1972
FIAT LUX.
Notices | ||
Editorial | ||
Parents' Association | ||
Old Pharosians | ||
Dover Grammar School for Boys
EDITORIAL
The last edition of "Pharos" appeared belatedly in 1972 and covered the academic
year 1970-71. All the material for the year 1971-72 was collected but was never
printed, because of increasing costs and also because the Art Department had not
the time or the boy-power to cope with the work. Now, thanks to a generous grant
from the Old Pharosians and to a system whereby the work of production is shared
between the School and a printing firm specialising in this kind of work, we are
able to produce a record of the School's life in the year 1973-74.
Even so, the amount of material for which we have space must be limited, and we
apologise to those contributors whose articles have been omitted or curtailed.
The School's activities are so varied that one cannot be sure that everything is
mentioned or that individuals receive the credit due to them. As for the
. literary contributions, we thank all those concerned. No doubt there is plenty
oftalent not reflected in these pages; if you feel that you can do better, let
us have your contributions for the 1974-75 edition.
l.P.M., N.R.
HEADMASTER'S NOTES
The noble volumes of the "Pharos" preserve the living tradition of the School,
but like so many worthy institutions, shortage of money threatened to block
their continuity. Nearly half the Voluntary Fund was devoted to the publication
of the annual edition. The Head of Art stepped in with an offer to print the
next volume within the school, and two lively and attractive versions followed,
but even here, costs have now risen to almost £200, and the time needed cut into
that
. required for normal teaching. This year, however, the committee of the Old
Pharosians generously voted £100, which makes it possible to maintain the link.
So much has happened, and it is pleasant to reminisce, but I must pick out those
notable events which have left their powerful mark on the fabric of the School.
2
Nearly half the Staff have been with us i years, but they have provided more
than stab'
their distinguished service has been imagination and foresight. FoUow1t\V,
tradition of men whose scholarship and influence wen_ of national significance,
the Staff have accepted new demands with new energy and maintained a
professional devotion which their predecessors would have admired. Such a man
was Tom Archer who gave over 40 years of delight and inspiration to countless
boys. His death, coming so quickly after his retirement, was a tragedy which
touched us all, but the standard he set lives on in his colleagues and friends.
A. E. Coulson retired during the period covered by these notes, leaving a wealth
of new ideas to be developed. Among them, the new department of Computer Science
was led from the start by Old Pharosian Peter Piddock, who also has left-to
bring Dover's experience to South Wales. Another Old Boy, Martin Styles, runs
the Department of Outdoor Pursuits, having qualified in Wales and Scotland to
lead boys through the harshest terrain. Several members of Staff have left to
become Heads of Department elsewhere, and so long as the flow of men
and women is adequate, this process must be good.
for the School.
For four years now, we have had to live with the prospect of reorganisation in
line with the government's policy to establish comprehensive schools. This has
not been allowed, however, to interfere with the continued lively growth of the
School or with the interests ofthe boys here now. The Staff, the boys, the Old
Boys and the parents have worked together to ensure that neither politics nor
the economic crisis shall deny us the essentials we require. In the last two
years, over £7,000 has been raised for the School, and the Kent Education
Committee has responded by extending our buildings.
The initiative was taken by Mr. P. WilsonHaffenden, Chairman of the Governors.
He contributed over £3,000 towards the cost of our Swimming Pool and, beyond
this, worked almost every Saturday and Sunday morning with a small team of
masters and parents to build it. It was an exciting enterpise and the unfailing
good humour and confidence of our "foreman" kept it going. Now, this fine heated
pool is intensively used throughout the season.
It was another Governor, Mr. Lawton, who persuaded the K.E.c. to accept our
offer of £2,000 towards the cost of a Music Room. The Staff want many
improvements, but nowhere was there clearer unanimity than that which stressed
the need for a Music Room. Our fine musical tradition, led now by Mr. Kenneth
Best, was gravely limited by lack of facilities, but now a large and attractive
room gives the right atmosphere for boys to enjoy their music, and a K.E.c.
grant of £1,000 has helped us to buy several new instruments.
Above the Music Room is the new Advanced
Biology Laboratory which meets the expansion of Science teaching in the School
and, faced with all this bright new equipment, the Divisional Education Officer
has agreed to redecorate most of the Science Block.
One of the most interesting developments from the original ban, now slightly
lifted, on the extension of our buildings, has been the completion of a new
Economics Centre some 200 yards from the main school. It is a fitting tribute to
the 40 years service of Gordon King, who established our Department of
Economics. It contains a large Lecture Room and a smaller one for seminars
together with an office, and we have been encouraged throughout by the interest
of Sir Arthur Cockfield, O.P., Charm an of the Prices Commission.
Below the Economics Centre is the new branch of the County Library, established
with a full-time librarian to serve both Astor School and ourselves. Already
some £4,000 has been spent on new books, and other resource materials such as
films and filmstrips will be available. The opening ofthe Library will make it
possible for the Staff to move into the old School Library and thus gain
reasonable accommodation. It will also free the old Staff Room, to form a
Medical RQOm and a Careers Room. During
the period under review, we also acquired an AudioVisual Language Laboratory and
suitable facilities to teach Spanish. Beyond this, the boys have built a School
Shop and established a Tuck Shop. On a piece of levelled ground below the Art
Room, a Recreational Hut is rising with the aid of the Junior Leaders Regiment.
This will provide profitable employment for many boys to learn the arts of
painting, decorating and glazing.
Such are some of the events of two lively years, but all this effort is designed
to encourage the life of this community which is our School. I believe that all
those involved have enjoyed the association, and I am delighted to note a marked
expansion in the membership both of the Parents' Association and of the Old
Pharosians. We know little of the future but, at least,
we can be sure that these efforts will have been of great value to the boys here
now.
Mrs. Bailey
Mrs. Bailey, the School Secretary, retired this year after 26 years of excellent
service. Her conscientious efficiency and consistent good humour have provided a
healthy focus for the School's administration. Everyone wishes her well and we
shall look forward to welcoming her as a guest.
Rc.c.
W. W. BAXTER
From VI Arts room we would watch him coming briskly down Frith Road, swinging
his walking-stick. We looked forward to the joke or illuminating remark that was
sure to arise in his lessons. He taught French with crisp and humorous urgency,
often calling upon his student experience in Paris to illustrate some point:
how, for example, when ordering a stove by telephone he was gratified at its
cheapness but found a frying-pan delivered at his flat -he had not realised that
the one was 'le' and the other 'la poe1e'; or, on tipping, how he had dismissed
a cheeky errand-boy with, 'V a chercher ton pourboire dans la rue!' One
remembers him breathing vigorously on his pince-nez before polishing them for a
lesson, his tattered B.A. gown and the smart M.A. one that replaced it.
It was working for his M.A. that led to some of his most stimulating VI Form
teaching. He had to master the development of the French language and, since he
thought it good background for our own Inter-RA. and scholarship work, he passed
on much of it. For him, and consequently for us, it was a voyage of discovery. I
recall his excitement when he found, apropos of Chaucer's Prioress who fed her
dogs on 'wastel bread', that by applying the laws of phonetic change one could
show that 'waste!' became 'g_eau'. The Prioress was, in fact, feeding them on
cake! Great also was his delight when he overheard Midland miners say about a
tunnel, 'We haben thirIt (drilled) thru!' 'Virtually Anglo-Saxon!' he declared.
He had a nice turn of phrase. An enthusiastic angler, his word for school-play
publicity was 'ground bait'. He taught some grammar rules as if they were
immutable and when exceptions at length arose would admit that he gave out
'medicated lies' to beginners. Words fascinated him. 'Some people think it odd,'
he said, 'but I can read a dictionary for hours'.
Such was our relationship that he brought his M.A. 'French to English' paper for
us to discuss. 'When I saw this,' he said ruefully, 'I knew my chances of a
First were gone.' Then we went through it and I can still see his mock chagrin
when one of us translated a
4
word which had baffled him. Only a generous man would have brought the paper.
