Whitsun is unthinkable without its picnics, and in spite of the weather there was one at Whitsun I 946-with, of course, one of those inevitable queues ... How the bird (and Ronald Kennedy's camera) saw it. As the wood smoke rises, Old Scholars find resting places on log and brushwood in Bluebell Wood, Swalcliffe The Sibford Magazine • Magic m the Air ORDS are sometimes hopeless things. How may we use them to W convey the feeling of a heightened moment, or the essence that causes it ? In our conversation we speak of the "spirit of Sibford ", but who believes that it may be confined in words ? We may say of it that it is not an assertion that Sibford is the best school in the land, or that it has nothing to do with the religion of the Old School Tie. We may observe that it tends to overcome the barriers between mind and mind and within the mind itself. We may reflect that in its warmth and light the hard edges melt away, as ice melts in the warmth and light of spring. Yet we remain at a loss, for its outstanding characteristic is a quality of unaffectedness that defies analysis-it is a spell that works best when we are unconscious of its existence. Though its touch is intimate, its effect is universal-if we could we would widen the circle at The Elm to include the earth. Because of it, we give something that normally we withhold. We become vulnerable to subtler currents, we breathe more deeply, an inner, inhibited life expands. Unaware, a flower opens to the sun. Conscious awareness of the "spirit of Sibford" rises nearest the surface when Sibford is' newly left, when, in those first moments, each recognition that those around us are not " there ", as those at the gathering were "there", brings a sudden, emptying sense of loss. And yet the " spirit of Sibford " is something more than a periodic enchantment belonging to a part of us that functions on unusual occasions-it is a leaven for the whole of our being. In a world short of the lovely things of life, the entry into the fabric of living of those purifying and refreshing essences of which the " spirit of Sibford " is an example, is desirable beyond the wit of words to tell. Though we know little of the source from which they come, we recognize that their effectis beneficial, and that part of the art of living lies in keeping ea:;ective the means by which they reach us. It is its function as part of one of these means that constitutes the supreme justificationfor the SOSA, which springs from the school, without which it has no existence. To the school, the SOSA is a completion without which it would be inestimably poorer-none who have known the 1 EDITORIAL touch of the " spirit of Sibford " can doubt that from the soil of the SOSA there has flowered a seed sown in childhood at Sibford School. Nor can there be any doubt of the need for a continuous and growing harmony between the school and the SOSA, for upon it depends everything that makes our joint existence desirable. The full flowering of the " spirit of Sibford " is an experience which is educative in the highest sense. To achieve it is to realize much of the true meaning of Sibford School. The Editor Regrets The Editor sincerely regrets that Old Scholars regard him as a mind-reading machine. Many interesting things happen to Old Scholars, and the Editor is expected to know all about them without being told. The amount of time he can give to the Sibford Magazine is regulated by long working hours and a couple of very young and unusually healthy children, whose demand for attention he is convinced is far above the average. The production of this magazine is, to him, one of nature's annual surprises. Old Scholars have suggested the retu rn of pre-war items, such" as the list of births, marriages and examination successes. But not one notice for this list has been received except through third party channels. Not more than four Old Scholars sent, unasked, news of any kind. This is the eleventh year the present Editor has produced this magazine, and looking back he doesn't think Old Scholars have been much more helpful in the past. A few regulars help out-but on the whole it just isn't good enough. Send your news-your wedding, your addition to the family, your success at examinations, anything in fact of interest that has happened to you or any other Old Scholar you know about. When you've written it, read it and make sure that someone who knows nothing about it will get the gist of the story at first reading. If its a wedding or similar notice, be certain all the re1evant details are in. The Editor hopes this intimation will be sufficient. REUNION 1947 The 1947 reunion will be at Sibford from Friday evening, August 1st to Tuesday morning, August 5th. This follows the AGM decision to ask the school authorities to allow Old Scholars to use the school premises at August Bank Holiday in alternate years. If the AGM plan is adhered to, the 1948 reunion will be at Whitsuntide. Arrangements for the 1947 reunion are going ahead, and Old Scholars are once again reminded of the request not to book accommodation except through the Resident Officer for billeting-Lewis Poulton. 