"The First Thursday Newsletter No. 54."

A successful Guest Evening was held on Friday 20th November with Terry Sutton, MBE, Journalist and Old Pharosian the Principal Guest. Among the audience were many guests including the Mayor of Dover, Mr P Sheldrake, and the Chairman of Dover District Council, Councillor W Newman. As well as certificates to outstanding students from last year's Year 10, Mr Sutton awarded prizes and certificates (GCSE and A Level) to a large number of last year's Years 11 and 13 who had travelled back to Dover from universities all over the country.

As usual a high standard of entertainment was provided by music from the DGSB Jazzmen and Big Band (directed by Director of Music Mr R Davies) and including solo pieces from Ian Banks and Stephen Maloney. A "spoken word" interlude was provided by Nicholas Pillai, Matthew Fisher, Stephen Key, Micky Islam and Aaron Stoakes who read an extract from 'Nicholas Nickleby'.

In a most witty and well received speech Terry Sutton reminisced about his experiences at DGSB when it was first relocated to Ebbw Vale and then returned to Dover but not at first to its normal site. Two themes came through his talk - an encouragement to all students to continue to do their best and an exhortation to all parents to be aware of the threat to schools such as DGSB - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

As part of the programme of replacing the windows overlooking the quad, scaffolding will be erected in the quad during the week Monday 14th December to Friday 18th December. As a result the quad will be closed and so will the school hill (to both vehicles and pedestrians). Cars wishing to enter the school should use the rear entrance - those on foot can use that entrance or come up the Tower. The main work will be undertaken in the first half of the Spring Term and should be finished after half term.

The Governing Body wishes all the staff, parents and boys a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The main purpose of our visit was to see the magisterial John Singer Sargent Exhibition at the Tate Gallery, and secondarily, to see various aspects of the Tate Gallery's permanent collection.

Pupils were given very specific tasks to do in both morning and afternoon sessions and worked very well. The Sargent Exhibition, the largest retrospective devoted to this artist since 1929, was hugely impressive and thought provoking, with portraits, landscapes, still life and some haunting imagery painted during the 1st World War.

One amusing aside to this was the presence in the gallery of John Cleese, who politely interrupted a conversation between Mr Almond and Russell Trewartha in order to sign Russell's sketchpad, Russell having had the temerity earlier to ask John Cleese "Are you John Cleese?"

Packed lunch was eaten in the Schools' Locker Room and the afternoon was spent looking at the exceptional permanent collection. Year 10 had different tasks from those set for Years 12 and 13.

The unanimous opinion was that the trip had been extremely valuable and enjoyable.

Thanks to my colleagues Mr Thompson and Mr Falconer who helped enormously in all aspects of the trip.

Some weeks ago, our Year 10 Art students took part in a competition to design a Christmas card. The contest was organised by the Kent Messenger Group in association with The Kent Education and Business Partnership.

Matthew O'Neill's design won the Dover regional competition stage and then went on to the winners' grand final, competing against winners from the Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone and Sevenoaks regional competitions. We are delighted to announce that Matthew's design was awarded 1st prize and a substantial cheque for £125. It will be printed and sent all over Kent reaching every major business. Congratulations to Matthew and thanks to all who took part.

At Cernavoda, in south-east Rumania, there is a hospice caring for up to one hundred children. These are very special children, most of them have at some stage been abandoned, neglected or kept in one of Rumania's infamous orphanages, whose standards of care are sometimes unspeakable. All of the hospice children are dying from AIDS.

The hospice is run by a British Charity 'Children in Distress' based in Yorkshire, but links have been made direct with the hospice through a friend of Mr Sewell, Head of R.E., a nurse who has worked there for about a year.

Volunteer carers who go from England to work at the hospice are unpaid and have to finance themselves, including their fares. One of these, Yolande Resina (Yolande is English, her home being in Lancashire), has been caring for the hospice children for three years. She is a trained nursery nurse, has taught herself Rumanian and is giving unstintingly of herself to these children so that they will spend their last years, months or days in comfort well cared for an much loved.