Almost daily I use a Petit Larousse, one of a dozen or so he got for us at 2/6
each when the franc fell in 1920. Like Billy's teaching, it belongs in a sense
to the past but the richness and stimulus of both remain.
L. R. Phillips (1915-1923)
(We are glad to print the above tribute by an Old
Pharosian to a former member of Staff who is still remembered with affection by
many of us.-Ed.)
aLD PBAlaBIAIS
President: R. W. Winter, Esq.
Secretary: B. A. Harrison, Esq., 87 Lewisham Road, River. Treasurer: Rev. W. F.
Kemp, The Rectory, Denton, Canterbury. Editor of the Newsletter: E. N. Baker,
Esq., 24 Downs Road, Maidstone, ME14 2JN.
This Association, founded by the School's first Headmaster. exists to foster
friendships formed at school and to link the School with former pupils, giving
them the opportunity to continue their interest in, and give support to, the
School.
An annual general meeting is held in September and this year there is also to be
a social gathering on Saturday, 14th December at 7 p.m. in The Eagle Hotel,
London Road, Dover.
The Old Pharosians share in the annual May Ball, the Carol Service and many
other school functions during the year. Old Boy football and cricket, basketball
and tennis teams play against the School.
A great majority of school-leavers join the association, paying in their first
year half of the normal annual subscription of SOp. Life membership costs
. £7.SO.
The active interest of Old Boys has been shown in
two significant developments:
(1) The W. E. Pearce Memorial Fund which stands
at over £200 and is used to finance Project
Technology;
(2) The Diamond Jubilee Trust with Capital Assets
of £1,700.
This issue of the Pharos has been aided by a gift of
£100 from the Diamond Jubilee Trust.
THE COMBINED CADET FORCE
TRI calBINID CADIT FaRCI
The contingent continues to thrive with a full establishment of Officers and a
strong nucleus of very able NCOs.
Stephen Graves of the Army Section has been appointed Senior Cadet and we
congratulate both him and Trevor Pearce of the RAF Section on their promotion to
Under Officer.
The following cups were presented by the Head
master at the Final Assembly:
The most efficient Senior Cadet-U/O S. Graves. The most efficient Junior
Cadet-Cpl. G. Monk. The Initiative Cup-Sgt. K. Welch.
It is always sad to say goodbye to old friends and we are sorry to lose Flight
Lieutenant Chris Templeman who is moving to Leeds Grammar School where he will
be taking over the RAF Section.
In addition to all his hard work and enthusiasm in building a live, active RAF
section here, Flt./Lt. Templeman has also been the contingent Adjutant and has
devoted many hours to the efficient administration of the Unit. We shall
certainly miss him but we wish him success and happiness in his new job.
8
On the credit side we have been fortunate this year in having the services of
Major R. A. Hoeren, USAAF, and Lt.-Cmdr. N. H. Kaufmann, RN, who have brought
new energy and a wealth of experience to their sections. We also extend a warm
welcome to Mr. M. R. Grant who is joining us in September for service with the
Army Section. His keen interest in adventurous activities will be of great value
to the contingent.
As a school activity we exist mainly to provide opportunities for leadership and
responsibility. Cadets carry out all the instruction in their Proficiency
syllabus. plan their Training Programmes, organise special activities and
exercises and gain experience in administration. But. like any other activity,
mere attendance is of little value. The more you put into it, the more you gain
from it. It was therefore encouraging to learn that Senior NCOs from all three
Sections wished to be responsible for planning the programme for the Annual
Inspection on the 29th March. They are to be congratulated on a very fine
effort. The Inspecting Officer, Captain T. B. Homan,
Royal Navy, and his accompanying Staff Officers were
most impressed by all they saw and we have had
another quite outstanding report.
No account of the year's activities would be complete without a mention of the
Easter Adventure
Training Expedition. This year five officers and twelve
senior cadets went to Snowdonia, where, under the
competent leadership of Lt. M. J. Styles, much
valuable experience was gained in rock climbing, mountain navigation and
survival in varying weather conditions.
In conclusion, with so many capable Seniors and a
large intake of enthusiastic junior cadets, the
prospects for the coming year are bright.
LW.B.
Army Section
This has been a year of consolidation with more time spent on training for
leadership. Nearly all our 3rd and 4th year cadets have had cadre training and
there have been recent promotions to cope with an increase in the number of
platoons.
We now have three authorised Service sections-a Signal Section, a Combat
Engineering Section and a REME Section with four motor-cycles.
For our summer camp in 1973 we were guests of the 3rd Battalion The Light
Infantry in Germany. This was a particularly memorable experience as half the
camp was spent in the SoUau Training area taking part in a battle group
exercise. Among the highlights of the camp were a morning patrol searching for
OPs, a day spent in tank hunting, a night navigation exercise in APCs and a
morning learning to drive them. We also visited the Moehne Dam.
This year's camp was at Leek in Staffordshire where activities included
canoeing, rock climbing and
abseiling, watermanship, shooting, swimming, and a 36-hour expedition in the
Peak District.
The Platoon competition was won by 3 Platoon (Sgt. Heafey), and each member
received a Papermate ballpoint pen as a prize.
The standard of .22 shooting has improved considerably with the weekly visit to
the Dover College indoor range.
Week-end camps have been held at St. Martin's Plain, Lydden and Acrise. Two
week-end camps have been planned for the Autumn Term, one at St. Martin's Plain
at the end of September and the other
at Crow borough, Sussex, at the beginning of November.
LW.B.
RN Section
The Section is very short of NCO instructors. However, it has been an active
year, all recruits having passed the AB's test, but particularly in sailing.
Full advantage was taken of 'Enterprises' in Dover Harbour in the Michaelmas
Term, and in the Summer Term we have had a Montague whaler on loan from the
Royal Marines.
In the first S.E. Area CCF Regatta held at Chatham in July, David Thomas sailed
well to tie for first place in the ASC dinghy class.
The highlight of the year was the Summer Cruise undertaken jointly with Oundle
School CCF in the 38ft. cutter-rigged STC Gauntlet--one of the Royal Navy's sail
training yachts based on the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon.
During the week's cruise the Channel was crossed four times and in 100 hours
under way over 500 miles were covered. Salcombe, Alderney and L' Aberwrach (on
the Brittany coast) were visited.
The return from Alderney to Plymouth-normally taking about 16 hours-took nearly
36 hours due to near gale-force Westerly winds. There was good compensation for
this rough and hard leg in the return trip from Plymouth to L' Aberwrach when we
had delightful sailing weather.
9
In L' Aberwrach all enjoyed a superb and typical French meal, the high spot of
the cruise. It included spider crabs, crayfish, oysters, prawns, mussels and
winkles, followed by snails, quail and more usual items like steak and lamb
cutlets, rounding off with ice-cream, cheese and fruit.
We sailed at 0500 on Friday for the final crossing to Plymouth in ideal
conditions.
The stay in the Officers' Mess before sailing and the conducted tour of some of
the college laboratories and workshops on return were interesting features of
the visit to the engineering university of the Royal Navy. N.R.K.
RAF Section
The Section has made steady progress in several important ways. Less time is now
spent in the classroom preparing for Proficiency exams; this year we have had
three week-end camps, much more .303 shooting, walking, Air Experience Gliding
as well as regular Air Experience Flying and visits to RAF stations.
Junior NCOs are now making a valuable contribution to the running of the
Section-in checking and arranging stores and in preparing talks and lectures.
Fifteen cadets attended Annual Camp at RAF Cosford in 1973 and six cadets flew
to Germany to spend a week on an RAF station.
Our summer camp this year was held at RAF Cranwell where, in addition to a
varied and interesting programme, there was plenty of flying for all cadets.
