, all the Old Boys' sides were successful against the School as will be reported elsewhere. GRAHAMSTOWN This Branch had its annual dinner in March. HUDSON BENNETT GOLF COMPETITION. This year the hospitality of the Maritzburg Country Club was extended to Old Boys taking part in the entertaining competition provided each year by this Cup. We turned out 48 strong, and had perfect weather, which possibly accounted for a distinct improvement in the standard of play. It was a great pleasure to welcome the Club President, Cyril Baylis, who had come up from Durban to watch proceedings, and Hudson Bennett himself, who arrived in the afternoon to present the Cup. This year the Michaelhouse Staff came into its own. A large crowd watched from the Club House stoep as John Pridmore battled with the last hole. He had to do under 100 to wrest the Cup from the Maritzburg A Team, and gallantly sunk a long putt for a 98. The Staff aggregate was thirteen strokes better than the previous best, and we hope will stand for some time as a challenge to future teams. This year an interesting innovation was made in the shape of morning and afternoon Medal Competitions in two divisions. With the course bogey 75, it can be seen that some very fine golf was played. The highlight of the day was Maurice Pennington's morning round of 70, which equalled the course record. SCORES MICHAELHOUSE STAFF: A. P. Woods 160, K. M. Pennington 172, C. M. Melville 180, J. Pridmore 200. Total 712. MARITZBURG "A": M. E. Pennington 144, E. J. Greene 178, K. D. Drysdale 187, N. James 205. Total 714. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 71 MARITZBURG "C P. Francis 152, J. Hellberg 178, B. Christopher 200, J. H. Holley 196. Total 726. KLOOF: K. H. Trotter 193, L. T. H. Trotter 173, B. Acutt 187, N. G. R. Crowe 195. Total 748. MARITZBURG "B": W. M. Smythe 172, J. H. E. Besant 196, J. Macaulay 194, G. W. Boyes 194. Total 756. MIDLANDS "A": D. B. Koe 177, M. H. Forder 192, E. R. Miller 199, D. W. Turner 193. Total 761. MARITZBURG "D": A. J. Truscott 163, F. van Heijst 176, J. H. Hammon 207, A. T. Tatham 239. Total 785. DURBAN "B": R. Crosoer 213, V. Milner Smythe 173, T. G. Chater 188, M. Harvey 226. Total 800. DURBAN "A": L. J. Wilson 193, E. Clemmans 184, R. L. Harvey 214, J. J. Egeland 220. Total 811. MARITZBURG "E": V. Beattie 220, F. Tatham 226, D. Pennington 206, B. J. Drysdale 197. Total 849. MIDLANDS "B": R. R. Drummond 209, J. B. McFie 207, J. B. Harker 216, H. Drummond 217. Total 849. DURBAN "C": H. A. C. Swales 184, R. W. B. Acutt n.r., F. B. Calder n.r., A. Doull n.r. No returns. PRIZES Morning "A" Division: Best net, P. Francis, 70; runner-up, M. E. Pennington 71. "B" Division, 18 handicap and over: H. A. C. Swales, 69; D. Pennington, 72. Afternoon "A" Division: Best net, A. P. Woods, 72; runner-up, K. M. Pennington, 73. "B" Division, 18 handicap and over: B. Drysdale, 70; runner-up, B. Christopher, 72. Best gross of the day: M. E. Pennington, 144. 72 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE GENERAL The past Rugby Season, noteworthy for the visit of the splendid British Rugby Side, has been a very lean one for O.M.'s. We do not ever remember so few appearing in representative sides. At the beginning of the Season there was some hope that R. F. Leach and D. O. Roberts would appear for the Transvaal, but injuries kept them out of the game. Eventually the only side that played the tourists to include Old Boys was Rhodesia, where Spencer Parker was a lively member of the scrum in both matches, and A. W. Parker the scrum half in one of them. In Club Rugby there was the same dearth of O.M. players. In Maritzburg, D. Henwood, C. Smythe, P. Francis, R. W. Anderson and L. E. Greene played for the N.U.C. We congratulate P. Francis on his selection to play for a Natal touring side that played several matches in the Eastern Cape. In Durban, M. W. Burgess was a tower of strength as full back for the Old Collegians and played in another tense struggle against the Police in the final of the Murray Cup. G. D. Strachan and P. C. Siedle also assisted this Club. The Rovers teams included D. W. North, J. J. Egeland, D. W. Dawson, A. M. Harvey, K. B. Challinor and others. As usual, a large number of Old Boys turned out at Kokstad for the Usher Cup Tournament, which was more exciting than ever this year. The South African Polo Championships drew a record number of teams to Maritzburg last August. We were glad to see Karkloof once again annex the Senior Cup. They were captained by E. C. Burdon, and