2 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS Births BUTLER.-To Dennis Butler and wife, a son. DUMPLEToN.-ToJohn Dumpleton and wife, a son. HARGREAvEs.-On May 7th. to John and Margaret Hargreaves (nee Herbert) , a son, Roland Michael. MILLS.-ToVictor and Jean Mills (nie Dearden), a son. Victor John Dearden Mills. POLLARD.-On December 3rd, 1946, to Wilfrid and Mabel Pollard, a son, Robin Grenville. WATERFALL.-On June 17t11, to Geoffrey and Joan Waterfall. a son. Marriages BOTToMs-BAKER.-On February 16t1l, Ivan P. Bottoms to Nancy Baker. FARRINGTON-GEERING.-On September 21St, Benjamin Farrington to Barbara Geering. GOLDING-GILBRlDE.-On February 14t1l, Douglas Golding to Nora Gilbride. MAssEy-WHITAKER.-On October 26t1l, at tile Friends' Meeting Housf.', Amersham, Kenneth William Massey of Chesham, to Margaret Ishbel Whitaker of Little Chalfont, Bucks. MURPHy-BALDERsoN.-On April 22nd, Sgl. G. Murphy to Cynthia Balderson. PAYNE-LANGFORD.-On June 7th, Harold 1. Payne to Phyllis Langford. SIMMs-RoDGER .-On August 7th, George A. Simms to Audrcy Rodgers. SIMPsoN-Foss.-Jack Simpson to Monica Foss. OTlrERS (no dctails) .-Patricia Warren (now Parsons), in June; Ena Hoskins (now Martin), in December; Freda Manley (now Wotherspoon). in December; Alix MacSweeney to A. N. Oilier; Hugh Dell to anotht;r A. N. Other. Deaths GOUDGE.-At the Middlesex Hospital, December, 1945, Harry Alexander Goudge, aged 37 years. PARKIN.-At his home at Sibford. August 24th, 1946, Frank Parkin, aged 56 years. REASoN.-At her home at Sibford, on December 8th, 1946, Sarah Ann Reason, aged 89 years. STANSFrELD.-At his home at Reading, December 5th, 1945, Charles E. Stansfield, aged 80 years. WETHERALL.-At Birmingham, on July 24th, 1946, Doris Wetherall (nie Roe), aged 36 years . EXAMI NATION SUCCESSES DEARDEN. Rosemary. - M.B., Ch .B. (Birmingham University). M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.(London) . LAKE, Hazel (1lie Parkin).-B.Sc.{Hons.), London School of Economics. LEVONIAN, Rendel.-B.A.(Medicine), at Beirut. MOULD, Dorothy.-Nursery Nurses' Diploma. OXFORD SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, 1946.-Brian Cashin. Martin Dodsworth, Michael Fuller, Rainer GuilIery, John Lynch, Philip Manasseh, Stephcn Wall, Geoffrey Watkins, Michael Zugg. Aileen Bowmer, Naomi Carter. Cecily Edridge, Jean Edwards, Pamela Gilbert, Helen Pulford, Barbara Smith, Rosemary Smitll, Jane Sweatman, Tova White. \ The Sibford Maga<.ine (incorporating the SOSA Annual Report) is the journal of, and publIshed annually by, the SIBFORD OLD SCHOLARS' ASSOCIATION. Items of news and �eneral interest should be sent to the Editor. Enquiries concerning distribution. and notices of change of address, should be sent to the Membership Secretary. 3 SIBFORD OLD SCH LARS' ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT 1947 LESLlE BAIL Y THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOSA* PAST PRESIDENTS The Association shall have for its objects :- 1904 (a) The continuance of the interest of former Joseph Spence Hodgson 1925-26 scholars in Sibford School and its 1904-05 Dr. Margaret Brady, BA, MB work. Dr. Richard L. Routh 1926-27 (b) 1905-06 Christopher Martin, FRCS The cementing of schoolday friendships. Michael T. Graveson, JP 1927-28 (c) 1906-07 Miriam J. Carter The provision of assistance to the school whenever possible, and Robert B. Oddie 1928-29 (d) 1907-08 Arnold J. Kaye The encouragement of a spirit of loyalty among present scholars. Joseph S. K. Parsey 1929-30 Hc:nry John Randall 1908-09 Subject to the rules of the Association membership of the Association Elizabeth M. Oddie 1930-31 shall be open 1909-10 James T. Harrod, BA to the following :- Edward P. Kaye, MSc 1931-32 Theodora ( ) 1910-11 Hodgkiss, BSc (I) Old Scholars of Sibford School, 2 past and present members of the Charles E. Brady, OBE 1932-33 (3) (4) 1911-12 Lionel Geering staff, husbands and wives of Old Scholars, members of the School Ethel M. Harrisson 1933-34 Committee, (5) 1912-13 Jane Sabin other relatives of Old Scholars interested in the school, and Arthur B. Oddie 1934-35 (6) honorary members. 1913-14 Percy O. Whitlock, MA Lucy S. Lamb 1935-36 1914-16 Margaret C. Gillett James T. Harrod, BA 1936-37 1916-19 Henry Lawrence Elizabeth F. Brown 1937-38 1919-20 Frederick E.