Since summer 1972, seven cadets have gained their A & B gliding certificates on
courses culminating in three solo flights.
Under Officer T. Pearce attended the Frimley Park Leadership Course.
Finally, a word for the future. Of the twenty-four 3rd year recruits in
September 1973, twenty still remain as active members and should provide the
NCOs of the next two years. With thirty-five cadets before recruiting takes
place, the section should be larger than it has been for some time. Above all,
the section exists to provide opportunities. Those cadets who are prepared to
work hard will find that there are plenty of rewards.
eT.
TBB SCHOOL COUNCIL
THE SCHOOL COUNCIL, 1973-4
The year started well under the leadership of Mike Court, and continued after
Christmas in the able hands of Tim Hunnisett. Members' attendance was, on the
whole, good, except at the end of the year, when in two meetings less than a
quorum attended.
As in past years, the Council has thrived on contributions from both junior and
senior members, the younger voices bringing a welcome breath of fresh air, the
older ones providing a steadying influence.
Matters discussed during the year have been many, varied and, to many people,
very important-the Tuck Shop, the Deal buses, The School Magazine, the new
dinner system; the constitution was amended; the Lent Charity returned after a
long absence, resulting in worthwhile sums going to the Cyrenians social action
group and to the Dover Schools Community Service Scheme. Innumerable smaller
matters were discussed, from caged rats to coat-hangers.
Anum ber of grants were made to some of the many societies in the school-an
important part of the work of the Council. The recipients included the Sailing
Club, the Christian Union, the Badminton Club and also encouraging newcomers
like the Stamp Club and the War Games Club. The Council can count it a privilege
to be able to help such clubs from the funds it receives.
Steve 1. Whaley, Secretary
11
SCHOOL SOCIETIES
THE PHOENIX SOCIETY
The Society held five meetings during the past year, listening to talks by
Michael Court, Les Bastable, Simon Cork, Mr. King and Mr. Hoeren.
At the last meeting Mr. King announced that he was retiring as President of the
Society, and that Mr. Slater would be his successor.
Mr. King was active in the Debating Society before the war, and in 1950 was
prominent in founding the Phoenix Society, which rose from the ashes, as it
were, of the Debating Society. His presence at meetings will be greatly missed,
and all past and present members of the Society will wish Mr. King a long and
happy retirement.
P. J. Harding
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MOVEMENT
CONFERENCE: 21st November 1973
The subject at this conference was "Suffering", but we felt at liberty to enjoy
ourselves just the same. Sixth Form delegates attended from several schools in
the area, and were made very welcome at the Girls' Technical High School,
Folkestone.
The main discussions were in small groups, but there was a general session in
which their particular approaches to the problem of pain and trouble in the
world were explained by three visiting speakers-a Buddhist, a Christian and a
Marxist.
In 1974 the venue will be the new Salem Baptist Church in Dover, and "Justice"
becomes our theme. With any luck, various "Workshops" will produce during the
day practical contributions-in art, drama, literature and dance.
A. Renouf, L6
CHRISTIAN UNION
Since the last report, the Christian Union has undergone several changes. We
have lost one master and gained another, formed a committee which runs financial
and administrative affairs, changed premises from the J.P.L. to Room 12 where we
meet on alternate Wednesdays, and obtained a grant from the School Council.
We have had many more talks, both informative and challenging, covering a wide
range of topics from social work to the occult, mainly by guest speakers, many
more meetings with other local schools, fewer formal "bible-debates", and more
active participation by members.
Our plans for the future are to continue in much the same pattern as before, but
with more joint meetings and member participation, aided by the addition of two
new members of staff who will help Mr. Haines in the task of controlling the
masses. Thanks finally to all our members who are leaving this summer, who have
helped so well during their time at the school, and to Mr. Haines for his
dedication and untiring assistance.
Mark Hibell, Secretary
HISTORY SOCIETY
The Society had a very well-attended meeting when the film "Culloden" was shown.
As a result of its reputation as a rather sanguinary film, members of the Lower
School were particularly in evidence. Some Grammar School girls also saw the
film, and some boys went to very interesting meetings at the Girls' School,
including a talk called "Guy Fawkes, Plot or Plant?" and one about 18th century
Kent.
Next year it is hoped we will have more meetings than in the past year.
J. Parry, L6
13
NATURAL mSTORY SOCIETY
Since its formation in September 1972, the society has gradually increased in
strength and now has a very large membership in the Lower and Middle School.
Our activities have been many and variedincluding outings to Sandwich Bay Bird
Observatory, Dover cliffs, Barton-on-Sea, Shepherdswell, Folkestone Warren,
Canterbury, Dover Harbour and West Hougham, a summer camp, two barbecues (which
formed part of other activities), various talks, discussions and film shows, and
practical work within the school and school grounds such as the erection of nest
boxes and a number of attempts to set up a ,nature trail.
The aims of the Society are to give boys a chance to develop their interest in
natural history, to encourage a feeling of responsibility for the preservation
of the environment and its inhabitants and to do something constructive towards
this end. In the past year, special attention has been paid to conservation, the
study and collection of fossils, bird observation, butterflies, botanical life
and plankton. At the present time some of our members are in the process of
completing a project on pollution of our coastline, which project is to be
entered in a national competition and with which the boys have been helped by
the very kind encouragement of our local M.P., Mr. Peter Rees. We are also busy
collecting tokens which will help with contributions to the World Wildlife Fund.
This scheme is organised by the manufacturers of Smith's Crisps, and by the
closing date of 30th November we aim to have collected at least ten thousand
tokens. A study has also begun of some badger setts which have been discovered
not far from the school grounds.
The Society is a corporate member of the Kent Ornithological Society and
receives the monthly bulletin and publications of that organisation. It is hoped
that this membership will be continued during the coming year and that we shall,
perhaps, be able to participate in some of the activities ofthat society.
14
Members of the society are entitled to wear a badge,
designed by Simon Macgregor; proceeds from the sale
of badges are used for financing our activities. In all our activities we have
enjoyed the support and assistance of many parents and friends; to them, and to
members of the staff who have helped us, we are very grateful. We were very
pleased to have the op
portunity of displaying some of the fruits of our work
at the Spring Fair. In the coming year we hope to welcome many new members, and
a number of activities are already planned, including an outing to Sheppey, a
visit to the Nature Trail at Canterbury, and possibly a second camp.
K.RJ.
CERCLE DES LANGUES VIV ANTES
Nous voudrions remercier bien sinchement Mademoiselle Saltron et David Jones de
nons avoir organisi cette anne'e un programme si varic! et inttressant.
Mademoiselle Saltron nons a fait one causerie illustree sur le Midi et sa region
de France-le departement du Tarn. A la prochaine reunion elle a pass! one serie
de disques des chanteurs fran_ais modernes, y compris Charles Aznavour, Jacques
BreI et le celebre chanteur-po_e Georges Brassens.
Frau Ascher nons a, au cours de deux autres reunions, parli de son pays, l'
Autriche. Son expose! a ete' illustre par de tr_s belles diapositives qui nons
ont emmenes h travers les montagnes et la campagne autrichiennes et qui nons ont
pr_sentlles deux villes de Vienne et de Salzburg.
David Jones nons a parle ensuite de ses vacances passees dans la region de la
Dordogne. Une 'quiz' ou jeu de questions sur la France et la lecture d'une piece
'L' Anglais tel qu'on le parle' ont it_ le sujet de deux autres r_unions.
Le nombre des participants aux rlunions a etl tr_s
variable, mais il y a eu chaque fois one atmosphhe tres agrtable et on a
toujours appr€cii la tasse de tM et les biscuits qui ont accompagn_ chaque
dunion.
Pendant le trimestre d' €te nos membres ont et_ invit_s _ trois reunions organis€es
par le Cercle
Franc,ais du Lyde de Jeunes Filles de Douvres. fls y
ont pris un vif plaisir, et nous esp_rons inviter les
jeunes filles Ii notre tour it assister .tL nos rlunions le
trimestre prochain.