included W. I. Mackenzie. It was a popular win, brought about by brilliant team work. More O.M.'s than ever appeared to be playing in other teams. We noticed the names of S. M. Mackenzie, G. Shaw, A. Otto, R. I. P. Vaughan, K. Abbot, A. L. Wilson, N. Ross, K. B. Strachan and D. Russell. We congratulate S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 73 Old Boys' Team on holding the Imperial Cup against the Hilton challenge. It was a desperate game and our representatives just got their nose in front in the last chukker. We were represented by S. M. Mackenzie, E. C. Burdon, T. L. Tatham and W. I. Mackenzie. It was described by those who were fortunate enough to see it as one of the best matches ever played in Maritzburg:. All Old Boys will join in congratulating the Bennett brothers, who crowned a great year of O.M. Athletic triumphs at Oxford and Cambridge by both appearing for Cambridge in the Inter-'Varsity Sports. It was great news to hear that Ernest Bennett has been elected Secretary of the C.U.A.C., which is virtually certain to mean that he will Captain his University next Easter. Our congratulations also go out to Norton Franklin on his appointment to a Lectureship in Economics at Rhodes University, to Brian Young, who won the King's Sword of Honour at the Royal Air Force Training College at Cranwell this year, and to S. J. Barker, who won the Gold Medal for the best final year student at Faraday House. Is it too late to appeal once more to the great majority of Old Boys who have not yet taken out a Policy under the Club's Jubilee Insurance Scheme? We now hold policies to the value of over £3,000 which should, on maturity, aggregate about £5,000. But it must be remembered that this is all due to the enthusiasm of one hundred members. Surely more can be found who will afford the expenditure of about £1 5s. a year to help to create a fund which will, at our Diamond Jubilee, be devoted to some worthy cause in the interests of the School, in all probability the creation of a Bursary Trust Fund for the assistance of Old Boys' sons at the School. Such an object, if really worth while, would require a capital of nearer £20,000. If you intend to assist the scheme you should approach the South African Mutual 74 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE Life Assurance Society immediately, as we are now within 18 years of our Diamond Jubilee, and will lose much of the benefit of your Policy if you allow many more years to slip by. A message has been received from the Secretary of the Cambridge Branch that all Old Boys visiting England should communicate with him on arrival if they wish to participate in O.M. functions, at the following address: c/o Messrs. Almonds, Ltd., Sidney Street, Cambridge. May we remind all members that under Rule 13 of the constitution of the Club changes of address should be at once communicated to the Secretary. Every year a number of letters and Chronicles are sent back through the Dead Letter Office. It would greatly help the Secretary to discharge his duties if members would not forget their obligations in this respect. Post Office numbers are the most convenient form of address. PERSONAL NOTES D. Atkins has been in Germany learning the language for his Previous Examination at Cambridge. J. Albers won the mixed doubles title at the annual Northern Districts Tennis Tournament held last Easter at Vryheid. His partner was one of Bob How- den's sisters. All O.M.'s will regret to hear of Dr. H. E. Allanson's serious illness. He is having treatment in London. He has sold his practice in Maritzburg. D. R. Antrobus sailed in July on a trip to England. T. M. Adnams spent his summer vacation in Natal from Edinburgh University, where he is doing splendid work on the rugger field and in the wards. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 75 R. S. Armstrong has a second son. Kit Austin has been holidaying in England. D. M. Brewitt married Miss Beatrice Armstrong. Good luck! They are dairy farming near Ennersdale with a fine herd of Frieslands. Dr. A. H. Baynes has passed his final medical examina- tions brilliantly in London. We offer our congratulations to S. J. Barker, who won the Gold Medal at Faraday House as the best final year student. He has been back in Natal on six months' leave before returning to complete his engineering studies. L. G. C. Baylis, after many years with Messrs. Eadie and Mitchell, in Durban, has started his own estate and general agency business as Baylis and Forth in Anglo- African