Dover Grammar School for Boys
THE "FIRST THURSDAY"
NEWSLETTERSPORTS DAY
Wednesday 1st July is Sports Day. All parents and other relatives are very welcome to come and support, either for part or all of the day. A programme of events and starting times will be sent home nearer the time, but the day will start soon after 9.00 am and finish at about 3.15 pm, with a long lunch hour from 11.40 to 12.50. Refreshments will be available from the School Canteen and the PFA Stall.
A detailed programme giving a commentary on the events, names of the competitions and details of record holders will be available on the day. Please make sure you get your copy from one of the Prefects on duty. Seats will also be reserved near to the Tower for parents and visitors.
Please note that if the weather is very bad on the day, Thursday 2nd July is kept as a reserve day. If you are in doubt please telephone the School Office to confirm whether it is going ahead.
We hope to see you there!
DGSB ARTISTS DECORATE DEMELZA HOUSE CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
On Wednesday 13th May 1998, HRH The Duke of Kent officially opened the Demelza House Children's Hospice near Sittingbourne, Kent. The entire project was the idea of Derek Phillips whose daughter Demelza died some years ago at a very young age. Students from DGSB's Year 12 produced four large decorative panels, all 7 x 6 feet, one of clowns, and three of creatures in jungles and forests, in order to brighten up the Hospice's interior and therefore to cheer up the children. The three forest/jungle panels adorn the children's main playroom, and the clowns panel is placed in the children's bedroom area.
Mr Almond and two students were invited to attend the opening. HRH The Duke of Kent was most impressed with the work and spent several minutes admiring it. Several newspaper articles have appeared about the panels but have not given sufficient credit to all the Year 12 pupils involved. For the record they were:
R. Trewartha, C. Whitehead, C. Roberts, C. Bailey, M. Garood, R. Cramphorn, C. Husk. All should be congratulated for working so enthusiastically and effectively on this most worthwhile project.
Mr S Almond
STAFF APPOINTMENT
In September Mr John Moore will be joining the staff as Teacher of History, English and Games. Mr Moore is a graduate from Queens University, Belfast and is currently studying for his PGCE in History at Christ Church College.
YEAR 7 HISTORY PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE
The final decision on who should receive the signed Heraldry Society First Day Cover, reported on in the First Thursday Newsletter of March 1998, was very close.
Martin Bannister and Adam Owen-Stirna of 7R, Robbie Guy of 7W, Matthew Bunn and Richard Horsler of 7G and Ben Bulow of 7S were all outstanding throughout the study of Medieval Realms, completing the course with splendid exam results. The final arbiter was the end of topic examination.
The Award goes to John Stokes of 7G who in addition to excellent coursework distinguished himself with a score of 95% in his examinations, 8% ahead of the 2nd place in Year 7.
Congratulations and very well done indeed.
Mr M Birt
MUSIC
The next main school musical event will be the Concert of Music for a Summer Evening on Wednesday 15th July at 7.30 pm in the School Hall. The school's jazz musicians will also be appearing at two private functions in early July.
Please note that the school's Choral Concert for 1998 is taking place in the first half of the Autumn Term, on a date to be announced.
Mr R Davies
"... and they heard every note."
In the early evening warmth of Saturday 30th May a hushed audience waited with eager anticipation as, shortly before 7.30 pm, Richard Davies settled himself at the console of the 1995 Nicholson Organ. This is the fourth year of the Sandwich Organ Concerts that continue to offer the public an opportunity to hear the country's best organists in recital. This year was particularly special with our own Director of Music giving the opening concert of the season.
Mr Davies' programme sought no easy options. After opening the recital with works by Buxtehude and Sweelinck he left the audience in no doubt as to his considerable talent with a beautifully controlled performance of Bach's Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C. This piece, considered by many to be fiendish in the demands it makes of the organist, was performed with an ease which completely belied its complexity. Works by Boyce, Wesley and Reger ended the 50 minute first part.
After a well deserved interval Mr Davies returned to the console to perform five pieces by French composers, beginning with Louis-Claude Daquin's Noel No.10 in G. The audience was visibly moved by a caring performance of Postlude pour l'office de Complies by the tragically short lived composer Alain. Despite his own misgivings as to the suitability of the instrument for such a piece, Franck's Choral No.3 in A minor was performed with a rare poetic verve especially in the slow crescendo. The Berceuse by Vierne soothed the audience before Mr Davies ended the 45 minute second part with a demonic performance of Boellmann's dramatic Suite Gothique.
This recital saw Richard Davies at his white-hot best, playing with a maturity and control that would be the envy of many a contemporary. The whole evening was a delight, yet it will be the sheer virtuosity of the Bach that will live longest in my mind.
Mr P Blake
DGSB ON-LINE
The school Homepage web site address is: (was)
www.dgsb.demon.co.uk
GOVERNORS
The next Governing Body meeting will be held on Monday 29th June at 7.00 pm.
CCF
The Unit underwent its Bi-Annual Administration Inspection on 27th May. It was conducted by Headquarters 2 (SE) Brigade and it seems we passed with flying colours.
On 24th May 29 Cadets and staff took part in the Folkestone Annual Cadet March. All completed the distance entered for (6, 15 or 27 miles) and a lot of sponsorship money was raised.