RN.W.
SCHOOL STAMP CLUB
This new society has been added to the many activities already running in the
school. To avoid conflicting too much with other interests the society meets
alternate Mondays after school and Thursday at dinner time.
Several competitions and displays have been held
and most notable was a small display of stamps of Great Britain by David Thomas.
The information given was very extensive and the presentation of his material
first class.
Short talks on Perforations, writing up a collection, Thematics, etc., have been
received with interest by the members.
A visit to Philympia was arranged but had to be cancelled due to national travel
difficulties at the time of the exhibition. However, a visit to the sorting
office of Dover GPO proved to be of great interest. There were sighs of anguish
when our guide deliberately tore up foreign stamps that had become dislodged
from their envelopes!
N.H.K.
THE SCHOOL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA
The choir and orchestra both contributed to Guest Evening and the School
Concert, with the choir also performing in the December Carol Service and in a
recital in Deal in May.
The musical highlight of the year was undoubtedly the School Concert which was
given to mark the opening of the Music Room and included items by former pupils
of the School. Especially memorable were the piano playing and fluent verbal
introductions of Peter Relf, the two Easter Dances specially composed for the
occasion by Alan Smith and played on the organ by William Fittall, and the
singing of John Newman, who overcame his own shyness and the inhibitions of many
of the audience to involve everyone in his songs. The choir contributed songs
varying from the 16th century "Filles de Lyon" to the lighthearted "Ould John
Braddleum", and the orchestra rose above its obvious shortcomings in playing a
symphony by Stamitz.
The quality ofthe choir was reflected in the size of the audiences at both the
carol service and the Deal recital. The carol service has rapidly become a
popular annual event and Charlton Church was packed, whilst the Deal recital
attracted over 200 people. The latter event included a performance of Alan
Ridout's "Sacred Songs for Treble Voices" which showed the discipline of the
younger boys in the singing of a difficult contemporary work without a
conductor.
16
The musical activity of the past year bears witness to the hard work put in by
Mr. Best and the response of the boys under his baton; the new Music Room is the
long overdue reward for a school with such a high musical reputation.
CH.S.
SAILING CLUB
The past year has been one of consolidation in our use ofthe R.Y.A. teaching
system. In the winter many took part in theory classes, with special credit
going to the hard working seniors, David Thurston, Nic Smither, Chris Stubbs and
David Culmer, who took the lectures and prepared the tests.
Boat maintenance went well, with some sterling work by a band of girls on the
ropework and lads on paint and varnish. Our trailers and trolleys also got a
lick of paint, which helped us have things well prepared.
Sailing started in April with the Kent Schools selection trials, where Chris
Stubbs and Anthony Smith er, John Lorimer and Judy Stubbs, and Nic Smither and
Andrew Martin were selected to represent Kent at the Nationals in Plymouth
during the summer holidays.
School sailing went well on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with fifteen to twenty
people on each occasion. Gordon Goodall, Adrian Smith and Marco Pearce deserve
particular credit for "picking up the ropes" quickly.
At the Whitsun break we ran the Singlehanded Bevan Cup in stiff N.W. conditions
and the Mirror sailed by John Lorimer won, with Dave Culmer, also Mirror,
second. Our usual armada to the Kent Schools Regatta, this year at Herne Bay,
took place in mid-June; Nic Smither and Andrew Martin made convincing work of
the Enterprise class, with three wins in three races. The school team also
retained the Whitstable shield for their combined efforts in the competition.
Unfortunately the weather towards the end of the summer term was not
particularly suitable for the juniors' Wooden Tub competition, but the Gill cup
for junior and middle-school sailors was again won by Peter Blackman, sailing
his Mirror "UFO" with Nic Dean- Webb.
Looking to the future, we have the coming term filled with special school racing
events, but our eyes
are all on the new Enterprise, a glass and wood machine. Under the careful
guidance of Mr. Large, this has received much attention. We are particularly
thankful to Mr. Mike Igglesden, an Old Pharosian dinghy sailor visiting from
Australia, for the many hours he has given the club during the past year, on the
water and in the workshops.
Summary:
Bevan Cup: J. Lorimer.
Gill Cup: P. Blackman.
Sailing Colours: Chris Stubbs, Nic Smither. Representative Colours: Dave Culmer,
David Thurston, Andrew Martin.
M.J.S.
RAILF ANS' CLUB
This club is now beginning to increase in popularity, and we hope our numbers
will be increased by joinings from the new First Forms. The group meets at 4
p.m. each Monday and membership is quite free. Work is at present in hand on the
construction of a model railway layout measuring about eight feet square, and,
at the time of writing, the baseboard construction is complete and plans for the
actual layout are being drawn up by the boys. Severalqiscussions and slide-shows
have been enjoyed by members during the past year.
Our first full-day outing took. place recently-a combined visit to the Bluebell
and the Kent and East Sussex Railways. This proved a great success and we were
blessed with perfect weather. As well as enjoying the thrills of riding on
trains hauled by steam engines, the boys also had several chances of examining
steam engines at close range and were particularly fascinated by those which
were at various stages of overhaul and reconstruction.
It is hoped that similar visits will be possible in the coming year. We are
particularly fortunate in this area since Kent and East Sussex have an
everincreasing number of private railways run by preservation societies. Indeed,
one of our members can be found assisting with the running of the Romney, Hythe
and Dymchurch Railway during the summer holidays.This report would not be
complete without a mention of our thanks to those parents who support us in our
work, and, in particular, to Mrs. Heathwood who very kindly donates a monthly
copy of the "Railway Modeller" to the society. We are extremely grateful to her
and can assure her that the magazine is very popular indeed among our members
who take it in turns to borrow it each month. We would also like to record our
thanks to Messrs. Nice and Large, without whose support and help the
construction of our layout would not be possible. To them, and to all our
friends, we say, sincerely, "Thank you".
K.RJ., RH., N.H.K.
18
OUTING TO THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY
From Dover, we made our way by car to the Sheffield Park station of the Bluebell
Railway Preservation Society. Here we had a quick look round the station and
then boarded an old S.E.&c.R. coach for the journey to Horsted Keynes. The locos
came down from the shed and coupled to the front of our train. We were very
lucky, as two special trains were run in the afternoon for a party of SOO Girl
Guides. The two locos were an Adams 4-4-2T tank engine built for the LS.W.R. in
1857, and a B.R. standard class "4" tender built for secondary passenger
services.
We left the station in fine style. After about four miles of climbing up the
fairly steep Freshfield Bank we arrived at Horsted Keynes. We then walked down
beside the line to a good vantage point for taking photographs. We saw the
"Adams" go down bunker first towards Sheffield Park. When it came up again,
we got some fine pictures. We ate our lunch and then
walked to the station to catch the train back. We decided to pay Sp supplement
to travel in the observation coach. Back at Sheffield Park, we looked round
the engine-sheds and bought souvenirs. We then
went in the cars to another vantage point, near a
bridge, to watch the special come past-and a fine
sight it was.
We then went by car to the Rolvenden headquarters ofthe Kent and East Sussex
Light Railway. We had a
quick look at the engines and then went up to Ten
terden Town Station, from where some of us had a
return journey to Rolvenden and back behind an old
LB.&S.c. "Terrier" class engine.
P. Flint. 2 Priory
SKllNG-1974
In spite of fuel surcharges. the floating pound, a
miners' strike and other difficulties. thirty-six of the
original fifty-four hopefuls eventually set out from
Dover on February 13th, accompanied by Mr. and
Mrs. Large, and Messrs. Grant. Styles, Hagell and
Elliott.
We flew in great comfort by Swiss air from Heathrow to Geneva, where a coach
took us to our
hotel in Ha__re Poche, a tiny village in the French
Alps in Haute Savoie.