House. His son John has had a marvellous three-months' motor trip through the British Isles before starting his architectural studies in London. F. J. Brown is engaged to Miss Betty Osborn, of Newcastle, whose father and two brothers were at the school. G. C. Brown got a second in his final Tripos examination at Cambridge in June. He is gaining valuable busi- ness experience in Manchester. A. H. Berend has a son and heir. Meyrick Bennett has passed his second year Medical exams at Cambridge. He spent part of his summer vacation at a camp for unemployed Welsh miners near Tewkesbury. Ernest has been elected Secretary of Cambridge University Athletic Club. He and Dan Young canoed down the Danube in July. 76 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE David Black, now a fourth year medical student in Edin- burgh, visited the school in August during his long vacation. A. N. H. Bond, after business experience in Durban, is on the reporting staff of the Rand Daily Mail. H. E. Boyes has been again selected Captain of the Old Johannian Cricket Club in Johannesburg. A. M. Buchan went on the Students Overseas Tour to Europe last January and visited all the countries which have been so much in the news lately. He is now articled as a candidate attorney to Smythe and Co., Maritzburg. E. L. Buzzard takes his final examinations for the C.A. (S.A.) this year. J. M. Black has a commission in the Transvaal Scottish. A. H. Borland has been transferred to Empangeni as district manager for the Atlantic Petroleum Co. J. L. R. Brown passed his final Accountancy examinations this year. His leave was spent on the Natal Coast. H. S. Browne is doing great work as Hon. Secretary of the Howick Golf Club. A. B. Buchanan, after three years at Cambridge, is back in Capetown. P. Bellew played regularly for the Rhodes XV last season and toured Rhodesia with them in July. • D. Broadhurst is in the Standard Bank at Motortown, Johannesburg. He is an enthusiastic member of the Transvaal Gliding Club. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 77 During last term, Anthony Clayden, of Brasenose College, the University sprinter, was cycling in High Street when he accidentally collided with a stationary un- attended car. Failing to find the driver he left his card in the car with a note of apology. He has now received a letter from Mr. James H. Walter, of the United States Department of Agriculture, expressing appreciation of his courtesy, and adding: "You may be interested to know that the Under Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, who was visiting us at the time, has taken your note to exhibit in the United States as a memento of courtesy on the highways in this country." S. Collier is with the Air Service Training, Ltd., Hamble, Southampton. R. Carey Coles is in Barclays Bank, Johannesburg, now. His younger brother, who is with the Union-Castle Co., digs with him. A. D. Croad is an articled accountant to Messrs. Goldby, Panchard and Webber, in Johannesburg. N. J. Cullum has joined the S.A.R. as a pupil engineer. G. W. Cumming with a Second, and B. L. with a Third, passed their Honours Jurisprudence final examina- tions at Oxford in June and are now back in Johan- nesburg. Gordon is going to the Bar, while Bruce takes up a business appointment. G. A. Chalkley is on the Stock Exchange in Johannesburg. G~ F. Chater has been promoted to the rank of Flight- Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force. He is still stationed at Singapore. 78 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE J. A. Cottrell has been transferred to Lusaka in Northern Rhodesia. A. H. Cross visited the school during his long leave from Leeds. « R. Crosoer is an officer in the R.D.L.I. R. Dyke has started making Chesham Chips on his farm at Westminster. We wish his pioneer enterprise every success. J. Dales was elected Secretary to the Luanshya Committee for collecting evidence to present to the Royal Com- mission appointed to enquire into the advisability of amalgamation of Northern and Southern Rhodesia. He went on six months' leave to England in July. I C. B. Dickinson, who has passed all his exams at Lough- borough, is a member of a special Ordnance O.T.C., which goes to camp with the Regular Army units. This year they were at Portsmouth in August, where they were taken over an American cadetship. L. W. Doidge has a post in the Parks and Estates De- partment of the Johannesburg Municipality, after several years at Bloemfontein. A. M. Davidson was in South Africa last winter holidaying from Faraday House, where he is making good progress with his electrical engineering course. J. C. Dawson-Squibb used his leave in August to explore little known parts of Pondoland and was amazed at the beauty of some of its coast. H. M. Drummond is serving his legal articles with his father at Estcourt. Roy has been admitted to practise as an Attorney. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 79 L. J. Downing has been with a firm of systems specialists, Kalamazao, in Birmingham, since he went down from Cambridge. He returns to South Africa next year. John McNaught Davis returned from Uganda in November and intends to dairy and produce farm for the Cape- town market. Jim came down on leave, too, but goes back to Uganda later. D. A. Edington was in Natal for the long Cambridge vacation. S. R. P. Edwards is stationed for six months at the Flying- Training School near Carterton, Oxford. J. Elliot has been transferred for two years to Johannes- burg where he is the Government representative for Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland. W. H. Evans has gone to East London as district railway engineer. C. Fenton and his wife motored to the Victoria Falls and other Rhodesian sights during the winter. G. D. B. Forder has been teaching for some months on Claud Janion's staff at Pridwin Preparatory School in Johannesburg. E. W. Gibson flew to England and back in September. He was deeply impressed by the efficiency of the Imperial Airways organisation. R. L. Gilson had many successes with his Frieslands at the shows in Natal this year. C. H. W. Gray is practising as a lawyer in Matatiele. We welcome Frank Greaves as yet another senior O.M., who has recently joined the Club. He is, of course, 80 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE in business in Newcastle as an optician and general agent. T. F. W. Harris went into residence at Jesus College, Cambridge, in October. G. P. Hayward wrote last from Basrah, in Iraq, where he had been transferred after some months in Tangan- yika opening up the Dar-es-Salaam and Lindi stations in preparation for Imperial Airways flying boat ser- vices. He has just been ordered to take over Sharjah, a guarded fort in the desert on the Gulf of Oman. Good luck to G. G. Hayter, who married Miss Greta Mary Mack, at Harding, on August 27. D. A. Havemann is another O.M., who has given up farming for the mines. P. G. Henwood spent his summer vacation from Cam- bridge in Natal. T. E. B. Hill's heiress was born on July 15th. Erlend Hindson has been stationed at Villiers, in the O.F.S. Bryan is at Klerksdorp in charge of new geological work. Congratulations and good wishes to Michael Hickman and Kathleen Margrie, who were married in Durban on July 9th. N. W. Hosking has been re-elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Pietermaritzburg and Northern Natal for the third successive year and this year is also Vice-President of the parent South African body. J. B. Harker has joined the staff of Hilton College. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 81 We offer our congratulations to Jack Hart-Davis and Miss Muriel Onion, of Durban, who were married on October 3rd. With the arrival of the M.C.C. tourists all O.M.'s will wish R. L. Harvey luck in his duties as Natal captain. D. W. Hayward is engaged to Miss Ramsay, of Johannes- burg. J. C. Hickson has made a^ good recovery from the injuries he suffered in a car accident last Christmas. J. Holgate was married in September. We wish him and his bride happiness and prosperity. Eric Jansen is engaged to Miss Helen Hind, of Halfway House, on the Johannesburg-Pretoria road. Ron married Miss Constance Elaine Costello, of Capetown, in April. Nigel has had a four-months' trip through the British Isles, France and Switzerland. N. James is back in Maritzburg after being called to the London Bar. A. L. Johnson was magistrate at Utrecht for some months but has now been transferred to Estcourt. D. Jones has joined his father in business in Ladysmith. B. A. C. Jones has been promoted to the rank of Captain in the Royal Artillery. D. Krause set a high standard this year as President of the Cambridge Branch of the Club. H. W. Kelly went on holiday to England in August. V. J. Kirton is serving his articles with Messrs. Alex Aitken and Carter, accountants, of Durban. 