However, she has been running out of financial support and needs help if she is to stay there. The school is trying to meet her needs by regular collections made after assembly each Friday. So far, from three collections plus one separate donation of £40, a total of just over £230 has been raised. Our aim is to send at least £40 a week, so we are well on target. As well as using the money for her own basic needs, Yolande will spend a good deal of it on treats and outings for the children. If we should find that we have raised more than what is needed to sponsor Yolande the money will be used to buy medical equipment for the hospice.

It must be good for the boys to be aware of the desperate needs of other children not so many miles away and for them to give up a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar each week (20p has been suggested) so that these children can live their lives, and face death, in loving hands.

If any parents would like to make a regular, or one off contribution, to this cause they can send money with their son for the Friday collection or, if they prefer, send it direct to the School Office (any cheques payable to DGSB Voluntary Fund).

If you are planning to enter College or University in the autumn of 1999 to begin either a full time or a part-time course you will find that the financial situation for all students has changed.

In general Maintenance Grants will not be available, fees may be charged and loans may become a necessity. In addition, the provision of Hardship Loans and grants needs to be understood.

The Rotary Club of Deal has gathered together experts in this area and they will make an explanatory presentation in the Astor Theatre in Deal on Thursday 10th December beginning at 7.30 pm. They will offer answers to points of general interest and suggest where personal issues of concerns may be tackled.

We are planning to go to the Italian resort of COURMAYEUR. This is a world renowned ski venue, regularly used for World Cup downhill events. We will be staying in a small family run hotel and both French and Italian are spoken locally. The overnight coach journey is no longer than our recent destinations.

COST - £439-£469, all inclusive 5 days skiing and back home in time for Santa and the Millennium.

Musical events in November included a Lunchtime Jazz Concert given on Tuesday 17th November at 1.30 pm in the School Hall. A large and appreciative audience of pupils and members of staff supported the concert and heard such classics a "In the Mood" and "Take the A Train" played by the school Big Band alongside contrasting pieces from the school Jazz Group.

The school trumpeters also played at the Act of Remembrance on 11th November and a wide range of music was performed at Guest Evening on 20th November.

The main musical event in December will be the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight to be presented on Wednesday 16th December at 8.00 pm in Charlton Church. Christmas hymns for all to sing accompanied by organ and the school Brass Ensemble will be interspersed with a large number of carols sung by the School Choir ranging in style from medieval plainsong to twentieth century. After the service coffee and mince pies will be served in the Church Hall. The Carol Service is one of the highlights of the school calendar and you are warmly invited to attend and to bring family and friends.

Each year many pupils are kind enough to contribute mince pies for the refreshments after the Service. If you can help with this please bring your mince pies on either the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of the last week of term and hand them in to the School Office. This helps towards the success of the carol service evening which raises money through the Retiring Collection for church funds and a charity.

We would like to remind parents to buy (or return) the Christmas draw tickets which were sent out a couple of weeks ago. The draw takes place on 16th December but we would like the counterfoils, money and unused tickets to be returned as soon as possible please.

Our thanks to everyone who supported the Wine and Wisdom evening in November which raised £160.

At the last committee meeting we agreed to pay to overhaul the school's drum kit and bring the seat belts up to standard in the school mini-bus.

The first fund raising event of the new year is the Barn Dance which will take place on 30th January. This was a very popular event last January and tickets will be available early in the Spring term.

1st Mrs R Kirk (179) £25, 2nd Mrs B Bulow (25) £15 and 3rd Mr & Mrs A Visscher (194) £10.

The committee met in November and agreed to pay for the new Colours and Representative Ties which are presented to boys each year, to provide £750 towards the setting up of the work experience in Brittany for Year 12 boys next year and to donate £200 to the Art Department towards the cost of the A level life study classes. The next edition of the newsletter, due to be published in January, is being prepared. A hand scanner is being used to transfer copies of old school documents, such as the Pharos magazines, to the computer database.

