EDITORS J. L. MERRIMAN J. D. HAWORTH Business Manager: K. NICHOLAS For the benefit of our more obtuse customers, Kenneth Nicholas's clever cover design in the modern mould will he found on close examination to read: THE SOWER AUTUMN 1967 LORD WANDSWORTH COLLEGE Long Button in Hampshire Founder (1912): SYDNEY JAMES STERN, BARON WANDSWORTH Trustees: H. P. T. PRIDEAUX, O.B.E., M.A. (Chairman) SIR WILLIAM GAVIN, Kt., C.B.E., M.A. (Vice-Chairman) ROBERT J. STOPFORD, C.M.G., M.A. (Vice-Chairman) THE HON. CAROL A. FELLOWES, T.D. THE LORD MURRAY OF NEWHAVEN, K.C.B., B.SC., LL.D., D.C.L., D.LITT., M.A. LT.-COL. THE LORD WIGRAM, M.C., M.A. Contents Page Staff 3 Editorial 4 Founder's and Speech Days 4 Old Men Remember 7 Prizes and Cup List 1967 8 School Leavers 1966 11 Headmaster's Report 13 Spring Cruise 17 House Notes 18 & 19 C.C.F. Notes 21 Becket or The Honour of God 24 The School Concert — April 1st, 1967 ... 27 Byng 28 The Grand Tour 31 Wind of Change? 33 The Young Farmers' Club 39 Scouts 40 Dartmoor Expedition, July 1967 ... 42 Meteorological Project and Society ... 44 Rugby 47 Hockey 55 Athletics 56 Swimming 58 Cricket 59 Tennis 62 THE STAFF Headmaster: A. HENDERSON, M.A. (EDIN.) Bursar: LT.-CDR. K. WILLIAMS, R.N. Second Master: C. R. IRVINE, M.A., B.SC. (ABERDEEN) HOUSE MASTERS School House: J. L. MERRIMAN, M.A (CANTAB.) Sutton House: R. S. BACON, M.A., B.SC. (LOND.) Hazelveare House: J. W AIRS, M.A. (OXON.) Summerfield House: C. E. HALLOWS, M.A. (CANTAB.) Junior House: O. TWEEDIE-STODART, DIP.AGRIC. (EDIN.) ASSISTANT MASTERS J. BOOTH (BATH ACADEMY OF ART) D. F. BULLOCK (LOUGHBOROUGH AND SHOREDITCH COLLEGES) R. T. DAVIES, B.A. (LOND.) P. DAVIS, B.SC. (BIRMINGHAM) W. L. FRYER, M.A. (CANTAB.) W. T. GRIFFITHS, M.A. (OXON.) I. K, H. HARRIS (ST. LUKE'S COLLEGE, EXETER) J. D. HAWORTH, B.A. (OXON.) P. J. HlLDESLEY (Music) C. R. M. ISAAC, B.A. (OXON.) C. H. JAMES, M.A. (CANTAB.) P. A. NOTT, B.SC. (LOND.) J. Y. ORR, M.A. (EDIN.) J. P. SEELIG, B.SC. (LOND.), L.R.I.C. R. M. TlNDALL, B.A., DIP.AGRIC. (CANTAB.) J. WEBB (Army School of Physical Training) A. G. WHIBLEY, B.SC. (LOND.) J. M. WOLSTENHOLME, M.A. (CANTAB.) Chaplain: THE REV. R. E. P. SEROCOLD, M.A. (CANTAB.) Medical Officer: J. E. HASELDEN, M.B., B.S. Dental Surgeon: J. C. DODD, L.D.S., R.C.S. Sanatorium: SISTER E. V. ROBERTS, S.R.N., S.C.M. EDITORIAL After the mild but wet winter, and a cold, wet and long-drawn-out spring, we have had some of the best weather anyone (except examination candidates) could hope for for the second half of the summer term. The holiday atmosphere brought out in some quarters the gaudiest of shirts, tightest of jeans, kinkiest of boots, and—despite the heat—longest and shaggiest of hairstyles ever seen. The only thing we were short of was the mini-trouser. We are sorry to be saying "goodbye" to four masters—referred to in detail in the Head- master's Report—but welcome in their places Mr. Griffiths (German) to School House, Mr. Davies (Classics) and Mr. Isaacs (General Subjects) to Junior House. Mrs. Michelle quickly established herself as the Catering Officer, and our thanks are due to her for the excellent meals she has provided over the last year. We have been deeply anxious about Lady Gavin, who has been in hospital for some weeks after a serious operation. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her and Sir William. It is good to hear at the time of going to press of material improvement in Lady Gavin's condition. FOUNDER'S AND SPEECH DAYS It was decided this year to try the experiment of dividing the Founder's Day celebrations .we have known for many years into two. One reason for this was the very large financial saving thus made possible. On May 25th we had an "Open Day," to which parents brought their own lunches, there were no formalities beyond a brief commemoration of the Founder outside the Gavin Hall, and the afternoon was taken up by visits to the various exhibitions. These were staged by the Arts, Handicrafts and Science Departments, and there was also a most impressive display of cooking (with free samples!) by the Scouts. A buffet tea was served in each Boarding House for its own boys and their parents and friends. What would have been the old-style Founder's Day took place on July llth, in the form of the Prize-Giving in the Gavin Hall. To this were invited only connections of the prize- winners, some 40 or 50 of whom were able to come. Opinions are still undecided on the change. Certainly the Open Day was not helped by the weather; though it did not actually