During the next six days. everyone skied morning
and afternoon under the tuition of our French instructors. who were most
complimentary about the
rapid progress made by their English pupils. Few
English had visited the valley, and we were something
of a novelty. It gave us the chance to see if our French
lessons really worked.
19
For an afternoon excursion, we were taken along the shore of Lake Leman, and
across the Swiss border to Montreux. But all too soon we were taking our ski
tests, and packing up for the homeward flight. We had the satisfaction of having
improved our standard in this fascinating sport and the interest of living in a
new community. Not least of all, everyone came home in one piece!
A.O.E.
DOVER GRAMMAR SCHOOLS' SIXTH
FORM GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY FIELD-WORK PARTY, EASTER 1974
This year's area of study was in the region of the Cotswolds. A party of thirty
girls and sixty boys from the two schools stayed there from the 1st to the 6th
April, some of the boys at Stratford-upon-Avon, the remainder of the boys, and
the girls, at Bourton-onthe-Water. The week's work was well planned by Mr.
Ruffell, aided by Mr. Hagell, Miss Brook and Mrs. Russell, and proved of
interest to geographer, geologist and historian alike.
During the week many sites of historical interest were visited, e.g. Blenheim
Palace, the city of Gloucester, the Iron Age hill fort on Herefordshire Beacon,
and Chedworth Roman villa.
The geologists in the party were given ample opportunity to exercise their
field knowledge in the many quarries visited in the Cotswolds and Malverns. For
the geographers there was a study of the River Windrush, the Forest of Dean, the
city of Cheltenham; and by walking along the Malverns and up the steep scarp
slope of the Cotswolds, all gained an excellent idea of their height. It was
rather a pity that, having reached such heights, no one could see anything
because of the thick fog-which caused some of the party to get lost on Bredon
Hill.
- The week ended with many of the party acquainting themselves with the geology
of the River Wind rush by paddling in it at 10 p.m. on the last evening.
Step hen Madge, L6R
'0
PARIS 1974
The Eiffel Tower, the Metro, the French way of
cooking (?) meat, Prisunic, the Forest of Fontainebleu-each of the twenty-one
boys who went to Paris last Spring will have his own particular memoriesperhaps
all those rivets or all those coffins or, more likely, all those steps!
Whatever they may be, they are all part of the places, the people, the way of
life of Paris and of France and we tried to absorb as much of this atmosphere
as we could in a week.
We hope that all the boys had an interesting and enjoyable time but also that
the trip will add substance to France and things French in their minds, perhaps
improve their spoken French and give them a wish, in years to come, to explore
the city and the country further.
Judging by some of the excellent diaries produced, our hopes should be
fulfilled.
Rwn
VISIT TO GLYN PADARN
The Fourth Year Outdoor Activities group visit to Llanberis at Easter provided a
week of varied weather conditions and activities equally varied. Glyn Padarn is
a converted house with accommodation for twentysix people, and is situated on
the side of Llyn Padarn; the lake was ideal for skimming the flat slates to be
found round the edge. One brave soul even had a quick (!) swim.
On the first day, the group were issued with equipment and set off in one of
the Centre minibuses to go to the Ogwen Valley for an introductory walk to Llyn
Ogwen and up to the Devil's Kitchen, a rock fissure on the edge of the Glyder
Range, over the top and down into the Llanberis Pass, where the minibus waited
to return the group to the Centre.
The Tuesday activities included a map and compass session, and as no one was
lost the exercise was presumed to be fairly successful. The afternoon
rockclimbing proved to be one of the most popular activities of the week.
Everyone had the opportunity to try one or two climbs of varying difficulty and
an abseil. Even the more hesitant members of the group seemed to enjoy
themselves.
The overnight camp planned for Wednesday was postponed for 24 hours, as the
weather was very poor, but everyone enjoyed the walk in the snow (yes, in May!)
round Llyn Llydaw and back to the welcome coffee in the cafe at the top ofthe
Llanberis pass.
On Thursday the party set off in two minibuses for the Gwynant Valley; the
weather was kind during the walk up to Gladstone Rock and tents were pitched in
dry conditions. Some ofthe group then practised their rock-climbing on a nearby
outcrop while the rest of
the party explored the immediate area. Supper proved to be an interesting
experiment for some who had little previous practice in cooking meals. During
the evening an old slate-mining area provided interesting exploration, and a
roaring camp-fire finished off the evening. During Friday morning the party
walked up towards Snowdon and soon reached the snow-level, which made walking
more challenging and interest
ing. After a three-hour walk the party returned to camp, packed up and walked
back down to the road to be collected by minibus.
The remaining hours of Friday were spent in cleaning up equipment, stowing gear,
etc.; there was also a discussion on the value of the various activities and a
slide-show. The return journey on Saturday provided an opportunity to doze and,
as we neared London, to cheer (or jeer) at the various Cup Final spectators that
we passed.
P. Bennett, 4K
SNOWDONIA
A further group of a dozen geography and geology students went to Snowdonia with
Mr. J. Weeks, Mr. M. Styles, who holds a Mountain Leadership Certificate, and
Mr. A. Parrett.
The party experienced good weather and got to the top of Snowdon on their first
day. They then spent four more davs of field-work between HarIech and Anglesey.
THE SHARK
Cruel staring eyes,
Serrated teeth,
Swishing tail,
Streamlined body designed to kill.
A swift silent death.
Hide no knife can pierce,
As rough as sandpaper.
The tell-tale dorsal fin that swimmers dread. Always alert for the smell of
blood,
Predator hastens to its victim's doom.
Strong jaws quick to accomplish the gory deed. Ruthless annihilator.
Destructive
Fascinating
Butcher.
M. Gill, 3 Priory
TO ME ALONE
So-called friends! You see them
Every day and though you have learned
To speak in a similar way,
Your words are dust in the sun's gaol.
And though with happy tears they churn Their childish memories that soon trail
Under the pregnant heat of desire.
Are you there? No, no.
Stretch, stretch, stretch, starved of love!
Yes, you, who are known to all
By name alone, and liked by none.
You that hide your grief to most,
Hint it to but a loved, unloving few,
And in the whirling warmth of your bed Discharge it to no ears but your own.
When will you write your story?
Will it be in the crowded room
Of boys who with their mirth compete to be first? Or in the souls of men whose
faded verse
Is pinned with care to the table to die again, Amidst "clouds of glory" and
pain?
Or perhaps in the controlled caress
Of a brush, or in the strict lips
Of some mindless child, or . . . ?
No more.
No, no more does your mind reel
Nor do your petty limbs feel
Any hunger whatsoever.
Yet you want. . .
Nothing.
N. W. Clarry, L6
RIME
On a hill that rose in Dover
In a place that they called Kent
Stood a school they called the Grammar, Stood a school they called the snob-
house, Stood a school where boys were tortured. In this school was housed a
rabble, Housed a rabble called 3 Priory.
On the eastern hill of Dover
Stood a lighthouse called the Pharos, Called the Pharos by the Romans, Builded
by the Ancient Romans
To light their galleys home to haven. Later on in after ages
Came the black-robed master Whitehouse; He it was who took the Pharos
As the symbol of the building,
As the symbol of the learning,
As the symbol of the future
For the snob-house on the hilltop
As a symbol to the pupils,
To the pupils in the rabble,
In the rabble 'called 3 Priory.
On the western hill of Dover
Stood the brother of the Pharos;
Now it is a heap of rubble,
Bredenstone the name they call it.
There they chose the noble. Warden, Warrior to guard the havens
Of the Cinque Ports of the Channel.
M. Slater, 3 Priory
TUCSON, ARIZONA
In Arizona's Sonoran desert, one of the "richest" in the world, July is the
hottest month, temperatures reaching the fantastic height of 120 degrees F. Yet
on the same night it could be down to a mere 60 degrees. The advantage of the
desert is that the humidity remains low; it is dry (to say the least). Thus,
with a cool, dry breeze, one fails to realise fully what heat one is putting up
with; nevertheless, it is best to frequent the shade.