82 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE J. D. Kennan worked for a time with R. Dyke at West- minster. At the end of the year he expects to start as a draughtsman in the Government Architectural Offices in Pretoria. M. B. Lloyd joined the editorial staff of "The Friend" in Bloemfontein last January. Major-General Leslie was one of the guests of honour at the Cambridge dinner in June. He was delighted to renew his acquaintance with several old Michael- house friends. K. Lilliecrona is married and living at Uvongo. G. B. Long is also married. We wish both couples good fortune. P. G. Large sailed in September for England, where he will continue his studies. M. McGregor again brought a carload of enthusiastic O.M.'s down from Johannesburg for Old Boys' Day in May. While realising the difficulties, we do wish more would follow his example. Harold McKay has recently been in charge of a large tea estate in Nyasaland belonging to Messrs. Blantyre & East Africa, Ltd. He spent his leave last year with R. C. Wood on the shores of Monkey Bay. A. W. Mackay has resigned his post of Honorary Secretary to the Midlands Branch of the Club after holding it since the inception of the Club. We know his successor, D. W. Turner, will maintain the high traditions of his predecessor. J. Macllwaine has decided not to join the army, but has started his training for tobacco farming. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 83 H. H. Malherbe, who got a second in his English tripos at Cambridge, is back in the Union. He has adopted journalism as a profession and is to be with "The Star" in Johannesburg, when he recovers from an operation. N. M. Mann relinquished his duties as Secretary of the Cambridge Branch in September, after a year of splendid activity. He has also been Secretary of the Caius College Medical College. Norman has gone into residence now. He played cricket for the Sussex Martlets with distinction and also played once for a Sussex XI against Cambridge. After several years in Capetown, H. G. N. Middleton has been transferred to Port Elizabeth in the Customs Department. C. F. W. G. Mills, who is in the Standard Bank at Senekal, is one of the local golf experts. W. I. Mackenzie welcomed another son on October 19th. D. G. Maxwell spent his long vacation out here from the Royal School of Mines in London, where he is doing well. G. H. Mitchell-Innes has a daughter born on June 25th. R. G. O. Martens has a commission in the R.D.L.I. i R. May is in Durban taking his Matric by private study. D. W. H. North has gone for business experience to America. D. Heaton Nicholls's commission in the R.A.F. has been gazetted after his successful course at Cranwell. He is with 224 G.R. Squadron at Thornaby, in Yorkshire. 84 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE D. E. Osbourn passed his second year examinations in Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort last December. L. J. Palframan has a good post with Stewart & Lloyds in London after three years at Cambridge. P. F. Pentreath unfortunately failed to satisfy the stringent medical tests for the R.A.F. and has decided to join the Indian Mounted Police. T. R. Poynton sailed in July for Edinburgh, where he intends to qualify as an Accountant. Maurice Pennington has been appointed to the Natal Cricket Selection Committee. Douglass is engaged to Miss Doreen Raw, of Lions River, and is building a handsome house behind the Rondavels at the School. Gerald is on six months' leave in England, where he is putting in a term at the Dragon School, the well known preparatory school in Oxford. We offer our sympathy to the Pearce family, who, as sons and grandsons, mourn the death of Mrs. Pearce at an advanced age. Peter won the Prentice Cup in Durban again last July. M. W. Robertson has been on leave to England and returned via the East Coast in November. Jack takes the first portion of his Final Accountancy this year. K. Reynolds had a wonderful trip to England some months ago. I. Robertson sailed for Bristol in August, where he will study engineering. Before leaving he did practical work in the Johannesburg Municipal Workshops and Survey Office. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 85 T. Rose Price is a partner in a firm of Quantity Surveyors in Johannesburg. J. S. Robertson has been transferred to the Bank at Gatooma, where he still plays rugger-they travel 200 miles for their league matches to Salisbury. Basil Ralfe, who welcomed the arrival of a daughter in October, has given up insurance work and is building a house on his farm on the Estcourt-Weenen road, next to Maurice Forder. E.D. has some magnificent Frieslands at Heavitree, with which he won supreme honours for the second year in succession at the show. of dairy cows last year and headed the milk and butterfat records for Natal in the section for unregistered herds. Bertram's daughter arrived on January 17th. N. R. Reid has gone to England to the world's veterinary conference as the Tanganyika representative. J. Rethman married Miss Joan Edminson on June 25th. A. M. L. Robinson has been gaining library experience with Messrs. Bowes & Bowes, of Cambridge, before going to London University. R. E. Sewell has switched from civil to mechanical engineering at Loughborough to enable him to enter the Ordnance Corps. J. K. Shannon is serving his accountancy articles with Messrs. Douglas, Low & Co. in Johannesburg. We were sorry to hear Frank Spiller has lost his father. He is still in Germiston. B. Shearer is back in Johannesburg on the Stock Exchange after gaining valuable experience on the London market for 18 months. 86 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE N. F. Sperryn has a second son, born in Germany. J. D. M. Sinclair has returned to Durban, also from the London Stock Exchange. He proceeds shortly to sje something of the work on a mine on the Rand. Dr. P. M. Smythe, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., qualified earlier in the year and has been holidaying in Maritzburg for some months. He returns to London for several years' hospital experience. B. J. Stubbings got a second in his Modern Greats finals at Oxford. He is engaged to Miss Joan Randall and has gone back to Oxford for another year, following an appointment in the Colonial Service. A. Clive Smith has a commission in the R.D.L.I. and is working on the staff of Baylis & Forth in Durban. H. G. Trevelyan is engaged to Miss Winton, of Johannes- burg. His brother, H.T., is a shift boss on the Randfontein Estates mine. H. G. Thomson is making good progress on the staff of Messrs. Thompson & Martin, Quantity Surveyors, Durban, to whom he is articled. J. Theunissen played for the successful Oxford South African rugby. team against the corresponding Cambridge side, which included A. Fehrsen and P. Henwood. He also ran against the London Polytechnic for Bevil Rudd's Dominion Students team of six, which included five O.M.'s, the others being the two Bennetts, A. R. Clayden and N. Harriss. D. van der Linden, who is studying Engineering at Capetown University, won the 220 hurdles in the Freshers' Sports and was second in the 120 hurdles. S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE 87 D. L. Visick has started to practise as a Railway, Irrigation and Government Land Surveyor in Stanger. Jim Verney spent his last leave from the Southern Rhodesian Police on a big game shooting trip near the Lundi River. He has recently been appointed Game Warden in the Government Service-a job he has been dreaming of for years. M. R. Webb (6), N. J. Cullum (7), B. Sangmeister (4), G. Buchanan Clarke (2) were the four O.M.'s who rowed with four Hiltonians in the first Public Schools Eight race on Durban Bay. They were beaten by a length by D.H.S. Old Boys. P. Wacher has been on a six months' trip overseas and starts Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort next year. R. B. P. Wilson went to England on leave in May. G. Waterman took a special course at the Military College, Roberts Heights, in May. Our heartiest congratulations to Brian Young, who covered himself with glory in his last year at Cranwell. Here are some of his achievements: Awarded the Sword of Honour in passing out, one of two cadets chosen to be presented to the King when his Majesty visited the Air Force Training College this year, played the leading part in the film recently made of the two years cadet life there, and won his "blue" for cricket, rugby, hockey and athletics. He has been posted to 32 Fighter Squadron at Biggin Hill. 88 S. MICHAEL'S CHRONICLE OUR CONTEMPORARIES Wc acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of the following contemporaries and apologise for any inadvertent omissions: The "Birkonian," the "Johannian," the "Shirburnian," the "Vigornian," the "Laxtonian," the "Shenstonian," the "Blue," the "Grey," the "Miltonian," the "Hiltonian," the "Andrean," the "Selbornian," the "Rhodian," and school magazines from Diocesan College, Rondebosch, The Ridge Preparatory School, Johannesburg, The South African College, Capetown, Kingswood College, Grahamstown, Pietermaritzburg College, Ruzawi School, Southern Rhodesia, Christian Brothers' College, Kimberley, and Rondebosch Boys' High School.