rain, it was decidedly threatening, dark and cold, and few cared to linger in the open air to listen to the valiant bandsmen performing on the lawn outside the Gavin Hall. Many at the start voiced the opinion that a great deal of the sense of occasion had been lost, but as the day wore on, and visitors realised that in their smaller numbers they were able to see what was on display far more easily, and to talk to more of the Staff, they began to think more of the arrangement. By tea-time, a much more intimate affair in the Houses than in the vast marquee of old, probably the majority were expressing their satisfaction. Against this is the fact that many Old Boys are disappointed of their traditional visit to the School for the big ceremony of the year, at the end of the summer term. There is also the consideration that after their examinations many Upper Sixth Formers feel there is nothing worth waiting for until the end of term if they have no prizes to collect—and also that far more time for the work for the various exhibitions is available during those last two or three weeks of term than immediately before the G.C.E. examinations. It is not easy to reach a final verdict—and in any case that is not our business. PrizejGiving Day was the hottest anybody could remember. We are more than usually grateful to our Visitor for making what must have been a great physical effort to come to us, after a severe illness and operation from which he was still convalescing. The son of the former Poet Laureate. Lord Bridges himself has had an exceptionally distinguished career. Privy Councillor, Knight Grand Cross of the Bath, Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order, holder of the Military Cross, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of All Souls, Fellow of Eton College, Honorary Doctor of seven universities, he was Secretary to the Cabinet during the years of World War II, and Secretary to the Treasury (i.e. Head of the Civil Service) from 1946-1956. Since his retirement he has held a number of voluntary offices, among them the Chairmanship of the British Council, and the Chancellorship of Reading University. In the course of his address Lord Bridges recalled his love of "the chalk country." One of the ways in which he had struggled to find his own independence, free of the shadow of a famous father, was in his resistance to the paternal urgings towards poetry, art and music. These interests had come to him later. But he had found passionate absorption in the countryside, and in architecture—though he had then visited only two or three of them— he could have recognised in his teens any cathedral in England from its ground plan. There was an ever-increasing need to evaluate sensibly our surroundings. In a rapidly changing world the lessons of the past cannot lightly be ignored; the virtues of industry and self-discipline have even more relevance to the modern world. We should throw ourselves whole-heartedly into our work, however humdrum or irrelevant it might seem. We should cultivate as many outside interests as possible, but above all in the field of personal relation- ships, which more than anything else helped us to grow. Mr. Prideaux, Chairman of the Governing Trustees, presided, and the Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Stopford. Prizes were presented by Mrs. Prideaux, and all those officiat- ing were thanked by the School Captain, Richard Walker. Lord and.Lady Wigram were also present. For travel information Excursions and tours to places and events of interest Private coach party outings planned for you Write, call or phone:— KENT'S COACHES LTD. (Tadley 3824) BAUGHURST - BASINGSTOKE - HANTS Pastel, 1938. by Ian Campbell of Dollar Academy. A. HENDERSON HEADMASTER FROM 1943 Cold Cast Aluminium, 1967. by Richard R. Hewer. OLD MEN REMEMBER The Sower for December, 1943, carried the somewhat laconic announcement: The year 1943 has seen an event of great importance in the history of the School, with the retirement of Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Little, who has been Principal since 1930, and the appoint- ment of a new Head at Long Sutton, in the person of Mr. Alexander Henderson, M.A. The Trustees decided to dispense with the title of Principal in favour of that of Head- master. Our new Headmaster took up his duties at Long Sutton on 1st July. One month short of 24 years later Mr. Henderson announced to the Staff his intention to retire as early in 1967 as the Governing Trustees could provide for a successor.