Lack of rain goes virtually unnoticed; at the moment most people are content to
drain the huge (but not inexhaustible) reservoirs which have, through millions
of years, accumulated under the desert.
25
However, rain is not completely unknown; it is cer
tainly rare before the end of June-and then this wet
phenomenon is well worth avoiding. Rain is not just
something to damp the ground; it is a drenching,
flooding hazard, heralded nearly always by the most
violent electrical storms one could imagine. To contend with this, roads are
even built like drains,
channelling off all chance of flood-which means that
a short drive could unexpectedly turn into water
skiing.
In the winter, snow collects on the mountains, and
tourists collect in the gift-shops, picking up any bit of
junk they can lay their lands on. Yes, Arizona's winter
eighties constitQte the tourist season, which (thank
fully) we missed by four months. We had planned to
stay in Tucson about six weeks including the whole of
May, but got somewhat longer, thanks to Los Angeles
Airport.
One of the most interesting features of a trip to
another country is to "analyse" the people, and Americans are not particularly
easy to analyse. The
main point to make clear is that people from Virginia
or Florida are about the same as the British to the
Arizonans-DIFFERENT! So theoretically America
is one country, but in practice it obviously is not.
Tucson is situated in the south of Arizona, the
northerly region of the Sonoran desert which stretches
down into Mexico. Despite little rain and terrific heat
during the day, this desert is very rich in vegetation,
notably cacti. Of all the world's cacti the Sonoran
must hold the largest and most interesting; it is the
saguaro and it even has its own national monument
near Tucson. This cactus grows abundantly over the
desert, towering fifty feet above the parched land, like
an exceptionally prickly telegraph pole. When it rains,
a ten-ton specimen will collect about two tons extra
weight of water, which is stored in the huge "bran
ches". A lSO-year-old might have as many as ten
branches, all pointing upward, giving a candlestick
effect.
Then come the smaller cacti such as the Arizona
pincushion, hedgehog cactus, teddy-bear cholla,
pencil cholla, staghorn cholla, prickly pear and barrel
cactus. The latter has two-inch fish-hook barbs in
each clump of prickles. Other plants are shin dagger
(rather a discouring name to hikers), Spanish bayonet
or yucca (again with a vicious ring to it), ocotillo, palo
verde, creosote bush and mesquite. The last three are bushes which can attain a
height of ten to twelve feet near a "wash", the course ofthe July rains across
the desert.
There is also a wide variety of animal life: mule deer, mountain lions,. "jack
rabbits", squirrels,
chipmunks (in the mountains), skunks, javelinas (a
sort of wild pig), coyotes (friendly, fox-like wild dogs),
prairie dogs, lizards, rattlesnakes and tarantula
spiders. The small but deadly black widow spider now
exists. in numbers only too large. Unfortunately, however, the world's only two
poisonous lizards, the
Gila Monster (pronounced Heela) and the Mexican
beaded lizard, both of which inhabit only the Sonoran, are fast dying out.
One may think that th_re is little to see in such an
area as Arizona, but that would be completely incorrect. The mile-deep Grand
Canyon, one of the seven wonders of the world, takes the Colorado across
the northern part of the state. There are many other
spectacular canyons with sheer walls in which the
Indians of prehistoric times found almost inaccessible
caves in which to build. Indian ruins are the only
really. old buildings in Arizona and many, although
dating back many hundreds of years, are still intact.
Also in northern Arizona are such awe-inspiring
places as Monument Valley, Meteor Crater and the very beautiful Painted Desert,
where the original
plateau has been worn right down in places to expose
the various layers of rock in red, pink, brown, grey,
white, orange and yellow shades. Thus there is much
spectacular scenery.
All such places of interest are either national parks
or monuments. These seem to be the pride of America and indeed 'they deserve all
admiration. Each will have either a Visitors' Centre or a Museum which not only
explains the whole "set-up" of the place but also
illustrates the points of interest. Many even have
special film-shows as well as scale models, maps, explanatory wall-charts,
trails, hikes and well organised guided tours. The whole thing will be designed
almost perfectly not only to attract but to educate the tourist.
Tucson is a very pleasant and interesting city overall; the roads are in a
grid-pattern, which is very useful if you get confused over your whereabouts.
The houses are, for the most part, one-storey and built crudely but solidly;
they are very well designed inside, however, which is probably a reflection of
the American way of life-if something is not perfected you can guarantee that
they will look into it. Many new ideas begin in America.
In fact most of the houses actually in Tucson are apartments like the one we
stayed in; the actual residents tend to live in somewhat larger dwellings on the
fast-expanding outskirts. If you have a plot of land you can build what you like
on it without any permission of any sort-which is rather unfortunate for the
environment. Most people have swimming-pools; swimming is Arizona's most popular
sport, NOT baseball!
For the last week of our stay we went on a strictly American tour of the
northern half of Arizona; an 8oo-mile drive and a speedy look at just about
everything there is to see. Such distances sound far smaller to an American
than to us because the people there are used to travelling long distances
between points of interest. Roads are either very good or more closely related
to dirt-tracks, for, as yet, there has been comparatively little road
development in Arizona.
In our lightning tour we encountered Apache country and the White Mountains, the
Petrified Forest, a number of very spectaclar canyons including the Grand Canyon
(at the bottom of which we just managed to catch a glimpse of the Colorado),
many Indian ruins, Sunset Crater (an extinct volcano), and the Navajo Indian
Reservation, at least the area of Britain and . the largest in America. There
are loo,OOO Navajo Indians who mostly live in poor conditions, are treated badly
and drop fantastic amounts of litter-all very noticeable. Just south of
Tucson we visited two Indian Missions where the Spanish _riests taught the
natives to be slaves in preAmerican days. Such churches have a sad atmosphere,
probably due to comparison between the proud tribes of old and the neglected
"drop-outs" of today.
I found the American people quite different from the type of character I had
imagined, but then such a large group clin never have just one character! To
describe them all under one heading would be completely impossible.
S. Lyle, 3 Astor
SOLITUDE
Grass in teeth, with sun on my face
I sit
Beside a lamenting ash amid Buttercups.
Ahead, shivering hedgerows point out The route of returning fields.
Fields, their yellow and green
Appear as an enlarged reflection
From dappled clouds,
Whose cow-colour pronounces the blue Between.
Birds skip amongst them, to land
On galleon-trees with oars of Sunlight.
A drift of hay-hank scent surrounds me While distant crows remind me
Of the time.
B. Ratcliffe, L6R
THE BARRACKS BLACKBOARD
The soldier's question was how the turret swung.
He patiently explained it to him, to the point of the
enemy's death,
Raising the unasked question, and leaving it unan
swered.
The wantonmerries on the back row sobered, Then grimaced at the misfortunes of
the hideous foe, As the sobering niggle was transplanted to yet another
almost impenetrable refuge.
The universal army's question of humanity
Of the sights on a rifle barrel being merely a cross on a
mirror
Had been asked and pushed aside by everyone of
them;
Knowing that the dissolution of his place in the line
would follow further free thought,
And another reflection would arrive to wait for the
whites of their eyes And play the "how well can you hide it, soldier" game.
N. Harvey, L6
THE FALL OF TROY
All of us were getting tense now. Outside we could hear old King Priam and the
Trojans feasting and drinking, awaiting nightfall, although it had been night
for us for hours. Sweat was thick on my skin; it was hot inside the horse,
stifling, the only fresh air coming from the horse's nostrils.
Soon I heard King Priam call for the feasting to cease, so that a sacrifice
could be made to Poseidon. We knew this moment would have to come.
Would we be thrown over the cliff as the Trojans'
sacrifice? I wondered.