November/December: We began the month by attending the annual Remembrance Sunday Service and were extremely pleased with the cadets support, especially as the weather conditions were less than desirable.

There was also a presentation by the Royal Artillery which gave cadets who are interested in this regiment as a career a chance to ask questions.

We would like to congratulate Sgt Hadley, Cpl Robinson, Cdt Blanchflower and Cdt English on passing the LSW course and also for all being awarded Marksman badges and certificates. Well done to all those cadets.

Plans are to round off the term with a shoot at Hythe Ranges and five RAF NCOs are planning to attend an Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Awards Course.

This was a game in which we were outplayed in all departments. Pent Valley proved to have pace and the ability to shoot accurately up front. Added to this they had good height in defence which meant that it was more difficult to mount attacks successfully. Pent Valley maintained steady pressure throughout the game on our goal and with some slope advantage in the second half just proved too good for us.

On a dull Saturday morning with a depleted side reduced by illness and injury the 11 players kicked off playing downhill. We put a lot of pressure on their goal through numerous attacks and several corners. The woodwork was hit 5 times and several shots just missed. By half time we were most unlucky not to have scored.

After the interval the ball was easier for us to control and several attacks were mounted on their goal. Our first goal was scored by Peter McArville and was the culmination of several accurate passes. The second goal came from a pass out of defence from Lee Westgarth to Toby Auld and was well finished by Gary Mulhearn.

Special mention should be made of Daniel Ashby who saved a Chaucer penalty in the second half.

Certainly we came away with a well deserved win and are looking for a win in the next round with our full team being fielded.

Another good result against a QES side much improved from the last few years, although again we made it hard for ourselves.

Playing with the sun in the first half QES had all the play in the first twenty minutes and went one up when Scrivener had a cross knocked out of his hands by a QES forward and the ball was banged into the roof of the net in the ensuing scramble. QES soon went two up, when a long ball dropped over the head of Marc Garrood and Tom was lobbed by the oncoming striker.

The second goal seemed to jolt us into life and with Hawke and Dodd raiding down the flanks we soon got back in the game. A long-ball over the top put Banks through on goal and he clipped the ball past the oncoming 'keeper'. And five minutes later we were level. A corner was swung in from the left and Banks popped up again to poke the ball home.

At half time our stand in manager, Mr Moore, stirred us again with a rousing team talk. After the break we carried on where we left off, with long balls into the corners for McKenzie and Banks to chase. Our third goal came halfway through the half, a long ball into the box saw McKenzie sprinting through and being chopped down by the QES centre-half. Up stepped Garrood from the back who sent the keeper the wrong way and finished with aplomb down the right side of the goal. QES tried to fight back and Tom had a busy 15 minutes period, but 10 minutes from the end we wrapped the game up. From a corner the ball came to Garrood on the edge of the box and two exquisite Cruyff-turns later he crossed to Banks who completed his hat-trick with a side foot from 6 yards. With 5 minutes to go Gibbons came on for the injured Banks and we ran out the game.

Thanks must go to Mr Moore for standing in at the last minute and we still need to start games better and stop defending so square.

This was a difficult game not helped by an ineffective referee, very small pitch, and two very competitive teams. Astor played well, and on another day may even have won the game. However, I felt that we were the stronger team and Astor raised their game against their old enemy.

Playing on the Astor pitch is very demanding because it is essential that the ball is played early and long and as a result our midfield found it hard to get into the match and our flow suffered. Sam played well enough in goal and the defence did well as long as they cleared the ball quickly. Perhaps our front two dropped deep too often but it will be not many times that we play on a pitch of that size.

Marc Garrood opened the scoring after a deft pirouette and volley at the far post following a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Stuart Dodd seized upon a good through ball to score the second. I thought we might relax and play better but I didn't allow for the referee giving a very harsh penalty against Stuart Dodd. In my eyes (and everyone else watching) Stuart made an excellent tackle. Sam saved the first penalty, but couldn't prevent the follow-up and Astor were right back in the game.