On 29th May 10 Cadets flew in a 2 seater "Bulldog" aircraft at RAF Manston.
This part of the term is necessarily a quiet period for the CCF due to the requirements of examinations. Nevertheless, we have a Range Day planned for Sunday 14th June and a trip to the RAF Museum at Hendon on Saturday 20th June. This will include a visit to the War Rooms at Uxbridge en route.
PFA
The PFA would like to hear from anyone who is willing to help serve refreshments on Sports Day - 1st July. If you can spare a couple of hours or more please ring Sandra on Dover 820709.
We hold a good stock of second-hand uniform which is for sale at very reasonable prices. If you are interested please contact Sandra on the above number.
The PFA will not be meeting again until September but will be helping at several events before we break up in July.
200 Club
The lucky prize winners of the May 200 Club are as follows:
1st: Mrs G Ferguson £25 (78), 2nd: Mrs C A Mitchell £15 (169) and 3rd: Mrs B Edwards £10 (186).
SPORTS NEWS
Tennis
The U16 tennis team lost to King's School in the 2nd round of the Inter-schools' knockout competition. Although the team played well they were rather overawed by the opponents 27 tennis courts! "Remind me again, Sir, where was our tennis court located?"
Mr N Boardman
Football
Kent Grammar Schools Six-a-Side Tournament
Kent University, Canterbury - 1st April 1998
In the inaugural KSFA Grammar Schools Six-a-Side Tournament the School 1st XI 'A' Team finished Runners-up after an excellent tournament.
After a slow start against Borden the team found the right formula for success by holding our shape and defending deep.
Victories against Wilmington 'B' and Tunbridge Wells 'B' were achieved with growing confidence so that we won our Group.
In the Quarter Final we beat Harvey, yes I'll say that again, we beat Harvey, only 1 - 0, but it makes a change! The semi-final was a similar game against Borden 'A' when Ian Banks scored a fine goal, but, by the Final, after five matches in two hours, the team was exhausted and carrying several injuries. Not surprisingly we were not at our best in the Final, and lost to a second half goal to Beths 'A'. It was a magnificent achievement - the boys represented the school with great distinction.
Mr S Bailey
Cricket
Year 8 Friendly Cricket Match -v- Astor Year 8 (played on Monday 18th May).
With a weakened team the game was played at Astor on a fine afternoon. Excellent and consistent bowling from Cameron Ward, who took 5 wickets for 0 runs, overwhelmed the Astor batsmen. Steven Horsler had won the toss and decided to put Astor in to bat first. Our other bowlers showed consistency and good control of the ball. Jimmy Edwards took a wicket as did David Percival. Astor's batsmen never looked like scoring many runs and after 20 overs they had scored 29 for 7 wickets.
In our reply we lost two wickets, those of Dane Luchford who was caught and Steven Hornsey who was bowled played across the line. We managed to pass Astor's total in the 10th over having lost 2 wickets.
In the Kent Schools Cricket Association Under 19 League the school's senior team achieved a good win in the last league match of the season winning against Norton Knatchbull at Ashford. Norton Knatchbull were 120 for 6 wickets in 40 overs and the school achieved this in under 40 overs scoring 121 for 5 wickets.
Year 10 XI played a friendly match against St Edmund's at The Danes before half-term. In glorious sunshine an exciting game ensued, St Edmund's scoring 101 for 8 in 20 overs. In the fourth over we lost our first 3 batsmen and it was not looking good for the team. However, thanks to a fine partnership from Chris Wash and Jeremy Childs, who scored over 60 runs between them both not out, we went on to win with wickets in hand.
Mr M Grant
Cricket Fixtures
June
Thurs. 4th at 3.45 pm Year 8 XI -v- Astor (H). Mon. 8th at 4.00 pm Year 9 XI -v- Harvey (H). Tues. 9th at 3.30 pm Year 8 XI -v- Harvey (A) and at 3.45 pm Year 10 XI -v- Astor (A). Wed. 10th at 3.45 pm Year 7 XI -v- Astor (A). Thurs. 11th at 1.15 pm 1st XI -v- Sir Roger Manwoods (A) and at 2.30 pm Year 10 XI -v- Harvey (H). Thurs. 18th at 2.45 pm Year 10 XI -v- Sir Roger Manwoods (A). Tues. 23rd at 4.00 pm Year 8 XI -v- Sir Roger Manwoods (H). Fri. 26th at 3.30 pm Year 7 XI -v- Harvey (A). Tues. 30th at 4.00 pm Year 7 XI -v- Norton Knatchbull (A) and Year 8 XI -v- Norton Knatchbull (H).
July
Thurs. 2nd at 2.00 pm Year 11/12 XI -v- South African Touring side (H) and 3.45 pm Year 10 XI -v- Norton Knatchbull (A).
Athletics
The combined Years 7, 8 and 9 teams came second overall with some fine individual performances against teams from Astor and Harvey Grammar School.
Our next athletics meeting is the Powell Trophy involving Years 8, 9 and 10 at The Duke of York School on Wednesday 10th June from 2.00 - 4.30 pm.
CHANGE TO CALENDAR
Please note that Year 13 Leavers Day is on Monday 22nd June NOT Thursday 25th June as indicated on the small blue School Calendar.