We heard nothing for a while, and then a cry of exultation. We let out the
breath we had held for so long. We were not the sacrifice.
Then the feasting continued, with the minstrels singing and everyone enjoying
themselves, except us. Some of us were becoming restless now, and fidgeting. I
peered at Ulysses; with expressionless face, he was just staring into the gloom.
King Menelaus looked anxious, worried-but he always did.
Slowly the noise ceased and after a while we realised
that the Trojans were sleeping. We waited for about an hour, to make sure the
Trojans were in deep sleep, and then came the moment to move. It was King
Menelaus who opened the door, silently. Now his face shone with hatred. He had a
good reason; Helen had been his wife before Paris stole her away, and Paris had
killed Achilles, Greece's greatest warrior.
We climbed down from the horse. My legs were stiff, as I had sat for many a long
hour. Slowly we made our way across the large courtyard, towards the oak and
iron gate. We heard a muttering voice on our left. There stood a lone Trojan,
Eagerly Menelaus dealt with him. Soon we reached the gates and opened them. They
creaked; we looked round. Luck was with us; no one had heard.
Outside, the Greek forces had assembled, after
coming back round the point. King Agamemnon led
them in, and then the killing started. The Trojans were taken by surprise and
many were killed in their beds.
After every last Trojan, including Priam and Paris, had been slain, we razed
Troy to the ground, and its power was no more.
P. Moore, 3 Priory
THE DAY THE TIDE WENT OUT
The world had been speculating about the American nuclear bomb test for many
weeks, some agreeing, but the majority of the population had a strong fear that
this test could bring the end of existence on the planet Earth.
Writing in the weekly British newspaper The London Herald. I expressed my view
that this forth. coming event would neither be a great disaster nor dramatically
change the world's status. But when, as a journalist, I attended the launching
at the Nevada Nuclear Site, I could foresee a great catastrope from the start.
All had begun well with the rocket hurtling skyward; soon it was a minute speck
in the sky; then-things went wrong. On the controllers' master switchboard, two
malfunction lights indicated that the directional control of the bomb was badly
amiss.
29
Instead of detonating in the outer reaches of our
atmosphere, the rocket was descending toward the
Pacific Ocean at unchecked speed.
Suddenly a shattering explosion rent my ears; the thunderclap of noise continued
for many minutes. The Chief ControIler and his anxious-looking scientists begged
us not to transmit our knowledge to the outside world; then, two hours later, he
announced his findings, the results of which left us gasping with dismay. One
German journalist burst into tears, sank to the ground and groveIled in complete
despair.
"Gentleman, it is my unpleasant duty to relay to
you what we have discovered, but please do not contact anybody outside these
waIls about this. The rocket has entered the Pacific Ocean fifty-four miles off
our coast; it detonated on the sea-bed and dug a cavernous hole that has sunk
into the far reaches of the earth. All the water the earth contains is now being
drained into the hole and is being evaporated by the intense heat down there.
Within hours the earth will be completely parched and drained of water. This
means the end of human life on Earth. Our top scientists have examined this
problem and CflD see only one solution-to anticipate this death sentence. In
ninety minutes thousands of long-range bombers wiIl take off from their various
bases situated round the world; they will disperse a newly-developed nerve
gas which will put all men to sleep, everywhere. They
will never wake up . . . "
In the 90 minutes that remained of my life I sat
rigid, my mind a blank, hardly believing what I had
heard. Then high above, a droning sound could be heard: slowly it faded into the
distance. My vision
began to jump and blur, my head was growing
heavier, I found myself swaying to and fro, the sounds became a hazy jumble.
Vaguely I thought of the simple cavemen of long ago, who could never have done
this thing, destroyed their own world. I. . .
I. McKenzie, 1 Astor
When the air is filled with waste,
and the ends of plants we haste,
then the sea, that dumping ground,
a choking death for itself will have found.
When the land has bid us Goodbye, perhaps some win ask the question why, and
when at last, man has died,
let it only be known as genocide.
PLAYROOM
The room was marked for life with reminders of the children's boisterous
activities. Chunks of plaster lay on the floor, having been removed long ago by
an indoor cricket match. Tattered posters of Dougal and Florence were liberally
deposited on the floor, walls and ceiling, whilst Elvis stood helplessly pinned
to a door.
Once-white paintwork had, over the years, become scuffed and tarnished to such a
degree that it hardly differed in colour from the stained floor-boards. James
Bond, Biggles, William, Katie and Heidi all had prominent positions on a huge,
wall-mounted bookcase. Dilapidated "Concordes" and dust-covered "Apollo 16s"
hung precariously from the ceiling on frayed cotton, giving the impression of a
bombed-out airfield.
Standing across one corner was the pride of all the children. Too old to take
out, but a marvellous statussymbol, was their very own 1890 penny-farthing. The
wheels were so corroded that they would not even have turned, and the pedals
were missing.
The one item that compared with this bicycle was an antique Regency couch in
which were stuffed secret documents or the like. The upholstery was motheaten,
and what should have been velvet looked more like Nottingham lace.
The whole room at its tidiest still reseJ'It1bled an Inner London breaker's
yard. Pieces of outgrown clothing had been carefreely dispersed in all
directions to assemble pirate's or Indian's kits. The parts of the floor that
were visible were covered in ink-blots, spilt orange-juice or cake-crumbs. The
chaotic atmosphere of a children's playroom is an experience-the experience of
a life-time; indeed one would not wish to face it more than once in a lifetime.
S. Marples, 2 Frith
Along Shakespeare beach just off-shore, Is the outlet from the town's sewer.
If to swim you decide,
at the turn of the tide,
you'll find yourself rather imoure.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Old Josh WilIiams staggered out ofthe "Red Lion" just before closing-time. Due
to the fact that it was his sixty-ninth birthday, he had really celebrated, and
was now what his friend Mac would describe as "stewed to the eyeballs".
Wobbling and swerving down Gasworks Lane, Josh suddenly stumbled and fell into
the gutter. He cursed and attempted to rise, but found the task too difficult.
Looking up he saw himself surrounded by five'longhaired denim-clad teenagers,
and then oblivion shrouded his vision as the youths battered him nearly to
death.
Not five minutes ofter the youths had left the battered and bleeding body a
Mercedes 220 Executive passed by, carrying the Mayor from his inagural banquet.
The chauffeur slowed down to see who it was, but on recognising him to be only
old Josh, he drove on.
Soon afterwards a bus-load of football supporters
drove along Gasworks Lane. Someone spotted the body, and when they saw it was
old Josh they threw empty bottles and cans at him and jeered at him, as they
drove on.
Half an hour later, a young student, returning to his room at the local college,
saw Josh. Stopping his motorbike he ran across to the old man, and after making
him more comfortable he ran further down the road to a telephone kiosk, where he
'phoned for an ambulance.
The following afternoon when Josh finally regained consciousness, he found
himself in hospital, and could hardly bring himself to believe that it was a
longhaired denim-clad teenager who had saved him.
Bruce Barrett, 3 Priory
The visual material in this issue was contributed by the following
G. Bultock, S. Cork, N. Clarry, A. Dalley, K. Day, M. Elvy, P. Freathy, N. Hall,
P. Lightman, K. Minnock, C. Nash,
N. Webb, J. Webatcr.
srOI!
SPORT AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, 1973.74
(Editor's Note: Space only allows us a summary of results and achievements. We
apologise to any team or individuals who find that this record is incomplete.)
Football
Results of School Matches:
Playe" Won Drawn Lost
Under 12 4 3 1
Under 13 6 2 1 3
Under 14 8 6 2
Under 15 6 3 2 1
Under 16 1 1
2nd XI 13 5 2 6
1st XI 24 12 2 10
- - -
Totals 62 31 7 24
(It should be explained that 14 of the 1st Xl's matches were
played in the East Kent Wednesday League, against adult sides; of
these matches, 7 were won and 1 drawn; goals for: 52, aagainst: 37.)