Luckily their goalkeeper made a terrible hash of a clearance straight to Ben Mackenzie who made no mistake. We probably should have scored more but Astor didn't give up, and the game ended with both teams kicking chunks out of each other, much to the apparent disinterest of the referee!.

This is a short report because I didn't really see the game having gone to the hospital with Ian Banks after only a few minutes. He badly sprained his ankle and will not play for the rest of the season I should think. In my absence the team went behind in an ill-tempered first half to a long free kick with which Chris Wash had no chance.

After a fierce half time talk by James Durrant the team played very well for twenty minutes culminating in a goal for Sam Gibbons. We had chances to win but a draw was apparently a fair result.

This was simply an excellent performance. With Marc Garrood failing a fitness test we had to reorganise the team (and missing Ian Banks) against the only other team in the League to have only dropped two points. It was important that we raised our game and on the day we certainly did that!

Maidstone turned up twenty minutes late which made it necessary to only play 40 minutes each way because of the poor light and fog. It was clear that Maidstone were strong in midfield and up front but relatively weak in defence and goal, but our attack and defence were stronger. Our midfield, especially in the centre controlled the match hardly allowing Maidstone to settle. The game wasn't pretty to watch but we played to our strengths and ran out worthy winners. It was a real pleasure to see so many of our players pick up their own performance - there wasn't a weak link anywhere. Perhaps we muddled through at the back but Neil Brinicombe and Tom Evans had their best match so far and held solid magnificently.

Ben Mackenzie also had one of his best games always looking lively and likely to score and he opened the scoring taking advantage of a bad clearance from the Maidstone keeper. So we turned 1 - 0 up and then continued to dominate. Ben seized on another through ball, rounded the keeper but was brought down for an obvious penalty. Ben took it himself and was lucky when his first effort was well saved and he was able to follow up to score. We seemed to be well under control but Maidstone stepped up their game and scored a good goal. Tom was beaten by a deflected shot but only after he made a double save that Peter Schmeichel would have been proud of.

Another defining moment followed when James Durrant scored a goal that he will never forget. He picked up the ball on the halfway line with a strong tackle, slipped between two defenders, outpaced another two and calmly slotted the ball home. It would have been a good goal at the best of times but in such a crucial game and at the time of the game it was a very special goal. We steadily ran out the game without further alarm for a memorable win!

In a lacklustre performance Dover came away with a disappointing draw. Against a fairly weak opposition Dover struggled to perform and finish the chances that they created.

From the start Dover applied pressure but could not find that cutting edge for the first 15 minutes. QES then countered with their only attack of the half and scored. The opposition striker collected the ball on the half-way line beat several Dover defenders with a mazy run and then finished precisely in the bottom corner leaving Wash with no chance. Dover then dominated the half. David Edwards hit the bar on two separate occasions and Dan Del Duca and Luke Stockdale were denied by good saves from the keeper.

Going downhill in the second period Dover started brightly but again failed to capitalise on their possession. Only limited to long range efforts from Daniel Phelan and Adrian Bails, Dover finally started to weave their way through the QES defence producing some chances for Luke Stockdale and Kevin McMullan. QES then gradually clawed their way back into the game creating a couple of excellent chances only denied by superb saves from Chris Wash. In the final 10 minutes Dover launched one last valiant effort and were eventually rewarded when a Chris Bailey cross was met on the head with pin point precision from 2 yards by substitute Kevin McMullan. With seconds remaining Chris Bailey finally succeeded in getting a decent shot on target when his rasping effort from 15 yards was tipped over.

Overall Dover must learn to pass the ball around better, using players when available, finish our chances and the defence must learn to work as a unit.. One bright spot was the performance of David Edwards.

With a depleted squad, missing several key players Dover produced a valiant and brave performance eventually going down to a strong, top of the table Maidstone side.

For the second time this season Jeremy Childs took over in goal and excelled himself by pulling off some great saves. Last minute replacement Tim Martin was also influential with 'that' superb back-heal. The first half was dominated by Maidstone. A combination of a hard working mid-field, good defending and some excellent saves meant the score at half time was 0 - 0.