P. Norris was chosen for the Kent "A" team, P. Fox for Kent "B", L. Bastable for
Kent "C". N. Robbins, G. House and P. Norris
played for Kent Schools in the Inter-county competition at Easter.
Colours were re-awarded to Pete Noms and Mike Robbins and newly awarded to
Graham House. Representative ties to: Colin Croft, Clive Towe, lan Blaskett,
Dave Clay, Paul Fox, Russell Friend, and Anthony Donovan.
Rugby
Results of School Matches:
Played Won Drawn Lost
Under12 2 1 1
Under13 9 3 6
Under14 11 9 2
Under 15 4 2 2
"B" XV 3 1 2
1st XV 15 3 12
Colours re-awarded to Tim Hunnisett, newly awarded to Jeft' Niblett and Nick
Taylor. Ties to: K. Alvey, K. King, J. Wann, K. Thomasson, M. Jones, S. O'Regan,
C. King, N. Hopkinson, D. Clay.
34
Buketball
Results of School Matches:
Played Won Lost
Under 14 13 11 2
Under 15 15 9 6
Under 16 12 11 I
Pharosians n 22 5 17
(Our senior team, "Pharosians n", played in the East Kent
League, mainly against older and more experienced players. The improvement in
their play over the season was reflected in the fact
that they won four of their last five games. They were greatly in
debted to their coach, Mr. Pat Grove, for the generous amount of time and
trouble he devoted to them.)
Colours were awarded to: Dave Burton, Kevin Minnock, Andy Sladden, and Adrian
Greenwood. Ties to: Andy Smith, Steve Spittles, Gary Reed, Stewart Reilly.
C_.coantly
The senior team beat Archers Court, w_s narrowly beaten by
Harvey on two occasions and was placed first in the South-East
Kent trials, in which the junior "B" team was second in its event.
Three juniors, three intermediates and six seniors were chosen to
represent S.E. Kent in the Kent Championships. In a match against Harvey and
Astor, our First and Third Year teams were first and
our Second Year team third.
Colours to: Lawrence Smye-Rumsby, Julian Marshall and Chris Gill. Ties to: Paul
Heaffy, Graham Illsley and Robert Clay.
Gym_dCII
P. Conatty and J. Dale took part in the Kent Schools Champion
ships.
The Gym Club had an enthusiastic following, especially in the
Spring Term, when a display was put on for the Spring Fair.
In the House Competition, Paul Connatty won the Pascall Cup for best individual
performance for the second year running.
Fencing
In the South-East Kent Championship, the junior team was
placed second, and P. Bailey and N. Rosbottom reached the semi
finals of the individual competition. In the Kent Boys' Individual
Foil Championships, A. Dalley, N. Rosbottom and P. Bailey
reached the semi.finals. In the Frank Page Trophy competition,
Alan Dalley came fifth and David Bailey reached the semi-finals.
The school team had a resounding victory against Sevenoaks
School.
Bronze Proficiency Awards to: B. J. Gillham, 1. Carey. N. A.
Cooper, A. Hodges, P. Wicks.
BadmlDton
In the South Foreland Tournament, Alan Keohane beat John Jackson in the Under
-15 Final, and Alistair Milroy was runner-up in the under-13 group.
Results of School Matches:
Played Won Drawn Lost
Senior Boys 7 2 1 4
Junior Boys 8 6 2
Senior Mixed 5 1 4
Junior Mixed 3 2 1
Representative ties: re-awarded to Drew Smith, newly awarded to Phil Hughes.
Outdoor Activities and Duke of EdlDburgh's Awud
At Easter a 5th and 6th year group staying at a climbers' cottage in North Wales
tackled several high ridges, including the wellknown Snowdon Horseshoe. A few
weeks later, a 4th year party in the same area were hampered by a surprising
amount of snow, unusual for May.
In the summer term, nine groups visited various farm camp-sites in S.E. Kent in
connection with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
The Award Scheme was started in the school in autumn 1972. To date, one silver
and elevent bronze awards have been gained, and twenty 4th Formers who started
in September 1973 have almost completed their course for the bronze award.
Activities for the award include those done in school (e.g. Pottery, Chess) and
outside (e.g. Sailing), and also those done in outside clubs and societies. Each
boy also attended a course of Public Service (e.g. the Fire Service, the Police,
the Coastguard Service, the St. John's Ambulance Brigade).
Tennis
Results of School Matches:
1st VI: Played 4, Won I, Lost 3.
2nd VI: Played 2, Won 2.
The Lower School Tournament was won by Rodney Haddrell.
Athletics
In the annual seven-sided competition at the Duke of York's School, the school
team was placed third, and in the South-East Kent Championships second of eight
teams. In two-sided matches, we lost to Dover College and Simon Langton but won
three of our four matches against Astor.
Colours were re-awarded to A. Mummery and newly awarded to N. Taylor, A. H.
Smith and L. Smye-Rumsby. Ties to: G. Wills, D. Burton, T. Pearce, 1. Marshall,
T. Hunnisett, S. D. Hunnisett.
D. Welham and S. Talbot were selected to represent S.E. Kent in the Kent
Championships. S. Talbot won the 400 metres and went on to represent Kent at the
All-England Championships at Shrewsbury, where he finished 4th.
At our Junior Sports Day, postponed because of rain, six records were broken,
including three by S. Talbot, in the lOO, 400 and 800 metres; the others by N.
_yrett in the Long Jump, S. Masters in the High Jump and M. Janaway in the Shot.
Swimming
Like other summer sports, swimming was affected by the cold weather; numbers
voluntarily using the pool were well down on last year. We produced a junior
team to swim against Dover College, but unfortunately for us their team included
several Hong Kong champions; however, Boyd Davies did win the backstroke. In the
House swimming sports, the winning House was decided by the final relay race.
Cricket
Results of School Matches
Played Won Drawn Lost
Under 12 5 4 1
Under 13 7 7
Under 14 7 1 6
Under 15 7 I 6
2nd XI 3 3
1st XI 11 1 5 5
Colours to: R. Herrett(Captain), M. Robbins, D. Aslett and P. Fox. Ties to: D.
Clay, L. Towe, N. Hopkinson, A. Smith and J. Anderson.
BDUSI CBi.rIDISIIP
House Cbamplousblp, 1973.74
Points awar<*l were as follows:
Aator Frith Park Priory
Basketball (SO) 16 13 8 13
Football OSO) 32 48 25 45
Rugby (1SO) 40 SO 30 30
Cross-country (100) 21 32 19 28
Badminton (SO) 16 14 16 4
Gymnastics (100) 24 28 26 22
Tennis (SO) 15 10 10 15
Swimming 000) 24 29 20 27
Cricket OSO) 25 48 48 29
Athletics (1 SO) 41 36 40 33
- - - Totals 254 308 242 . 246
As can be seen from the above figures, the House Championship Shield was
convincingly won by Frith House, with the other Houses very close to one
another. (Last year, Priory House won by a narrow margin.)
,,- - .J ,
_ photograph M.I. Errin_ton.
_ I saw a man frozen in a moment of time,
,
, Yet long since dead.
_ His smile was frozen
'" and his body preserved in chemical and paper.
_ Although the image was brown and wrinkled with a!
1 you could still see part of a man,
Where in solidity and colour no flesh remained,
Just bones. _
An immortality of a kind. _ _
I wish to be remembered,
E1:
.So trap me in a lens
like an insect in amber.
Project me on celluloid and paper,
Preserved against time
by salting with developer and fixer,
And replaced by untarnishable silver.
Finally put me in the coldstore
Of your snapshot album.
If you can see me in
'. two dimensions and Monochrome,
18 And remember me in spirit,
I I must already be contained _
I__ t_aps__t __l:_:!!_ur _emory. I