The second half started brightly with Adrian Bailes going on a solo run only to be denied by a good save from the opposition keeper. Minutes later Stephen Key went close when his free kick drifted inches wide. Unfortunately Dover could not hold out and on the hour Maidstone scored a bullet header from a corner. Five minutes later Dover failed to clear the ball sufficiently on three occasions and eventually the ball was slotted home from six yards past a stranded Childs. With Maidstone changing to an attacking formation and pressuring more and more, goals were inevitable. Two late goals were conceded when the Maidstone wingers created easy chances for their forwards to score.

Overall Dover showed much team spirit, battling well throughout the game. Everyone played exceptionally well but a special mention must go to Luke Stockdale and Alex Gough who fought extremely hard in midfield and showed good determination.

A. -v- Astor

Year 7 Won 5-2
Year 8 Won 3-2
Year 9 Won 4-2
Year 10 Won 2-1

B. -v- Castle Community School

Year 7 Won 5-0
Year 8 Won 11-1
Year 9 Won 7-0
Year 10 Won 5-0

C. -v- St Edmunds, Dover

Year 7 Won 7-0
Year 8 Won 7-3
Year 9 Drew 3-3
Year 10 Won 4-0

D. -v- Sandwich

Year 7 Drew 5-5
Year 8 Won 3-0
Year 9 3-3
Year 10 4-2

E. -v- Walmer

Year 7 Won 5-1
Year 8 Drew 0-0
Year 9 Won 10-0
Year 10 Lost 7-2

Fixtures:
1st XI: Saturday 5th Dec. DGSB v Harvey Grammar (H). Wednesday 16th Dec. DGSB v Rainham Mark (A).

Senior House Football:
Monday 14th Dec. 1.15 - 1.55 1st semi-final.
Tuesday 15th Dec. 1.15 - 1.55 2nd semi-final.
Thursday 17th Dec. 1.15 - 1.55 3rd place final.
Friday 18th Dec. 11.40 - 12.20 Final.

Wednesday 16th December at 8.00 pm - Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Charlton Church, Dover.

The Table Tennis coaching on Tuesdays, has unfortunately had to be cancelled the last couple of weeks, due to Paul Skelton being tied up with printing for the mock exams, but to make up for lost time the coaching will continue throughout December on both Mondays and Tuesdays after school from 3.25 to 4.45. All welcome.

It is hoped that a Junior League/Coaching course will be started in the new year, for all interested, at the Sports and Leisure Centre, Dover on Saturday mornings from 10.00 am to 12.00 am. Further details will be posted in the First Thursday Newsletters as soon as I know more. Last year saw many Grammar School players compete in the Woolage league and some went on to play other towns in the Kent area.

Some players signed on in the Dover Table Tennis league, i.e. players playing for the "A", "B", "C", "D" and "E" teams have still not paid their dues. £5 for school players, £10 for outside players. It has cost the school £43 a team to enter into this league per team and this payment is a small token to cover these costs and to ensure that the Grammar School continues to offer table tennis as a recreational sport for the future. The Dover Grammar School for Boys is currently the only school in Dover to offer this facility. Will all players who have not yet paid, please forward payment to Paul Skelton before the end of term.

The current league tables are shown below and are accurate to 3rd December 1998.

SINGLES LEAGUE
TEAM NAME	POINTS	MATCHES
WHITFIELD E	54	8
FIRE BRIGADE	49	7
WALMER	43	7
POLICE	39	6
EASTRY	28	5
GRAMMAR C	26	7
GRAMMAR B	26	6
BORSTAL B	24	5
GRAMMAR D	21	7
GRAMMAR E	10	6

DOUBLES LEAGUE
TEAM NAME	POINTS	MATCHES
FIRE BRIGADE	5	7
POLICE	5	6
WHITFIELD E	4	8
WALMER	4	7
GRAMMAR B	4	6
GRAMMAR C	3	7
BORSTAL B	3	5
EASTRY	3	5
GRAMMAR D	1	7
GRAMMAR E	0	6